This ties into Bennie and Jeff’s podcast this week of The Top 5 Reasons The Pistons Will Win a Championship this Season. FSN did a great video featuring Detroit’s bench and they couldn’t have debuted it a a better time.

Detroit’s Zoo Crew did quite a job showing their value in Detroit’s 94-90 comeback win at The Target Center. The Pistons, led by rookie Rodney Stuckey’s career high 27 points, hadn’t held the lead in the game until late in the fourth quarter. The lottery bound Timberwolves bolted out of the gates making almost every shot they threw up, but Detroit started to feel comfortable on the floor and began to mount a comeback late in the second quarter after being down 21.

Key Points:

• The Pistons rested Chauncey, Rip and Sheed which gave Hayes, Stuckey and Ratliff a chance to start the game.
• The game looked like it was going to end in a Timberwolves blowout after the youngsters dug themselves a deep hole in the fist quarter. Detroit trailed by 21 points in the second until they went on a 14-0 run to finish off the half at 44-49.
• Tayshaun Prince was the veteran on the floor, helping the youngsters gain composure and do what they needed to do to pull out the win. Prince scored 15 points, with 6 assists, 5 boards, a steal and a block. It was nice to see Tay calm The Crew when the game was on the line.
• Cheikh Samb sighting, mask and all (gotta get a screen capture). In his 5 minutes on the floor he went 2-for-2 with 3 boards and 4 points. We already have Team Need4Sheed ready to start a “Play Samb” campaign.
• Stuckey’s shining moment came when he hit this jumper with 45 seconds left in the game to give Detroit a 90-88 lead. Rodney was the star of the night putting up a career high 27 and making good decisions on the floor. He added 3 assists, a steal and a blocked shot and made 12 of his 13 free throws.

• Even when Sheed’s not playing you can hear him barking suggestions to his teammates on court.
• “It gives Coach confidence in us, and it also gives our vets confidence in us, which they already had in us,” Stuckey said. “It just shows them that, hey, we can come on the court, play hard and play together as a team and do what we’ve got to do.” Via The Detroit Free Press
• This game was just fun to watch. I hope not many of you turned it off when the blowout was looming.
• Juan Dixon went 4-for-9 finishing with 8 points and 2 assists. The guy is quick.
• Kevin Vandevelde had a very fitting sign to support The Zoo Crew last night in Minnesota. He took this picture to show his family proudly representing The Pistons and Team Need4Sheed.
• Stuckey’s impressive on and off the court, you can tell from his post game interview including some incredible highlights. I was impressed with the fact that he played with 5 fouls late in the game and stayed on the floor till the buzzer sounded.

• Jarvis Hayes started, but played just 10 minutes going 1-for-5 with four points.
• I’m a contributor for MISports Magazine, it’s new and has everything you need to know about all things sports related in the state of Michigan.
• Al Jefferson has really flourished since leaving Boston. He led the Wolves with 26.
• How excited was the bench after Rodney scored that hoop to put the Pistons up in the fourth.
• Rebound war won 45-44.
• Chauncey for MVP? Interesting numbers.
• Maxiell didn’t have his best game offensively, but still impresses us with his hustle, defense and determination every night. Maxie finished with 5 points on 2-for-7 shooting with 6 boards, 2 blocked shots and a steal. Mr. Blaha says he’s going to bring that basket down one of these days and I agree wholeheartedly.

• NBA.com Highlights of the Game and GMac’s Highlights of The Game.
• Afflalo faired well going 2-for-8 for 7 points, 4 rebounds, an assist and a steal in 33 minutes.
• “Pistons vice president of basketball John Hammond is no longer a candidate for the general manager job in Milwaukee. Reports out of Milwaukee that the Pistons would not allow the Bucks to interview Hammond were inaccurate. It was partly Hammond’s decision to decline a formal interview.” Via Chris McCosky The Detroit News
• Vote Sheed, he’s up against some pretty tough competition. He’s down big right now!
• Another chance for The Crew to show their stuff Friday against New Jersey.
• What impressed you most about last night? For me, it had to be Mr. Stuckey.

The Zoo Crew is up against Gilbert Arenas’ blog in The Ball Don’t Lie Bedlam Tournament. Ok Pistons fans….get to voting!

NBA Access with Ahmad Rashad did a fantastic piece on The Zoo Crew this past week. It was great opportunity for the rest of the country to see what the Pistons youth bring to the table.

I do have a very small issue with one thing in the story. When Amir Johnson was introduced, he was referred to him as a former D-League player. Not that that isn’t the truth, but it doesn’t really tell his tale correctly if you didn’t know much about him. It just doesn’t paint the right picture if you ask me (I know, I’m being ridiculous). Other than that, it’s a wonderful segment.