Pistons FINALLY kicked off the regular season last night and in their first home game of the season beat the Indiana Pacers 100-94. Prince led the way for the Pistons with 19 points 5 boards and 3 assists in only 32 minutes.

Game Notes:

• One of the most impressive stats of the night was the Pistons outscoring the Pacers 19-4 in fastbreak points. Michael Curry said the team wanted to run more this season and so far they’ve lived up to that which is a good thing to see.
• Prince was very aggressive offensively finishing with 19 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 block in 32 minutes. It was obvious he looked more aggressive from the start and hopefully he’ll keep that attitude even when the competition is a bit better.
• Amir Johnson debut as a starter was very nice. Amir finished with 6 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 blocks in just over 20 minutes and most importantly stayed out of foul trouble. Amir finished with just one foul on the night.
• Bench contributed very well being led by Walter Hermann who finished with 10 points last night. Stuckey struggled going 3-9 from the field and didn’t play a lot because of foul trouble but overall the bench crew did very well last night. Just about everyone got decent minutes as well, no starter played over 35 minutes last night which is a good sign.
• Danny Granger will be a star in this league. Granger finished last night with 33 points shooting 10-16 from the field also racking in 5 boards and blocking 3 shots. Overall great game from him last night…

Overall it wasn’t the smoothest game but its the first game of the regular season under a new head coach and a lot of guys are playing and playing decent minutes so it’ll take time for things to completely jell. They pulled through with the win though and that’s the only thing that matters so off to the next game….

Read the rest of this entry »

• Once again, Arron Afflalo had a great game off the bench in 24 minutes finishing with 15 points going 6-7 from the field and 3-3 from behind the arc. Afflalo also finished second in rebounding last night with 5.
• Tayshaun Prince was very impressive last night…not a lot in the stat column but was huge defensively in the second half. 0 rebounds on the night though, he has to do better than that Preseason or not.
• Amir Johnson didn’t look all that impressive although he had a nice transition dunk in the first quarter from Rip. He didn’t play much either, only 13 minutes last night for some reason.
• Sheed once again hung out on the perimeter too much. Not sure if this is by design or if this is just Sheed but somehow, someway they need to get him in the paint. I sort of blame the coaching staff for this for allowing him to launch up so many threes. He took 6 shots last night, 3 were from behind the arc. He did go 2/3 from behind the line though which is much better than 1-7 but still, need and want to see him in the paint more.
• For Milwaukee, Richard Jefferson, Luke Ridnour, Charlie Bell, and first round draft pick  Joe Alexander did not play. Kind of disappointed, would have loved to see all four of them play.

  As for Michael Curry, I was not impressed with him a ton last night in my first time seeing him in the head chair but maybe its just something I’m not understanding. I don’t see why early in the Preseason the starters are playing as many minutes as they’re playing. Last night Rip logged 30 minutes as Prince and Billups logged 26 apiece. Also, the young guys didn’t get a lot of time…Samb and Acker did not play at all and Bynum and Sharpe played very little. Samb has some type of problem with his jaw so maybe that’s the reason he didn’t play but Acker I would have loved to see on the court. He’s supposed to be so much improved and everything and I’ve yet to see anything so far, he can’t even get on the court in the preseason. And Amir only 13 minutes as well, you would think in the preseason he would log more minutes.

Read the rest of this entry »

• Rasheed Wallace went 1-7 from behind the arc last night. Preseason or not, its not a great sign when your center takes 10 shots and 7 of them come from behind the arc, especially when he can only make one of them. So far….same ole Sheed.
• Amir struggled in his first start of his career I believe. He finished with 2 points and 4 rebounds along with 5 fouls in just about 18 minutes. He’s going to have to learn how to stay out of foul trouble if he’s going to be the starter here but hey, Michael Beasley and Shawn Marion are no easy guys to guard.
• Tayshaun Prince impressed me with his rebounding…8 boards from him tonight. One of my biggest criticisms of Prince in the past has been he’s too soft and as a 6′9 small forward in this league he should be averaging more than 4.9rpg. If he can average close to 6-7 a night I’ll be impressed but I’m not getting my hopes up.
• Chauncey and Rip were basically just Chauncey and Rip. Chauncey did lead the game with 6 turnovers…I expect that to change though once the regular season comes around.
• The Bench was awesome…what are they calling them ZooCrewII now? Something like that I believe. Anyways, Stuckey had 23 points shooting 8-15 from the field and 7-7 from the line. He also dished out 5 dimes and grabbed 4 boards…not bad but he did foul out and turnover the ball 4 times. Nice showing for his first preseason game of the season. Hermann continued his hot shooting from the Open Practice on Thursday, Hermann finished with 11 points and went 3-5 from the field as well as 2-3 from behind the Arc. Dice had a nice 10/6 game and Maxiell put up 13/3. Afflalo grabbed 7 boards, Bynum had 4 points and Kwame finished with 3 points and 1 rebound in 11 minutes. Overall, solid game from the bench.
• Alex Acker and Cheikh Samb didn’t get much time at all which was kind of shocking since it was the first preseason game and everything. I guess Curry wanted to use this game to get the starters and regular rotation guys their legs and will use Acker and Samb more as the preseason progesses. Samb getting a DNP was surprising to me though.
• Michael Beasley scored 16 points and grabbed 6 boards in his NBA debut. Nice outing for the rookie in his first official NBA game…

Read the rest of this entry »

By: Dustin Chapman

• Selected D.J. White 29th overall and traded his rights to Seattle for the rights to Walter Sharpe (32nd overall) and Trent Plaisted (46th overall).

• Selected Deron Washington 59th overall.

Detroit didn’t necessarily impress anyone in this draft. Nothing great, nothing horrible. They did, however, deal out of the 29th pick – avoiding the guaranteed contract they would have had to shell out had they stood pat. These three second round picks will battle for roster spots, and potentially places in the rotation. Plaisted may be the early favorite to earn minimal minutes, as the Pistons are currently thin at center. However, Sharpe’s potential could be the gem of the three.

Grade: C

Larry Lage of Yahoo! Sports reports that the Detroit Pistons have promoted Michael Curry to head coach, subsequently following last week’s firing of Flip Saunders.

The Pistons chose not to look far for their fifth coach in nine seasons.

Curry was on Saunders’ staff last season, his first as a coach, and he played with Dumars about a decade ago and with some current Pistons during the 2002-03 season.

He will make $2.5 million a season as part of a contract that includes three guaranteed years with the team holding an option for a fourth.

Assistant coach Dave Cowens, who also was on Saunders’ staff, will be retained. Coaches under contract with other teams are being considered for the remaining openings along with Pistons guard Lindsey Hunter if he retires.

“We’re going to be a staff that is going to be here from the summer until the end of the season and will be here for players to continue to develop and breaking down other teams in the league,” Curry said. “We’re going to be a hardworking staff from top to bottom.”

Posted By: Dustin Chapman

Contrary to the early-week reports that suggested that Flip Saunders would remain the head coach of the Detroit Pistons, Larry Lage reports that the organization has decided to part ways after all.

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP)—Flip Saunders was fired as Detroit Pistons coach Tuesday, four days after his team was eliminated by the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference finals.

President of basketball operations Joe Dumars said it’s “time for a new voice to lead our team.” Saunders had a year left on a four-year deal he signed in 2005. The decision comes three years after Saunders took over for Larry Brown, who led the Pistons to two straight NBA finals.

“Decisions like this are difficult to make, especially with the success we have had throughout the last three regular seasons,” Dumars said in a statement. “However, at this time, I feel it is necessary to make a change.”

A message left for Saunders was not immediately returned. Dumars was to speak Tuesday at the team’s practice facility.

Assistant coach Michael Curry appears to be the leading candidate to replace Saunders. Other possible candidates include Detroit assistant coach Terry Porter and former Dallas Mavericks coach Avery Johnson.

In Saunders’ three seasons, the Pistons were 176-70 in the regular season and 30-21 in the postseason, but they lost in the Eastern Conference finals each year.

The Pistons have appeared in six straight conference finals, the first franchise to do so since the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1980s. But they also are the second team in league history to lose in the round before the NBA finals three years in a row, joining the Celtics from 1953-55.

Dumars decided a year ago to bring back key players who have been together since the 2004 championship season, as well as Saunders, while infusing energy with rookies and young reserves. But after the loss in Game 6 of the East finals to Boston on Friday, the likelihood of change grew.

Before coming to Detroit, Saunders was 411-326 with the Minnesota Timberwolves from 1995-05. He led them to eight straight postseason appearances — seven first-round exits and an appearance in the 2004 conference finals. After leading Minnesota to a franchise-high 58 wins, he was fired with a 25-26 mark in the 2004-05 season.

Sources tell Yahoo! Sports Adrian Wojnarowski that assistant coach Michael Curry is expected to be Dumars’ choice to take over for Saunders.

Once again, Flip Saunders was unable to take a battle-tested team over the top. Of course, it is unfair to place all of the blame on his shoulders, as some of the players haven’t been living up to their end of the bargain either, but there’s got to be a point where accountability is appointed. It was time to move on.

What’s next? Who really knows, but keep your eyes open for a potential roster overhaul.

.

Posted By: Dustin Chapman

According to DraftExpress, rumors suggest that Indiana forward D.J. White has received a late-first round draft promise; Detroit comes about as a strong possibility given their history.

D.J. White may a promise from the Detroit Pistons at the end of the first round, according to sources with ties to the player. The Pistons have the 29th overall pick and may like the way White’s length and toughness fit into their team’s overall culture. They have not been shy in the past about identifying players they like early on and being aggressive pursuing them—having made a promise to draft Rodney Stuckey with the 15th overall pick right around this time last year, and reportedly also giving DeVon Hardin assurances they would select him in the late first round before he decided to return to school. They did the same exact thing with Jason Maxiell a few years back, which caused him to pull out of the NBA pre-draft camp after just one day, despite then being projected as a 2nd round pick.

White has scheduled many workouts with NBA teams for the weeks leading up to draft, which is not unusual even for players like Stuckey or Maxiell if year’s past is any indication. He will not be playing in the NBA pre-draft camp, which is a pretty good sign that he feels comfortable with where he is projected to be drafted.

White is one of those hard-to-dislike, blue collar bruisers that is more than willing to do anything and everything that is asked of him. In college, he was known for his relentless hard work and extraordinary nose for the ball. In his senior year, however, he also managed to expand his game. As the season progressed, as did the consistency of his mid-range jump shot. When matching that with his soft touch around the basket, he is a guy that defenses can’t abandon.

On the defensive end, he has long reach to his advantage, and is widely considered an above average shot blocker for his size. On the glass? “Fah-get about it”… he gobbles up defensive rebounds in his sleep.

White may struggle in the NBA on the defensive end, as he is not as quick or athletic as his typical matchup will be. But in a limited role, there is no doubt that he can be an effective piece. Think of a less explosive Leon Powe. He’ll never “wow” you, but he’ll get the job done as a cleanup man.

It’ll be interesting to see where he lands, but it’s easy to fathom White being a Joe Dumars kind of guy.

.

Posted By: Dustin Chapman

By: Dustin Chapman

The Detroit Pistons have advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals for the sixth straight year, as they closed out their Semi-Finals series against Orlando on Tuesday night. Sans Chauncey Billups, who sat out the final two games of the series nursing a strained right hamstring, the Pistons pulled out the 91-86 Game 5 victory to complete the series 4-1.

Detroit’s Game 5 win was a bit of an “ugly win,” but in the playoffs, a win is a win nonetheless. Orlando suffered greatly on account of their sloppiness, as they turned the ball over 21 times and failed to execute in the closing minutes of the game. Detroit, on the other hand, played with tremendous care, committing just three turnovers throughout the night.

Perhaps the biggest factor to Detroit’s 26-18 fourth quarter advantage was the energy difference. With the Magic resembling the true meaning of the term “butterfingers” came frustration. With that frustration came lack of focus, thus throwing off their late-game concentration and looking as though they were playing with an irregular heartbeat. Detroit took advantage of that by coming away with multiple hustle plays, acquiring second-chance opportunities, and showing just why they are the more experienced team with annual postseason success. Antonio McDyess, in particular, was a huge energizer for Flip Saunders’ club. The 12-year NBA veteran put together a monster fourth quarter, where he scored 11 points and gobbled up six rebounds to give Detroit a major lift.

Rip Hamilton struggled with his shot in the second half, but despite his perimeter shooting woes, was able to lead his team in scoring. Nineteen of Hamilton’s 31 points came in the second half, and the masked man iced all 16 of his free throw attempts to help give his team a +12 advantage in free throws made (28-16).

Alongside Hamilton in the backcourt for Detroit was rookie Rodney Stuckey, who started in place of the aforementioned injured Chauncey Billups. The first-year guard out of Eastern Washington may have had his best postseason performance to date, as he tallied 15 points, six assists, three rebounds, two steals, and remained controlled by not committing a single turnover. There were multiple times where Stuckey shifted into his second gear, which often left the Magic defense in the dust and gave him a clear path to the basket.

The Piston defense limited Dwight Howard, holding him to just eight shot attempts and forcing him to earn his money at the free throw line. Similar to last season’s first round series, he failed to do so, as he hit just six of his 15 attempts from the charity stripe in Game 5. He did, however, manage to make his presence felt by grabbing 17 rebounds and block three shots.

Regardless, Howard’s defensive activity was not enough to extend the series and play another game in front of his beloved fans at Amway Arena. Stan Van Gundy’s crew should not be ashamed of their season, as they added 12 wins to their 2006-2007 regular season total and got the opportunity to advance to the second round.

While Orlando is fishing, Detroit will be waiting anxiously for their Eastern Conference Finals opponent, which will be the winner of the Boston-Cleveland series that is currently knotted at 2-2. Stay tuned.

After winning game one in their series against the Magic, the Detroit Pistons will need to keep on pumping on the gas or pay the price of splitting at home and having to go to Orlando tied 1-1.

Players Stepping up

Chauncey Billups has looked like the clutch, dominant point guard we all know and loved the past few games in the playoffs. His most recent performance netting him 19 points with 7 assists along with only one turnover. He is most vital to the Piston’s success, being the self-honored leader of the club and taking charge late in games. If the Pistons want to win tonight, Billups will have to best that performance in the previous game.

Stepping in and starting for Antonio McDyess, Jason Maxiell has become a giant baby eater grabbing lots of rebounds and being a force on the defensive end. He needs to keep playing solid D on Dwight Howard and keeping him out of the paint and force him to the perimeter where he is not as comfortable.

Flip on the Rise?

Flip Saunders needs to keep his rotations and adjustments going; he has been solid at that so far in the playoffs. He has kept Jarvis Hayes’s butt glued to the bench where it belongs, and has given Aaron Afflalo extended minutes. I for one however would like to see Walter Herrmann used more tonight to provide strength and quickness as well as a solid slashing presence to attack the Magic defense.

Kaptain’s Keys

1. Keep the man named Dwight Howard from getting easy baskets

The Pistons last game kept Dwight Howard to a lowly 12 points on 5-11 shooting. They forced him to go outside where he is less effective than being inside where he can rack up the dunks. This will be the major factor of winning tonight.

2. SHEEEEEEEEEEED!!!!!!!

Rasheed was a non-factor last game, only hitting 3 shots and barely grabbing any rebounds. He just looked so out of focus last game, and he needs to bounce back and keep working in the paint where he has dominated this post season. No technicals either, two more and he’s suspended for a game.

3. Just go out and play

We all know it, these Pistons like to take it easy once in a while. Well, this is no time to get complacent. They have to maintain focus all throughout the 48 minutes, and send the Magic a message that the Pistons are locked and loaded and are aimed to win.

“He’s only a three”

Another interesting thing to look for tonight is if Rashard Lewis and Theo Ratliff make the court at the same time.  If you can recall, Ratliff was grabbed and thrown by the forward Lewis towards the end of the game on Saturday.  The next day, words were exchanged by Ratliff and Jason Maxiell of the Pistons, and Rashard Lewis and Dwight Howard of the Magic.  To sum it up, Ratliff called Lewis a “three”, or in other words weak and small compared to Ratliff who is a center.

Lewis responded with saying that Ratliff only plays 5 minutes a game basically calling him a scrub.

Ratliff’s teammate Jason Maxiell took a shot at Dwight Howard saying he has a weak lower body and he’s all upper body.  Howard flatly denied that.

It is definitely a game to watch, be sure to tune in on TNT at 7:00 EST.

Go Pistons!
Read the rest of this entry »

 First to the good news, the Pistons whoop up on Washington and go 4-4 in the Preseason, not really nothing to be all excited about but I’d be pissed if we went 0-8 like Miami, that’s just shameful. And Washington pretty much played their rotation throughout so it was good to see Detroit be able to hold them off. Rasheed looked good shooting but man rebounding may be a problem this season. Maxiell gets up high but lately he’s been having problems bringing it down cleanly, he has to learn how to go up and bring it down strong. He did have 10 rebounds last night but 9 of them were on the offensive glass, now he has to start getting them on the other end too.

 Now, on to Stuckey. I have no idea what actually happen, I was sitting on the opposite end right behind the backboard like 3 rows up from the court and really didn’t see what had happened but Matt Dery reported he was fighting through a screen and his hand got caught or something. At first look I thought it was just jammed fingers or whatever but I guess he ended up breaking it. We do still have Flip and Lindsey over there on the bench but this still hurts, I was so excited about seeing him start off the season. I’m guessing he’ll be out like 3-4 weeks or something but hopefully he’s back by end of November early December. He was balling yesterday too, he looked very confident and it has to be a huge blow to have this setback.

Some other notes from last night…

• I still don’t know why people hate on Flip Murray, people calling him a ballhog now? The dude had 8 dimes last night, if there’s an ballhog on the team its defintely Maxiell who’s like a blackhole, once you give it up don’t ever expect to get it back from him. Its about time Detroit fans start embracing Flip, and I hope with Stuckey being out he gets a chance to get some pretty good playing time and start to prove some doubters wrong.
• Jarvis Hayes is fitting in so far just like I imagined. He’s a great shooter and he seems to have his confidence back which is great. He’s not only shooting the rock well but he’s doing other little things too, rebounding, playing defense, just being great energy out there on the court. Defintely a great pick up by Joe D but once he hits a little shooting slump I expect fans to turn on him as well just like they did on Mo and Flip.
• Amir Johnson at first didn’t look really good but towards the end of the game in there with the subs he looked very comfortable and made some great plays. The only question is can he bring that to the regular rotation against regular rotation guys. I’m not sure he’s big enough to play the 4 yet and he’s not quick enough to play the 3 so it’ll be interesting to see how he fits in this season. Still not worth $4m but maybe he’ll prove me wrong.
• Nazr Mohammed looked pretty good in limited minutes, 11 minutes 4 points and 3 boards.
• Afflalo looked very comfortable and I thought looked solid again but he has to work on that ballhandling, three turnovers last night and a few more which could have been turnovers but he recovered the ball. We can’t have another Rip Hamilton out there so take care of the ball!

 With all of that being said the regular season opens up next Thursday at Miami. With an entire week of before the opener that should give time for guys like Rip to rest them ankles and get ready for what will be a tough first part of the season with 8 of their first 10 games on the road. Read the rest of this entry »