Team Colours Game 2

White Hot – The Pistons got off to a similarly struggling offensive start in Game 2, shooting 37 percent in the first quarter and getting only 16 attempts. So Hamilton went into attack mode, spearheading their 32-point second quarter with nine, getting to the free throw line six times. On consecutive possessions, his drives forced Pierce to step in on help defense and pick up blocking fouls each time. Ten of his points came at the foul line (in 12 attempts) and he added four assists and three rebounds, including a huge offensive board late. And he made the shot of the game with 48 seconds left after getting the ball near mid-court and the shot clock running down. When Garnett got up too aggressively on him, Hamilton drove past him, took off at the free-throw line and threw in a floater to put the Pistons ahead by six.

HAMILTON: “When I got an opportunity to get a switch, I just tried to attack him. Everybody had to stay home – we’ve got Chaunce, Tay and our bigs. I just tried to stay aggressive to the basket and I hit the shot.”

Blue Collar – Give it the Pistons’ point guards – Billups, Stuckey and Hunter, who combined for 36 points, 12 assists and one turnover. Billups was much crisper than in Game 1, his first action in 13 days since straining his hamstring, and finished with 19 points, seven assists and no turnovers in 32 minutes. He was able to sit 16 minutes because Stuckey was terrific in his 17 minutes, hitting 5 of 8 shots for 13 points and three assists to go with two steals. Hunter hit 2 of 3 shots in 10 quality minutes.

Red Flag – Jason Maxiell didn’t dent the stat sheet in 4:35 of first-half playing time, except for picking up a foul, and didn’t see the floor in the second half, being replaced by Theo Ratliff. That’s putting a little too much stress on Wallace (13 points, 10 rebounds in 36 minutes) and McDyess (15 points, eight rebounds in 39).