This is where it gets interesting, right? No, this is where it fizzles out. McDyess started advancing toward KG, who actually threw a punch, but by that point KG was backpedaling so much he either missed or barely grazed McDyess’ chest. Words were exchanged and McDyess clearly tried to get to KG, but KG was in full-fledged Carmelo hit-and-run mode, putting just enough space between the two for them to be separated by teammates, coaches and officials but staying close enough to hurl insults.
In any event, the little shoving match worked out in Detroit’s favor — with Minnesota’s head coach Dwayne Casey already benching Ricky Davis in the third quarter, the T’Wolves were without their top two leading scorers for the rest of the fourth and two overtimes. McDyess didn’t bait KG (it was the other way around), but he knew his team would have the advantage:
“I know they can win without me. I don’t think they can win without K.G.,” said McDyess.
And they did — 104-98 in overtime. Many thanks to DBB reader Mike Payne for reminding me about this. To be perfectly honest, I’ll be shocked if there are any lingering feelings from this incident — I doubt McDyess is even capable of holding a grudge — but I’m surprised I haven’t seen it mentioned in the build-up to this game.
Update: Blakely mentioned it this morning, and McCosky addressed it wrote something after today’s shootaround.
Looking at the video, I’m surprised Rip wasn’t thrown out, too. He’s was clearly going after KG as well. I think I’d put money on KG if he fought Rip. To quote someone on this blog, it would be over faster than you can say “Dr. Rahmani.”
I hope both teams bring their A game tonight. If so, I think Detroit pulls out a squeaker.
That has to be one of the lowest points of KG’s career. Either stay out of a fight or throw a real punch. That reminded me of my girlfriend throwing playful punches when she isnt really that mad.
Is that Glass Joe clip still around here?
It looks as though KG is actually a little worried when Dyess turns around after that shove. I would have had my money on #24 any day.
yeah, i have to agree. i lost MAD respect for KG after this. if you’re gonna throw a punch, throw a punch, don’t try to slap with your knuckles. it looked like damon wayans posturing as handiman.
A. Sherrod Blakely is the only one I’ve seen who has mentioned this incident, but apparently Dice has forgiven Garnett: “I got nothing against him … I know it’s all a part of the game. It wasn’t anything personal, I don’t believe. I haven’t spoken with him or anything. We’ll just have to see what happens on the court.”
http://www.mlive.com/pistons/index.ssf/2007/12/pistons_looking_for_mismatches.html
I definitely thought at the time that Garnett looked like he wanted nothing to do with a riled up McDyess. The way Sheed held off the refs from Dice afterward always cracked me up too.
yeah, he got mad in the moment, pushed dyess, got pushed back, threw the basketball and immediately realized he wanted NOTHING to do with these bad boys. you can practically see the moment it dawns on him that all those red jerseys aren’t backing down.
“I hope both teams bring their A game tonight. If so, I think Detroit pulls out a squeaker.”
Personally, I am hoping for another game like our last one - it would be great to blow out Boston on their own floor.
It can happen; a couple of seasons ago when we were 8-0 Dallas stomped us in resounding fashion.
What I’d like to see is something from any of you stats-nuts. How do KG, PP, and Allen’s minutes compare to the minutes played by our boys in 05-06, or the Bulls’ 72 win season? I’d be willing to bet that they are averaging more minutes than the primary players on either of those teams…
Check this out…
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=AsPOT3MIW0GZZkwzMnbimX28vLYF?slug=detroitsfabfivetrumpsbos&prov=tsn&type=lgns
Seems some people like the Pistons in tonights match up.
McDyess and Perkins are EVEN? What planet is this guy on? And this guy is really going to say that Pierce is better than Tayshaun by a larger tangible quantity than Garnett is better than Rasheed? That’s no knock on Rasheed, because Garnett is a beast (albeit, a tempered one up against Rasheed). This guy comes to the right conclusion but totally provides the wrong evidence. While you’re at it Stan McNeal, tell Kendrick to hit three or four jump shots a game.
Don’t worry you’ll see plenty of Perk as he dunks on Big Gums Wallace and no knees McDyess. You’re kidding yourself if you think the Pistons have a snowballs chance in hell of winning tonight. The Celtics have had Wallace’s backassward comments on the bulletin board since September. Tonight your little team finds out the meaning of pain Boston style.
ya, what blew my mind away was him saying the benches are a push. WhAAaAaT!??!? Detroit can go 10 deep. Maxiell, Afflalo, Hayes, Hunter, Amir. Too bad Stuckey aint healthy.
in any event, I basically agree with his assessment.
By the way, anyone remember Anthony Peeler (had to look it up) jacking Garnett with his elbow, and Garnett doing absolutely NOTHING?!?
The bench even????? Who would you rather have Jason Maxiell or Glen Davis
Go down the rosters - there is no way the Bench’s are even
Billips has to take it to the tiny point guards boston has - rondo in foul trouble and is in trouble.
I hope DICE read the article and pinned it up on his locker as motivation - he is way ahead of Perkins
I do agree that Detroit will win
This is completely unrelated but…
Home from college for Christmas break, I’ve been spending my free time playing with the RealGM Trade Checker, playing around with some of the high profile players on the trading block but mostly trying desperately to rid Motown of the cancerous mole that is Ronald “Allergic to Passing” Murray.
After attempting all the realistic trades I can find, the best I found was this:
Seattle gets: Flip Murray, 7.5 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 3.4 apg in 18.2 minutes
Detroit gets: Delonte West, 7.7 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 3.3 apg in 21.6 minutes
We get a solid young combo guard who (as you can see) is putting up nearly identical numbers and Seattle gets a veteran guard who brings experience to a young team and the confidence *cough* to take the ball to the basket.
If anyone reads this, I’m curious to hear your thoughts.
pfff, boston homers trolling for traffic. geeze.
kendrick perkins turns the ball over 20% of his possessions. hard to dunk when you can’t hold on to the rock.
the scouting rep on his offense?
“Offensively, he’s a below-the-rim guy who has trouble finishing at the basket. His shooting range doesn’t go much beyond five feet, as he can make short-range hook shots but nothing beyond. He’s not a ballhandler either, and with the Celtics’ additions this season they’ll likely spend the year playing keepaway from him. ”
umm… yeah.
I can’t imagine Seattle making this trade. Worst case scenario is nobody trades with us and his contract gets taken off the books at the end of the season. Best case scenario is packaging him with other expiring contracts + 1 starter and upgrading at a position. Shawn Marion anyone?
Seattle parted with Flip once already for Mike Wilks and cash. Clearly, they see about as much in him as we do, and they would never send anything remotely of value (ie: a half a season of Delonte West) for him. This move does nothing for Seattle since both Flip and Delonte are free agents that don’t have a huge likelihood of staying with their current squads past this season and what little it does for the Pistons in talent upgrade, it negates in Delonte’s slightly higher contract which gives the Pistons no veteran’s minimum cap flexibility if it’s an issue later this season. Purely wishful thinking, Charles, though the desire to get rip of Flip is appreciated.
That Celtics fan has gotten under my skin quite easily. If we win tonight, the moment we seal the victory, his blog is getting it. Just the thought of a homer fan seriously trying to argue Perkins over McDyess makes me furious. The game itself, yes, of course Boston could win it, but between Dice and “Perk” it’s not even a contest.
I agree…sort of. I found it hard to imagine anyone willing to trade for Nazr’s awful, awful contract but Dumars still managed it.
As for upgrading our starters, I’m okay with that but not if it’s Marion. The reason he asked to be traded originally was because he wanted to be the star player.
1) I can’t see a team with Shawn Marion as its go-to player winning a championship and
2) I wouldn’t want to invite that kind of selfishness into a locker room famous for its team atmosphere.
Bonzi Wells, Jermaine O’Neal, Luol Deng, Corey Maggette, and Antawn Jamison will all be free agents this summer. Deng and Jamison, in particular, I would love to see us make a run at.
Also, how about Flip Murray to Portland for half a meatball sub and an autographed picture of Greg Oden?
Nazr trade was different than this proposed one Charles. Charlotte got a veteran guy that they can start and have locked up for 3 more years. Brezec and Hermann will be free agents who should spark at least some interest seeing what Darko pulled in last summer. Brezec used to average double digits/game in points. He probably wanted to get the hell out of dodge and if he’s not gonna play, at least not play behind a talented roster (us). It remains to be seen if he’ll enjoy playing for the Stones more than the Bobcats, but the probability seems high to me.
Deng on our team? He’s sweet, but I’d have some mixed feelings. O’Neal is probably the single most injury prone (therefore underachieving) player in the league. Bonzi is touch and go on what he can give consistently and a reunion with Sheed could be brilliant or absolutely toxic. Maggette is another guy who has wrestled with consistency in his career but looks pretty solid this season on a struggling Clippers team. I worry about his ability to be a good teammate though. I’m kind of apathetic about Jamison. None of this, of course, takes into account what type of roster or cap flexibility we will be sporting this offseason. Most of these guys save for maybe Bonzi and MAYBE Maggette should be well out of price range being possible high 7 figures/year or low 8 figures/year guys. The possibility of Bonzi intrigues me though. Matt Barnes and Mickael Pietrus in Golden State also look interesting. Other fun names to toss out for what I deem to reasonably possible off-season pursuit: Eduardo Najera, J.R. Smith, Yakhouba Diawara, Jose Juan Barea, Ryan Hollins, Chuck Hayes and Ryan Gomes, but I’m just spitting out tons of names there. Though if it can be done for only a slight raise of something between 2.5-4.5 mil./per, I’d like to see us lock up Jarvis long-term this off-season as priority #1. A Maxiell extension past the end of next season would also be welcome.
Ya, I know. If Marion is bitchin’ about not getting enough touches in Phoenix, Lord knows he’d be complaining in D-town. Hard to look at his stats and pass up that kinda trade, though… even if he’s only here 2 years.
This is the way I see Boston… one hit wonders. Just like NJ was, Indiana was, Miami was, and Cleveland is. Boston is just the next team in line to have their 2 year window while Detroit’s is positioning itself to remain title contenders for the next 4+ years.
Man, I hope we crush the Celts tonight and bring all the Boston fans-come-lately back to reality. Boston is good, but we’re better. If we meet them in the playoffs I might burst into flames due to excitement.
Good points, sir. I think Najera or Wells would be great additions to our bench. I like Jamison because he’s a proven scorer who has been forced to coexist on a team with the league’s premier me-first player, Gilbert Arenas, which shows me a team mentality on his part. The feasability of signing him is questionable, of course. J.R. Smith is intriguing because of his obvious talent but the questions still remain about his maturity. Gomes has been underachieving this year but I still his game. I’d still like to add a veteran guard for next year when we let Murray go and Hunter finally retires. Beno Udrih would be relatively inexpensive.
As for Brad’s suggestion of trading a starter and some expirings to upgrade at one of our starting spots, any ideas on who we could part with and who we could get?
I made reference to that incident yesterday @ PN. (http://pistonsnationblog.com/2007/12/18/its-ok-to-hate-the-celtics-again/)
I remember as Dice was being escorted to the lockeroom, with the camera on him, you could clearly hear him yell to Garnett “You’re still a pussy”