1st half.
The starters came out smoking offensively, but they did not play particularly good D. Result? A high scoring first quarter with us ending up behind a couple of points.

Then we brought in Brick Hayes as the first guy off the bench. He made his first shot, an outside jumper that had zero chance of drawing a foul. Then he started his bricking routine. We fell further behind. Thankfully, Maxiell at least was in the game giving us some energy.

Then the actual bench came in. Hayes sat down and Tay came back into the game. Maxiell had played despite two quick fouls, and was now replaced with Amir. Sheed came in for Dyess. Afflalo came in for Rip. Stuckey came in for Billups. All the sudden, we had a unit with everything. Especially stellar defense. There was 10-0 run in there. And after Hayes left the game, we outscored them by about 24 points for the rest of the quarter.

Here is the unit that did the damage: Stuckey, Afflalo, Tay, Amir, Sheed. Stuckey got to the line some, and made some shots. Afflalo played awesome perimeter D. Amir did everything. A block. Bothering shots. Closing out on shooters. Scoring 7 himself. (A putback and the and one. A nice post move. And finishing a fast break led by Afflalo.) Amir even led a fast break ending in a score by Afflalo. Did I mention steals and knock-a-ways? Amir was in a word, totally awesome in this quarter. (Not that we have even begun to see what he can do yet.)
Sheed was doing pretty well too in the quarter. Tay was the glue guy, as always, just making everything click. What a unit.

Dyess did get some rebounds, hit some shots. More importantly, he even did about 7 points worth of damage at the basket, including one nice post move. (But he is a doorway to the basket.)

Tay and Billups both were hitting some shots too, and Tay scored some. Yep, clicking on the O. But I will object strongly to anyone saying Dyess had a great first half, since we played losing basketball for the most part with him in. His defense leaves a lot to be desired. (Not his fault as we insist on playing a two center system when the other team is too quick for it.)

2nd half.


Kind of predictable. Our starters try in vain to put Milwaukee away, but just can't find anyway to play defense with Dyess in the game, and Redd not being able to be stopped by Rip. Another high scoring quarter in the 3rd with nothing really happening.


One little difference though. Amir came into the game for the last two minutes of the 3rd quarter, and somehow we ended the quarter with a 26 point lead. Go figure.


The 4th quarter started out just like the 2nd quarter. With Jarvis Hayes in the game. Yep. Made a shot, and then started bricking. Now, we had a huge lead, so Prince did not come in this time. Milwaukee went on a 17-2 run.


A key play to end the nonsense? Amir runs a fast break, off a made free throw by Milwaukee, ending in a score by Maxiell. Then Stuck runs a fast break also ending in a score by Maxy. Disaster avoided. Herrmann comes in for Maxiell and now we are actually in garbage time. PS, Hayes then hit another shot, a meaningless one in garbage time.


Amir ends up with 13 points. Some of everything else. What a stat machine. His highlight of the 2nd half has to be when he tipped the ball to Maxiell (while Amir was under the basket fighting for a rebound) and then outrunning everyone to get a fast break score on the other end. Again, a lot more altered shots from Amir closing out on shooters.


Herrmann hit a three shortly after comiong into the game. then the new guy, Dixon, hits a three for his first Pistons points.


How did we do for playoff preparation in this one? Fantastic on playing the kids. Nowhere on replacing Jarvis. Nowhere on shoring up our sorry group of starters who just can't play any D. (As long as Dyess is in there with our otherwise very deserving starters.)
GO PISTONS!!!!!