Video highlights are up for those that missed it. Dale's putback is after he scored and got an opportunity to add 1 free throw. He missed and rebounded the miss for a putback. Also Delfino's game saving steal and Maxiell's game winning shot.

(VIDEO) Pistons 97, Sonics 93 (F)

Billups has been on a tear lately. He plays so much better with rest.

Ya beat me to it, I was going to say he went digital.
"Michael Curry numbers... the binary man 10101010101".
32 minutes for Brahma...is he ready for that? Talk about dead legs.
Good call on the score D59--- [97]

See if you and ArmyG can come up with a trade for him. Maybe you can get Dwade and Nash for him. I think JD would grudgingly pull that trigger.

I missed the first quarter and part of the second last night, but saw enough to begin to change my POV about JMax. This was the first time I've seen him on the floor when he was rebounding with intention. Most times he has seemed content to grab the ball when it was falling towards his hands, and not all that motivated to move somebody out of the way to get it. Last night was very different. I wonder if someone (Cowens?) lit a fire under him and made it clear that boards will keep him on the floor a lot longer than the occasional monster dunk.

He had a nice jumper going too. Now we'll see if he can keep it going (if of course he ever plays again) now that the opposition scouts might actually tell their players his name.

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"But first, are you experienced? Or have you you ever been experienced? Well, I have."
Jimi

So it was Rip who gave them the name.
From the art. By Danny Knobler:

Maxiell, 23, is one of the Pistons' youngest players. Davis, at 37, is the oldest. They came together the last couple of nights to help the Pistons overcome Wallace's absence, and to earn the nickname bestowed on them by teammate Richard Hamilton.

The Goon Squad.

"We're the physical brothers,'' Maxiell said.
Maxiell (6-foot-7, 260 pounds) and Davis (6-11, 252) are big enough and physical enough to give the Pistons a different look under the basket, but for much of the early part of this season, they've been giving them a different look on the bench. Maxiell didn't play in seven consecutive games in late November and early December, and Davis played limited minutes.

front line scheme for rest of season:
48 min per forward/48 min per center.....

SHEED 8 MIN /1ST QTR; 4 MIN/2ND QTR; 8 MIN/3RD;6 MIN/4TH: 26
NAZR 5 MIN/1ST;4 MIN/2ND; 6 MIN/3RD; 6 MIN/4TH: 21
DYESS 7 MIN/1ST; 4 MIN/2ND; 1 MIN/3RD; 5 MIN/4TH: 17
DAVIS 2 MIN/1ST;8 MIN/2ND; 0 MIN/3RD; 4 MIN/4TH: 14
MAX 2 MIN/1ST: 4 MIN/2ND; 5 MIN/3RD; 3 MIN/4TH:14

THIS is why a coach loses hair and sleep...managing minutes! WWuD??

Not bad HQ, I'd let Sheed do more in the 4th and let Nazz foul out in the first half, if he needs to, to minimize the free chili line/entree.

Does any one else notice, the great defensive plays CB is making at the end of games? He has gotten so many clutch steals. Either it's the rest, or his b-ball IQ went up a thousand in 2 days. I think it's the rest, but either way he's actually playing that second team all defense right now.

Yes, CB's defense has definitely improved with his energy level. I also get the feeling that he won't pace himself so much at the beginning of games if he knows that he isn't going to have to play 40 minutes. I think that a lot of the slow starts were caused by him not looking to score.

All this talk about the bench and youth... am I the only Ronald Dupree fan here? I'm not saying that he should be a part of the rotation, but don't you have to throw a bone to the good-attitude energy guy every couple games or so? Just stick him with some of the starters when we look lethargic for 5 minutes sometime. We are not "hiding" him are we?

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"If I'm sitting there arguing with the officials, I'm giving an alibi for the team." MC

I think Dupree could help. More hustle can't hurt.