That’s more like it.

You had to have a good feeling about this one right from the outset. The Pistons caught the Cavs off guard to start the game getting run out transition buckets. It wasn’t the lathargic jump shooting team that played the Cavs back on the 19th. This time it was Detroit getting to the hustle plays and beating Cleveland on the boards (43-37).

Rip Hamilton was still nursing a sore hip, but this is a game he wanted to play in. Rip led the Piston scoring with 14, but more important were his contributions to defending LeBron James.

Rip and co. held Cleveland’s King to a season low 13 points on 4/17 shooting. That’s a good 17+ points below James’ season average. This loss probably shut the door on LeBron’s candidacy for league MVP as the Cavs can no longer have a 50 win season. Without looking it up I can’t remember a player in recent memory winning the MVP when his team is sub-50 wins.

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Antonio McDyess recorded a 12 point, 10 rebound double-double, 7 of those boards came in the first quarter alone.

Chauncey Billups scored 13 and it seemed like they were all on Damon Jones. I don’t think there’s a player more ill-equipped to handle Mr. Big Shot defensively than Damon Jones. DJ just needs to stick to being LeBron’s personal cheerleader and leave the game stuff to everyone else.

I don’t think this was a statement game any more than the Cavs win over us in Cleveland. The Cavs are battling through a host of injuries and still trying to find out what the net gain of their big trade is. So, no, I wouldn’t say we sent any kind of message but it’ll give Cleveland something to think about.

NOTES: The Pistons honored the Jack McCloskey, the architect of the Bad Boys teams, at half time by raising his name on a banner to the Palace rafters…Pistons announcer, and living legend George Blaha emceed the banner raising ceremony, it was also Blaha’s 63rd birthday….The Pistons finally own a regular season win over Ben Wallace this year, Ben left the game in the third quarter with back spasms….Box score

The Pistons (51-21) will be hosting the Cleveland Cavaliers (40-32) Tip off is 7:30 pm est from the Palace of Auburn Hills and will be televised locally on WDIV Detroit

Cavs’ Snapshot
Road record: 16-21
Last game: 3/26 (Weds) L 100-99 vs. Hornets
Last 10: 5-5
Last game vs. Detroit: Mar. 19th - Pistons (73) @ Cavs (89)

In my mind this game could go one of two ways; either it’s a competitive matchup of two divisional rivals or a game where the Cavs outwork us because they still feel the need to measure up. I’m kind of leaning towards the latter since the Pistons probably aren’t going to take any chances in getting involved in a smash mouth matchup with 10 games left in the regular season.

I think perhaps the last game of the season (4/16 @ Cleveland) the Pistons might look to send a little more of a message as they lock in for their title run.

I would however like to see the Pistons look more comfortable when the Cavs go to their trapping defense, especially Chauncey Billups. Win or lose if they look as if they’ve worked out that kink I’ll feel good about the game.

It looks as if Rip Hamilton will be listed as questionable with his sore left hip. On Cleveland’s side Ben Wallace (back spasms) and Daniel Gibson (ankle sprain) are also questionable for tonight’s game.

Who knew Andrew Bogut was such a card? That’s some pretty funny stuff.

It’s been a growing sentiment this season that Rasheed Wallace would be a good candidate to join the coaching ranks. With more youth on the team than in recent memory you’re hearing more and more from the young guys how much Rasheed helps them in practice and during games by talking them. Even guys who aren’t Pistons, like Orlando’s Dwight Howard, seem to praise ‘Sheed for his on-court tutelage.

Seems Flip Saunders has even taken to calling ‘Sheed Coach Wallace:

“You know, Coach Wallace has done a pretty good job along those lines,” Saunders said. “Right now, he’s shooting the three so dang well yet he’s such a good post-up player it’s kind of a Catch-22. But I think what he’s done is he’s had a good year and he’s prepared himself to have a very solid and great playoff.

[…]

As for that “Coach Wallace” label? Well, there are a few who could see Wallace patrolling the sideline someday.

“We always talk about it,” Saunders said. “Before it’s all said and done I think he will. No one thought Larry Bird would get involved in anything and Larry got involved. It’s the ones sometimes who you least expect it, those are the ones who end up jumping into it full force.”

One thing is certain, if Rasheed were to bring half the passion to coaching as he does for playing he might make Bob Knight look pretty tame.

[Box score] Well, I was a tad miffed in the first half that we weren’t up on the Heat so big that the guys were practicing trick shots. But I came to realize that most of the guys that the Heat were suiting up are trying to play their way into the league next season and they were still going to give it a go, especially if we gave them any light at all.

This win clinched an outright Central Division title for the Pistons. It’s the Pistons 6th Central crown in 7 years.

After leading by 5 after the first and 3 at the half the spare-parts team Miami has came down to earth and the Pistons started handling their business holding the Heat to 24 second half points.

Arron Afflalo seized his opportunity starting for the third straight game for Rip Hamilton who’s out with a sore hip. Arron recorded careers highs in points(15, 5/9 shooting), rebounds(7).

“We’ve got four All-Star-caliber players around you, there’s a lot of open opportunities,” Afflalo said. “That’s all that is. Constantly, Tayshaun, ‘Sheed and ‘Dyess and Chauncey are creating open opportunities for me. It makes it very easy for me.” - Free Press

Jason Maxiell replicated Arron’s 15 point, 7 board total. Jason had 11 of those points and 5 of those rebounds in the 3rd quater alone. The two were among 5 Pistons in double figures that included Rasheed’s 13, Dice’s 11, and Chuancey’s 13 point, 11 assist double-double.

Although, I’ll admit It was kind of intriguing to see, in effect, an invitee tryout for a professional basketball team in season.

Take a guy like Blake Ahearn for example. He’s an undrafted guy out of the D-League on a 10-day. Nice shooter’s touch and works hard and may be earning a roster spot in Miami or perhaps another team. But, if he doesn’t he’ll be able to say he scored 15 points (13 in the 2nd alone) on one of the league’s best defensive teams. Even though I would never pull for another team against the ‘Stonz I didn’t mind seeing Ahearn, an average Joe type-of-guy, giving it his all out there. He was fearless going to the hoop and took a few shots as a result. He had to earn every point he got out there. Can’t help but feel good for “the little guy”.

We’ve got guys like that on our roster, but they’re also guys you’ve heard of before.

The Pistons (50-21) will be playing host to the Miami Heat (13-58) Tip off is 8:00 pm est from the Palace of Auburn Hills and will be televised locally on TV20 Detroit

Heat Snapshot
Road record: 6-29
Last game: 3/26 (Weds) L 96-103 OT @ Knicks
Last 10: 2-8
Last game vs. Detroit: Feb 6th - Heat (95) @ Pistons (100)

Seriously, I’m not trying to come off as an arrogant Pistons fan, but there’s no way in hell the Pistons should not win going away tonight (*fingers crossed to avoid jinx) when Pat Riley has his team? take the Palace court tonight. Rip or no Rip, four games in five nights or not. No excuse not to lock up the Central outright with a win tonight.

Let the young guys out to play. I’d say start Walter Herrmann to keep the Palace crowd into the game. I’d almost rather watch old people do sudoku puzzles for two and a half hours.

The Heat used to be so easy to dislike with guys like Shaq, Dwayne Dwyane Wade, Fatoine Walker, Alonzo Mouring, well let’s just say their whole damn roster. Now, take a look at their starting lineup: Earl Barron, Ricky Davis, Mark Blount, Daequann Cook, and Chris Quinn. Anyone you’ve ever heard of on their team is either injured or traded away. They’ve got 7 D-leaguers! How could you be anything short of empathetic to their team? I think they’d have a better chance suiting up the Flint Tropics to play the remainder of the season.

Check out the Heat’s official website. They’ve got more features on their dance team than they do the basketball team. It’s with good reason too. For one they’re smoking hot. Stipper hot (the ones in Miami, not like the ones on 8 mile), and they’re winners. They’re going for back-to-back wins on NBA.com’s dance team bracket tournament.

[Box Score] Definitely not the same intensity as we seen against the Suns, more reminiscent of the game before the Phoenix game against the Wizards. The Pistons just could never seem to maintain a run. The 15 turnovers and 40.8% shooting had a lot to do with that.

Detroit was again without Rip Hamilton who’s dealing with a sore left hip.

The Raptors, who were 2-8 in their last 10, now have a little something to draw back on if they hold at #7 and meet us in the first round of the playoffs. The Pistons beat Toronto by an average of 15 points in the two previous meetings this season and had lost 10 of the last 13 against the ‘Stonz.

On the glass half full tip we got to see extended minutes for Amir Johnson who played 19 minutes which included the entire 4th quarter. Amir didn’t stuff up his stat line, but he did a good job defending Chris Bosh (21 pts, 6 rbs) in the 4th. Rodney Stuckey found his offense in the 4th when the Pistons were trying to make a last push. Rodney scored 14 of his career high tying 16 in the quarter.

With Cleveland losing to New Orleans the Pistons backed into at least a share of the Central Division crown. One more win would clinch it out right. Chauncey (24 pts, 9 ast) said he and the Pistons aren’t too excited about Central crowns, they’ve got bigger plans:

“Our thing is not the division or the East, but the whole thing.” (Detroit Free Press)

The Pistons (50-20) will be taking on the Raptors (35-35) at Toronto’s Air Canada Centre tonight at 7 pm est. The game can be viewed locally on FSN Detroit.

Raptors’ Snapshot
Home record: 20-14
Last game: 3/23 (Sun) L 109-100 Vs. Denver
Last 10: 2-8
Last meeting vs. Detroit: Jan 15th - Raptors (89) @ Pistons (103)

If the playoffs were to start today the Canadian Dinosaurs would be our opponents, but the way the Raptors have been playing lately may very well drop into the 8th spot. The Raptors have dropped 7 of their last 8. They’ve had bad luck with injuries losing Bosh recently for 10 games with pain in his knee and point guard T.J. Ford is trying to find his rhythm after missing 24 games with a neck injury.

Rip Hamilton is listed in the line up but if he’s not 100% I wouldn’t expect to see too much of him. It’s just not worth the risk with the playoffs right around the corner and the Pistons comfortable with the number two seed. Rip scored 22 in the first meeting with Toronto, and 39 back on Jan 15th.

The “border-line out of control gangsta” is giving good quotes north of the border, but not the numbers to match. Primoz is averaging 4.1 points and 1.4 boards in just under nine minutes since the trade to Toronto. Brezec is currently listed as day-to-day with a sore groin.

ESPN: Time is apparently up on Chris Webber’s basketball career.Sources close to Webber told ESPN.com on Tuesday that the 35-year-old has decided to retire from the game and end his comeback with the Golden State Warriors after more problems with a surgically repaired left knee that has plagued him for the past half-decade.

He’ll probably never get the recognition he deserves as one of the games best big men in recent memory. It’s too bad things didn’t work out better for C-Webb here, it would have made for a much better ending to his career than him joining a Warriors team that had no more to offer him than some cheesy full circle articles.

Good luck Chris and thanks for the memories.



Some more former Pistons things I’ve been meaning to get to:

• Chucky Atkins deals with wheels
• Derrick Coleman is injured on Pro Vs. Joes
• This Toronto fan has taken a real liking to Primoz Brezec
• Isiah, while in Indy passed up drafting Tayshaun Prince in favor of Fred Jones
• Rick Carlisle to be Chicago’s next coach?

[Box score] In a game that saw 29 ties and 30 lead changes it’s only fitting that an over-time session was needed to decide this dandy.

Clutch plays and accurate free throwing (23/28) lifted the Pistons over the Suns in OT 105-110.

The Pistons came into this one down two guards. Juan Dixon was out with a strained left calf, an injury that Juan doesn’t know how it happened, which forced the Pistons to activate Lindsey Hunter sooner than planned. Rip Hamilton, the Pistons leading scorer, was a late scratch coming up lame in shoot-around with a sore left hip. Arron Afflalo was solid filling in for Rip. Arron showed the kind of defensive prowess on Steve Nash that had more than a little to do with why Joe D selected him for this team with 27th overall pick in June’s draft.

Rodney Stuckey (13 pts) came up big for Detroit hitting big shots and making plays down the stretch. Flip Saunders has been encouraged with how Stuck has been playing as of late, especially in big games:

“I think the impressive thing is that he’s played pretty good in big games. Popcorn player, when he smells the popcorn, the big game, he seems to rise to the occasion a little bit and enjoys that stage a little bit. As I said the other day, I have been most happy as far as how he’s developed over these last three weeks.” -Pistons.com

Rasheed Wallace and Chauncey Billups were in rare form. The two of them seemed to have tapped into some throwback competitive enthusiasm for playing in a big game. As a fan it was fun to watch the two of them last night because you could see that they were having fun competing out there.
Rasheed (23 pts, 9 rbs) was dueling with Phoenix’s Amare Stoudemire (33 pts). Like he usually does against the league’s elite fours, Rasheed was out there showing that when he wants to be the most dynamic player on the court he will be. Even with all Amare’s personality and aura and swagger it wasn’t enough to keep ‘Sheed from getting the better of the matchup. Rasheed didn’t outscore Amare, but his block and catch of Stoudemire’s jump shot in OT really told you all you needed to know about who got the personal win.

Chauncey (32 pts, 6 asts) also solidified his rep as a big game player. Chauncey had that look last night. The look a player gets when he knows he’s going to do something special. Starting in the fourth and into the overtime Chauncey started willing the team to victory with big drives and shots. Like Rasheed’s block Chauncey’s night had a hallmark play. With a minute left in overtime Chauncey drove to the basket and and got an and1 foul on Steve Nash that gave the lead for good. Chauncey scored 9 of the Piston’s 14 overtime points.

The Pistons completed a season sweep of the Suns. This win gives the Pistons their 7th consecutive 50 win season. One more win gives them their 6th Central Division title in 7 years.

ALSO SEE:

• Bright Side of the Sun: Pistons stop Suns: 110-105 / OT