If you missed the game, let DBB reader joejoejoe catch you up in 101 words:
The first half was a bunch of ugly with brief periods of Tay bailing out the team on offense and Afflalo doing the same on D. Overall, the kids were beasts on D (Stuckey, Afflalo, Amir) and ‘Sheed went bananas (17 of his 19 points) after he got a tech for touching Matt Bonner with his butt on the blocks. Manu looks like he forgot how to play defense. The AI/Rip telenovela is ongoing. Tay was looked like Tay the All-Star SF not Tay the pissed off PG because Stuckey was awesome running the show. It was a night of magic. The End.
Or, as Quick Darshan put it:
The sky is rising!
Pistons 89, Spurs 77 box score / NBA.com
Update: What a great quote from Gregg Popovich:
I think Detroit intimidated us. I think they ran us all over the court, with their aggressiveness and physicality. It was really sad to watch in that respect. I thought we totally folded to their aggressive play, thus the loss.”
Well, our starting lineup consists of two shooting guards, a point forward, a 4 who plays like a 3 most of the time, and a center who shares the same nickname as Roberto Duran. No wonder there’s much more cohesiveness among the second unit.
Even after Dice returns, we’re still going to be undersized. Going 10-11 deep should mitigate the chemistry issues, but not being able to go inside out with consistency is going to hurt us come playoffs time.
I agree with V re being undersized.
Also, I should know this, but when, exactly, will McDyess be playing for us again?
Haven’t been following up close the games of the Pistons, except for the scores. now, what do you mean the AI/Rip telenovela. Is there a deliberate move to hinder the unity of the team? And to stall the way to cohesion?
If this is the case, maybe the more loyal fans of the Pistons can help. Remember, we are loyal to this team because of what this team represents and not to any immature individuals.The perception of this team is that everyone is committed to working hard to achieve a goal, the championship.
So what can we do. Boycott every Piston game, do not join in any blog, just read the result in the newsapaper. The point of this excercise is to let the team know that we are a big part of the organization. They need us to support them, as much as they need to know that they’re playing for us and not for themselves. The players need to know that we are in some ways also paying for their salaries. We are not just fans, we are also part of the team.
I think this was their best game of the year. Not measuring in terms of play from the open whistle, but in ability to take over a game. Historically this team has not come back from deficits well, and even worse since the AI trade. This was the first time this season they implemented their will on the opponent, and SA at that, no small task. This game confirms that AI is a great 2 guard, not a point, and that if Rip can’t make his jumpers consistently anymore, both of them can come off the bench if need be.
The Sheed theory from the FD book is in full effect.
“The AI/Rip telenovela is ongoing.”
By my calculations off of the PopcornMachine GameFlow of last night’s game:
AI & Rip on the court together: -3
AI & Rip not on the court together: +15
“The Sheed theory from the FD book is in full effect.”
Ain’t it the truth. Last night was a textbook example of the theory.
Does anyone who has the book want to give the stats on post-tech Sheed as opposed to regular Sheed? Does he get better at making shots or does he just rain in points (like yesterday)?
Also, props to Stuckey. He’s been great the last 4 games (averaging 12.5 points and 7 assists in 26 minutes). He’s been finishing very well lately, and has made clear strides as a passer. He’s had some rough patches this year, but hopefully this marks his turnaround.
B Tigs: I think the other thing that yesterday’s game confirmed is that San Antonio needs to re-tool a bit if they want to be championship contenders again. They had an awesome run, but they’re looking kind of stale.
Pistons Head Coach Michael Curry
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“I thought we responded well to how we had been playing in our last few ballgames. Both offensively and defensively we didn’t try to figure things out. We just played harder than the other team. If we do that consistently, then our timing, getting on the same page, all those types of things, will take care of themselves. All those things work out when you do that.”
Spurs Head Coach Gregg Popovich
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“I thought tonight we played very poorly, very unwisely. We need to have more people play well. We have too many people playing poorly at this point. The most disturbing thing is that we were very soft. I think Detroit intimidated us. I think they ran us all over the court, with their aggressiveness and physicality. It was really sad to watch in that respect. I thought we totally folded to their aggressive play, thus the loss.”
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The aggressive play was due to Stuckey, Afflalo, Amir and some Iverson who did make several key steals.
Curry on Stuckey
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(on Stuckey) He’s been doing such a good job lately. We run a lot of pick and roll through him and he’s settling into that role. And the longer he’s in, the better he’s getting. At the end of the day, we’re going to need him to be the team that we want to be.”
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Stuckey and Amir run the pick and roll the best for us by far.
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Amir did a great job again of clearing space in the paint and around the basket either with solid picks, screens or movement. In fact at one point he set a clean screen on Bonner that allowed us to score on a layup. Bonner was so ticked off at being outplayed by Amir at that point that right after the bucket Bonner gave Amir a very noticeable shove in the back. Amir just walked away.
http://www.nba.com/pistons/news/DETSAS_081202_quotes.html?rss=true
Even after Dice returns, we’re still going to be undersized. Going 10-11 deep should mitigate the chemistry issues, but not being able to go inside out with consistency is going to hurt us come playoffs time.>>
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This is a coaching problem.
Amir has shown time and again that when they get him the ball in the paint he can score with either hand and with a hook shot. The Pistons need to spend a lot more time in practice working on getting the ball to Amir in the paint around the basket.
To his credit Iverson did attempt once last night (LOL) to pass to Amir when Amir was set up down low. That however is defintely a work in progress as Iverson thought Amir was going to go to the basket and thus threw it away. Amir was open to receive the ball where he was so this is a question of practice. Iverson and practice forget it. LOL
He is quick enough and not strong enough that he can almost all PFs in the low paint without a problem.
Yes he can’t go up against the guys like Howard and Shaq that effectively but who can on a consistent basis?
He is quick enough and not strong enough that he can almost all PFs in the low paint without a problem.>>
Correction:
It should have read
He is quick enough and now strong enought that he can match up pretty good with almost all PFs in the paint without a problem.
How are we undersized when we have Kwame, McDyess, Amir, and Sheed?
We just need to figure out beating the Celtics now. I think we can take care of any other team.
http://www.pistonscast.com/blog/2008/12/03/guest-blogger-steve-kays-13-reasons-why-i-hate-the-boston-celtics/
Hey DBB nation, How do we beat the Celtics?
Singh,
I’m guessing they mean we lack post players on offense. On defense, we’ll have plenty of size in my opinion. However, Sheed plays increasingly more and more on the perimeter, Kwame has no hands, McDyess is a jumpshooter and Amir’s offensive game is still developing. We don’t have anyone to throw it to down low and play inside - out.
Teams need a top tier big-man to succeed, it’s just a fact of life. The last team to win an NBA Title without either an all-NBA PF or Center and didn’t have Michael Jordan on it was us in 89/90. Without a great big, winning a championship is incredibly difficult. I don’t think we have that great big man, but we all know ‘Sheed could be.
Sam Mitchell gets the ax:
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=AjDxqAYW_T9PITcTHWL8NpY5nYcB?slug=ys-mitchellraptors120308&prov=yhoo&type=lgns
Lose by 39 to Chauncey and co. and lose your job. I’m not trying to say Mitchell is Phil Jackson or anything, but jeez, after an 8-9 start with an emerging superstar in FPCB? JO hasn’t really materialized, and that wasn’t Mitchell’s call. When Minnesota canned Flip around .500 mid-season and Cleveland did the same to Paul Silas (who was 34-30 after 64 games) I always thought that was a raw deal too.
There’s a lot of solid and unemployed coaches out there right now…
Wow. I’m surprised that didn’t happen BEFORE he won Coach Of The Year in 06-07. Tough one for him because he made it through some REALLY rough times (and a lot of harsh criticism, and Kobe scoring 81 on his guys) and somehow got the COTY award…..then BAM!
Pistons are just gearing up with AI. Wait until the chemistry comes together, they’ll be a top team in the playoffs….again.
Toronto = Flip Saunders
Toronto allowed Cheikh Samb a career game, and BAM! Heads roll.
how can kwame play more minutes than amir and maxiell combined when he turns the ball over almost a quarter of the time and only makes 44% of his free throws?
Not that surprising. Mitchell’s teams drop leads like Kwame drops passes.
Bosh deserves better (Detroit!)
Don’t look now but the wolverines are in a dogfight at college park
Boney is right, Flip to Toronto makes all kinds of sense.
Forty, I didn’t see the game, but based on the stat line and what I have seen in previous games, Anthony Wright should be sent to the bench or to the JV squad or to Siberia. He’s just not very good at basketball and he contributes literally nothing but missed 3s. He’s like a 6′5 version of Sheed without the rebounding, with a worse 3 point %, the total inability to play on the block, and without any of the defense.
I was at that Michigan game, in full Michigan gear in the middle of the Terp student section. I haven’t watched a lot of Michigan ball since the mid 90s scandal. Some real talent and more hustle than the last time I saw them, but man I hate the offensive “system”: 4 guys hanging out on the 3 point line hoping a shot opens up, with no offensive rebounding whatsoever. Once Maryland started shooting the lights out in the second half, it stayed a game but Michigan was no longer in control at all. Too bad, would have been a nice little win.
Saunders in Toronto doesn’t make to much sence to me, right now defense is there probably, Flip can bring you alot of creative things offensively but Defense is where the Raps struggle.
I see them maybe bringing in Avery Johnson, I think Collangelo sees that guys like Bosh and Calderson will really buy into hat a coach liek Avery is saying.
LB: FPCB indeed, and don’t let anyone forget it.
Flip is the logical choice for the Raps job.
The question is not Amir scoring from the paint, it’s maintaining position in the paint to get the ball and assert himself consistently. I don’t agree he’s strong enough yet. And, yes, this team isn’t big enough to win a championship. Moreover, Stuckey better develop quickly.
What’s FPCB?
The firing of Mitchell was justified. The Raptors didn’t really seem to be going anywhere, and there was no obvious reason to seem them improving greatly (health, individual under-achievement). No legit team loses by 39. They’re not playing defense and they’re underachieving. Time to try a new coach.
the pistons can beat boston by being physical and agressive. that is how teams like charlotte and atlanta and cleveland and denver have tested boston in recent times. big guys going after the ball in the paint and agressive play the whole game. the pistons seem to be hoping each time that they play boston that they have made up some ground in the interim only to find once again that boston is an incredibly deep and solid team that jumps on any lull in your play. charlotte a couple of games ago and denver last month and atlanta last spring all played boston hard the whole game. knowing any chance at a narrow win depended on this kind of physical total effort. big young athletic guys like nene, okafur, joe johnson help. cleveland as well can do this. le bron. with sheed outside the arc the pistons get beat up by perkins, kg, and baby davis and then lit up when they don’t defend against rondo. so….they need to play harder and beat boston up. atlanta beat boston up in last years playoff.
OM: He’s just not very good at basketball and he contributes literally nothing but missed 3s. He’s like a 6′5 version of Sheed without the rebounding, with a worse 3 point %, the total inability to play on the block, and without any of the defense.
~~~
So how is he like Sheed anyway?
Singh: How are we undersized when we have Kwame, McDyess, Amir, and Sheed?
~~~
Problem is two undersized shooting guards in the starting lineup.
@push: FPCB = “Future Piston Chris Bosh”
We can dream, right?
tie a yellow ribbon about the old oak tree… Antonio McDyess is coming home to his hummingbird soon!
/Con Air’d
Mike P., are you my doppleganger?
You may have to fight each other. With knives.
Dude, I was totally going to write that at first. Garrett, you might be my long lost twin.
I think free tshirts from DBB for all the commenters at christmas time is required.
or at least buy 1 get 1 free
I’d actually like a “Jason Maxiell eats babies” mousepad.
Make it happen Watson.
I’d like a headband that has long, flowing, golden locks attached.
I’d like Chauncey back.
I’d like a 5 game win streak (philly, ny, wiz and indy). Hell, make it 6 (bobs).
The schedule is very favorable this month. The Stones should go 11-3 for December.
No Nationally Televised games til 29th. Boo.
I’d like Chauncey back as well.
I’d like to know if Denver would consider trading him back to us if we offered Chris Kaman and Samuel Dalembert?
They’d have to throw in salaries to make it work, of course.
@Boney:
No dice. Only if Eric Gordon is involved.
if we had to throw in Eric Gordon I would hope would could get Thad Young… that would be a steal since no one knows how good Thad Young is… Thad Young is only a throw in if that were to happen though.
MP - but I thought I was your long lost twin!
@Forty:
You had me at “but”. Maybe we’re triplets. And if so, I think our combined mental power can find a way to unseat Marko Jaric from the throne of Adriana Lima. You will fall, oh cross-eyed one, you will fall…
Speaking of X-Mas swag, I think we should design and market “Herrmann Finngerr Extennderrs” - these would allow average people to handle b-balls A well as our Argentinian idol. You could get all freaky in the lane with them… wraparound passes… finger rolls… bangin’ tramps. You get the picture.
*as
Hey Rob G and others:
My first entry to the DBB photoshop club.
No Brand for Philly on Friday. Damn, I liked our chances with him.
Mike Payne, can I please have whatever it is you are smoking? That is crazy in a “Oops I drank the bong water” way.
MP: Excellent. Nice use of color. Balanced. Insane. Perfect.
I especially like the wafting smell lines. Your attention to detail is immaculate. Not unlike Herrmann’s golden mane.
MP - ingeniously sublime and sublimely ingenious
http://www.detroitbadboys.com/archives/2008-11-26/pistons-host-knicks-on-thanksgiving-eve/#comment-153233
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/boxscore;_ylt=AiFMi9qIIRkz82zjnx_F_sbSPaB4?gid=2008120206
Six. Days. Later.
Perhaps Gordon reads DBB and wanted to make a point to his detractors, that he can in fact, play the game. Hey, George Irvine reads it, why not Eric Jr.?
The news on Eric Gordon is that he’s averaging 15.4 ppg 2.4 spg, 47.4% FGs and 46.4% 3 PT FGs in five starts with showings of 25 and 24 points in his first two starts. He is currently widely panned, even compared unfavorably to Corey Brewer, a player who has never scored 20 points in 43 career starts, 94 total games played and sports 38% and 25% in terms of career FG % and career 3 point FG %. Yuck.
In Pistons news, the Pistons apparently have a very favorable December schedule. They also have wins over two of the three teams currently atop the NBA standings, one coming on the road. They still have a .647 winning percentage after seventeen games, which I’m being told is pretty good. I’m getting word that it is in fact, no cause for concern in the eyes of many experts.
The problem is less the pistons and more the east, which is now better than the west at the top imo.
I think detroit could win the west, if we avoided utah and played well against la, with whom we match up terrifically. We also match up well with san antonio.
It’s just that the two best teams in the league are in our conference, we may have to beat both to go to the finals, and we match up ok with one (cle) and horribly with the other (bos). Plus cle is getting a better at the deadline. The good news is we are positioned well to compete as these two teams get weaker (lebron leaving please please god to the west and boston getting old). And we will still be well above average in the meantime.
So I was watching nba tv today in buffalo wild wings, and they were showing the road to the championship for the spurs and knicks in 1999. This isn’t the first time I’ve observed this, but doesn’t it look like the fans pre new millenium had a lot more fun during the games??
@LB:
“In Pistons news, the Pistons apparently have a very favorable December schedule. They also have wins over two of the three teams currently atop the NBA standings, one coming on the road. They still have a .647 winning percentage after seventeen games, which I’m being told is pretty good. I’m getting word that it is in fact, no cause for concern in the eyes of many experts.”
Thanks for the update.
@laughton, rob g, garrett and forty:
glad you enjoyed! i only ask that you return the laugh with a detroit-themed rebus of your own. if we can get a few going, we should call for an official DBB rebus contest. winner gets a bottle of darko hair dye.
Got another one, but this one is for advanced minds only.
I love this idea. I will get to work on it.
What Forty said. For the first time in a loooooong time, I kind of wish the Pistons were in the West. Yeah, there are more “very good” teams out there, but there’s not one Detroit has as much match-up trouble with as they do with the Celts of the past year or maybe even the new-look Cavs. OK, one game against the Lakers this year isn’t a lot to go on, but Detroit sure looked better in that game than in the two games against the Celts. But there’s nothing to be done about that.
Re being undersized, since Curry messes with lineups a lot, why not try Jason M. at the SF? Not always and forever, but sometimes a lineup of, say, ‘Sheed, Amir, Maxiell, and any two guards could be pretty imposing. Even though Amir and Maxy lack consistent post up games and ‘Sheed doesn’t want to play there, we’d get points in the paint just by getting rebounds. And there would be enough quickness on the floor to recover if some quick SF blew past Jason. And think of the blocked shots numbers.
MP, that last one took me and the wife like 5 seconds… only cuz we love us some Star Wars… but just keep this up.
This is too easy, but there it is
Oops, I guess that was a broken link. try it now
Nice one, Rob G!! I’ve got some ideas soon enough… I think Pistons players may not be enough of a challenge for us. Maybe we should spread out to the whole NBA?
These are great …
Yeah, that and common DBB phrases…
Too bad primo isn’t still in the League - how would you do Brezec? And I will give $10000 to whoever can do Szerbiak (however you spell it)
That’s some quality stuff fella’s.
Curry had a pretty interesting interview on WDFN today. He talked about the incident between him and Tay, the end of game Portland line-up, the changes going on with the way we play, what are issues have been in the series we’ve lost, the AI - Rip combo and even some practice.
http://wdfn.com/cc-common/podcast/single_podcast.html?podcast=StoneyWojoPodcasts.xml
This one is close to my heart
Indeed, let us hope it continues every night Rob G.
This is my last one, I swear
That’s a good one. If someone ends up doing “Bang that tramp,” be sure to give the NSFW warning.
@Rob G:
re: “this is my last one, I swear”
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
@Rob G:
you owe me $10k
Rob G - I’m torn. While your last one was undeniably outstanding and clearly wins the contest, how could you not show Maxiell blocking KG from behind for “baby?”
This one’s a bit obscure…
Watching Denver-San Antonio, and still not turning channel for some reason, it looks Denver is a quality post up big man away from a championship caliber team.
Looks like Denver is losing to team the team that the pistons just beat. Chauncey has 3 pints on 1 for 8 shooting so far. 12.5% from the field and he has the lowest +/- of anyone playing so far at -21. Looks like Denver needs the scoring touch of someone who can attack the basket and get to the free throw line, slowing the clock. Someone like… um… hmm… oh, yea… Allen Iverson. All the stuff people were saying about Iverson vs San Antonio yesterday- Look at Chauncey Billups today.
@EntityAbyss
Did you watch the game or the box score?? Denver got dumped in the second quarter, but besides that the rest of the game was very competitive and the Spurs only outscored the Nugs by 1. Watching Billups out on the floor controlling the game and then watching him hit big shot after big shot, it makes me fully appreciate him. For the first time in my life I have a “B” favorite NBA team in Denver. By the way, I’ve always been a George Karl fan.
George Karl. He’s so hot right now.
Mike Payne: I can’t figure our that last photoshop at all.
Marco Polo + Waist? + Nelly = ???
And by the way, all those photoshops were great!
Fadel: you’re so close.
No one did a Jarvaris Crittenton rebus?
Thanks Matt. lol