A LEGEND IS BORN II

Durants an ass

Just back from holiday, hope im not too late. Told you Orlando would beat Boston.

Seattle in 6
Lakers in 6

Orlando in 7
Cavs in 5

Oh man, tough 1st game I guess. Eager to find out more about it. Nice writing, getting more deeply into the whole Durant Stoudemire thingy. Lovin it

Nice chapter. Really curious to see what happened to Sheed. He better not be dead.

YES! The Stealth made it past the first round! Although it wasn't much of a surprise, but hey woohoo to you. Would've checked in more, but DJ Hero has slowly been taking all of my free time away. Sweet chapter as usual, though it sucks that it's almost over. Anyway, here's my predictions if I'm not too late.

Miami in 6
Cleveland in 5

Seattle in 7
LA Lakers in 5

I'm with Lamrock by the way. Sheed better not be resting in peace.

nice chapter, maybe Sheed is playing with his teammates again acting like his injured or something

Superb chapter again!

I'm with Amare on this one. And by the looks of things, you lost game #1 and Sheed. Don't make it so that my prediction is wrong.

Also, thanks for mentioning me. No pain, no gain!!

Yes, you and Cartar for the Estonian connection in the story and the Tar Heel connection between you, Ty, Rocky.

And Martti, I did lost Sheed. Just confirming that. I love 2K because my players are getting injured and makes it more challenging.

Durants an ass

Loving it. It's a lot of fun portraying him.

Just back from holiday, hope im not too late. Told you Orlando would beat Boston.

Yeah, I was going for Boston though.

Nelson v Rondo was a good matchup as well. Those two put up big numbers.

Oh man, tough 1st game I guess. Eager to find out more about it. Nice writing, getting more deeply into the whole Durant Stoudemire thingy. Lovin it

Thanks man, Amare is one of the only NBA stars to hate Durant... he still has Dwight and Wade's respect.

Nice chapter. Really curious to see what happened to Sheed. He better not be dead.

Nah, he got hurt.

YES! The Stealth made it past the first round! Although it wasn't much of a surprise, but hey woohoo to you. Would've checked in more, but DJ Hero has slowly been taking all of my free time away. Sweet chapter as usual, though it sucks that it's almost over. Anyway, here's my predictions if I'm not too late.

Who said it's almost over?

It might be over... I'm getting back into it a bit. If I keep everyone's interest in this up then I guess I will continue it.

nice chapter, maybe Sheed is playing with his teammates again acting like his injured or something

Nah, he went down for real. Out for 4 weeks.

Sheed out, now you don't have anyone who ties up bus drivers

Big loss losing Sheed's versatility. Now it's time for everybody else to step up, if Kevin will let them that is

amazing writing as usual, sucks about Sheed being out though, hopefully you can fight on in his absence!

Sheed out, now you don't have anyone who ties up bus drivers

No no, we don't. What a shame.

Big loss losing Sheed's versatility. Now it's time for everybody else to step up, if Kevin will let them that is

Kevin will carry the team on his shoulders. As he has been doing. I love Sheed. I've never actually used him in any of my teams but trading for him was one of my best moves ever.

amazing writing as usual, sucks about Sheed being out though, hopefully you can fight on in his absence!

We will fight on.

Underappreciated, Underrated
Detroit Pistons Veteran Rip Hamilton Is In The Zone

May 1, 2011


By Woody Hannes
ESPN.com Writer

Rip Hamilton started off in Washington where he was soon in the shadow of an aging Michael Jordan. After joining Detroit, the SG had much team success and even became an All-Star but Chauncey Billups, Rasheed Wallace, Ben Wallace, and Allen Iverson were always bigger names than Rip would ever be. The years have gone by and the big names have slowly trickled out of town. The only guy remaining is Rip and he is finally ‘the man’ in Detroit; leading a roster of misfits towards the NBA Finals.

Rip Hamilton knew that if he was Michael Jordan scoring 59 points in an important playoff game, it would have received a hell of a lot more hoopla. It was Game 5 and the series clinching win that would help the Pistons advance to face LeBron James and the Cavs. Hamilton was all over the court as he played one of the best games of his career.

59 points. 6 rebounds. 4 assists. 3 steals. 13 point win. 4-1 series win.

Unsurprisingly, Hamilton did not get the attention he deserved. After the game, Zach Randolph had more people around him asking questions. Hamilton tried to be funny about it, “At least they’re asking Z questions about me.” I don’t think Rip should be so sure about that either.

As Rip looks around the room and sees all of his teammates smiling, celebrating their first round victory; one would have noticed how tired the veteran looks. Years of hard work on skill development as well as maintaining his fitness have paid off but also taken its toll. Hamilton can still stick it with the best of them while he is utilizing his skills as well as he ever has. However, he needs a lot more time to recover from games and after this 59 point game; Rip needed a lot of time to recover. He didn’t have the energy to even walk around to congratulate his team mates.

Randolph walked over and gave Rip a pat on the back. Jeff Green later came over to say ‘good work’. Sasha Vujacic gave him a high five while Luther Head, Jason Maxiell, and other Pistons gave their old team mate a hug then shook his hand. All of the players respect Rip because he is a true professional.

And they also realize that they have a lot to thank him for.

“I know a lot of people never bring up his name in debates about who are the best shooting guards in the NBA,” Randolph says, “he is underrated but not by us. Rip is our leader and he leads by example. He never big notes himself. He isn’t loved by you guys but that doesn’t matter to him. He just does his job.” Sasha Vujacic, who has played with the Lakers’ Kobe Bryant, echoed Randolph’s sentiments, ”When I came here, I knew who Rip was but not really. After playing with him, I can say that he is better than people think.”

After having a terrible start to their NBA season, the Pistons decided to mix things up by trading away Allen Iverson and Rasheed Wallace. Both players had been major drivers in the Pistons’ playoff success over the past few years in each player’s respective tenures. However, the front office felt like it was time to try and stop their franchise’s fall from the top of the East. In came the underachieving Zach Randolph and the young, talented but out-of-favor Jeff Green. The Pistons also pondered trading the 33 year old Hamilton but stopped short of that as they felt that the team needed an experienced player to lead the way.

Since the deals were made, the Pistons shot right back into playoff contention. And the decision to keep Hamilton has been easily justified every time he has stepped onto the floor, culminating in an exciting Game 5 performance against the third seeded Washington Wizards.

The Pistons roster is stacked with misfits. Randolph has cruised at every destination of his career. Sasha Vujacic was unwanted by a strong Lakers team after years of tolerance. Luther Head never got a chance to play until he got to Detroit. The Stealth ran out of patience with the ‘jack of all trades, kind of none’ Jeff Green. And does anyone even know who Walter Herrman is? And one could even argue that Hamilton is not a player who could lead his own team.

This team is not supposed to win games. On paper, they are weak.

Rip Hamilton is disproving the theory though. He is leading his team of misfits and nobodies deeper into the postseason. Rip is finally ‘the man’ and although he is humble about it; he is loving it.

Suddenly I want to route for Detroit, awesome write-up man, Go Detroit beat Cleveland, Detroit Basketball Detroit Pistons

I'm the only one who noticed it

Nice Rip story. Good to read about him. I've also been a supporter of his since his college days at UConn with his silky smooth midrange jumper.

Btw, Rip was always Mr. Piston in those great Detroit teams. I don't think anybody has ever said anything otherwise.

Suddenly I want to route for Detroit, awesome write-up man, Go Detroit beat Cleveland, Detroit Basketball Detroit Pistons

Yeah, go support the Pistons.

I'm the only one who noticed it

You're one cool cat.

Nice Rip story. Good to read about him. I've also been a supporter of his since his college days at UConn with his silky smooth midrange jumper.

Btw, Rip was always Mr. Piston in those great Detroit teams. I don't think anybody has ever said anything otherwise.

He was the leading scorer but I always saw Billups as the top dog, Ben Wallace as the anchor on defence, and Sheed as one of the leaders. I think all of them are pretty much even/on par. So for the sake of a story, I portrayed Rip as underappreciated... not by his team mates but by fans and media. Even today if people are asked to list their top 10 SGs for the decade, I think a lot of people make a common mistake of forgetting good old Rip.

I liked him from the Wizards days, used to control him in Live 2001.

Nice article. He just dropped 59, that's hard. This Pistons team is not as bad as I thought, they seem to be a unit. Even with Randolph on it.

Guys definitely underrate Rip, as he is just not a spectacular player. But his ability to get around screens and free himself up is the best since Reggie Miller played in this league.

Nice article. He just dropped 59, that's hard. This Pistons team is not as bad as I thought, they seem to be a unit. Even with Randolph on it.

Guys definitely underrate Rip, as he is just not a spectacular player. But his ability to get around screens and free himself up is the best since Reggie Miller played in this league.

Thanks man. I like the Pistons. I wouldn't play with their roster (other teams in this association I would play with if I had the chance) but I still like them. Randolph, Maxiell, Green, Rip, Head are a decent starting five with Herrman and Vujacic first off the bench!

great article! I guess i should give Rip a starting spot in my dynasty now

great article! I guess i should give Rip a starting spot in my dynasty now

Damn straight you should.

That was heaven to read! I've followed Detroit all through our finals success back in 2002. Rip didn't ever get the credit he deserved. I don't want Detroit to trade him and despite his horror run since returning from injury his ability to play off ball and stroke the mid-range jumped can only be challenged by Ray Allen. You just inspired me to love Rip more! Great writing, great article, you've got a talent man!

That was heaven to read! I've followed Detroit all through our finals success back in 2002. Rip didn't ever get the credit he deserved. I don't want Detroit to trade him and despite his horror run since returning from injury his ability to play off ball and stroke the mid-range jumped can only be challenged by Ray Allen. You just inspired me to love Rip more! Great writing, great article, you've got a talent man!

Thank you for the compliment.

Game 1 recap coming up soon! And Game 2 will follow quickly as well!

Seattle Loses Game One And Key Player

Preview | Box Score | Recap


Brandon Roy tries to score against Kevin Durant

1 May, 2011

PORTLAND (AP) – The first seeded Portland Trailblazers took a one game series lead as they won the opening match of their second round series against the fifth seeded Seattle Stealth. After taking a 10 point lead entering halftime, the Blazers won the game with a decisive third quarter performance that has Seattle Coach George Karl worried.

“I really do not know if my guys have what it takes to defeat the Blazers. They need to start playing a lot better soon or else we are not going to even be close,” the veteran coach admitted. Everything got worse Seattle when Rasheed Wallace succumbed to injury in the third quarter. The Stealth sixth man was carried off the court on a stretcher after a prolonged break in the game as doctors from both teams attended to him.

Replays showed Wallace landing on his back and laying on the ground still. “He looked like he had the wind knocked out of him, we did not realize it was that serious until he said he couldn’t move,” Trevor Ariza said after the game, “The doctors were telling us to get back to our benches so we could give them space to work on him. They had to make sure he was ok.”

A team spokesperson later announced that Wallace would be diagnosed at a local hospital. There are fears that Wallace has suffered some kind of spinal or neck injury. The PF was wearing a brace on his neck as he was carried to the locker room and then outside to a waiting ambulance.

Ben Gordon led the charge for the Blazers as he scored 23 points. Four other Blazers got to double figures. Kevin Durant led Seattle with 28 points but apart from Andrew Bogut who had 15 points, 11 rebounds, 7 assists; no other Seattle player impressed. “We came out flat tonight,” Durant said, “Portland is not a better team than us – no way. We just played really, really bad.”

Steve Nash, who had 9 points and 5 assists, boldly stated after the game, “We were expecting to meet the Clippers but we really wanted to face Seattle. We’re happy that we’re playing them but I have to admit we were expecting more of a challenge.”

Notes: Seattle and Portland met in the Western Conference Finals last year and have forged a strong rivalry since then. The Blazers won 4-2, en route to a NBA Finals appearance… Wallace will spend the night in a Portland hospital before being reassessed by a doctor tomorrow… Durant did not use his catchphrase ‘my team baby’ for the first time during this postseason…

Quarter-by-Quarter Team Score

Seattle Stealth (Away) 26 – 20 – 16 – 20 – 82
Portland Trailblazers (Home) 26 – 30 – 34 – 13 – 103

Jordan Player of the Game

Ben Gordon
23 Points
3 Rebounds
3 Assists
10-16 FG
3-5 3PT

Key Performers

Seattle Stealth (Trail Series 0-1)

K Durant 28 pt, 9-24 FG, 2-6 3PT, 8-8 FT
A Bogut 15 pt, 11 reb, 7 ast, 2 stl, 2 blk, 7-13 FG, 1-1 FT
J Kidd 11 pt, 5 ast, 5-7 FG, 1-2 FT
D Lee 7 pt, 13 reb, 2-4 FG

Portland Trailblazers

J Bayless 18 pt, 5-7 FG, 2-3 3PT, 6-7 FT
B Roy 18 pt, 6 reb, 3 ast, 3 stl, 7-15 FG, 2-5 3PT, 2-2 FT
G Oden 13 pt, 4 reb, 5 blk, 6-9 FG, 1-1 FT
Q Person 12 pt, 8 reb, 4 ast, 2 stl, 1 blk, 4-7 FG, 4-5 FT
S Nash 9 pt, 4 reb, 5 ast, 4-13 FG, 1-4 FT

Steve Nash, who had 9 points and 5 assists, boldly stated after the game, “We were expecting to meet the Clippers but we really wanted to face Seattle. We’re happy that we’re playing them but I have to admit we were expecting more of a challenge.”

Wtf, you're now trying to make Steve Nash an arrogant guy?!? Argghhh!!!

Good win for Blazers. You'll have a tough time stopping them. I don't think Stealth have the firepower without Ty. Maybe you should start Ariza at SG, try to slow down Brandon Roy.

Not arrogant. He is just being honest.