Key Points:

• Worst officiating I have seen since…well I can’t remember.  It’s one thing to give LeBron a continuation on a foul he jogged in from about the free throw line, but to miss this blatant goal-tending when the Pistons were in the ball game was horrific.  LeBron gets away with murder.

Video Courtesy of The Detroit Pistons and the NBA

“They know it’s a bad call,” Pistons coach John Kuester said. “They know that. It’s a shame. That was a momentum-breaker. So we had it going, but, hey, that’s the NBA.” via NBA.com

• I caught Will’s post game interview after he was told the refs admitted it was a goal-tend, his answer “it’s too late now.”  Yeah it is…
• It’s enough that you have to deal with probably the worst fans in the world when the Cavs come to town, you also have to deal with the cockiness of the team, especially Mo Williams at the end of the game when he hit those late threes, he was jumping around like a fifth grade girl.
• Give it up for Jason Maxiell who was eating Ohio babies all night long.  His steal on LeBron for the dunk what a highlight but his late game basket and blocks help this team be competitive all game long.  Jason with another double-double, 10 points, 15 boards, a steal and 2 blocked shots.  It’s official he’s back.

Photo/Getty Images

• Jonas Jerebko played well in his 27 minutes, but everyone else seemed to get hot which limited his minutes.  He had a couple of really nice hustle plays (not like that’s unusual), just wished he was out there when Cleveland went on a few runs.  Jonas finished with 10 points, 3 assists, 3 steals and 5 boards.
• Didn’t think we would see Tayshaun Prince at all, let alone for 44 minutes.  Prince was clutch all night long whether he was playing the point, playing defense or knocking down the shots.  Tay finished with 15 points, 8 assists, and 7 boards.  Just happy his injury wasn’t serious.
• Tayshaun Highlights

Video Courtesy of The Detroit Pistons and the NBA

• Nice work from Charlie Villanueva, who had some clutch three’s when the Pistons really needed them.  Charlie played 21 and scored 16 points with 4 boards a steal and a blocked shot.  Add that and a little paint presence and things would be all good.
• Huge three from Austin Daye, who never seems to be afraid to take a big shot.  He was a presence in his nine minutes on the court.
• Six Pistons in double figures.
• Out-rebounded 48-40.
• This game had 10 lead changes and 21 ties…that tells you something.  The Cavs biggest lead 12, Detroit’s 6.
• They let LeBron go off in the second half.  He scored 29 total, 5 in the first half.
• I still hate Anderson Jarejao.
• Rip Hamilton led Detroit with 24 points and his hot hand started early.  He’s playing the way he is accustomed to, coming off the screens and knocking down shots.

Photo/Getty Images

• Horrible, horrible officiating.  When you have to count on Bennett Salvatore as your savor, that says quite a lot.
• Just frustrating to see the effort one night and the total non effort another night.  Does this mean this team has underachieved because of heart?  Not all season, but id has come into play.
• Will Bynum finished with 12, with 4 assists 3 boards and just one turnover. He’s turned it up since he’s been put in the starting lineup and is really helping his free agent status.  I sincerely hope Joe D shows him the money.
• Highlights of the Game via NBA.com

• Not an easy week for this team.

The 23-44 Pistons are hosting the 52-15 Cleveland Cavaliers tonight at the Palace.  One hopes that they will at least put up a fight after last night’s debacle against the Celtics.

If you didn’t look at the front page of NBA.com, you missed this headline and article.
Davidson’s death, rough economy lead to Pistons’ demise
A lot of truth there and pretty fitting after the Pistons performance last night.

Ben Wallace is still listed as day to day.
Rodney has no timetable on his return.
No conformation whether Tayshaun will play or not.

With Jonas Jerebko now starting at power forward, Kuester would have to go in another direction for Prince’s replacement – perhaps Austin Daye, who has a pair of starts already under his belt. Daye totaled 29 points and 11 rebounds in starts on Nov. 27 against the Clippers and Jan. 18 against the Knicks. He scored a career-high 16 points at New York. Via Ryan Pretzer at Pistons.com

The Scouting Report via Pistons.com

Tip is at 7:30 pm EST and will be broadcast on FS Detroit with the radio broadcast over at  97.1 The Ticker or follow the action online over at NBA.com.

NEED4SHEED GAME CHAT

When you see my name and picture at the beginning of a post, I guess that means it’s been another lopsided loss in a season full of disappointment for the Detroit Pistons.  So far this season I’ve covered perhaps 2 of the worst losses of the 2009-2010 season for the Pistons, and this game will make it 3.  At the beginning of the season, when I looked at the schedule I knew that this 3 week stretch of games (Washington, Utah, Cleveland (2x), Boston (2x), New York, Atlanta) could make or break this Pistons’ season.  Who knew that not only would the Pistons not be in position to make the playoffs, but that their only win will likely come from beating the lowly Washington Wizards?  Let’s get to the “highlights” shall we?:

Final Score 93-119

Key Points:

• The game was over after 12 minutes.  After scoring only 15 points in the first quarter, and losing their starting SF (Tayshaun Prince), Coach Q might as well have thrown in the towel.  Tay went down hard from a blow to that back from Jason Maxiell’s knee.  The doctors evaluated him on the spot and said it didn’t look like it had anything to do with his prior back injury but it looked awful nonetheless.

Photo/Getty Images

• Rajon Rondo’s stat line (3pts, 6ast, 4stl) doesn’t show how tenacious he was on the defensive end.  He was up in Will Bynum’s jersey all night and poking at the ball and creating turnovers for Bynum, Hamilton, Prince, and Gordon.
• I can’t remember the last time I saw Rasheed Wallace attempt only 1 three pointer.  He scored 8 points and had 4 rebounds in 17 minutes on the floor.  He has lost a few steps this season but, he still has my respect for helping this team the way he did from 04-08 (he didn’t do much in 09).
• Jonas Jerebko was in foul trouble early, but it’s to be expected when he’s guarding veterans like Paul Pierce and KG who are able to get whistles from the referees.  Jerebko, although he had 10 points with a couple of nice dunks when the game was out of reach, was virtually a non-factor all game.
• Ben Gordon’s best play as a Piston came on a baseline drive where he took Michael Finley off the dribble, but when he jumped up for the teardrop, Big Baby Davis stepped in front to draw a charge.
• I’ve got a question for the Boston fans: How does a man, wait “man”, who is listed at 289lbs, fall down so easily when a 6′3 200lb guard hits him?  Didn’t BBD play football at one point in his life?  I don’t want to say the man flops but, the man flops.
• Rodney Stuckey and Ben Wallace were out again, with injuries.  Stuckey took part in the afternoon shootaround, but as was reported during the game, the medical staff has a heart rate monitor on him and they are monitoring his every move by keeping his workouts light.
• Charlie Villanueva was nowhere to be found on either end of the court tonight.  The past couple of games I’ve watched (or really the entire season) he just looks like he doesn’t care.  He’s making $7m per season (average) and is lucky to see 20 minutes a night, and honestly I believe that’s only because Ben Wallace is hurt.
• The first half looked like a layup drill for the Boston Celtics.
• Kwame Brown allowed 2 easy layups by misreading screen and rolls.  That’s what Kwame is here for right? Defense?
• Will Bynum was quiet and could not establish a rhythm all night as the paint was locked down and Rondo, as mentioned earlier, was basically wearing his jersey all night.

Photo/Getty Images

• Richard Hamilton played with what looked like 0 enthusiasm all night.  He was a team worst -22 in +/-.
• You know, I didn’t really want to say anything but… DaJuan Summers was likely the only one who played solid basketball off the bench tonight.  He scored 12 points on 4-5 from the field (2-2 from 3), and played solid D against Pierce and Garnett.  I’ve been personally calling for DaJuan to get some minutes the entire season.
• Paul Pierce played 17 minutes and had 15 points.  With Tayshaun out early, and the game out of reach as well, Boston was able to sit their starters for over half the game (except Rondo).
• Old man Michael Finley bested his career ppg numbers (14.7 ppg in 36 minutes per game) against the Pistons by scoring 15 tonight in 14 minutes of action.
• Kendrick Perkins picked up his 15th technical on the season by getting tangled up with DaJuan Summers in the first half.  Nate Robinson picked up a technical for hanging on the rim at the end of the game after a dunk.  No techs for Sheed though.
• Coach Q speaks (from AP): “They were good. We were bad.  It was one of the few games that our energy wasn’t the way it should be, and I’m disappointed with the way we played.” – I’d say that of the 3 games I’ve guest written for, that all 3 games had the same amount of energy or less.
• No reason for Tony Allen to throw a lob off the glass to Nate Robinson when up 20+, with a minute to go in the game.  Nate picked up a tech for hanging on the rim, but they both would’ve picked up a forearm shiver in the throat if the old Bad Boys had any say in it.
• This team is bad.  This team needs a few pieces, and to build a new identity.  Right now there’s nothing.  They’re one of the worst offensive teams, one of the worst teams defensively, they’re a shell of their former selves.
• Game Recap from NBA.com, where you can also she how Tay went down.

I’m sorry if I’m like the Grim Reaper of the game recaps, I don’t mean to pick games that Detroit will get blown out in.  I figure by picking an Indiana, New York and struggling Boston team that they would’ve won at least 1 of the games.  Tonight’s game reminded me of those old Harlem Globetrotter highlights against the Washington Generals.  Aside from Jonas Jerebko’s 2 sorta highlight worthy fast break dunks, none of the Pistons did anything that will jump off the highlight reel or stat sheet.  It’s hard to even really say the talent is there at this point, because without the backcourt having a big game night in and night out, guys like Jerebko and Maxiell can’t produce in the paint.  Unless the effort is there on the defensive end, they simply can’t outrun and outgun teams for some reason.  The names on the score sheet have put up solid ppg stats their entire careers, but for some reason this season it just hasn’t clicked even when they’ve all been healthy.

Thanks again to Natalie for letting me give this game a writeup.  I hope I get to do 1 more before the end of the season because, win or lose, this is fun and it’s fun to read all your feedback good or bad.  You can follow me on twitter (@iamboney) or email me at boneyinbox@gmail.com.

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

Game Highlights via NBA.com

• Since many of us didn’t get to see this one, the highlight will just have to do. Although if you’re a Pistons fan I doubt if you would consider them high-lights.
• One thing that stood out for me in the box score, the Pistons allowed the Hawks a season high 63% shooting percentage. Another telling sign as to what Ben Wallace has been to the team all season long.
• Every Piston, besides DaJuan Summers who played just 1 minute, were in the minus on there +/- stat.
• Bynum and Kuester with techs.
• 16 turnovers…ugh.
• Detroit was down by as much as 28.
• Go Jason, Maxiell scored 11 of his team high 19 in the second half.

Photo/Getty Images

• After building a 28 point lead at halftime, the Hawks watched the Pistons pull to within nine points early in the fourth quarter.
• Maybe this was a good one to miss.

The 23-42 Pistons are in Atlanta on a second game of a back to back to take on the 41-23 Hawks tonight. Unfortunately this game will not be televised locally, so the only way you are going to catch it is with NBA League pass or by watching online.

Can Will “Thrill” us again tonight? I’m sure he can, Bynum had one of his best shooting performances this season in the last game against the Hawks, scoring 19 points off the bench while making 8 of 13 attempts.

As for Ben Wallace, he’s 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 7:00 pm EST with the radio broadcast over at 950 AM WWJ or follow the action online over at NBA.com.

NEED4SHEED GAME CHAT

Key Points

Disclaimer – This will be a Bynum filled recap.

• Things just started good in this one, Will had a handful of assists in what it seemed like a few minutes and Rip was on fire.
• Regardless of the fact the Washington is not a great team, this team looked great and Will just dominated.
• One of those pretty Rip to Tayshuan alley oops that reminded me of the good old days.  You can thank Maxi for it too!

Video Courtesy of the NBA and the Detroit Pistons

• Speaking of Maxiell, he seems to be back! A double-double with 10 boards, 12 points, a steal and 2 blocks.
  Haven’t had that much fun at the Palace in quite a long time, thank you Will.
• Tay and Rip both finished the game with 18 points.
• I’m amazed every game with the amount of fans gained by Jonas Jerebko.  18 points for the Swede with 3 steal, 8 boards and a heck of a lot of swagger when Singleton got in his face.  That’s the kind of technical foul I like.  Jonas = he anti Sheed.
• Will just looked like he had eyes in the back of his head and made a point of getting the ball to his teammates in any manner that he good.  The career high 20 assists where the most from a Detroit Piston since Isiah Thomas on April 12th 1985.
• “That means a lot to me,” said Bynum, a Chicago native like Thomas. “I grew up watching Isiah play, and to do something that he did is huge.” Via The Detroit Free Press

Photo/Getty Images

• Will’s Bynumite Highlight Reel.

Video Courtesy of the NBA and the Detroit Pistons

• Can’t tell you how excited the crowd was, we knew something special was going to happen as soon as he hit his previous mark of 14.  The crowd went nuts after each one…I almost lost track.
• Even the few points Bynum did score were pretty.
• When will was at 18 the bench never sat down and when he kept feeding DaJuan Summers and he was missing it we all could feel the pain.
• I really didn’t think he was going to pull off 20, but Ben Gordon finally made Pistons fans smile when he knocked down the last shot.  Here is the last play of the game, Will’s 20th assist.

Video Courtesy of the NBA and the Detroit Pistons

• Love how Maxiell handed him the game ball.
• Will Bynum post game interview.

Video Courtesy of the NBA and the Detroit Pistons

• At the end of the first quarter, I thought I had a chance to get Kevin Porter’s (team) record of 25, but I don’t think the coach and I had the same mindset,” Via The Detroit Free
• A meaningless game just turned into something special for Will and a whole lot of Pistons fans. Something tells me if you leave Will a message in the comments, he might just see it.

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

Key Points:

• Another game without Ben Wallace and another game that shows just how much the man anchored the entire defense.  Besides the Swede, we look as soft at the Pilsbury dough-boy.
• Nice to see Stuckey on the bench in street clothes.  He’s missed dearly, just hope he really is ok.
• The Pistons second unit is NOT getting it done.
• The Utah streak against the Pistons now stands at 10 in a row.
• At one point during a run, the Jazz were shooting close to 70%, while they held the Pistons to 31%.
• Yes, it really was that bad Jonas.

Photo/Getty Images

• Never noticed this lineup, which Kuester showed in the third. Tay, Daye, Ben Gordon, Charlie V and Jonas.
• It just has to be in Ben Gordon’s head at this point. He can’t hit a shot for anything. Ben shot 4-for-11 for 11 points…it will come.
• Utah is a very good team.
• Charlie Villanueva led Detroit with 19 points on 8-for-18 shooting in 26 minutes on the floor. I know he played ok, but it’s like a Sheed deja-vu ——POST UP CV!
• Detroit allowed the Jazz a 56% shooting night and seemed to contest absolutely noting in the paint.
• At this point, more A Daye and DaJuan please.
• Another start for Will Bynum who wasn’t hitting much either. Will went 4-for-10 and took some ill advised shots. He was clearly outmatched against Deron and he wracked up just 2 assists.
• Double-double for Jason Maxiell with 11 boards and 10 points. He’s doing what he can to pick up the slack for Wallace.
• Looked like the Pistons were all playing one on one basketball until they got into trouble and either jacked up a bad shot or passed it away when getting trapped. No semblance of any types of plays or organization offensively or defensively.
• Jonas Jerebko 13 points, 5 boards and three steals. I’ll not even going out on a limb when I say he’s currently the fan favorite at the Palace and it really shows.
• Best part of the game, The Need4Sweed putback jam.

Video Courtesy of The Detroit Pistons and The NBA

• Oh and BTW, did anyone notice the Need For Sweed custom jersey in the crowd!

The 22-41 Pistons are at home to take on the 41-22 Jazz at The Palace of Auburn Hills. If you’re not aware, the Pistons have not beaten the Jazz since March 13th 2005.

Stuckey Update: Doctors have allowed him to exercise.

Rodney Stuckey underwent a completely negative cardiac evaluation under the direction of University of Michigan’s (Fred Morady, M.D.), Cleveland Clinic’s (Thomas Dresing, M.D.) and the Detroit Medical Center’s (Luis Alfonso, M.D.).
The combined opinion is that Rodney may return to a progressive exercise program. Via Pistons.com

The Scouting Report via Pistons.com

Ben Wallace is still listed as Day to Day.

Tip is at 7:30 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