I can't believe a starter played 30 minutes in this blowout win. Thats crazy. Oops. Check that. Amir came off the bench and played 30 minutes. Anyone want to guess what kind of grade I am giving Flip tonight for getting ready for the playoffs? Yep, A+, but only because there is no higher grade to give.


Amir responded with 7 blocks, 9 rebounds, and 7 points for getting some minutes. Not bad. But don't think for a moment you have seen how good Amir is. Let him get comfortable out there.


Maxiell had a double double with 11 and 11, plus 3 blocks. Stuckey got 12, about half going inside and half on outside shots. Afflalo got plenty of minutes but did little besides play good D. He did hit one outside shot of several taken.


Hayes hit an outside shot and got some scores on cuts to the basket.
Dyess did not play much. He hit his first shot in the 2nd half. He did try to go inside quite a bit, just no success. Rip played little, as he was in foul trouble in the 1st half and the bench came in real early in the 2nd half. Rip did manage to hit his first four shots on his way to a good scoring game for the short mintues he played.


Billups played extensively with the subs in the 2nd quarter, giving that unit some scoring punch. Tay hit a few shots here in and there. Sheed hit some triples if I recall.


In a huge contrast to any game this season, Flip went to the bench early and extensively in the 1st quarter, and then just the same in the 3rd quarter but even earlier. Most of the starters did return for the end of the 2nd quarter but Amir played that whole quarter.


Yeah, the lead shrunk a bit too much in that 4th quarter, particularly right after Hermann came into the game. So far, Herrmann coming into a game has seldom meant with good success for the Pistons. But Saunders stuck with the bench, even Brezec who was not helping either there real late in the game, and we held on to the win.


Part of the problem too was that Amir took a couple of "why not" jumpers a bit too early in the quarter. We should have probably been concentrating a bit more on winning at that point, but really it never hurts to let one of your players get a bit of in game target practice.
I think we posted up Amir twice and he missed rather weak looking hook shots. Nerves maybe. He was two of four at the line. Probably nerves again on his first shots as he made both his 2nd's. Amir just needs more time out there.


Yes, Amir did get backed down. But then again, a lot of people can get backed down. I would not worry about it. Amir slowed up the guy long enough that a guard should have been able to come over and help.
Ten in a row. Something special. Blaha mentioned on the broadcast that 34 teams now have had two 10 game win streaks in the same season. I plan on being at the Oralndo game after the break as we look to make it 11.


GO PISTONS!!!!!