Key Points:

• Glad to see Arron Afflalo starting for Denver and truly making a difference.  I know we are guard heavy, but we gave him up for next to nothing .  He’s making a difference on both ends of the floor for the Nuggets.  He’s a starter in the NBA…it would be nice if they updated his profile picture in his Denver uniform. NBA webmaster fail.
• A monster game from Jason Maxiell, who put his athleticism and strength on display.  Maxiell went 7-for-9 for 16 points, a blocked shot and 8 boards in 24 minutes.  Denver didn’t know what to do with Maxi.
• On the other side of things… Charlie V 5 points 0n 2-for-6 , 7 boards in 18 minutes.  At least he’s grabbing boards when his shot inst working.
• Do we get alarmed with the way Ben Gordon’s season has turned out or do we blame injury or playing time?
• Some key baskets again from Rodney Stuckey, who scored 19 with 7 boards and six assists.  Was he trying to show Chauncey up?  I would be trying to if I was him, but what his stat line does suggest is that he’s turning into a complete player.

Photo/Getty Images

• Jonas Jerebko can’t get a call to save his life.  When will this kid get some respect from the refs?  The whistle was going against the Swede all night long and his playing time was hampered by fouls.  Just 18 minutes with 9 points on 4-for-5 shooting with and assist and 2 boards.  How great was it to see Jonas shirts and horn in the crowd in Denver.  The Need4Swede is everywhere.
• The Pistons really played a good 48 even though they didn’t come out ahead.  Board war won 50 to 38 and they had 21 assists on the night.
• Little disappointed in Detroit’s free throw shooting lately.
• Chauncey with 25 on the night with 2 assists and 4 turnovers.  The man is still Mr. Big shot no matter where he is.
• I caught Chauncey’s post game interview and noticed something funny sitting in his locker.  A white lunch bag with different colored hearts all over it,  I think his wife Piper must have packed him a post game snack.  My guess PBJ and a Capri Sun.
• Plenty of Blocked shots in this one.  Detroit blocked 5 and Denver 7.
• Chris Wilcox and Kwame Brown not active for this one because of health reasons.
• Highlights of The Game via NBA.com

• Anyone else notice Jason Maxiell’s jump shot has been money lately?
• Rip led the Pistons with 20 on 5-for-17 shooting with 5 assists and 6 boards.  He’s looking better and better ever game.
• Bynum just doesn’t look right lately.
• One points shy of a double-double for Ben Wallace, who scored 9 with 10 boards a steal and 2 blocked shots.  Where would this season be without him?
• So…can we officially say we are going for the ping pong balls now?
• Tonight against the Warriors.

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

The Nuggets have actively searched for a big man in recent weeks, working to pry younger DeAndre Jordan and older ones Antonio McDyess and Ben Wallace without success.

No reason for a trade to move Ben Wallace, but keep in mind either Tayshaun, Rip or both could be moved by the Feb 18th deadline if Joe Dumars sees the opportunity to build towards the future.

We will not be averse to being active before the trading deadline, but we’re definitely not going to be active just to be active. At this stage, it has to make sense for us going forward. We’re not looking for a short-term fix.

We are not a finished product. we have some holes to fill and we will go about doing that.

Joe Dumars in an interview with Larry Lage of the Associated Press

Good luck Arron, give Chauncey our best.

As the cleaning of house keeps rolling something tells me a big deal is on the horizon.

Most of you, including myself, aren’t very happy with the prospect of Glen “Big Baby” Davis donning a Pistons uni, but the chances of it just went up.  We wait again…. in what has turned out to be one of the craziest offseasons I can remember.

Now there is more….. Our guru Dave Dial gives us the juice.

“Moves like that(signing players like Washington to guaranteed contracts) are often made when one team has to send back a certain amount of money back in a trade. For example, if Detroit is $4 million under the cap after signing Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva and were to get involved with the Hornets in a trade for Tyson Chandler, the Pistons would have to send back a certain amount of salaries in order to make it work.

Chandler makes $12.2 million dollars, and the Pistons might be $4 million under the cap so a straight salary dump couldn’t work. Stay tuned…

{Update: I’ve been informed that there is a 30 day waiting period when you sign a second-round pick before that player can be traded.}”

Detroit Bad Boys adds even more….suggesting Rip could be on his way out.

Now with the quickness in which this is all happening a girls’ head is spinning. I can’t even sleep without waking up to some rumors or possible trades.  I have been locked to Twitter for the past few days to send out the info as quickly as I get it no matter where I am, so do some following.

I’m bringing the camera with me, so I’m sure I can stir up a bit of trouble.  Depending on what’s going on, and who I see, I may even take requests.   If you are going to be there too, make sure you stop by and say hello.

“The Pistons have traded power forward Amir Johnson to Milwaukee for center Fabricio Oberto, who was acquired by the Bucks from the Spurs earlier today, according to a person familiar with the trade negotiations.

Oberto averaged 2.6 points and 2.6 rebounds in 54 games for San Antonio last season, although it appears he will never suit up for the Pistons. Yahoo! Sports reports that the Pistons are expected to buy out the remaining year on Oberto’s deal.

Thus, it appears the Pistons can add the $3.6 million Johnson was scheduled to make next year to the roughly $20 million of salary-cap room they already had to spend when they can start negotiating with free agents July 1.” Via The Detroit Free Press

A Sherrod Blakley has a little different take then the Free Press. Detroit will waive Oberto…

“The Pistons are putting the finishing touches on a three-way trade involving San Antonio and Milwaukee that will send Johnson, a former second-round pick by Detroit, to San Antonio and then on to Milwaukee.

The key principles in the trade are Bucks guard/forward Richard Jefferson, who will be sent to San Antonio in exchange for Bruce Bowen and Kurt Thomas.

Meanwhile, the Pistons will send Johnson and cash to San Antonio in exchange for Fabricio Oberto who is expected to be waived by Detroit.

By waiving Oberto, that gives Detroit a little more salary cap flexibility this summer to go out and sign a pair of impact players.” Via MLive

Good Luck to Amir, let’s hope the potiential we know he has can flourish for a different team.  We will all remember him for his first two NBA points

And personally I will always remember him for this.

Thanks to all of you quick on the Email, text massage and the special phone call to make sure we got the news quickly. Too bad I was enjoying my dinner when it all broke…Thank goodness for Twitterberry. If you’re not following me on Twitter…you should be.

I’m sure we will be talking about this more, plus what happens leading up to Thursday’s Draft…which I will be live blogging at the Pistons Draft Party.  Stay Tuned!

Sam Smith,who’s been writing for and about the Bulls for quite some time says the Pistons have promised Ben Gordon 11 million dollars.

“I haven’t heard they are, and General Manager Gar Forman has not come off his stance that he wants to bring Gordon back. But I also heard that Gordon’s agent allegedly has been saying he has an $11 million promise from the Pistons.

This could go with the promise I received to play giving me a chance to win the lottery. I’ve never fully understood the supposed Pistons interest. Not because teams don’t like Gordon. But because the Pistons have Rodney Stuckey, not a true point guard, and Richard Hamilton. Though the rumors supposedly are the Pistons would trade Hamilton. Though why trade a 6-7 shooting guard to accommodate one maybe a half foot shorter? Though I never say never in the NBA, as Phil Jackson taught me. And Michael.” Via Bulls Blog

As for the Rip Hamilton mention, it’s been whirling around that Detroit is shopping Rip.  Though all this is just speculation and rumor, I keep hearing that Rip is on the block.

While I’m not sure Ben Gordon is the ansewer, he’s(26) a lot younger than Rip (32). If the Pistons are trying to build young, this may have some truth to it.

UPDATE:

Our good friend Dave Dial over at MLive makes an interesting point:

“One more reason that could be the one that would tip the scales in favor of replacing Hamilton with Gordon is that Joe Dumars could use Rip as an asset in a trade to grab a big man that the Pistons will need next season.

Hoops World points out that it’s not legal for the Pistons to contact Gordon or his agent until after July 1st, but theorizes that Dumars may have had conversations last summer while Gordon was a restricted free agent and looking for a raise.

What’s not clear in Smith’s report is if the ‘promise’ is for a contract starting at $11 million dollars(doubtful) or if it will average $11 million dollars over the course of 5 seasons. If it’s the latter, and that seems most likely, then the contract would start out at under $9.5 million dollars. In that case Joe Dumars would still have enough cap space to sign another big name free agent, and then could make a trade involving Rip Hamilton.”

UPDATE:
Our Pistons insider Matt Dery of 97.1 The Ticket just shot me this email.

“I talked to a Pistons source today who told me that they are denying this story about Ben Gordon and they add that it is illegal.. and not how it works.”

We know it’s illegal, but something tells me this one might be true. Stay tuned.