Key Points:

• I lost count after about 5, but this was the most dunk filled night ….ever?  (Blaha counted 12)
• So many, that the plays of the night were all the Dunks.

Video Courtesy of The Detroit Pistons and The NBA

• This game was dead even at the half at 52.
• Pistons ran out of the gate as soon as they returned from the locker room and never looked back. They were clearly in command even before the third quarter ended. Detroit was up by 20 when the third was over.
• Sharing the basketball was an understatement, and it started off that way.  The Pistons with 37 assists on the night.
• Oh my, Jonas Jerebko kick started the night with point after point for Detroit.  He was one short of tying his career high at 21 on the night.  Why did he miss his career total? The Pistons pulled ahead and he only had to play 20 minutes on the night.  Jonas added 2 steals, 3 boards in one of his best performances of the season.  And that’s saying a lot for the guy who’s been the spark of the season.  Rip to the Swede for the Jam….priceless.

Video Courtesy of The NBA

• Rip Hamilton, sharing the ball like he was a point guard. Rip finished with 12 points. 7 assist and a steal in 28 minutes.
• The Pistons were shooting 57% in the first half and the game was tied.  The defense helped that effort once the second half started.
• Stuckey with 10 points, and 6 assist in 20 minutes.  Nice game for Rodney, who didn’t have to carry the load for once.
• Ben Gordon with 8 points on 4-for-11 shooting…for a shooter, that’s still not good enough yet.
• Ben Wallace simply amazes, he put up 8 points (all I think were dunks), with 8 boards 2 blocked shots and a steal.  I don’t know what he did during the break, but he shook the floor with this dunk like he was drinking Hulk juice.

Video Courtesy of The Detroit Pistons and The NBA

• I got my hopes and dreams back for Jason Maxiell and since I have he’s done me right. Jason looks like the guy we know he can be, 10 boards, 6 points and a block that I’m counting that was a bad call in my book. The Baby Eater is back.
• Charlie Villanueva with 11 points, 6 boards, a blocked shot and 2 assists in 23 minutes. I hate to criticize when we blow out a team (which rarely happens these days) but please Charlie do you really need to take 6 threes?
• Tay with 11 points, 3 assists, 5 boards and a blocked shot in 31 minutes.  Prince was a +34 for the game.
• BYNUMITE – Will with a career high 14 assists on the night adding 6 points and a steal. Will still looks like his ankles are bothering him, but he’s still over producing.

Photo/Getty Images

• We were even treated with a nice windmill jam from Chris Wilcox.
• Board war won 38-44.
• Detroit shot 53% on the night.
• A Daye treat,  Austin with 9 points on 4-for-7 shooting in 7 minutes.
• Yes this was the Timberwolves, but the way Detroit came out and played really shows you what they can do if they put some heart and effort in for a full 48.
• Finally a fun game to watch.
• At Orlando Wednesday.

The 18-33 Detroit Pistons are hosting the 13-40 Minnesota Timberwolves in their first game back from the All-Star break. I know it’s been a injury riddled, disappointing season, but do you realize that The Pistons are seven games back of Chicago for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

With the NBA trade deadline on Thursday afternoon, no solid information points the Pistons towards a deal.

On A NON Pistons note:

• The Spurs are looking to trade McDyess.

The Pistons actually have a good chance at getting back on a good note.
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 97.1 The Ticket or follow the action over at NBA.com.

NEED4SHEED GAME CHAT

UPDATE:
Pistons 114 Timberwolves 122 (Box Score)

Defense…. We knew it was going to be a problem, and I know it’s the preaseon, but when you score 114 points that is usually an indication that you won the game.

Video Highlights

The 3-3 Pistons host their last preseason game a tonight at 7:30 PM at the Palace of Auburn Hills tonight against (YES) Bill Laimbeer and the 1-5 Minnesota Timberwolves.  Yes I know Bill’s not the head coach nor is he playing, but it’s nice to mention his name whenever I can.  Check out his return video interview at Pistons.com.

The game isn’t on television, but you can listen to it from your radio on WWJ AM 950 or follow the gamecast over at NBA.com.

And if you cant do either…make sure you read a little on one of my favorites Antonio McDyess (Ice 4Dyess).

The season is right around the corner and PISTONS WEEK starts this Sunday at FSN!
CLICK HERE for the Full FSN Schedule.

Via The Star Tribune

“New Timberwolves coach Kurt Rambis will add former Detroit Pistons bad-boy center Bill Laimbeer and former Sacramento Kings head coach Reggie Theus to his staff, according to a league source.

Those two notable names will join Boston assistant general manager Dave Wohl, a former Los Angeles Lakers assistant and New Jersey’s head coach in the 1980s who will become Rambis’ No. 1 assistant.

Laimbeer, 52, resigned as the Detroit Shock’s head coach and general manager in June after winning three WNBA titles in seven seasons as its coach. He did so in a surprise move presumably to pursue a coaching career in the NBA, where he won two NBA titles with the Pistons displaying an agitating playing style that earned him the nickname “His Heinous.”

He has never coached in the NBA.”

Good Luck Lamb

I’ll still miss the good old days.

“The Free Press has learned that former Pistons’ star Bill Laimbeer is expected to resign as the head coach of the WNBA defending champion Shock this afternoon following an immensely successful 6 1/2-year run.

It is believed that Laimbeer’s long-term aspiration is to become an NBA head coach.” Via The Detroit Free Press

And then there’s this (courtesy of Need4Sheed reader Jay)

I guess we will find out soon.

UPDATE: We all saw this coming but just in case you don’t know, former Bad Boy and assistant coach Rick Mahorn will step in for Laimbeer as The Shock’s coach.

Sheed with the dagger to beat the Timberwolves 98-89.

Video Courtesy of The NBA, The Detroit Pistons and FSN Detroit

The Sheedtastic Highlights , this was truly a Sheed statement!

Video Courtesy of The NBA, The Detroit Pistons and FSN Detroit

FSN’s Highlights of the game.

The (24-19) Pistons are in Minnesota to take on the red hot (16-27) Timberwolves, winners of three in a row making them 10-2 this month. That translates into the hottest team in the NBA right now.

The Pistons will try to avoid losing a third straight tonight while trying to find their way since coach Curry implemented his new starting lineup.   A revenge win against the Timberwolves would be a welcome distraction, especially after the 108-80 beating they took from them at the Palace this season.  A game, that in my opinion, started the downward spiral that they have been in for quite some time.

A win tonight may also give Detroit some confidence when they host the Celtics and the Cavaliers later this week.

“We’re ready for the challenge, though it may not look like it from what our record states.”

Wallace said neither he nor his teammates are out to make any statements. But if you are asking him if he still considers the Pistons a legitimate contender in the East, the answer is yes.

“Guys on this squad have heart,” he said. “We’re not giving up and we’re not giving in. We’re not thinking about tanking the season just because we lost a couple of games or because we’re not where we want to be right now.

“This is going to be a good challenge for us and I think we’re ready.” Via The Detroit News

Good/Bad News:

• A win tonight will give the Timberwolves their first Pistons season sweep since the 2003-04 season.
• Ryan Gomes is coming off a season-high 22-point game.
• Minnesota is 11-7 all-time at home against the Pistons, but has not won against Detroit at Target Center since January 2005.
• Curry liked the energy at Tuesday’s practice after giving the team a day off Monday.

Tip off is at 8:00 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.

Key Points:

• Sure they traded baskets to start the game, but you could tell from the tip that Detroit wasn’t into the game.
• Can’t score 80 points and win, especially when you’re not doing your job on the other end of the floor.
• Detroit shot just 37% from the floor and let the Timberwolves shoot 53% on the night.
• The Wolves led by as much as 28. OUCH!
• Tayshaun Prince was the only Pistons starter in double figures. And the rest had miserable shooting nights.
• Rasheed 3-for-10, Iverson 3-for-11, and Rip Hamilton 2-for-11. Add a 0-for-5 Rodney Stuckey and that spells disaster.
• High point was Tayshaun Prince who, as bad as it was, kept Detroit in the game. Tay led the Pistons with 20 on 8-for-13 shooting with 4 boards, 2 assists, a block and 2 steals.

Photo/Getty

• You could see the frustration mounting with a Sheed Tech in the third quarter.
• Detroit’s bench did nothing in the second quarter except let the Timberwolves’ lead grow. Afflalo , Maxiell and Amir Johnson missed 7 of 8 to start the second quarter leading to a Timberwolves 11-2 run and a 12-point lead.
• Board war lost 45-36.
• Maybe if we close our eyes long enough we can pretend that the whole game was like this.

Video Courtesy of The NBA, The Detroit Pistons and FSN

• Maxiell did do his best to make this miserable game more watchable. In fact I had to make a Maxiell HL reel to make us all feel better. Jason finished with 12 points and 8 boards.
• No ball movement for Detroit who look almost miserable on court. A little cohesiveness would be nice, but right now they don’t have much of anything going for them.
• How does this happen after the showing they had out West?
• It hurts, but they should get things going. Right?
• Exposed again? Randy Foye had a huge night with 23 points and 14 assists against AI.

Photo/Getty

• “I stunk up the gym tonight,” Iverson said. “I couldn’t do anything right.” Via The Detroit News
• Rip can’t create his own shot and he doesn’t have Chauncey to feed him the ball in his spot. He may be better suited to be out there with Stuckey for a while until he gets things going. Just a thought.
• I miss the D.
• Coach Curry believes Detroit just wasn’t up for the game, in fact he’s changing things around when it comes to game day shootarounds. Listen to what he had to say in his post game presser. Audio courtesy of FSN

Curry Press Conference Audio

• Could it really be a Sunday issue? I know coach Curry takes the blame but the players need to show up.
• So if you can’t knock down a jumper, get in the paint for easy buckets. That issue has got to be addressed.
• Wasn’t easy for me to watch this one considering I knew the outcome before I turned on the DVR.
• If you dare, NBA.com Highlights.
• We hope this as bad as it gets.
• Remember Dyess is coming back!
• Let’s hear it in the comments…..I know you need to get it out.