Morning Shootaround: Ben Gordon's "hot hand," Pistons can't close and everyone hates Darko

Let's get this beautiful Friday off right with a brief look at a current and some former Detroit Pistons.

First off is the inevitable discussion of the "hot hand" following Ben Gordon's epic 45-point, 9-for-9 from three performance against the Nuggets on Wednesday. The conversation started in the comments of the recap, but the most interesting discussion comes from Hardwood Paroxysm writer Steve McPherson:

But what if we think about the idea of the hot hand from the perspective of basketball as an expressive or creative endeavor? (This is kind of my thing.) If we consider writing, particularly the writing of fiction, there are many stages to the work that goes into creating a short story or novel, but the first is almost always generation. At this stage, the most important thing for the writer is turn off his or her inner critic and let whatever comes out onto the page with little regard for how useful the material will be in the end. Charles Limb's TED talk addresses this method of creating with regard to music and improvisation, backing up the idea that feedback loops in the brain shut down when a musician is improvising. And both musicians and writers will be familiar with the feeling that comes along with genuinely fertile moments of generation: it feels like you can do no wrong, feels like you're hearing your authentic voice, like you're almost just a conduit for something greater than yourself.

Is that so different from what a shooter seems to be feeling when the shots are falling? If we take a look at the beginning of Ben Gordon's ridiculous evening, we can see how his confidence, his sense that he's tapped into something, grows.

It's a fascinating look at trying to get inside the head of an athlete that can't miss from the perspective of a musician and author. Definitely worth a read.

Darko Milicic has seemed to make a new enemy, this time Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Rick Adelman. Ball Don't Lie has the full epic takedown on the former Detroit Human Victory Cigar. The team was dealing with injuries and desperate for help in the front court but the team didn't turn to the Serbian Gansta. From the Minneapolis Star Tribune via BDL:

"He hasn't done anything to really give you a lot of faith that he's going to go out and do the job," Adelman said of Milicic. "He's gotten himself out of shape. He hasn't been as driven as you'd like so when a situation like this happens, it's time for someone to have their opportunity and get back in there. Today, [Derrick Williams is] going to get his chance and Anthony Randolph is going to get his chance and we'll see if any of those guys can step up."

In other former Pistons news, Chris Wilcox has been waived by the Boston Celtics. The Celtics recently signed center Ryan Hollins and needed to release Wilcox, who is out for the year with a heart condition, to make room on the roster.

Head coach Lawrence Frank discusses why his team can't close out games:

Frank correctly noted that one or two plays swung each game – and, indeed, the entire road trip – then just as accurately assessed why the Pistons didn't make them. "We're not quite ready for it yet," he said.

It seems like the Pistons don't know about A-B-C.

A- Always

B- Be

C- Closing

Get a lesson from "I drove an $80,000 BMW, that's my name" from Glengarry Glen Ross (NSFW):

Click the link for the full breadth of Alec Baldwin bad-assery (NSFW).

And finally, former Piston whipping boy who has done more to damage his reputation in the NBA than nearly anyone else, Allen Iverson is in the news again. It had been reported that the financially strapped former star was going to sign a one-month deal to play in the Dominican Republic. Well, according to Iverson's manager, that was news to A.I.:

Gary Moore says Iverson has not signed nor is he considering signing with any team.

Earlier Thursday, Pueblo Nuevo team president Milton Nunez told The Associated Press the 36-year-old guard would play for his team.

Moore says Iverson is "shocked" by Nunez's announcement.

Moore says Iverson is still working out, "waiting for another opportunity."