If we play a team that gives us resistance in the paint, we need to keep going at it. When KG blocks a couple shots, we can't take the easy way out and avoid him. In fact, we need to do the opposite and try to draw fouls by initiating action inside.

I make the comment that this was Maxiell's best game of the year when he only had 8 points. 20 points later I was amazed. He really did have some super energy tonight. And I hate it when people say that after the fact to explain success, but this time I agree that he was noticably pumped up. It was the old Maxiell again.

Now about Lindsey... please only use him in short bursts and let Stuck and Afflalo handle the usual backup mins. Lindsey is not good enough on D to make up for his stale offense. And most of his defensive work is comprised of bad gambles and reaches. When he's paired with RS or AA, then I like the way that they can trap to change the momentum of a game, but if we don't get the turnovers, then he's not worth it.

Other than that, I have no real complaints. Herrmann might be preferable to Hayes, but every real Pistons player seems to be playoff ready at this point.

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"I’ll just say this: We’re not talking to teams about their second- or third-best players." Joe Dumars talking about his plan to get other teams' 4th best players.

I tried watching a bit of the Tigers game after the Pistons were done. Not that I turned the channel. The Tigers game was on Fox plus, and when the Pistons were done, they put the game on regular Fox. Result, within like a couple of minutes, I fell asleep. Just no interest.

So what kind of game did Maxiell have? Completely dominating. The phrase, foul him to stop him, was heard endlessly. But it did not stop him. He still scored sometimes, or if not, he hit some free throws. And on the defensive end? Washington was not scoring but a few points over a long stretch, several minutes, at the start of Maxiell's 2nd half stint. (And this came early as Dyess picked up his 4th foul five minutes into the 3rd quarter.)

And no, JMAX can do more than dunk. Sure, a whole lot of damage he did was inside, but he hit several outside jumpers too. If a defender was on him, he would make a move, rise up and shoot over the bum. 28 points, lots of rebounds. Some blocks. And an unselfish assist to Amir at the end of the game to cap it all off. A friend of mine sure likes to argue about how much we miss Ben, and I always tell him the same thing: we got JMAX and just wait. Well, I don't think he needs to wait any more after tonight. JMAX plays very good D, and has an excellent offensive game to go with it.

But who was the real defensive hero? Dyess also went out early in the first quarter, and Theo came in to play along side Sheed. Result: only a few points scored by Washington over a several minute stretch. So, in this game, we see Sheed paired with Theo, and later Sheed paired with JMAX, and the other team not being able to score. GO SHEED!!!!! Oh yes, Sheed can score too.

Billups had a decent game, nailing a few threes. Rip had a good game too despite starting out 0-8; he ended up with 10 assists and 9 points. He had only played one game over the last couple of weeks, so some rust was too be expected. Both Billups and Rip were in during those defensive runs, as was Tay. As someone pointed out, you get Dyess out of the way, and the Pistons have some pretty darn good defenders in their starting unit otherwise.

Afflalo only played some garbage time in the 4th. Dixon did not play. Hunter got extensive playing time in this one, did very little. Of note, Afflalo was playing small forward, with Hayes sitting, in the 4th. Hayes played a lot, shot a lot, and missed all his shots but one if I remember correctly.

Dyess did hit some shots in this one.

Tays outside shot was on, and he got some alley oops too. Usually from Rip. Rip fed Maxiell some too.

Billups and Rip actually ran a fast break well tonight, with Rip getting the assist to Billups.

Stuckey made a couple of buckets on rather dramatic drives in.
Amir had some blocks, and several dunks, and one layup in traffic. He only got in for about 5 minutes in the first half, and then the whole 4th, which was all garbage time.

In all, we pulverized this playoff bound team, and Amir had very little to do with it, nor Afflalo. Stuckey might not even have been positive in this game himself. The game was won primarily by the starters, minus Dyess, and with help from just two players, Maxiell and Theo. And this with a rusty Rip who missed his first 8 shots. As we approach the playoffs, we have a well rested group of starters and a bench that has played extensively all year. Flip has everything he needs right now to win it all. Lets see what he does with it.

Just for Fun Max, mathematically speaking the ratio 10:0 does not exist. i can't wait for playoffs, pistons games are not showing anymore here because they clinshed playoff position already.

Getting out of LGA on Friday afternoon is a serious chore so I only got to see the game from about the five minute mark of the third, but that was pretty impressive.

I don't see anyone above talking about Sheed in the third. Seven boards, two blocks, and a steal, and during the last part of the period, one of the most consistent dominating defensive stands I can remember seeing. Max was also a defensive monster then and the rest of the team fed off it.

How would one calculate that?

Too bad they stopped showing the games for you because they still are in a race against the West for Homecourt in the Finals. Obviously reducing the starters mins have been more important though.

I missed it but I will watch it tonight.

Who woulda ever thought Max would have a 28 point game off the bench?

What's Darko's career high? I miss 16 mile telling us that Maxiell was a bum and too short.

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To all of my friends, comrades and companions at PF.com

Thank you for another great season!

11-13 shooting. It was an amazing display showing both range and athletisism. The guys started looking for him as the main scoring option after awhile. This game is a keeper if you recorded it.

edit to add. Darko's career high is 21 points.

J-Max actually said that he feels like he's got his legs back just in time.

first game i've been to in a long time...was pretty fun. decent crowd and max brought the house down time after time. i'm liking that rip is doing the alley-oop play he used to do with ben. his drunk in traffic after the amir johnson miss was much more impressive in person than what i've seen on the highlights.

the offense stagnated when lindsey entered the game...a lot of dribbling in the corner and standing around until 5 seconds left on the shot clock. it looked like stuckey was deferring to hunter as well, but i'd like to see stuckey playing PG if both of them are in the game at the same time. to lindsey's credit he was fantastic on defense and the traps worked well.

every time jarvis jacked up a shot i yelled 'another horrible miss!' and sure enough, it missed. i liked how afflalo played some backup 3, and this might work well in the playoffs. if jarvis is on fire, cool, but if not...i mean he gets beat so easily by a quick fake and drive that he has to foul. even though afflalo is shorter that would be happening much less.

but either way the pistons really bothered butler and jamison and didn't allow easy shots which was great. stuckey wasn't as aggressive as we've seen, but after 2 impressive drives (and actual finishes, woot) they were playing for it, and he racked up 6 assists which shows maturity.