Pistons-Blazers Game Thread
by Kevin Sawyer on Nov 18, 2009 7:42 PM EST
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PrintGame tips at 10:00 pm ET
TV info update: The game will be shown in its entirety on FOX Sports Detroit PLUS (find out what channel that is for your provider here), but will also be joined in progress on FOX Sports Detroit (FSD) at the conclusion of Red Wings postgame coverage (approx. 10:15).
Portland: 8-4 (3-2 home)
Margin: +7.2
Pistons: 5-6 (2-4 road)
Margin: +0.5
Oppo research
The Trail Blazers are an interesting team. Only two players, Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge, play more than 30 mpg. By an large, however, this is an ensemble effort. Is it working? Sort of.
Last year, Portland bested team with outstanding three point shooting, combined league-leading offensive rebounding. They also played at the league's slowest pace (an attribute shared with last year's Pistons team).
This year, the shooting is a bit off. Andre Miller has proven to be a poor fit with Portland's oeuvre, and fully four players are shooting under 40% from the field. Nonetheless, the Blazers are besting opponents with strong defense and rebounding.
The Drama:
Two of the league's most methodical teams are meeting. Unless Greg Oden gets injured again, this will be a drama-free evening.
Keys for Detroit
Crash the boards: I have the feeling I can just cut and paste this one for the remainder of the season. The Lakers owned us on the boards last night.
Perimeter D: Kobe Bryant had his way with the Pistons defense. Brandon Roy will happily do the same. The Pistons need an answer, here.
Get to the line: The Blazers are still capable of a fouling extravaganza, and taking advantage will have the added benefit of keeping the bigs out of the game.
Question of the Game
Is Will Bynum the star of this team? He registered a team-leading 36 minutes last night, and responded with a monster performance. He leads the team in PER (as he did last year), and it might be time to codify his expanded role.
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I’ll be hitting the Rose Garden tonight. Just missed free tickets from CV31. I’ll send impressions from my 300 level seats.
Q Dog
by Q Dog on Nov 18, 2009 7:46 PM EST reply actions
I would love it if Bynum gets 24+ minutes the rest of the year.
by Cody on Nov 18, 2009 8:17 PM EST reply actions
bynum has earned starter minutes. but is his explosiveness greater in shorter spurts?
by andyfrombrooklyn on Nov 18, 2009 8:58 PM EST reply actions
bynum leads team in apg despite averaging ten less mpg than gordon and stuckey. close to stuckey in ppg.
by andyfrombrooklyn on Nov 18, 2009 9:13 PM EST reply actions
I’m watching the Jazz play man’s basketball against the Raptors right now. They’re pretty much getting anything they want around the rim — lay-ups, dunks, offensive rebounds, tips. They’re punishing the Raptors.
by Garrett on Nov 18, 2009 9:24 PM EST reply actions
Not the biggest detroit fan, but qdog tends to be on top of it when it comes to ball and pistons info.
by g-rizzle on Nov 18, 2009 9:37 PM EST reply actions
What was the arena in which the Jazz play called prior to its current namesake, Energy Solutions Arena. I want to say Key Arena, for some reason…
by TDP on Nov 18, 2009 9:45 PM EST reply actions
I’m pretty sure Chris Bosh is thinking to himself, “Miami is so nice and Dwyane Wade is a pretty good basketball player…”
by Garrett on Nov 18, 2009 9:46 PM EST reply actions
Haha… I checked the EnergySolutions Arena website and they’ve hijacked the history of the building. Everything refers to the arena by its current name. Bastards.
Jeff Hornacek sighting? Go ‘Clones. Random fun fact: Carlos Boozer’s younger brother plays sits on the bench for the Iowa State Cyclones, Jeff Hornacek’s alma mater.
by TDP on Nov 18, 2009 9:50 PM EST reply actions
the blazers are very much like LA without gasol – they’ve got a premier perimeter scorer and a low post behemoth. let’s hope the Q doesn’t put gordon on roy.
by Joe K on Nov 18, 2009 9:55 PM EST reply actions
anyone know of a good feed? I’m not finding any in the usual places…
by Drew on Nov 18, 2009 9:59 PM EST reply actions
This will probably start up soon:
http://atdhe.net/10451/watch-detroit-pistons-vs-portland-blazers
by Garrett on Nov 18, 2009 10:02 PM EST reply actions
Looking forward to a strong effort. I want to see how much energy we’ll have on this back to back…..hope the ’Stones got their rest!
by Detroits' Finest on Nov 18, 2009 10:03 PM EST reply actions
sweet, thanks. I found one, but it is from the bad guy’s station.
by Drew on Nov 18, 2009 10:04 PM EST reply actions
Look at the right Dajuan SKY FOR THAT REBOUND OFF THE MISSED FREE THROW!!!
by Boney on Nov 18, 2009 10:04 PM EST reply actions
well, thankfully last night was a blow out so most of the rotation guys got to sit a lot. so they should be well rested
by Joe K on Nov 18, 2009 10:05 PM EST reply actions
Question does the no trade recently signed players,until dec., apply to Gortat since he was signed by his own team.The reason I’m asking is I see Nelson’s gone down for them again for 4 to 6 six weeks maybe we could work a Stuckey and someone for Gortat.Not that I want to give up on Stuck but Bynum’s looked awfully good and consistant so far this year and at some point were going to have to give up something to balance this team.
by Defor on Nov 18, 2009 10:10 PM EST reply actions
@ D4
they might go for it too. stucky, you’ll remember, destroyed them when chaunce went down in the 2nd round in the 07 playoffs. good call, it’d be great if we could get Gortat, and with Howard, it seems the only reason they’d pay so much to keep him would be as an emergency trade chip.
by Joe K on Nov 18, 2009 10:12 PM EST reply actions
Forgot to add Gortat and somebody, hopefully promising since we’d have to throw in Max or someone like that to make the numbers work too bad we can’t do Wilcox.
by Defor on Nov 18, 2009 10:13 PM EST reply actions
Gabe, maybe after the blazers give us oden, the magic will trade us for howard?
by Joe K on Nov 18, 2009 10:16 PM EST reply actions
What is Ben Gordon thinking on some of these drives?
by Gabe on Nov 18, 2009 10:16 PM EST reply actions
We’re making it way too easy for them on both offense and defense.
by Gabe on Nov 18, 2009 10:19 PM EST reply actions
Why would Orlando part with Gortat? Is Adonal Foyle going to be the full time backup if Howard gets into foul trouble or injured?
by Garrett on Nov 18, 2009 10:22 PM EST reply actions
Bill Bonds has creepy stalker eyes… MFMP, be glad you’re shanghai’d out in Iowa on Happy Street.
by Skylar on Nov 18, 2009 10:31 PM EST reply actions
i would like to see gordon taking more shots. stuckey is taking too many.
by Drew on Nov 18, 2009 10:31 PM EST reply actions
Yuck, that was some disjointed shit on O. Lot of effort on D, though.
by Gabe on Nov 18, 2009 10:35 PM EST reply actions
JJ is doing an amazing job on Roy.
It seems to me that he can handle the bigger 2’s and 3’s, and the smaller 4’s. He cannot handle the quick 2’s and 3’s, however. He actually might be a decent matchup on Lebron.
by Cody on Nov 18, 2009 10:37 PM EST reply actions
Gah, this team is boring to watch on the offensive end.
by TDP on Nov 18, 2009 10:43 PM EST reply actions
No, but constant one-on-one and frenetic passing can be…
by TDP on Nov 18, 2009 10:45 PM EST reply actions
the right DaJuan with a block on Dirk at the buzzer
by Cody on Nov 18, 2009 10:45 PM EST reply actions
@garett – orlando can back up howard with brandon bass, so they don’t really need gortat that bad.
by Joe K on Nov 18, 2009 10:52 PM EST reply actions
I’ll bet they sell a lot of Pabst Blue Ribbon in Portland. Damn hipsters…
by TDP on Nov 18, 2009 10:53 PM EST reply actions
@TDP yes.
I don’t know how to vote on that Oden Poll. Solid Starter, of course… anything more, I’m unsure. If he stays healthy, All-Star, maybe. Hall of Fame? That’s a long way off.
by Skylar on Nov 18, 2009 10:54 PM EST reply actions
Oden is hiding a package of hot dogs under his hair.
by TDP on Nov 18, 2009 10:57 PM EST reply actions
Have I mentioned yet that I am quite fond of these Will Bynum and Jonas Jerebko characters? And this Stuckey guy never learned how to pass.
by Cody on Nov 18, 2009 11:03 PM EST reply actions
Was anyone else expecting JJ to block Fernandez from behind, then realize after he made the shot that he isn’t Tayshaun?
by Cody on Nov 18, 2009 11:04 PM EST reply actions
Mini-meltdown.
I’m really not a fan of the Stuck/MFWB/Gordon, 3 guard line-up.
by Gabe on Nov 18, 2009 11:05 PM EST reply actions
Jerebko is going ballistic, but man… the rookies are mishandling the ball tonight.
by TDP on Nov 18, 2009 11:05 PM EST reply actions
GAH, that sucked. I thought we might cut it two, and then two minutes later we’re down by ten. I’m a Stuckey apologist, but he needs to either play smarter or play less.
by Colin on Nov 18, 2009 11:07 PM EST reply actions
What ever happened to when offense was all about swinging the ball. Is Q even concious of how predictable our offense is?
Portland announcers damn near calling it play by play before it even transpires.
by scntfc on Nov 18, 2009 11:09 PM EST reply actions
I’m slowly falling off the Stuckey bandwagon as well. I can understand if he hasn’t developed a mid-range shot yet, but he doesn’t have to keep reminding me 3-4 times a game.
Joe Dumars and Kuester are going to have to consider starting Bynum if this keeps up. 3-11 in just the first half? Down right pathetic. I had such high hopes for him too. :’(
by Mark on Nov 18, 2009 11:12 PM EST reply actions
Looking at the box score, I’m having the same reaction I had last night looking at the box score from the Lakers game; we’re pretty lucky to only be down by 10. Our offense is totally out of sync, and Portland is shooting 54% from the field and have 15 assist to only 6 turnovers.
by Gabe on Nov 18, 2009 11:13 PM EST reply actions
The thing about Stuckey is, I see the 3-11, and it looks all to familiar. I wouldn’t mind that every once in a while if he’s being agressive, but almost every damn night? c’mon, now.
by Cody on Nov 18, 2009 11:14 PM EST reply actions
This is like last night. Lots of bad one-on-one offense from the guards. But I think that’s almost inevitable when nobody in the front court can score. CV took himself out of the game with fouls, and none of the front court guys — Big Ben, Kwame, Maxiell, JJ, Daye — are offensive threats. But the guards don’t even look for them, or, often, for each other. This would be better if CV was in (7 points in 5 minutes, after all), and it would probably be better if we had Tayshaun, but this is still a roster problem.
I don’t think this game is out of reach, but we need CV to be in the game and score.
And yeah, Stuckey is driving me up the wall too.
by Toledo Joe on Nov 18, 2009 11:24 PM EST reply actions
“… with Jerebko coming onto him…”
Hahahah, Blazers announcers. Hahahahaha.
by Joel on Nov 18, 2009 11:26 PM EST reply actions
thought the oden foul was good for us, but I am pretty sure they play better with pryz
by Drew on Nov 18, 2009 11:34 PM EST reply actions
Anyone else sick of the damn buzzer beating shots?
by Cody on Nov 18, 2009 11:38 PM EST reply actions
3rd qtr collapse. we about to come out hot. cut it down to single digits, make it interesting… does this script sound familiar?
I got a helluva Idea for a movie, wheres QD?
by scntfc on Nov 18, 2009 11:45 PM EST reply actions
looks like another third quarter melt down, I’m not sure if we can wait for the trade deadline ,if we want to make the playoffs .After this trip and Cleveland we could be 5and 10
by Defor on Nov 18, 2009 11:45 PM EST reply actions
at least Tay looks uncomfortable on the bench. wonder if he is embarassed about the team, or is it his back?
by scntfc on Nov 18, 2009 11:46 PM EST reply actions
Gordon and Stuckey are gassed. Gordon’s already at 34 minutes played, and Stuck is over 30 as well. This is on the 2nd night of a back to back. Our lack of guard depth is really hurting us. Especially on nights where Stuckey or Gordon can’t hit shots.
But at least we have that all important open roster spot!
by Gabe on Nov 18, 2009 11:49 PM EST reply actions
Re trade talk: this one works for all sides http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=yguu3o4
Detroit shores up the frontcourt, NO gets their expiring deals, Utah gets the help on the perimeter they need.
by Kay Wan on Nov 19, 2009 12:13 AM EST reply actions
Haha wow. The Rookies are making a nice comeback.
by Cody on Nov 19, 2009 12:18 AM EST reply actions
@Kay Wan: the trade machine links stopped working.
by Cody on Nov 19, 2009 12:19 AM EST reply actions
If we could play all 4 quarters like we do the 4th we be ok
by Defor on Nov 19, 2009 12:19 AM EST reply actions
Ah crap
Detroit gets: Okafor, Boozer
New Orleans gets: Harpring, Korver, Kwame (all expiring deals)
Utah gets: Tayshaun, Maxiell, Mo Pete
by Kay Wan on Nov 19, 2009 12:20 AM EST reply actions
Heh, Stuckey with the assist. Who would have thought your pg would get someone a wide open 3?
by Colin on Nov 19, 2009 12:20 AM EST reply actions
Stop talking about our lack of depth. We came into the season with 4 great guards + Atkins. Not Joe D’s fault 2 of our starters got hurt.
by Cody on Nov 19, 2009 12:21 AM EST reply actions
Does anyone else feel Daye deserves more than his usual 2-3 minutes? I think, from the glimpses I’ve seen, he could be pretty solid, but he has no way of proving it to the world while Jonas is getting 30 mins. Oh well, so goes life…
by J Dre on Nov 19, 2009 12:22 AM EST reply actions
@Kay Wan: Keep dreaming. No way in hell anyone lets us get Okafor and Boozer while giving up that.
by Cody on Nov 19, 2009 12:23 AM EST reply actions
Dayes length always effects ppl, hes tayhaun but longer, he needs more time guarding opposing 2’s.
by rban on Nov 19, 2009 12:23 AM EST reply actions
Uh, WTF? We had 10 seconds, no? This shtick is getting old.
by Colin on Nov 19, 2009 12:32 AM EST reply actions
Dumb Pistons. How about playing some basketball in the first three quarters? GAH.
by Cody on Nov 19, 2009 12:33 AM EST reply actions
“We came into the season with 4 great guards + Atkins.”
Who gives a shit? We have an open roster spot that used to be taken up by a SG/SF, who we dumped for absolutely no reason- zero money saved, no financial obligation until months from now.
by Gabe on Nov 19, 2009 12:34 AM EST reply actions
We’ve always had an open roster spot, and it’s always worked out just fine. This is the first time one, let alone two, of our main guys have gone out for an extended period of time in a few years.
by Cody on Nov 19, 2009 12:37 AM EST reply actions
@ Gabe:
Your argument has merit, but it’s getting a little old. Clearly the fact that we frequently play 3 guard sets and that we have almost zero front court scoring is a bigger deal than the fact that we don’t have six guards on the roster. We’re not losing because we don’t have Deron Washington on the roster.
by Colin on Nov 19, 2009 12:38 AM EST reply actions
Cody: I don’t see why not, it’s basically what each team is looking for. New Orleans wants expiring contracts, Utah either wants expiring deals or legitimate help to round out their roster and give them perimeter depth. The only thing keeping NO from trading Okafor for Kenny Thomas is SAC being hesitant to take on so much money, not New Orleans dumping Okafor for garbage. And Utah would be pretty legit trading Boozer for Tay, Maxiell, and Mo Pete. Their roster would look like this:
Williams/Maynor
Brewer/Mo Pete
Tay/Kirilenko
Millsap/Maxiell
Okur/Fesenko
That’s much more solid than what they have now. I can see how the trade looks like a complete Sheed-like heist, but it actually makes sense for everyone.
by Kay Wan on Nov 19, 2009 12:41 AM EST reply actions
Plus, both Tayshaun and Peterson’s deals expire in ‘11, so it’s not like they’re committing their entire future. If it doesn’t work out this season, but deals will become easily tradable expiring deals next year. The only concern is Maxiell’s 3 years left, but he might work out pretty well in Utah with consistent minutes at the backup 4.
by Kay Wan on Nov 19, 2009 12:43 AM EST reply actions
Kay Wan: I agree, but I just don’t see Utah taking back that much salary. New Orleans would do it, we would obviously do it, but Utah would not.
Not as out-of-line as I thought it was when I first looked at it, but still, no way those teams let us get Boozer AND Okafor. All the teams in the East would pay a special visit to Utah and NO. haha.
by Cody on Nov 19, 2009 12:44 AM EST reply actions
Cody, I feel you on Utah. But it’s pretty clear that Utah needs perimeter help, and if they were to let Boozer’s deal run out and make a run in free agency, they wouldn’t be able to get much better than they’d be getting with a healthy Prince; none of the marquee or even 2nd tier wings will be looking at Utah as their 1st or 2nd or even 3rd options.
And like I said, Tay and Mo’s deals both expire in 2 years. And in terms of salary, they would actually be saving a little money this season as well: their outgoing salaries (Boozer, Harpring, Korver) total 23.9mil, their incoming salaries (Tay, Pete, Max) total 21.1mil.
by Kay Wan on Nov 19, 2009 12:55 AM EST reply actions
“Clearly the fact that we frequently play 3 guard sets and that we have almost zero front court scoring is a bigger deal than the fact that we don’t have six guards on the roster.”
100% agreed.
“We’re not losing because we don’t have Deron Washington on the roster.”
Slightly disagree. In a broad sense, you’re right that Deron Washington’s actual play probably wouldn’t make much of a difference.
But… right now (IMO) a big reason why we’re losing is because Ben Gordon is playing 34 minutes through the first three quarters of a game, on the second night of a back to back. Any SG/SF that can semi-competently soak up some minutes would be a huge help, just for the simple fact that it would ease the burden on Gordon and Stuckey.
by Gabe on Nov 19, 2009 1:00 AM EST reply actions
I caught the end of the game and saw the big ball lineup out there. Did Gordon and Bynum just get hurt? Or were they just not in there?
by Quick Darshan on Nov 19, 2009 1:02 AM EST reply actions
Gabe, it’s Kuester’s decision not to play Chucky Atkins. If he wanted, he could run Stuckey and Gordon predominantly at the SG with Atkins spelling Bynum and Stuckey some at PG.
The problem is not the roster. The problem is that two of the best players on the team are hurt and the team is on a brutal stretch in the schedule.
by Quick Darshan on Nov 19, 2009 1:06 AM EST reply actions
“We’ve always had an open roster spot, and it’s always worked out just fine.”
Except now our highest paid player and starting SG is going to turn 32 years old in a couple months.
And if memory serves, our iron man SF was hobbled last year in the playoffs with a back injury, a type of injury that can linger and re-appear months later.
by Gabe on Nov 19, 2009 1:07 AM EST reply actions
“Did Gordon and Bynum just get hurt? Or were they just not in there?”
Gordon was totally gassed. He’d played 34 out of 36 minutes through the first three quarters.
Bynum had a bit of an off night, but some of it was due to him playing almost all his minutes in the 3 guard line-up alongside Stuck and Gordon, and the ball was mostly in Stuckey’s hands while they were on the court together.
by Gabe on Nov 19, 2009 1:14 AM EST reply actions
If Blake doesn’t make that second-chance three-pointer. . .
by Toledo Joe on Nov 19, 2009 8:09 AM EST reply actions
“The problem is not the roster. The problem is that two of the best players on the team are hurt and the team is on a brutal stretch in the schedule.”
Game. Set. Match.
by Joel on Nov 19, 2009 11:14 AM EST reply actions
A few thoughts on the game now that I’m back home from Portland.
1) Our seats were AMAZING. For anyone who can afford it, I highly recommend looking into getting some courtside seats at least once in your life. Easily the greatest sporting experience and I’ve only gotten to be courtside at the Rose Garden (this was our second year)
2) We were right behind where the Blazers team checked in and we totally got Oden’s attention with, “Hey Gramps, careful on those knees!”
3) We also got a chuckle from Nate McMillan when he started complaiining about a moving screen and my roommate yells, “COME ON NATE, THEY HAVEN’T CALLED A MOVING SCREEN IN YEARS…THIS IS 2009 AFTER ALL”
4) Gordon did look to come up hobbling at some point in the second half I believe but I think Kuester’s decision to go with the big ball lineup was more a testament to what they did in LA. Which stands to reason that we may want to consider going with a big ball lineup more often…Bynum, Jerebko, Daye, Charlie V, and a center or replace Summers for Daye and we still have some quickness inside and a number of potential mismatches…most SGs wouldn’t be able to guard Daye or Jerebko in the post.
5) Sure it was 2nd night of a back-to-back but jesus our team is terrible at transition buckets. There wasn’t even any drive to take advantage of Portland working their way back into a defensive set.
6) The biggest problem with Stuckey and our offense in general is that we’re not even initiating the offense until there is about 12 seconds left on the shot clock. We get it across half court with about 18 and then just sit there and dribble until we’re forced into a bad shot.
by James B. on Nov 20, 2009 2:07 PM EST reply actions
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