The Pistons’ Antonio McDyess, left, and the Celtics’ Paul Pierce hit the deck in a scramble for a loose ball during the third quarter of last night’s Game Four at Auburn Hills, Mich.

MCT / Kirthmon F. Dozier

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — The NBA is filled with players who own stylish and garish jewelry.

Bling is a way of life in the league but one trinket stands above them all this time of the season — a championship ring. James Posey knows the power of the ring. So does Sam Cassell. They are the two Celtics who’ve played on championship teams. Posey won with the Miami Heat in 2006 and Cassell helped the Houston Rockets to titles in 1994-95.

Posey wore his ring to training camp in September and brought it out again in the middle of this season. Now it’s back on his finger in the playoffs.

“Some guys like to touch it before games. They just like to see it,” Posey said yesterday.

The ring is the thing all NBA players strive for. It’s the reason Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett were so excited to join Paul Pierce in Boston last summer. The goal was simple, championship or bust.

“It’s one win. It’s one step closer to where we want to be,” Allen said after the Celtics’ big road win Saturday.

Pierce admired Posey’s prize in training camp but doesn’t pay any attention now. “I don’t look at it. I don’t touch it,” he said. “We did that before the season started and that was it. Now I’m trying to get my own.”

Cassell would love to get back to The Finals. After getting drafted in the first round out of Florida State, Cassell backed up Kenny Smith with the Rockets and won championship rings in each of his first two pro seasons. Getting back hasn’t been easy. He helped the Milwaukee Bucks to the Eastern finals in 2001 and teamed with Garnett in Minnesota when the Timberwolves lost in the Western finals in 2004.

Now he’s back on the doorstep of another chance at a championship and a third ring for his fingers.

“I’ve told the guys ‘You can’t let this slip away. It’s hard to get here,’ ” said Cassell. “I enjoy this time of year. I like the playoffs. The intensity level goes up and I think I’ve played some of my finest basketball this time of year.”

Maintaining their point

While all of Detroit worried about the status of Chauncey Billups’ right hamstring last night, the Celtics didn’t much care.

“We just play our game. We’re going attack (him) regardless,” said Doc Rivers.

While Billups has struggled (11.3 points, 40 percent shooting) in the series thus far, impressive rookie Rodney Stuckey has stepped up and bailed the Pistons out at the point guard spot. Stuckey is averaging 13 points a game in the series, second on the team. Detroit coach Flip Saunders said he was watching for Billups’ movement on defense as much as anything and he surprisingly began the game chasing Rajon Rondo instead of Allen.

“I don’t know if it’s as much right now his hamstring as it is the timing is off from not being able to practice and only playing his third game in two weeks, two and a half weeks,” said Saunders. “He’s trying. He took extra film home (Sunday night) to look and see where he’s at. He’s doing what he can to get both his body and his mind ready.”

Hamilton embraces new role

Richard Hamilton has enjoyed this season more than most and it has nothing to do with his team’s success. The former UConn star became a father last October when Richard Hamilton II, known as Deuce, entered the world.

“It’s the best. It puts everything in perspective,” Hamilton said. “Stuff that you used to think was important, isn’t important when you have a little man. It slows you down a whole lot. You grow up real fast. You put on your seat belt every time you get in the car. You’re always home. You don’t hang out as much.”

Hamilton broke a Pistons’ team record last night by playing in his 114th playoff game. He already owns the franchise record for points in playoffs games.

Early arrival

As usual, Allen was one of the first Celtics at the Palace last night. Allen likes to arrive at game sites three hours before game time, often traveling with the equipment guys or by himself in a cab.

“I’ve always taken cabs, which has taken me through every back alley and street in an NBA city,” he said. “I’ve also been to every entrance, trying to find out how to get in arenas because they’re locked when I get there sometimes.”

Extra shots

If either of the conference final series lasts at least six games, the NBA Finals will begin on June 5. Game Two will be on June 8. The Celtics own the home-court advantage through the playoffs. … Jeremiah Rivers, the son of the Celtics’ coach who announced last month that he was leaving Georgetown, is close on deciding his next school and will choose either Indiana or Georgia Tech. Watch out for the Hoosiers and new coach Tom Crean. Doc Rivers got to know Crean well when he coached at his alma mater, Marquette.

kmcnamar@projo.com