Key Points:

• Glad to see Arron Afflalo starting for Denver and truly making a difference.  I know we are guard heavy, but we gave him up for next to nothing .  He’s making a difference on both ends of the floor for the Nuggets.  He’s a starter in the NBA…it would be nice if they updated his profile picture in his Denver uniform. NBA webmaster fail.
• A monster game from Jason Maxiell, who put his athleticism and strength on display.  Maxiell went 7-for-9 for 16 points, a blocked shot and 8 boards in 24 minutes.  Denver didn’t know what to do with Maxi.
• On the other side of things… Charlie V 5 points 0n 2-for-6 , 7 boards in 18 minutes.  At least he’s grabbing boards when his shot inst working.
• Do we get alarmed with the way Ben Gordon’s season has turned out or do we blame injury or playing time?
• Some key baskets again from Rodney Stuckey, who scored 19 with 7 boards and six assists.  Was he trying to show Chauncey up?  I would be trying to if I was him, but what his stat line does suggest is that he’s turning into a complete player.

Photo/Getty Images

• Jonas Jerebko can’t get a call to save his life.  When will this kid get some respect from the refs?  The whistle was going against the Swede all night long and his playing time was hampered by fouls.  Just 18 minutes with 9 points on 4-for-5 shooting with and assist and 2 boards.  How great was it to see Jonas shirts and horn in the crowd in Denver.  The Need4Swede is everywhere.
• The Pistons really played a good 48 even though they didn’t come out ahead.  Board war won 50 to 38 and they had 21 assists on the night.
• Little disappointed in Detroit’s free throw shooting lately.
• Chauncey with 25 on the night with 2 assists and 4 turnovers.  The man is still Mr. Big shot no matter where he is.
• I caught Chauncey’s post game interview and noticed something funny sitting in his locker.  A white lunch bag with different colored hearts all over it,  I think his wife Piper must have packed him a post game snack.  My guess PBJ and a Capri Sun.
• Plenty of Blocked shots in this one.  Detroit blocked 5 and Denver 7.
• Chris Wilcox and Kwame Brown not active for this one because of health reasons.
• Highlights of The Game via NBA.com

• Anyone else notice Jason Maxiell’s jump shot has been money lately?
• Rip led the Pistons with 20 on 5-for-17 shooting with 5 assists and 6 boards.  He’s looking better and better ever game.
• Bynum just doesn’t look right lately.
• One points shy of a double-double for Ben Wallace, who scored 9 with 10 boards a steal and 2 blocked shots.  Where would this season be without him?
• So…can we officially say we are going for the ping pong balls now?
• Tonight against the Warriors.

Let’s be honest people, Detroit isn’t the sexy city that can woo free agents.  We need gritty hungry players that will do whatever it takes to win.  The stuporstars aren’t waiting in line to come to the D to play and spend their weekends hanging at the local Coney Island (and that’s not a knock on Lafayette or Leo’s by any means).  A lot of things would have to fall in place for a player like D Wade or Bosh to want to sign with the Pistons.

Aren’t we used to that by now?

Surely you didn’t want Joe to make a trade for the sake of making a trade did you? It’s not like we are in the hunt for the title. I used to think I had a handle on how Joe worked, but after he traded away our rock for the anti Piston, anything could happen.  I will say with some kind of certainty that Joe was probably trying to move both Rip and Tay.  He had to, but he doesn’t have fire sales.

So we wait this season out, hope for some action around the NBA draft, and hope for the best.  The whole organization is in transition, and so are the fans. Hold tight, it’s going to be a bumpy, turbulent filled trip on the Roundball (3), let’s just hope we all make it out one piece.

One last thing, cross your fingers that this never happens again.

After the 104-94 loss to the Sixers at the Palace, where the Pistons were down by 29 at one point, you have to wonder what exactly is happening.

• Yes all the injuries happened, but when the Pistons were down Rip, Tay, and Gordon we managed to put together a nice winning streak.
• How do you go from being totally in 2 games with elite teams like Dallas and the Spurs and then get blown out by the Sixers?
• Where do we place the blame? Can we point fingers?

Photo/Getty Images

• This is not Michael Curry madness, but at times you have to wonder how Kuester is handling things.  Is he having a hard time getting things straight with most of his lineup back?  I would say that’s a big part.
• Would we be calling for Curry’s head if he coached this team into their worst losing streak since the early 90’s?  I think we would have after about 6 losses.
• Will Bynum hasn’t played in a while, resting his sore ankles.  Tayshaun Prince, played only 10 first quarter minutes because of left knee soreness, and Rodney Stuckey also failed to make it out of the first half, bothered by right knee soreness.  That’s never good, but even without those three, the Pistons still had the talent to at least win one of the last 12.
• Why aren’t they gelling?
• They keep digging themselves in a hole in the first quarter, that’s got to tell you something about the starting lineup right?
• Rotation, rotation, it’s all about rotation and it looks like Kuester’s is in turmoil.
• Ben Wallace can’t be the only one who can anchor the defense and it clearly looks like he is.  So if they have no D, they have to be an offensive juggernaut….and they clearly are not that either.
• Is it point guard issues?  That’s part of it.
• They clearly have stopped playing as a team, it seems that everyone is trying to unsuccessfully take over games by themselves. I don’t even think I need mention name here, because most of the players have been guilty of it.
• We can go on and on, we can come up with all the trade scenarios that we want, but a trade at this point isn’t going to fix a team that should be winning to win.
• They have to fix it now before they can move forward.
• As always, I would like to know what you think.  So leave what you will in the comments.

Something little to make some of you smile…

As I sat in my seat before tip off of the Sixers game Mason announced on the PA system that Allen Iverson was injured and didn’t travel with his team.  And even though he wasn’t in the building, the Palace crowd let him have it.  I was part of the boos and that’s probably the only thing I smiled about all night.

Don’t forget to vote for the Pistoneees!

The 11-23 Pistons take on the 10-25 Philadelphia 76rs Saturday night at the Palace.  This would have been the first time Detroit fana would have a chance to see Allen Iverson since his “injury” forced him to stop playing for the Pistons last season.

AI’s arthritic knee has stopped him from taking the court in Detroit.

Philadelphia has the second worst record in the Eastern Conference.

The Sixers have lost both meetings with the Pistons this season after winning four of the previous five in the series.

Injury Report:

• No Will Bynum, who’s still bothered by ankle injuries.
• Rodney Stuckey will play.

The Scouting Report via Pistons.com

Tip is at 7:30 pm EST and will be televised on Fox Sports Detroit. For the radio broadcast tune in to 950 WWJ or follow the action over at NBA.com .

This is it, I really feel a victory tonight.

NEED4SHEED GAME CHAT

Rodney played great all night and poured in 27 points to lead all scorers.

• Rodney Stuckey Post Game Interview

Video Courtesy of The NBA and The Detroit Pistons.

• Solid play from Kwame Brown and Chucky Atkins.
• 12 turnovers – it’s getting better.
• 11 points for LIEverson on 3-for-10 shooting.   I said before the game that if he got more than 12 I would be disappointed.
• The Need4Sweed indeed…. Jonas with 17 second half points.
• Rodney Stuckey and Jonas Jerebko highlights.

Video Courtesy of The NBA and The Detroit Pistons.

• No Ben Gordon, who sat out nursing his ankle.
• Will Bynum seems to have sprained his other ankle playing just 18 minutes in the win.
• What do we have to do to get Rodney more time at the 2 when everyone is healthy?
• I’m leaving the rest of the recap to you, Need4Sheed has been bitten by the flu bug, so please feel free to fill in where I left off.
• Highlights of the Game NBA.com

The 8-12 Pistons are in  Philadelphia to take on the 5-16 76ers, with their newly acquired guard Allen Iverson. I know that there are still plenty of Iverson fans around the league, but I bet you won’t hear Pistons fans speaking too kindly about “The Answer.”

In Iversons’ first game back with the team who drafted him,  his Sixers ironically took on Chauncey Billups and the Denver Nuggets. Iverson put up 11 in his debut, while Ba Ba Ba Billups lit the 76ers up for 31.

Still no solid answer about Rip Hamilton or Tayshaun Prince returning to the floor, and now it looks like Ben Gordon could be sidelined as well.

The Scouting Report via Pistons.com

Tip is at 7:00 pm EST and will be televised on Fox Sports Plus. For the radio broadcast tune into WWJ AM 950 or follow the action on NBA.com.

NEED4SHEED GAME CHAT

Iverson made his debut for Memphis on Monday night returning to the court after a partial left hamstring tear, AI put up 11 points in 18 minutes in the Memphis’ 127-116 overtime loss.

“I had no problems (with the hamstring),” Iverson said afterward. “I had a problem with my butt from sitting on that bench so long. That’s the only thing I got a problem with. Yeah, I’ll be disappointed (if he’s a sub this season),” Iverson said. “I’m not a reserve basketball player. I’ve never been a reserve all my life and I’m not going to start looking at myself as a reserve. … To answer the question, ‘No, I’m not a bench player. I’m not a sixth man. Go look at my resume and that will show you I’m not a sixth man.” Via Fanhouse

Karma…AI, Karma.

I hate to post AI stuff anymore, but I love to say I told you so.
Hat Tip Detroit Bad Boys

This is what Pistons fans have been waiting for since Detroit’s early departure in the playoffs last season.  Let’s leave the mess behind us and get to the good stuff.

Detroit is in Memphis to take on the Grizzles for their season opener tonight at 8pm.  You’re opening night linup is.

• Rodney Stuckey
• Rip Hamilton
• Tayshaun Prince
• Charlie Villanueva
• Ben Wallace

Yes, Big Ben will be the Pistons starting center.

Tip off is at 8:00 PM and will be broadcast on FS Detroit with pregame festivites starting at 7PM.  Can’t watch live? Listen on the radio over at 9.71 The Ticket or follow the gamecast over at NBA.com.

I’m excited, so I’m sure you will get a few choice Tweets out of me during the game.

To an eventful and action packed season!  Leave em in the comments.

• Bynumite impressed coach Kuester “I went after him specifically to say how much I was impressed with him,” Kuester said. “He changed the complexion of the game with his energy and scoring.” This season, Kuester sees a similar role for Bynum, a “spark plug” type of player off the bench who can change the flow of a game. “A person that’s not going to sit and let the offense come to him but he’ll attack offensively and defensively,” Kuester said.
• Bynum looking to breakout in his contract year. I see good things to come from Will, who’s been such a pleasant surprise in the D.
• Kwame Brown on Ben Wallace “Anybody that can play defense like that, I’m going with the mind-set that I can learn from him and take something from his game and add it to my game.”
• More Allen Iverson Drama over at ESPN “They told me, straight up, ‘Allen we would never disrespect you or your career like that’ by making me come off the bench,” You know Allen, Pistons fans seem to recall a promise you made when you TOOK Chauncey’s spot and his number that you would do whatever it took to win a championship in Detroit.  If that’s skipping practice, bitching about playing time, and tanking your season when things didn’t go your way…..good luck to you in Memphis, you’re dead to us in Motown.
• Laimbeer getting used to being an NBA Coach. “It’s a good feeling to see the guys respond to what I’m saying,” Laimbeer said. “This is something I’ve always wanted to do. A lot has changed since I played, but it’s still basketball, and it’s still about responsibilities.”
• Dumars latest moves fall flat according to SI. Still talking about the cap space and 2010, did any of you think these moves would put us in Championship contention without another move made? Frankly I see it as a considerable upgrade to the mess last season.
• Kuester starts camp in the D with D.
• Daye, Summers and Jerebko fighting for playing time.
• Does anyone else get the feeling Rip is not happy to still be wearing a Pistons uni?  Did you see his face in the Media Day photo’s? That’s not a happy camper. Plus I have update his toon with the new fauhawk.

Photo/Getty Images

• Regardless, he took the time out to speak to Detroit area High School Students.
• More long range shots from the tall fellas?
• Great interview with Amir Johnson (audio) over at HoopsAddict.
• For those of us who remember him fondly…..A Fennis Dembo update.

• I didn’t want to touch it anymore, but Matt over at DBB’s couldn’t have said it better about Allen Iverson’s sour grapes.
• A heartfelt letter to Memphis fans from ESPN’s Jemele Hill (a Pistons fan).
• Forget M.J. (as most Pistons fans do)  the Admiral was the one to reflect on (my guest post over at Project Spurs) in this year’s Hall of Fame class. Plus the video’s are a great blast from the past.
• Top 10 Pistons Dunkers over at Life on Dumars.
• Super Dupe in UTAH!
• Good news -- Fox Sports Detroit to air all but 4 Pistons games. Download it here!
• A little Charlie V at Pistons.com.
• Training Camp questions.
• Jonas Jerebko nearly a John Beilein protégé.
• Will they be in the Rafters or not?
• Any suggestions on who should don the first month of the Need4Sheed Pistons Schedule Wallpaper?
• Ben Gordon speaks…

Different uniform but same game. Ben Gordon YouTube Mix

• Defending the D….Literally.