The Pistons may be in the “spot” they are not used to, but at least they are in one. With Detroit’s 100-93 victory over the Nets Friday night at the Palace, Detroit secured their playoff spot. What spot they will end up in is still up in the air with Detroit are tied with Chicago for the 7th spot and are just a game behind Philly, who are currently in the 6th spot.
Key Points:
- Detroit started the game off solid hitting their first seven shots.
- Sheed was knocking down three’s from the start and finished with 15 points, 4 boards, an assist and two blocked shots. Sheed sat out the fourth quarter. We even saw a patented throw down dunk from Ra.
- 46 points from the Pistons bench, who surprisingly finished the game up. With just a 6 point lead and plenty of time for the Nets to come back, Curry left Will, Kwame and Maxiell on the floor.
- Defense looked great.
- The Nets Chris Douglas-Roberts was making circus shots and Ryan Anderson went 5-for-8 from downtown and was mostly responsible for the Nets comeback. Impressed with rookie Brook Lopez, but why the sour face all the time?
- The key to this one, Detroit stopped Devin Harris. He was held to just one points and 2 assists on the night in 20 minutes. He left the game early in the third and didn’t return due to shoulder soreness. Defensive shutdown was nice to see after Devin had his way with Detroit this season, especially AI.
- “You know me and Stuck (Rodney Stuckey) put it on ourselves because it has been killing us and we just wanted to go out there and try to be as aggressive as possible on him (Devin Harris) on the defensive end and put more pressure on him on the offensive end.” Will Bynum via Pistons.com
- Another great game from Will Bynum, who led the Pistons with 20 points on 8-for-16 shooting with 4 assists and a board in 27 minutes. As far as the Palace crowd goes….he’s the new Herrmann.
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- Rob, Pistons fan from Australia and fellow blogger, was at the Palace for the first time ever last night. This is what being a Pistons fan is all about.
- With the season winding down, Curry may be resting the starters a bit more. “If everything is secure (with the playoff seed), maybe we won’t play Dyess in Miami on Wednesday,” Curry said. “The practice (Tuesday) will be aimed more toward the playoffs than just that Miami game.” Via The Detroit News
- Solid Kwame again with 7 points and 7 boards in 18 minutes. Is there something in the water over there at the Palace? Kwame is tearing things up (in Kwame terms), Will is Bynumite, Dyess is playing like a teenager and Herrmann’s hair is shinier than ever.
- Detroit shot 53% from the floor and outrebounded the Nets 41-31.
- Jason Maxiell always seems to be in the right place at the right time and this putback jam that he took out of Anderson’s hands may be one of his most impressive. Maxiell finished with 11 points, 6 boards, a steal and a blocked shot in 23 minutes.
- Detroit has made the playoffs for eight consecutive years, and 32 times in franchise history.
- Six Pistons in double figures.
- Walter scored just 2, (with 6 boards) but he was out on the floor when the Pistons pulled away in the second.
- 10 for Stuckey, 10 for Rip, 8 for Tay and 11 for McDyess.
- Wondering how Curry will deal with the rotation come playoff time, well there is this from Joanne C. Gerstner of The Detroit News
“Most coaches like to shorten their playoffs rotations, often going to as few as one or two key reserves.
Curry is taking a different tack, planning on using as many as nine players in the postseason.
His logic is simple. He likes having two big men, center Kwame Brown and power forward Jason Maxiell , play. Bynum is the main reserve at point guard.
And depending on the team and game situation, he’d like to give forward Walter Herrmann and guard Arron Afflalo some time, too.
“It’s almost like we said coming out of training camp,” Curry said Friday. “We definitely expect to play nine guys every night.”
- NBA Highlights of the Game
- “Just because the Pistons now know there’s life after 82, they can’t pause to catch their breath just yet. So far all they’ve locked up is finishing no worse than eighth in the East, but if the cards fall their way, they can still climb a few rungs in the standings.” Matt Watson Fanhouse
- A win tonight in Indiana would be great, especially with the Bulls coming to town on Monday.
