Game #3 – Pistons close out the Hawks late
Posted by pistonsnation
[box score] It took a late Chauncey Billups free throw, but the Pistons sent their home opener crowd home with a win and improved to 3-0.
The game was close most of the way with Atalnta enjoying slim leads most of the second half. The Pistons were able to close the gap in the fourth and were ahead by three late when Josh Smith drew Rasheed Wallace foul while in the act of shooting behind the three point line. Smith hit all three tying the game at 91. Chauncey Billups attacked the rim on the Pistons final possession forcing the Hawks Marvin Williams to foul him. Chauncey hit the first of two free throws. The Hawks tried a last second desperate heave that was way off giving the Pistons the one point victory.
The Hawks may not be ready to contend in the East, but they are ready to give the contenders fits with their youth, length, and athleticism. Atlanta provides matchup problems with their many guys who can play multiple positions. They also have an emerging superstar in Joe Johnson. It was the Pistons poise late that enabled them to aviod what would have been the Hawks second early season upset.
Overall it was a fun game to watch. The Pistons were causing turnovers and getting out on the break, showing flashes of what’s sure to be an exciting season of Detroit Basketball. You also had to love the the defense down low. Jason Maxiell and Rasheed Wallace combined for 7 blocks ensuring no free chili was given to Atlanta’s young bucks.
GAME NOTES:
- Rip played well in his first game of the season (despite fouling out) 21pts (10/15), 5 asts, 4 rbs
- Chauncey was solid: 22 pts, 5 asts, 3 rbs
- add ‘em up the backcourt combines for 43 pts (53% fg), 10 asts, 7 rbs
- Jason Maxiell Jason Maxiell Jason Maxiell!! 15 pts, 8 rbs (4&4), 4 blks off the bench
- Nazr & Sheldon “The Forehead” Williams got dual techs in the second for jawing at each other
- No Amir; DNP
(I’d liked to have seen him matchup with some of ATL’s young guys) - McDyess is still struggling to find his rythm as a starter. He only attempted 4 shots making 2 of them. He did however grab a team high 9 boards
- There was talk during the game that Rodney Stuckey has already started rehabbing his left hand. Don’t rush it Stuck, it’s a long season.
- Marvin Williams and Joe Johnson combined for 45 pts for the Hawks
Chauncey on the last Piston possession:
“He darned near clothes-lined me,” said Billups, who hit one of two free throws to give the Pistons a hard-earned 92-91 victory in their home opener Sunday. “He (referee Kevin Fehr) didn’t want to call it, either. He waited a long time.”
- Detroit News: Pistons get last call
- BDD: Pistons inch past Hawks
This entry was posted on Monday, November 5th, 2007 at 11:53 am and is filed under Game recap, Hawks. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
JMax is a BEAST
November 5th, 2007 at 1:17 pmI know I am starting to sound like a critic but the Pistons looked shaky through the first 3 quarters but stepped up and closed the game out. Maxeill was a “beast from the east” last night, you could easily tell that he lost 25 pounds. When is the next pistons game?
November 5th, 2007 at 4:53 pmIt’s ok to analyze faults in a win. It’s never perfect so there’ll always be something to improve upon.
The next game is Thurs in Chicago
Did you hear Cris Mcoskey’s comments on Blog’s….he really went off about how ticked he was about blogs, it can be seen on NEED4SHEED
November 5th, 2007 at 5:24 pmLike I said on hook’d up I could care less about what McCosky thinks about bloggers, I rather concentrate my attention on Detroit Basketball, not Chris.