The #Pistons took down the Miami #Heat Friday night at the Palace of Auburn Hills 99-109 to snap Miami’s six game winning streak. It’s not a dream, but more like a late Christmas Miracle as the Pistons bench led by Will Bynum made sure Pistons fans got a late holiday gift.
Key Points:
- Will Bynum was outstanding and did everything to make sure that Detroit was going to finish the game out with a win. He scored 25 points, 13 of which came in the fourth quarter. He didn’t just score either, his 10 assists helped the rest of his bench brigade take a game that looked like it was going to be a blowout into a holiday triumph.
Photo Getty Images/Editing Need4Sheed.com
- LeBron James finished with 35 points on the night and tried to put the game on his shoulders, but give credit to Tayshaun Prince who did his best to make sure that didn’t happen. Tayshaun logged a game Pistons high 36 minutes, finishing with 11 points.
- By far the biggest crowd at the Palace this season and boy did they have something to cheer about.
- Bynumite Highlights via NBA.com
[flashvideo file=http://nba.cdn.turner.com/nba/big/games/pistons/2012/12/29/0021200428-mia-det-play6.nba_nba_576x324.flv /]
- The Zoo Crew Part Deux went on a 14-0 run to start the second quarter on their way to putting up 41 points in the second.
Will Bynum: “Andre was big out there tonight, he’s been playing great. Game by game, he’s getting better and better. … We’ve got a great chemistry of players out there. It’s just simple. With Charlie, Austin, myself, Kyle (Singler), Stuckey, Drummond – they kind of have to pick their poison.”
- Should the Pistons started be worried about their minutes? At this point yes! When your bench beats the Miami Heat pretty much by themselves erasing the deficit (22 points) you handed them you should worry.
- 64 bench points for Detroit.
- Miami’s biggest lead was 15, the Pistons 17.
- Highlights via NBA.com
[flashvideo file=http://nba.cdn.turner.com/nba/big/games/pistons/2012/12/28/0021200428-mia-det-recap.nba_nba_576x324.flv /]
- Is LeBron making excuses? “We’re a team that wants to be whole every night we go out there. A big part of the team was missing, but guys have to step up. We didn’t have enough tonight defensively.” It’s not the Pistons fault the Wade kick someone in the groin.
- Andre Drummond had a fantastic night putting up another double-double with 10 points and 10 boards. Had he not gotten into a bit of foul trouble, I’m sure his number would be bigger. His defensive plays, especially the steal on James that led to the Villanueva fast break are thing that make him more than just another big man.
- Charlie Villanueva was a +21 in the box reigning threes (4-of-5) on the Heat on his way to 18 points and six boards in 25 minutes.
- Daye with 11 points two blocked shots and a +17 in the box. He’s not only producing, but you can see his confidence when he’s on the floor.
- Singler with 12 points, five boards and two assist with a +14. He’s looked better in the last two games for Detroit than he has in a while.
- Brandon Knight is clearly in a slump. I feel like it’s either a banner night or a bust with him. He’s got to make sure he doesn’t let the team dig themselves in holes like they do to start games. It doesn’t always fall on him, but as the PG he’s got to try to figure out a solution.
- The starters did start the second half on a 9-0 run, and played a nice third quarter.
- No Rodney Stuckey, who was out with a sprained left ankle, which he suffered in the Atlanta loss.
- Is it wrong to be smug about the fans in the building Friday night who came to see the Heat?
- The Heat are probably a little embarrassed that MC Hammer put on a better performance than they did.
- Good times at the Palace of Auburn Hills.
- Next up Milwaukee on Sunday.
Obviously Bynumite was the biggest factor but props to the coaching staff too. You can tell Frank is fair in assigning playing time to his players….. you deliver and you get to play. Can’t wait for JJ to crack the rotation too…. I have faith in Frank, but Joe D needs to help him with getting some help.
Props to Bynum for making the most of his recent opportunity after rotting on the bench for like 20 games. Same to Daye, and villi, not feeling the coaching staff overall though. The only reason Frank unleashed Bynum was because Stuck went down, Maybe Austin and Charlie is getting shopped which is why they’re playing, but I just think Frank tries new people after every few losses or so. A trade definately needs to happen though, because we got too many players on the roster with comparible talent and Frank don’t know what to do with them. Maxiell should be traded because 1. Drummond makes him expendable (plus it would force Frank to start him) 2. Max would get good interest because of the d and expiring contract 3. that would allow us to slide Moose to the 4 and allow the Russian to be the back up center he’s supposed to be. We have to thin this roster. I think it’s also time for Joe to try to make a play for Avery Johnson who was unceremoniously canned after starting the season 14-14 in Brooklyn. We would definately take 14-14 right now.
Agree with you terry, but at the same time I would not make too many changes at once either. Roster is somewhat stable ( relatively speaking )and time is running out on Frank and Joe D….. we have been in rebuilding phase for far too long now and not sure how much patience Gores have.
Overall team has been playing better as suggested by the 2.2 points difference, just needs some maturity and ability to finish games which we hope will come as season progresses….
As far as Lebran’s comment about not having enough defensively to defend against the Pistons. We could say that Stuck was out too! OK, I guess not….
You have to respect Lebron’s game. If anything he wasn’t harsh enough towards his fellow team mates, they really let him down.