Detroit Bad Boys

The Pistons were serious about resting their starters against the Raptors on Friday: Chauncey Billups didn’t even dress and none of the regular starters played more than 28 minutes. That opened up a ton of minutes for the reserves as five guys played at least 18 minutes off the bench. Unfortunately, it also resulted in a close loss as the team clearly lacked veteran execution down the stretch … but hey, it’s not like the game really counted, anyways.

I wrote about this game on the FanHouse from the Raptors’ perspective, pointing out how at least one member of Toronto’s media jumped the gun in proclaiming just how meaningless this game really was — I recommend you check that out.

Rip Hamilton played like a guy who knew he’d be getting the hook early, scoring 24 points in 27 minutes on 10-15 shooting. He also grabbed six boards. He easily led the team as only two other players broke double-digits: Antonio McDyess (10 points) and Carlos Delfino (11).

Delfino only shot 3-9 from the field but he continued to be aggressive pushing the ball up the floor and into the paint, and as a result was rewarded with eight free throws, hitting five. We all know that his jump shot comes and goes, but he can really put the defense on their heels when he attacks the basket, I think surprising a lot of defenders with his ability to get in the air.

The guy I think most Pistons fans were excited to see was Amir Johnson, who got into the game late in the first quarter. From the Detroit News:

“The fact that we’ve clinched (the No. 1 seed in the East) and have the ability to maybe fluctuate some of the minutes of the main rotation guys, gives a guy like Amir an opportunity to play some games at this level,” Pistons vice president of basketball John Hammond said. “He’s shown what he can do at the D-League level. This is a chance for him to gain some confidence at this level.”

Johnson’s confidence might be at an all-time high right now.

“Oh yeah, I am ready to go,” he said. “I was doing everything down there — pushing the ball and everything. I might be pushing the break here.”

Unfortunately, Johnson often played like a guy in his first game back from the D-League, scoring just three points in 18 minutes. He grabbed four boards and blocked a shot, but he also committed three fouls, which is one of his weaknesses. While he didn’t exactly fill up the stat sheet, though, he was obviously one of the most athletic players on the floor, covering a lot of ground with his long strides.

There were a couple of times that I thought Johnson would bust out a highlight-worthy move, but both times he got a little eager: once on an offensive goal-tending putback slam and again on an offensive charging on a fast break.

The charging call was frustrating in that it was predictable — Lindsey Hunter got the ball right around the midcourt line, and instead of hitting the streaking Delfino ahead of him he pitched it back to Johnson, whose lane to the basket closed by the time he got into the paint. On that play, it would have been better for someone else to push the ball up the court and then hit the trailing Johnson for the dunk. (Yes, I’m over-thinking this, but I was extremely excited anytime Johnson came close to touching the ball, so bear with me.)

DBB reader Michael mentioned this in the game comments, but Amir doesn’t exactly look like he’s 6-foot-11. I think that’s because he’s so athletic and (hyperbole alert!) graceful. If you want confirmation and still have the game on DVR, watch right around the eight-minute mark in the second quarter as FSN comes back from commercial: Chauncey Billups and Rasheed are seen giving Amir some advice. Chauncey is craning his neck to talk to him and Rasheed is standing shoulder to shoulder, almost exactly the same height.

The reserves played beautifully together in the second quarter, but the wheels came off in the fourth when Detroit shot just 39% from the field, scoring just 15 to Toronto’s 29. I won’t even bother trying to tackle what went wrong on the final few possessions (turnovers, air balls on game-tying attempts, overall ugliness), in part because that combination of players will never actually see a real-life pressure situation together this season.

But I will say this: if you’re a Pistons fan, I strongly recommend you watch these last few games. It’s just plain fun watching these young reserves get their minutes, and it should get even better on Sunday against a team like the 76ers instead of last night’s game against a bona fide playoff team with real motivation to win. It’s a sneak peek into the future, when guys like Delfino, Maxiell and Johnson will be expected to play meaningful minutes every night.

Raptors 87, Pistons 84 box score [ESPN.com]

Sheedi-Wan-Kenobi teaches his young student Chris Bosh-walker. Much thanks to DBB regular Tim, who’s equally adept with Photoshop as he is picking up the DBB slack and crafting game recaps:

Rasheed Wallace School of Power Forwarding N’ Shit

It was nice to see Rasheed Wallace finally remember he is an all-star power forward. He was getting it done all over the floor tonight, but did most of his damage where he should… on the block. He made all-star Chris Bosh look like a complete rookie as he repeatedly got deep post up position and just abused him. It was a clinic on the PF position.

(It’s too bad the refs insist on T-ing up Sheed every game. My problem is the inconsistency. TJ Ford had to be restrained while screaming, but Rasheed says “Whoooo” and he’s T’d… whatever)

The Pistons started the game in the red, but the zone defense came through again. All you Flip Saunders bashers… you have got to give the guy some credit for this one. The zone lead the team back into the game. It was tight the whole way, with various unpronounceable raptors hitting all kinds of tough shots. But the crazy howelings of Sheed got inside the head of Bosh, and a 3 ball at the 2:47 mark of the 4th drove a stake through the heart of the raptors chances. The game ended 98-92 Pistons. They extended their winning streak to 6 with one game to go before the break.

What a great couple of games for the Pistons. First they take Black Mamba and make him look … well… human, and then cool of a red hot raptor team. [Two] more games before the all-star break and the boys in blue are finally rounding into shape. The addition of Chris Webber has sparked our, at times, lethargic offense and strengthened our defense. With C Webb starting we are scoring 3 more points a game while giving up 3 less. We are [10]-2 with C Webb starting. Joe D has done it again. Now all we need to do is unload Flip Murray!

For those interested in numbers and stuff, Rasheed finished with 28 on 12-22 shooting with two blocks and seven boards. Bosh had 14 on 5-15 shooting with 11 boards and five turnovers. Advantage: Wallace.

It might seem odd suggesting the addition of Webber helped improve the defense, but Tim isn’t alone in thinking this. In today’s Free Press, Krista Jahnke notes how Webber’s arrival has helped the Pistons improve at, well, everything:

It’s hard to quantify something like this. There’s more talking on defense; everyone is locked in. There is more hustle in everyone’s step, even against bad teams. There are more assists, more passing because, as coach Flip Saunders put it, Webber’s “passing breeds passing.”

And there is more movement on offense.

“Guys seem to cut harder, because they know if they cut hard and they’re open, he’s going to get him a pass,” Saunders said. “You don’t know what kind of pass might be coming, where it’s going to be coming from. Those type of things do energize.”

The passing certainly seems contagious: I noticed Rip Hamilton finished with eight assists, and has averaged 8.6 in his last three games — almost five more than his season average (3.9). He finished with 21 points. Chauncey Billups scored 14 with nine assists.

Unfortunately I was out of town and forgot to set the DVR for Saturday’s game, but after watching the video of Rasheed’s tech (and T.J. Ford’s non-tech) over at Need4Sheed, it’s obvious the refs still see a huge bullseye on his back. He knows it, too — from the Free Press:

“It was crazy, man, all I said was, ‘Woo,’ and gave the ref the ball and then it’s a tech on me,” Wallace explained. “But, you know, (Raptors coach) Sam (Mitchell) was in his face third-quarter — nothing. … And then, with the offensive charge on the young fella, T.J. (Ford), and he slammed the ball or something, it was nothing. But I already know I’m a target, though. I ain’t worried about these cats.”

Unless this tech is rescinded (Flip Saunders said the team will likely file an appeal on Rasheed’s behalf), Rasheed’s next tech will be his 16th, which will result in a mandatory one-game suspension, followed by another one-game suspension for every other technical after that.Anyone want to guess if his next tech happens before the All-Star break? I’m predicting “yes,” in Wednesday’s game against the Spurs.

Also, random but amusing — from the Toronto Star:

They scared the P.A. announcer at The Palace of Auburn Hills last night. The man behind the microphone referred to Jorge Garbajosa, at one low moment, by a moniker that resembled “Gar-Har-Boss.” He called Andrea Bargnani, on various attempts, “Barney-Yarney” and “Barney-Yoni” and, at his breaking point, simply “Barn” – one syllable. So much for the pre-game tutorial from a member of the Raptors’ media relations staff.

In any case, thanks again to Tim, whose fingerprints are all over this post.

Pistons 98, Raptors 92 box score [ESPN]