Stucktacular

Key Points:

• Still not Will Bynum, Tayshaun Prince or Ben Gordon.  Gordon sat dressed in his uniform on the bench, but did not enter the game.
• The Pistons started like gangbusters, outscoring the Hornets 31 to 16 in the first quarter, but Chris Paul started heating up and with him his team.
• Team work was evident, Detroit finished with 27 assists on the night.
• 42 minutes from Jonas Jerebko who seems to have a clone on the court when he’s out there. Jonas is  everywhere all the time.  J.J. finished with 13 points, 8 boards a blocked shot with 2 assists.  I don’t know about you, but it seems to me that when he’s in the starting lineup good things happen.
• Though Chris Wilcox played just 12 minutes, scoring 3 points, it was this assist to Ben Wallace for the reverse jam that was really impressive.

Video Courtesy of The NBA and The Detroit Pistons

• Oh my goodness,  Ben Wallace with 21 boards on the night, surpassing his season high while adding 13 points.  Another double-double for Ben, who’s constant control of the glass and the defensive end helped the Pistons control the game.   At this point in the season, it’s hard not to put Ben at the top of the list for team MVP.
• Charlie Villanueva with 13 points, 7 boards and 2 steals.  I know he’s been hot and cold all season long, but I’m hoping the Pistons current play will help him out of whatever funk he was in.
• Austin Day was great in his 14 minutes on the court.  Daye finished with 12 points and assist and a rebound.  He’s not afraid to take the big shot, and it always seems like he’s hitting them.  Is he our new 3 point go to guy?  Day was 2-for-2 from downtown.
• Rip Hamilton led all scorers with 32 points, 10 assists, 3 steals and 3 boards. If Detroit ever needed a double-double from Rip it was last night. Rip, stepped up and helped control the flow of the game with Rodney feeling far from 100%.

Photo/Getty Images

• It may have been upsetting to watch Detroit let their lead slip away in the fourth, but this time they didn’t fold when their back where against the wall.  Had they not have broken their losing streak before this game, their spirit may not have willed them to fight for this one.
• Detroit had the ball for the last shot in regulation, but couldn’t convert on a Rip Hamilton jumper. Nothing to knock Rip’s fantastic night, but he took the ball up for the last shot and fell short. That’s where we miss Chauncey most of all. I wanted the ball in Rip’s hand, but not that way. Coming off a screen and getting the ball for the last shot is where Rip is money.
• With Rodney not feeling well and not having a great game, it was most likely that we would have seen more of Chucky Atkins down the stretch, but Atkins fouled out and back came a hurt and very tired looking Rodney Stuckey. I don’t know what got into Stuck, but he put his team on his back in OT converting two three point plays, helping Detroit secure the win. Check out Rodney’s fire.

Video Courtesy of The NBA and The Detroit Pistons

• Six Pistons in double figures.
• 30 points in the paint.
• Board war won 46-34.
• The Pistons biggest lead was 18 points at one time.
• Check out the Highlights via NBA.com with the ridiculous Charlie Villanueva slam.

• Another night, another game. Tonight against the Knicks.

Key Points:

• Rip Hamilton, bothered by his hamstring dressed, but sat out this one.
• No Ben Gordon, or Tayshaun, but Will Bynum came back to contribute.
• Detroit took advantage of the Hornets sloppy play in the first half by converting on 14 New Orleans turnover for 24 points.
• It was the third quarter of doom for Detroit who saw their lead dissaper to just three points at the close of the third.
• David West may be the best NBA player that goes unnoticed by fans. He could not be stopped and lead all scorers with 32 points.
• Rodney Stuckey led the Pistons with 26 points on 11-for-26 shooting, 5 assists and 2 steals.

Photo/Getty Images

• Jonas Jerebko is everywhere all the time and his hustle is being rewarded with easy buckets and dunks.  Jonas had 6 points, 2 assists and 3 boards in 27 minutes.
• Austin Daye made some big buckets in the first half, knocking down consecutive three pointers like it was nothing.  Most impressive near half court make in the closing seconds of the third quarter went in but was just a millisecond too late.  Austin finished with 9 points, 3 boards and a steal in 25 minutes.
• Chris Wilcox sighting, 11 minutes with 3 boards and 2 points.
• Hard loss to take when you are up by 16 at one point and Chris Paul has just 2 points at the half.
• Board war lost, 41 to 35.
• Charlie Villanueva has been playing lights out, I’m pretty sure he likes the mask more than he will admit.  Our sixth man scored 18 points with 8 boards, 2 assists and a steal.

Photo/Getty Images

• Have you noticed that we get some quality ally-oops almost regularly now?
• A DNP for Kwame Brown, and DaJuan Summers.
• Jason Maxiell with just 15 minutes, 3 points and 4 boards.  I’m still quite baffled with the step back he’s taken this season.
• Tough loss and a hard back-to-back, but the Pistons only have one day to bounce back with a game in OKC on Friday.
• Do you realize that Ben Wallace is right back up there as one of the league leading rebounders averaging 10 per game.  Ben scored 6 with 3 steals, and 7 boards in 36 minutes in the loss.
• Despite his ankle still bothering him, Will Bynum got back on court for Detroit and started dishing the ball immediately.  He was part of the surge in the first half that put the Pistons ahead.  Will finished with 9 assists, 4 points, 2 steals and 4 turns in 23 minutes.  Good to have him back.

Photo/Getty Images

• Notice Will’s shoe and ankle in the picture?  That doesnt’ look like that suppors a sore ankle.
• Chucky Atkins started the Pistons off when they couldn’t hit a shot.  Atkins finished with 13 points, 2 assists and 2 boards in 28 mintues.  On a side note, the tattoo on Chucky’s right bicep looks a lot like Vern Troyer…what’s up with that?
• There were 8 lead changes and 9 ties in this one.
• The points in the paint stat is still impressive, 44 for Detroit.
• Highlights of the Game via NBA.com
• 
• The Pistons hope to bounce back with a needed road win in Oklahoma City on Friday.

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The Pistons probably aren’t looking forward to their second game in two nights against Chris Paul and the 33-22 New Orleans Hornets.  And as Pistons fans I don’t think I have to tell you why. OK I guess I will tell you a little something that’s eating on all of us right now.

• First time the Pistons fell below .500 after the halfway mark
  of the season since 2000-01
• 7 game skid
• Rotation deviation.
• Defensive disarray.
• Locker room tension.
• Lack of leadership.

From NBA.com

Here’s a look at the Pistons’ numbers over the last nine seasons, starting with 2000-01, the season before they became a perennial 50-game winner.

You get the picture.

Is this what a Lions fan feels like?

The Pistons must win tonight to avoid the its longest losing streak in 14 years

Tip off is at 8:00 PM and will be locally broadcast on FSN Plus. If you’re not sure what channel FSN Plus is on your dial, FSN was kind enough to give us the channel list.
If you can’t catch the broadcast you can listen to it on WDFN 1130 AM or you can follow/listen from your computer at NBA.com.

Could this be the game they snap the streak?
Leave them in the Comments.

Will Maxiell get some time? We sure hope so, especially when he’s posted DNP’s in the last couple of games and when he has gotten some playing time he’s lucky if he reaches double digit minutes. You know things are bad when Pistons fans and Maxiell are pissed.

“It’s coming to a point in my career where it’s getting old to me,” Maxiell said. “I’m coming up on my fourth year already.

“It’s getting to the point where I would like some consistency and see where it leads.” Via The Detroit Free Press

Hey Coach Curry….this is what Jason does to pesky Hornets!!!! You remember it don’t you? You were an ASSistant coach then, now look at you.

Play him.

And if you’re wondering The Pistons are currently 9 games back of the first place Cleveland Cavaliers.  Doesn’t that just make every Pistons fan want to scream?

Good News: New Orleans has dropped three in a row and seven of eight games over the last four seasons to the Pistons, losing by an average of 14.3 points.

Bad News: Small ball, the lack of a rotation, rebounding, DNP’s and dare I say MC.

Tip off is at 7:30 P.M. and will be locally broadcast on FSN . If you can’t watch the broadcast, tune into 1130 AM WDFN The Fan, with pre-game coverage starting at 6:30 P.M.. Can’t do either? Follow the game on NBA.com.

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