[Detroit Bad Boys] It?s official: Detroit fans hate the Pacers!

A few days ago, we asked "Which current Pistons rival do you dislike the most?" One hundred and fifty people participated, with exactly 30% of the vote choosing the Pacers and 27% choosing the Heat.
The Spurs (20%) were a distant third, followed by the Nets (15%), Lakers (5%) and Kings (4%). I'm not too [...]



[BEYOND THE ARC] Dumars, Darko and the draft...oh my.

In the aftermath of the trade that sent Darko Milicic and Carlos Arroyo to Orlando Wednesday, there was some pretty...



[Detroit Bad Boys] LeBron versus the Pistons

FOXSports.com's Charley Rosen analyzed Detroit's win over Cleveland on Sunday in his latest article. It's not your average game recap — instead, it's a technical article that takes a very close look at LeBron James' game. A good read to prepare for tonight's rematch in Cleveland.




[Detroit News] Picking up speed

They're fun to watch. They can shoot the lights out and play tough defense. The wins are piling up, and people are starting to wonder what's going to happen in the playoffs.



[Detroit News] Dealing Darko was good move

Burning questions as Darko-mania continues to grow:



[Detroit Bad Boys] Pistons sweep up Cavaliers in spite of an inspired performance by Damon Jones

The Pistons beat King James and the Cavs last night, 84-72, at Quicken Home Loans Arena. The "wine and gold"–as the Cavs are referred to by their announcers (thank you, NBA League Pass)–answered my questions about their toughness by playing the Pistons close for three quarters. Zydrunas Ilgauskas even exacted a bit of revenge [...]



[BEYOND THE ARC] Big challenges lie ahead

As the Pistons get ready to kick off the second "half" of the season (actually, 31 games remain) tonight against...



[Detroit Bad Boys] No laughing in basketball

If you haven't already heard about it, Cleveland's Zydrunas Ilgauskas earned a technical last night after throwing Rasheed Wallace to the floor, perhaps in retaliation for Sheed splitting open Z's skull the day before. How did Sheed react to the play? He laughed it off, which somehow earned him a technical foul, as well. (Need [...]



[Detroit Bad Boys] Welcome the newest Piston, Tony Delk

A. Sherrod Blakely of MLive reports on his blog that Tony Delk, recently released by the Atlanta Hawks, will become the newest Piston sometime tomorrow morning. Delk joins the team as a second point guard option off the bench behind Lindsey Hunter. Blakely:
Obviously, Delk isn't going to be a player that's going to [...]

~ The Detroit News ~

Rasheed's fouls not as technical
Pistons forward Rasheed Wallace has been a magnet for technical fouls lately, but the situation is not as dire as it seems. Wallace has been called for 15 technicals this season, but just 12 count toward the NBA's suspension system.

Parker: Technical fouls are just side effect of Pistons' tenacity
Don't let the recent rash of technical fouls by the Pistons worry you. This team isn't coming apart. In fact, the Pistons are actually coming together.

~ The Detroit Free Press ~

Delk could be insurance at guard spots
DENVER -- Sometime today, the Pistons expectveteran point guard Tony Delk to sign as a free agent, filling the team's vacant roster spot and adding some backcourt insurance.

Hunter's contributions fit with Pistons' plans
Pistons owner Bill Davidson is a big fan of jigsaw puzzles, so much so he often leaves them at the team's practice facility. Guard Lindsey Hunter spent the first 46 games of the season rehabilitating his left ankle, and he would often work on the puzzles, sometimes even take one home.

~ Foxsports.com ~

Thomas, Dumars going different ways ... again
If you're going to build a basketball team in your own image, you better know who you are. Are you a narcissist who displays "a pattern of traits and behaviors which signify infatuation and obsession with one's self to the exclusion of all others?" Or, are you an altruist, willing to sublimate personal desire for the greater good of the whole?

Delk set to sign with Pistons
by A. Sherrod Blakely

DENVER -- Ex-Atlanta Hawk guard Tony Delk will become a Detroit Piston today.

Delk, who cleared waivers Tuesday at 6 p.m., agreed to become a Piston shortly after that.

The Pistons had until midnight tonight to sign the 6-foot-2 guard to ensure that he would be eligible for the playoffs.


Column:Officials out of control with quick trigger on technicals
By A. Sherrod Blakely

DENVER -- OK, OK. We get it now. The Detroit Pistons whine about every foul called against them, and NBA officials are sick and tired of hearing it.

They can't make the Pistons shut up, so their way of trying to mute the complaints is to assess the Pistons with as many technical fouls as possible, even if it means calling one or two stupid ones just to make a point.



Pistons don't like their 'T' times
by DANA GAURUDER

DENVER - The Pistons don't have any problem walking the walk. Recently, they have been stripped of the ability to talk the talk.

Every time an offi cial toots his whistle nowadays, they half-expect to see him form a "T" with his hands. A rash of technicals has them steaming about what they perceive as unfair treatment from the men in striped shirts.

[Denver Post]

Fans rise: Cheers to Chauncey

"You already know Chauncey Billups is playing basketball as never before. Now for what you may not know: He's a better man than ever before, too. That's why the Pepsi Center crowd should give him a standing ovation during tonight's pregame introductions."

[Rocky Mountain News]

McDyess wants a ring of his own

"There are six regularly on display in the locker room. When Antonio McDyess sees them gleam, all he can do is look on in envy. They are rings from the Detroit Pistons' championship season of 2003-04."



One-on-One: Readers pick Pistons-Spurs rematch By David DuPree

Get ready for a rematch of last season's NBA Finals.

Readers overwhelmingly feel that the Detroit Pistons and San Antonio Spurs will be the last teams standing, and they are split as to who will win in response to this week's question.


Scorer's Table: Heat in good hands with Wade
By David DuPree

The highest score of anyone on the All-Hands team belonged to Wallace, who averages 2.1 assists, 4.1 offensive rebounds, 1.7 steals, 2.3 blocks, 2.1 fouls and one turnover, making him the only player with a total score of seven or more.

Pistons starters should go for the gold
by Peter Schrager

When the reserves for the Eastern and Western Conference All Star teams were announced in February, there was a bit of public outcry. The guys from Dime made their case for Chris Paul's spot on the Western squad. Reggie Miller defended Jason Terry's right to play for the West on TNT's Inside the NBA on Thursday. Several experts spent last week crying foul over the omissions of Carmelo Anthony, Baron Davis, and Dwight Howard as well.

There was only one guy that I thought got "jobbed". Sure, he averages two less points per game than Caron Butler, and yes, the legend that is Viktor Khryapa grabs more rebounds per game. He's also undoubtedly the fifth best player on his team.

All that said — Tayshaun Prince is an NBA All Star.


U.S. National team announced
by Ian Cameron

The 22-member U.S. National team was unveiled yesterday by director of USA Basketball, Jerry Colangelo. The players, to be coached by Duke's Coack K (Mike Krzyzewski), will compete for 12 active (and three inactive) roster spots for the 2006 World Championships in Japan and the 2008 Olympics in China. Including a lone Piston, Chauncey Billups, the squad looks like this...


Denver loves Chauncey Billups
by Matt Watson

For Chauncey Billups, tonight's game in Denver isn't just another game out of 82, it's a homecoming. And the Denver Post's Jim Armstrong hopes the Pepsi Center fans will give Billups a standing O...

Isiah Thomas and Joe Dumars have taken different paths

While perusing the discussions over at PistonsForum.com, I stumbled across an interesting article from FOXSports.com comparing the careers of Isiah Thomas and Joe Dumars, from their pre-college days all the way up to where they are today. Good read for long-time fans who remember watching the two play in the same backcourt.


Pistons sluggish in 10th loss

"It was just Carmelo Anthony, Kenyon Martin and the Denver Nuggets running a dunk line on the Pistons in a 98-87 romp Wednesday."



Pistons' streak ends at 6

"But 22 dunks later, the Nuggets ended the Pistons' six-game winning streak, 98-87, and smashed home more lob jams than Pistons coach Flip Saunders said he'd seen in the previous 56 games."



Mile-high misstep

More than a few NBA teams have trouble with the altitude in the Rocky Mountains. Ditto for the Pistons, who strained their necks for the better part of three hours Wednesday night looking skyward as the Denver Nuggets soared around them.


Sheed thinks officials have it in for him

Rasheed Wallace has fought pitched battles with officials throughout his career. After several strange technicals against him over the past week, Wallace is taking the proverbial gloves off and striking back with some verbal swipes.



Trade Deadline Winners and Losers

"It was clearly apparent that the Darko experiment had failed miserably in Detroit. But the name of the game in trading disappointing players in today's NBA is to get cap relief if possible."

Denver delivers 'Classy' victory

"There is an upside to playing to the level of your competition. A case in point was the Nuggets' 98-87 win over everyone's NBA title favorite, the Detroit Pistons."


Billups lends all-Star support to youngsters

"Regis University announced Wednesday that Billups was joining forces with Porter in the renamed Porter-Billups Leadership Academy, benefiting Denver-area inner-city kids through academic and leadership training."


Denver is better in hurry

"The Nuggets blitzed the vaunted Detroit Pistons in the second half Wednesday night at the Pepsi Center. It added up to a 98-87 win."



Pistons get depth in Delk

"'Detroit was my No. 1 choice,' said Delk, the 32-year-old guard who signed with the Pistons on Wednesday morning."



Rasheed cries foul on referees

"Rasheed Wallace read the story in USA Today on Wednesday, about how referees believe there is an increasing 'environment of hostility' between officials and players."



Billups takes the point for new 'Life academy'

"Chauncey Billups , a native of Denver who grew up in the tough Park Hill area of the city, lent his name, his time and $100,000 to help provide academic and leadership training to inner-city kids."





Delk could get significant time

"When the Atlanta Hawks waived guard Tony Delk last week, a number of teams called, wanting him to bring his veteran experience, shooting tough and rugged defense their way. It was easy to ignore all those calls but one."



Flurry of dunks propels Denver past Pistons, 98-87

"This was not the kind of homecoming Chauncey Billups had envisioned.

The Denver native put on a great show for his family and friends attending Wednesday night's game.

There was just one problem: he didn't get much help."


Delk's role could be larger than anticipated

"While there are many who believe Tony Delk was signed by the Detroit Pistons as added insurance in case Chauncey Billups or Lindsey Hunter gets hurt, he's probably going to have a more expanded role than that."

Nothing to see here; Nuggets bury Pistons

There are some nights that I wish I hadn't ordered NBA League Pass this season. Last night, for instance, I could have been sitting on the couch, blissfully complaining to my fiance about having to watch Project Runway and struggling to follow the Pistons through the live updates on CBS Sportsline. But instead, [...]


Watch out for that ball boy on the floor behind you

The refs seem to think they're often the unfair targets of abuse, but it seems to a lot of Pistons fans lately that it's the refs have been the ones picking on the players in recent games.
Rasheed Wallace, whose reputation precedes anything that comes out of his mouth, spoke out on Wednesday:
"They say, [...]


Alex Acker heads to the farm

Ian called it: with Tony Delk on board, the Pistons have decided to dispatch rookie Alex Acker to the NBDL's Fayetteville Patriots.

Tayshaun Prince is looking for his shot

Seems like it's not just our readers who've noticed Tayshaun Prince's recent slump: both the Free Press and News ran nearly identical articles today discussing the matter.
Just how bad have things been? As the News reports, Prince has averaged just 8.6 points per game on 23% shooting. The decreased scoring isn't the [...]


It's official: 63% of fans think Sheed will miss time

Man, you guys are a bunch of pessimists. In our last poll, we asked "Will Rasheed Wallace earn enough technical fouls to be suspended?" 52% of the 62 who voted think that he'll end up missing one game, while 11% of you think he'll be suspended for two. As for me, I'm among the 37% [...]


Pistons scout joins Team USA

The Detroit News reports that Pistons international scout Tony Ronzone was named an advance scout for Team USA for the World Championships this summer and the Olympics in 2008. Who is Tony Ronzone? This 2004 article from Time Magazine is a great introduction. I just added him to my list of guys I want to [...]



Prince: Wins matter, not points

"Tayshaun Prince is doing what he does when he hits a rough stretch -- he's keeping his head down, his mouth pretty much shut and he's grinding."


Pistons scout joins Team USA

"Pistons international scout Tony Ronzone will be one of the advance scouts for the U.S. men's national team for the World Championships this summer and the Olympics in 2008."



Scoring woes don't worry Prince -- yet

"Although forward Tayshaun Prince admits he is in a bit of a scoring slump -- he has averaged 9.3 points a game since the All-Star break -- he's not letting it bother him."



Pistons sharing their brand of ball in Seattle

Seattle Times: "No one talks about Detroit joining the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls as the only team to win at least 70 games anymore, but the Pistons are still showered with superlatives whenever they take their unselfish brand of basketball on the road."


Pistons embody unity Sonics seek

"The Detroit Pistons took 14 years to build the type of chemistry that wins championships. The Bad Boys aged and eventually left or retired. Grant Hill's tenure as a franchise player ended with his demand for a trade while Jerry Stackhouse was never comfortable as the No. 1 option."



Seattle next on Pistons’ path

"All the talk about the Pistons matching the Chicago Bulls’ all-time mark of 72-10 was spurred by Detroit’s 24-3 start, coming after advancing to the NBA Finals last June."

Prince's production falls off
by DANA GAURUDER

Tayshaun Prince is considered the Pistons' 'glue' guy. He does a little bit of everything to complete the league's top starting five.

Lately, Prince has been doing a whole lot of nothing at the offensive end. He cannot make any of his shots stick, and his offensive funk has put more pressure on Richard Hamilton and Chauncey Billups to score.



Delk fits in well with Pistons
by A. Sherrod Blakely

Mini-streams of sweat kept flicking off Tony Delk's head, sort of like the rhythmic swishing of jump shots he made during 3-on-3 drills Thursday at the University of Denver's Ritchie Center.