The Pistons just keep on playing solid basketball and Sunday’s effort against the Rockets was no different. The constant movement of the basketball and the resurgence of Detroit’s defense made this one much easier than the last time Detroit faced Houston, though the early departure of McGrady (knee injury) in the third quarter shortly followed by Yao (stitches) didn’t hurt either. Add this to the list of Pistons blowouts this season. The final score 94-82.
Key Points:
- Detroit has won five straight and 12 of 14.
- Does Yao ever lose a jump ball? And if he does shouldn’t he get fined or something?
- The Pistons patience and willingness to get the best shot is what’s winning basketball games right now.
- Rasheed and McDyess put up double-doubles.
- Rest for the starters again.
- Flip Murray in street clothes makes a lot of Pistons fans happy.
- Rasheed was pumped from start to finish in this one, in fact I am shocked he didn’t get called for a tech. His early dominance put The Pistons ahead in the first half, especially after his buzzer beating three to close out the first quarter. Sheed finished with 14 points 0n 5-for-7 shooting with 10 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block and a takeaway. Twelve of this points came in the first quarter.
Photo/Getty Images
- Sheed on Bonzi: “We are cool,” Wallace said. “That’s my man. In the summertime, I go down there to (Wells’ hometown in) Indiana and he come up here. That’s all gravy. But on that court, there ain’t no friends.”
- Rebound war won 42-37.
- One of the highlights of the game… Pistons take the ball out from the baseline with 1 second on the shot clock and Maxiell hits a 18 foot jumper.
- NBA.com highlights of the game.
- Hayes scores 9 off the bench on 3-for-7 shooting, but it’s his clutch 3 pointers that help the Pistons when they need it.
- Player of the game: Antonio McDyess, who not only put up 12 points with 11 boards, 2 assists and 3 steals, but he really did a number on Yao defensively holding him to just 4-13 shooting on the night. This was Antonio’s fourth straight double-double. I am sure most of us will say that Dyess is better as a starter than he is coming off the bench, and that’s saying a lot.
Photo/Getty Images
- Technically you can call this one a Guaransheed. “We are going to see those chumps again,” Wallace said at the time. “We are going to bust their (bleep) the next time we see them.”
- Luis Scola led Houston with 18 points. Is the long hair a European thing?
- The Pistons and The Celtics are the first teams to reach 20 wins on the season.
- Detroit stepped up the D in the third, limiting the Rockets to just 16 points on the quarter.
- Huge Maxiell stuff on McGrady.
- 8 points and 8 assists for Mr. Big Shot.
- No points for Stuckey in 12 minutes on the floor.
- This Sheed reaction was the result of an and 1 for Maxiell… I take offense to the guy right behind Sheed in the red adidas warm up who is sleeping on the press table. Most of us would kill to be where you are dude… WAKE UP! And how in the world do you fall asleep when Sheed is screaming right in front of you?
Courtesy of The Detroit Pistons and FSN Detroit
- An Amirzing block from behind for Johnson.
- Five Pistons in double figures.
- Maxiell continues to do well from the charity stripe.
- Thirteen for Tay with 5 rebounds and 2 assists and a steal
- Rip was hot all night, his Count that Baby and a Foul while falling to the ground has got to be a top play on Sports Center. Rip led the Pistons with 17 and 6 assists. He sure is on top of his game lately.
Photo/Getty Images
- Christmas break….The next one for The Pistons is in New Jersey on the 26th.
Thanks to everyone for their kind words in the comments and through e-mail while I was gone. Your support meant more than you will ever know. Most of all thanks to Steve DiLullo who did such a fantastic job in my absence taking over N4S without hesitation when I wasn’t able.
Happy Holidays to everyone, especially you Nat.
Yes Happy Holidays, this win was a nice treat, love seeing the youngins get some good time
Maxiell was great as usual and so were the rest.
Is anyone else starting to wonder about Primoz? I know he’s new but, he’s defense shouldn’t be that bad should it? The good thing about Primoz is he is genuniely excited to be a Piston.
I think we need to check out what Walter Hermann can bring to the table.
Loved seeing Sheed really into the game, his turnaround jumpshots actually went in. YEAH!
Overall good win and more important a nice win.
Let’s start a poll. Who’s gonna have more blowouts, us or Boston? (although not sure it’s a great thing having a lot of blowouts, we need to make sure our forth quarter execution is sharp come playoff time. still fun to speculate)
Pistons go to the top of the power rankings!
http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=321285
Merry Christmas to you Nathalie and all Need4Sheed Piston Supporters! Thank you again for all the insights on the best NBA team in the US!
(I think the guy in the Red Addidas is a media guy from China that follow Yao and Yi around, so don’t be too harsh, the poor bastard has to work 12 hours ahead to get his stories and pictures into the local media in Asia.)
Peace on Earth and Another “Ship” to Detroit is all I ask for this Christmas!
Sam
NYC
I love the loop of the “maxiell and-1, sheed screaming, guy sleeping.” It’s had me laughing for 5 minutes, as it is funny on so many different levels. What is he saying?
Merry Christmas everyone. Hope all is well with you, Natalie, and your family. We’re glad you are back.
The guys are doing an amazing job on both ends of the floor, I;m loving everything that they are doing, the Pistons are playing like Champions! This could be the beginning of something GREAT in June!!! Merry Christmas to everyone on Need4Sheed!!
See the guy with his hands on his chin to the left of the guy sleeping? Well, I am that guy… I took a pic of that dude passed out with my treo and emailed it to all my boys…then I get a call today from a guy that is ALWAYS pimpin your site to check it out… Good work, and that guy slept virtually the whole first half, then disappeared.
themuhmeshow:
Was the guy in the red boozing hard? Or was he just completely disinterested in the proceedings? What did sheed scream? Tell us more!
Thanks Jason… Do you know why the guy was at the Press table in the first place?
Awesome game! Sheed had a definite mission from the start.
Looks like the Bulls just fired Skiles after they lost to the Rockets…
No mention of Sheed pulling the chair out on Yao and making him fall right on his can (and then doing the same thing the next possession and making him travel)? Big man falls hard!
That was by far the highlight of the game for me!
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y266/jm_phenom23/sleepingasian.jpg
There is the pic from my phone…
He has recording equipment, “KLA” was on his mic flag. I have no clue what he did after the half haha. He wasnt boozing, however he did have a huge ass pop he was hitting before the game started lol