PistonsNationBlog.com » 2007 » December

Dec 24

Above the radar Posted by pistonsnation at 1:42 pm

Head on over to ESPN and you’ll get one present a day early (no, not the turmoil in Chi) the Pistons gracing the front of the NBA page. Mark Stein has them #1 in the power rankings. They’re up from #3 last week. Mark writes:

Besides The Sports Guy, who else won’t like Detroit’s rise to No. 1? The Pistons just went 12-2 to join Boston in the 20-Win Club, but Chauncey Billups reminded us how they think: ”I love us flying under the radar.”

That dunce Mark Hollinger doesn’t see things the same way. Oh well.

I like seeing the Pistons under the radar as much as Chauncey, but it’s good to see them get a little national love. Not seeing Boston plastered all over the page is a good thing guys.

**Finders fee going to KTL

Dec 24

Merry X-mas Scott Skiles Posted by pistonsnation at 1:25 pm

Via ESPN:

Bulls coach Scott Skiles has lost his job as a result of his team’s slow start. The Bulls have lost three of their last four games and were booed throughout Saturday’s home loss to the Rockets. Despite high expectations, the Bulls (9-16) have the third worst record in the Eastern Conference.

“This was a difficult decision to make, but one that was necessary at this time,” general manager John Paxson said in a statement Monday. “Scott helped us in many ways during his time with the Bulls; most importantly, he helped this franchise get back to respectability. I am appreciative of his hard work and the imprint that he left on our team.”

The Bulls didn’t immediately announce a replacement for Skiles, who went 165-172 after replacing Bill Cartwright in November 2003.

Ben Wallace said Saturday he would welcome personnel changes if it would help the club.

“That’s one of those things that goes along with this league,” said Wallace. “Change is not always bad. If everybody wants to be here we have to step it up and go out there and play basketball.”

Meanwhile the paychecks will keep coming for Ben. Ben Wallets has a certain way of brooming coaches doesn’t he? What poor timing. In my estimation the Bulls did Skiles a favor. He’s a defensive minded coach and he’ll be back, the Bulls on the other hand might have more sucking to do before they straighten that mess out.

Dec 24

Seasons beatings from the Pistons Posted by pistonsnation at 11:08 am

After losing a game that thought they should have won back on the 12th the Pistons didn’t take any chances with the weary Houston Rockets. “They knew (we would win),” said Wallace. “We knew it, too. We were shooting terrible when we went out there. And they beat us, basically, with a shot at the buzzer. So we knew we’d get this
one.”

It appears that the Pistons are starting to put the D back in Detroit. They had a holiday feast on the Rockets who were playing their 4th game in 5 nights. The Pistons held the Rockets to 40.3% shooting and forced them into 17 turnovers. Antonio McDyess really put in work helping Rasheed Wallace down low on Yao. “It’s been awhile since I’ve seen our defense play the way it has lately,” McDyess said

The proverbial blood was in the water in the third quarter and the Pistons attacked. Tracy McGrady reaggravated his knee injury very early into the third and Yao Ming had to be stitched up after butting heads with teammate Luther Head (there’s a joke in there somewhere) near the end of the third. Neither returned to the game. With the Rockets pulled over to the side of the road with the hazards on Rip Hamilton and Antonio Miggidy Miggidy Mac Dyess went to work combining for 21 in the quarter. The defense was kicked up a notch only allowing Houston to put up 16 points (6/17 shooting) on the board for the period. The Pistons took a 60-78 lead into the fourth quarter.

The lead got to 20 in the 4th and the Pistons pretty much coasted to their 20th win on the season.

Game Notes:

This is the Pistons fifth win in a row, the longest winning streak in the East. They also join Boston as the only teams with 20 wins on the season
Antonio McDyess’ 11 boards gives him 5 straight games with double digit rebounds and his 12 points gives him his 4th straight double-double
Sheed used some vintage Mahorn “pull the chair out” against Yao on back-to-back possessions. “I’ve been doing that to Yao and to Shaq (O’Neal) for a long time,” Wallace said. “Once they make that move, they can’t stop (their momentum).”
The Pistons have won 7 straight against the Rockets at the Palace.