I LOVE Pistons’ basketball, have ever since I was young.  I’d consider myself as die-hard.  Being a die-hard I can say I legitimately hate certain rival opponents, and I get a sense of great satisfaction when the Pistons beat these teams on the court.  But, I, like the majority of fans, know the difference between entertainment and real life.  Unfortunately there’s those out there who cannot distinguish between the two.

Files have recently been released under the Freedom of Information Act describing the seriousness the FBI took in investigating threatening letters written to former Bad Boys coach Chuck Daly at the height of the Pistons’ championship runs.

One guy from Cleveland wrote the following to Coach Daly:

“God made me realize that YOU, not Laimbeer, Mahorn or any of the others are the one possessed by (Satan).

Now to me that doesn’t even strike me as the impassioned words of a hardcore Cavs’ fan.  Those are the ravings of a sick person who needs help.  He’s chosen Daly as a target because he probably follows the Cavs and the Pistons thwarted their glory back then.  But, it could just as easily been something else not of personal consequence he’s taken and internalized.

Thankfully most of these people never end up acting on their threats but a few have like in cases like tennis star Monica Seles who was stabbed by a “fan”.  It’s reassuring to read the lengths the authorities go to investigate these types of communications.

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.

Hopefully CB does better than he did in ‘06 where he didn’t get out of the first round.

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

ALSO OF NOTE: Pistons are a 2 1/2 point favorite … The Nets are scoring a league-low 89.7 ppg … New Jersey’s on pace to match the 1972-73 Philadelphia 76ers for the worst record (9-73) in NBA history … Pistons have taken 9 of the last 11 against NJ … 11 Pistons have started games this season … The Nets have held their last 3 opponents to 83.7 on 40.1% shooting … Brooke Lopez leads the Nets in points (18.9), boards (9.3), and blocks (2.1, 5th in NBA) …Happy birthday to former Pistons Steve Henson (1997-99) and Sean Elliott (1993-94) … NBA appears to be heading toward a long lockout …

1 of the 1,348 Ben blocks made in red, white, and Pistons' Blue.

Ben Wallace rejected 3 Orlando Magic shots last night bringing his career total to 1,999.

With Ben’s next block he’ll become the 17th player in league history to block 2,000 or more shots, but he’ll be the only player on that plateau A) under 6′10″, and B) never drafted into said league.

Ben Wallace has had one of the most unique and improbable careers of anybody who has ever laced them up in the NBA, and he continues to defy the odds. At 35 Ben is still one of the league’s premier defenders and surprisingly one of the bright spots in an otherwise dismal Piston campaign.

I was skeptical when Joe D. decided to re-air Ben’s “gong” show here in Detroit. I’m so glad Ben Wallace has proven me and many others dead wrong. It’s been a privilege to see him get after it night after night.

Magic (91) / Pistons (86)
At the outset of last night’s game I thought I’d be watching for the sake of seeing the whole game as the Magic got whatever they wanted early on building a lead that got up to 15 points.  But, the Pistons managed to make a game out it it, just not enough to end their 4-game losing streak.

With the score 59-52 in the third quarter I started to think their was something to the Magic’s inability to solve the Pistons despite Detroit’s lack of success this season.  That turned out to be just a little slight of hand, even though the Pistons did stay close.

Down by 3 the Pistons had a chance to send the game into overtime but Ben Gordon, instead of hoisting his first good look from 3,  ended up playing hot potato with Tayshaun Prince until Orlando got a step-in-front steal to put the game to bed:

“I just made a bad decision,” Gordon said. “I was in the corner and tried to get it to Tayshaun, but Anthony Johnson made a great play. I have to make better decisions with the ball.”

That play just confirmed the thought I had that one of the Pistons most glaring problems is that they’re not closers. They really, really struggle to pull out tight games.

Jonas Jerebko had something of a break out game in the loss.  Double J, who was inserted back into the starting lineup in favor of Chris Wilcox, scored 16 points to go with his 9 boards.  I like Jonas starting, but unfortunately the unit of him, Tayshaun, Stuckey, Rip and Ben and produced 5 losses in as many tries, although that’s not any kind of indictment on JJ.

The more this team flounders towards the draft lottery the more I find myself shifting my focus to the rapid basketball maturation and promise that Jonas Jerebko is showing.  This guy is really going to be a valuable piece when the rest of the roster, be them current Pistons or otherwise, start to gain some footing.  It’s fitting that the February wallpaper over at N4S is in homage to our favorite pillaging Piston viking.

GAME NOTES: CV31 was a late scratch w/ back spasms … Dwight Howard: 16 points, 15 boards … Rip went 5-15  … Kwame DNP-CD … Happy 62nd birthday to former Pistons’ coach (1999-01) George Irvine … battle of boards won 43-38 … Pistons are in NJ tomorrow to take on the 4-42 Nets (FINALLY) …

Magic Snapshot
Road record: 13-12
Last game: 1/20 (Sat) W 86-104 Vs. Hawks
Last 10: 6-4
Streak: Won 2
Injuries: Jameer Nelson (knee: day-to-day)
Vs. Pistons: 11/4: Magic (80) @ Pistons (85) / 11/6 Pistons (103) @ Magic (110)

The Pistons’ six-game home stretch started out with so much promise with the Pistons beating the Celtics back on January 20th.  They’ve gone on to lose the next four including Friday’s embarrassing loss to the Heat.  Tonight the Pistons finish up their Palace defense with the East’s second best team, the Orlando Magic.

The Pistons have split their previous two game with the Magic this season, and as we know generally play well against Orlando.  But, this has the potential to be ugly.  Teams have been feasting on the 3-point arc against the Pistons and no team in the league exploits the long line as much as the Magic.

Foul shots:

Click to enlarge

ALSO OF NOTE: The Magic are a 5 point favorite … The Magic have only 1 win in their last 11 visits to Auburn Hills … Bynum frustrated by ankle injury …  If the Magic win tonight Stan Van Hedgehog will be coaching Eastern Conference All-Stars … Dwight Howard leads the Magic in Points (17.7), FG% (.602), Rebounds (13.3, NBA), Steals (1.2), & blocks (2.6, NBA) … Howard the Dunk preview …

Jonas Jerebko of the Pistons has been selected to play in the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge and Youth Jam during NBA All-Star Weekend.

The game will be Friday, Feb. 12 at 9 p.m. in Dallas (TNT).

The format is NBA rookies against second-year players. Participants were selected by NBA assistant coaches.

Jerebko is the first Pistons rookie to compete in the event since Zeljko Rebraca in 2002. Tayshaun Prince and Rodney Stuckey played on the sophomore team in 2004 and 2009, respectively. -DetNews

“I’m always a bit stunned that people still remember me,” says Fennis, whose mother, Clarissa, selected his name, along with that of his twin sister, Fenise, as a declaration that after 11 children, her childbearing days were finis. “I tried to set up an E-mail account, but two other guys—basketball fans, I guess—were already using my name in their address.” -SI

Can Ron Moore say the same thing? No. No he can’t.  That’s why last week there wasn’t any happy birthday wishes to Ron whom the Knicks dealt to the Pistons with an ‘88 second round pick for Sidney Green. (That second round draft pick who turned out to be….Fennis Marx Dembo!)

Back to the point.  I love Piston birthday’s.  They give me a reason to talk about guys I’d otherwise have no reason to.  So, happy 44th birthday to a Pistons’ classic, Fennis Dembo.

Also, get on Twitter today and wish DaJuan Summers (@dsummers35) a happy 22nd.  Tell ‘em @PistonsNation sent ya.

For more on Fennis check out this excellent 2009 ESPN U article to catch you up to date on the 1989 Championship team member.