May
16
Flip Saunders talking some Pistons playoff basketball with Jim Rome.
You had to wonder how long before teams came around to give Porter another shot at head coaching. Phoenix would be a pretty high profile gig for T-Porter to land with the names they have on that roster.
The Phoenix Suns have begun their coaching search in earnest by interviewing Detroit Pistons assistant coach Terry Porter.
Suns president Steve Kerr told ESPN.com that he flew in and out of Detroit on Thursday to meet with Porter, his former teammate for two seasons in San Antonio.
May
14
Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
[Box score] The Pistons will be playing in their sixth consecutive Eastern Conference Finals (opponent TBD) after dispatching the Orlando Magic in five games. The Pistons conference finals streak is the longest since the Los Angeles Lakers went to six straight Western Conference Finals from 1984-89.
Last night’s game five was a tight one, although many numbers pointed towards a Piston’s blowout. The Magic seemed to hit just enough shots to stay within striking distance, but in the end the Pistons just out muscled the Magic’s hopes of extending the series.
The Magic are a young upcoming team but right now the Pistons are too strong physically and mentally for Orlando to take the next step with their current group. They’re sure to have a busy off-season with a plethora of free agents on the roster, but they’ve got a nice nucleus with Howard, Hedo, and Lewis to build upon.
The Magic woes last night included committing 21 turnovers (12 off Pistons steals), 27 personal fouls, 57.1% free throw shooting, and again Dwight Howard being almost completely neutralized. Like I said, it’s amazing this game wasn’t a blowout.
Another game without Chauncey Billups gave a chance to further the maturation of Rodney Stuckey. Rodney came up big with clutch assists and drives late in the game. Stuck scored 15 points and dished out a team high 6 assists. Rodney also committed ZERO turnovers. The Pistons as a team actually set a new playoff record with a mere THREE turnovers the entire game, and none after the first quarter.
Tayshaun’s playoff defense legend continues to grow. Tay blocked a Hedo Turkoglu drive with under 25 seconds to play to help secure the series. The impressive thing about the block is that it wasn’t Tayshaun chasing down Hedo from behind. It was a straight face-to-face mano e mano mid air swat. The timing was a thing of beauty.
Another one of the ‘Stonz picks up an accolade. Rodney Stuckey made the NBA’s All-Rookie Second team. Pretty good for only getting into 57 games.
Rodney is joined on the 2nd team by: Jamario Moon (Toronto), Juan Carlos Navarro (Memphis), Thaddeus Young (Philadelphia) and Carl Landry (Houston).
From the Detroit News:
Voting was done by the league’s head coaches, who were asked to select five players for the First Team and five for the Second Team, regardless of position.
May
13
This is truly a conundrum for me picking who’d I’d like to see win this series. I wish their was a way for them to eliminate each other and we go straight to the Finals.
So, if I have to pull for a team, it’s the Cavs. I’ve not made it a secret that I don’t care for the Celtics. I don’t like the Cavs either but they’re the lesser of two evils in this case. I also find myself pulling for Ben Wallace. In addition I’d like to see the Pistons get a measure of payback against the Cavs en route to the Finals.
It’s not that as a Pistons fan I fear the Celtics, just the opposite. I think they’d be a better matchup for us than the Cavs. I just want them to GO AWAY. It’s just too much too soon. I’m sick of their ESPN commercials. I’m sick off all the promos with Garnett shouting/jersey popping/chest pumping/basket-support head butting. I’m sick of their loose gums and faux tough guy ways. I’m sick of them period.
Last night’s game was entertaining. I love the fact that the front running Celtics can’t get it done on the road in the Playoffs. I felt weird getting pumped when LeBron threw down the windmill jam on Mr. DPOY Kevin Garnett, but it was pretty sweet.
May
12
Congrats to the “Long Arm of the Law” for making the 2008 NBA’s All-Defensive 2nd team. Great recognition for a guy who usually goes overlooked, except for the defensive 2nd team (this is the 4th consecutive season that Tay has made the 2nd team).
The Palace Prince is joined by Shane Battier of the Houston Rockets, Chris Paul of the New Orleans Hornets, Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic, and Raja Bell of the Phoenix Suns.
Sources: ESPN, Detroit News, Detroit Free Press
May
12
The Pistons can close this thing up on Tuesday, but do we want it to? Sounds like this thing is starting to get a little testy. Familiarity seems to be breeding contempt. Could get entertaining like the old days (1980’s).
You remember the ealry stuff with Theo and Rashard Lewis after game one? Well, there’s a couple new wrinkles.
McDyess had this to say about tangling up with Dwight Howard: “I threw him to the ground. Get it right,” quipped McDyess. “I felt that he was trying to bully me, so I saw him trying to throw me down. So I said, ‘I’m not falling by myself. He gotta come with me.’ So I kind of grabbed him along with me when I was falling backwards.”
If that wasn’t enough Detroit News’ beat writer Chris McCosky nearly threw down with Orlando radio host Jerry O’Neill. I guess Rasheed wasn’t just giving lip service when he let be known that ‘we ain’t no punks!’
No Chauncey looked to be a big problem in the first half. The offense didn’t have much flow. We also missed Chauncey on the defensive side of the ball. Rodney Stuckey, who started for Billups got himself into foul trouble early not being able to react quick enough to the more veteran Magic guards.
Luckily for Stuckey there’s a 14 year veteran PG who was activated for the game. Lindsey played really well when you consider his age and just how much he hasn’t played this season. He was tenacious as ever and helped to keep the Pistons in the game.
It kind of looked like with out our floor leader we were going to have to concede a second loss to the Magic in Orlando and prepare to go back to the Palace and hold serve.
Things started to turn around in the second half. The Pistons started the third down by 11(44-55), and not too long into the quarter the deficit grew to 15. That’s when the team that Pistons’ fans love emerged. The Pistons defense started clamping down. A 15-0 run put Detroit even with Orlando at 63 and we again had ourselves a ball game.
The Pistons were able to contain Dwight Howard all night. The Piston defenders did a great job of pushing Dwight away from the basket and not letting him get any close looks. Howard scored a personal playoff low 8 points, with no field goals after the first quarter, to go with his 12 boards.
The fourth quarter was a good old fashion playoff battle with the lead going back and forth. Rasheed (16 pts) who was invisible in the first half combined with Rip (32 pts) and Tayshaun (17 pts) to help carry the Pistons.
May
09
If you take a spin around the net and hit up all the Pistons hot spots you’ll be able to get your Chauncey Billups hamstring fix. To sum it all up Chauncey’s still sore and isn’t sure about his availability for tomorrows game #4. The man in charge of CB’s hampered hamstring, Arnie Kander, is a bit more optimistic about the situation.
Chauncey seems to be more hesitant to give his status because this is his first hammy tweak so he doesn’t have any reference for recovery time. Either that or it’s a bit of playoff gamesmanship. Pulling Orlando’s leg, so to speak.
Arnie is quick to point out all the bright sides. The injury happened slowly as opposed to say a sprinter getting the same injury at high speed. AK says it’s more of an overstretch than a pull. Another good sign is that Chauncey’s level of discomfort has stayed consistent where it would be more ominous if the pain got worse.
Also since the Pistons had two days between games 3 and 4 there’s more time for Arnie to work his magic mojo:
“MRIs won’t tell you anything,” Kander said.
“You can tell more by your hands and by palpitations. The fibers (in the leg) felt great, they were together. He was walking normally last night and this morning. If he feels as good in the morning as he did last night, that to me is tremendous.”
Kander said he would administer treatments that “Chauncey’s never seen before, a lot of stuff he isn’t even going to be able to spell.”
This isn’t confirmed but I think Kander is going to go a little old school Okinawa on Big Shot. The hands rubbing and warming, the nasty tea, roots, berries, the whole nine. The Cobra Kai Orlando Magic won’t know what hit ‘em.
May
08
Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images
[Box Score] The stars were all aligned for Orlando last night. Chauncey slips, does some crazy splits and strains his right hamstring just four minutes into the game. Rasheed Wallace is limited to just 28 minutes because of foul troubles. The Magic find their home court very conducive for their shooting touch as they hit 54% from the field, including 46% from beyond the arc. Rashard Lewis comes alive after two subpar games at the Palace scoring a game high 33 (5 ast, 6 rbs).
Even though the Pistons fought hard it was just too much at once to overcome.
From what I’ve read the Pistons are hopeful Mr. Big Shot will be able to go in game #4, but will be listed as day-to-day. Chauncey’s status is most likely going to lead to the activation of Lindsey Hunter or Juan Dixon, or possibly both. It’ll also be the perfect spot for Rodney Stuckey to really step up and make a name for himself. Tayshaun Prince (22 pts, 7 rbs) would also be a guy to keep your eyes on because of his propensity for increased production when we’re down a starter.
Allen Einstein/NBAE via Getty Images
At half time it looked like we were lining up the Magic for a second straight blow out victory but a flurry of three pointers in the third quarter got the Magic back into the game.
The game was tied at 29 at the end of one, but then the Pistons turned up the D and started to pull away in the second holding the Magic to 11 points in the quarter and taking a 10 point lead into half time.
Orlanado got back into the game in the third by going to their bread-and-butter, the long ball. After connecting on just two of their fifteen three point tries in game one the Magic hit eleven of the twenty-six they attempted in game two, seven of them coming in consecutive fashion in the third.
May
05
The Pistons and Magic continue their best of seven second round playoff series tonight at the Palace of Auburn Hills. The Pistons lead the series one game to none. Game tips at 7:00 EST and will be a nationally televised TNT game.
Allen Einstein/NBAE via Getty Images
Plenty to look forward tonight after the game one drubbing the Pistons gave the Magic. The two teams have begun taking some verbal stabs at each other. That’s what it’s all about. That’s the pride and competitiveness kicking in. We didn’t get that in the first round because Philly knew they were good, but not as good as us and we in turn respected them because they played so hard. Now, you’ve got a team in Orlando that feels they’re ready to take what the Pistons have.
For the Pistons tonight the recipe has to be the same. Crowd their 3-point shooters and stay tight on Howard down low. Speaking of Howard I’ve not heard anything else about his bruised thumb so I assume he’s ok.
For an Orlando slant check out Third Quarter Collapse
From Chris McCosky’s blog:
Billups is the 2007-2008 recipient of the J. Walter Kennedy Award, the oldest citizenship and community service award given in the NBA. The award is given by the Professional Basketball Writers Association
D. Lippitt/Einstein/NBAE via Getty Images
When reading over the game quotes it seems like the Pistons were in the collective heads of the Orlando Magic. It’s only one game in and they’re already whining about how physical Detroit plays. Reminds me of the politicking Phil Jackson and the Bulls did in 1991.
Here’s Dwight Howard on the Pistons D:
“We know they’re going to be physical, pushing and holding, and we have to expect that.
Stan Van Gundy on the the Pistons defense of Howard:
“They play him the most physically of any team, it’s hard for him to get great position, he always has bodies on him, they are always pushing him and he has contact on every play which kind of takes him a little off balance. They did a very good job of this tonight, and I also think they do a pretty good job of keeping him off the glass particularly in the second half.”
Hedgey also said something to the effect that the Pistons have been playing this way for so long and they’re allowed to get away with a lot of things when he was interviewed by Pam Oliver at the half. Didn’t he do a lot of complaining back in ‘05 as the Heat’s head man as well?
I think it’s a mistake for them to start with the Detroit is too physical talk. As savvy as the Pistons are you don’t think they’re going to play on the Magic’s frustration? The Pistons will have this young Magic team trying to prove they’re not soft more than they’ll be trying to prove that they’re not the same team they broomed last year.
That’s the kind of cerebral intimidation the Bad Boys thrived on. It’s a Pistons tradition.
Photo by D. Lippitt/Einstein/NBAE via Getty Images
What a start to the second round. I was a bit concerned in the first half that we were playing so well but not able to pull away, but it turned out it was just the Magic doing whatever they could just to stay in the game and they would eventually wear down under the pressure of the Piston’s defense.
The second half was all Pistons as they outscored the Magic 48-30 leading the way to a series opening blowout win.
The Detroit defense was exceptional. We did a great job of crowding them on the perimeter. The Magic averaged over 30 3-point attempts a game in the first round vs. Toronto, but last night they only got off 15 and made only 2.
Props to the Pistons big men for making Dwight Howard (12 pts, 8 rbs) look less like Wilt Chamberlain and more like, um I don’t know, just someone who isn’t nearly as dominant. I was surprised to see the Pistons open up with Jason Maxiell on Howard and Sheed out on Rashard Lewis since Rasheed is the noted Superman stopper. Maxy more than held his ground though, I was impressed. I like how Flip threw different defenders on Howard. The combos of Maxy, Dice, Sheed and later Ratliff seemed to really bother Howard. Even though Howard was unable to extricate his game from the Pistons bigs the Magic still need him to have a shot at the series so you know Magic fans are sweating his thumb he bruised (somehow) in the third quarter.
Chauncey Billups, as expected, played a great game overpowering . He really motored the Pistons early scoring 14 and dishing out 5 assists by halftime. Mr. Big Shot finished with game highs in points (19) and assists (7) in just under 33 minutes none of which were in the 4th quarter. Richard Hamilton combined with Billups to give Detroit’s starting backcourt a 36-11 scoring advantage over Orlando’s Nelson and Evans.
The Pistons have now won 8 straight playoff games against Orlando dating back to the opening round of the 2003 playoffs.
