Game 33: Detroit Pistons @ Dallas Mavericks [Game Thread]
by Mike Payne on Jan 5, 2010 4:20 PM EST
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PrintIf there is a team in the league that could use a few new year's resolutions, it's the Detroit Pistons. Sure, things might be worse in New Jersey, Minnesota and D.C., but no one closed out the 2009 calendar year as poorly as our own boys in royal blue. After a nine game losing streak that saw the return of the pieces that might help turn the tide, the Pistons need to turn a corner-- and fast.
Sadly, the Pistons start off 2010 against the Western Conference's 2nd best team, a team Detroit has not defeated since Chauncey Billups was manning the point...
Game tips at 8:30 pm ET
Detroit Pistons: 11-21 (3-13 Road)
Dallas Mavericks: 23-11 (11-5 Home)
Oppo Research
The Mavs are quietly putting together their best season since 2006-07, on pace to win 55 games and hold the second best record in the West. Dirk Nowitzki is putting up 25 and 8 per game, Erick Dampier is having his best season as a Maverick, Shawn Marion is helping the Mavs to their best defensive performance in years and Jason Kidd isn't even punching anybody. While the media is quick to praise the Lakers, the Mavericks are the primary Western Conference contender that Phil Jackson should really be worried about.
Last time the Pistons faced the Mavericks, Dallas was without Erick Dampier and Josh Howard. While Dallas will be at full strength tonight, Detroit will be without MFWB (for the uninitiated, that stands for "Maverick Fooler Will Bynum"), who scored 27 points, 17 in the fourth quarter alone.
The Drama
When you've lost your last nine games, the drama factor falls to zero.
Keys for Detroit
Ben Gordon Needs Redemption - While he had a great stretch to open the season, it all fell apart against Dallas. On November 15th, Ben shot 1-16 from the field in 41 minutes. While Richard Hamilton will be there to share the brunt of the work at the 2 guard, Ben needs to redeem his play against the Mavs tonight.
Guard the Perimeter - The Mavs guards shot 50% from the three point line in our last meeting. Having Rip and Tayshaun should help in this regard, but Stuckey needs to clamp down on Jason Kidd as well-- 63% of Kidd's attempts occur from outside the stripe.
Frontcourt Scoring - Surprised? Our last effort against the Mavs was above average for the Pistons, as Charlie Villanueva and Ben Wallace combined for 22 points. That alone won't cut it, and if Charlie Villanueva can pick a time to step up and brush off that nagging plantar faciitis, tonight is the night.
Question of the Game
What are we fans more interested in at this point-- a chance for a rare road win... or a chance at the lottery?
Extending the BRGulker Olive Branch
Be sure to check out the coverage from the other side of the court, courtesy of our SB Nation brothers over at MavsMoneyball. While they might root for the wrong team, they run a great publication and deserve your respect should you pay them a visit.
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Sobering thought...
We currently hold the 7th worst record in the league and are only 2 games out from being the 3rd worst team in the league (Golden State is 2 games behind us…)
So to answer your question, with 4 of the next 5 on the road, I see us being more in the hunt for a lottery pick than anything else and therefore more excited about the potential for said lottery pick.
Having said that, let’s pretend we got #1 overall…do we
a) Move Stuckey to SG, trade rip for hopefully a big man, and bring Wall in as our starting PG with MFWB off the bench?
b) Package Stuckey and Tay together for a big man, draft Wall, and have him alongside Rip
c) Commit to Stuckey as our PG, trade down for a big man (Marc Gasol + 1st rounder for John wall?)
d) Other
Jonas Jerebko once killed a charging female rhinoceros in heat protecting its young with nothing more than a hook shot.
A few things
re:
a) I don’t think we’re going to get any value out of Rip. If we can possibly trade Rip, it’s likely into a worse situation than we are currently in, like an overweight contract.
c) Gasol is unrestricted in 2011. While it would be nice to have Gasol now, I think it’d be more likely to get Gasol by moving Tayshaun since Rudy Gay is likely going to walk this year. However, trading an asset for Gasol would leave us with no definite way of retaining him beyond expiration, other than owning his bird rights and being able to go over the cap to best any other offers he’d get. It might be more advantageous to hang on to Tay’s $11M expiring deal to make a run at Gasol in 2011, instead of just handing that contract relief to a competing bidder in Memphis.
That aside, the chances of winning the lottery will be slim, the best case scenario of getting Wall to Detroit is by getting the third lottery number, which only has a 13.3% chance of getting the number one pick. That said, it’s probably more useful in a conversational sense to discuss the options beyond John Wall.
Also
Minnesota will likely have the second pick. They have two stud PF/Cs in Kevin Love and Al Jefferson, they’re mostly in need of a solid wing player or 2-guard. There aren’t really any of those in the draft until after the 6th pick, so it might be possible for Minny to trade down. If there is a way to swap picks with Minny and include value (hmmm, maybe we could work out Stuckey for Sessions plus a 1st round pick swap?), the 2nd overall pick could be ours. It would make sense for Minny, as the wing scorers don’t hit the draft until pick 8 or 9.
See that’s why I like posing hypothetical questions on dbb, you generally get reasonably thought out and logical responses either supporting or pointing out the flaws in one’s line of thinking. Looking at this year’s potential draft class, there doesn’t seem to be a consensus favorite big man. So assuming our roster stays the same (ie – we don’t trade for a big before the deadline), who do we target?
Jonas Jerebko once killed a charging female rhinoceros in heat protecting its young with nothing more than a hook shot.
That's a great topic
For a FanPost. If you haven’t done that yet, you can do so in the box on the upper right column of the DBB website. Pose the question to DBB and the community can have a conversation about it. I suggest, however, taking a look at the other FanPosts and FanShots about this topic before doing so.
Give our current roster needs, you could take the baton and create a FanPost with a short list of some of the players you’d like to target in the draft. Even after this game post comes and goes, your post and its discussion will remain in the right column for easy access. It’s one of the cool parts of the new technology on DBB. Do it up!
Mike Payne - Empowering DBB to post since 2010
Good call…if it weren’t for the fact that I’m still at work, I’d do so right now. I’ll take a look tonight and see whats what.
Jonas Jerebko once killed a charging female rhinoceros in heat protecting its young with nothing more than a hook shot.
You don't trade slashing guards who can finish
Let’s try this again….
I stand here at the edge of potentially giving way too much credit to a college freshman, but you do not trade players with that skill set in today’s NBA. John Wall is the kind of player that David Stern has wet dreams about. And since I think we can all be in agreement that we’ve come out on the short end of the current structure of the NBA, I’d prefer to get a player like him. Heaven forbid there’s a repeat of 2004 where “playing the right way” and playing “team basketball” can win you an NBA Championship.
(n00bs please note there is some amount of sarcasm in that paragraph)
I'm here tonight...
and for the first time in weeks.
Can I be good Juju?
My Music: Now on last.fm!!
My Blog: Inside A Head
What are we fans more interested in at this point-- a chance for a rare road win... or a chance at the lottery?
Always play to win. Playing for the lottery breeds losing franchises.
by brgulker on Jan 5, 2010 7:36 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
Be sure to check out the coverage from the other side of the court, courtesy of our SB Nation brothers over at MavsMoneyball. While they might root for the wrong team, they run a great publication and deserve your respect should you pay them a visit.
Not to be a douche, but I just threw up in my mouth a little bit. It just seems so not DBB to plug the opposition’s blog in a game thread …
its funny to watch the other teams gamethreads sometimes...
sometimes the reactions are just priceless.
My Music: Now on last.fm!!
My Blog: Inside A Head
Apparently you haven't been around here very long
During every playoff series, for example, Matt always gives credit to the opposing team’s blogs, linking to them and often swapping series previews.
We happen to be a part of a network of blogs now. Neither SB Nation, Matt or Packey put me up to that, I did so because I think it’s pretty damn cool that we can so easily connect with people on other blogs. If you’re not interested in seeing the other team’s previews, don’t click on them. But while DBB gets used to this community, I’ll likely include links to other blogs in the network, especially pubs like Blazers Edge and Sactown Royalty, which are some of the best sports blogs on the web, regardless of the sport.
it is something all the blogs do around here...
It’s a courtesy thing but since we’re also a blog with lots of new members it’s good to see what established communities within the network are like.
The features of SBNation makes it really easy to develop a strong community. Just as an example, Motown String Music had a very small community but because of the live commenting, fanposts, fanshots, etc…it was very easy for even a small community to be strong and connected. We’d literally have gamethreads among 3 people but still have fun with it.
My Music: Now on last.fm!!
My Blog: Inside A Head
Really? They’ve plugged them before and plugging sports blogs and SBN in general only makes it more popular as a whole which I’m okay with. Personally, I like hearing what non Pistons fans think of our team especially since I tend to see our team through red and blue colored lenses. that said, I’m guessing that the Mavs blog is nice enough to plug DBB and given DBB’s recent movement to SBN.
Jonas Jerebko once killed a charging female rhinoceros in heat protecting its young with nothing more than a hook shot.
Just a heads up
But I’ve updated that section of the post, should be a bit more to your liking now :)
This is how you earn the MF in MFMP
Well done, Mr. Payne.
by Birdman84 on Jan 5, 2010 8:33 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
I can't wait to earn an MF
from the DBB brethren, but when I do I’m putting it on my resume.
Detroit Bad Boys- SB Nation's Detroit Pistons Blog
I get it
I understand DBB is now part of SBNation, etc. etc. I won’t comment about it again.
It just feels … forced, at least to me. But I won’t bring it up again.
1st game of 2010
it does feel like a year since they last played… clean slate tonight
Detroit Bad Boys- SB Nation's Detroit Pistons Blog
That's a STRONG statement
I mean I’m not a big fan of his, but I don’t think he’s completely worthless. That’d be a good post, though — who’s your least favorite Piston of all-time and why?
Detroit Bad Boys- SB Nation's Detroit Pistons Blog
well, to be honest
I’m just playing around, I don’t hate dude that much, although I do feel he’s a waste of bench space. Give me Hakim Warrick instead, yeah?
Yeah, definitely
BTW — I think Wilcox just pointed to you after that last tip in
Detroit Bad Boys- SB Nation's Detroit Pistons Blog
Curse comment registration...
This is where somebody on the old style would pipe in as coachDP asking if the Batman symbol isn’t only the greatest superhero symbol but greatest symbol of ANY KIND just epinion.
How’d you get Michael Curry’s playbook?
by Birdman84 on Jan 5, 2010 9:07 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
0 points from Stuckey, Hamilton, Gordon, & CV
and we’re winning? I guess we can thank the Mavs for shooting 23% so far
Detroit Bad Boys- SB Nation's Detroit Pistons Blog
Mavs Announcers
Worst ever. Isn’t Dallas a major media market? Good grief, my ears are bleeding.
i thought
he was gonna dunk it in their faces. but 2 points are 2 points
Haha! Jod needs to be sure to mention that in his phone calls to other GMs……
by garrettelliott on Jan 5, 2010 9:19 PM EST up reply actions
just how they drew it up
Big Ben get rejected so it rolls to a wide open CV
Detroit Bad Boys- SB Nation's Detroit Pistons Blog
internet feed
Anyone have a link to the game for those of us that are stuck at work?
So I used to watch ATDHE.net every night
And I would put on Frasier and would be knocked out within 5 minutes.
It was the only way I could sleep, and now it’s gone. I’m gonna be like that black zombie warvet from the X-Files who can’t never sleep.
And of course as soon as I post the link, my feed freezes. They must be on to me.
by garrettelliott on Jan 5, 2010 9:23 PM EST up reply actions
Don't post the link!
Ever notice that when a link gets posted here (or at the old site) that the link goes down within minutes?
People should know by now where to go to get a feed.
Sorry everyone. I broke the internet. :(
by garrettelliott on Jan 5, 2010 9:24 PM EST up reply actions
fingers crossed
fingers are crossed we start this new year right and end this skid
so far so good…
Good timeout by Kuester
We need a good cushion to keep our chances high of winning this game and shrugging off this slump we’re in…
ay mayne
I was really wondering where the cufk you were at.
Hard to Earn .. Daily Operation.. I cannot pick a favorite.
I highly suggest
“Prematic” – tough to find, but you may find it online. It’s a mashup of classic Nas tracks and classic Premier beats. Yeah, Primo did a lot of Nas instrumentals, but this is a mashup of all sorts of different tracks. Fantastic.
jay electronica
Peep that exhibit c. you like Nas, you like gangstarr, you will love Jay elec!
Formerly known as SCNTFC!
haha too many...
…wilcox haters…who else to we have at the 4 or 5 that can provide descent offense other than CV31?
Just 5 points for Rip, Stuck, and BG
Have to feel pretty good (lucky) about an 8 point lead, even though Mavs look pretty awful
Detroit Bad Boys- SB Nation's Detroit Pistons Blog
Shawn Marion
Even though he’s still kind of effective, he really is a shell of his Phoenix-Nash-D’Antoni self, huh?
Instead of beefing with D'Antoiney
He shoulda stayed chiseled. He will always be a role player. Instead of second fiddle to Stoudemire, Nash, Bosh or Wade, he gets to watch Dirk own shit.
Ben Gordon was last time we played Dallas
he was 1-16…
Detroit Bad Boys- SB Nation's Detroit Pistons Blog
CV31 with a nice cut to the rim! We need more of that sort of thing. “Easy buckets” I think they’re called.
zzz
Discussion of Rock-Paper-Scissors
The announcers seem to be struggling with how the game works. Paper beats rock because it wraps the rock up.
Oh, look at Brandon Bass standing next to Wilcox
If only they could swap teams without nobody seeing it
Time for some Ben Franklin bifocal joints
So who was that I was seeing, or was it a ghost?
I’m gonna keep drinking regardless
every boxscore I'm looking at still thinks theres a minute in the 3rd left...
and refreshing isn’t helping. I’m actually watching commercials.
My Music: Now on last.fm!!
My Blog: Inside A Head
I don't go there often anymore
But box score thing was bugging me and ESPN’s is workin’
Detroit Bad Boys- SB Nation's Detroit Pistons Blog
Rip had that rebound
He just got out-hustled by Dirkadirka
Detroit Bad Boys- SB Nation's Detroit Pistons Blog
I want to see Jonasty the Destroyer
Go in on Dirk punk ass and engage in some angloviolence.
by Skylar on Jan 5, 2010 10:31 PM EST reply actions 2 recs
Dirk is a douche
Detroit Bad Boys- SB Nation's Detroit Pistons Blog
by Packey on Jan 5, 2010 10:33 PM EST reply actions 2 recs
Drew Gooden is like CV's little brother...
and little Drew oh so idolized Charlies hairlessness that he decided to try and shave his hair off also…but failed.
My Music: Now on last.fm!!
My Blog: Inside A Head
Charlie pointing to the half circle
claiming he was behind it and he wasn’t even close. I appreciate the try
Detroit Bad Boys- SB Nation's Detroit Pistons Blog
If I hear Blaha say "corner triple" again...
and not followed by “sweet string music,” I’m gonna be mad.
My Music: Now on last.fm!!
My Blog: Inside A Head
Stuckey knows how to make a 3...
and he does it from under the basket.
My Music: Now on last.fm!!
My Blog: Inside A Head
sigh....
they score way too easy when they want to
I leave for two weeks...
…and the Pistons lose 100 games and the whole site changes.
Welcome Back Quick Zartan
We missed you. And we moved to a new hood
"Don't tread on D" - Roscoe P. Wallace
Thoughts not having seen the Pistons play in a while
- Stuckey looks great
- Tay looks hurt
- Gordon looks off
- Defense looks horrendous
- Rip seems like he’s getting there.
- I didn’t realize Bynum was still out.
Is that Joey Crawford?
MFer was getting his Daunte Culpepper roll on. How dare you sir
"Don't tread on D" - Roscoe P. Wallace
Message to Jason Terry
That stupid “jet” thing after every shot was played out three years ago.
That's like the
GOOOOAAAAALLLL run them dudes overseas do after a soccer goal
"Don't tread on D" - Roscoe P. Wallace
his stat line says its still working out pretty good.
My Music: Now on last.fm!!
My Blog: Inside A Head
The Marines Ironman supertough crewcut high&tight 10-4 charlie bravo
leatherneck of the night, last I checked
"Don't tread on D" - Roscoe P. Wallace
don't blame him for taking that
best look we woulda had
Dallas probably knew Stuckey can't hit a 3
He’s taken 8 since Thanksgiving. How many has he made? ZERO
Detroit Bad Boys- SB Nation's Detroit Pistons Blog
Deja Vu?
Didn’t the same thing happen last time we played the Mavs? Great start, big lead, give it away in the 2nd half…
Anyone else left wondering why CV wasn’t in the game for those final few offensive possessions?
JKIAFI?
by brgulker on Jan 5, 2010 11:13 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
Alright, MFMP...
Rodney Stuckey: 7-15, 15 pts., 6 assists, 1 TOs, 2 stls. Solid, solid game from Rodney.
CV: 6-12, 17 points, 9 rebs, 1 block, 1 steal. Solid, solid game from CV.
And we still lost…
Post Game Thoughts:
I will count this effort against a strong Dallas team as a sign that the Pistons are out of their slump.
The Bad:
Ben Gordon has been flat against Dallas in two games now.
We aren’t getting many calls from the refs.
As a team, the Pistons need to have better discipline in terms of not committing fouls despite the refs not letting them off the hook.
The Good:
This Pistons team put up a good effort against one of the West’s bests teams considering that this Pistons team is pretty much like a new team coming out of training camp due to injuries.
A 100% healthy Rip, Tay, Ben Gordon, CV31 and Will Bynum will make a HUGE difference to how this team plays.
Stuckey has a lot of heart and will be the face of this franchise; he looked good today. I just wish he’d work on his 3-point shooting like he said he was going to because, once he has that down, just “look out” is all I can say.
I will continue to tolerate the Pistons playing “bad” until I see what this team really is. We haven’t even seen the full potential of this team. When everyone is 100% (hopefully in a few games or so) that will be the 2nd game this team has been 100% this entire season. I need to see a few weeks of 100% health play before I consider this season a failure.
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