The 14-20 #Pistons are in New York to take on the 11-22 Knicks at Madison Square Garden. The Pistons will be looking for answers as they take the court against the Knicks having lost a season-worst four games in a row.
Brandon Jennings: “This is most definitely an emergency right now, it is slipping away from us. You start questioning if everyone is willing to sacrifice and do the things that we need to win games.” Via NBA.com
The good: It’s pretty difficult to put a good spin on Detroit Basketball since the Pistons managed to beat the Pacers. Besides the play of Andre Drummond and Greg Monroe the real MVP of the season thus-far is Rodney Stuckey. Unfortunately Stuckey has not been healthy enough to help the Pistons fix their woes. Stuckey led the Pistons with 21 points the last time the Pistons took on the Knicks.
The bad: Detroit has lost seven consecutive games at Madison Square Garden.
Josh Smith leads the league in all things that suck.
As bad as the Knicks have been all season the UK’s top online betting sites are leaning towards New York in this one.
The unknown: Can Josh Smith stay true to his words when he says that the Pistons must be unselfish in order to have success? Has Brandon Jennings put the frustrations aside after the loss to Memphis on Sunday?
Injuries: Pistons: Rodney Stuckey – day-to-day
Knicks: Raymond Felton – questionable, Metta World Peace – out
Fact: Detroit won the first meeting against the New York Knicks, 92-86.
Fact: Detroit has lost seven consecutive games at Madison Square Garden
Stat: Andre Drummond now ranks second in the NBA in field goal percentage with 61.2%.
Tip off is at 7:30 pm and will be broadcast on Fox Sports Detroit . If you can’t catch the game on TV, catch it on the radio over at 97.1 The Ticket.
Natalie, I know it’s convenient to pick a scapegoat such as Josh Smith (like Lawrence Frank before him, and Ben Gordon before him, and Rip Hamilton before him, and John Kuester before him, and Allen Iverson before him, and so on to infinity and beyond) but there’s one man who brought all these people here and put them in a position to FAIL. This team was awful without Josh Smith, so what’s the difference?? He’s being played out of position, completely negating his defensive strengths, and feeding his offensive bad habits by asking him to do small forward things. If Josh Smith was brought here for the sole purpose of playing small forward next to Monroe and Drummond, then this might be the single worst signing of a “quality” player in NBA history. Every single person associated with this organization is currently in a position to FAIL because of the man in charge. We know who Josh Smith is. We know his bad habits. Blame the man who brought him here for once, and stop picking on people who only distract from the real problem (*coughingsoundthatsoundslikeJoeDumars*). Please. Josh is just the latest in a never-ending string of scapegoats because for some idiotic reason Joe Dumars is somehow beyond criticism just because he was good at his job A FULL DECADE AGO. Please get real, Natalie. Be a part of the solution and not a part of the problem.
I’m not using Josh as a Scapegoat, just stating the facts. I was the first one to realize what a horrible signing it was. I know he is playing out of position and I realize how Joe has turned this team into garbage.
I want to be part of the solution but when players play badly I can’t hide that.
When I just see Charlie V on the bench and remember the Ben Gordon signing all I see is red…and anger towards Dumars.
Josh should play well against carmelo his tendencies to sag to the paint and leave the perimeter man won’t happen because ‘melo has the ball in his hands so much. Watch Josh to post up carmelo too. We should win this one with the “Good Josh Smith.”
Anybody else think philly would be open to trading Thad Young and Hawes for Smith? They are apparently available and I think Smith could be an asset for them.
this game was a gifted win..
Josh Smith airball was hilarious, I am not even angry, I nearly choked with laughter when he pulled up and the ball it just goes in the air and falls down. Wow.
I blame the 3rd qtr effort more than the airball and CV missed FT.
It’s being mocked all over twitter. The video of it is everywhere.
Sad thing was it was a great defensive play on the other end.
Philly is thinning the team for the draft I doubt they would ever want Smith.
They claim they want assets. That probably means picks and young players but just wishful thinking.
I know was about to give josh props for that defensive play against melo taking the charge but then my mind was wiped clean by that airball