Shameless plugging

by Matt Watson on Aug 8, 2007 1:43 PM EDT

Just a quick announcement: I've accepted a position with HoopsWorld to be their Pistons beat writer this year, and my first article is here:

Ever since winning the NBA title in 2004 the Pistons have entered each season with extraordinarily high expectations. "Championship or bust" has been the mantra among the fans and unfortunately, the team has busted in the Eastern Conference Finals the last two years.

This year expectations from around the league have begun to wane. The core players left over from the championship run are now three years older while a sudden influx of young talent has taken over the second half of the roster.

Read on for an analysis of why the Pistons are still relevant in the new-look East.

What does the new gig mean for DBB? All good things, of course -- more on that later. Also, I'm still writing about the NBA and MLB for FanHouse, but to avoid any potential conflict of interest, I've handed off coverage of the Pistons to the venerable Tom Ziller, FanHouse's summertime backbone, a wizard with graphs and the man behind the magic at Sactown Royalty.

Tweet Comment 13 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

You’re dangerously taxing my bloglines now, sir.

by JCN on Aug 8, 2007 2:37 PM EDT reply actions

they still have basketball in Sacramento?

by Boney on Aug 8, 2007 3:23 PM EDT reply actions

Congrats on the new gig. Hopefully you’ll still find some time between all your various writing gigs to do some posting over here, too!

by stopmikelupica on Aug 8, 2007 3:25 PM EDT reply actions

Man I love the "about the author blurb:

Matt Watson is our new analyst for the Detroit Pistons. We like him – do you?

Hmm… do I…? :P

by TheHype on Aug 8, 2007 3:58 PM EDT reply actions

Congrats Matt!

by joejoejoe on Aug 8, 2007 6:21 PM EDT reply actions

Congrats.

Hmmm some pics of nba rookies on espn

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/flash/zoomGallery?section=gen&photoGalleryId=2965242

Check picture #4
Is that Spellcheck playing as the spurs? What? Lets hope hes going past the spur to the pistons hehe. Least it isnt the Cavs.

by Fel on Aug 8, 2007 6:46 PM EDT reply actions

Congrats on the new beat writer position. You’ll do an awesome job.

by Mugdish on Aug 8, 2007 7:46 PM EDT reply actions

They couldn’t have picked anyone better! Congrats Matt

by Natalie on Aug 8, 2007 10:25 PM EDT reply actions

I’m happy and for you. Congratulations!

by Detbball on Aug 8, 2007 11:01 PM EDT reply actions

Congrats Matt. The fact is this is the ONLY place I turn to for Piston’s coverage however since I’m of the opinion that this is the best basketball blog on the planet (and aside from that Boney guy, has the coolest fans winks at Boney). I wish ya skittles of luck Sir, but the name Hoopshype sounds way way way too much like it might be about the other 29 teams in the league sometimes winks again. :) J/K make sure to link us up every time you post! :)

“they still have basketball in Sacramento?” – Someone has to pay Ron Artest not to kill people. It’s a public service thing.

(Fwiw, Sactown Royalty seems like a pretty good blog. The poster’s there are so knowledgeable about the machiavalian (sp?) workings of the King’s front office that every time Henry Abbot links me there I have absolutely NO clue wtf they are talking about.)

by PistonsGirl4Life on Aug 8, 2007 11:57 PM EDT reply actions