Rip's READY

I sure hope so... And I hope everyone else is ready too...

Hamilton says he's 'ready to go' as Pistons try to stay alive in East finals

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- The Detroit Pistons and their fans received good news Friday after Richard Hamilton proclaimed himself "ready to go" for Detroit's must-win Game 6 tonight against the Boston Celtics.

"I have no choice. This is do or die," Hamilton, who suffered a strained right elbow near the conclusion of the Pistons' Game 5 loss in Boston, said after the team's shootaround Friday.

"Once I get out there and the adrenaline is going, I'll be fine," Hamilton said. "I told my teammates, 'Don't look at me as handicap.' ... I'm fine. I'm ready to roll."

Detroit's leading scorer strained his elbow in the final seconds of Boston's 106-102 win on Wednesday night. X-rays were negative, and Hamilton's arm was in a sling as he left the arena. He finished with 25 points.

Detroit needs a win to extend the Eastern Conference finals to a seventh game. Hamilton leads the Pistons in the series with 22.2 points per game.