NBA News/Injury News 5/8/08 - 5/24/08

[Hache Man]

<TABLE width="100%" align=center><TBODY><TR><TD class=vaLabel vAlign=top align=middle width=100 rowSpan=5> </TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD class=subHead vAlign=top colSpan=3>Billups (hamstring) hopeful to play Saturday </TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD class=vaLabel colSpan=3>Chauncey Billups - G - DET - May. 8 - 2:49 p.m. ET</B> </TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top colSpan=3>Chauncey Billups is questionable to play against the Magic on Saturday, after leaving Wednesday's game with a hamstring injury. He will have a precautionary MRI on Thursday, and is officially listed as day-to-day.
Pistons coach Flip Saunders was guardedly optimistic that Billups will be available, but the next 24 hours should determine his availability. If Billups isn't able to suit up, Rodney Stuckey would be the Pistons main point guard.
Source: Detroit News
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[Hache Man]

Re: NBA News/Injury News 5/8/08

Re: NBA News/Injury News 5/8/08

Manu Ginobili - G - Spurs

Manu Ginobili's sore left ankle is feeling much better, and he expects to be fine when the Spurs face the Hornets on Thursday night.
Only 13 of 211 teams have ever won a series after falling behind 2-0, so Ginobili wasn't exaggerating much when he referred to Thursday's Game 3 as a "Game 7" for the Spurs. Looking for ways to disrupt the Hornets offense, Tony Parker hinted that he might guard MVP runner-up Chris Paul. May. 8 - 3:39 p.m. ET
Source: San Antonio Express-News

 

[Hache Man]

Re: NBA News/Injury News 5/8/08 - 5/9/09

Re: NBA News/Injury News 5/8/08 - 5/9/09

<TABLE width="100%" align=center><TBODY><TR><TD class=vaLabel vAlign=top align=middle width=100 rowSpan=5> </TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD class=subHead vAlign=top colSpan=3>Billups still questionable for Saturday </TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD class=vaLabel colSpan=3>Chauncey Billups - G - DET - May. 9 - 2:05 p.m. ET</B> </TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top colSpan=3>Chauncey Billups' injured hamstring felt better on Friday morning, but his status for Saturday's game remains questionable. He will not fully test the leg until Saturday, so consider him a game-time decision.
"It's a soft tissue injury and it's tough," Billups said. "It's very restrictive. Even when I just try to walk fast, it's restrictive." The Pistons strength and conditioning coach was encouraged when the injury failed to worsen overnight, and remains optimistic that Billups will play in Game 4. If he can't suit up, Rodney Stuckey will get the start.
Source: Detroit News
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[Hache Man]

Re: NBA News/Injury News 5/8/08 - 5/9/08

Re: NBA News/Injury News 5/8/08 - 5/9/08

<TABLE width="100%" align=center><TBODY><TR><TD class=vaLabel vAlign=top align=middle width=100 rowSpan=5> </TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD class=subHead vAlign=top colSpan=3>Cavaliers' Wallace doubtful to play in Game 3 </TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD class=vaLabel colSpan=3>Ben Wallace - F/C - CLE - May. 9 - 6:47 p.m. ET</B> </TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top colSpan=3>Cavaliers center Ben Wallace is doubtful to play in Game 3 against Boston because of allergies and an inner ear infection. His condition could still improve, but the team described his status as "best case, 50-50".
If Wallace can't play, Anderson Varejao will start alongside Zydrunas Ilgauskas, leaving few frontcourt options off the bench. Joe Smith should play increased minutes, but the Cavaliers don't have anybody capable of replacing Wallace's physical defense and rebounding.
Source: Associated Press
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[Hache Man]

Re: NBA News/Injury News 5/8/08 - 5/10/08

Re: NBA News/Injury News 5/8/08 - 5/10/08

<TABLE width="100%" align=center><TBODY><TR><TD class=vaLabel vAlign=top align=middle width=100 rowSpan=5> </TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD class=subHead vAlign=top colSpan=3>X-rays negative on Deron Williams' wrist </TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD class=vaLabel colSpan=3>Deron Williams - G - UTA - May. 10 - 2:33 p.m. ET</B> </TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top colSpan=3>Deron Williams suffered a right wrist injury during an awkward fall in Friday's Game 3 win over the Lakers, but X-rays were negative.
"It definitely affected me. One time I missed a shot and slapped my hands together, which was not very bright," Williams said. "I just landed it on it wrong. X-rays are negative, so I'm good to go." Consider him probable for Sunday's Game 4.
Source: Deseret News
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[Hache Man]

Re: NBA News/Injury News 5/8/08 - 5/10/08

Re: NBA News/Injury News 5/8/08 - 5/10/08

Pistons' Billups won't play in Game 4 against Magic

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Detroit Pistons guard Chauncey Billups won't play in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Orlando Magic on Saturday.
Pistons coach Flip Saunders says Billups wouldn't be effective because of a sore hamstring. The All-Star strained it on Thursday after getting tied up under the basket with an Orlando player.
With Billups out, the Pistons are activating guards Lindsey Hunter and Juan Dixon. Rookie Rodney Stuckey was effective in Game 3 and is expected to start in place of Billups, who is third in career playoff scoring for the franchise.
AP NEWS
The Associated Press News Service

Copyright 2007-2008, The Associated Press, All Rights Reserved

 

[Hache Man]

Re: NBA News/Injury News 5/8/08 - 5/12/08

Re: NBA News/Injury News 5/8/08 - 5/12/08

<TABLE width="100%" align=center><TBODY><TR><TD class=vaLabel vAlign=top align=middle width=100 rowSpan=5> </TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD class=subHead vAlign=top colSpan=3>Kobe will play in Game 5 despite bad back </TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD class=vaLabel colSpan=3>Kobe Bryant - G - LAK - May. 12 - 2:29 p.m. ET</B> </TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top colSpan=3>Kobe Bryant struggled through a back injury on Sunday, but said he will "definitely" be ready to play in Game 5.
"Second play of the game....my back just caught," Bryant said. "I couldn't go to the basket...I tried to be a decoy." Phil Jackson was upset after the game, because he felt Kobe's teammates "bailed out" during overtime, standing around and watching as Kobe handled the ball against constant double-teams.
Source: Los Angeles Daily News
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[Hache Man]

Re: NBA News/Injury News 5/8/08 - 5/12/08

Re: NBA News/Injury News 5/8/08 - 5/12/08

Kobe Bryant - G - Lakers

Kobe Bryant met the media Monday with an electronic stimulating device hooked up to his sore lower back.
"It cuts down the pain," he said. How, I don't know." Bryant said he's lucky he didn't miss time in Game 4. "I don't know how I made it through the game, to be honest with you." Bryant said he will receive treatment around the clock, but we're guessing he'll play in Game 5 on Wednesday. May. 12 - 8:40 p.m. ET

 

[Hache Man]

Re: NBA News/Injury News 5/8/08 - 5/13/08

Re: NBA News/Injury News 5/8/08 - 5/13/08

Chauncey Billups - G - Pistons

Detroit point guard Chauncey Billups (hamstring) apparently is feeling better, but hasn't been cleared to play in Game 5 Tuesday against the Magic in Detroit.
Pistons strength and conditioning coach Arnie Kander said Billups has not had any setbacks. "He's done a lot of cutting, rotating, pivoting...He's had no problem, no limitations," Kander said. "Chauncey said, "'We'll see in the morning [today]. I am feeling good, everything is great.' But we'll see where we are at." Coach Flip Saunders added that if Billups is cleared to play, he'll play. Regardless of the score of the series, which Detroit currently leads 3-1. May. 13
Source: Orlando Sentinel

 

[Hache Man]

Re: NBA News/Injury News 5/8/08 - 5/13/08

Re: NBA News/Injury News 5/8/08 - 5/13/08

<TABLE width="100%" align=center><TBODY><TR><TD class=vaLabel vAlign=top align=middle width=100 rowSpan=5> </TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD class=subHead vAlign=top colSpan=3>Dumars hints that Billups will play in Game 5 </TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD class=vaLabel colSpan=3>Chauncey Billups - G - DET - May. 13 - 3:54 p.m. ET</B> </TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top colSpan=3>After watching Chauncey Billups participate in Tuesday morning's shootaround, Pistons GM Joe Dumars said he thinks the guard, who has a strained hamstring, will play in Tuesday's Game 5.
"He was moving pretty good," Dumars said. "I don't want to get ahead of myself, but I think he's going to try to give it a go tonight." We still think the Pistons should rest Billups for one more game, but Flip Saunders has said that if he's healthy, he'll play.
Source: ESPN.com
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[Hache Man]

Re: NBA News/Injury News 5/8/08 - 5/13/08

Re: NBA News/Injury News 5/8/08 - 5/13/08

<TABLE width="100%" align=center><TBODY><TR><TD class=vaLabel vAlign=top align=middle width=100 rowSpan=5> </TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD class=subHead vAlign=top colSpan=3>Billups now unlikely to play in Game 5 </TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD class=vaLabel colSpan=3>Chauncey Billups - G - DET - May. 13 - 6:03 p.m. ET</B> </TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top colSpan=3>Despite Joe Dumars saying earlier in the day that he expected Chauncey Billups to play in Tuesday's Game 5 against the Magic, reports out of Detroit indicate that he is unlikely to suit up due to his hamstring injury.
We've said all along it makes little sense to risk playing Billups this soon after his injury, and it now sounds like he won't play. As far as he know, he still hasn't been officially ruled out, but it would be shocking to see him play tonight.
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[Hache Man]

Re: NBA News/Injury News 5/8/08 - 5/14/08

Re: NBA News/Injury News 5/8/08 - 5/14/08

<TABLE width="100%" align=center><TBODY><TR><TD class=vaLabel vAlign=top align=middle width=100 rowSpan=5> </TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD class=subHead vAlign=top colSpan=3>Chandler expects to play in Hornets next game </TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD class=vaLabel colSpan=3>Tyson Chandler - C - NO - May. 14 - 3:43 p.m. ET</B> </TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top colSpan=3>Tyson Chandler doesn't expect to miss any more time after leaving Tuesday's game with a bruised left foot.
"I landed funny, and I kind of lost feeling in it," Chandler said. "But I'll be fine." Chandler has struggled with foul trouble in the last two games, and the Hornets don't fare too well without him. Melvin Ely isn't suited to defending Tim Duncan and doesn't offer much offensively, so Chandler's prognosis is terrific news for New Orleans.
Source: New Orleans Times-Picayune
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[Hache Man]

Re: NBA News/Injury News 5/8/08 - 5/14/08

Re: NBA News/Injury News 5/8/08 - 5/14/08

<TABLE width="100%" align=center><TBODY><TR><TD class=vaLabel vAlign=top align=middle width=100 rowSpan=5> </TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD class=subHead vAlign=top colSpan=3>Kobe 'OK' and set to play on Wednesday </TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD class=vaLabel colSpan=3>Kobe Bryant - G - LAK - May. 14 - 6:54 p.m. ET</B> </TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top colSpan=3>Kobe Bryant shot prior to the Lakers shootaround on Wednesday and still plans on playing in Game 5 tonight despite a sore back.
Kobe didn't speak to reporters, but Phil Jackson said he was "OK." He's not going to be at 100 percent tonight, but as long as he's playing, the Lakers hope to take care of business at home and open up a 3-2 lead on the Jazz.
Source: Deseret News
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[Hache Man]

Re: NBA News/Injury News 5/8/08 - 5/15/08

Re: NBA News/Injury News 5/8/08 - 5/15/08

<TABLE width="100%" align=center><TBODY><TR><TD class=vaLabel vAlign=top align=middle width=100 rowSpan=5> </TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD class=subHead vAlign=top colSpan=3>Gibson leaves with shoulder contusion </TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD class=vaLabel colSpan=3>Daniel Gibson - G - CLE - May. 15 </TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top colSpan=3>Daniel Gibson left in the fourth quarter of Wednesday's Game 5 after suffering a right shoulder contusion early in the fourth quarter.
The injury occurred during a collision with teammate Anderson Varejao and then went straight to the locker room. Hopefully it's not a separation, as the Cavs need Gibson's outside shooting in the playoffs. Consider him day-to-day.
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[Hache Man]

Re: NBA News/Injury News 5/8/08 - 5/15/08

Re: NBA News/Injury News 5/8/08 - 5/15/08

<TABLE width="100%" align=center><TBODY><TR><TD class=vaLabel vAlign=top align=middle width=100 rowSpan=5> </TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD class=subHead vAlign=top colSpan=3>Billups healthy, ready to play in Game 1 </TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD class=vaLabel colSpan=3>Chauncey Billups - G - DET - May. 15 - 4:01 p.m. ET</B> </TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top colSpan=3>Chauncey Billups practiced with the Pistons on Thursday and is expected to play in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals.
Billups missed the final two games of their second round series after straining his right hamstring. Rodney Stuckey played brilliantly as a substitute starter, and should continue to see substantial minutes off the bench.
Source: AP
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[Hache Man]

Re: NBA News/Injury News 5/8/08 - 5/15/08

Re: NBA News/Injury News 5/8/08 - 5/15/08

<TABLE width="100%" align=center><TBODY><TR><TD class=vaLabel vAlign=top align=middle width=100 rowSpan=5> </TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD class=subHead vAlign=top colSpan=3>Gibson out 1-2 weeks w/ separated shoulder </TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD class=vaLabel colSpan=3>Daniel Gibson - G - CLE - May. 15 - 3:47 p.m. ET</B> </TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top colSpan=3>Cavaliers guard Daniel Gibson will miss 1-2 weeks after an MRI revealed a first-degree separation of his left shoulder, effectively ending his season.
This is devastating for the Cavs, who might need Damon Jones to provide perimeter scoring and keep the Celtics defense honest. The injury throws serious doubt on LeBron's quote after the Cavs loss in Game 5, when he said, "A LeBron James team is never desperate."
Source: AP
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[Hache Man]

Re: NBA News/Injury News 5/8/08 - 5/15/08

Re: NBA News/Injury News 5/8/08 - 5/15/08

<TABLE width="100%" align=center><TBODY><TR><TD class=vaLabel vAlign=top align=middle width=100 rowSpan=5> </TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD class=subHead vAlign=top colSpan=3>Chandler will play despite sprained toe </TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD class=vaLabel colSpan=3>Tyson Chandler - C - NO - May. 15 - 2:53 P.m. ET</B> </TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top colSpan=3>Tyson Chandler was forced out of Tuesday's game with a sprained toe, not a bruised foot as originally reported. The prognosis remains the same, and he will play in Game 6.
Chandler even said that he would have returned in Game 5 if it was necessary. His teammates gave him a hard time about his dramatic collapse onto the court, complete with an exaggerated re-enactment by Peja Stojakovic. David West, who is battling a stiff and sore back, is also expected to play.
Source: San Antonio Express-News
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[Hache Man]

Re: NBA News/Injury News 5/8/08 - 5/16/08

Re: NBA News/Injury News 5/8/08 - 5/16/08

<TABLE width="100%" align=center><TBODY><TR><TD class=vaLabel vAlign=top align=middle width=100 rowSpan=5> </TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD class=subHead vAlign=top colSpan=3>West aggravates back injury, iffy for Game 7 </TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD class=vaLabel colSpan=3>David West - F - NO - May. 16</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top colSpan=3>Hornets' forward David West, coming off a 38-point, 14-rebound, 5-block Game 5 aggravated a pinched nerve in his back in the fourth quarter of Thursday's Game 6, leaving him questionable for Game 7 on Monday night.
West was just 4-of-14 for 10 points and six boards in 38 minutes before leaving. He took a very hard and deliberate shot to the back from Robert Horry, which will add fuel to the fire from those suggesting the Spurs are a dirty team. The winner of the third quarter has won each game in this series, but the chips are stacked against the Spurs. When trailing 3-2 in the playoffs and then winning Game 6, the Spurs are 0-3 in Game 7s. And they have to play in a hostile environment at New Orleans. West had to be helped to the locker room and his health and status for Game 7 will be crucial to New Orleans. The good news is he'll have three full days of rest before the finale.
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[Hache Man]

Re: NBA News/Injury News 5/8/08 - 5/16/08

Re: NBA News/Injury News 5/8/08 - 5/16/08

<TABLE width="100%" align=center><TBODY><TR><TD class=vaLabel vAlign=top align=middle width=100 rowSpan=5> </TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD class=subHead vAlign=top colSpan=3>Kobe ready to go for Friday's Game 6 </TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD class=vaLabel colSpan=3>Kobe Bryant - G - LAK - May. 16 - 6:01 p.m. ET</B> </TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top colSpan=3>Kobe Bryant had no issues in Friday's shootaround and should be ready to play through his sore back in tonight's Game 6 at Utah. The Lakers lead the series 3-2.
"I think he'll have no problem," Phil Jackson said after Friday's shootaround. "He came out and shot with the rest of the players."
Source: Salt Lake Tribune
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[Hache Man]

Re: NBA News/Injury News 5/8/08 - 5/18/08

Re: NBA News/Injury News 5/8/08 - 5/18/08

<TABLE width="100%" align=center><TBODY><TR><TD class=vaLabel vAlign=top align=middle width=100 rowSpan=5> </TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD class=subHead vAlign=top colSpan=3>Hornets' West should be ready for Game 7 </TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD class=vaLabel colSpan=3>David West - F - NO - May. 18</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top colSpan=3>David West practiced with the Hornets on Saturday, despite his back injury, and is expected to play in Monday's Game 7.
West was injured on Thursday on a hard screen by the Spurs' Robert Horry and had to be helped off the court. "If you come to practice and one of your best players is hurt, and you see him out here getting some shots up, that's the sign of a warrior," Hornets guard Morris Peterson said. "It did feel good to see him out there. It gave guys more confidence that he's going to play Monday."
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[Hache Man]

Re: NBA News/Injury News 5/8/08 - 5/19/08

Re: NBA News/Injury News 5/8/08 - 5/19/08

<TABLE width="100%" align=center><TBODY><TR><TD class=vaLabel vAlign=top align=middle width=100 rowSpan=5> </TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD class=subHead vAlign=top colSpan=3>David West ready to play in Monday's Game 7 </TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD class=vaLabel colSpan=3>David West - F - NO - May. 19</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top colSpan=3>David West participated in most of the Hornets practice on Sunday, describing his back injury as "right at 100%", with "most of the soreness out of there". He will start Monday evening's Game 7 against the Spurs.
"My biggest thing is just to go out and not think about it," West said. "I'm just going to go out there and play, try to help this team advance." The series' history favors the Hornets -- so far the home team has won all six games by an average margin of 18.2 points. Chris Paul is unimpressed by that statistic: "You could put this game in the middle of the desert somewhere," he said. "The previous six games really don't matter too much."
Source: New Orleans Times-Picayune
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[Hache Man]

Re: NBA News/Injury News 5/8/08 - 5/20/08

Re: NBA News/Injury News 5/8/08 - 5/20/08

<TABLE width="100%" align=center><TBODY><TR><TD class=vaLabel vAlign=top align=middle width=100 rowSpan=5> </TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD class=subHead vAlign=top colSpan=3>Billups says his hamstring isn't 100% healed </TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD class=vaLabel colSpan=3>Chauncey Billups - G - DET - May. 20 - 3:36 p.m. ET</B> </TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top colSpan=3>Chauncey Billups admitted on Tuesday that his injured hamstring hasn't completely healed and will likely be sore for the rest of the playoffs. Fortunately for the Pistons, he doesn't expect to miss any more time.
When asked whether he will be able to do everything he normally does, Billups replied, "Not everything, but I am good enough to play...as far as being the best that I can be, I don't know if I can get to that." Fortunately for Billups, speed has never been his greatest asset -- but Rajon Rondo certainly won't be upset if his nemesis is one step slower.
Source: Detroit News
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[Hache Man]

Re: NBA News/Injury News 5/8/08 - 5/21/08

Re: NBA News/Injury News 5/8/08 - 5/21/08

<TABLE width="100%" align=center><TBODY><TR><TD class=vaLabel vAlign=top align=middle width=100 rowSpan=5> </TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD class=subHead vAlign=top colSpan=3>Hamilton could be disciplined for elbow </TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD class=vaLabel colSpan=3>Richard Hamilton - G - DET - May. 21</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top colSpan=3>Richard Hamilton threw an elbow at Kevin Garnett's face in the fourth quarter of Tuesday's Game 1, and could face some disciplinary action from the league once the play is reviewed.
Hamilton was trying to go through a Garnett screen, but the follow-through with his elbow to KG's face is going to raise some eyebrows. It appeared to be a cheap shot and we would not be at all surprised if Hamilton gets a one-game suspension for his actions. If so, Rodney Stuckey could have a big line in Game 2.
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[Hache Man]

Re: NBA News/Injury News 5/8/08 - 5/23/08

Re: NBA News/Injury News 5/8/08 - 5/23/08

Manu Ginobili - G - Spurs

Manu Ginobili says he's still hurting, but is refusing to make excuses for his Game 1 performance.
He tweaked a left ankle injury in the first quarter on Wednesday and struggled throughout before ending with 10 points. "You always want to play," Ginobili said. "In such a big game, even if you are not doing good, you think you are going to change things. I still felt like I could help the team and do things, but I didn't play good. That's the bottom line." He should be ready to go for Friday's Game 2. May. 23
Source: Los Angeles Times

 

[Hache Man]

Re: NBA News/Injury News 5/8/08 - 5/24/08

Chauncey Billups - G - Pistons

Flip Saunders said Chauncey Billups was "a little sore" in Friday's practice but made it through the entire session with his tender hamstring.
Billups played 32 minutes in Game 2, and appeared to tweak his injury in the fourth quarter. But he stayed in the game and will be fine for today, Saunders said. May. 24 - 8:22 a.m. ET
Source: Detroit Free Press