AUBURN HILLS -- Chauncey Billups' strained right hamstring is not the only thing the 6-foot-3 guard must overcome before he returns to action.
Because Billups never has had a hamstring injury before, he also is dealing with the mental challenge athletes face when they return to action after a first-time injury.
"Chauncey's never (strained) a hamstring before," said Arnie Kander, Detroit's strength and conditioning coach. "So what happens, there has to be a comfort level and confidence (in the hamstring) that occurs. That's probably more important than anything."
Billups spent Monday working with Kander in various agility drills within a 15-foot space.
When asked about how Billups fared, Kander said, "played great defense, able to do lots of cuts, rotate, pivot ... no problems. Everything looked great; no problems. My key with this, no setbacks from day to day."
Since suffering the injury shortly into Detroit's 111-86 Game 3 loss at Orlando, Billups has shown steady progress.
"If you look at it three days ago, four days ago compared to today, night and day," Kander said. "Running good, feeling good ... you have to remember what I said the first day; the type of injury, the mechanism of injury, there are grades of hamstrings. This isn't a sprint-related hamstring (injury)."
Because of that, the timetable for the hamstring to fully recovery is quicker.
However, the amount of time it takes before Billups is comfortable and confident the injury has healed remains to be seen.
"When you've never had something, it's a whole different animal," Kander said. "If you're not used to it, how do I adjust my body? So what we're trying to do is give him his space and comfort level, letting him work through it, see how he feels the next day. But we've had no setbacks. He hasn't gotten sore. He comes in every morning feeling better, and that's great."
Hamilton set to break record
Richard Hamilton is on the verge of becoming the franchise's all-time leading scorer in the playoffs.
Making the record all that more improbable is the fact he has been able to do it in just six postseasons.
He needs just 10 points to tie Isiah Thomas' franchise record of 2,261 postseason points.
"To me, it's crazy," Hamilton said. "Zeke is Detroit. If you get an opportunity to pass him ... I don't even feel as though I've been here long enough. It's a great honor, a great accomplishment. I wouldn't be able to do it without winning games. That's the great thing about it."
Guarantee does not bother Detroit
The Pistons were not bothered or surprised by Orlando point guard Jameer Nelson guaranteeing the Magic would win Game 5 in Detroit.
"He has to feel that way, because it's win or go home for them," Hamilton said. "You just don't get caught up in that. We feel as though we want to go out and win the game, too."
Said Lindsey Hunter: "If that's how he feels, that's how he feels. I've been on the other end of the guarantee, too. I just laugh at those guys; even our own guys, too."
Prince receives honor
For the fourth consecutive season, Tayshaun Prince was named to the NBA's all-defensive second team. Chauncey Billups Rasheed Wallace and Richard Hamilton also received votes. Magic center Dwight Howard also was named to the all-defensive second team.
