Pistons sting Hornets

by Matt Watson on Dec 6, 2007 3:25 AM EST

Before the ball was even tipped, I was nervous about Wednesday's game. The Pistons were playing their fourth game in five nights, and they'd be winning so easily I figured either fatigue or over-confidence would do them in. For the first 12 minutes, it looked like I was right: the Pistons shot just 30% (and didn't grab a single offensive rebound) in the opening quarter while stumbling to a 26-16 deficit.

Fortunately, that's when things started to look up: the Pistons clawed their way back into the game the very next quarter and even managed to enter the break with a 44-42 lead thanks to a pair of free-throws by Chauncey Billups just seconds before halftime. It was Detroit's first lead of the game, and they never gave it up. From the beginning of the second to the end of the fourth, the Pistons outscored the Hornets 75-50, holding New Orleans under 20 points over each of the last three quarters before winning 91-76.

Because the Pistons had been blowing out opponents the last four games, the starters were actually quite rested. In the previous four games, not one player saw more than 34 minutes in a game, but on Wednesday, every single starter logged at least 35. Some of the guys never looked comfortable shooting the ball all night (Tayshaun Prince finished 3-10 from the field, Chauncey Billups finished 4-16), but it seemed like when Detroit needed a big shot to keep the game from getting out of hand early or to keep the Hornets at bay late, they got it.

Rip Hamilton finished with a game-high 21 points, while Billups finished with 18 (thanks to going 9-9 at the stripe). Rasheed Wallace tallied a double-double with 13 points and 10 boards, while Jason Maxiell scored eight with six boards and two blocks in 21 minutes. For the first time in a while, Max was dealing with foul trouble (he finished with five) otherwise I suspect he would have played more.

Interestingly enough, Flip Murray and Nazr Mohammed (edit: I missed Nazr's four minutes) never left the bench. Even late in the game as the Pistons were pulling away, Flip Saunders left all of the starters in for the final six minutes of the fourth. I don't know if there was any particular reason for his doing so, but I suspect watching the bench give up 15 points in the fourth the night before had something to do with it.

The Chris Paul Experience never really materialized -- he finished with a modest 14 points and seven assists, shooting just 4-14 from the field. But Tyson Chandler turned in an impressive performance, scoring 17 and grabbing 22 boards in 44 minutes. I think Chandler is a solid, young player, but perhaps more than most his offensive game is a function of playing next to a great point guard, so Paul's influence was still felt.

The Pistons host the Bulls on Friday. Despite the fact Chicago is struggling, they always, always play tough against Detroit (at least in the regular season) and have actually won three of four. It should be a good one.

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Comments

what’s with all theminutes the starters are clocking? we’re winning by 20+ points every game and they’reclocking 30+ mins?
give some more time for the younger guys. if not for their sake than for the health of the starters…

by Ohad on Dec 6, 2007 5:37 AM EST reply actions

I was surprised by Lindsay Hunter’s low +/-. His defense helped turn around that early drought.

by Pat Hunt on Dec 6, 2007 8:32 AM EST reply actions

Nazr did play in the fourth quarter. He came in when the Hornets were shooting free throws, but only stayetd in for a couple of minutes.

by Rena on Dec 6, 2007 8:56 AM EST reply actions

Actually, Nazr did play, in the 3rd quarter I believe. Although he only played three minutes, he had a very timely offensive rebound which he passed out to Rip for an easy two.

by Rob G on Dec 6, 2007 9:18 AM EST reply actions

as for minutes played, It’s all about averages, so I’m going to chalk this up to being an anomaly. but why did he keep the starters in at the end? Seems kind of stupid and counterproductive to me.

by Kyle on Dec 6, 2007 10:27 AM EST reply actions

sorry to be a nazi, but i believe nazr’s assist came off a pass to tayshaun and not rip

by rj on Dec 6, 2007 12:37 PM EST reply actions

Matt

Nice new look – much easier to read

by IsraeliPiston on Dec 6, 2007 12:38 PM EST reply actions

It’s nice to see Chauncey did not get smoked by the smaller, quicker Paul. Hopefully as the season wears on he will continue to improve his D on the smaller PGs. We’ll need it if we end up facing San Antone.

by Pistons_Fan_in_Chicago on Dec 6, 2007 2:17 PM EST reply actions

I am still confused as to where this “Chauncey is defensively deficient” narrative came from. Was that in a news article somewhere? It just doesn’t hold up to the evidence.

Ohad, the starters aren’t clocking that many minutes at all. The guards are under 35 minutes, and that’s with injuries to the backcourt. I think the Spurs are a good model for resting their best players while remaining competitive, giving them 28-34 minutes each.

by kevin s. on Dec 6, 2007 2:30 PM EST reply actions

maybe not smaller, but this year and years past he has struggled defensively against quicker gaurds. This year against portland (Jack), sacremento (Udrich), golden state (Davis), chicago (Heinrich), and Utah (Williams). Not to mention last year in the playoffs against Boobie. The year before that with Jason Williams. The year before that Tony Parker.

I may be wrong in my assertion, but I have noticed this trend with Chauncey. Don’t get me wrong, usually Chauncey can get his on the same guards by working from the post. But without that solid help D we used to have, Chauncey seems to struggle with quicker pgs. I didn’t get to watch last night’s game, but it appears he held CP3 in check. That’s all.

by Pistons_Fan_in_Chicago on Dec 6, 2007 4:11 PM EST reply actions

we started slow but great finish led by the defence

by jleet on Dec 6, 2007 5:55 PM EST reply actions

Sheed has been playfully dissing Chauncey for 3 years now about his slow foot speed. And he’s right. Chauncey gets blown by more than a kite in the Chicago wind. I didn’t think there was any argument over his slow foot speed when guarding quick pg’s. I guess everyone has their own
opinion.

by E-Double on Dec 6, 2007 6:27 PM EST reply actions

this is an interesting conversation because i remember chauncey getting put on the all defensive second team a couple years ago so i’ve always thought of him as a good defensive player. but i also realize our bigs are always getting into foul trouble because the perimeter players allow so much penetration.

by Kyl on Dec 6, 2007 7:09 PM EST reply actions

Reading every basketball experts opinion I could get my hads on heading into the season, I noticed that there were some common themes in terms of positives and question marks.

The positives were McDyess replacing Webber in the starting lineup combined with Maxiell’s presumed development. Also, Jarvis Hayes was seen as a capable backup for Tayshaun.

I boiled down question marks into Three Keys to the Pistons Season:

1. RASHEED NEEDS TO STOP BEING A TOXIC INFLUENCE. A resounding check here. He’s limited his technicals. He’s made a seamless and successful transition to center. He’s playing in the post and dominating on defense.

2. STUCKEY NEEDS TO PROVIDE A VIABLE BACKUP PG FOR CHAUNCEY. Hopefully, this will be the case by the time the playoffs run around. I have faith.

3. AMIR NEEDS TO SUPPLANT NAZR IN THE ROTATION. Kudos to Nazr for playing well enough to make Amir earn his minutes. This year, we really just need Amir to develop his game enough to do the things that Nazr does (play defense, rebound, score on putbacks and dumpoffs) only better. Hopefully the challenge that Nazr is presenting the young kid will force him to work harder and eventually take over his minutes.

by Quick Darshan on Dec 6, 2007 8:15 PM EST reply actions

kevin s, i agree the spurs are a good model where the average starter (and that includes ginobili) clock 29 min/game.
But:
1) We are clocking 32 min/game/starter
2) i think on each position we have more veteran (i just don’t want to say older) players than they do

by Ohad on Dec 7, 2007 4:10 PM EST reply actions