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The wait is over for starved Pistons fans who weren’t used to a short post season.  The first pre-season game is tonight at The Palace of Auburn Hills against The Miami Heat .  For those of you who were wondering, this game will be televised on FSN Detroit, so make sure you catch it because besides the last pre-season game this will be the only time to watch what this new team can do before the regular season starts.

If you feel anything like I do, today couldn’t have come quick enough. I am anxious to first off see how Ben Gordon gels with the team and excited to see how Kuester involves the rookies. This is a season of the unknown, many things can happen.

• The Pistons do what most of their fans and the media think, fall short of anything spectacular and just keep their heads above water all season long.
• They could be worse than people imagined and just not work in their new configuration.
• They can surprise and do better than anyone expected.
• They can be very frustrating.
• They can be very entertaining.

The list can go on…

Personally I am of the belief that this is going to be better than anything we experienced last season. I expect some excitement from our rookies, especially DaJuan Summers. I am always of the half glass full mentality, so I’m holding out hope for a fun and exciting season regardless of the Pistons final record.

One thing I do know is…when people have something to prove they usually do whatever it takes to make their point.

Look out for Bynumite, Ben Gordon, Charlive Villanueva, Chris Wilcox and the always hungry Jason Maxiell.

And Ben Wallace….that’s a different animal altogether.  I’m sure he wants to win back the fans in the city that made him.

As for the game:

Tip off is at 7:30 but tune in to FSN starting at 6:30 with Remembering Chuck Daly followed by the Pistons pre-game show.  When the action starts we can hear the familiar voices of George Blaha and Special K.

If you can’t watch the action, you can follow the game live on NBA.com or listen in at 97.1 The Ticket the new home for Pistons radio broadcasts.  The Ticket’s first Pistons broadcast will begin with their pre-game show at 7 p.m. and they will be taking calls post game as well as your texts.  Call into the station  (248-539-9797) where you can talk to my good friend Matt Dery or text into the station at 97136 (standard text message rates apply).

Notables/Injuries

Charlie Villanueva has been nursing a sore hamstring and is unlikely to play against Miami. Villanueva has missed a couple of practices this week with the injury but was able to do some light running on Sunday.

In an effort to get myself through the NBA offseason I always tend to revert back to old videos I have collected or watch the old games I have on DVR or DVD.  While scouring my computer today I found this clip and all the sudden I was taken back to the 1990 Pistons Bulls playoff series.  I remember both the 1989 and 90 battles like they were yesterday but watching this clipped sparked a little memory I had from game 7 at the Palace in 1990.

Get the Flash Player to see this player.

Video Courtesy of The Detroit Pistons

I Remember the game vividly because I was at the Palace that night. I remember Johns Salley’s performance and I distinctly remember the celebration of being the eastern conference champs getting ready to head off to the NBA Championship for the second season in a row. (Back2Back I still have that t-shirt)

I also had a memory of two player that you may or may not remember. William Bedford and the Bulls B.J. Armstrong.

Bedford turned out to be of the biggest disappointments, a 7 footer with much potential and two NBA championship rings (thanks to Detroit) who sadly squandered his talents because of a drug problem.

B.J. Armstrong was Michigan bred and went the Birmingham Brother Rice high school.  I will always remember how small he seemed to me (6″2)  on court and always amazed in the fact that he was right across the way while I attended school.

Any special moments you remember distinctly?

It seems as though we have a Ben Gordon to the Pistons rumor.

Sam Smith,who’s been writing for and about the Bulls for quite some time says the Pistons have promised Ben Gordon 11 million dollars.

“I haven’t heard they are, and General Manager Gar Forman has not come off his stance that he wants to bring Gordon back. But I also heard that Gordon’s agent allegedly has been saying he has an $11 million promise from the Pistons.

This could go with the promise I received to play giving me a chance to win the lottery. I’ve never fully understood the supposed Pistons interest. Not because teams don’t like Gordon. But because the Pistons have Rodney Stuckey, not a true point guard, and Richard Hamilton. Though the rumors supposedly are the Pistons would trade Hamilton. Though why trade a 6-7 shooting guard to accommodate one maybe a half foot shorter? Though I never say never in the NBA, as Phil Jackson taught me. And Michael.” Via Bulls Blog

As for the Rip Hamilton mention, it’s been whirling around that Detroit is shopping Rip.  Though all this is just speculation and rumor, I keep hearing that Rip is on the block.

While I’m not sure Ben Gordon is the ansewer, he’s(26) a lot younger than Rip (32). If the Pistons are trying to build young, this may have some truth to it.

UPDATE:

Our good friend Dave Dial over at MLive makes an interesting point:

“One more reason that could be the one that would tip the scales in favor of replacing Hamilton with Gordon is that Joe Dumars could use Rip as an asset in a trade to grab a big man that the Pistons will need next season.

Hoops World points out that it’s not legal for the Pistons to contact Gordon or his agent until after July 1st, but theorizes that Dumars may have had conversations last summer while Gordon was a restricted free agent and looking for a raise.

What’s not clear in Smith’s report is if the ‘promise’ is for a contract starting at $11 million dollars(doubtful) or if it will average $11 million dollars over the course of 5 seasons. If it’s the latter, and that seems most likely, then the contract would start out at under $9.5 million dollars. In that case Joe Dumars would still have enough cap space to sign another big name free agent, and then could make a trade involving Rip Hamilton.”

UPDATE:
Our Pistons insider Matt Dery of 97.1 The Ticket just shot me this email.

“I talked to a Pistons source today who told me that they are denying this story about Ben Gordon and they add that it is illegal.. and not how it works.”

We know it’s illegal, but something tells me this one might be true. Stay tuned.

The Pistons and their fans had a difficult year so many respects. We as fans watched a special team of our favorite players fall short for the past few season and when things got shook up, it turned out far worse than we could have ever imagined.

As we watch the Playoffs from a different angle this post season we can only hope that our old friend Mr. Big Shot keeps doing what he’s doing.

We said goodbye to two great men in Pistons owner Bill Davidson and Bad Boy legend Coach Chuck Daly. Which is not just sad for everyone who knew and loved these great men, but it reminds us of their legacy.

I started on the Pistons bandwagon at a very young age (pre Bad Boys). Now I didn’t follow the team the way I do know in the early stages, come the time Trader Jack drafted Joe Dumars I was completely hooked. Isiah and Tripuka may have sparked my basketball love, but The Bad Boys birthed my addiction.

So when I was thinking of the loss of Davidson and Daly instead of mourning, I looked back at the good times they gave us. Two true innovators that cemented what we know now as Detroit Basketball. I was looking though old Pistons specials I had taped (since it’s May and I not used to not seeing the Pistons play) and I came across some good times.

Good Times, and more to come.

The Pistons host the Bulls tonight in a battle for playoff position. Chicago comes into the Palace tonight on a four game winning streak a game ahead of Detroit for the 7th seed in the playoff race.

Pistons.com

“Simply put, a win Monday would give the Pistons a leg up on Bulls, whether they’re settling matters for the sixth or seventh seed, provided each team takes care of business in its regular-season finale. A Pistons victory sets up an interesting rundown through the playoff tiebreakers. First, it ties them at 40-41 overall, and win at The Palace would also knot the season series at 2-2, with the home team winning each time. That takes you to the No. 3 tiebreaker – higher winning percentage within the division – but a Pistons victory would give them identical 8-8 records in the Central. The fourth tiebreaker is higher winning percentage in conference games, and that would go to the Pistons, who currently have 26 wins in the East to Chicago’s 23. Keep in mind the sliding Sixers, whose ongoing five-game skid has dropped them to 40-40, could muddle up the mix as well.”

A lot of things to consider with just two games to go in the season.

At this point it’s most likely the Boston or Cleveland in the first round (but Orlando is still a possibility), and it seems plenty of you are ok with facing the Cavs.  Me, not so much, so I thought I would put this one to a vote (taking the Magic out of the vote for obvious reasons).

Tip off is at 7:30 PM and will be locally broadcast of FSN Detroit and on NBA.TV Nationally. If you can’t catch the game on television, you can listen live on WDFN 1130 AM or follow the game online at NBA.com.

This one is important, leave them in the comments or feel free to chat live during the game.

With the 102-106 loss in Indiana Saturday night the Pistons are now a half game behind the Bulls in the Eastern Conference playoff race.

Richard Hamilton is saying all the right things:

“It really don’t matter to us, to tell you the truth,” said Hamilton. “We’re already near the bottom in the playoffs, so at this point, regardless who we play, we can’t worry about who we’re going to play. We’ve just got to know that we made it to the playoffs and hopefully we can have a run.” Via The Detroit Free Press

Tayshaun is realistic:

“There is no worst-case scenario for us right now, the way we’ve been playing all year,” Prince said. “The best-case scenario is we got in the playoffs, so hopefully we can go in there and do some damage. I don’t think being the eight-seed that we’re in a situation we can’t handle. Any situation would have been tough for us, the way we’ve been playing, the ups and downs we’ve had all season.” Via The Detroit Free Press

If Detroit stays in the 8th spot they will face The Cavaliers, who locked up the best record in the East. There is a bright side that Dave Dial points out:

“The Pistons season this year has been pretty tough on fans to watch, but can fans imagine what would happen if Detroit upset the Cavs in the first-round of the NBA playoffs? However unlikely it is for that to happen, it’s something for Piston fans to get behind. Denying LeBron James and Cleveland the chance to contend for their first NBA Title, while possibly ensuring that James lands in New York for the 2010 season, may just be something for Piston fans to get excited about.”

The race is not over yet, with two games to go Monday nights game at home against the Bulls just keep getting bigger.

Sheed picked up his 17th technical foul Saturday one more and he would be suspended. So he’s good for the Bulls, but if he picks one up on Monday, he doesn’t play Wednesday in Miami. Let’s hope Sheed stays calm, especially since Kwame Brown’s hamstring is still iffy. As for Sheed’s techs, all is cleared come playoff time.

So Detroit’s fate rests on their last two games as well how Philly and Chicago finish.  Unfamiliar territory? Yes, but it just makes it that much more exciting. Plus….doesn’t Detroit like playing as the underdog that flies under the radar? Well if this scenario doesn’t speak volumes to their preference, I don’t know what does.

Photo/Getty Images

The Pistons take on the 33-38 Bulls tonight in Chicago. The Bulls have won seven of eight at home to jump into playoff position in the East.

Iverson and Wallace are out for tonight’s game, and Richard Hamilton is doubtful. All three spent time Monday working with Pistons strength and conditioning coach Arnie Kander,

While it looks like Hamilton and Wallace will be ready to return soon, Allen Iverson is a big question mark.

“Whenever I am ready and I can help the way I know I can help, and I don’t have to deal with this problem and know that it’s not going to bother me for the rest of my life, then I’ll be ready to go,” Iverson said. Via MLive

Tip off is at 8:00 PM and will be broadcast Nationally on TNT. If you can’t catch the broadcast, listen locally on WDFN 1130 AM or trough your computer at NBA.com

Leave your thoughts in the comments and feel free to be as descriptive as can be while I’m on the disabled list, your comments will help keep me in the loop.

This is starting to get a little tiring to write… after a third quarter of total domination by the Pistons they managed to once again blow a 15 point lead and the game to the Chicago Bulls.  This 107-102 loss to the Bulls is is a textbook example of everything that has been going wrong with the Pistons all season long.

Key Points:

• How much more can Pistons fans take?  From the comments in the game thread and in the chat room, not much.
• Too much talent to play the way this team is, period.  We expect losses, but it’s as if they are playing a game of NBA2K9 and think they can just hit restart when the game isn’t going their way (and yes I admit to doing that).
• Blame whomever you want, we have a coach who’s clearly in over his head, players that look lost, a system that doesn’t work, an unwillingness to change that system that doesn’t work, a defense that looks brilliant at times and then on the next play looks like a disaster… and to top it off when they can’t score they don’t make an effort to get the ball in the paint for easy buckets! We could go on and on.
• Think Joe is on the phone right now?
• 15 down with 8:09 to play…was it Chicago or did the Pistons hand the game to the Bulls?  Me…silver platter.
• Sheed utterly dominating, knocking down shots over everyone, and the Pistons stop going to him.
• 95 Points off the Bench for Richard Hamilton in the last three games for the Pistons.
• Rip led Detroit off the bench, but his 30 point game performance was all for nothing.

Photo/Getty Images

• Is Curry actually calling a play in the last seconds of the game when Detroit has the ball down three?  Rip to the hole for the dish to Dyess is ok if it works, and if Rip doesn’t waste most of the clock. Perfect ending to the storm.
• Richard Hamilton Highlights.
• 15 careless turnovers.
• And why the home whites in Chicago?
• As for those of you who wanted to hear Curry’s post game comments, they were nothing life-altering.  He just looks like a deer in headlights who has no idea what to say.  Kind of like when you break your mom’s favorite vase and have to own up to it.  You stand there dumbfounded for a moment trying to grasp for words.
• And what happened to the Defense in the fourth quarter?  Nocioni was blowing by Tay like he was invisible.
• The only enjoyable part of the game…..Anytime Joakim Noah can be made to look like a fool by anyone other than himself can always put a big smile on my face. Tayshaun blocked the grin off Noah’s face.
• (more…)

The Pistons in Chicago to take on the 22-29 Bulls. Rodney Stuckey, who’s been held under 10 points the last 4 games,  isn’t putting up same kinds of performances he did the last time these two teams met.  Needless to say another 40 point game would be just the medicine the Stuckey would love to swallow.

Yes the Piston really are 27-22 losing 11 of their past 17 overall and are barley holding on in the in the Easten Conference standings a half of a game in front of Miami in the fifth spot and just and 13 games back of Cleveland. Something that Pistons fans aren’t quite used to.

The Bulls…well they are currently outside the playoff picture, and trail the division leading Cavs by 18 games.

Good News/Bad News and More:

• The Bulls are rested, they haven’t played since Saturday night.
• Allen Iverson and Will Bynum are bothered by the Flu. They are questionable for tonight’s game.
• The City of Detroit isn’t so bad after all.  Suck it Chicago and Cleveland.
• Defending Michael Curry.
• The Bulls would like to get a hold of Amare too.
• Rip is doing just fine, in fact he’s thriving.
• UPDATE: AI won’t play

Tip off is at 8:30 P.M. and will be locally televised on FSN. If you can’t watch the broadcast, tune into 1130 AM WDFN The Fan.  Can’t do either? Follow the game on NBA.com.

Comments and  Chat.

The Pistons host the 13-14 Chicago Bulls tonight at the Palace of Auburn Hills. The Bulls, who are currently two games behind the Pistons in the standings, could get trail Detroit by one with a win tonight. If Pistons fans are looking for a bright side after Detroit’s two game slide it’s the fact that Chicago is terrible on the road and has lost their last 4 games away from the United Center.

On the not so good side, Allen Iverson is going to have his hands full guarding the Bulls #1 Draft pick, Rookie Derrick Rose. He’s second on the team in scoring with 17.7 points per game, and leads all rookies with 6.2 assists per game. On the good side for Detroit, Rose is struggling as of late.

Watch out for Ben Gordon – Gordon is averaging 23.0 points over his past six games and averaged 30.0 points on 65.5 percent shooting in his last two games against Detroit in 2007-08. In his last trip to the Palace he made 10-of-12 shots.
Keith Langlois -True Blue Pistons

“The Pistons’ small lineup won’t be in much danger of being overpowered by the Bulls, who lack a dominant post presence and could be without both Drew Gooden (sprained ankle) and Tyrus Thomas (concussion). In Chicago’s win on Saturday over Utah – the Jazz, too, felt the effects of the double-overtime game – the Bulls often went with four perimeter players around second-year 7-footer Aaron Gray, and sometimes with five perimeter players.”

Tip off is at 8:00 P.M. on FSN and WGN for those of you who get it. If you can’t watch the broadcast, tune into 1130 AM The Fan where you can catch our friend Matt Dery with the Pre-Game starting at 7:00. Can’t do either, follow the game on NBA.com.

Chat, comments and Contest!

This contest is up for grabs….ENTER NOW before the Deadline before midnight on the 26th!

I knew he wasn’t going to play for the Pistons this season and I was almost certain that his job in the front office wasn’t likely to happen until his legal issues got settled, so now it looks like he’s got a job close to home in Chicago.