The Pistons are in Phoenix tonight, though I have no idea if the Suns personally welcomed them when they arrived to the airport. Winning the first four games of the road trip was nice, but a win tonight will get noticed around the entire league.
As you may remember, the Suns burnt the Chauncey-less Pistons in January, but last year the Pistons swept the season series by winning in Phoenix and at the Palace, so the Suns are hardly invincible.
Ball tips at 10 pm (ET) on TV 20, and as usual feel free to leave your thoughts on the game (or your bracket, or more discussion about what current college players you want to see wearing blue next year) in the comments.
Second quarter - Billups just stepped out with a groin injury, and I realize… we might just have a bench this year. Even Murray is doing solid work…
A couple things:
Groin injuries are the worst injuries. Lets hope its not too bad
It looks like the calls are a bit favouring the Suns right now. Example A: Delfino cleary hit on the arm on that layup B: The walk on Webber C: That call that got turned over in the Suns favour. The refs shouldn’t be afraid of the phx crowd
I think the best thing that could of happened for Murray is being sit down for all the time. I think he’s come back with a better mindset, and is now making smarter, more team orientated plays and is working on the defensive end now (we won’t know for sure till Pargo tries to drive past him).
Matt - I agree. I see a change in his game: less Arroyo, more Jacques Vaughn. He’s still not all the way there, but he’s not forcing things, he’s much more patient. And Delfino is really doing it. Of course we have Antonio and the Baby Eater, so when Hunter is back… maybe, just maybe, we will have a bench.
which means Rip’s, Tay’s and Chauncey’s minutes can finally go down a bit since it seems always one of them is in 40 minutes lately.
But damn if we aren’t missing Hunter right now. Damn. Damn.
FLIP!!!!!!!! What?
Delfino and Flip! I’m loving this right now. We’re looking alot better for the playoffs right now.
Great game for flip. Very dominating pistons 2nd half.
SIX steals by Flip? SIX? Put him in with the Bulldog.
Just keeps getting better.
STATEMENT GAME.
I expected for this to be our only game to lose on our west coast trip. For it to be our most dominating game, against the suns, is spectacular.
And without Billups. I guess the verdict on CWebb is in: he’s the man.
It was spectacular, but with Chauncey and Lindsey being down and to win like this, thats … uh… super terrific?
Matt - You’re having the same trouble Joe D said he would have if we swept the 5 game trip… you can’t find the adjective. And that’s ok. Just live it, son. Live it.
Yeah, it was more than a spectacular game.
This was their best game of the season so far. They forced turnovers, they rotated on defense to cut off the slashing to the rim… almost perfect D.
On offense, I know it’s a stretch to expect Flip to have these types of games all the time but when Rip isn’t shooting as much as he normally does then it kind of evens itself out…
Hopefully CB isn’t out long.
They told us there would be three signs:
1. We would beat the phoenix suns and go 5-0 on the road trip
2. We would beat them by 22 points and hold them under 85
3. Flip Murray would score like crazy AND PLAY DEFENSE!
The apocalypse is upon us!
I temporarily take back all the horrible things I’ve said over the past couple of months in regards to Flip Murray’s game. He played out of his mind.
I’ve enjoyed these last five games of the season sooo much. It’s not just because we have won, but the way we’ve won that has been so great.
Inside out basketball. Careful execution. We have transformed from a jump shot team to a low post team…. I love it! It allows us to set our defense and really shut people down. Somewhere LB is smiling.
Flip was great tonight but how well has CWebb played? It’s time to give in and label it the Rasheed type acquisition that it is. These playoffs are going to be fun.
-Tim
The Tech on Sheed was ridicules. I hope that gets reversed, but I’m not holding my breath… Stu Jackson is a nut job! Crap.. I just got fined 25,000.
I’m so proud of the boys!! The first 4 games of the roadie were games they SHOULD have won. The game against PHX was a nut check and they passed with flying colors! The best thing about the wins is they are holding the Cavs and Heat off. (F those guys!)
As Tim mentioned, I also temporarily take back any negatives I might have mentioned about Flip Murray. He played out of his mind tonight, very aggressive and he was money with Rip not playing well. We didn’t really need Hunter’s lock-down defense on Nash tonight, PHX never got into any type of flow.
Bring on Dallas, let’s make it 6 in a row!! (notice they had a WAR on their hands against Boston tonight!!)
Q-Dog