This is starting to get a little tiring to write… after a third quarter of total domination by the Pistons they managed to once again blow a 15 point lead and the game to the Chicago Bulls.  This 107-102 loss to the Bulls is is a textbook example of everything that has been going wrong with the Pistons all season long.

Key Points:

• How much more can Pistons fans take?  From the comments in the game thread and in the chat room, not much.
• Too much talent to play the way this team is, period.  We expect losses, but it’s as if they are playing a game of NBA2K9 and think they can just hit restart when the game isn’t going their way (and yes I admit to doing that).
• Blame whomever you want, we have a coach who’s clearly in over his head, players that look lost, a system that doesn’t work, an unwillingness to change that system that doesn’t work, a defense that looks brilliant at times and then on the next play looks like a disaster… and to top it off when they can’t score they don’t make an effort to get the ball in the paint for easy buckets! We could go on and on.
• Think Joe is on the phone right now?
• 15 down with 8:09 to play…was it Chicago or did the Pistons hand the game to the Bulls?  Me…silver platter.
• Sheed utterly dominating, knocking down shots over everyone, and the Pistons stop going to him.
• 95 Points off the Bench for Richard Hamilton in the last three games for the Pistons.
• Rip led Detroit off the bench, but his 30 point game performance was all for nothing.

Photo/Getty Images

• Is Curry actually calling a play in the last seconds of the game when Detroit has the ball down three?  Rip to the hole for the dish to Dyess is ok if it works, and if Rip doesn’t waste most of the clock. Perfect ending to the storm.
• Richard Hamilton Highlights.
• 15 careless turnovers.
• And why the home whites in Chicago?
• As for those of you who wanted to hear Curry’s post game comments, they were nothing life-altering.  He just looks like a deer in headlights who has no idea what to say.  Kind of like when you break your mom’s favorite vase and have to own up to it.  You stand there dumbfounded for a moment trying to grasp for words.
• And what happened to the Defense in the fourth quarter?  Nocioni was blowing by Tay like he was invisible.
• The only enjoyable part of the game…..Anytime Joakim Noah can be made to look like a fool by anyone other than himself can always put a big smile on my face. Tayshaun blocked the grin off Noah’s face.
• (more…)

The Pistons in Chicago to take on the 22-29 Bulls. Rodney Stuckey, who’s been held under 10 points the last 4 games,  isn’t putting up same kinds of performances he did the last time these two teams met.  Needless to say another 40 point game would be just the medicine the Stuckey would love to swallow.

Yes the Piston really are 27-22 losing 11 of their past 17 overall and are barley holding on in the in the Easten Conference standings a half of a game in front of Miami in the fifth spot and just and 13 games back of Cleveland. Something that Pistons fans aren’t quite used to.

The Bulls…well they are currently outside the playoff picture, and trail the division leading Cavs by 18 games.

Good News/Bad News and More:

• The Bulls are rested, they haven’t played since Saturday night.
• Allen Iverson and Will Bynum are bothered by the Flu. They are questionable for tonight’s game.
• The City of Detroit isn’t so bad after all.  Suck it Chicago and Cleveland.
• Defending Michael Curry.
• The Bulls would like to get a hold of Amare too.
• Rip is doing just fine, in fact he’s thriving.
• UPDATE: AI won’t play

Tip off is at 8:30 P.M. and will be locally televised on FSN. If you can’t watch the broadcast, tune into 1130 AM WDFN The Fan.  Can’t do either? Follow the game on NBA.com.

Comments and  Chat.

The Pistons finally took a game from the Bulls this season. Chauncey Billups and his 34 points led the Sheedless Pistons to a 116-109 victory over a pesky Bulls team that didn’t want to give up a game to Detroit this season. With the win the, Detroit clinches their seventh straight playoff spot.

Key Points:

• Even though Sheed didn’t play, he’s still good for a Ball Don’t Lie and his traditional pre-game dance.
• The Rattler, who started in place of Sheed for the second straight game, has really looked great. This could possibly be one of the best late season pickups in Joe Dumars time as GM. Theo looked like he hasn’t missed a step putting up 10 points, with 8 boards, an assist and 3 blocked shots in 25 minutes. He’s fitting right in with this team, highlight’s don’t lie.
• If Chicago didn’t have enough problems Chris Duhon added to them by going to the North Carolina/Duke game without permission and then missing the team shoot around. He was benched for Sunday night’s game.
• John Salley and James “Buddha” Edwards were in the house. Didn’t know RA was Salley’s favorite player.
• Dyess was just 1-for-10 from the floor with 10 boards. I love Amir, but I’m not ready to have him start in Antonio’s place just yet.
• Billups tied a season high with 34 points, and was 3-for-4 from downtown. Chauncey was not only on his game offensively, but he helped send a hot Ben Gordon to the bench with foul trouble.

• If it isn’t bad enough that 90% of the population can’t stand Joakim Noah, I think he just added another 5 percent to the list with this quote after the Bulls loss to the Pistons. “I think Detroit’s a great team, but I still think we are better than them, really. I feel like we’re a better team.” Via Yahoo.com
• What’s the deal with Nocioni’s hair? He almost looked a little Ace Venturaish at times. That team has a hair issue with Andres, Amish Gooden and Noah’s frizzy do to contend with. It’s a good thing they dumped that other Wallace or they would clearly go bankrupt with their conditioner budget.
• The Pistons dominated the glass 28 to 42.
• How about Rodney Stuckey playing most of the fourth quarter, keeping the lead up and giving over the reigns with a few minutes left for Chauncey to close out the game. Rodney had a clutch late game basket that helped fend of The Bulls run. He finished with 4 points and an assist in 13 minutes.
• 24 points from the Pistons bench.
• Rip Hamilton made up for his ejection Friday night by chipping in 23 points with 7 assists and 5 boards. Moving without the ball and hitting his open teammates while scoring, you couldn’t ask for a more rounded game from Rip.
• Tay to Amir is just pretty.

• Not only did Amir have some great highlights in his 12 minutes on the floor, he should have had 3 blocks, but clearly got robbed.
• Ben Gordon just didn’t seem to miss. He led the Bulls with 27 points on 10-12 shooting.
• Would have loved for the Pistons to come out strong in the second half, but it seems like it took them half of the third quarter to score a basket.
• The Pistons finished the first quarter with a 13-2 run.
• A whole 49 seconds of Walter, and in those 49 seconds we saw his arms flailing on D like nobody’s business.
• NBA.Com Highlights of The Game.
• Stuckey, Johnson, Hayes and Dixon each scored 4 points.
• Tayshaun gave us a scare in the third quarter when he went down holding his arm on a drive to the lane while getting fouled. Honestly it didn’t bother me one bit, Tay takes a licking and keeps on ticking. I knew he would bounce right back. “I couldn’t feel my hand, and I knew that wasn’t good,” said Prince, who was injured on a third-quarter foul by Larry Hughes. “I thought I was going to have to shoot my free throws one-handed, but I got enough feeling back to make the shots, and then I hit a 3, so I figured I would keep going.” Via NBA.com
• Tay had another solid night in Sheed’s absence scoring 15 of his 21 points in the final 17 minutes. His highlight packed game wasn’t just about scoring either, he added 6 boards and 6 assists in another big game.

• Jason Maxiell had a great block on Gooden that almost made him crumble to the ground. Maxiell’s energy sparked the Pistons as soon as he stepped on court. He scored 8 points, grabbed 8 boards with a blocked shot and a steal. I almost forgot about his ridiculous jam over Nocioni in the first quarter.
• The Bulls scored 44 points in the paint to Detroit’s 38.
• Since the game was on both FSN and ESPN I always like to hear what the ESPN broadcasters have to say during the game, so fill me in.
• Theo’s only been here for 2 games but he’s already talking about coming back next season.
• Can you believe Sheed doesn’t lead the league in Technical fouls? Kobe does. Now that is Sheedtastic.
• Great ESPN Eastern Conference Roundtable.

The Pistons will try NOT to get swept by The 25-37 Chicago Bulls tonight at The Palace. The Bulls, who were pre-season darlings, haven’t lived up to any of the expectations that many had placed on them prior to the seasons start. One thing is for sure though, they know how to beat The Pistons. If Chicago pulls off the sweep of the regular season tonight, it will be the first time they accomplished the feat in 12 years.

It looks like the decision to play Sheed won’t happen until tip off, but A Sherrod Blakely thinks he won’t.
“With no games on Monday and Tuesday, I suspect Detroit will try to use as much time as possible in an effort to ensure his sprained left ankle has had enough healing time. I suspect he’ll be back for Wednesday’s game against Philadelphia or Friday’s against San Antonio.”
Sounds like a good idea if you ask me.

Tip off is at 8:00 and will be locally broadcast on FSN Detroit and nationally on ESPN. If you can’t catch it on TV you can always tune in to 1130 AM WDFN The Fan or stream it live through your computer at NBA.com.

Oh…and as for this nonsense about Marbury coming here……I take it as just that, nonsense. For goodness sake it came from the NY Post.

Since Mr. Davidson is on the ticket today, let’s hope Mr. D inspires an impressive win.
Leave ‘em in the comments.