With Amir Johnson sidelined with foul troubles Walter Herrmann seized the opportunity to be the Pistons second unit star and help the Pistons defeat the Washington Wizards 117-109. {box score}
Through the first two games of the season it’s pretty clear what the Pistons need to work on, and that’s playing with leads. Last night the Pistons all but put on a clinic in the first quarter outscoring Washington 31-21. The Wizards didn’t give in though and had themselves a 31 point second quarter. They committed to defense helping themselves to a 16-0 that all but erased an early 17 point lead the Pistons had built.
Since the defense, with emphasis on help defense, wasn’t there last night the Pistons had to beat the Wizards on the other side of the ball. The Pistons also put in work on the glass. The 49-24 advantage helped the Pistons to 55 second chance points.
Then there was Walter “Herrmannator” Herrmann. The Wizards played a smaller lineup and with Amir Johnson hampered by whistles it opened the door for Walter Herrmann to play with the starters in 4th qaurter where he made the most of his opportunities. Walter defended great, hustled, assisted, bombed from long range and attacked the hoop. His play was even energizing the crowd who were chanting his name. In Walter’s 23 minutes he scored 16 (his Piston high) on 6/9 shooting with 3/4 from downtown. Herrmann also had 4 assits and 7 boards.
“It was unbelievable,” said Herrmann, “I had a lot of confidence tonight.” -AP
Walter was part of a Pistons bench that outscored Washington’s 55-44. Jason Maxiell (11 pts, 7 rbs) attacked the rim like he was still playing for a contract. Kwame Brown showed his former mates his quick first step with a couple knifing moves to the hoop for the big man. Kwame scored 8 points on 4/4 shooting and would have been given more PT by Coach Curry’s own admission had the Wizards not gone to a small lineup.
Rasheed Wallace also had a huge hand in the Pistons victory.
Sheed had a 17 point/12 rebound double-double. Number 30 also threw himself a block party accounting for 6 of the team’s 7 rejections.
Richard Hamilton led the Pistons’ scoring with 24 points on 9/21 shooting, that to go along with Rip’s 7 boards and 3 assists.
The Wizards got a big contribution form the guy picked one behind Rodney Stuckey in last years draft. Nick Young scored 23 points off the Washington bench. Nick was a perfect 11/11 from the free throw line and 6/10 from the field.
GAME NOTES: Pistons had an uncharacteristic 17 turnovers, 15 in the first half … Tayshuan had a quiet night only attempting 5 shots and not doing much for the grass roots campaign … Walter’s 23 were his most in a game since he got 33 minutes for the Bobcats on Nov. 22, 2007 … N4S: Wins, Wizards and Walter … Former Piston Juan Dixon helped ignite the Wizards run in the second quarter scoring 7… DeShawn Stevenson was called for a flagrant foul for taking Arron Afflalo down by the neck on a second-quarter drive … Stuckey with 11 off the bench … Pistons start a 3 game road trip tomorrow in Charlotte, then return home a week from today to play the Celtics (who lost last night btw) …
Celtics guard Ray Allen joined Michael Jordan and several other NBA stars, including Rip Hamilton, in Las Vegas before training camp to take part in promotional work for Jordan’s Jumpman brand. Allen said he talked to Hamilton about his fingernails, which prompted Allen to wear an arm sleeve against the Pistons in the playoffs last season. “He was saying how when he saw me come out the next game with an arm sleeve on, they started laughing about it,” said Allen. “And then I said, ‘Look, man, I’m wearing an arm sleeve because . . .’ And then I picked his hand up and looked at his nails. And his nails were way out. He said, ‘Man, I didn’t know I cut people up like that. People tell me all the time that I need to cut my nails, but I don’t know what I’m doing.’ I told him, ‘Come on, dog, you know why you’re using them.’ ” -Boston.com
