The Pistons are down 1-0 in their first round series against the Cavaliers. Things must change if Detroit plans on sneaking out The Q with an upset, and they know it.

Will Bynum:

“We got to be more together, It’s not going to take one person to stop LeBron. It’s going to take all five of us, and maybe the coaching staff — and the bench. We got to do what we got to do to stop the guy and try to make other players beat us.” Via MLive

Michael Curry:

“What we have to do is be more aggressive at whatever we try to take away. We got to be aggressive with it. If we trap him, we have to be more aggressive. If we try to contain him and make him shoot contested jumpers, we got to do exactly that.  We have to keep him out of the paint. He was 8-of-9 in the paint, hit the half-court shot and then was 4-of-10 outside of the paint. That’s where we got to try and keep him. We didn’t have LeBron’s (isolations) or post-ups good enough. We got to do a much better job of that, and get the ball out of his hands and makes some of those other players make plays.” Via MLive

Easier said than done when it comes to LeBron but as long as some adjustments are made Detroit has a chance to upset the Cavs in a building they just don’t lose in. Also important, Detroit has to stay in this game from start to finish and not let the Cavs build a daunting lead.

A little smile before tip:

Some old school history between the Cavaliers and the Pistons back in the 80’s you may not be aware of. Here is a little video history lesson courtesy of a Rick Mahorn elbow and a Bill Laimbeer, Brad Daugherty fight.  The good old days….

Tip off is at 8:00 PM and will be nationally broadcast on TNT. Good news for those of you missing the local flavor or George Blaha and Special K, Fox Sports will also be broadcasting the game on FSN Plus (download channel numbers). If you can’t catch either broadcast you can listen live over at 1130 AM WDFN or follow the game through your computer at NBA.com.

Feel free to leave your thoughts in the Comments of Chat Live at game time.

The Pistons are in Miami to play their last game of the regular season against the 42-39 Heat. With Detroit locked in the 8th playoff spot there isn’t much worth playing for other than to save the starters legs for the Cavaliers. Michael Curry plans on siting Rasheed Wallace, Richard Hamilton and Antonio McDyess. Tayshaun will start (because of his consecutive game streak), but he’s doubtful to play more than a handful of minutes.

With this game meaning nothing standing wise, it does mean that Pistons fans will get to see more of the youngsters in tonight’s game. As for the Pistons youth, it seems as though they are taking some heat from local Pistons beat writers Chris McCosky and A. Sherrod Blakely.

Chris McCosky:

“In a season full of disappointment, you probably have to rank the growth stagnation of Jason Maxiell and Amir Johnson fairly high on the list.

Johnson was given the starting power-forward role coming out of camp and he couldn’t handle it. Maxiell was a main cog in the rotation last season under Flip Saunders, but has been yo-yoed in and out of Curry’s rotation this year.

The point is, the expectations on Maxiell and Johnson — in their fourth seasons — were just as high as those on Thomas and Noah. Detroit was counting on both to play key roles to lessen the reliance on the aging Antonio McDyess and Rasheed Wallace.

And they didn’t get it done.

Maxiell has played 1,374 minutes, about 400 less than last year, averaging 5.7 points (down from 7.9) and 4.10 rebounds (down from 5.2).

He still struggles on the defensive boards and seems to have been in and out of Curry’s doghouse all season.

Johnson has played a career-high 889 minutes, averaging 3.5 points and 3.8 rebounds — almost exactly his career numbers.

He went from starting to the last man off the bench, other than rookie Walter Sharpe. Not exactly what president Joe Dumars envisioned when he gave him an $11 million extension two years ago.”

A. Sherrod Blakely:

“It’s difficult for players to put into words how a team that has been so dominant in the East for years could become a team that squeaks into the playoffs.

Chalking it up to the changes this season is only part of the problem.

The bigger issue has to do with talent.

All those years of finishing near the top of the Eastern Conference also meant being near the bottom of the NBA draft.

Youngsters such as Amir Johnson, Jason Maxiell and Rodney Stuckey are all better players than they were on draft night. But they would have to be much better much faster to keep Detroit as a perennial title contender.

That hasn’t happened.

Because of that, the Pistons are where they are — a playoff team, barely.”

Not fun to hear when your Pistons team is heading into the most uncertain playoff situation they have been in for years.

Tip off is at 8:00 PM and will be locally broadcast on FSN Detroit. If you can’t catch the game on TV, you can listen to the game over on 1130 AM WDFN or follow through your computer at NBA.com.

And if you are still up for commenting on Detroit’s first round playoff matchup with the Cavs to give a little of your wisdom, the more the merrier.

With the Allen Iverson news still fresh, the Pistons are in Philadelphia to play an early matinee with the Sixers today. The Pistons have dropped eight of 11 to fall into seventh place, a half-game ahead of Chicago.

All remaining games are important for Detroit, especially the game against the Bobcats tomorrow night at the Palace, so a victory in Philly would do wonders for this team right now. The Sixers (39-35) are close to clinching a spot in the postseason, but they’re still battling for position. Detroit should take advantage of the fact that the Sixers young star Thaddeus Young (ankle) won’t play in Saturday’s game.

Rodney knows what’s at stake.

“We have seven games left and hopefully, we can do it,” second-year guard Rodney Stuckey said after the loss to the Nets. “I really don’t know how to explain this. We just have to find ourselves. Either we want to go to the playoffs or we want to go home.” Via NBA.com

Tip off is at 3:00 PM and will be Nationally televised on ESPN. If you can’t catch the game on television you can listen live locally on WDFN 1130 AM or follow the game at NBA.com.

The Pistons take on the 30-44 Nets tonight in New Jersey. Tip off is 7:30 PM and will be locally broadcast on FSN. If you can’t cat the broadcast, you can listen live on WDFN 1130 AM or follow the game online at NBA.com.

Sorry for my concise preview, and my absence the last couple of days, unfortunately my rehab has suffered a setback, so I’m out of commission of sorts.  Where is Arine when you need him?

The comments are yours at the Pistons try to maintain their playoff spot.

The Pistons take on the 60-13 Cavaliers tonight in Cleveland. The Cavaliers are two games head of the Los Angeles Lakers for the NBA’s best overall record, are 35-1 at home this season and have won a franchise-record 12 straight. And don’t forget they dismantled the Pistons in their last meeting.

The Pistons should have Rasheed Wallace back tonight after missing the last 11 games with a strained left calf.

Ben Wallace, who broke his leg remains out, but the Cavs should get him back in time for the postseason.

We know every game counts and a win against Cleveland is a tall as the Pistons remain two games ahead of Chicago in the loss column and three ahead of Charlotte in the chase for the final two playoff spots though the Bulls have played two more games than either team.

Tip off is at 7:00 PM and will be locally broadcast on FSN Detroit and on NBA.TV. If you can’t catch the broadcast you can listen live on WDFN 1130 AM or follow the game over at NBA.com.

The Pistons take on the 17-56 Wizards tonight in Washington.  The struggling Wizards will have Gilbert Arenas in their lineup for the first time in 16 months for the Wizards after undergoing three surgical procedures on his left knee since injuring it in April 2007.

We know the plight of Detroit and their playoff hopes right now.  The Pistons have lost seven of their last nine games which has put them at the bottom of the playoff picture in the Eastern Conference.

It looks like Richard Hamilton will finally take the court for Detroit, but the return of Sheed will most likely be a game time decision.

Since Sheed started his career in Washington I thought this YouTube blast from the past would be appropriate.  Now let’s hope we see Rasheed on court tonight for Detroit.

Tip off is at 7:00 PM and will be broadcast locally on FSN. If you can’t catch the broadcast, listen locally on WDFN 1130 AM or through your computer at NBA.com

The Pistons take on the 56-14 Los Angeles Lakers tonight at The Palace of Auburn Hills. At this point, especially after the loss in Chicago, the Pistons need every game to help secure a spot in the Playoffs. The Pistons, who have lost six of their last eight, are in seventh place in the Eastern Conference, one game ahead of Chicago.

Detroit will again be without Allen Iverson, who wall called out on Tuesday during the TNT telecast about the validity of  his injury by Reggie Miller. Whatever the the reason Allen Iverson is not with this team right now I always had the same feeling about Allen Iverson that Reggie Miller does.

I was never a huge AI fan, but the one thing I always thought about him, besides his great game, was the fact that he played no matter what.  When he got here I specifically said that anything short of a bullet wound, Iverson would play.

Do you remember this?

Rasheed Wallace and Richard Hamilton will not play in tonight’s game against the Lakers.

Something special about tonight’s FOX Sports broadcast of the game:

“For the first time, FOX Sports Detroit’s collection of channels will present simultaneous telecasts of the same game, but from two different perspectives, when the Pistons take on the Los Angeles Lakers at the Palace on Thursday, March 26.

The traditional game coverage will appear on FOX Sports Detroit and in high-definition on FOX Sports Detroit HD.

Meanwhile, FOX Sports Detroit PLUS presents a “Match-up Cam” telecast, with a devoted camera isolating on key battles throughout the game among the many stars on each team.”

Now that sound great, hopefully this becomes a regular feature for FOX.

Tip off is at 7:30 PM and will be locally broadcast on FSN. 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. I thought I would be up an running a bit quicker, but I had a little setback the last couple of days. And if you need a doctors note I can give you one. My injury actually shows up on an MRI, so there should be no questioning my condition. Thanks for being patient.

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.

The Pistons take on the 36-32 Miami Heat this afternoon at the Palace of Auburn Hills.

Detroit will likely have Rodney Stuckey back, but Rip, Sheed and AI still have not solid date of return. Rip and Rasheed are expected back within a week, but there is no timetable for the return of Allen Iverson , who has missed Detroit’s last 12 games with a sore back. Call me a skeptic, but I’m still doubtful of his return to the team at all.

The Heat are now just 1 1/2 games up on sixth-place Philadelphia and two games ahead of seventh place Detroit 34-34.

Tip off is at 1:00 PM and will be broadcast Nationally on ABC. 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.

The Pistons take on the Los Angeles Clippers tonight at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Tip off is at 8:00 PM and will be broadcast locally on FSN PLUS. If you are not sure what channel FSN Plus is for your cable or satellite provider here is a list for you. 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.

The Pistons take on the Rockets tonight in Houston.  Tip off is at 9:30 PM and will be broadcast Nationally on ESPN.  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.

The Pistons take on the 40-27 Mavericks tonight in Dallas.  I apologize for my very late and concise game thread, but I guess late is better than nothing.

Tip off is at 8:30 PM and will be locally broadcast of FSN.  If you can’t catch the game on television you can listen live on 1130 AM WDFN or follow the action live over at NBA.COM.

Leave ‘em in the comments