Thanks to everyone for being patient while Need4Sheed was experiencing technical difficulties. You may see me tweak the layout a bit, but for the most part the move from blogger is behind me. Thus the very lengthy Around The Way for the week or so I wasn’t able to update you

• Amir will start in Miami on Sunday night when The Pistons kick off the pre-season. This one isn’t broadcast but you can listen to it live at NBA.com.
• The Shock up 2-0 in the WNBA Finals.
• The D is back.
• Rasheed Wallace had a few things to say about …Flip to WDFN’S Stoney and Wojo. (Audio)
• Observations from open practice.
• Detroit hopes Tayshaun will Dominate.
• Walter Herrmann shined.
• Great interview with Matt of DBB over at Empty The Bench about all things Detroit Pistons.
• PistonNationBlog interviews Will Bynum.
• Empty The Bench also asked me a few questions about Detroit, Sheed and the website.
• Some have asked me to go into a little more detail about the background behind the site, well Patrick Hayes of the Flint Journal made sure you found out a bit more in his interview with me.
• ESPN’S John Hollinger’s Pistons forecast: “Biggest Weakness: Star power”
• Rip bashes Flip.
• Michael Curry doesn’t like it when you say he’s inexperienced.
• Pistons add Alex Acker to the roster.
  Joe Dumars talks to The World According to TD (a Cleveland sports bog).
• One of my fellow bloggers, Ryan from HoopsAddict is trying out for the D League. Can’t wait to see how he does.
• Katlin Urka the General Manager of WOLV-TV in Ann Arbor interviews Kwame Brown on media day as well as Chauncey Billups and Arron Afflalo. Walter Sharp wanted and edit and didn’t get it.

The Detroit Pistons will host an open practice inside the Oakland University Athletic Center Arena on Thursday, October 2 from 6:30 p.m.- 8:30 p.m. Admission is free for all fans and Oakland University students and doors will open at 5:30 p.m.

Detroit held their open practice at OU last season and from the feedback we got on N4S it was a big hit. It fills up very quickly so if you want to attend make sure you get there early.

Link from Dave Dial of Mlive

“As the only team left with significant room under the salary cap, the Griz have shifted out of a summer holding pattern and targeted the versatile 6-9, 235-pound forward.

Atlanta has seven days to match, per league rules, once Smith receives the offer sheet.

Smith’s numbers have increased in each of his four NBA seasons since Atlanta made him a first-round pick out of high school in 2004. He averaged 17.2 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.8 blocks last season, helping the Hawks make the playoffs.

The Hawks have said they would match any contract offer to the 22-year-old Smith, but are on the hook next season with big contracts for Mike Bibby and Joe Johnson.” Via Memphis Commercial Appeal

UPDATE: Atlanta Hawks match the 58 Million dollar offer sheet for Josh Smith.

Via Pistons.com

Just a little Detroit Sports News I though I should pass on.

The D is among the Top 20 finalists for ESPN’s TitleTown USA, and an ESPN crew will be here taping this Sunday, July 13 at 11 a.m. (fans are encouraged to arrive at 10 a.m.) outside Comerica Park near the giant Tiger statue. Show your D-Sports Pride by wearing your favorite Detroit sport team apparel and stop by this Sunday to watch ESPN’s filming of the Detroit segment for SportsCenter’s “TitleTown USA” contest. Who knows, you might end up getting interviewed or seen on national TV as an audience member! The weather forecast is perfect, and we would appreciate your voluntary time and support of our region and sport teams. Voting is still open.

I don’t know about you, but I’m planning on being their to support all my favorite teams. One problem though, what on earth do I wear?

A. Sherrod Blakely of MLive

“When free agency began, the Detroit Pistons had no intentions of using their full mid-level exception for one player.

But the Pistons might have a change of heart, especially if they have a chance to land a player such as Corey Maggette.

Maggette, a 6-foot-6 swingman, has made it clear he’s willing to consider accepting the mid-level exception, which is expected to be worth about $5.8 million.”

AP Photo/Paul Sancya

Rasheed Wallace was the only member of the Detroit Pistons to show up today the Joe Dumars press conference to announce Michael Curry as The Pistons new head coach.

What does it mean? Who really knows, maybe nothing. Maybe something, but we will probably never know.

Is Sheed ready to play for MC? Is he showing JD that he’s back on board? Or was he bored? Take your pick.

Dumars talked to Sheed briefly after game six.

“Dumars made sure Wallace had heard about his plans to reshape the team by trading away part of his core.

“It was a short message,” Dumars said.

Dumars said since he revealed that plan at a press conference last week, his phone has been ringing frequently with interest from around the league.

“Lot of phone calls, ton of phone calls,” Dumars said. “But that was the intent, to get the ball rolling. And to see what’s out there, to see what’s happening. I knew when we were sitting here talking that we could get something done – we’ve got good players. It’s just a matter of what’s going to come across the phone line.” Via The Detroit Free Press

Personally I think with a guy like Sheed you never know what’s going on, but seeing as it’s the first time he’s shown himself at a Pistons gathering since Game Six, that in itself is saying something.

Congratulations To The Detroit Red Wings!

Red Wing Round Ups
Behind The Jersey
Let’s Go Wings
Abel To Yzerman
Winging it in Motown
Detroit Red Wings.com

YouTube Cup Celebration and the last few second of the game.

Thanks to Jeff Knight in Atlanta for sending this our way. Looks like Detroit may be interested in Mike Woodson.

From Sekou K Smith at AJC.com
“According to my spy the Detroit Pistons have asked for permission to speak with Hawks coach Mike Woodson (that’s his title for at least the next 26 days or so unless something breaks before the end of the month) about their vacant coaching position.

Solid reports out of Detroit have Pistons assistant Michael Curry lined up for the job. But the Pistons have apparently covered their bases if that doesn’t work out by contacting the representative of Woodson, who was the lead assistant on Larry Brown’s staff when the Pistons won the NBA title in 2004.

It’s not a surprising development for me, mostly because I know what high regard the folks in Detroit have for Woodson and the job he did not only there but also what he’s done with the Hawks. I’ve had more than one spy confirm for me that had Woodson not bolted for the Hawks job after that title season that he (and not Flip Saunders) would have been the choice to replace Larry Brown.

Woodson’s hard-charging style was a perfect fit for that veteran Pistons squad. And if you’ve seen the way the Pistons players greet him during games (the parade of hugs and man-love borders on creepy sometimes) it should be clear to anyone watching that there is a huge amount of respect for Woodson from those players.”

“Tayshaun Prince was selected to the NBA All-Defensive second team Monday for the fourth consecutive season. Prince received the ninth-highest total in votes (20, with three first-team votes). Pistons guard Chauncey Billups and forward Rasheed Wallace just missed the second team, finishing with 14 and 13 votes, respectively. Phoenix guard Raja Bell claimed the final spot with 18 votes.” Via The Detroit Free Press

The Winner of the Week Two Stardock Giveaway was
Noa Daniely, Congrats Noa!
For those of you who didn’t win this go around you still have a chance.

I have another wonderful Pistons Desktop courtesy of Stardock to give away.

“Think you’re the Ultimate Pistons Fan?

NBA fans have an entirely new way to showcase their team pride. Stardock, the industry leader in Windows customization, today announced it has unveiled NBA inspired desktop themes for all 30 NBA teams through their line of MyColors desktop suites.

MyColors from Stardock allows fans to completely theme their Windows with the colors and logos of their favorite NBA team. Everything from the title bars, start menu, toolbars, icons, Windows Media Player and customized gadgets will bring the NBA hardwood experience to any desktop. The new product, set at $19.95, is available to download at www.nba.com and here.

Additionally, NBA scores, standing and merchandise will be clickable through the customized team gadgets on the desktop, allowing fans easy access to anything NBA”

Stardock will be giving away 1 downloadable Pistons Theme a week during Detroit’s playoff run. Here is your chance to snag one for Week 3.

Send the answer to the trivia question to:
need4sheedcontest@gmail.com
Subject line: Week Three
With your Name
and Email Address

I will be picking a winner randomly from the correct submissions. Deadline for this one is Monday May 11th, so send away.

During the 2003-04 NBA season who did The Pistons name their locker room after?