Hooray! The Pistons Aren't The Worst: Pistons 108, Timberwolves 85
by Packey on Feb 16, 2010 11:38 PM EST
in Detroit Pistons Recaps
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What Happened:
The best recipe for a W: home game after a nice break, great offense, solid second half defense, and playing one of the worst teams in the NBA (usually) equals sweet, yummy, success.
Tied at the half 52-52, the Pistons outscored Minnesota 56-33 in the final two quarters. The Pistons scored as many points in the 3rd quarter as the T-Wolves put up in the second half, building a 20 point lead heading into the fourth and allowing the Pistons to coast the rest of the way. The 33 points the Pistons put up in the third was the first time they've scored 30+ points in the third quarter this season.
The Pistons were constantly making that one extra pass on offense to create the easiest shot opportunity, which was why the Pistons had 60 points in the paint and "at least 13-to-15 dunks" (Kelser's words) -- and some of the dunks would have scored higher than what we saw this past Saturday.
There were also Daye, Kwame, and Wilcox sightings - each seeing at least five minutes in the fourth.
The Good:
Ball movement FTGDMFW. 37 (!) team assists allowed the Pistons to get open looks and shoot 54% for the game. Will Bynum dished out a career high 14.
This man set the tone early (maybe I should use this picture whenever I really want to emphasize how awesome he is/was). He scored 13 points in the first quarter and it probably would have been more if it weren't for foul trouble. He still finished with a team-high 21 points on 9-13 shooting, three rebounds, and two steals.
The Bad:
Not a whole lot of bad, but I still expect more from Ben Gordon. 4-11 (0-3 from three) and eight points is not that.
Speaking of threes, Charlie V was just 1-6 from downtown -- a nice portion of the reason why the Pistons were just 22% as a team from beyond the arc. When he and Ben Gordon were on the floor together, I saw more set plays for CV behind the arc than BG. That should never happen.
The Zeljko Rebraca Unsung Hero:
Tayshaun Prince played a team-high 31 minutes and made the most of every single minute. He was a team-best plus-34 in plus-minus (according to ESPN), had 11 points on 5-8 shooting, grabbed five rebounds, and had three assists. He's averaging 17 points and 4+ rebounds over the last three games -- perfect timing because there's a certain deadline on Thursday at 3 PM EST.
Jason Maxiell had a team-high 10 rebounds and six points in 24 minutes. That's nine points and 15 rebounds per 36 minutes. He's averaging 15 points and 12.5 rebounds per 36 over the last four games. Sniff. Sniff.
Will Bynum career high in assists was a little on the quiet side, too.
The Takeaway:
The Timberwolves are the worst team in the Western Conference, but there's no denying how well the Pistons played on the offensive side of the ball tonight. They moved the ball tremendously well and were actually executing set plays on a consistent basis. 37 assists and 54% shooting is going to give any team a pretty good chance at winning, especially against the Timberwolves.
I guess we'll see if this was more a product of the T-Wolves being in town or the Pistons actually playing better together after the All-Star break, when the Pistons travel to Orlando for a game with the Magic tomorrow night. /Sigh.
Any way you want to look at the season, these wins are nice because at least we know the Pistons don't need to climb out from the very bottom of the pits of bad.
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Watching the re-broad
not nearly as enjoyable without my dudes (and Kriz) though
"I didn’t even know Elvis was from Memphis, I thought he was from Tennessee." — Drew Gooden.
FT shooting
There are not too many negatives that can be taken out of a game like that but I have to mention the FT shooting. The team shot 12 from 21 which equates to 57%. It has been a problem all season and IMO has cost them a few wins.
Does the team have a specialist shooting coach? Someone who can teach them the basic fundamentals of shooting. If not, it might be something for the organisation to ponder.
by I like pink tacos on Feb 17, 2010 1:38 AM EST reply actions
Dan Feldman at PistonPowered points out we’re only seven games back from the playoffs and the sixth (?!) seed in the East.
by TDP on Feb 17, 2010 7:58 AM EST via mobile reply actions
I’ve always been on the play as well as you can and make the playoffs if you can bandwagon, but I’m starting to feel torn about that.
Awesome
John Wall or not, I always want to see my teams do as well as possible. The Ping-Pong Balls from Karmic Hell will screw us if we tank anyway.
Check out Detroit4Lyfe & The Gordie Howe Hat Trick
by handsomerob1 on Feb 17, 2010 11:42 AM EST up reply actions
Take away a couple of TOs, bad bounces and misses in the Kings game
And Detroit would have a four game winning streak. Now, it would have all been against pretty bad teams, and for Detroit in previous years (and other Real Contenders), four straight isn’t really a big deal.
But I’m guessing that if we had had a better finish against the Kings and thus had won four in a row, there would have been a decent amount of “hey, look what we can do when everyone is healthy!” around here. Just sayin’.
I don't want any of that, "Hey, we're OK!" bullshit.
I want DeMarcus Cousins. This season is over— give the rooks 25mpg and let’s start racking up those all-important L’s.
by The Joel on Feb 17, 2010 10:04 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
agreed
at this point, I ain’t too proud to tank, y’aaaalllllllll
Would you like me to give you Hubie Brown's home telephone number so that you can actually call him yourself to confirm that he is someone who knows me?
Great ball movement (and awful Minnesota defense)
- Hopefully, this up-tempo thing wasn’t a one game occurence.
- Jerebko dominated. Great to see him bang with Kevin Love.
- Daye’s got a sweet shot.
- Bynum had a great quote in an interview about how he’s struggling on defense after his ankle injury. Paraphrasing: “I’m getting torched by guys who couldn’t get it past half court on me.”
Tentative Plan to Rebuild Pistons
1. Let Kwame expire, give that money to the Bynum Foundation.
2. Get a big man in the draft (Favors, Cousins, Aldrich, or, as a last resort, Patterson).
3. Use Tay and Wilcox’s expiring contract to get another big.
One scenario (of many):
PG: Stuckey/Bynum
SG: Rip/Gordon
SF: Jerebko/Daye
PF: Favors/Villaneuva
C: Okafor/Big Ben
I'm not sure you want Okafor and Favors together
Okafor has a nice post game, but Favor’s game is based purely off athletcism. Not to mention he’s quite timid on the offensive end.
Should we end up with Favors, I’d prefer a stretch 5. That would make it much easier for Favors and Stuckey to operate.
by bearded thundar on Feb 17, 2010 9:58 AM EST up reply actions
how very boney of you!
Would you like me to give you Hubie Brown's home telephone number so that you can actually call him yourself to confirm that he is someone who knows me?
Jerebko
is averaging 11.2 ppg and 7.3 rpg in under 23 mpg in the 6 games in Feb. That’s pushing 18 and 12 per 36. And, if I’m not mistaken, that is almost exclusively time at PF.
After years of playing on the perimeter, it looks like he is adjusting quite well. I was very skeptical about him shifting back to PF (especially after the first go ’round), but maybe he really can excel there.
If he keeps bulking up and develops more consistency with his shot, he could be force at both forward spots.
by waulie on Feb 17, 2010 10:28 AM EST reply actions 3 recs
rec'd
also, he’s shooting 50% from three in Feb. only one attempt per game, but nothing to scoff at. hopefully he can keep it up, as he only shot 26% in jan and 21% in december from outside.
Would you like me to give you Hubie Brown's home telephone number so that you can actually call him yourself to confirm that he is someone who knows me?
Jerebko is the Will Bynum of last year
The Pistons player doing surprisingly well in a general year of suck. Well, I guess you could say Ben Wallace is doing surprisingly well this year too, but he’s more of a known commodity.
If Jerebko is the Will Bynum of last year,
then Ben Wallace is the Antonio McDyess of last year. McDyess was a beast and played with a lot of heart. Ice for Dyess!!!
by Rotten Atom on Feb 17, 2010 11:22 AM EST up reply actions
How long before Khandor blames this year on Jonas?
Last year without Jonas= Playoffs
This year with Jonas= No playoffs
Therefore Jonas is a terrible player.
/QED’d
by bugman222 on Feb 17, 2010 12:14 PM EST up reply actions 6 recs
I agree with everything you just said. My only fear is his ability to match up with bigger, post-oriented bigs.
I think he gives opposing defenders a match-up problem, and we saw that last night with Love, but there’s no denying that Love gave JJ plenty of trouble in the first half. His improved shooting of late was the only thing he was clearly missing in the first half of the season.
I hope
this isn’t a “first year that nobody knows about” kind of trend that we see a lot in this league. Hopefully he puts the necessary work in during the offseason to bulk up and improve his game. Being able to pencil him in as a legitimate 4 would really help this team in the future IMO. There would be less emphasis on a scoring big (especially if JJ continues to develop his inside game).
Check out Detroit4Lyfe & The Gordie Howe Hat Trick
by handsomerob1 on Feb 17, 2010 11:48 AM EST up reply actions
Here's how to finish this season right.
<img src=“”http://s836.photobucket.com/albums/zz290/RobXL/?action=view¤t=M60A3_Taiwan_03.jpg" target="_blank">
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I hate to see them lose but the Pistons need to get an elite player out of this draft, so let’s not rally for the 8th spot so that we can miss out on the lottery and get raped by the Cavs (again). Further more I want a player who can contribute now, not some 7 foot tall twig who can jump but has no actual basketball skills (Tyrus Thomas). No developmental picks in the first! Get someone with an NBA ready body and skill set if you are going to draft up high.
I'm just like a sports reporter, but without the insight or money.
I'll be at the game
by Big Z in Orlando on Feb 17, 2010 12:42 PM EST reply actions
Me thinks Mrs. Davidson is serious about selling off the her late husband’s assets. Whoever takes over the franchise would have likely wanted to bring in his/her own people to run the show.
I'm just like a sports reporter, but without the insight or money.
Me thinks Mrs. Davidson is rotten whore
by bearded thundar on Feb 17, 2010 2:16 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
me thinks
you get a rec, sir
Would you like me to give you Hubie Brown's home telephone number so that you can actually call him yourself to confirm that he is someone who knows me?
God, I feel like a newb again asking this but I didn’t post for about half of last year so…
What is a rec in DBB terms?
I'm just like a sports reporter, but without the insight or money.
Okay, I wanted to make sure it wasn’t something punitive.
I'm just like a sports reporter, but without the insight or money.
if you want
you can try it on all of my comments :)
Would you like me to give you Hubie Brown's home telephone number so that you can actually call him yourself to confirm that he is someone who knows me?
I think you’re reading too much into Tom Wilson’s sudden departure. The guy is likely one of the most highly coveted Entertainment Venue Top Brass in the nation. He’s spent years developing one of the best run, best marketed, most valuable entertainment franchises in the United States in a region that has seen consistent economic struggles.
Chances are is he’s looking to make a big step in his career and break into a bigger market. I could see New Jersey look to pick him up especially if they move forward with moving the team to Brooklyn (I believe thats still happening isn’t it?).
Jonas Jerebko once killed a charging female rhinoceros in heat protecting its young with nothing more than a hook shot.
If the Nets score Lebron
which I still think is the #1 destination, due to Jay-Z and the new arena… Wilson would be a fine choice to assist in building.
"I didn’t even know Elvis was from Memphis, I thought he was from Tennessee." — Drew Gooden.
Cap Space + teammates
Behind Cleveland, NJ can not only offer him the most money, but also the best supporting cast.
Even if they don’t get John Wall, and end up with say Favors (who compliments Lopez more than Cousins would), you’re look at this potential starting five:
Devin Harris (who really needs to shave, btw)
Courtney Lee
LeBron
Derrick Favors
Brook Lopez
That’s a championship caliber team if they get any semblance of depth.
by bearded thundar on Feb 17, 2010 3:26 PM EST up reply actions
Terrence Williams is promising as well.
Lebron would have executive decision on what coach they settle on in addition.
Thanks for the cap reminder.
"I didn’t even know Elvis was from Memphis, I thought he was from Tennessee." — Drew Gooden.
i gotta protest
That starting 5 is 2nd round and out. As much as i have a hard time respecting the cavs, mo williams, side show, west, shaq, are all pretty solid.
by C$ on Feb 17, 2010 3:47 PM EST up reply actions
I doubt
the Cavs re-sign Shaq if LeBron bolts
Check out Detroit4Lyfe
by handsomerob1 on Feb 17, 2010 4:07 PM EST up reply actions
It is very possible that he is moving up. It is just our luck that the other may happen as well.
by MaxiellEatsLittleOnes on Feb 17, 2010 2:29 PM EST reply actions
There's a thread on the Wilson topic on the front page now.
Just a FYI — here
Detroit Bad Boys- SB Nation's Detroit Pistons Blog
Twitter
Nate Robinson to the C's
I hope the Celtic’s go down in flames, but from a more objective standpoint, how does trading House (and a 2nd) make them that much better? Is that all they can do? If so, well, lol at Boston.
Wait
They traded for Robinson to get a guy who can run the point and play defense? That doesn’t fit Robinson at all, he’s instant offense. A poor man’s AI with a better shooting touch, and I have yet to see him be effective defense.
If anything, they should have made a move for Eric Maynor. He was practically given away for free to OKC and has become a big part of their bench. And if I recall, Ramon Sessions ended up being given away for free too.
by bearded thundar on Feb 17, 2010 2:59 PM EST up reply actions
Nate is waaaay better than House. It obviously doesn’t make Boston a lot better, but it’s an improvement. I live in nyc and watch the Knicks on nights when the Pistons aren’t playing, and Nate can be shockingly effective for how low people’s opinion of him generally is.
Also, (I’m borrowing from depressedfan, a really good Sixers blog) the Maynor deal really isn’t anything to get excited about, definitely not a Sam Presti masterstroke of genius that some people are making it out to be. By taking on Harpring’s deal, OKC basically paid $6.5m for the 20th pick in the draft, and from Utah’s perspective, they used the 20th pick to save over $12m when you factor in the luxury tax.
Nate to Celts isn't quite a done deal.
The Lakers are also in play.
I’d trade House for Nate yesterday. To me, there is more to like, and more to his game, than there are detractions of it.
"I didn’t even know Elvis was from Memphis, I thought he was from Tennessee." — Drew Gooden.
Isn't Harpring's deal payed by an insurance company?
I swear I heard that somewhere. Guessing it still counts against the cap still, but depending on when he expires that might not be a big deal.
Insurance pays a chunk of the contract because Harpring’s injury is probably career ending.
But everyone talks about the deal like Maynor was “given away for free,” when he was given away to save more than $10m. Those are two very different things.
Fo Sho
It seems like a good deal for both teams. Possibly better for Utah in a relative sense, since 12mil is a lot of money. So I see your point re: people slobbering on Sam Presti’s elite knob.
My two cents on this deal
Who cares?
Nate Robinson is an upgrade over House, but not a game-changing one on most nights. What Boston really needs is a big man who can provide some rest to KG so he can get healthy for the playoffs. A healthy Boston is still a dangerous Boston.
If Ainge fails to move Ray Allen’s expiring deal for a couple quality assets right now, it will be a major, major blunder. If they don’t move him now, they’re left with essentially the same core next year and the year after with little-to-no flexibility in terms of cap space, combined with several aging vet’s on bad contracts.
Now, I hope Ainge f*’s it all up, so that the C’s end up back in the basement, but that’s what he should do, IME.
The funny thing is the Celt’s are being burned by some classically idiotic Doc Rivers self-immolation. Shelden Williams was doing everything that lots of fans (and dumb GM’s) think Fat Baby Davis does, except Williams was actually reasonably okay at those things, instead of unbelievably terrible like Davis.
Now Fat Baby is back and Rivers is handing him minutes and the results are predictably horrible. I guess that’s the price you pay for having an idiot as your coach.
But (IME) add Nate, subtract Davis, give the back-up PF minutes to Williams, and the Celts are suddenly pretty close to the other contenders again.
by Gabe F-B on Feb 17, 2010 5:35 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Here's a fun stat about this game
Pistons shot 27-34 (79.5%) last night at the rim vs. Wolves. Surprised? Kevin Love, Al Jefferson and co have 2nd worst rim defense in NBA.
via HoopData
Detroit Bad Boys- SB Nation's Detroit Pistons Blog
Twitter
Hence why they are willing to trade one of the two. Honestly I think Kevin Love is the more valuable player. He’ll have a cheaper contract, has a lot of versatility in the post on top of 3 point range, and most importantly he’s a rebounding machine.
If you pair him up with a Marcus Camby-esque player that can block shots and help with the defensive boards, you have probably one of the best front courts in the NBA.
by bearded thundar on Feb 17, 2010 3:13 PM EST up reply actions
Kevin Love is destined to be a great bang for the buck. As I think Gabe mentioned a while back, he’ll never get paid according to his relative worth in the NBA. If we could snag him somehow?
Maybe they would be willing to move Big Al, since they already have Love to replace him. Besides matching salaries I don’t know what else Minny would want. One thing I would not want to give up would be our first round pick. We’re sucking good and hard for a reason right now and I don’t want to see us get cheated out of a good young player in the draft.
I'm just like a sports reporter, but without the insight or money.
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