PistonsNationBlog.com - Detroit Pistons News & Views

One of the things we’ve been able to say this season is at least we haven’t lost to the Nets. No more. New Jersey went all “we’ve got a brighter future” on the Pistons beating them 118-110 in East Rutherford.

I’m sorry, but ping-pong balls are not worth this.

The Pistons just gave up so many easy buckets to the Nets.  How do you let two bigs go for career highs on the same night? Yi Jianlian (31 on 12/16 shooting) and Brook Lopez (37 on 14/17 shooting with 10 rebs.) for 68 freaking points. The Nets shot a season high 57% for the game! I have to believe a little Ben Wallace would have curbed some of that absurdness.

Someone please tell me what the hell is going on here

Usually it’s Devin Harris doing the scoring damage for the Nets. Last night it was dime time. Harris dished out a game high 11 assists which made him pretty cocky:

“It makes my job fun — just pick apart where the defense is lacking,” Harris said. [Star Ledger]

Before last night the Nets hadn’t won back-to-back games since April of 2009. The second bird that was killed with the single stone was this was Jersey’s 9th win, meaning they can only tie the record for fewest wins in a season.

GAME NOTES: Pistons have now dropped 7 straight … Tayshaun scored 27 (8 rbs, 7 asts), Rip had 18 … Maxiell w/ a 13 pt 11 rbs double-double (5/5 FTs) … With the one loss the Pistons account for 11% of the Nets wins … Stuckey 15 pts, 7 asts … CV31: 14 pts … The was the first time since Dec ‘08 that two Nets scored 30 in the same game … every Piston with a – +/- stat … Summers & Atkins DNP-CD …

The Pistons (23-48, 7-28 road) will be in New Jersey to take on the Nets (8-63) Tip off is 8:00 pm est from the Izod Center and will be televised locally on Fox Sports Detroit.  The game can be heard on WWJ 950.

Nets’ Snapshot
Home record: 4-31
Last game: 03/24 (Weds) W 79-93 vs. Kings
Last 10: 2-8
Streak: Won 1
Injuries: Terrence Williams (foot: day-to-day)
Vs. Pistons: Feb 2nd: DET (97) @ NJN (93) / Feb 6th: NJN (92) @ DET (99)

You know the story. The Nets are Detroit Lions bad, but the Pistons aren’t that much better.  It took all the Pistons had to beat the Nets in their previous two meetings and I suspect it’ll be the same thing tonight.  Coach Kue knows New Jersey at least has some guys that give them a shot at win number nine:

“When you have an All-Star point guard in Devin Harris, you have a big man in Brook Lopez that you have somebody you have to go in the post and you surround them with some of the players they do have, they’re talented,” Kuester said. [Freep]

The Pistons motivation will to not be the team that gives them that ninth win tying them with the 1972-73 Philly Sixers (9-72). The Nets have 11 games counting tonight to not be the NBA team with the fewest wins in a season. The Nets are going for back-to-back wins for the first time in nearly a year.

Will Bynum will start despite coming out of the Pistons’ last game with a bruised back. It’ll mark his 9th straight start after taking over for Rodney Stuckey after Rodney’s collapse against the Cavs back on March 5th.

ALSO OF NOTE: Pistons are a 4 point favorite … Ben Wallace is out indefinitely with his knee injury … The Nets last win snapped a franchise-record 14-game home losing streak & a string of eight straight overall losses … The Pistons are currently riding a 6-game losing streak … Pistons have won 11 of the last 13 against NJ … The Pistons are on a 9 game road losing streak, it’s their worst road skid since 11 straight defeats Dec. 4, 2001-Jan. 11, 2002 … Richard Hamilton has missed 19 of his last 23 shots …

The Nets are just laying down for teams.

(Game Day Films are video posts loosely relative to the Pistons opponent and hopefully mildly entertaining.)

NJN 92 / DET 99

First let me give credit where credit is due; the “Naturally Swedened” came from @russbengtson via Twitter.  If you’re a fan of the NBA Russ is a good one to follow.

Readers might recall me suggesting that we shift our attention from the Pistons as a whole to the evolution of a certain 2009 second round draft choice hailing from Borås, Sweden.

Jonas “Double J” Jerebko, along with Ben Wallace, started by providing the hustle and energy early that was no where to be found the night before in the blowout loss to the Pacers.  Jonas then went on to pull a Curt Hennig going 9-for-9 from the field, two of those from beyond the arc.  Double J concluded the game with 20 points, 7 boards, and 2 steals.  “Absolutely perfect.”

Charlie V flung in 4 threes pointers in as many tries but I thought his performance was far from perfect.  He was out of position on many defensive sequences and picked up 3 fouls in his 17 minutes.  The long ball helps, but I’d love to see them in concert with some solid defense that CV has shown flashes of through out the season.

Jason Maxiell scoring 9 of his Pistons’ bench high 13 in the 4th quarter helped the Pistons secure their second win in 5 days over the lowly Nets.  When you think of Jason Maxiell you think of a guy that is more likely to cause blunt force trauma as a result of an ill-intending thunder dunk, than a guy hitting clutch 4th quarter jumpers.  But, that’s just what he did last night just when the Nets were threatening.

Point guard…Rodney Stuckey finished with more assists (11) than points (10) helping the Pistons to 29 total assists.  Quite a contrast from the 10 total the night before.  Will Bynum dished out seven of those 10 assists in Indy, but last night everyone who stepped on the court wearing red, white, and Pistons’ blue seemed to make a effort to work to get the best scoring opportunity.

I’m in high spirits today that the Nets were not able to get their 2nd road win on the season at the expense of the Pistons, but my joy must remain tempered.  We are talking about the now 4-46 New Jersey Nets here.  They do play hard despite their record but it doesn’t change the fact that they’re on target to be historically the most single season losingest team in league history.  The Pistons didn’t really take care of business.  The Nets still hung around and actually took a fourth quarter lead.  This Pistons team still has lots of short comings and the struggle for consistency shows no signs of letting up courtesy of a couple close wins against the Nets.

QUOTE OF THE GAME: George Blaha after a Ben Wallace score:

Now that’s a man sized deuce!

I’m sorry, I couldn’t resist.

The Pistons (15-31, 4-17 road) will be in New Jersey to take on the Nets (4-42) Tip off is 7:30 pm est from the Izod Center and will be televised locally on Fox Sports Detroit.  The game can be heard on 104.3 WOMC.

Nets’ Snapshot
Home record: 3-19
Last game: 01/31 (Sun) L 83-79 vs. 76ers
Last 10: 1-9
Streak: Lost 2
Injuries: Devin Harris (wrist: day-to-day)

Tonight the Pistons face their stiffest competition…in the John Wall sweepstakes. Yes, it has come to that. These are the two worst teams -record wise- in the East. The Pistons could make a run at making the playoffs, and their credit they’re not saying die.   But, for what? Do we really want to slide in the 8th spot and be a sacrificial lamb? I’m not saying tank the remainder of the season, let’s just be realistic.

I wonder if the Pistons’ players see the Nets on the schedule and think that this is damn near a sure thing for stopping this 5-game losing streak or is their more anxiety to it with the possibility of adding their names to the likes of the Clippers, Knicks, Bobcats, and Bulls as the only teams to have lost to New Jersey?  Here’s Coach Kue’s take:

“Going into every game, I don’t care what their record is,” he said. “You have to approach it like you’re playing Boston or L.A.”

Sounds good but most night’s they look like they’re approaching it like they’re playing New Jersey.

Harris poll:

Devin Harris, who had a 38 point outing against the Pistons last season, has missed the Nets previous four games with a sprained shooting wrist will be a game time decision.

Harris has been hampered by injuries this season and his numbers are down across the board. At 15.3 Devin’s averaging 6 less point per game for the Nets. He’s down in FG% (.438 to .378), 3P% (.291 to .217), and FT% (.820 to .783).

Injury Updates:

UPDATE: Both are CV & Thrill are said to be probable tonight [source]

Charlie Villanueva (back spasms) and Will Bynum (left ankle) are both listed day-to-day. Villanueva practiced yesterday and will be a game-time decision tonight whereas as Thrill is doubtful.

Foul shots:

Click to enlarge

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From Peter Vecsey of the New York Post:

Apparently, rising free agent-of-choice Carlos Boozer is telling confidants he’s either going to Detroit or New Jersey — only way the capsized Nets pull that off is by doing a sign-and-trade. Word has it Jersey will have but three assistants next season and all must take pay cuts.

First off it’s Peter Vecsey so this rumor goes best with a mine of salt.  Secondly if there’s any truth to this then Boozer is a lousy judge of confidence.  With Milsap emerging as a low post stud and Okur with an opt out option it’d be pretty easy to assume that Boozer is expendable, so why would a guy who’s all about those Benjamin’s want to show his cards and hurt his value?

The New Jersey angle doesn’t make much sense.  Like Dave Dial points out on Mlive a sign-and-trade would alter New Jersey’s prospects for being able to land Jay-Z’s sweetie in the summer of twenty-ten.

Personally I’m still holding out for CB4.  Boozer has a nice game.  He’s a rugged low post guy which we need.  But, there’s injury and character issues that have made bigger headlines than his game.  I believe Bosh to be the more versatile of the two and he has more upside.

Bosh does have that goofy rasta ‘do, while Boozer is clean shaven with the Oscar the Grouch eyebrows.  Take your pick.

Either way it’s all talk right now.  We have about a month before guys can starting putting it all on the line.  Dotted that is.

Nets (93) @ PISTONS (100) / {boxscore}

It was pretty much a foregone conclusion that the Pistons would at least make the playoffs and now it’s official.  The Pistons extended their win streak to 3 games as the continue to pick up momentum heading into the post season.

Another promising performance from the red, white, and blue ballers.  There really is no better time to start clicking then right before the playoffs.

“I think we’re getting better and better each game,” Bynum said. “They say whomever is playing the best going into the playoffs, is pretty good.” -DetNews

Against the Knicks it was the starters that really left their mark on the victory.  Last night it was the bench’s turn.  Led by Will Bynum’s 20 the Pistons’ second wave poured 46 points on the Nets.  Jason Maxiell followed up with Will with 11 points giving the Pistons a total of 6 players in double figs.

The Piston killer Devin Harris was canceled out scoring only 1 point (0/5 FG) before leaving the game in the third with a sore shoulder.  Vince Carter was half-man, half-dozen last night only scoring 6 points in 32 minutes, but he did drop 10 dimes.

Being out of the playoff picture, it was more about getting PT for the young guys for Lawrence Frank last night.  Rookies Brooke [that's actually a girl's first name] Lopez ( 16 pts, 7 rbs), Ryan Anderson (20 pts) and MI native Chris Douglas-Roberts (16 pts) all had nice showings for New Jersey.

Rodney Stuckey (8) and Rip Hamilton (9) combined for  17 assists for the Pistons starting backcourt.

The Pistons are back to being in a 7th place tie with the Bulls.  The Pistons play the Pacers in Indiana tonight, while the Bulls are at home against the Bobcats.  They’ll play each other Monday at the Palace.  Both teams are also just one game behind Philadelphia for the 6 slot.

GAME NOTES: Rasheed with 15 pts (6/10 FG) and a pair of blocks … No starters over 32 minutes … Curry expects to keep the same 9-10 man rotation for the playoffs … These playoffs will mark the 8th straight for the Pistons … Will Bynum now has five 20 or more point outings on the season … Pistons outrebounded the Nets 41-31 … Pistons now own a 6 game home winning streak against NJ … Jeff Van Gundy sounds off on Iverson and Isiah … second straight game shooting better than 53% … Pistons never trailed … The Happiest Aussie in Auburn Hills …