PistonsNationBlog.com - Detroit Pistons News & Views

The Nuggets pulled even at a game a piece in their series with the Lakers and Chauncey had this heads up play at the expense of Kobe Braynt. 

LAKERS (92) @ Pistons (77) / {boxscore}

Great run in the second quarter, everything else was pretty much all Lakers.  Will Bynum (25 pts, 11 asts) is really fun to watch while we wait to get back to full strength.

Who else watched the matchup cam (aka Kobe cam) edition of this game?  I did.  I watched the whole game that way, and I would not do it again.  It would be really great if I was a big Kobe groupee, or really wanted to analyze how guys work even without the ball.

Otherwise it’s just annoying.  You hardly ever actually see the ball go through the hoop.  It especially sucks when the player they isolate is not even involved in the action, like when they would have it on Kwame Brown.  It reminds you of a parent’s home video their kid’s youth league game.  You also miss all the replays, you just get to hear them described to you.

The only way I could see this being interesting is with a picture-in-picture enabled tv.

GAME NOTES: Pistons now tied with Bulls for 7th seed … 30 for Kobe, Lakers snap 9 game Palace losing streak … Rip and possibly Rasheed returning Saturday @ Wizards …  Isiah Thomas talking with Clippers about a j-o-b … Adam Morrison DNP-CD … 17-0 Pistons run to start the 2nd quarter, 20-0 Lakers run in the 3rd … Another McDyess double-double (14 pts, 12 rbs) …

The Pistons (34-36, 18-18 home) will be hosting the Los Angeles Lakers (56-14) Tip off is 7:30 pm est from the Palace of Auburn Hills. The game will be televised locally on Fox Sport Detroit and a “Match-up Cam” version on Fox Sports Plus

Lakers’ Snapshot
Road record: 25-9
Last game: 3/24 (Tues) W 107-89 @ Thunder
Vs. East: 18-7
Last 10: 8-2
Streak: Won 3
Vs. Pistons: Nov 14th: PISTONS (106) @ Lakers (95)
Injuries: Andrew Bynum (knee – out)

It’s got to be a funny feeling for guys like Tayshaun Prince and Antonio McDyess.  They’re used to being in the position that the Lakers have achieved.  The Lakers have clinched their playoff spot and are looking to stay healthy and sharp.  Meanwhile the Pistons are fighting for their playoff existence with a slim lead over the Bulls for the 7th seed.

The Pistons will again be without Rip Hamilton, Rasheed Wallace and of course Allen Iverson.

I about fell out of my chair when I seen this pic taken during the Lakers OT victory over the Celtics. It needs a caption.

My half-assed attempt:
Allen: “He didn’t mean to…”
Kobe:“Didn’t mean to my ass!  You tell your little punk son that if his basketball hits my car again…”

Photo: AP

Say what you want about about his play sometimes but you’ll never convince me that Sheed isn’t the levity MVP of the league.  Witness the site’s own lopsided Rasheed Wallace catagory  count.

There you have it Lakers fans: Yo mama’s suck

Link attributive: Ball Don’t Lie

The Pistons take a unified effort into the Staples center and hand the only unbeaten team their first loss in convincing fashion {box score}

The Pistons opened up the game connecting their first six shot attempts. SWEET. Then they went cold, not scoring for five plus minutes while the Lakers went on a 12-0 run. AWWW. That was it though. The Pistons controlled the game from that point, both offensively and defensively. SCHWEEET!

Everything was working for the Pistons. Another game over 100 points while holding the high powered Lakers, who came into the game averaging 104.7 per game, to 95 points on 42% shooting.

The Pistons turned in another big 3 type performance with Iverson (25 pts, 4 stls), Rasheed (25 pts, 13 rbs), and the Compton Kid Tayshaun Prince (18 pts, 6 asts). The team as a whole shot great going 50.7% from the field, 43.8% beyond the arc, and 85.3% from the free-throw line. The only exception was Rip who went 3/10 with 5 turnovers.

On the defensive side of the ball it was Kwame Brown and Rasheed teaming up to keep the Laker frontline of Bynum and Gasol in check. Kwame and Sheed combined for 23 boards and 35 points to thier Laker counterpart’s 19 and 23.

Kwame’s 10 point, 10 board double-double (3 asts, 1 stl, 1 blk) was definitely his best performance so far in the Pistons red, white and blue. K-Brown’s 28 minutes were just what the doctor ordered against the Lakers big front line. Kwame must now maintain this level of augmentation to the front court with the likes Shaq, Big Z, and Perkins in the immediate future to reward Michael Curry for rewarding him.

“It felt great,” said Brown. “I anticipated a big game and I was excited to play all day and I couldn’t sleep.

“So it’s definitely great to get a win a place that traded me.” – Free Press

Not even Kobe Bryant could save the Lakers from Detroit Pistoning away at his ball club.  Kobe scored 29 points, which is MVP respectable ONLY if it doesn’t take 30 shots to get.  The Pistons focused on making the Kobester give up the ball by crowding with multiple defenders every time he got a touch.  Kobe returned the favor by having an atrocious shooting night missing 18 of those 30 shots he took (2/7 downtown).

GAME NOTES: Hater in the house … The Lakers have dropped eight of their last 10 games against the Pistons … ESPN video recap … the Pistons go 3-0 against California … Sheed Chin Music … N4S recapper…  Allen Iverson passed Elgin Baylor for 19th all-time on the NBA career scoring list … L.A. Times recapper … plenty of Hollywood types on hand to see the Lakers first loss … Chauncey and the Nugs punk the C’s in Beantown …

The Pistons (6-2) will be in Los Angeles to take on the Lakers (7-0) Tip off is 10:30 pm est from the Staples Center. The game will be televised locally on Fox Sport Detroit and nationally on

Lakers’ Snapshot
Home record: 3-0
Last game: 11/12 (Weds) W 93-86 @ Hornets
Vs. East: 0-0
Injuries: Sasha Vujacic (sprained right thumb) is probable.

At 7-0 the Lakers are the leagues only unbeaten team.  They’ve been dominant winning their games by an average of 18 points per contest.

To better illustrate just how good the Lakers have been to start the season witness the following two numbers: 104.7  & 86.7.  That’s how many points the Lakers are averaging a game compared to their opponents.  Both numbers are league best. Simply put, the Lakers are rolling.  Needless to say the Pistons should have their work cut out for them tonight.

Andrew Bynum who is back from injury that shelved him for most of last season has teamed with fellow 7-footer Pau Gasol (15 ppg, 10 rbs) in the Laker front court.  Trevor Ariza has been a story coming off L.A.’s bench averaging 10 points and 5 boards per game.

Kobe is averaging 24 ppg so far which is down from his average last season, but his minutes are also down not with the way the Lakers have been finishing off the opposition early on.  As always keep an eye on Rip Vs. Kobe as they renew their PA high school rivalry.  Rip is always a little bit more fiery when it comes to competing against Kobe.

Rodney Stuckey will be play tonight having sat out the last two games dealing with dizziness that took him out of the Boston game.

Michael Curry has said he plans to stay with Kwame Brown in the starting lineup.  Kwame starting makes sense tonight against the size of Bynum and Gasol.  Last night against Don Nelson’s small ball…not so much, that’s why Kwame only saw 9 minutes.  This is the second time Kwame has faced one of his former teams this season.  I’m sure Kwame is gunning for another respectable showing like the one against Washington.

The Pistons have are going for a California sweep after beating the Kings and Warriors as the first two games of a four game west coast swing.  They will finish up the trip Sunday in Phoenix.

ALSO OF NOTE: All-Star voting has already started, let’s get Tayshaun to Phoenix! … Forum Blue & Gold’s preview … AI and Sheed talk with John Thompson (vid) … Iverson has already played the Lakers once this season … Schedule working in Lakers favor …

[box score] The Pistons came into the game rested and energized. At times in the first half it looked as if they might run away with the game but the Lakers showed the poise of one of the leagues top teams this season. Los Angeles was looking to put an end to an eight game Palace losing streak that dates back to the 2002-03 season despite being without their dominant big man Andrew Bynum who’s out with a knee injury.

The Pistons were looking to get a get bit of pay back from their loss in L.A earlier in the season when they were short handed.

The Pistons were really flowing in the first quarter and halfway through the second where they lead by as many as 17 points. They were getting great energy from the likes of guys like Arron Afflalo (10 pts, 2/2 3ptrs) and Amir Johnson (4 pts, 9 rbs, 13 min) off the bench. They were pressuring Laker ball handlers and then getting out and running when L.A. would turn the ball over. The Pistons shot an excellent 56% in the first half.

All the sudden though, the Pistons started turning the ball over themselves (10 in the second) coupled by referee Jack Nies’ itchy trigger finger and the door was open for a Laker run. The first half seen the Lakers go to the line 22 times compared to the Pistons 2. The best way to cut into a lead is to score the ball with the clock stopped. The Lakers got right back into the game. L.A. went on a 17-4 run to end the quarter and cut the Piston lead to 7, 45-52.

The Lakers caught up and took the lead in the third. From then it was a back-and fourth affair, but the Lakers seemed to be moving into the driver’s seat and Kobe Bryant (39 pts, 10 rbs, 5 asts) started to take over despite a career high 11 tuurnovers.

In the fourth quarter Rodney Stuckey (10 pts, 4/5 FG) provided a spark subbing for Chauncey Billups (16 pts, 7 asts). It was probably Rodney’s best performance to date as he continues to best find ways to tailor his game to the NBA and this team.

With the Lakers up 89-87 the stage was set for a dramatic finish. Chaucney Billups rebounded a Rasheed Wallace (4 blks) miss. Chauncey penetrated drawing two Laker defenders and kicked it out to a wide open Tayshaun Prince (22 pts) who was set up in the left corner for a game winning three pointer which he knocked down to put the Pistons up by one with 4.4 seconds to go.

The Lakers had a chance to win but with excellent Piston ball denial on Kobe Bryant, their plan B, Lamar Odem air balled the potential game winner much to Mr. Bryant’s annoyance.



The game probably shouldn’t have come down to a last second three point attempt at home against a Laker team that was with out Bynum and Luke Walton. 17 turnovers is very uncharacteristic for this group who seemed to get a little rattled by the officiating. The Pistons were whistled for 24 fouls compared to the Lakers 18.To the Pistons credit though, the Laker played hard looking to get their nine game road trip off on the right foot. The Pistons played some pretty aggressive on-ball defense as 17 of the Lakers’ turnovers were Piston’s steals. They also got good contributions from the bench who accounted for nearly 1/3 of the team scoring.

On a side note, the Lakers really need Bynum back. There’s a significant drop off when they go to Kwame Brown. Kwame continues to be one of the biggest #1 overall busts in NBA history. He cannot finish around the rim, he can barely get off the ground despite only being 25 years old . In his 29 minutes on the court he gave the Lakers 3 points and 6 boards. He was the only Laker starter with a negative +/- stat. They might want to see if Fletch wants to come out of retirement. Granted he’s only 6′5″ (6′9″ with the afro) but he’s all heart and grit.

Remember the comments Phil Jackson made last season about the Pistons zone defense (or lack there of)?

It took Flip a complete season, but he finally had a comeback. Who knew Flip was so witty?

[box score] For the second straight game the Pistons were down two starters, unfortunately this time there was no miraculous finish for the guys in red, just a lot of untimely turnovers

The Pistons got down early by not taking care of the ball. It seemed that the Lakers got their hands on the basketball everytime down early on. To make matters worse Rip and Jason Maxiell got themselves in early foul trouble. L.A. native, Arron “Showbe” Afflalo got early minutes because of Rip’s foul trouble and played some solid D on his nicknames’ namesake Kobe Bryant. Amir also played tough subbing for Maxey.

The reason the Pistons were able to keep it within a bucket at the half was defense, and it came from an unlikely source. I took a double take when I seen Cheikh Samb in the game after a commercial break in the 2nd quarter. I thought I’d have to see D-league update clips to see how the 7 footer was coming along. I was very impressed and encouraged by what I seen. Samb was an actual presence in the middle blocking and altering shots. In his 15 minutes he was credited with two blocks, but it seemed like nothing got by him. He also possesses an unexpectedly sweet looking J making the only jumper he attempted. With Samb out there with Amir Johnson dominating the paint I got visions a D-Town Twin Towers (can’t you already see the poster?).

Jarvis Hayes continues to be spark off the bench scoring 11 of his 13 in the first half. Fortunately Bryant was cold, going 1-8 in the first half. The Lakers, as a whole, shot 31% for the half while the Pistons shot 50% which helped keep them in it after turning the ball over 11 times for the half.

It was close going down the stretch but Lakers reserve Jordan Farmar helped blow the game open for L.A. getting three straight take aways helping the Lakers go up for good.

GAME NOTES:

• Rip picked up a tech for throwing his mask after being frustrated with officiating between himself and Kobe. You can tell theirs still that PA high school rivalry between those two
• It’s ironic that Samb’s debut came against the team that traded him away
• Flip Saunders played 11 guys by half time
• Speaking of Flip, who noticed his hair cut? Don’t go Hollywood on us there Flip.
• 17 frigg’n turnovers!
• 5 Pistons scored in double figures
• Amir blocked 4 shots to go along with his 7 rebounds
• Amir & Afflalo were the only positives in the +/-
• 3-14 behind the long line, errr errrrrr
• Lamar Odom scored 25 points with 15 boards for L.A.
• Kobe Bryant has been held to 19 pts the last three games against Detroit
• GO VOTE PISTONS!




QUOTES:

Flip Murray on Amir & Samb:

“Him and Amir came in and played great, gave us great energy off the bench. Cheikh plugged up the middle, denied them from getting easy baskets. He played a great game.”

Flip Saunders on how the Lakers got their “mojo”:

“Turnovers led to a lot of their fast-break opportunities. They were actually having problems against our defense and they got some easy ones and they got their mojo going in the fourth.”

Rip on the refs and Kobe double teamming him:

“You can’t impede progress,” Hamilton said. “Every player out there has to have room to make cuts. That’s the rule… It was like a wrestling match.”

“I don’t know what they were allowing and what they weren’t allowing,” Hamilton said. “it was one of them games.”




MORE RECAPS:

• The Lakers Nation: TLN’s Post-Game Report: Lakers vs. Pistons
• Detroit News: Lakers bury Pistons late
• Pistons.com: Lakers 103, Pistons 91
  

via Justin Rogers on mLive:
ESPN’s Rick Bucher reported on Sports Center that Joe Dumars, contrary to what he was saying, did make an offer for Kobe Bryant. No deal was done because Detroit is not one of Kobe’s desired destinations and with Bryant having the “no trade clause” stipulation built into his contract he has the final say.

As Roger’s points out no one should fault Joe Dumars for at least testing the waters when arguably the leagues best player is on the table. His job as a GM is to upgrade when the opportunity presents itself. We also should be thankful to Dumars that he did so vehemently deny the trade rumors. He’s got guys to protect and team chemistry to think about. Who knows how a guy’s, especially a starter, game/attitude could be affected when he knows he’s actively being shopped. It sure doesn’t have seem to done the Chicago Bulls any favors.

There. Now that we know Joe D at least inquired and Kobe, for whatever reason, doesn’t want to be a Piston let’s have a moratorium on any all proposed trades that would bring Kobe here to the Motor City. Let’s put the focus back where it belongs, on the group of guys who are Pistons.