Key Points:

• The Pistons are now on a four game winning streak. Sadly, it’s tied for the longest of the season when Detroit started the season 4 and 0.
• Iverson finished with 15 points and another late-game shot to seal the victory with 1:10 left in the game and the Pistons up by 7, 87-80.
• Mannie32 reminds us in the comments that the Pistons are now 7-3 since Mr. McDyess returned to Motown. Maybe he was just what they needed?
• Sheed almost singlehandedly held Dwight Howard to 1 point in the first half. Too bad he came alive in the second.

Photo/Getty Images

• 12th tech for Sheed late in the fourth quarter. He made up for it when he nailed a three to make it 82-77. Rasheed finished with 16 points, 3 blocked shots, a steal and 6 boards. Dare I say…..SHEEDTastic?
• This is the kind of game you love to see as a fan. A hard fought, defensive effort with everyone contributing on the floor and an exciting finish. It’s looking better Pistons fans.
• Richard Hamilton sits out with a sore groin and Detroit wins two. I know plenty of you have been talking about the fact that small ball is difficult on this team. Maybe this is just the proof Curry needs.
• UPDATE: Michael Curry re-thinking small ball. and Keith Langlois talks lineup change. (via Mannie32 in the comments)
• Did small ball just die? DBB
• Jason Maxiell steps on the hardwood and this happens. Bucket – Block – Bucket! He played just 16 minutes and scored 4 but he’s like a Red Bull shot to this team whenever he touches the floor.

Courtesy of The NBA, The Detroit Pistons and FSN

• War of the boards won for the first time in a long time. Pistons 43 boards to 36 for Orlando. Especially impressive when you consider who the Magic have down low.
• Pretty scary when McDyess went down in the fourth after a collision going for a rebound. He looked like he was staying down for the count, but that heart just wouldn’t let him when the game was on the line. McDyess got right back up and helped Detroit seal the deal. I bet Dyess is in some pain tomorrow, his ribs took quite a shot.
• “It was horrible—when I was laying on the court, I was just trying to get my breath back,” he said. “It hurt, but I didn’t even think about not coming back. I knew they needed me.” Via Yahoo
  • Dave in comments
    For those of you who only saw what was on TV: the hit McDyess took was really rough. Afterward, Howard being the veteran that he is really went after him and was banging him around hard. Every time the pistons brought the ball down the court or there was a stoppage in play dice was holding his ribs and grimacing. he may have a heart of a champion but based on what i saw those ribs might keep him out a game or two.
• Dyess was 4-8 on the night for 11 points, 5 assists and 8 boards.
• Just 3 turnovers on the night for Detroit.
• The Pistons shot 42% on the night to Orlando’s 40.
• Anything sound familiar in the FSN Highlights of the game?
• Rodney Stuckey once again led the Pistons in scoring with 19 points in addition to 4 assists, 5 boards and just one turnover plus some pretty nice HL’s. He is seriously making a case for himself as a starter in this league and a very good replacement for Chauncey Billups. I’m not ready to say better, just yet.

Photo/Getty Images

• Forget the stats, Amir again did more than what was asked of him on court in Rip’s place. Johnson scored 2 points in 19 minutes with 7 boards and 2 blocked shots.
• Though Detroit limited Orlando’s points in the paint in the first half, they ended up with 30 down low. You can’t usually stop Dwight all night.
• “Rasheed was playing great defense, and we were able to contain Dwight,” Curry said. “He still had a big game inside, but we didn’t give him a lot of dunks.” Via Yahoo
• A quiet 16 from Tayshaun Prince who had another solid game and did a nice job defending Turkoglu. Prince logged 43 minutes while grabbing 5 boards and 2 assists to go along with his 16 points.
• 27 threes attempted by Orlando, 11 of which they made. Each one of them seemed to bring them right in the game when Detroit was pulling away.
• This one was tied 12 times.
• A New Years Eve matinee with New Jersey on Wednesday, I smell a little revenge.

Key Points:

• Kwame Brown started in place of Amir Johnson and it may become a bit more permanent. Curry wants to throw a big body out there in the next few games when Detroit will be facing big centers. I’m cringing now as to what Brown will have to face (Andrew Bynum and Laker fans) tonight against the Lakers. It’s going to be brutal.
• “I am glad this has happened,” Brown said. “I love playing with ‘Sheed in the starting lineup. I think (the coaches) noticed last game that with me ducking in (toward the basket), it was getting guys open corner 3-pointers. But they brought me in here to play defense, run the court and rebound. That’s what I am going to try and do.” Via The Detroit Free Press
• Detroit started this game allowing Golden State to get pretty much anything they wanted down low. That changed in the second half as Detroit not only shut down the lanes but dominated them, finishing with  50 points down low for the game.
• Will Bynum is killing it out there. The punch of Will and Iverson on the floor with Arron Afflalo sped this team up like I had never thought possible. Fearless Will scored 6 points in 11 minutes and continues to impress the Pistons fan base as well as the TNT broadcasters.
• Five Pistons in double figures as well as five Warriors.
• Detroit didn’t need Tayshaun to put up a ton of points, but they did need his career-high rebounding night. Tay had a double-double with 10 points, 16 boards, 3 assists, a steal and a blocked shot in a whopping 45 minutes on the floor.
• Curry isn’t shy to tell the viewing audience that Amir make a mistake so he got yanked. That was after Amir was subbed in for the first time and was quickly pulled 30 seconds later.
• Maxiell thunder dunk is always a pleasant sight, the one he missed before the dunk almost brought the building down. In 12 minutes Jason had 6 points and 4 boards. Love you Jason, but you got served on this play.

Video Courtesy of The NBA, The Detroit Pistons and TNT

• NBA Highlights of The Game.
• Chauncey is really lighting things up in Denver.
• Detroit’s biggest lead was 9, while Golden State led by as much as 12.
• 17 Detroit turnovers, that stat has to change. Luckily the Warriors handed the ball over 15 times.
• We sorely miss Antonio McDyess.
• TNT – Iverson, Rasheed Wallace Interview.
• One of the best games from Sheed in quite some time. Ninteen points on 8-for-15 shooting but it was his key defensive shot and his back to back threes late in the fourth that put the game away for Detroit. Another double-double for the SHEEDtastic one.

Photo/Getty

• We complained about Flip using the starters, well Iverson, Prince, Wallace and Hamilton logged 167 minutes.
• “Now I have to learn A.I. It’s like starting over,” Hamilton said. “With (Chauncey Billups ) at the beginning, at least we had a training camp. With A.I., we have to learn on the fly.” Via The Detroit News
• Fourth quarter tech for Mr. Wallace.
• Out-rebounded 49-51.
• Rip got his touch back leading Detroit with 24 points. It took him most of the game to get in a rhythm, but it was so great to see his shots falling. As soon as plays start getting run for him and he’s coming off screens things will get much better for Rip, who seems to be standing around a lot on the offensive end.

Photo/Getty

• Walter Herman got some time but he picked up three quick fouls in his 2 minutes and 45 seconds on the floor and didn’t return.
• Allen Iverson put up 23 and had some “Iverson” moments.

• “That really hurt my feelings, that tip,” Wallace said. “You can’t let that frustrate you. I missed two point-blank foul shots. I’m upset at myself about that. You can’t let that one thing get you down. That’s what we did, just dug deep and came up with some stops down the stretch.” Via Yahoo.com Steve made sure we didn’t miss that quote.
• HUGE night for Arron Afflalo who seemed to be in the right place at the right time. Great defensively but his key layups in the third and fourth brought Detroit back to life again. Afflalo scored 11 and was out there when it counted in the fourth quarter when the game was on the line.

Video Courtesy of The NBA, The Detroit Pistons and TNT

• Detroit shot 45% on the night.
• Important to get this one, especially after the slow start again. It’s going to be a tough one tonight against the Lakers but it with Rodney Stuckey on the floor again things should be a bit better. Although I’m loving Will Bynum.
• Again….Must read Chauncey Billups interview.
• Sheed’s New Tattoo…Thanks to Alana for sending us the Link ASAP!