~ Detroit News ~
Hamilton rescues Pistons
He scores eight straight at end of game to help his tired teammates rally and beat Trail Blazers.
By Chris McCosky
Flip Saunders came over to the scorer's table in the third quarter and said, "I should have been a dentist."
Why not, as much teeth-pulling as he had to do Tuesday night trying to get his mentally and physically drained basketball team to respond.
And, again, the Pistons somehow found the wherewithal to do so.
Richard Hamilton, who had missed nine of his first 13 shots, scored eight straight points and the Pistons erased a five-point deficit in the final five minutes to beat the Portland Trail Blazers, 93-89, before the 94th straight sellout crowd at The Palace.
Billups' growth makes him NBA's best point guard
How can you argue with the Pistons' record?
By Rob Parker
In years gone by, it was easy to overlook Chauncey Billups.
Oh, he was good. It's just that other point guards were better.
Hence, a trip to the All-Star Game was nothing more than a pipe dream.
Until this season, that is.
Not only does Billups, the Pistons' starting point guard, deserve to be an All-Star, a case can be made that he also should be voted an Eastern Conference starter by the fans.
Wallace was a key to victory
Ben's defense held Gasol to four points in OTs after the Grizzlies forward scored 28 in regulation.
By Chris McCosky
So much happened through the course of the Pistons' 106-104 double-overtime victory in Memphis on Monday; and so much was overlooked.
Specifically, a valiant 56-minute, 14-rebound, five-block, four-steal performance by Ben Wallace was lost in the dazzle of dramatic buzzer-beating makes and misses.
"Ben was great," said Flip Saunders, and even that is an understatement.
~ Detroit Free Press ~
Pistons play survivor
They overcome fatigue, Randolph in victory
By Chris Silva
The symptoms were there.
There was little ball movement in the half-court offense. Too many guys stood still. And no one seemed to play defense.
All of these problems spelled trouble for the Pistons on Tuesday against Portland in the first of a five-game set at the Palace.
It wasn't Detroit basketball.
And there were times when the Pistons looked drained, still recovering from a double-overtime victory at Memphis on Monday.
Coach Flip Saunders said he was happy that the Pistons beat the Portland Trail Blazers, 93-89, but he wasn't pleased with how they played.
Homestand no relief to Saunders
By Chris Silva
The Pistons will be home for the holidays, and you would think they would feel great with five straight games at the Palace.
But, coach Flip Sanders said, "we never feel relieved."
Tuesday night's game against Portland started the five-game home stand, which will come in a 10-day stretch. After Tuesday, the Pistons will have played nine at home and 14 on the road. They're an NBA-best 12-2 on the road.
The marquee matchups will be Christmas Day against defending NBA champion San Antonio and Dec. 29 against Eastern Conference finalist Miami. Golden State plays Friday at the Palace; Toronto plays there Dec. 27.
Bruise brothers
Abdenours share all the aches, pains as NBA athletic trainers
By Chris Silva
Last week, the Pistons' athletic trainer, Mike Abdenour, was curious about what happened when the Golden State-Houston game went to overtime.
So he dialed up the Warriors' athletic trainer to get the dish.
"Mike's my respected colleague, my older brother and my best friend," said Warriors athletic trainer Tom Abdenour, Mike's younger brother by two years. "To have someone like that a phone call away 24/7 is great."
Arrival of Spurs, Heat holiday treat
By Krista Latham
The countdown is on. Four days until the big day.
Not Christmas.
The rematch.
This is the season for giving, and the NBA schedulers gave the Pistons plenty. They gift-wrapped a five-game homestretch that began Tuesday and sprinkled the Pistons' holiday season with a few big-name opponents.
The first comes Sunday, when the Pistons host the San Antonio Spurs in a rematch of last year's NBA Finals.
And the holiday fun extends until Dec. 29, when last year's Eastern Conference Finals opponent, the Miami Heat, comes to town.
The sole of the Pistons
by Krista Latham
NBA players might be second only to sorority girls as shoe aficionados. The most important piece of equipment an NBA player wears is the one he pulls on and laces up each day, the sole barrier between the hardwood and his million-dollar body. You've known shoes were a big deal since Michael revolutionized the field, right? Well, here are shoes from the Pistons' perspective.
Hot Topics Q&A: How do you do your holiday shopping? Soundoff NBA Ticker By The Numbers ~ The Oakland Press ~
Pistons are riding starting five
By Bill Roose
Riding five starters from opening night to the season finale of an NBA campaign is tough to fathom. A lot must depend on avoiding injuries and team chemistry.
So far this season, the Pistons have been fortunate that its Fab Five has remained healthy.
Detroit is the lone team in the Eastern Conference to stick with its regular starting five through the first third of the year. Coach Flip Saunders' previous team, Minnesota, is the only Western Conference team to have started just five players this season.
~ The Oregonian ~
Randolph's 37 points not enough for a win
Despite a career effort from the Blazers' forward, he is left fuming after a bitter 93-89 loss to the Pistons
By JASON QUICK
There will be debate as to when, and why, all this fell apart so unceremoniously on Monday.
But first, to understand the Trail Blazers' bitterness, their hurt, and their frustration with Monday's 93-89 loss at Detroit, it must be understood that everything was going so well.
Zach Randolph was having a career night. Ruben Patterson was abusing Rasheed Wallace underneath the basket. And coach Nate McMillan was confidently strutting down the sideline, pointing to assistant coach Dean Demopolous in recognition for diagramming a play that Jarrett Jack executed perfectly, resulting in a dunk by Joel Przybilla.
It was crunch time, and the unheralded Blazers had the vaunted, albeit tired, Detroit Pistons wobbly-kneed and ready for the knockout.
And then it all fell apart.