The 23-43 Pistons are in Boston tonight to take on Rasheed Wallace and the 41-24 Celtics. I realize the Pistons aren’t the team they used to be, but this particular opening sentence to the NBA.com preview of the game sort of made me mad.

“It was a rough week for the Boston Celtics. A visit from the lowly Detroit Pistons to open a brief home stretch could help them get back on track.” Via NBA.com

Lowly….really? We aren’t New Jersey just yet.

Ben Wallace is still listed as day to day and as we know Rodney has no timetable on his return.

The Scouting Report via Pistons.com

Tip is at 8:00 pm EST and will be broadcast on ESPN with the radio broadcast over at 950 AM WWJ or follow the action online over at NBA.com.

UPDATE

We had to Cancel Celtics Late Night Show tonight.  Sorry I won’t be able to take your calls after the game but I am sure we’ll do it again soon.

NEED4SHEED GAME CHAT

The 22-42 Pistons are at home to take on the 21-41 Washington Wizards at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Simply put, this is a battle for lottery position.  The Wizards will attempt to break a five game losing streak to the Pistons and earn their first win at the Palace since Jan. 26, 2007.

Will Bynum will start again in place of Rodney Stuckey and Ben Wallace is till listed as day to day.  Chris Wilcox is also unavailable for Detroit with a bad back.

The Scouting Report via Pistons.com

Tip is at 8:00 pm EST and will be televised on FS Detroit. For the radio broadcast tune in to 97.1 the Ticket or follow the action over at NBA.com.

NEED4SHEED GAME CHAT

Summers, Daye and Jerebko were really working hard for about an hour before tip, which they do before every game.  One would think someone (BG) should be out there as long as the rooks are to get his flow back……just saying.

Rodney Stuckey was “doing well” and was released from the hospital Saturday afternoon following his collapse on the bench Friday night against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

All tests done at the Cleveland Clinic came back normal, the team said. He was returning to Detroit and will undergo further tests.

“He’s doing well,” Pistons strength and conditioning coach Arnie Kander  said on Saturday morning. Via AP

• Happy Homecoming – Pistons.com

Photo/AP

Via ESPN

Detroit’s Rodney Stuckey was conscious and breathing on his own as he was taken to a hospital after collapsing on the Pistons’ bench during a game Friday night.

The Pistons said Stuckey was taken to the Cleveland Clinic and his vital signs were stable, but was going for further testing and observation.

Stuckey was wheeled off the court on a stretcher during the third quarter after he collapsed into a trainer’s arms on the bench during the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Stuckey walked off the floor for a timeout showing no signs of illness. After a few moments in a chair, though, Stuckey slumped over.

Medical personnel rushed over to the Pistons’ bench with a stretcher. Play was halted for 12 minutes as the medical staff worked on Stuckey, placed an oxygen mask on his face and wheeled him into an ambulance.

Let’s hope that everything is fine with Stuckey, who has a less severe, but similar thing happen to him last season.

Get well Rodney, this is beyond basketball right now.

Via SI

Rodney Stuckey was walking over to give rookie Jonas Jerebko some advice Friday night when he started feeling dizzy and sat down.

Shortly after he asked for some water, he slumped unconscious into the arms of Pistons trainer Arnie Kander.

Stuckey was to remain overnight at the Cleveland Clinic after collapsing and being taken from the arena by ambulance during the third quarter of Cleveland’s 99-92 win over the Pistons.

”He is stable and that is good news,” Pistons coach John Kuester said. ”I think he is going to be OK.”

LeBron James had 40 points, 13 rebounds and six assists as the Cavaliers rallied from a 21-point deficit in the first half, but the game was overshadowed by the scary scene in the third quarter.

Pistons teammate Tayshaun Prince sat silent in his chair a few feet away with his head down, and the Cavaliers huddled together near their bench also with their heads bowed as Stuckey was being treated.

Both teams huddled again at midcourt following the game and prayed. Cavaliers general manager Danny Ferry met Kuester as the Pistons left the floor after the game. The two walked to Detroit’s locker room with their arms around each other. Kuester spent the last two seasons as an assistant coach in Cleveland.

”He came over and told Arnie he was feeling dizzy,” Pistons forward Charlie Villanueva said. ”He drank some water and the next thing you know, he passed out. It’s very scary. One minute, you think everything is OK, then the next second, it turns around so quick.”

The players were walking off the floor for a timeout with 2:30 left in the third quarter when Kuester got off the bench to meet them. He was going to say something to Jerebko when Stuckey stepped in.

”I loved that he took the initiative,” Kuester said. ”As I was meeting with the coaches, all of a sudden I saw him leaning over with Arnie and before I knew it, he was on the ground.”

Stuckey, a second-year guard from Eastern Washington, had eight points and 10 assists before collapsing. He missed two games in 2008 with dizziness. It wasn’t immediately known if the incidents were related.

Kuester was shaken by the scene because of his past involvement in similar situations.

”It’s not pleasant to talk about,” Kuester said. ”All that matters is he’s going to be OK.”

The Pistons struggled after Stuckey’s collapse. Detroit led 67-61 when he fell ill. Detroit scored just one basket the rest of the quarter.

”My mind came off the game, of course,” Jerebko said. ”I don’t know if it changed the outcome.”

Prince had 23 points and Richard Hamilton added 20 for Detroit, which lost its sixth straight. The Pistons will head home to face Houston on Sunday. It’s not known when Stuckey will rejoin them.

The winner (chosen at random) is – Brittany Brandt

She wins two tickets to see the Pistons vs. Heat on 3/31

Congrats to Brittany!

Many of you asked me about the deals at vigogo on Pistons tickets. Here are some links to some fantastic deals.

• Pistons vs. Celtics Face Value: $110 vs. viagogo’s Price: $22!
• Pistons vs. Rockets Face Value: $110 vs. viagogo’s Price: $14!
• Pistons vs. Jazz Face Value: $110 vs. viagogo’s Price: $16!
• Pistons vs. Wizards Face Value: $110 vs. viagogo’s Price: $19!
• Pistons vs. Cavs Face Value: $110 vs. viagogo’s Price: $42!
• Pistons vs. Pacers Face Value: $110 vs. viagogo’s Price: $11!
• Pistons vs. Bulls Face Value: $110 vs. viagogo’s Price: $16!
• Pistons vs. Heat Face Value: $110 vs. viagogo’s Price: $16!
• Pistons vs. Suns Face Value: $110 vs. viagogo’s Price: $18!
• Pistons vs. Hawks Face Value: $110 vs. viagogo’s Price: $14!
• Pistons vs. Raptors Face Value: $110 vs. viagogo’s Price: $25!

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.

Photo/AP

Swedetastic in my book!

Check out the clip of JJ’s intro, and All Star Dunk and Jason cheering Jonas on.

Video Courtesy of The NBA and TNT

Key Points:

• A whopping 52% from the floor for the Pistons.
• Rodney Stuckey with a double-double. A tale of two days for Stuckey who went from zero assists Friday night to 11 on Saturday. He may have went 4-for-13 on the night for 10 points, but when you help you’re teammates get buckets that is good enough.
• Really, how do you let Kris Humphries put up 21 on you? The Pistons always have the habit of letting role players look like all-starts against them.
• One of the best crowds at the Palace all season long.
• Charlie Villanueva 4-for-4 from downtown for 12 points, with 2 boards and 2 blocked shots in 16 minutes.
• SWEDETASTIC night for Jonas who was a perfect 9-for-9 on the night with 7 boards.  Jonas led the Pistons with 20 points  in just 24 minutes.  Jonas didn’t even play a minute of the fourth quarter thanks to the solid play of Jason Maxiell.  Personally I thought Jonas should have been in the game in the closing minute over Prince with the game he was having.

Photo/Getty Images

• Ben Wallace with 4 block on the night and it should have been 5 if you count the block on Lopez that was called a foul.  It looked clean to me and Ben was so sure it was good he got a technical foul for it.  Huge night for Ben who really drove this team with 10 boards, 9 points and a steal.
• 29 Detroit Pistons assists on the night…huge.
• DNP for Austin Daye.
• The collision between Harris and Hayes looked horrible in person.  I hope both are ok, it felt like it took them forever to move.
• “Maxiell had it going at the end,” Pistons head coach John Kuester said. “We sort of rode him and that’s why we didn’t put Jonas back into the game. He had two key rebounds and a dunk.” Via NBA.com
• Let me tell you that this Maxiell Dunk shook the ground and the crowd at the Palace.

Video Courtesy of NBA.com and the Detroit Pistons

• Jason has really started to pick his game up the last month.  Maxiell finished with 13 points a blocked shot and 6 boards in 24 minutes.

Photo/Getty Imaes

• New Jersey scored just two points in the final 2 minutes.
• Jonas Jerebko just gained a whole lot more fans last night.
• The Pistons biggest lead was 12, the Nets 2.
• Rip scored 17 on 5-for-14 shooting with 5 assists. Rip tried to connect with Tay again on an all oop that almost had the crown on their feet.
  Just 4 points for Tay.
• Ben Gordon 5 points on 1-for-5 shooting. From hot to not.
• Another great performance from Will Bynum who returned a few games ago after his ankle injuries. Bynum scored 9 with 4 assists in 19 minutes.

Highlights Via NBA.com

Video Courtesy of NBA.com and the Detroit Pistons

• Loved the guy I saw with a red t-shirt on that he took a permanent magic marker to that said “Devin Harris Loves (it was a heart) Snookie” !
• Yes it was the Nets, but at least they played defense, were hitting their shots and put forth a lot of effort. Talent aside, win or lose it’s the effort that fans want to see. Thanks for making my drive home from the Palace bearable. Wait, do I thank the Pistons or the Nets?

The 16-32 Detroit Pistons are back home at the Palace to host the New Jersey Nets. The Nets would like to exact some revenge and The Pistons need to at least try to give some effort and play up to their potential. Yes that was a shot, but do you blame me? Did you see how they lost to Indiana their last two meetings?

Injury Report:
Charlie Villanueva didn’t play last night with back spasms, I am assuming he’s a game time decision though nothing official has been said.

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 104.03 WOMC or follow the action over at NBA.com.

On a personal note, I really hope the Pistons come to play tonight, it’s getting really difficult to watch them…especially in person. I will forever love this team, but it’s depressing leaving the Palace feeling like an even bigger loser than when I walked in the doors.

NEED4SHEED GAME CHAT