Is Rip Hamilton coming off the bench now for the Pistons?

Shooting guard Ben Gordon and power forward Charlie Villanueva are no longer two of the most talented offensive reserves in the league. For now, they have become starters.
Gordon and Villanueva were in the lineup for the Pistons' overtime victory over New Orleans Sunday. Head coach John Kuester decided he needed to take a drastic step after an embarrassing home loss to the Los Angeles Clippers two nights earlier. Gordon replaced Richard Hamilton, who missed the game with an upset stomach, while Villanueva became the fourth player to start at power forward this season.
From all appearances, Kuester was ready to remove Hamilton from the starting lineup regardless of any illness. There was an underlying suspicion that Hamilton was actually more upset at losing his spot. Hamilton bristled two seasons ago when then-head coach Michael Curry tried to make him a sixth man to accommodate Allen Iverson.
Hamilton and his teammates will have a light week to digest the changes. They only play once before Christmas, a road game Wednesday in Toronto.