Pre-rant recap
Natalie at Need 4 Sheed has, as always, done an excellent job in capturing the video highlights of Sheed’s big night against the Pacers. If you want a taste of how dominant the Pistons were during brief stretches of last night’s 88-83 W over the Pacers, I suggest you check that out. As for me, I’m choosing instead to bitch and moan like only a fan of the best team in the NBA can–see below.
Rant (or as much as one can with the team being 44-9)
One of the things I appreciated about the first 40 games of this season was the way in which the Pistons closed out games. They didn’t care if you were the Spurs, the Suns, the Bobcats, or the Sixers — at the end of the game, they stepped on your neck and didn’t let you up for air until the clock hit zeros. Now — as the Pistons struggle to assemble four quarters of A-game — they’re suddenly looking vulnerable to the peons of the league. Now we’ve got fools like Jermaine O’Neal mouthing off about playoff matchups and a war of words with super-scrub Anthony Johnson. This from today’s Indianapolis Star:
The Pistons, in particular coach Flip Saunders, didn’t care for Pacers forward Jermaine O’Neal’s comments about matching up and wanting to play them in the playoffs. Then Johnson took exception to Detroit’s explanation for losing the first meeting earlier this month.
“One thing about the Indiana Pacers is that we don’t make excuses,” Johnson said. “When we beat them, they were like it was their fourth game in five nights and all that kind of (expletive). We don’t do that; they just beat our (expletive). That’s it. There’s no other way to put it.”
I think I’ve become more than just a spoiled fan. Winning games is no longer enough–I want these guys (the Nets, Pacers, and Heat especially) to be walking away demoralized. That Anthony Johnson was doing anything after the game other than lying on the floor of the Pacers lockerroom in the fetal position bothers me. Is that wrong?
Post Rant
Whatever–it’s a win, and the Boys in Blue look to be getting back on track having won 5 of 6 since their first losing streak of the season. But hey, enjoy the war of words with Anthony Johnson now, because when Jamal Tinsley returns maybe Johnson goes back to playing semi-pro ball in Israel, Italy, or Ivory Coast (or wherever he crawled out from).
[Note: my bitterness towards the Pacers is getting the best of me with that last comment. In all seriousness, I would like to point out that right now Johnson would be a HUGE upgrade over Lindsey Hunter as a backup point for the Pistons. TNT analyst Doug Collins mentioned last night that Lindsey’s “timing was off.” Well I certainly hope it was, because if that’s what we have to look forward to down the stretch, then I’m buying my Anthony Goldwire jersey tomorrow.]
Sheed said it
The real story coming out of last night was not the Pistons victory over the Pacers. Did you know that Ben Wallace’s nickname amongst the players is “Body”? If this is common knowledge, I apologize, but I think we need only one guess as to who may have given him the moniker:
“Body (Wallace) was blocking shots left and right, grabbing rebounds,” Rasheed Wallace said. “The kid’s a monster. I am just glad he’s on my side.”
Beating the dead horse
Did you notice that Miami Vice logged 19 minutes last night? He was on the floor during a couple of the team’s best runs, and again made key hustle plays while taking care of the ball. I know that our praise of him on this site has reached comical proportions, but he isn’t an arbitrary choice for the love. Both Matt and I feel strongly that he’s going to play a major role in the continued success of the Pistons, so watch now to see the humble beginnings of greatness.
Pistons 88, Pacers 83 box score [ESPN]
Wallace’s 1-man fusillade leaves Pacers in a daze [Indianapolis Star]
Rasheed is a sparkplug in the 4th quarter [Detroit News]
Ian,
I understand your rant and I feel you, Imagine how I felt being there at the game and watching the Pistons lose a 20 point lead in a matter of a couple of minutes. It took a lot away from how proud I was of our boys after we pulled away like that down the streatch. I actually walked to my car PISSED. My boyfriend thought I was nuts and literally wants to send me to some kind of “sports rehab” as he put it. I think you and I will feel much better after tonights game against the Bulls, If not let’s split a case of beer and move on.
Ahmen to the being pissed off about the losing of the 20 point lead. Although I am really thankfull that the night didn’t end in a big fat L for the boys. Tonite will be much better than last, the Bulls won’t produce much other than a weak offense, and a sad excuse for a defense. I predict Rasheed will have a huge game, and let fly some more ringers from beyond the arc. If not, then we can always count on Rip for some amazing throws. And as always I expect BIG BEN to have some awesome rejections tonite.
Ahmen to the Beer! Win or Lose
Hunter’s play had me cursing all night, and was the main reason Indiana remained in the game as long as they did. Johnson ate his lunch over and over, he blew a couple of fast break chances, and turned the ball over a few more times (alley-oop?). Hopefully this is a temporary thing.
It bothers me too when we let opponents creep back into a game late, but it’s hardly a recent phenomenon. I was more curious why Saunders had the starting five in with a 20 point lead, and five minutes left — especially when the bench was getting so much court time during the rest of the game.
It seemed like we were experimenting with this game. Obviously by going deep into the bench early, but also by giving Carlos (I’m not sold on his nickname yet) plenty of time with four of the starters, and avoiding three-pointers/establishing Sheed’s inside game (until late in the game).
Getting Ben involved offensively really seemed to fire up his play on both ends of the court. I’m suprised noone’s mentioned the three consecutive FTs he made. Hope this continues.
Mike–
I actually looked it up after the game–the first time he’s hit 100% on multiple free throw opportunities in something like 14 games. Good for Ben.
And while Miami Vice wasn’t my first nickname choice either, the people have spoken. Besides, if Sheed likes it then I can’t complain. It should make a clever pun if Delfino is able to slow Wade the next time we play Miami.
For Natalie and Murray–I couldn’t agree more re: beer.
I’m just sick of Jermaine “It’s Him or Me” O’neal’s comments already! At first when they said that during the ASG I was quite amused by it. But that boy hasn’t shut up ever since!!!!
from nba.com:
“I respect the Pistons, I respect what they’ve got going on over there, but I feel good about my team. I feel good about my team against anyone, with a healthy team. You can say what you want to say about this game, we had enough players to win - there are no excuses. I feel like when we get myself back, when we get Austin Croshere back, when we get Jamaal Tinsley back, we’re going to be right there. Take any team and take two stars out of their lineup and tell me what you get. Take Rasheed Wallace and Chauncey Billups and then tell me what you’ve got. That’s just the way it is. Those are the facts.”
I think it’s time to loosen up them braids Jermaine!!!!!!!! It’s getting too tight that your brain’s not getting enough blood flow anymore.
Actually, I do want the Pistons to play them on the first round of the playoffs just to get Jermaine and his ghetto team out of the way.
Nice website. I have a question for anyone on here. Does anyone know of a website where I can find old pictures of the Bad Boys symbols??? I am getting a Pistons tattoo and I want to do it old school. I can’t seem to find any pictures. When I was a kid I had the hats, t-shirts, posters and everything else but I can’t find any of them. Any help would be great.