Detroit G Billups expected to be ready for East finals Auburn Hills, MI (Sports Network) - Pistons guard Chauncey Billups, who
missed the final two games of Detroit's second-round playoff series with a
strained right hamstring, is expected to suit up for Game 1 of the Eastern
Conference finals.
Billups was injured in the opening quarter in Game 3 of Detroit's series with
Orlando, stumbling over the Magic's Jameer Nelson and straining his hamstring
after falling to a mini-split. Billups did not return to the game or the
series.
The Pistons lost Game 3, 111-86, for their only setback of the series, as
reserve gua... More...
Chauncey Billups is expected to be ready for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, according to the AP. Coach Flip Saunders commented that Billups looked good enough in practice Thursday that he could have played if there was a game. Billups missed the last two games against the Magic with a strained right hamstring.
Our View:The Pistons are awaiting their next opponent. Boston currently leads Cleveland 3-2, and the Pistons could open the Conference Finals on Sunday if the Celtics eliminate the Cavs in Game 6.
The Detroit Pistons have come together as a team and put the Orlando Magic to bed, scoring the 91-86 victory in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinal series to move forward to the finals, taking the series 4-1. This evening, the Pistons once again enjoyed the surge from guard Richard Hamilton . Rip shot a woeful 7-of-20 from the field, but he matched with a perfect 16-of-16 from the free-throw line to score a team-high 31 points.
Our View:As usual, his other numbers lacked, but the scoring put Detroit in the driver's seat and now they look forward to the next round.
Contradicting earlier reports, it now looks as if Chauncey Billups will not play in Game 5 because of a strained right hamstring, according to the Associated Press.
Our View:Despite encouraging news earlier in the day, it seems like Billups just isn't well enough to play meaning the Pistons will have to lean on Lindsey Hunter and Rodney Stuckey to pick up the slack.
