PistonsNationBlog.com - Detroit Pistons News & Views

[box score] Last night’s game can be summed up like this; Pistons got out to a good start, made a quasi-push at the end and everything else was Lakers.

The Pistons were about as crisp as stale potato chips last night.  Twenty-two turnovers, many off  forced or telegraphed passing.  The defense consisted mostly of fouls with the Lakers cashing in on 20 of their 27 attempts form the charity stripe.

The Pistons couldn’t win for losing either.  Phil Jackson called his teams performance one of their “most poorly played games of the year“.  I would have hated to catch them on a good night if that’s the case.

The Pistons are used to not having a full roster by now and can at least hang with most teams on any given night.  But, last night the Lakers proved to have just too many weapons to give the Pistons even the slightest bit of hope that they’d give their sellout crowd an early Christmas present.

The Lakers got 28 points from Kobe and Andrew Bynum kicked in 16. Ron Artest, who talked about his admiration for Detroit, added 14 points, 9 dimes and 6 steals. Pau Gasol had 13 points and 11 boards.

The Pistons were led by Rodney Stuckey who had 16 points, followed by the Pistons Viking, Jonas Jerebko, who had 15 points and 6 boards.  Austin Daye also made it into double figure scoring with 10 points.

I thought Kue might have had Stuckey on a short leash when he took him out early in the first quarter with the Pistons leading in favor of DaJuan Summers but I failed to realize Stuck had picked up two quick fouls.  But, as Justin Rogers pointed out, Rodney did seem rather tentative in looking for his own offense.  Unlike after the OKC game Coach Kuester was very complimentary of Stuckey’s efforts.

On top of everything else there wasn’t even a hint tension between Ben Wallace and Ron Artest.

GAME NOTES: Lakers led by as many as 21 … Charlie V ditched his protective mask, I think Rip is like the only guy who has ever gotten used to wearing one … DNP-CD for Wilcox … Pistons 21st in NBA.com rankings … Pistons travel to Charlotte to take on the B’cats tomorrow night …

The Pistons (11-15, 8-4 home) will be hosting the Los Angeles Lakers (21-4) Tip off is 6:00 pm est from the Palace of Auburn Hills. The game will be televised locally on Fox Sport Detroit and can be heard on WWJ 950.

Lakers’ Snapshot
Road record: 6-2
Last game: 12/19 (Sun) W 103-84 @ Nets
Vs. East: 9-0
Last 10: 9-1
Streak: Won 3
Vs. Pistons: Nov 17th: Pistons (93) @ LAKERS (106)
Injuries: Luke Walton (back – early January)

The Pistons are back home from a 3 game roadie that can only be described as disappointing with the Pistons dropping all 3 games.  Now to go the cliché route; it doesn’t get any easier with the defending champ Lakers in town.

This game tonight will be the last in the Lakers’ current 5 game road trip, which they’re 3-1 at this point.  This is the Lakers  first real road trip of the season.  Tonight will only be their 9th game away from Staples, the fewest road games of any team thus far in the NBA.  (They’re the champs, why do they need such a cake schedule to open the season?)

There will be a lot of focus on Kobe Bryant tonight.  After all, Kobe did put 40 on the Pistons last month and is averaging 29 per game on the year which is second behind Carmelo Anthony (30.1).  But, it’s not just Kobe.

Pau Gasol, who was injured when the Pistons played the Lakers in L.A. is averaging 17.4 ppg & 12.8 rpg.  He teams with fellow 7-footer Andrew Bynum (16.1 ppg & 8.3 rpg) in the Lakers front court.  Those two are a major factors in the Lakers leading the NBA in rebounding.

Injury updates:

Remember all those years of injury free runs our Pistons enjoyed, well it looks as if the bill has come due this season and we’re paying big time.

Rip Hamilton will be out again with an injured right groin.  Tayshaun is still sitting with his injured back.  Charlie V injured his heel against OKC but will play.  Ben Gordon (ankle) is listed as day-to-day.

Is Artest still feeling truculent?:

Ron Artest recently came out and said he still wants a piece of Ben Wallace stemming from their clash at the Palace in the infamous 2004 brawl while Ron was a member of the Pacers.

I think Ron Artest is crazy, actual clinical crazy. I just wonder if he’s crazy enough to act upon his notions of fighting Ben. It’ll be something to keep an eye on for sure.

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ALSO OF NOTE: The Lakers are a 7 point favorite … Has Chris Wilcox moved past Kwame in Kue’s rotation? … Derek Fisher (6.9) is the only Lakers’ starter not averaging at least a dozen points per game … The Pistons have won five straight at home overall, but are 3-10 against West opponents … Kobe Bryant ranks 3rd in the L with 2.08 steals per game … The Lakers are trying to sweep the Pistons for the first time in 8 seasons … Rasheed’s still got a problem with techs …

These are Ron Artest’s own words from a recent Sporting News interview:

“I see Ben, I’m on my guard now. I’m always in the mood to fight him. … I’ll get suspended 10 games, 15 games (because) I’ll just fight him right there. It won’t go into the stands.”

It seems as if the Palace Brawl, an event that has it’s own Wiki page, will never die. Especially while Ron Artest is still around to answer questions about it.

You might have thought Ron had matured after he reached out to cup tosser John Green this past September to bury the hatchet, but no.

Why won’t he stop saying stupid shit?  I know Rappin’ Ron isn’t a little guy, but um, has he seen Ben Wallace lately?  Furthermore he had his shot at a fight with Ben that night at the Palace but chose average schmo’s as his opponents.  He goes on to say he’s been training to be a boxer.  Maybe that explains it?  He’s been taking shots to his already compromised gray matter.

As much as I’d like to see Ben ground-and-pound this clown I hope he, unlike Artest, has moved on.

Maxiell’s rejection of Shannon Brown.

“That was nice.  You gotta give credit where credit is due”

(HT: Talk Hoops)

[box score] I need some more coffee.  These late games kick my butt.  I wish the Pistons could have gotten back to their winning ways, but overall I wasn’t disappointed with their play.

Not to take anything away from the Pistons, they played well, they just had the unfortunate task of catching a Lakers team at the Staples that was coming off consecutive losses.

Kobe Bryant was on his game after having two sub-Kobe games in the Laker’s losses.  Kobe dropped in 40 the World Champs, marking the 100th time he’s scored 40 or more in a game.

The Pistons, down by as many as 28 in the game, made a valiant attempt at a fourth quarter comeback led by Will Bynum who had 10 of his team high 24 points in the 4th.

Last night was one of Jason Maxiell’s better showings of the season.  Max scored scored 13, with 7 boards and a pair of steals.

GAME NOTES: CV31 went 1/6 in 23 minutes … The Lakers have not lost 3 straight since Pau Gasol joined the team … DaJuan Summers got 12 minutes scoring 2 points … This is the first time in four years the Pistons failed to beat the defending champs on their floor … The Lakers’ victory gives Phil Jackson 1,049 for his career, moving him past Larry Brown for 6th on the all-time list …

My opinion of Magic Johnson is now forever altered.

In public Magic led us all to believe that he and Isiah were tight.  A bond so strong that it endured their epic battle in the 1988 NBA Finals.  So we thought.

Magic Johnson is now setting the record straight.  He doesn’t like Isiah.  He did not want Isiah to be apart of the 1992 Dream Team.  Magic also believes Isiah spread rumors about his sexuality after Magic contracted HIV.  So how is he handling these revelations?  How else, in a so-to-be-released book.

There’s nothing “magic” about throwing dirt on a former friend in a book.  It’s pretty unsavory if you were to ask me.   I’m with Jalen Rose, this is all bad.  Magic looks shady for using these things to help push a book and Isiah is going to look bad in trying to defend himself from these allegations coming from whom he thought was a friend of his.  It’s bad for everyone.

If you read the Ian Thompson’s SI piece Isiah comes off as a sympathetic figure in this mess.  Even the relative anonymity of coaching in the NCAA’s Sun Belt Conference cannot keep negative press off of Isiah Thomas.  Gotta feel for Zeke.  I’m glad he’s not taking this lying down either.  I have to wonder if after all the turmoil Isiah’s been through Magic figured him for an easy mark?

“You’re talking about being two-faced? Magic says he put me up for the job, that he was showing up in hard times and telling me everything was OK. And I come to find out he’s been the one stabbing me in the back. … I’m really hurt and disappointed, particularly with the Olympic team, if he was doing that stuff.”

Thomas said Magic has never confronted him about the HIV rumors or his true feelings about their relationship. As recently as August, Thomas attended a charity event in Beverly Hills, Calif., honoring Magic, where he said they greeted each other warmly.

“If he was feeling this way, why was he shaking my hand and kissing me and acting like he and I were such buddies?” Thomas said. “Why do you do that?

“People who know me and my family and what I stand for will laugh at Magic and his beliefs. I’m tired of getting punched and people using me because they think I’m not going to say anything. Those days are over. Game on.”

Why Magic?  You’re ruining ESPN Classic for me.  For now on Magic gets no more free legend passes when I see him acting (terribly) in Rent-A-Center commercials.  Seriously, Rent-A-FREAKING-Center.  That should been a tip off right there that Erv was not exactly on the level.  Also, there’ll be no more excusing him when he sounds like a total moron during halftime shows.

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.