LOS ANGELES -- Even before the season started, Detroit Pistons head coach Michael Curry envisioned his bench playing a pivotal role this season.
The plan was to give them a steady dose of playing time early on so they would be comfortable in the pressure-packed environment of the playoffs. That's still one of Curry's goals, but injuries have forced him to expedite the process.
Richard Hamilton, who has missed the past four games with a groin injury, will not play today against the Los Angeles Clippers. Rasheed Wallace, bothered by a sore right foot that kept him out of Friday's win over Sacramento, also is out.
Antonio McDyess, who was in uniform but did not play (coach's decision) in Detroit's past two games, didn't sound optimistic about his chances of playing today due to a rib injury.
"It's real bad," he said. "I can't imagine being a football player. I'm serious. They must get shot up, or something."
Curry received a big boost off the bench in Amir Johnson on Friday. Johnson had 10 points and 14 rebounds against Sacramento.
"All our guys here have had big games up to this point," Curry said.
"They've played games where they've played significant minutes. They're confident, and we're confident as a staff that whenever we need to call upon them to play, they'll be able to play."
Holding leads
During Detroit's season-best six game winning streak, they have had their share of blown leads. Unlike earlier in the season, they've found ways to hold off teams to secure the victory.
"We've done a better job," Curry said. "We try to keep certain personnel together, so we can extend runs and we can break a run when a team is making one towards us."
