Archive for April, 2006

Sexual healing

Published by Ian Cameron on April 30, 2006 in 2006 Playoffs and Around the Internets. 10 Comments

So I’m not as cranky today. Why?

    3. And finally, my fiancee snapped the below pic for me while she was in Michigan this weekend. Note: I’m told the photo was snapped in Westland.

Oh yeah we are!

Let’s just hope the Wings can uphold their end of the deal.

Lakers 99, Suns 98 recap [ESPN]
Bulls 93, Heat 87 recap [ESPN]

W…T…F?

Published by Ian Cameron on April 29, 2006 in 2006 Playoffs and Around the Internets. 24 Comments

Glad that\'s finished...No extensive game summary. No cute recaps. In honor of the Pistons effort on Saturday night in Milwaukee, I’m going to mail this one in. I’m sure we’ll post more reactions to this game tomorrow, but for now, f-it.

We got our wish, Pistons fans. While everyone, including the Boys in Blue, were ready to write off the remainder of the series, the Bucks decided that they hadn’t had their say yet. In retrospect, no one should know the psychological rejuvenation of returning home after two blowout losses better than the Pistons and us fans. (Last year? San Antonio? Work with me here people.) Let’s hope this game has sufficiently stamped out whatever ego allowed this team to half-heartedly walk their way through this game. Tay? Ben? Sheed (after the first quarter)? We’ll need you all on Monday.

I’m sure you guys have more rational thoughts than my own at this point. What did you think? (Sam, Ty, I think we’d all appreciate your take on this one.)

I need a drink.

In closing, I leave you with this haiku:

Bucks: 60%
They threw their best punch tonight.
Dee-troit Basketball?

Bucks 124, Pistons 104 box score [ESPN]

Carlisle vs. Brown vs. Saunders

Published by Matt Watson on April 29, 2006 in Around the Internets. 2 Comments

I’ve always appreicated Charley Rosen’s columns over at FOX Sports — the guy obviously knows his basketball, and you can count on him always being brutally honest. He was asked about the Pistons twice in his mailbag today — here’s the first question:

In my opinion, Dumars gathered the materials, Larry Brown forged them into a sword, and now Flip Saunders is simply using the weapon. As much as I dislike Brown, do you believe that if Brown never coached Detroit, they would be as good as they are now? I would also like to point out that Brown inherited a pretty good team after Rick Carlisle’s departure. — Steven

It’s interesting how Brown suddenly became a genius when Dumars brought in Rasheed Wallace.

Rasheed had more to do with the Pistons being champs than did Brown.

One of the reasons why Carlisle was canned was that Dumars wanted the rookie Tayshaun Prince to play more and the veteran Corliss Williamson less, and Carlisle stubbornly insisted on the reverse. Had Carlisle survived until the addition of Rasheed, the disagreement would have been moot, and Detroit would have likely won the championship anyway. For sure, Brown instilled a certain degree of strait-jacketed discipline, but while LB was more media-friendly, Carlisle had a more honest relationship with most of the players. I happen to believe that both Carlisle and Saunders are better coaches than Brown. And that, while giving Brown his due, he was also the right guy in the right place at precisely the right time.

The real question is whether or not the Pistons would have been as good as they are now with Brown still at the helm. And the answer is a resounding NO

He was also asked if anyone can beat the Pistons in the NBA Finals. His answer is long, but he summed it up with his first sentence:

Only San Antonio, but only if Duncan is 100 percent healthy and the Spurs can hit their perimeter shots.

Of course, the Pistons have to get to the Finals, but it’s nice to see they’re getting the respect of the national media.

What does it really take to be the MVP? [FOX Sports]

Excuse me, but the “Fab Five?”

Published by Matt Watson on April 29, 2006 in Around the Internets. 4 Comments

The Free Press asked their readers who would win in a seven-game series, the current “Fab Five” Pistons or the old school Bad Boys. I’m not sure I know the answer, but I do know one thing: I take serious issue with the Freep appropriating the “Fab Five” nickname.

The University of Michigan may have erased all record of Chris Webber, Jalen Rose, Juwon Howard, Jimmy King and Ray Jackson from their record books, but what those five players did as college freshman and sophomores is the stuff of legends — even if the did fail to ever actually win the big game.

I know a lot of people have tried to drum up interest in coming up with a new nickname for the current Pistons, but the more I think about it, the more I like the idea of them not having one, or at least not having one that celebrates the starters over everyone else. What about you? Do you have any ideas for a nickname, or do you think the team doesn’t need one?

FAB FIVE VS. BAD BOYS [Detroit Free Press]

Early Game 3 concession… err, recap

Published by Matt Watson on April 29, 2006 in 2006 Playoffs, Alley-Oops and Around the Internets. 0 Comments

Just in case you’re not able to tune in for Game 3 tonight, Sam Kirchner over at 5-Point Bucks has already put up a game recap — eight hours before the game even starts!

Going over to the dark side

Published by Ian Cameron on April 29, 2006 in 2006 Playoffs. 17 Comments

I watched, and I was entertained. Does that make me a bad person?It has taken me a long while of questioning myself and my judgment before being comfortable enough to speak out on this topic. But I’ve decided that, in the interest of moving forward, I have to admit my faults, apologize to those whom my actions have affected most, and get on with making myself a better Ian. So here goes.

I’m having an affair.

When I first met the Pistons, I was wide-eyed and knee high. I’ve been a fan since childhood. I was there for “stolen by Bird” and “Game 7 at the Great Western Forum.” I celebrated the Bad Boys. I was there when Alvin Robertson, the original Latrell Sprewell, nearly choked Billy McKinney to death. I watched Grant’s inbounds alley-oop to Linsdsey Hunter with less than second on the clock. And I’ve enjoyed #3 and the current run for #4.

And all the while, I lived in a comfortable world, where few opposing players ever intrigued me, and all could somehow be justified as lesser than my favorite of the Boys in Blue. But now my eyes have begun to wander. Not for a new team, mind you — the trophy will always look better hoisted over Piston red, white, and blue — but I’ve started to recognize the talents of non-Pistons. And it has shaken me.

Sure, I had glanced in the past — who hasn’t. For me it was always a David Robinson or a Dan Majerle, a “good character guy” or an underdog who was easy to root for when the Pistons weren’t in it but just as easy to look back away from when things were better at home.

The league\'s biggest thorn faces off against the league\'s worst rapper. How could I not?Now, players that I formerly wouldn’t allow a glance are causing me to tune into their games in the midst of a Piston title run. Players like Kobe and Nocioni — players I was convinced spent their summers stealing from children or tripping old people — have garnered my appreciation for their skill and determination. I’ll send IMs to friends raving about the latest of Kobe’s miraculous 18-point performances, or celebrating every splinter Nocioni shoves under Kazaam’s fingernails. I’ll get nearly as excited by a last second, 7 v. 2 upset, as I do for the lackluster Piston blowout over the Bucks.

So I ask you — is it alright to take time out from our current drive for four to appreciate the games of others around the league? Is this polygamy curable? Am I still allowed to rock my Bill Laimbeer throwback, or have I given up my P (iston) card?

Are there non-Pistons whom you look forward to watching during the playoffs? Who and why?

The original Detroit Bad Boys

Published by Matt Watson on April 28, 2006 in Around the Internets. 5 Comments

We’ve mentioned before how this current series with the Bucks lacks a certain level of intensity. Well, in order to fill that void, let us present some classic moments from the old school Detroit Bad Boys:

The Bad Boys certainly had a reputation around the league for being a bunch of thugs, but this should serve as a reminder that they took as much abuse as they gave out. I’m not one to promote violence, but it was exciting back then — you never knew what would happen when players got under each other’s skin. Now, you have guys making headlines for bouncing their mouthpiece off the floor. That love tap Ron Artest gave Manu Ginobili? It was nothing compared to Robert Parrish just mauling Laimbeer near the end of this video.

Detroit Bad Boys [YouTube]

Should Rip Hamilton sit out Game 3?

Published by Matt Watson on April 28, 2006 in 2006 Playoffs, From the news and Polls. 2 Comments

A lot of fans seem to think so, but Flip Saunders doesn’t agree. From the Free Press:

“I hear everyone talking,” Saunders said at practice Thursday. “Sit him, and all that. I didn’t know we had so many doctors in Detroit that understand this.”

Hamilton sprained his ankle when he came down on a Milwaukee player’s foot Sunday in Game 1. He sat a few minutes on the bench but finished the game.

On Monday and Tuesday, Hamilton received treatment and did not practice. Then Wednesday in Game 2, he started and played well, but jammed the same ankle in the second quarter. Once again, he returned to finish the game.

Saunders is relying on the advice of his medical staff, who seem to think Hamilton won’t risk further injury to himself by playing. But even though strength and conditioning coach Arnie Kander and trainer Mike Abdenour have forgotten more things about treating sprained ankles than I’ve ever learned, I can’t help but think the Pistons would be best off erring on the side of caution. Why risk things? His injury may not be as bad as Chauncey Billups’ was a few years back, but it can’t be a good sign that he’s tweaked the injury in consecutive games.

Perhaps Saunders feels he owes it to Hamilton to let him play as long as he’s healthy, but the way the first-round is structured with such long layoffs between games, this is a unique opportunity to rest him and get him healthy for the long haul. What do you think?

PISTONS CORNER: Flip not planning to sit hurting Rip [Detroit Free Press]

Unfortunate headline

Published by Matt Watson on April 28, 2006 in Alley-Oops and Around the Internets. 0 Comments

Spotted this morning in the Los Angeles Times: Odom Is Burning It Up. Looks like someone over there has a nice sense of irony.

We’re back!

Published by Matt Watson on April 28, 2006 in Alley-Oops and Site Announcements. 1 Comment

You may have noticed some downtime late in the day on Thursday — we had some server issues, which are hopefully behind us.

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