215. One win, one loss, the situation is stable_4

Carlisle, observing from a close distance, felt both relieved and regretful.

He was relieved because Hamilton's ability to seize opportunities was still outstanding, knowing how to utilize his physical advantage.

Back when Carlisle was with the Pistons, it was he who advocated for trading Stackhouse, who had averaged 29.8 points per game in the 00-01 season, for Hamilton, a player who averaged only 20 points and had an assist to turnover ratio of 1 to 1 and was not good at ball handling, in the summer of '02.

Although the Pistons had just signed Billups at that time, Billups had only averaged 12 points and 5 assists as the sixth man in the previous season. Trading away the team's best ball handler for a shooter required courage.

The decision proved to be right as they made it to the Eastern Conference Finals in their first year together.