The Pistons did their best to try to pull out another game without Richard Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince, but the Raptors didn’t cooperate with Detroit’s plans. Detroit went down 99-110 in Toronto after another gutsy effort.

Key Points:

• Another start for Jonas Jerebko and his first NBA points.  Hustle from Jerebko and defensive effort turned into 2 blocks, 3 boards and 8 points.
• Though not a 20 point night, Rodney Stuckey put up a solid double-double with 10 boards, 13 points and 4 assists.
• We have to face facts, it’s clear that Detroit desperately needs front court help.  They can’t count on the guards to do all the scoring.
• I’m getting Ben Wallace DeJa vu.  He’s as closer to the Ben that left to go to Chicago than I could have ever imagined.  Now Kuester needs to limit his time a bit more so this lasts all season.  Wallace finished with 9 boards and 6 points.
• Toronto became the first team this season to score more than 100 points against Detroit. Does that mean the “D” is officially back?  Probably not, but it’s a refreshing surprise.
• Another heroic effort from Will Bynum, who did his best in the fourth to get the Pistons back in it. He tied the game up with this drive and finished the game with16 points, 6 assists and a steal in 33 minutes. I know he prefers “The Thrill” but I can’t help screaming Bynumite, when he does something spectacular like this…

Video Courtesy of The NBA and The Detroit Pistons

• Austin Day looks a lot like Tayshaun on court, especially when he’s blocking people with those long arms. Daye logged 16 minutes, blocking 2 shots, with 3 boards and 5 points.
• Jason Maxiell got 10 minutes of floor time and added a bit of a spark. A nice putback with 3 boards with 4 points.
• By the way….how many “trade rumor” stories did you read after the Orlando game?
• 20 trips to the line for Bosh, that’s big.
• How much do you enjoy watching Ben Gordon? I’m sure I’ll be writing this again but… Ben Gordon put up a career high in a Pistons uniform while leading the team with 30 points. He’s truly putting this team on his back with Rip and Tay out. Oh and I’m enjoying the fact the Bulls fans are sick about it.

Photo/Getty Images

• First official NBA time for DaJuan Summers who saw 40 seconds.
• Pistons shot well, shooting 45% for the game, but needed to get some stops down the stretch and couldn’t.
• Charlie Villanueva played his best game as a Piston against the team that drafted him. A pretty good stat line in all departments with 16 points, 7 boards a steal and a block. He’s looking better in red, white and blue every night.
• Tough to play a back to back shorthanded, especially after the battle against Orlando. You could clearly see the effort, but they just fell flat mid fourth quarter.
• A little more Ben

• Good to see Amir Johnson get some time on court.  He really helped Toronto when the Pistons started making a run in the third.
• A day of rest and a tough rematch in Orlando Friday night. I hope someone bring some more Kryptonite.
• My good friend Ryan over at HoopsAddict got the inside scoop in the Pistons locker room last night.  I’ll quote him, and then send you over for the audio. “Tonight the Pistons locker room was pure jokes, hence Rip Hamilton free styling before the game about “pimpin’ ain’t easy fo’ sheezy” Pre and post game audio over at Hoopsaddict.com

The 1-2 Pistons look to put an end to their two game slide with a win of the 2-0 Magic tonight in Auburn Hills.  They have three important things going against them tonight.

• No Rip
• Dwight Howard
• and Sheed (Dwight Stopper) is balling for Bean Town.

“The Pistons probably will be without Hamilton the next two games — definitely tonight’s home contest against the Magic and likely Wednesday’s game at Toronto.

Hamilton hurt his ankle with 5 minutes left in the season opener at Memphis on Wednesday. An initial X-ray proved negative. The Pistons took another X-ray as a precaution when he returned to Detroit, and it also was negative. Still, there was significant swelling and bruising, and Hamilton was placed in a walking boot because he could hardly put any pressure on the ankle. ”

“Howard is going to get his, so you just got to keep throwing bodies at him,” Pistons center Kwame Brown said. “You just keep having enough big buys to throw at him and foul him in certain situations and send him to the free-throw line.”

Via The Detroit Free Press

The Magic be without Vince Carter (ankle) and Mickael Pietrus (flu-like illness) as well as Rashard Lewis (suspension)

Tip off is at 7:30 at the palace and will locally broadcast on Fox Sports and while your watch use the NBA’s TV Companion. If you can’t watch the game on television, tune into my buddy Matt Dery on the radio at 950 AM WWJ. Can’t do either follow live over at NBA.com.

The Pistons did a little Halloween video and asked the player about their least favorite candy they used to get when they went Trick or Treating.

Rip was not happy with fruit and Big Ben prefers traditional candy.  Poor Jason….

They played it on Palace Vision during opening night during a timeout and the bench was glued to the tube, they even poked a little fun at Jason after his part.  I hope he didn’t think the soap was a bar of white chocolate and give it a bite.

We also got a gander of Rodney Stuckey’s special Skeleton kicks he wore on court Saturday night.

For the second consecutive night the Pistons controlled the first half and came out lifeless after the break. That’s two giveaways,  as Detroit lost to the Bucks in Milwaukee’s season opener 85-96.

Key Points:

• If you missed this game and caught the Pistons home opener then just check this off the list.  Saturday night’s loss was almost identical to what went wrong at the Palace against the Thunder.
• Ben said it best: “We can’t afford to come out and take off the first five minutes,” said Ben Wallace, who finished with eight points and 10 rebounds. “We got ourselves into a dogfight and they took advantage of it.” Via The Detroit News
• Pistons aside, go pick up Brandon Jennings in your fantasy teams.  Not only did this rookie almost put up a triple-double the other night he pretty much  single-handedly turned a 49-38 halftime deficit into a 74-63 lead going into the fourth. He scored 14 points during a 19-4 run, and he had 16 points in the quarter. This likely rookie of the year dropped 24 total on Detroit and was fun to watch.  He put Stuckey to shame a couple times down the floor, specifically in the third when Rodney went in for a floater that missed and Jennings picked up his rebound, took it to the other end and put up a left handed floater right back in Stuck’s face.
• “I’m very pleased with our defensive effort,” Kuester said. “We’ll get better offensively before it’s all over.” Via The Detroit Free Press.
• Second half failure on offense and defense.  The Pistons allowed the Bucks a free reign  to score 36 points and shoot 68.4% in the third quarter.
• Why the Bucks crowd felt the need to boo Charlie Villanueva is beyond me.  He didn’t leave and go to a rival for more money, the Bucks never offered him a contract.  Give the guy a break .  Charlie scored 12 points on 4-8 shooting with 6 boards in 23 minutes on the floor.  He helped spark the listless Pistons in the fourth quarter.  Charlie V foul watch – 5 on the night.

Photo/Getty Images

• No Blaha on the broadcast, they didn’t tell us why, but he was likely filling his MSU responsibilities.  Mark Champion did a fine job on the call.
• I’m wondering if  Charlie V a good three point shooter, because he sure is taking a ton of them.
• Say what you will about Kwame Brown, he puts so much effort out every game that it’s refreshing. He finished with 4 boards and a steal.
• Burn for Jonas Jerebko, who I have noticed at the home games is the girls replacement for Goldie Locks himself Walter Herrmann.  His first name is Jonas but he’s got some fans in Detroit that would rival the Jonas Brothers. Jonas played six minutes and picked up 2 fouls and 2 boards.
• I always get a kick out of watching Carlos Delfino playing against Detroit no matter what team he’s on.  He always has something to prove and does whatever he can to make his point, good or bad.  He’s starting for the Bucks and I wish him well, but the Pistons usually get the best of him. Delfino finished with 5 points on 2-for-7 shooting.
• Jason Maxiell had the Milwaukee crowd wowed with a thunder dunk.  Remember when Maxie would come in and spark the team with making plays?  Maybe it came back against the Bucks.  Two ridiculous back to back blocks at end of the first half for Jason.
• They mentioned on the broadcast that the Guards are carrying the scoring load.  Isn’t that what we expected?  Or are we going to rely on Kwame and Ben?  Tayshaun and Charlie have to help the little guys out.
• Stuckey scored 13 points on 6-for-19 shooting, looked good in the first half as you can tell from the nice effort and and one below but had difficulties with Jennings and poor shot selection after the break.  Give him credit for 8 assists, something Pistons fans were worried about.  I am a fan of Rodney but sometimes his decisions to drive the lane in the crowd and get stuffed by the big men wears me down.

Video Courtesy of The NBA and The Detroit Pistons

• Big Ben Wallace had another great night for the Pistons, just 2 points shy of a double-double with 10 boards and 8 points on the night.
• NO Wilcox or Daye?  I think we needed Chris to give us some inside presence, especially since the front court want really able to do much.
• You can see how everything just stopped in the second half by the assist stat.  Detroit had 12 at the half and 17 on the night.
• Outrebounded 26-29.
• Ben Gordon led the Pistons again with 26 points on 8-for-15 shooting with 3 assists and 2 boards.  Who says the guy plays no D, Gordon statch the ball 3 times against Milwaukee and has been looking like he’s trying to fit into Detroit’s (used to be) defensive mold.

Photo/Getty Images

• Will Bynum 10 points, 2 assists and a board in 20 minutes.
• We need a bit more from Tayshaun, especially with Rip out.  He scored 12 on 6-for-12 shooting with 3 assists and 2 boards.  I’m not asking him to put up 20 a night, though I know he can, he just needs to spark the team when he’s on the floor.
• It’s like a Jekyll and Hyde thing, fun to watch in the first half and a nightmare in the second.
• Hopefully the two days of “rest” will help Detroit straighten things out before they host Dwight Howard and the Magic Tuesday night.
• Even if you don’t want to, watch the highlights simply to enjoy the talent that rookie Brandon Jennings displayed Saturday night. Still waiting on the NBA to post them, but here are the first half highlights.

As I was catching up on my Tweeting, I noticed this from Charlie Villanueva “feeling like crap today, I’m so sick right now.” That was twittered today at 11 AM, hopefully that’s the reason for his woes on court. Feel better @CV31, we need you.

The Pistons are in Milwaukee tonight, hopefully to bounce back from the pretty ugly home opening loss against the Thunder last night.

Richard Hamilton will not be in uniform again for the Pistons.  Without Rip in the lineup last night the Pistons shot 37.1 percent from the field, but Ben Gordon filled in and scored 25 points while starting  Rip’s spot.

Tip is at 8:30 pm and will broadcast on FSN. If you can’t catch the game on television, tune into the call on AM 950 wwj or the game cast over at NBA.com.

Since it’s Halloween…I’ll wish you a Happy one,  and add this image I pulled from The Pistons.com splash screen.  Hmmmm…. Does any of that look familiar?  It’s Stuctacularly Bynumite if you ask me.

As always, The Detroit Pistons 2009-2010 Detroit Pistons Introductions followed by a very heartfelt dedication to Pistons owner and Member of the Basketball Hall of Fame Bill Davidson.

Ben Wallace with a HUGE ovation and being there I can tell you that he had to have felt the love in the building.  Ben Gordon, who started in place of the injured Richard Hamilton got a nice ovation, but overall I was impressed by the love for Will Bynum….BYNUMITE.

No Sheed, no post intro dance, that I missed.

Straight off their opening night win in Memphis, The Detroit Pistons take the court tonight at The  Palace to take on the Oklahoma Thunder in their first home game of the season.

Forget the fact that Kevin Durant will be in town, Pistons fans have other things to worry about, the 2009-2010 Palace introductions.  We don’t know what they will have in store for us, but you can bet the crowd will go crazy as soon as the lights are dimmed and the fire begins to pulse.

I’m pretty sure they will be a lot different from the 2008-2009 season intros.

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And I’ll bet that Ben Wallace will have a hero’s welcome.

We also don’t know if Mason will be announcing Ben Goooorrrrrrdon (Ba Ba Ben is already reserved for Wallace) during the intos with Rip being questionable after his ankle sprain that occured late in the game on Wednesday night in Memphis.

“That’s the crazy part about it,” Hamilton said. “I think I’ve had three (ankle sprains) my whole life. So I know when I do it, twist my ankle, I know it’s pretty bad.”
After the game, Detroit’s medical officials opted to keep Hamilton’s right ankle taped up in hopes of compressing the swelling.
“I’ve been locked up all night since it happened,” Hamilton said. “We haven’t really taken the tape off to get a good look at it. We’ll see.”
If Hamilton can’t play, the most likely replacement in the starting lineup would be Ben Gordon, who scored 22 points in his Pistons debut Wednesday. Via MLive

Tip off is at 8:00 PM with the festivities starting on FS Detroit at 7:30 with the pre-game show.  If you can’t catch the game on television, tune in on the radio at 9.71 The Ticket or follow the game at NBA.com.

I’ll be in the building for my 10th consecutive home opener for the Pistons (yes I count, and I missed 1998 because of the flu).  You may even get a few game Tweets from me inside the building, so make sure you follow me on Twitter.

The rest I will leave to you in the comments.

DEEEETROIT BASKETBALLLLL!

The new players impressed and the seasoned ones did the rest. The Pistons pummeled the Memphis Grizzlies in the season opener 96-74, led by 25 from Rip Hamilton while Ben Gordon added 22.  The big question has been could the two exist together, and I think they answered that one emphatically with 47 points between them.

Key Points:

• The Defense?  Well it didn’t look that bad, holding the Grizz to just 74 was a nice way to start.
• I mentioned before that Charlie Villanueva was a little (and that’s being nice) lax on playing “D” but he looked like he was really trying to step it up before he got into very early foul trouble. Let’s hope that’s not an issue.
• Coach Kuester started his tenure with Detroit the right way.
• This was the team I was hoping to see this season.
• First official points from Ben Gordon as a Piston… leaning glass gunner with the shot clock expiring. Four point play,  followed by a buzzer beater at the quarter. Ben impressed with 22 points on 7-12 shooting in 25 minutes on the floor.

Video Courtesy of The NBA and The Detroit Pistons

• You know how it feels for Pistons fans to see Sheed on the hated Celtics. Well just bask in the glory that Bulls fans are killing themselves right now watch Ben Gordon don the red, blue and white!
• Charlie Villanueva and Ben Gordon’s first Pistons points – triples.
• I love the George Blaha (don’t we all?) poster in Memphis…priceless
• Bynum is really trying to cement this whole point guard position. Bynumite with 5 points, 5 boards and 7 assists in 23 minutes.
• Rip tweaked his ankle late in the game after a very impressive performance. Hopefully he will be just fine. I was worried about him as the game started as well as the preseason but he looked great. He loses his ducktail and he gets his shot back, coincidence? I think not.
• Ben Wallace back to his “Big Ben” status? Fear the fade?

Photo/Getty Images

• Wallace not only started for Detroit, but he was very impressive making his defensive presence felt while making it contagious to his teammates. Ben finished with 9 boards, a blocked shot and 3 points in 28 minutes.  Pleasant surprise…
• Rodney Stuckey 12 points on 6-for-10 shooting with three assists and two boards.  I’m hoping his assists are better this season, but either way I think he’s going to be substantially better than last season.
• Tayshaun Prince looked good with 14 points, 5 boards and 3 assists in 31 minutes.
• Will rebounds be a problem? Probably – Pistons outboarded 39-49.
• I was thinking that Rip’s ego might be a little bruised by Ben Gordon but the fact that Gordon scored the coveted Dr. Rahmani commercial was like writing it in stone.  That’s Rip’s gig, my man.
• Rip started slow but totally stole the show with 25 points on 10-for-19 shooting with 4 assists and 3 boards.  Great start for Rip who was looking a little confused during the preseason.

Photo/Getty Images

• I’m hoping Jason Maxiell really plays the way I think he can play. Maxi with 2 points, 6 boards and a ton of hustle in 14 minutes on the floor.
• 51% shooting on the nigh – WOW.
• Charlie V started the game and scored 7. A great dunk but he’ll have to watch the fouls.
• No Austin Daye or Jonas Jerebko, (The Second coming of Detroit Bad Boys) who were both suspended for their skirmishes in the preseaon.  Pistons dressed just 10 players.
• 37% for three.
• Highlights of the Game

• Nice way to make Pistons fans feel after the mess that was last season.
• I can’t wait to see what the crowd is like Friday night at the Palace. Ben Wallace with a serious ovation during the intros I predict.

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.

We all know the season starts Wed the 28th, but here is your schedule wallpaper for the month of November with the Charlie Villanueva and Ben Gordon representing the D for the very first time.

Download the Wallpapers here and throughout the month of November on the sidebar of the site.

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Technically the Pistons have three games in the month of October, but  making a special wall for three games just didn’t seem right, so here is the info for you:

1. Wed 28th @ Memphis 8:00pm FS Detroit
2. Fri 30th vs Oklahoma City 8:00pm FS Detroit
3. Sat 31 @ Milwaukee 8:30pm FS Detroit

The Pistons win a tight one last night in Milwaukee 95-93 (Box Score). If you take a look at the box score Detroit’s rotation was probably close to what we are going to see on Wednesday when the season begins.
Austin Daye started again for the injured Tayshaun Prince with Ben Wallace at center and Charlie Villanueva as the PF.
Highlights of the Game

Wednesday can’t come soon enough, but I’m a little more excited to see just how this new team gets the crowd going at the Palace on Friday night. What kind of reception will Ben Wallace get, how will Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva respond and what does coach Kuester have in store for us.

A season of questions and if the defense doesn’t pick up we know what will be on top of that list.

Detroit lost their matchup Saturday night with the Memphis Grizzlies 115-94. Bynum led the Pistons with 19 points on 6-8 shooting, and Ben Gordon scored 13.

“They did a wonderful job of transition, taking care of the basketball and sharing the basketball,” Pistons coach John Kuester said. “What we have to do as a team is to become better in our transition defense. We also need to be better at on-the-ball defense. We really struggled.” Via NBA.com

Notables:

• Charlie Villanueva, who played his first game as a Piston, had 12 points.

Photo/Getty Images

• Jonas Jerebko started the game and scored 12 points in 17 minutes with 4 boards.
• Tayshaun Prince missed his second straight pre-season game with a cut toe.
• Rodney Stuckey scored 11 with 3 assists in 30 minutes, he was a -20 for the game (ouch).
• I still think Chris Wilcox will play a larger roll than we thought going in, like I mentioned before he’s my X-factor pick.
• A little worried about the production (or non-production) of Jason Maxiell.  I know it’s only the preseason, but he really hasn’t shown much of anything yet.  It could be his playing time, but come the regular season we will see if he take a leap forward like I had hoped.
• DNP (coaches decision) for DaJuan Summers, while Chucky Atkins, Washington and Baston each played 3:47.  I’m sure Kuester is trying to make his decision on the final roster spots.
• Highlights of the game