Key Points:

• I know everyone is pointing at the Pistons bench for the loss, but do you realize they only took 18 Shots.
• Tayshaun Prince is racking up minutes (42), and his defense is starting to creep back.  Prince with 12 points, 8 boards and 3 blocked shots.
• Ben Wallace pretty much contained Andrew Bogut by himself, while grabbing 12 boards, with a block, a steal and 3 points.
• Jonas Jerebko with 12 points on 6-for-7 shooting, 2 steals a blocked shot and 4 boards.  His game is maturing by the day.  Did anyone catch the guys with the sign that said Swedish Eagle?
• Rip Hamilton with a game high 29 points on 9-for-20 shooting with 3 assists, 3 boards and a steal.  It was a vintage Rip night.

Photo/Getty Images

• Charlie V never really got a chance this season to torch his former team.  Charlie with 2 points, 4 boards in 18 minutes.  His foul trouble and the turnovers, probably was the reason for the minutes.  I just hope he shakes off whatever is ailing him soon.

“Coming off that bench, we’ve got to play better,” Bynum said. “We had an eight- or 10-point lead when we got in in the first half. There’s no way we can play like that when the first team plays as well as they did in the first quarter. We’ve got to keep it going and I don’t think we did that tonight.” Via Pistons.com

• An odd game for Rodney Stuckey, he scored 13 on 5-for-10 shooting, but for some reason he looked uncomfortable out there to me.  Could it have possibly been because he was trying to keep up with the lightning quick Jennings?  He did turn the ball over 5 times.
• 1-for-6 from downtown.
• Maxiell with a vintage putback.

Video Courtesy of The NBA

• We really could have pulled it out in the last minutes of the game, but John Salmons, who is truly a Pistons killer no matter where he plays had the clutch three to put the Pistons away.
• I will never watch a Josh Hartnet movie again….Ilyasova with 16 points and 12 boards off the bench for the Bucks.
• Nice to see Stack still has it, he got us through some tough times here in the D.
• Just a frustrating game altogether…we were shooting lights out in the first half and losing.
• Let Austin Play!
• Board war lost 37-40.
• Gordon….1-for-6.  Is it the injury or is it what we were afraid of when the Pistons acquired him?  Rip and BG together on one team?
• I’m shaking this one off because I’m excited to see Antonio tomorrow evening at the Palace.  Ice4Dyess

The 19-34 Detroit Pistons back home to take on the The 24-28 Milwaukee Bucks tonight. The Bucks have won six of its last nine, but have lost the last two games against the Pistons.

The Scouting Report via Pistons.com

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

NEED4SHEED GAME CHAT

Tayshaun seems to be shaking off the dust and Jason Maxiell heard our cries to step up.  Ben Gordon with 18 off the bench may have gotten his touch back.

I’ll watch the game later tonight, but this is where you come in.  Leave me your bullet points in the comments so I can take out of the game what you saw.

Highlights (Via NBA.com) are great but, I like Pistons fans input.

Key Points:

• Charlie Villanueva took the court, mask and all, but still looked a uncomfortable on the court.  CV31 finished with 9 points a steal and 2 boards.
• Great defensive effort for the Pistons all night long.  Ben Wallace and Jason Maxiell really allowing Andrew Bogut to do nothing was great.  The guards holding Brandon Jennings in check, priceless.
• Sloppy finish to the game is something you don’t like to see.  The Pistons let the Bucks get a little too close in the closing minutes.
• The Pistons are lucky to have won this game, when you turn the ball over 20 times it usually spells disaster.
• I’m going to have to make a Need4Swede highlight reel.  Jonas Jerebko has been unreal since he’s been inserted in the starting lineup.  He will do just about anything that he can on court for his team, including a pretty sweet behind the back pass to Ben Wallace for the jam.  JJ finished with 16 points, 7 boards, 3 assists and a blocked shot in 27 minutes on the floor.

Photo/Getty Images

• Did I mention he’s got his very own rabid fans too? He is also getting quite a hefty round of applause in the intro’s before the game.
• Jason Maxiell a surprising 5 turnovers, but his defensive play almost made up for them.  He scored 6, with four boards and really did a number on Bogut who didn’t score till after the half.
• Six Pistons in double figures.
• Rodney Stuckey led Detroit with 19 points on 7-for-11 shooting with 9 assists, 6 boards and 4 turnovers.  Do you realize that since he’s moved to the two position he’s had a total of 21 assists and he’s looked more comfortable on court.  He’s still running the show at times, but he’s getting better looks now.
• Kwame Brown doing some things I never thought he could.  Kwame with 4 points on 2-for-3 shooting, with 4 boards and 2 assists in 14 minutes.  Compliments aside, the two free throws he shot (and missed) had to be the ugliest I have seen in a while.
• 46 boards to 30 for the Bucks.
• Great way to end the half.  via NBA.com
• 
• You may not have caught the little drama unless you were at the game, but when Rodney Stuckey got his tech in the fourth quarter it looked like things were going to get out of hand.  Rodney tried to take the ball away from Jennings after the ball was dead, and they went at it a bit.  Then coach Kue and Rodney had a few choice words to each other.  I wasn’t that close so I couldn’t hear, but I did see the look on Kuester’s face and he wasn’t happy with Rodney.  They spoke, and Rodney finished the game out.
• Ben Gordon still looks a bit off, but he did look good Friday night with 16 points on 6-for-10 shooting in just 22 minutes off the bench.
• I now have a firm belief that in Mr. Wallaces’ case it’s not about the Benjamins baby…Ben Wallace Highlights
• 

Photo/Getty Images

• When Ben started dunking up a storm in the fourth, the Palace felt like 2004.  Another double-double for Ben Wallace with 11 points, 10 boards and 3 blocked shots….my word it’s just amazing.
• A telling stat, 46 points in the paint for Detroit.
• Rookie sensation Brandon Jennings was limited to 15 points, eight in the fourth on 6-for-20 shooting.
• Chucky Atkins moves the ball so well when he’s out there.  He may not fill up the score sheet, but he gets the ball where it needs to be.   Atkins finished with 10 points and an assists.
• Game Recap via NBA.com
• 
• I’m wondering if Will Bynum is still hurting, Will hasn’t looked himself for the last few games.   He finished with 12 points on 2-for-8 shooting with 4 turnovers.
• The Pistons biggest lead was 17.
• Other than the last couple minutes of this game…the Pistons looked right on track.
• Sunday against the Wizards at home should be interesting.  Hoping they can make it two in a row.
• Do you want Pistons tickets or what?

The 6-12 Pistons The 9-8 Milwaukee Bucks at the Palace his evening.

Most NBA can’t wait till the Bucks to come to town to see rookie sensation Brandon Jennings.

Good news: Rip and Tayshaun practiced with the team on Wednesday, but still no word on a timetable for either of their returns.  It does look like we will have Charlie V, mask and all, suiting up to take on his former team.

Charlie Getting Masked: Video Pistons.com

Bucks coach Scott Skiles had a hissy fit the other night and is suspended for tonight’s game against the Pistons.

The Scouting Report via Pistons.com

Tip is at 8:00 pm EST and will be televised on Fox Sports Detroit. For the radio broadcast tune into 97.1 The Ticket or follow the action on NBA.com.

If you’re headed out to the Palace for the game please try to give a hand (literally) by donating gloves or mittens for The Pistons Good Hands, Warm Hands Mitten Drive.

NEED4SHEED GAME CHAT

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.

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.

BlogABull.com | Give Me The Rock

Cleveland Cavaliers

Fear The Sword | WaitingForNextYear | Cavalier Attitude

Detroit Pistons

Motown String Music  | Empty the Bench | Pistons Nation | Need4Sheed.com

Indiana Pacers

Indy Cornrows

Milwaukee Bucks

BrewHoop

Bonus Links:

See full schedule here | Also see SBNation Central Division Storystream

“The replacement referees caused confusion in the first quarter. Ersan Ilyasova was fouled while shooting a jumper and awarded two free throws. During the next timeout, more than 90 seconds later, the officials decided he had been taking a 3-pointer, and gave him another shot.

He made it, but Prince pointed out that the error was only correctable within 24 seconds, so the point was taken away from Milwaukee.”   Via Dave Hogg at NBA.com

More from the Free Press on the issues with Replacement refs.

“The refs called a whopping 19 fouls in the first quarter — including 12 on the Pistons. The two teams combined for 68 fouls in the game. Add those to the 59 that were called in Monday’s exhibition opener and it’s apparent these guys have quick whistles.

For the second game in a row, a Pistons rookie was ejected during the waning minutes of the game. Austin Daye got tangled with former Piston Carlos Delfino when Delfino appeared to hit Daye in the chest. Daye swung his arms and the officials tossed both. Fellow rookie Jonas Jerebko was ejected Monday night against the Heat.”

Let’s hope the lockout gets settled soon, you know how we like to get on the officials. Imagine if we have to go into the regular season with the replacements. Heck, I look good in stripes, it may as well be me out there.

Nice Dunk by Gordon who led the way with 24 points.

Thanks to Need4Sheed reader Jay for the video.

Feel free to comment on the game, especially if you happened to be there since it wasn’t televised.

Remember, Jason Maxiell will be at Meijer in Waterford (4200 Highland Road) on Thursday, October 8 from 4:30-5:30 p.m., along with the Year-Round Hoops Truck, where you can get a voucher for a free ticket to a preseason game at The Palace.

And… Open Practice is this Saturday.

The Pistons would like to keep the pre-season perfect as they take on The Bucks tonight at The Palace of Auburn Hills.  Tip off is at 7:30, but unfortunately this one won’t be broadcast on television.  If you want to catch the game you will have to tune into 97.1 The Ticket where of course Matt Dery will be on the pre and post game to take your calls and Ticket Texts (text 97136 from your mobile phone). To Listen online go to NBA.com.

Notables/Injuries

Charlie Villanueva is not expecting to play tonight against his old squad while he nurses his sore hammy.

Too bad Pistons fans can’t see what Carlos Delfino does against his former team.

Follow the game online or on the radio at 97.1 and leave your thoughts in the comments.