Sunday night’s game at the Palace was important for both teams trying to make the playoffs. It may have meant more to the Bobcats, who are trying to knock Detroit out of the eight spot, but thanks to a record-breaking career high from Will Bynum the Pistons are a step closer to locking in on a playoff spot. The 104-97 victory snapped a three game Pistons losing streak and put their playoff magic number at 2 games.
Key Points:
- Pistons again blew a big (17 point) first half lead to make this a close one.
- Bynum was 6-for-6 from the field and 14-for-16 from the line in the fourth quarter.
- Bynum’s 26 in the fourth quarter is a new franchise record, topping the old mark of 24 held by Isiah Thomas and Jerry Stackhouse.
- Bynum scored 12 in the first 6 minutes of the fourth.
- Bynum carried Detroit with his 32 points on 9-for-15 shooting with 7 assists, 4 boards, a steal and just one turnover in 26 minutes on the floor.
Photo/Getty Images
- Bynum Highlights
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sp6k3XfV-w0
- From Will Bynum’s locker room interview when asked about his performance. “It’s really not me, it’s my teammates and the coaching staff. I don’t deserve all the credit, it was pretty much them, those guys out there setting the screens and the coaching staff believing in me. That’s who gets the credit for it.”
- No points for Kwame Brown who has been playing great ball in Sheed’s absence, but he did grab 9 boards and blocked a shot in 18 minutes Sunday night. We don’t need him to score, but we do need him to do what he has been doing. Nice to see Kwame making the most of the role he’s been put in.
- Pleased and surprised that Curry didn’t substitute the starter Stuckey for the hot Bynum in the closing minutes. “I like to get Stuckey back at about the six-minute mark,” he said. “The way things were going tonight … it was a unique night. Twenty-six points, the most ever by a Piston player in a quarter.” Via Pistons.com
- The win puts the Pistons into a tie with the Bulls for seventh in the East.
- Rip Hamilton ejected after being assessed a second technical foul in the third quarter after scoring 13 points with 3 assists. With the importance of the game and Detroit’s playoff predicament, I’m disappointed that Rip couldn’t control his temper. It’s bad enough we lost Sheed for the Philly game, but I come to expect a little more from Rip.
- An absolutely SHEEDtastic turn and shoot long range three pointer from Sheed in the second quarter with the shot clock running down. Sheed finished with 12 points on 4-for-12 shooting, with 3 steals, 6 boards and a blocked shot in his first game back in his starting role since his injury.
- Four minutes for Walter Herrmann who made the only shot he took, a second quarter three pointer.
- Looks like we will see Will next season at the Palace, the Pistons can keep him for next season by picking up his $825,000 option.
- Charlotte trailed by just 3 with 13.3 seconds left before Bynum knocked down free throws to seal the victory.
- Nine boards for Antonio McDyess, who finished with eight points in 25 minutes.
- 14 points for Tayshaun Prince who played solid down the stretch with Will Bynum.
- NBA.com Highlights of the Game.
Photo/Getty Images
- Great to see Will put up a game like this especially after his recent fourth quarter struggles.
- Great play from Afflalo with 12 points on 4-for-4 shooting in 24 minutes. Forget about the big baskets, it’s his defense that always shines when the Pistons need a stop. “It’s been a two-year thing, playing when available,” said Afflalo, who made each of his four shot attempts and three 3-pointers. “Mentally, trying to stay tough and smart with the whole situation to where I’m in a situation where the minutes are more stable.” Via Mlive
- You can thank Maxiell for his lock down defense in the fourth quarter, leaving the Bobcats scoreless on six straight possessions in the fourth quarter.
- Detroit won the board war 41-38 and shot 49.4% on the night to Charlotte’s 40.7%.
- The Pistons’ next one, a road game against the Knicks Wednesday night.
I love when the team plays like this. Everone is a threat, individuals commit on defense and the bench comes in and sustains/improves the lead. I like having A.I. out of the lineup because the 44 minutes or so that he demands are better served when spread out to guys like A.A., Bynum, Maxiell etc. This was a fun game to watch.
What a bynamic effort!
Yeah it was fun to watch us pretty much blow a 17pt lead…lmao. Bynum was amazing, that’s for certain, but this team needs help more than what he can provide. I’m always a fan of the little guy becuz i was always that guy on the court (maybe why i like AI, unlike others on here). AI is out now all we need is for sheed to go and everything will be nice here in the D. Sorry, but as much as AI was a problem child so is Sheed this year, he hasn’t even accomplished much in a contract season (which usually players always seem to thrive via Ray Allen)… We need two low post players that are actually a threat in the post and stay in there and not out on the 3pt line every offensive possession. We also need someone who we can depend on to NOT get T’d up in 16 or more games a yr. He always does it at the worst possible times too, it’s just uncalled for, not like the ref is gonna change it. If Joe D signs him again, it will be a big mistake.
GOOD, LONG POST NATALIE
AS I WAS READIN THIS I HAD TO SCROLL UP TO SEE IF YOU WROTE THIS BECAUSE I HAVENT SEEN A LONG POST FROM YOU LIKE THIS IN A LONG WHILE.
Hey its me the BIG SHAQSTER..you guys have nothing on us!
PHOEEENIXXXX BASKETTTTBALL!!!!!!!!!!!
I love to see rip emotional , i think it gave us the extra push to go get ut done in the fourth. He cant help it that every call went against him , if any thing give props to sheed for keeping his cool in the fourth . When we play with emotion, we win . Thats detroit basketball, sticking it to the people who want us to fail.
Hahahah love the iverson cartoon now , thats good
Will is a Brnamo
No offense but I don’t think we win if Rip doesn’t get ejected. AND if Rodney is in for Will. I’m glad you mentioned Arron Afflalo Natalie because I didn’t think anyone was going to notice his contributions out there. He was very big for the team, and I say good job.
Dyess had TWO putback dunks. That was just awesome.
Hey Natalie anyway to lengthin that awesome Sheed shot by a second or two? Just want to see Dyess’s reaction. Love seeing him happy rather than disponded.
The REal Shaq first of all quit stealing our lines. Second, are you guys even in the playoffs?
did anyone see chauncey dunk it last night? it was pretty funny to see
Emotional lift from Rip through his ejection? Did we watch the same game? Dude, his technicals were unnecessary and just plain stupid. Those were quiet, stupid complaints where nobody reacted. It wasnt like Sheed’s technicals where the whole building erupts.
Lets see as soon as rip got ejected the team rallied , and yeah maybe it looked quiet but if you looked to the bench more often and see EVERY one going nuts over bad calls i think it’s more than quiet . Im truely dissapointed curry didnt pick the tech up for rip and let rip stay in , instead of him having to tell that ignorant ref off . Curry just sets there and doesnt do any thing
and mad props to aarons and maxs and sheeds defense, and mcdyess flying for put backs . Must have got a good lay the night before because i didnt know you could just come out of no where and jump like that at that age.
Maybe Bynum can be the new Vinnie Johnson. I would lock that guy up as soon as possible. It’s not like this is the only bright spot he’s had this year. They need guys like him.
I love how he deflected all the attention he was getting to the “team”. Hey Iverson, are you taking notes?
Now if only they could somehow pick up another guy like Bynum that plays the 4 or 5. 🙂
Props to Will Bynum. What a great game!! I had seen some nice Bynum games in Euroleague, but nothing like this.
But just one question: why let Bynum play like A.I. and not let A.I. play like A.I.??
Go Pistons!!
Ruy has a point!!
ai could have played like ai as u say IF he was willing to come off the bench like will is doing. if ai was still playing that would of been him out there.
o and i do like ai just dont work with us
Will Bynum is actually much better at this point than Iverson. Hes faster, stronger, hes a great defender and a better passer. Thats why he can pull off the Iverson style of play better than Iverson himself.
i didn’t mean his techs lifted the team. I’m saying if Rip was in in the forth he would of screwed up the game by taking stupid shots and all around blowing the lead
blamu2. What are you smoking???? Bynums a great player, but honestly, he’s no where NEAR Iverson. He needs at least 2 or 3 MVPS JUST to “catch up”. Nice try & good luck. Great win for the Pistons.
HEY JOHN MASON SHOULD INTRODUCE BYNUM AS WILL “THE THRILL” BYNUM
IF*** HE BECUMES A STARTER
tolles Spiel!
Can a 5 foot 10 in guard be accepted in the nba or will the other guards figure him out and he will be just a flash in the pan.
Hey Nat, how about changing the AI pic and make it face the other way around. So we all could see how bad his back really is. LOL!