What did we see tonight? We won the game, largely due to Billups having a great shooting night. A great shooting night from the outside. Just luck really. If we had lost, Flip Saunders would have looked no further than to say we should have shot better.


But what really happened? We got a lead, on hot shooting by Billups, Rip, and Tay. Tay also used his height advantage to get points inside. Speaking of Tay, he took a pretty hard shot in the snout, but apparently it just caused some major pain but nothing serious.


Then we lost the lead. Our biggest weakness, lack of a 4th big in the rotation, did us in - almost anyway. We deal with foul trouble on our bigs by telling them to back off, just let them waltz inside all nite as they wish. And Charlotte took our invitation most welcomely. They charged inside a lot. Eventually, the foul problem got even worse. Both Dyess and Sheed were sitting with foul trouble at the same time.


But back up to the end of the 2nd quarter. It was even worse. We tried to go with Dyess and Herrmann as our bigs, which represents absolutely zero interior D. That was when we lost most of our lead, and basically let Charlotte, a team playing with no point guard, make the rest of the game a hotly contested affair. In contrast, having Brezec in the game late 3rd quarter when we had neither Dyess nor Sheed was much better. Of course, all Brezec can do for the most part is foul out if kept in more than a few minutes, so that is not a great solution. Brezec did get to the hoop for a 3 point play on a cut to the basket. (And Herrmann did make an outside shot upon entering the game.)


Mohammed had a fine game against us. Thankfully though, all his shots were fades, or outside shots. Can you imagine how bad it would be if the guy could actually go to the basket on a post move? We were in enough foul trouble as it was. But anyway, Mohammed had a very good game indeed hitting those outside shots. We were not leaving him open either; he was just shooting over people. And he hit some of his fades too.
This is the first game in a back to back set. Our stars all played major mintues. Afflalo got 4 minutes. Amir did not play, nor is there any hint that he is even part of the team. Considering he seems to be our best shotblocker and rebounder for the minutes played, and considering we are hurting very badly at our bigs positions, just maybe he should be playing.


Stuckey did get some burn. There has to be some concern about that hand. I hope it is nothing serious, or lingering. Does he need to sit longer to make sure it heals all the way? Just wondering out loud. Worrying. Its swollen a bit apparently from the fall he took two games ago.


A poll was taken on the broadcast, and the overwhelming result was that people think Hunter should play only as needed. (Whatever that means.) Kind of interesting that they would ask fans for input like that.


Someone asked if they should watch this one. I say of course. This game had some exciting moments. Like CB hitting that triple to get us out of that hole we were in with just a couple minutes to go in the game in regulation. And Rip's short jumper in OT. (After he missed several 3's) The Pistons are seeking a championship. Every game is a chapter in that quest. I would never miss one.