If nothing else this was a entertaining game to watch.  The second unit got a chance to strut their stuff and although they gave up a sizable lead in the third quarter there were still plenty of good things to be excited about. {box score}

The goal for this game was to get the younger Pistons some extended minutes.  Curry gave Rip and Rasheed the night off and Dice, Chauncey, and Tayshaun didn’t see any  second half minutes.

The Pistons first unit gave the young guys a 24-15 cushion after one period of play.  Eleven of those first quarter points came from Tayshaun Prince.  It’s good to see him finally scoring the ball after struggling in the first six preseason games.  Chauncey, who like Tay didn’t play after the first quarter, led the Pistons 5 assists.

The second and third quarter saw the Hawks and Pistons exchanging runs.  The Hawks peeled and 14 point Pistons third quarter lead down to 3, 68-71, by the end of the quarter which set up and back and forth duel in the fourth quarter with the Hawks prevailing by one point.  The Pistons would have gotten a better look at a game winner had Alex Acker called a time out after grabbing a Hawks miss, but instead settled for a  hurried last second shot by Stuckey beyond the 3-point arc.

Arron Afflalo, who started in place of Rip Hamilton, led the Pistons’ scoring with 15 points on 7/13 shooting to go with 6 rebounds.  Eleven of Afflalo’s 15 came in the Pistons third quarter run.  Arron was also solid defensively as usual.

Alex Acker made the most of his 19 minutes last night.  Acker scored 11 points on 5/6 shooting to go with 5 boards.

Mike Curry didn’t like all the points for Atlanta down low.  Despite not having Rasheed, Kwame Brown, limited Dice and Amir, M.C. did like his team getting outworked in the paint 54-32:

“Fifty-four points in the paint, I don’t care what we’re playing, that’s unacceptable for how we’re going to play basketball,” Curry said. “That just shows that we have some more work to do.” - milve

Two guys that didn’t play as well as I’m sure they’d have liked to are Amir Johnson and Rodney Stuckey.  Amir couldn’t stay out of foul trouble.  Amir managed to collect 6 fouls in just 15 minutes of play.  Stuckey just had a real bad shooting night going 3/18.  We know Hot Rod is better than 16% shooter, but I have a feeling fouls might be an ongoing problem for Amir Johnson.

Flip Murray (18 points, 9 boards) can never be accused of not having excellent one-on-one skills.  Flip got to the rack whenever he felt like it.  The other former Piston, Mo Evans, also had a good Palace return with 14 points which included this sick dunk over Cheikh Samb.  The irony of that dunk was that the two were traded for each other on Draft Day ‘06.

GAME NOTES: … Walter Sharpe fouled out in 15 minutes of play … Maxiell: 13 points, 8 boards … Pistons finish up preseason play with a 6-2 record … Peach Tree Hoops recap … Kwame’s strained shoulder kept him out again, but he is expected to be ready for the Oct. 29th opener … Wallace’s shooting doesn’t bother him …

The Pistons (6-1, preseason) will be hosting the Atlanta Hawks (4-3, preseason) tip off from the Palace will be at 7:30 pm est. The game will be broadcast locally on FSN Detroit.

UPDATE: Michael Curry will not play Richard Hamilton or Rasheed Wallace tonight. Arron Afflalo and Antonio  McDyess  will start tonight - mlive

Hawks’ snapshot
Last game: 10/20 (Mon) - L 109-103 Vs. Magic
Injuries: Joe Johnson (sore groin)

Finally we’ve come to the last preseason game before Wednesday’s season opener vs. the Pacers.

For our preseason finale we take on  the team that nearly upset the Celtics in the first round of last season’s playoffs.  They lost guard Josh Childress to Greece as part of  the offseason Euro revolution, but did add a couple former Pistons in Maurice Evans and Flip Murray.

The Hawks will be without All-Star Joe Johnson who is back in Atlanta resting a sore groin.

Coach Curry plans on resting starters tonight and giving the second unit and Amir Johnson the keys in the second half.  Also, don’t expect to see Kwame Brown tonight as he’s still nursing his strained right shoulder.

[After the game, FSN Detroit will be running a special look at the upcoming Pistons’ season.]

Also see:

• Hawks Basketblog: Q & A with Flip
• Hawks Basketblog: Final Preseason Tilt Tonight in Detroit
  
• ajc.com: Hawk’s Mike Woodson calls out Josh Smith
• Remember to vote for PN for top Pistons team blog

Via Atlanta Journal-Constitution:

“They were kind of loud at the beginning,” he said. “But a lot of these fans are bandwagon jumpers trying to get on this now. I played here last year, too. And I didn’t see three fourths of them. They’re for the team now and they might get a little rowdy but that’s about it.”

When asked if he thought they were fair-weather fans, joining the party only after the Celtics’ offseason trades that brought Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen to town, Bibby didn’t hesitate to pour more gasoline on the fire.

“You could say that,” he said. “I remember them having bags on their heads [last year]. It’s a different look. I guess that’s what happens when you win.”

Bibby and Josh Smith were the most noticeable targets of a small section of fans at TD Banknorth Garden Sunday. They got into a verbal sparring match with some of the crowd as they left the floor at the end of Game 1.

“It’s good that they know I’m here,” Bibby said. “It was just a little confrontation to get them involved a little bit. But they are fair-weather fans if you ask me.”

Mike Bibby is right, but what do you expect? The Celtics have not contended since before-before. That’s what happens when the home town team pulls off the biggest one season turn around in league history. The axles on the bandwagon really get a work out.

We seen a little of that around here when the Tigers went to the series two years ago. It happens. People like to align themselves with winners and it’s the die hards who’ve been there all along who have to suffer.

Boston has a pretty good rep of being a passionate and loyal sports town, but I have noticed a certain level of obnoxiousness creeping out of the Harbor this particular season. Hopefully the C’s can stay good for a few years so their fans can act like they’ve been there before.

The Pistons (37-13) will be in Atlanta to take on the Hawks (21-26). The tip will be at 7 pm est from the Philips Arena. The game can be viewed locally on TV20 Detroit.

Hawks’ snapshot
Home record: 15-10
Last game: 2/9 (Sat) - L 89-108 @ Rockets
Last 10: 4-6
Last meeting: 12/14 Hawks (81) @ Pistons (91)

UPDATE! Rip Hamilton missed Tuesday’s morning shoot-around at Philips Arena due to a gastrointestinal illness believed to be food poisoning. Hamilton is in Atlanta, and the Pistons will re-evaluate his condition before today’s game. Krista Jahnke is reporting that if Rip can’t go Arron Afflalo would start in his place, Flip Murray would be activated because Lindsey Hunter is still in MI battling the flu.

This will be the 58th 4th and final meeting between the Hawks and Pistons this season. The Pistons will be looking to sweep the season series from the Hawks tonight for the first time since the 2000-01 season.

The Hawks are coming off a bad 19 point loss to the Houston Rockets. The Hawks gave up 54% shooting to Houston while shooting 32%. The Hawks struggles were highlighted by no Atlanta starter being able to crack double digits and a season low 10 point second quarter.

Look for the Pistons to jump on the Hawks early like the did with Portland and Charlotte. I am personally looking forward to seeing Rodney Stuckey in his first action versus the young and athletic Hawks.

Amir Johnson / Marvin Williams is an intriguing matchup to look for. They’re both young and athletic with similar builds. Williams has the offensive upper hand but we know how Amir gets after it on the defensive end. Should be fun.

• The Hawks currently hold the 7th playoff seed in the East
• Detroit is 17-9 away from the Palace
• The Pistons, going for their 9th straight victory, are a 6 point favorite tonight
• Also see, Hawks rookies victimized by practicle joke:


  “Jermaine O’Neal and I came into the league together,” [Lorenzen]Wright said. “JO told me that when he was in Portland that Gary Trent, Rasheed Wallace and all them jumped him, took all his clothes, locked him out of his room and then trashed his whole room. And I’m talking about flushing sheets down the toilets, soaked all his clothes and everything.”

[box score] At half time this one had all the makings of a blow out. The Pistons up 47-33 on the Hawks and the defense putting a strangle hold on Atlanta who’d have thought it be alright to flip around the t.v. looking for a good Christamas special ? Well hold it right there Grinch! Even though the Hawks only scored 33 in the first half, a season low for a Pistons opponent, and only shot 28% they weren’t ready to tuck their feathers between their legs and pack it in for the night.

The Hawks made a charge in the third quarter getting the Piston lead down to 3 before the Detroiter’s woke up from their half time nap. They reasserted themselves and took an 11 point lead into the 4th quarter. The Hawks again made a push turning up their defensive intensity but the Pistons staved them off enough to get their 12th double digit win of the season. Chauncey scored 13 of his team high 23 points in the 4th quarter to help secure the win for Detroit.

GAME NOTES:

• Thankfully the Pistons don’t play the Hawks again until Feb. 12th, anyone else sick of them?
• The Pistons have now beat the Hawks the 7 straight at the Palace
• Rasheed picked up his 4th technical of the season in the third qtr.
• Tay had a double-double with 17 points & 10 rebs. (plus 5 asts & 6 t/o’s)
• Chuancey 2 assists to 6 turn overs
• 52 combined fouls, many coming in the second half
• Chauncey (8/8), Rip (2/2) & Jarvis (2/2) were all perfect from the free throw line
• 4/15 3 pt shooting
• McDyess & Tayshaun combined for 24 boards
• 24 bench points, every Pistons scored who entered the game
• Amir got a hair over a minute of playing time in the 4th and he made a pretty nice move to get himself in the scoring books. I love everytime he gets a bucket he cheeses the whole way down the court. I hope he never looses that joy for playing.

[box score] The Pistons continue to play at a high level scoring over 100 for the fourth straight game winning handily in Atlanta’s Philips Arena.

The Hawks played the Pistons close back on November 4th, but this time around even the Hawk’s youth, athleticism, and versatility was little match for the Pistons who are running hot.

Detroit pulled away in the third and it was purely mathematical after that point. Even though the spunky Hawks made a run at a combination of Pistons’ 2nd and 3rd unit lineups the lead coupled with the game clock made it such that only an epic collapse would turn the tables.

Jarvis Hayes played well in his first trip to his hometown in a Pistons unifrom. Jarvis scored 17 points on 7/11 shooting in 16 minutes off the Pistons’ bench in front of 40 friends and family members.

GAME NOTES:

• 7 Pistons scored in double figures
• Chauncey with a 10 pt, 10 ast double-double
• Tayshuan led Pistons’ scoring with 23 points on very efficient 9/12 shooting
• Ripster: 14 pts, 7 asts, 5 boards
• Maxiell 13 pts, 9 boards
• Amir Johnson 5 blocks in 8 minutes (half of the team’s total 10 blks)
• 94.1% freethrow shooting (16/17)
• 29 assists
• Boards: Pistons 39 / Hawks 33
• Don’t count on Salim Stoudamire to ever being a league leader in assists. Dude LOVES to shoot.

GAME QUOTE:

Hayes on returning to his hometown:

“I always get the jitters when I play here,” said Hayes. “I have a lot of connections here.

RECAPS:

• Detroit News: Efficient Pistons roll past Hawks

[box score] It took a late Chauncey Billups free throw, but the Pistons sent their home opener crowd home with a win and improved to 3-0.

The game was close most of the way with Atalnta enjoying slim leads most of the second half. The Pistons were able to close the gap in the fourth and were ahead by three late when Josh Smith drew Rasheed Wallace foul while in the act of shooting behind the three point line. Smith hit all three tying the game at 91. Chauncey Billups attacked the rim on the Pistons final possession forcing the Hawks Marvin Williams to foul him. Chauncey hit the first of two free throws. The Hawks tried a last second desperate heave that was way off giving the Pistons the one point victory.

The Hawks may not be ready to contend in the East, but they are ready to give the contenders fits with their youth, length, and athleticism. Atlanta provides matchup problems with their many guys who can play multiple positions. They also have an emerging superstar in Joe Johnson. It was the Pistons poise late that enabled them to aviod what would have been the Hawks second early season upset.

Overall it was a fun game to watch. The Pistons were causing turnovers and getting out on the break, showing flashes of what’s sure to be an exciting season of Detroit Basketball. You also had to love the the defense down low. Jason Maxiell and Rasheed Wallace combined for 7 blocks ensuring no free chili was given to Atlanta’s young bucks.

GAME NOTES:

• Rip played well in his first game of the season (despite fouling out) 21pts (10/15), 5 asts, 4 rbs
• Chauncey was solid: 22 pts, 5 asts, 3 rbs
• add ‘em up the backcourt combines for 43 pts (53% fg), 10 asts, 7 rbs
• Jason Maxiell Jason Maxiell Jason Maxiell!! 15 pts, 8 rbs (4&4), 4 blks off the bench
• Nazr & Sheldon “The Forehead” Williams got dual techs in the second for jawing at each other
• No Amir; DNP (I’d liked to have seen him matchup with some of ATL’s young guys)
• McDyess is still struggling to find his rythm as a starter. He only attempted 4 shots making 2 of them. He did however grab a team high 9 boards
• There was talk during the game that Rodney Stuckey has already started rehabbing his left hand. Don’t rush it Stuck, it’s a long season.
• Marvin Williams and Joe Johnson combined for 45 pts for the Hawks


QUOTES:
Chauncey on the last Piston possession:

“He darned near clothes-lined me,” said Billups, who hit one of two free throws to give the Pistons a hard-earned 92-91 victory in their home opener Sunday. “He (referee Kevin Fehr) didn’t want to call it, either. He waited a long time.”


OTHER RECAPS:

• Detroit News: Pistons get last call
• BDD: Pistons inch past Hawks