“I guess I got my swagger back, Mama that said I killed her man, Well I guess I got the dagger back…”  -Jay Z, All I Need (2001)

It’s an understatement to say that Rip Hamilton has gotten his swagger back since returning to the starting lineup. He’s looks as hungry as he’s looked since ‘04, his cuts are more incisive than ever, and his demeanor is as equine as it’s been since Mr. Big Shot’s departure to the Mile High City.

Hamilton is, in a sense, carrying the Detroit Pistons! In last night’s win over the Orlando Magic, he chipped in 29 points and dished out a career-high 14 dimes (CP3 numbers). Since his return back into the starting lineup the Pistons have won five of their last six games, without Allen Iverson.

Rip City took Magic guard J.J. Redick on a trip that I’m sure that he will never forget last night, including a wicked spin move (…Earl the Pearl-esque) around half court followed by a pretty feed to Walter Herrmann for the assist. He put the dagger into the Magic’s hearts when he ran Reddick through a crisp screen for a sweet mid-range jumper to push the Pistons lead to 95-90 late in the fourth quarter.

“It was a big game because with Allen (Iverson) out and Sheed not playing and Stuck(ey) getting hurt, it was gonna be a tough game for us and we just dug deep and we got the win,” Hamilton says.

WIth Hamilton back in the starting lineup, the Pistons look well equipped to parry the competition in the Eastern Conference.

The Pistons’ upcoming road trip will include the home courts of four of the top five Eastern Conference teams (Cleveland, Boston, Orlando, Miami) and a Western Conference contender (New Orleans), in a short span of nine days.

And then “home sweet home,” right? I wish. The first game back is against the Nuggets, a team whose now formidable status needs no explanation for Pistons fans.

A 14-15 home record goes without saying.

Pessimism is a rampant mantra in these semi-dark days of Detroit basketball, and that state of mind could well worsen in the coming days.

In the spirit of the moment, the Pistons don’t stand much of a chance against a Cavaliers team that has only dropped one of its 25 home games.

If you’re a Detroit fan with a phobia of the sub-.500 realm, get ready to call your local shrink.

This could get ugly. You have been warned.

-Adam Debrowski, PistonPost.com editor

•For once, the Pistons looked like a youthful group that could keep up with one of the league’s top teams- until the clock struck 12 [minutes left in the fourth quarter]. Initially up by eight then outscored 32-14 in the final quarter, this was one of the most embarrassing Piston collapses in recent memory.

•This is the first time Detroit has lost four straight home games for eight years. That’s no typo- eight years.

•The loss moved the team to 13-11 at home and .500 continues to creep ever closer. Perhaps the unfamiliarity of having a losing record would prompt some stern action from the front office. They could only be so lucky.

•Rip was extremely efficient off the bench and Allen Iverson used his time well. However, I don’t think Rip playing only 26 minutes was part of the bench bargain.

•Amir Johnson was bringing great energy every minute he was on the floor. But again, he played an inexplicable 21 minutes.

•Anderson Varejao got bloodied up by Dice’s inadvertent elbow, but honestly, I thought he was just flopping until I saw the blood.

•Interesting quotes from Ben Wallace:

“Billups brought a lot of leadership to the team and made sure everybody got the ball where they needed to get it.”

“It definitely hurt the chemistry of the team.”

Should Ben Wallace really be speaking of how a teammate leaving hurts the chemistry of a team?

•Excellent article by freep.com’s Jamie Samuelsen here. Speaks for many a frustrated Pistons fan.

The Answer notched 25 points on 7-12 shooting.  It’s a beautiful sight to see AI meshing in so well with Detroit’s system, I can honestly say I didn’t think the new-look Pistons would look this good, this fast.  Anybody who thinks Allen Iverson can’t adjust to the Pistons offense needs to re-assess- Tayshaun and Sheed both had more field goal attempts than Iverson.
Kobe Bryant held to 12-30 shooting.
The Pistons continue to give far too many offensive rebounds up.  The Lakers had 16 offensive boards, as opposed to Detroit’s 7.  Detroit compensated last night with their hot shooting, but those numbers aren’t going to fly in other situations.
Tayshaun was remarkable.
Arron Afflalo logged some heavy minutes, and made the best of his hefty time (26 minutes).  I keep noticing Iverson-Afflalo connections, particularly during streaking fast breaks, that could evolve to something notable soon.
Sasha Vujacic is an a**.