It wasn’t pretty at times. The Pistons still have their issues against teams with size, as evidenced by JaVale McGee’s 20 point/16 rebound and Andray Blatche’s 20 point/8 rebound lines, but they were able to call on some familiar faces for the win tonight in front of 13k+ fans at the Palace.
The game didn’t really get good until overtime when Richard Hamilton turned back the clock and reminded us of why he gets paid the big bucks. Hamilton, who scored 12 points for the Pistons in overtime, finished the night with 27 points and had this to say after the game:
“I still enjoy playing this game, and I’m always going to work hard out there,” said Hamilton, who came into the night averaging just 12.1 points. “When they need me, like they did tonight, I’m going to be ready.”
Let’s look at the re-cap shall we?:
- Charlie Villanueva has arguably not only his best game of the season, but possibly his best game as a Piston: 25 points and 11 rebounds on 11/16 from the field, including 4/6 from 3. He also provided 11 rebounds.
Photo/Getty Images editing Need4Sheed.com
- Gilbert Arenas had 19 points and 16 assists for the Wizards.
- 2010 #1 overall draft pick John Wall did not play for the Wizards.
- Jason Maxiell was working hard all night on the glass and in the post for the Pistons – he scored 14 points and had 5 rebounds.
- Austin Daye did not play. Why?
- Greg Monroe played limited minutes, and was a team worst -11 in +/-.
- Nick Young scored 18 points off the bench for the Wizards.
- 5 players in double figures for both teams.
- Detroit outrebounded Washington 44-41.
- Tayshaun Prince had an off night shooting (3-13 from the field) but he did help out with 6 assists and 7 rebounds to go with 7 points.
- Rodney Stuckey provided a spark with 15 points and 7 assists.
- DaJuan Summers, Chris Wilcox, Jonas Jerebko and Terrico White were inactive for the game.
- Frozen turkeys were dribbling juice on the court during a “frozen turkey giveaway” promotion, therefore the promotion was cut short early. Pistons fans hoping for a free turkey went home disappointed.
- JaVale McGee, one of the most athletic big men in the NBA, flashed a couple of highlight reel worthy plays including a handful of nice putback dunks.
The Pistons needed this win tonight before they head into a tough stretch of games to close out November. Now they head to Dallas to face Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday before heading to Memphis to play the Grizzlies and the back end of a back to back.
this could have been won in regulation. we wasted a lot of free throws. rip, tay, stuck, cv, max missed 1 each, and tmac missed 2. that’s 7 wasted points. sometimes, it’s the little things that wins the game. go practice on those FT’s.
anyway, it’s good to win again.
GO PISTONS!!!
I did not sleep this night, RIP made my day) He just killed WAS in OT!
But I must say that our D sucks. Too many jumpers were easy for wizards.
There was a moment in the 4th quarter when WAS were ahead, Pistons needed a bucket and one defensive play. But every time their player beat his defender, the help was too late. Nick Young made an easy one, then GIL, then Blatche faked CV and put 2 with a foul, no help at all, all game long.
CV was HUGE this nite, I love to see him playing like we expected him to play when he came to the Pistons.
If our team can do something – it’s the Pistons can shoot lights out
Motown turned back into Rip City, indeed! Love how they kept feeding the hot hand, something we need to see more of out of… ANYBODY.
Gotta admit though, a few of the Washington baskets were easy, but even when we did put hands in faces, they still went down. We pulled it out at the end though and the W is all that matters.
Good way to make the Palace happy again!
We have a team without a suprestar, but every guy can have his night… 😉
If we had some more inside presence we would be a playoff team.
Ah well…
I was really surprised to see T-mac catch the alley-oop and put it down. He seems to be recovering quite well. I think he will a very big asset to this team after the all star break, he should have his legs back by then and his full offensive game going.
this is a playoff team. phil jackson said it best
“It looks like some of their guys aren’t playing hard right now.”
Tayshaun Prince is the #1 candidate for not trying. Rip is the #2. . . . and I hate to say this since he’s my favorite player but Ben Wallace is #3. All the guys that had success, and don’t really have anything to prove.
Stuckey, Charlie V, Jerebko, Daye, Bynum, they haven’t done anything with their NBA careers and every game they battle win or lose. Ben Gordon it’s not that he doesn’t try but sometimes he seems like a head case if his shot doesn’t fall he hesitates.
Charlie V I get the impression he wants to prove the haters wrong. That kind of fire you need to have it, Prince doesn’t have it. It will do him a world of good to find a team that is a better for him at this stage in his career.
That road trip proved to me we can make the playoffs. I dont know how many people saw their game vs the Kings. The way that we frustrated Cousins proved we can win without size.
Cant beat the celtics miami, any contender, but we can make the playoffs and go out in the first round. I think I’d like to see the playoffs again.
I, personally, don’t kno if I want the Pistons in the playoffs this year.
But I’d like to see the playoffs in any case if we trade RIP or Prince to any contender and get some size in exchange….
Were all my Charlie V. haters at?
His weaknesses are still there, but now he can shoot and that brought some Ws already.
There will be a lot of criticizm when he played a bad game with low % and many shots taken.
His shot selection, as Ben Gordon’s, is doubtful, but until he makes bucket after bucket – it’s ok.
Other than that – he’s the same guy, but now he got some confidense and can step up more often, at least in offense
So why hate him now? He plays his best basketball now and who knows, maybe he will understand how to be better for this team.
We will criticize him later, you always have something bad to say when you root a bad team.
But it’s really good when Boston or SAS fans can say something criticizing their players for a reason, and it’s good when we can find something positive.
If you’re a good team – critics moves you to get over the hump, there’s enough praise. If you’re a bad team, you move forward by the fans that beleive in you, not by those who demolish your every play
i used to be a hater. Right here. Charlie V you done good. I dont hate you no more. You are worth your $7 mill. Hedo Turkoglu a similar player is getting $10. Right now, rather have Charlie V at $7m than Hedo at $10m.
id rather have charlie at $10m then hedo at $7m. anyone else?
hedo SUCKS.
Any time you can get a 6’11 power forward that is 25 years old who has shown the ability to shoot the ball and rebound for $7m per year? that’s a no brainer if you ask me
If only he could rebound, box out solid players and defend someone…
But he made some progress from last year, he can shoot them threes!
On all the wrapups of the game I haven’t seen Charlie V’s biggest clutch play mentioned–the monster block that stopped the Wiz near the end, when they were answering *every* Piston basket with their own.
Charlie V is *not* the same Charlie V as last year. He has shown serious commitment and real improvement. He may be, at least as of this early moment, the best sixth man in the league. He’s the one true bright spot this year. Will he continue it? I hope so, who knows, but he should should get unqualified props for the season so far.
This is not a playoff team. Sorry. This is a lottery team. Keeping Rip and Tay is like trying to keep Happy Days going like five years too long. Note to Joe – the Fonz has jumped the shark – end of discussion.