Game #68: Gutsy shorthanded win
Posted by pistonsnation
Clippers (90) @ PISTONS (108) / {box score}
I must admit I was a little giddy when reading that Rodney Stuckey had a cold and Will Bynum would get the start if he couldn’t go. Here at PN we’ve been the Bynum-wagon since day one.
“I’ve been waiting for this, praying for this,” said Bynum when asked about his first NBA start. - mlive
To say Will made the best of his first NBA start would be putting it mildly. Will poured in a career high 22 points (10/19 shooting) and a career high tying 6 assists. Will plays D too so give him 3 steals for the night and he only turned the ball over twice in his team high 44 minutes. There’s definitely a place for Will on this team, and it isn’t at the end of the bench!
“Will did a great job,” said Brown. “He came out aggressively and softened them up a bit and they started focusing on him in our pick-and-rolls. That allowed for me and Dyess to get a lot of open shots.” - DetNews
Will wasn’t the only one who’s Pistons pride was compensating for the team being without their top four scorers.
Antonio McDyess had another game that made you proud to watch. The 34 year old Warrior led the team in scoring with 24 points (11/18 shooting), boards with 17 (5 offensive) and blocks (2). This was Antonio’s team high 12 double-double of the season. Antonio is a man’s man on the court. I don’t know that there’s ever been a Piston who’s earned the RESPECT McDyess has in the second half of this season. No matter how the season turns out I’m glad I got to watch this guy represent my team.
Antonio got help down low from Kwame Brown who had his best scoring out put, 14 points, as a Piston. Tayshaun Prince scored 23 and dished out a career high 12 assists.
Walter Herrmann (13 points) did all of his damage in the Pistons 34 point fourth quarter hitting key triples to keep the Pistons on top of the Clippers.
Although this win came against the lowly Clippers my hope is that the effort put forth by the team’s lesser stars will encourage renewed energy for the guys who weren’t suited up last night.
GAME NOTES: The Pistons have now beaten the Clippers 13 straight times …The Pistons also did not have the services of the PA stylings of John Mason … 55.7% shooting for the Pistons, 5/10 from three … Pistons converted on 13 of their 18 4th quarter shots … Clips Nation recapper … Amir Johnson was the only Piston not in the score book … 27 assists …
