- Ben Wallace is set to appear in a press conference announcing his decision to sign with the Bulls, but Mitch Albom won’t be tuning in.
- A lot of people have pointed to the recent NBA Playoffs as proof that the league is starting to favor offensive-minded teams. It was obvious to anyone that actually watched the games, but it goes beyond anecdotal evidence, as Michael Rosenberg points out:
In the old days (like, two or three years ago) that was OK, because the Pistons won with defense. But you can’t win with defense in today’s NBA. The new officiating guidelines — no hand-checking, no use of the forearm along the baseline, no breathing on Dwyane Wade — have given offenses the edge.
The Dallas and Miami players who played in the NBA Finals all have something in common: They failed to make the league’s All-Defensive team. In fact, none even made the All-Defensive second team.
The last time that happened was 1981.
Maybe that nugget of info has already been passed around, but that’s the first time that I remember seeing it.
- Former Piston Mike James finally got his long-term deal after signing a four-year deal with the Timberwolves. But that’s just the half of it — be sure to listen to this awesome interview he gave a Minnesota radio station just minutes before publicly announcing his decision, in which he proclaims he’s tired of being treated like a “cheap prostitute:”
“They don’t even want to take me to dinner. I can’t even get a steak and lobster. Nobody wants to spend a few quality time with me. … Everyone wants to use me for my goods, but no one wants to spend money for at least a date — knowing you’re going to get the good sex. Knowing you are, because that’s just how I play the game. … You still want to see the fireworks, but you don’t want to pay for the fireworks.”
Lucky for us, he takes the analogy and runs with it — the above quote is just a snippet.
- And on that note, I leave you until Monday as I sneak out for a long weekend. In the meantime, I suggest you check out Palace Prince, a new Pistons blog recently launched by DBB reader Robbie Philpott, as well as Bad Boys Summer Camp, for all the latest Pistons news from the Vegas Summer League.
Just remember kids, if you want to see the fireworks, you should pay for the fireworks.
He makes a good point about Big Ben. I don’t want to watch but I will.
Big Ben who? I know the Pistons used to have a guy with a similar name, but HE was a standup guy that did what he said. This one I hear the Bulls just signed? I have heard he is an aging star that has been protected by a team and a franchise for years. I have heard that last year that guy refused to go in a game. Our old Ben…now that guy was a player. He must have retired because there is no way our Ben would play for another team, especially in our conference…over something as silly as a few million dollars. Our Ben knew if he just stayed in Detroit he would have made up for the difference in endorsments. This Ben that is playing for Chicago? He must be a friend of Ron Artest. It will be fun to beat this other Ben’s ass when he comes to town though. Hack a Ben? Why Bother? Just give Ben a new contract, he will do whatever you want him to.
Man I gotta say, talk is cheap in most places. NBA is NBA, it is your profession and clearly a major focus in the life but family and security comes first. Ok, 10 million, 5 million here, he’s secure either way–right–yes. But, why be so hard on the guy due to your emotional dissappointment. CEO’s give lip service to companies all the time and move on in a few years and people don’t cry about that. If you came from ben’s family and know you can make $12 million dollars more, would you not say, well, since I’m not going to be really the type of player I am now, at the end of those four years-and won’t get a bigger chunk ever–i’m going to take it. He’s get endorsments in chicago, ya know.
If you have yet to hear, we signed Flip Murray for 2 years. Yay!!!
Boo. I still say we needed Knight. But with murray I doubt we’re going to get Knight. So what is Delfino going to play backup pg. I just dont know about this
Yeah, I’m unsure right now how I feel about acquiring Flip. The media’s already making cute “double Flip” jokes.
Personally, I don’t like the signing at all. The guy’s not an efficient scorer; never shot 43% in a season. Is a 31% shooter in 17 career playoff games. I’d rather have Tony Delk, and Saunders basically let him rot on the bench during the playoffs. Detroit needs bench scoring, and I don’t think Murray’s the right guy.
What’s the over/under for how many games it takes for Murray to eat up all of Delfino’s playing time?
Oh well…it seems like Pistons want to run and attack the rim hard next season since they didn’t get a PG. With Flip at the 2 and Delfino at the 3 position, the Pistons bench (including Dice) seems like it possibly score at least 28 ppg.
Don’t like Flip’s game but it’s not a horrible signing if you look at the price tag.
Thinking about it some more. I do think Flip is better than Mo Evans. And I think he’s getting paid less than Mo would have, so it’s a pretty good move.
Flip can play the 1 and the 2. He’s done both with some degree of success in the league. If you remember, the Pistons wanted to sign him last year but ended up with Delk as a 2nd choice. Delfino is more of a 3 that can play the 2. I don’t get why people are worried about Flip eating up Delfino’s minutes, or comparing him to Mo Evans for that matter, since they play different positions?
Great value signing. They could not have done any better with that amount of money.
I agree, kramer: This is capital V Value.
Anytime you can get a guy with starter experience, it’s a plus. The fact that they’re getting him at bargain-basement rates is icing on the cake.
yep, yep, yep.
The only fly in the ointment is that my dad is going to be singing that obnoxious “flipper” theme song that he says is from a 60’s sit-com (about an erstwhile dolphin named Flipper) even more than he did to annoy me last year with just a coach named Flip.
With 2 Flips for him to sing about, I’m gonna have to buy earplugs….