Pistons-Hornets Game Thread
by Kevin Sawyer on Feb 25, 2009 7:53 PM EST
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Print(note: in the spirit of Matt Watson's phoned in game thread post, which, in turn, was reflexive of our team's recent effort, I humbly submit a barely tweaked version of the Cavs game thread.)
Coverage Begins at 8:00 PM ET
New Orleans: 33-22 (19-9 home)
Margin: +2.4 ppg (-0.5 last 25%)
Last 10:5-5
Pistons: 27-28 (13-13 road)
Margin: -1.2 (-6.2 last 25%)
Last 10: 2-8
Oppo research:
Let's see. Wednesday night road game against a team that is presently 19-9 at home? There is only one possibly outcome. The Pistons arbitrarily win by eight points. They'll do so by shooting 15-22 from three point range.
Of course, that is certainly not the most likely outcome. The New Orleans Hornets have erased their woes against us by vastly outperforming Detroit this year offensively and defensively. The Hornets aren't playing that well, but David West made the all-star team anyway. Someday, some curious teenager is going to scroll through all-star game box scores and blurt out "David West? Five time all-star?" Chris Paul has found his Scottie Pippen.
Actually, the Pistons have held up well against the Hornets over the past few seasons. In the last matchup between these two teams, the Hornets were against the ropes until Allen Iverson decided to Joaquin Phoenix the first two minutes of the fourth quarter (no kidding, the Hornets scored 9 points in two minutes).
The Drama:
If the Hornets wipe the floor with Detroit, apparently it won't matter one damn bit.
Keys for Detroit:
Man the perimeter: Stopping Chris Paul's dribble penetration is obviously vitally important. But the Hornets are a very good three point shooting team, and so are able to capitalize on Paul's unique ability to deform the defense. Paul is going to get his, but this team can still be stopped.
Put Prince on Peja: I don't care if it means putting AI on David West. You have a defender who can help in the lane and still close out on a three point shooter. You do not put him on a guy whose specialty is mid-range jumpshooting. Seriously.
Make Paul work on D: Paul isn't a great defender, and Tyson Chandler is hobbled. Stuckey had a tough game the other night, but that should not discourage him from taking it to the basket, which prevents Paul from playing the passing lanes.
Question of the game:
Can we make it 11 in a row? Would any reasonable person favor the Pistons in any of their next four games?
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By the way, this game is on FSN Plus. What channel is on FSN Plus? It depends on your cable carrier — you can find out here.
by Matt Watson on Feb 25, 2009 7:56 PM EST reply actions
If the Pistons shoot really well for the entire game and make as many foul shots as the Hornets than the Pistons will have a chance to win especially if the Hornets do not shoot well from behind the arc.
by Mike on Feb 25, 2009 8:08 PM EST reply actions
FSN “Plus” might be the most inappropriately titled channel in history.
by Gabe on Feb 25, 2009 8:13 PM EST reply actions
Its definitely up there… but it should fall behind MTV.
by Lucas on Feb 25, 2009 8:16 PM EST reply actions
I can’t believe I’m saying this but I guess I got to go into every Pistons’ game thinking the same way I do about every Lions’ game.
Expect the worst.
by Diablo on Feb 25, 2009 8:16 PM EST reply actions
Its been a really depressing month for me and the Pistons really have kinda piled it on for me….l’sigh :(
This is going at least 10 games.
by prophecy_projectz on Feb 25, 2009 8:25 PM EST reply actions
The Tigers have a new pitching coach.
Look for a significant improvement in their won and loss record this year.
by Mike on Feb 25, 2009 8:25 PM EST reply actions
i hope you caught my sarcasm there. but if anyone has a link, i’d appreciate it. i can’t seem to find one tonight.
by brgulker on Feb 25, 2009 8:33 PM EST reply actions
A pox on FSN Plus. Seriously, it’s like the game doesn’t exist.
by Gabe on Feb 25, 2009 8:36 PM EST reply actions
http://www.myp2p.eu/broadcast.php?matchid=30777&part=sports
gotta install sopcast, though. and it’s in a foreign language.
by brgulker on Feb 25, 2009 8:36 PM EST reply actions
at least our offense looks good. 13 point explosion in the first quarter.
by brgulker on Feb 25, 2009 8:41 PM EST reply actions
MC goes to the bench to start the 2nd, and Max, Bynum, and Wally get us within two! In five minutes, we’ve scored as many ponits as we did the entire first quarter.
by brgulker on Feb 25, 2009 8:45 PM EST reply actions
O I would totally own that question.
McNess State University is the answer.
Also, I actually know someone that plays for McNess State Universtiy’s baseball team. He’s told me that it’s like “Joe Dumars Land” over there at his campus. And the funny thing is he didn’t know anything about Joe Dumars (not a basketball guy) until I filled him in on his legacy.
by Diablo on Feb 25, 2009 8:49 PM EST reply actions
ai is out for the rest of the game? why? what happened?
by Kian on Feb 25, 2009 9:02 PM EST reply actions
When we push the pace we actually look pretty good or at least fun to watch.
by Laughton on Feb 25, 2009 9:05 PM EST reply actions
Chris Paul is so impossibly good at basketball, it borders on being kinda weird. And it’s not just that he’s athletic, it’s more like the collective brains of dozens of coaches with hundreds of years of combined basketball knowledge somehow got injected into him at birth.
and Hamilton looked pretty good :)
by Gabe on Feb 25, 2009 9:05 PM EST reply actions
I refuse to get myself excited over the hustle and teamwork this team is showing now that Iverson is out for the game. Even if they win, do you seriously think Michael Curry will see the light and bench Allen Iverson’s butt the next game? Not likely.
by RP on Feb 25, 2009 9:08 PM EST reply actions
“Americans will always do the right thing, after they have exhausted all the alternatives,” – Winston Churchill
The same can be said of Coach Curry. Flat play from the starters? Go with the bench! What a radical concept.
by joejoejoe on Feb 25, 2009 9:12 PM EST reply actions
even if they won, wouldn’t it be a bit easy to say it is becaus of ai being out? i mean rip doesn’t play like this every game..
by Kian on Feb 25, 2009 9:13 PM EST reply actions
You are correct.
A number of games Rip shoots better than 50 percent which he didn’t do in the first half
by Mike on Feb 25, 2009 9:15 PM EST reply actions
@Mike:
How is a 6ft tool man considered a midget?
Are you like some sort of freaky giant?
by Sean W. on Feb 25, 2009 9:16 PM EST reply actions
I’m thinking a 6ft tool man might find another profession outside of basketball.
by Sean W. on Feb 25, 2009 9:17 PM EST reply actions
Kian, I don’t think it’s unfair to assume that the Pistons might all play better now that AI is out. If you’ve ever played on a team with a guy who shoots (a lot) and misses (a lot), you’re bound to get lazy and frustrated. Now that AI is out, maybe the team feels like they can run and have fun again knowing that the killjoy won’t be coming back in the game.
by RP on Feb 25, 2009 9:19 PM EST reply actions
That game before the all star break against the bulls, people were saying early that they’d be better without Iverson. They lost. So yea, let’s see how this finishes.
by EntityAbyss on Feb 25, 2009 9:19 PM EST reply actions
this game will end like last nights against the heat.
d-wade heated up and so will cp3.
btw, i hate that nba cares ad, not as much as the cryin kg though..
by jay_uno on Feb 25, 2009 9:21 PM EST reply actions
It can be seen as obvious that pushing the pace and playing faster is what made the comeback. Of course that can’t be the case though.
by EntityAbyss on Feb 25, 2009 9:22 PM EST reply actions
AI is out of the game with “back stiffness” according to Freep.com.
by joejoejoe on Feb 25, 2009 9:22 PM EST reply actions
AI out with back spasms.
Also, the Hornets announcers keep repeating that they think the Pistons will be better without AI, and they asked one of the Hornets assistant coaches if he agreed, and he agreed.
by Gabe on Feb 25, 2009 9:24 PM EST reply actions
I just tuned in to see Chris Paul do an AMAZING inside-out cross over move to the rim and get fouled. It looked cool when he did it, but when they replayed it in slow motion it was unbelievable. It’s like the ball is on a yo-yo string.
by Garrett on Feb 25, 2009 9:31 PM EST reply actions
Chris Paul is a very special player. Imagine what he do for the Pistons.
by Laughton on Feb 25, 2009 9:40 PM EST reply actions
He couldn’t do anything for the pistons as long as Michael Curry is coach. Ya would end up blaming him for his defense.
by EntityAbyss on Feb 25, 2009 9:41 PM EST reply actions
MCIAFI would be the waterboy in my dream scenario, although I wouldn’t drink the water.
by Laughton on Feb 25, 2009 9:43 PM EST reply actions
Maybe the Pistons can accidentally leave AI at the arena tonight, then fly to Orlando without him.
[Iverson, calling Dumars’s cell phone from the visitors’ locker room in New Orleans]: Hey, what the f—-? I got out of the shower a minute ago and everybody was gone.
[Dumars]: Uh, I don’t know what happened. stifles chuckles Roundball One already took off from the airport. Tell you what, I’m going to put you on hold for a second while I call an airline and charter you a flight.
[Iverson]: Whatever, man, just fix this.
Dumars places his cell phone in his pocket and plays a few rounds of Minesweeper…
…ten minutes later…
[Dumars]: Allen, are you there?
[Iverson]: Yeah, I’m dressed and everything. Should I take a cab to the airport?
[Dumars]: Listen, I’ve got some bad news. The airline says you’re on the Homeland Security no-fly list. News to me. Anyway, I have to put you on hold again.
[Iverson]: This is bull——…
Dumars cracks open a beer and watches a few Prince videos on Youtube…
…ten minutes later…
[Dumars]: OK, I’m back.
[Iverson]: You know I’m pissed, right?
[Dumars]: Allen, I’m as upset as you are. snorts Well, I have some more bad news. Apparently there’s a no-drive list too, and you’re on it. I can’t hire you a car and driver, I can’t send you to Hertz, I can’t even put you on a Greyhound bus.
[Iverson]: F—- Homeland Security, f—- Greyhound, and f—- you, Joe.
[Dumars]: All I can tell you is that you should get your bags, walk to a hotel, and check in for a week or two until all of this blows over. See you later, Allen. hangs up
[Iverson]: Gotdamit! throws his cell phone
by PS on Feb 25, 2009 9:48 PM EST reply actions
It’s gotten pretty bad. I totally forgot there was a Pistons game tonight.
by TDP on Feb 25, 2009 9:49 PM EST reply actions
At least Rasheed gets suspended on the next one. Or is it the one after 16?
by TDP on Feb 25, 2009 10:00 PM EST reply actions
That Bynum pass to Prince was stinky. Good to see Tay pull him aside and tell him ‘Ah…don’t do that again.’
…and ’Sheed is ejected.
by joejoejoe on Feb 25, 2009 10:00 PM EST reply actions
You know I would normally see this as a negative but the way the season has gone I’ll take it as a positive. Someone showing some damn emotion.
by Diablo on Feb 25, 2009 10:02 PM EST reply actions
Ladies and gentleman, your ’09-10 Pistons!
[no ’Sheed, no AI]
by joejoejoe on Feb 25, 2009 10:02 PM EST reply actions
There are just SO MANY problems with this team. Fire Curry? We still have the AI problem. Bench AI? Sheed will still screw us over. How frustrating.
by RP on Feb 25, 2009 10:04 PM EST reply actions
I see ’Sheed to San Antonio next year working out a bit like Rodman to the Bulls. Undervalued goof gets focus and team gets REAL GOOD.
by joejoejoe on Feb 25, 2009 10:05 PM EST reply actions
Ugh. Suddenly we stopped running the plays that have been decently successful throughout the game, and have turned it over twice in a row trying to force the ball into the post.
by Gabe on Feb 25, 2009 10:05 PM EST reply actions
Tossed for a mean glare? If that’s the reason I think the refs made a mistake.
by Laughton on Feb 25, 2009 10:05 PM EST reply actions
Damn these late classes! So Will Bynum is our point guard of the future, right?
What did Rasheed do?
by Keegan on Feb 25, 2009 10:09 PM EST reply actions
I’m not a big fan of New Orleans. Never really thought about it before, but I don’t particularly like ’em. Probably the Posey Factor.
by TDP on Feb 25, 2009 10:09 PM EST reply actions
Rasheed got two techs, one for bitching about a no-call when he got stripped, another for looking mean.
by joejoejoe on Feb 25, 2009 10:10 PM EST reply actions
That was a hell of a stretch I just tuned in for. Starting with the first tech, and ending with the ejection. That’s about the quality of play, and winning attitude I’ve grown accustomed to. Guess it’s time to count my NBA league pass as a sunk cost and move on.
by Casey on Feb 25, 2009 10:10 PM EST reply actions
Oh, League Pass is still worth it for watching other teams. Like tonight, what else you going to watch? Law & Order? Lost? C’mon… that’s the shit secretaries cluck about on their coffee breaks.
by TDP on Feb 25, 2009 10:13 PM EST reply actions
‘Sheed may have thrown a towel for the second tech. I’m still unclear if he threw the towel before or after he was ejected.
by joejoejoe on Feb 25, 2009 10:14 PM EST reply actions
Max with two offensive boards in one sequence. Then the basket!
Tie ball game.
by joejoejoe on Feb 25, 2009 10:16 PM EST reply actions
Two offensive rebounds and then the score…. Ladies and Gentlemen, our Jason Maxiell.
by Dafa on Feb 25, 2009 10:16 PM EST reply actions
Damn. I missed most of the game because I couldn’t find it. Looks like a good game though.
by SadPanda on Feb 25, 2009 10:17 PM EST reply actions
Very impressive showing of all out effort by Maxiel. The Pistons would be a lot more likeable if they played hard all the time.
by TripleOT on Feb 25, 2009 10:18 PM EST reply actions
Don’t play Max MCIAFI, look what he is doing. We might win games with such energy. Stop the run now! Sub in small ball!
by Laughton on Feb 25, 2009 10:19 PM EST reply actions
Actually Lost is what I’m watching instead of the game. Good call though. Beware, I just turned the game back on so it’s all gonna go to hell now.
by Casey on Feb 25, 2009 10:19 PM EST reply actions
McDyess just had an old fashioned 3 point play where he looked like Stuckey zipping down the lane for the basket. What a good basketball game! I wish CP3 was a free agent while the Stones have $30 mil of cap space. He’s pretty good.
by joejoejoe on Feb 25, 2009 10:20 PM EST reply actions
It just doesn’t matter what they do. They can’t get a win.
by SadPanda on Feb 25, 2009 10:21 PM EST reply actions
So Sheed for 3 to tie it up? Oh wait…Curry’s gonna have to draw up something even worse now.
by Casey on Feb 25, 2009 10:22 PM EST reply actions
After killing on the offensive board, Maxiel doesn’t recover and box out West properly, and gives up a key offensive rebound with 6 seconds left. Big mistake.
It was a tough play, since he got caught in a switch and was dealing with a CP3 pick/roll, but as he headed toward the basket he needed to put a body on the nearest enemy uniform, which was West.
by TripleOT on Feb 25, 2009 10:23 PM EST reply actions
What the hell are these NOLA announcers saying? McDyess for 3?
by joejoejoe on Feb 25, 2009 10:24 PM EST reply actions
Gotta love Greg and Blaha pointing out all the illegal screens set by New Orleans.
by SadPanda on Feb 25, 2009 10:25 PM EST reply actions
Herrmann got fouled. I will delude myself into believing that.
by TDP on Feb 25, 2009 10:25 PM EST reply actions
wtf that was currys play??
well coached teams improvise better than this
by jay_uno on Feb 25, 2009 10:25 PM EST reply actions
Got here late, but I see Stucky did F-all again. Did Iverson get hurt or something?
by SadPanda on Feb 25, 2009 10:26 PM EST reply actions
That was a good game regardless of the end result. If they continue to play with this kind of intensity …..who knows how the season could end
by Josh on Feb 25, 2009 10:27 PM EST reply actions
Wow. Detroit bench outscores the Hornets bench by 31 and the Pistons still lose. Eight losses in a row. This ship be sinking.
by TripleOT on Feb 25, 2009 10:28 PM EST reply actions
oh well…at least i can laugh at the hornets announcer who was predicting a McDyess 3 which would have been his first in 10+ years.
by Alex on Feb 25, 2009 10:29 PM EST reply actions
So that 11 in a row is looking like a pretty good bet right now. The lottery’s the limit!!!
by Casey on Feb 25, 2009 10:29 PM EST reply actions
Yeah, I’m a bitter Pistons fan and all, but New Orleans isn’t going to beat anyone in the Playoffs.
by TDP on Feb 25, 2009 10:30 PM EST reply actions
I agree with others. At least we played with some heart.
Had Sheed not gotten himself tossed, maybe we get a better shot at the end of the game.
Signing off, disappointed, yet again.
by brgulker on Feb 25, 2009 10:30 PM EST reply actions
At the end of the broadcast on the justintv feed the NO commentators announced the winning fan for guessing the player of the game. His prize…..a pair of Khakis from Goldbergs!
by Lance Uppercut on Feb 25, 2009 10:30 PM EST reply actions
Sheed got himself tossed? Nice going, asshole. The team is struggling and you get yourself tossed? Shut up and play you overpaid jackass.
by SadPanda on Feb 25, 2009 10:33 PM EST reply actions
The intensity came out of nowhere. They really wanted to win. It’s gonna hurt. Also, for the many that try to blame Rodney Stuckey’s slump on Iverson, Iverson was gone and he still was bad. He shot 2-8.
by EntityAbyss on Feb 25, 2009 10:34 PM EST reply actions
I’m encouraged.
Curry has an excuse now to make some serious changes to the rotation (‘Sheed is now suspended I think, AI is hurt). The coach doesn’t need an excuse to make changes but whatever, Curry has been too in love with the stars. Now he can fall out of love by necessity.
Rip back to the starting lineup, Maxiell to PF. Bring AI back slow due to injury off the bench (like with what happened to Rip) and bring ‘Sheed off the bench too as a way of disciplining him for getting so many damn techs he’ll now be suspended for every new one.
It could result in some good basketball for a stretch but I’m not sure Curry has the chops to get the team to play effective playoff offense and defense so it’s probably better not to be encouraged and just let the team slip into the lottery.
by joejoejoe on Feb 25, 2009 10:36 PM EST reply actions
I hope Bill Davidson has a mean streak in him. Maybe he’ll sit em all down and lay down the law.
by Restructure_It on Feb 25, 2009 10:36 PM EST reply actions
Stuckey wasn’t all that bad. Chris Paul is a tough cover and Stuckey did a decent job. 5 assists-to-1 TO is a positive for Stuckey.
by joejoejoe on Feb 25, 2009 10:40 PM EST reply actions
Watching the post game comments…it seems Curry DOES realize they play better without Allen. Hmmmm…
by RP on Feb 25, 2009 10:45 PM EST reply actions
You know, if this game wasn’t the most recent in a long losing streak and and even longer period of sucking, I might stress some silver lining positives. McDyess had another strong game; Maxy made some impressive plays; Detroit fought back after the ’Sheed meltdown, etc. got them down 7.
As odd as some things were in this game, Detroit lost in significant part because of the same old problem of FT discrepancy. The two teams shot almost exactly the same percentage, Detroit actually made one more basket; Detroit actually did better shooting threes (7-17 vs. 4-14 for the Hornets); but Detroit got killed on the boards (38-51), and that translated mostly into getting killed on the FT line: Det, 10-12; NO, 18-25.
I guess ’Sheed is suspended for the next game. Wonder if AI will play.
And I wonder if Stuckey will ever have a good game again.
by Toledo Joe on Feb 25, 2009 10:50 PM EST reply actions
My brother, a Pacers fan, was really happy to call me today. That’s all I really have to say.
by Shinons on Feb 25, 2009 10:54 PM EST reply actions
if you remember when the pistons went on their best winning streak of the the season, they won for the most part without sheed or rip. so this garbage about how they are better without ai is kind of stupid.
by sdf on Feb 25, 2009 10:56 PM EST reply actions
Also, the Pistons are better off without AI. There. I said it. It’s like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders.
by Garrett on Feb 25, 2009 10:57 PM EST reply actions
Garrett:
A reporter pointed out that the Pistons seemed to show more energy without Allen and asked for his take on it. He smiled…and avoided the question, basically focusing on how the team needs to play unified or something.
The smile seemed kind of telling. Is Joe D. forcing his hand?
Yeah, I’m probably reading WAY too far into this.
by RP on Feb 25, 2009 11:06 PM EST reply actions
thats funny the team for once showed more energy, usually Allen is the only player on the team who shows any energy.
by sdf on Feb 25, 2009 11:08 PM EST reply actions
thats funny the team for once showed more energy, usually Allen is the only player who shows any energy outside of jmax and a couple of other bench players
by sdf on Feb 25, 2009 11:09 PM EST reply actions
For a second there we actually looked like we used to look. The team kinda played… you know… together. We lost but it’s good to see that the magic isn’t TOTALLY gone.
As I’ve said and just about every other DBB reader… Rip should start. The players tried it Curry’s way and that eventually devolved into players not trying because it wasn’t working. The spiral got out of control. When AI hit the showers, I think the whole team was like “OK, now we can play Piston basketball… Game on.” But NO is a good team and we had already dug quite a hole.
I hope this doesn’t mess up Curry’s plans to get us the #13th or #14th pick int he draft.
by Brad on Feb 25, 2009 11:10 PM EST reply actions
Restructure_It:
I hope Bill Davidson has a mean streak in him. Maybe he’ll sit em all down and lay down the law.
____
From what I’ve seen of Bill Davidson, he’s already sitting down.
by TDP on Feb 25, 2009 11:12 PM EST reply actions
ESPN just said Rasheed was ejected for throwing a towel at an official. Is that accurate?
by SadPanda on Feb 25, 2009 11:18 PM EST reply actions
Blame the management for firing a good coach and signing a very bad player who spent more time on the bench during his career. They need to restart fresh. Joe is past his time.
by George on Feb 25, 2009 11:21 PM EST reply actions
Ok, assuming Joe and Curry ARE trying to tank this season (which seems more and more likely as the season goes on)…
Why are Joe and Curry so convinced that a mid-first round pick will point us in the right direction?
Unless Joe knows something the rest of the league(and us) doesn’t I fear we’ll have to go through another season of bad basketball before we start turning this ship around. I don’t know if I can handle this kind of basketball for another year.
by Brad on Feb 25, 2009 11:22 PM EST reply actions
SadPanda… No, he was ejected for knocking an empty styrofoam cup into the crowd. THEN he threw the towel at the ref.
by Brad on Feb 25, 2009 11:23 PM EST reply actions
Thanks Brad. I just wanted to make sure I knew what happened. Lol, good point about tanking. It does seem like that is now the plan.
by SadPanda on Feb 25, 2009 11:26 PM EST reply actions
A Hornets staff member held out a towel for Rasheed as he walked to the bench, and he slapped it into the crowd. He immediately sat down but was hit with a tech and ejected. He got up, grabbed another towel and chucked it in the direction of the ref. Brilliant!
by RP on Feb 25, 2009 11:29 PM EST reply actions
I didn’t realize it during the broadcast, but Rasheed threw that towel pretty damn far.
by TDP on Feb 26, 2009 1:10 AM EST reply actions
John Schuhmann tells the truth and it hurts
http://www.nba.com/2009/news/features/john_schuhmann/02/25/pistons_demise.numbers.game.20090225/index.html
It’s a big fall that we have taken and an ugly one at that.
I wouldn’t mind so much if we were going out there and trying or using our young talents to get them some expirience but this way they young ones’ll leave due to little playing time, get traded to get some big name or just have no expirience while out veteran are getting more bitchy by the second knowing that for some of them (sheed) the road is over here and for some (Prince) the style doesn’t fit anymore and they may be traded as well.
by Ohad on Feb 26, 2009 4:31 AM EST reply actions
Thanks for the numbers Ohad. Anyone else remember AI saying “I don’t think offense will be our problem.” Well, AI, Offense IS our problem.
by Brad on Feb 26, 2009 5:48 AM EST reply actions
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