Detroit led by as many as 12 in the first half and eight at the break.  The second half saw Clipper-newcomer Drew Gooden and Chris Kaman continue to exploit the Pistons’ lack of size upfront as they combined for 41 points and 28 rebounds.  Los Angeles got a huge performance down the stretch from Rasual Butler, who nailed a couple of 3s off of good ball movement (or bad defensive rotation).  He also had a huge block on Rodney Stuckey late in the game.

Key points of the night:

• Being that I live in LA, I decided to take this one in.  You’d be surprised at how many die-hard Clipper fans are here in “Lakerland”.
• For the second straight game, Detroit was outscored by at least double digits in the fourth quarter.
• Rip Hamilton missed six free throws (including 3 straight with seconds to go that would have brought the team within a point) snapping his streak of 51 consecutive makes. Although he nearly completed a four point opportunity on a silly foul again Eric Gordon.

Photo/Getty Images

• Clippers win the season series for the first time since 2000 and only the third time in over 20 years.
• In 26 minutes, Ben Wallace didn’t score but had 10 rebounds.
• Did Ben Gordon suit up tonight?  I’m just saying.
• There were a lot of Detroit fans in the house but, that’s not unusual against the Clippers.
• Another DNP-CD for Kwame Brown, this even during a game where the rebound war was lost 56-44.
• Drew Gooden has put up All-Star numbers against the Pistons this season especially in rebounds.
• If the Pistons had a legitimate low-post threat they’d be a playoff team.
• Before Rasual Butler’s late go-ahead three-pointer, the loudest cheers of the night were for a Michael Jackson look-alike in the crowd.
• Charlie Villaneuva might as well be wearing roller skates on defense. I’m sure no one would notice.
• Highlights of the Game Via NBA.com

• If it wasn’t for the logo on the court, you wouldn’t realize you were at a Clippers game at Staple Center.  There is nothing but Lakers championship banner and L.A. Kings retired jerseys in the rafters.  Even the WNBA team has something up.
• Kid Rock in the house.
• The road trip continues in Denver on Friday night against former Pistons Chauncey Billups and Aaron Affalo.
• I got a text from my Friend in LA who was also at the game that read “The are chanting Stukey’s – Suckey.” For real LA, that’s as original as you can get? (Natalie)

Good luck Arron, give Chauncey our best.

As the cleaning of house keeps rolling something tells me a big deal is on the horizon.

Most of you, including myself, aren’t very happy with the prospect of Glen “Big Baby” Davis donning a Pistons uni, but the chances of it just went up.  We wait again…. in what has turned out to be one of the craziest offseasons I can remember.

The Pistons will host the Cleveland Cavaliers this afternoon for what could be their last game of the season. Down three games to the Cavs and showing little or no signs of life, more than just an early playoff exit is at stake for this Detroit team.

Familiar endings and new beginnings.

With the team missing their swagger (as well as their leader) all season long this group will most likely be playing its last game (or games if they can pull it out today) together. So enjoy this game for whatever it is Pistons fans, your favorite players just may be playing their last games in red, white and blue.
Michael Curry

“Guys are down, but that’s anywhere when you’re down like this in a series and it’s tough. The biggest thing is getting just focused on one game. What you tend to do when you’re down in a series is go back over the whole season. So you start looking at things that you have no control over.” Via The Detroit Free Press

Tip off is at 3:30 and will broadcast nationally on ABC. If you can’t watch the early afternoon game, you can listen over at WDFN 1130 AM or follow the game live over at NBA.com.

Feel free to leave your thoughts in the Comments or Chat Live at gametime.

Key Points:

• This one started out just right, Detroit came to play and even started the game in glorious fashion with this Richard Hamilton steal that lead to a Rodney Stuckey dunk, which led to an 8-0 Pistons run.

Video Courtesy of The NBA, The Detroit Pistons and ESPN

• The Pistons showed some heart, played defense and controlled the tempo of the game and held the lead until the Cavs took a 33-31 lead with five minutes left in the half.
• Yes the Cavs have went to the line a whopping 100 times this series compared to 40 times for Detroit. Don’t point all the fingers at the refs or David Stern, you don’t go to the line when you shoot jumpers, it’s as simple as that.
• Tayshaun Prince played hurt and was responsible for helping the Pistons start the game strong. He finished the game with 7 points, 5 boards, and 2 assists in 33 minutes.
• Rasheed….well Sheed either has lost more than a step or checked out before the series started. Sheed scored 5 points, with 7 boards and a steal. With similar numbers this whole series and for the later half of the season, it’s fair to question if Sheed still has it at all or for this team.
• Though Dyess had trouble knocking down his shot (4-for-10), he still put his heart on the line and was pivotal in Detroit’s third quarter run. He finished with 8 points, 2 blocks and 8 boards.  Unfortunately it looks like No Ice4Dyess.

Photo/Getty Images

• Two Pistons in double figures is disastrous.
• The Pistons are on Life Support.
• This one wasn’t hard to watch, they came to play but are clearly outmatched.  Tied at the end of the third quarter and then settling for Rip Hamilton jumpers in the fourth maybe was a mistake.
• Rip led Detroit with 15 points on 6-for-17 shooting with 6 assists, 8 boards and 2 steals in 41 minuets.
• “This is killing me, I can’t even lie,” Hamilton said. “Knowing how great we were, and then being down 0-3 and being the eighth seed and watching them celebrate shot after shot, it’s hard. It’s a terrible situation.” Via The Detroit News
• This was actually the first time in the series that Detroit was in a position to win the game but a horrible 4th (something that haunted them all season long) was the cause.
• Just 6 points for Bynum in 18 minutes but it was this leaping steal that made me rewind the game about three times.

Video Courtesy of The NBA, The Detroit Pistons and ESPN

• Sick and tired of “Andy” AKA CLOWNFISH getting in everyone’s face. I’m not one for violence but I wouldn’t mind clocking the dude myself. Yes he’s and energy guy bla, bla, bla….he’s a punk. And as Mr. Blaha said, ” Don’t the referees even watch this guy?” He pushed Kwame and Brown gets a tech. Great.
• Speaking of Mr. Kwame Brown, he’s been the surprise of the series. Bringing energy and banging down low ever time he steps on the court. Kwame scored 4 points in 13 minutes with 3 boards and 3 blocked shots. And he won’t let you get in his face either.

Photo/Getty Images

• Something so wrong at the Palace – Who was the genius that decided to get Cavalier phone service to sponsor the thundersticks so CAVALIER is written in bold across the thing?
• “Right now, we have to have a focus that is a game-winner, every possession,” Detroit guard Arron Afflalo said. “Just looking at a lot of the teams in history that are good teams, they played with a certain intensity, a certain focus, and a certain energy level, every possession. And being down 3-0, that’s what it’s come down to.” Via MLive
• What is really more to say, at least they tried. The Cavs are a better team and quite honestly it hurts much less to loose to them this year than it did in 07 when Detroit was the better team. I’m not giving up, but a Sunday home game looks daunting.

“I will give whatever I can give,” he said. “It felt better today (Thursday), but at the same time, I didn’t go at game speed. I am not the type of person to give excuses about injuries because I know both Rasheed and Rip (Hamilton) played hurt for us this season.

“But this is the pivotal game, so if I am not getting anything going early, I will let Arron (Afflalo) and those guys take the load.” Via The Detroit News

Read into this if you will, especially considering all that’s been going around regarding Prince’s playoff non production.

He’s not injured enough to not start (remember the streak), but if he’s not productive he will let Afflalo play (injury or not). Sounds a bit like an excuse is already in play for Prince.

I don’t know about you, but I would love for Tayshaun to have  huge game, we need him to, but with the injury and how he’s been playing lately I wouldn’t mind Afflalo and Herrmann for that matter to try to see what they can do.

Could Tayshaun be worried about being moved in the offseason? He may not be untouchable anymore.

I’m not claiming it’s over, but it’s hard to stay positive when you have watched this team go through the motions all season long. When you look back at the ‘08-’09 Season can you think of one positve thing about it?

Let’s see…..

• We lost our leader to Denver
• We in turn received a Superstar that said all the right things when he got here, but didn’t make good on a single one.
• We had a season with a new coach that was clearly over his head, especially after Joe D’s “BIG” trade
• Dyess shipped and thankfully returned
• A non existent rotation.
• Sixth man beef!
• Small ball
• Defense disappearance
• Offensive difficulties
• Rodney Stuckey wall
• Kwame Brown
• Arron Afflalo, despite decent play getting buried.
• Cap space
• Hooper doing something….
• A losing season
• An end to a Sellout Streak
• The disappearance of Amir Johnson and Jason Maxiell
• Barley making it to the post season
• Chuck Daly’s fight with Cancer
• The loss of a Great Man, Pistons owner Bill Davidson.

Should I go on?

The only bright spot I can think of right now is guy like Will Bynum making a name for himself after a long road to try to live his dream in the NBA. And helping Detroit along the way.

The Pistons compiled a video with a few bright spots, but does it take away the negative?

Now it’s your turn, vent in the comments.

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Craig Downing
Williamston, MI

Remember….following me on Twitter makes it easier to win.

What do you win…..

First Prize – his sweet Autographed Arron Afflalo Pistons thermal shirt.

Second Prize – an Autographed Arron Afflalo picture.

You can see him sign both things for me in the this video I took. Funny thing about me and my videos, I have been know to cause a bit of trouble wherever I go, just ask the good folks at the Palace.  So when I headed over to ABC Warehouse I decided to be on my best behavior.

Arron seems to be a quite guy so I figured I would tell him what I was doing and wish him well.  So I walk up and ask him if he knows me.  Who does that? Why would he know me? I meant to say do you know the site, but it came out me first….what an idiot.  I didn’t even realize how stupid I sounded until I watched the tape.  Maybe I was thrown off because of this.

More playing time would be nice Arron!  And by the way Thanks!

Arron was great, and now I’m handing the stuff over to you.

I will be randomly picking a winner from the CORRECT entries.  Just answer two questions correctly and you could be a winner.

What was Arron Afflalo’s high school teams nickname?

What is the name of the outstanding defensive player award Arron won while at UCLA?

Send the answers to me at
need4sheedcontest@gmail.com

• Subject Line:  Showtime at the AFFLALO
• Your Name
• Correct Shipping Address
• And your Email Address

If you follow me on twitter this should be easy!

I will annonce the Winners on Tuesday March 10th!