Comments on: Orlando finally beats Detroit

By: Pistons host Magic | Detroit Bad Boys

Pistons host Magic | Detroit Bad Boys — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 21:18:22 +0000

[…] year and have taken two of the first three meetings this year, with their lone loss coming on a heartbreaking last-second shot by Rashard Lewis. Even so, the Magic should not be taken lightly. They’ve won nine of their last 13 and in Dwight […]

By: Pistons and Magic are playing early | Detroit Bad Boys

Pistons and Magic are playing early | Detroit Bad Boys — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 21:09:24 +0000

[…] Pistons lost to the Magic for the first time in 10 games on Monday when Rashard Lewis banked in a shot in the final seconds. […]

By: Empty the Bench - Fantasy Sports, Fantasy Football, Fantasy Basketball, NFL, NBA

Empty the Bench - Fantasy Sports, Fantasy Football, Fantasy Basketball, NFL, NBA — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 17:05:35 +0000

[…] Chauncey Billups’ three-point bomb that tied the game up with just over 3 seconds to play will now be forgotten because of Lewis’ make. (Includes video for those that missed it; Chauncey traveled, yes, but the shot was still […]

By: Wednesday’s Layup Drill | Detroit Bad Boys

Wednesday’s Layup Drill | Detroit Bad Boys — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 11:55:14 +0000

[…] Q. Rock of Third Quarter Collapse thinks I was a little harsh making fun of the Magic getting so fired up for the game on Sunday. In hindsight, sour grapes certainly fueled some of […]

By: V

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 04:43:39 +0000

Only problem I had with the game was that it was clear from the first possession Jarvis couldn’t check Hedo, and that no adjustments were made.

I think Stuck will be ok. I agree with how Flip and Joe are handling him. Tough to develop while in a suit.

By: joejoejoe

joejoejoe — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 00:47:15 +0000

Reading the Magic papers I see that Stan Van Gundy sees the Pistons as a rival from his days with the Miami Heat.

From the Daytona Beach News-Journal: “I have a little bit of history with that team,” Van Gundy said, referring to when he coached the Miami Heat against the Pistons in the 2005 Eastern Conference finals. “When Chauncey Billups raises up to shoot the ball late in the game, I know it’s going in. You just have to stop him from shooting the ball. It was an amazing shot.”

And Keith Bogans: “I don’t think I’ve ever beaten Detroit my whole career, whether it was here or anywhere else,” said Keith Bogans, who had eight points and eight rebounds off the bench. “To get a win like that is big.”

Keith Bogans has been plotting revenge against Detroit for 6 years. He finally got it.

By: Rob G

Rob G — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 21:08:22 +0000

Nope. He traveled. Four steps after picking up the dribble.

By: Fadel

Fadel — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 20:48:43 +0000

That was NOT a traveling violation on Billups. He took only 2 strides after picking up his dribble, which is legal. That guy counted every step Chauncey took before releasing his shot, which is wrong. Look at it again and you’ll see it’s just like when taking a layup.

HE DID NOT TRAVEL!

By: Rob G

Rob G — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 19:33:25 +0000

When that shot CB took went off, I thought, “my god, it’s gonna be two feet short of the rim.” I don’t know how he hit that.

By: b23

b23 — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 19:21:12 +0000

Mark B — and that’s exactly it. The league allows travelling constantly, as long as it’s done as part of a drive through the lane (and if it’s done by a confirmed superstar with highlight potential, then so much the better). At this point — at least publicly — the league shows no signs of asking refs to tighten the readings on those sorts of steps. Kind of like how Shaq was allowed to commit left shoulder low post fouls everytime he got the ball.

By: Mark B.

Mark B. — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 19:08:14 +0000

I love how the ESPN Anchor reacts to that travel like he’s never seen Lebron, Kobe, or Wade take an extra step before…

By: JDUB

JDUB — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 16:53:04 +0000

Well, they are still lax on any penetration – Chauncey could take ANY of their guards to the hole 24/7 – that’s why we FN traded arroyo…. Bogans, dooling, come on? - we settle for jumpshots

They don’t trap the lousy ball handlers, when brian cook is running the offense go get his a$$, same with dooling and arroyo – if ANY team knows arroyo cant create his own shot, it should be us

The WHOLE world knew Lewis was taking the shot (except Tay) – leave dooling to stand there and stop the 118 million dollar “STAR” from getting where he wanted…

Stuckey is not ready defensively or offensively – Lindsey cannot come back too soon

somebody give Javis Food Posioning please!!

At one point IN THE 4th, they had Maxiell, Brezec, Stucky, Affallo and Tay on the floor – geese I wonder whose gonna shoot it??

Theres a reason Saunders didn’t win anything in Minnesota and the last 3 games shows why –

and finally …

When did Hedo Turkolou become Dwayne Wade – they gave him so many calls – it was making me sick

By: Quick Darshan

Quick Darshan — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 16:12:22 +0000

I have confidence in Stuckey. He’s got 40 more games until the playoffs and he’s got Chauncey Billups, Lindsey Hunter and Terry Porter to mentor him.

Jarvis worries me more. More his defense than his offense. But, I think his shot selection is a little poor as well. What I do like though is that he’s a decent post player.

Having Hermann is a godsend. He matches up really well with those 4’s that are too quick for Sheed and Dyess. And the 3’s that are too physical for Hayes. (Nowitzki, Nocioni, Deng, Rashard Lewis, Turkoglu, etc.)

By: Toledo Joe

Toledo Joe — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 14:58:14 +0000

There’s no shame to losing by a buzzer-beater on the road to a division-leading team. I’m not even panicked about losing 3 in a row, or being .500 in the last dozen games or so.

But it’s not that “some members of the bench are struggling.” It’s everyone on the bench is struggling, except Maxiell. Thanks for the shooting percentage numbers for Hayes; there as bad as I thought. And yeah, Stuckey is a rookie, will have his ups and downs, needs more experience, etc. He may be really good some day. But the question is, will he be good enough this year to be trusted with significant minutes in the playoffs? If not, that’s certainly understandable, but will the Plan B be to play Lindsey a lot more?

If Detroit goes into the playoffs with one good big man coming off the bench, Lindsey as the most trusted reserve guard, and a big question mark at backup SF — well, that’s they way it’s been for the past two years, and that didn’twork out so well.

I’m not giving up on this group of bench players, and I’m even willing to lose some more games to develop them, but it’s been a bit discouraging lately.

By: kingfisher

kingfisher — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 13:06:13 +0000

Long time reader here, first time poster. Matt, love reading your blog and all, but could you really please not put the result in the headline of the post? I get an RSS feed of DBB and that is ahead of me being able to watch the game due to me being overseas and having to do the whole download the game a day later and watch it thing.
I thought I was doing well today, staying off ESPN and DBB until the RSS feeder showed the result. Just a suggestion for those of us not lucky enough to be able to watch the Pistons in real time. Thanks.