Oh yeah, and

CHAT IS OPEN!!

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They are the archetype for dominance. They are the gatekeepers of the conference. They are the Detroit Pistons.

I am completely appalled.

1) Our winning margins have been shrinking, the last 6 games were all pretty close. And guess what, 4 games in 5 nights this week with 3 on the road.

2) Sheed doesn't stop chucking. Dude, you are 1 for 10 from 3pt, STOP.

3) The last play we need a 3, and we run a play for SHEED? WHAT?

4) Are we putting TOO much pressure on Chauncey? The rest of the team plays like crap and its like Chauncey gets fed up and has to start forcing everything, reminds me of kobe and lakers. That might a little harsh on the rest of the team, but still....

This is either an expected result or cause for alarm. NJ always packs the paint and we are forced to play heavy perimeter against them, same thing happened last time we played in NJ but guys were hitting their shots. RJ and VC were off, but Kidd (Leading rebounder!) and Krstic exploded. So it's just "one of those games".

I wasn't terribly impressed with the Refs, but I'd call it typical NBA officiating, so nothing to note.

But the trends are forming and something to think about it.

The game was over in the first half. You could tell our guys didn't have it, especially "Toine Jr." Wallace. Too many shortcuts, not enough movement. When the Pistons make a little run late and then just stop, it's the sign of a tired club. Hopefully the loss will give them the kick in the butt they need from time to time.

I know we fans are as much in love with the whole "best starting five" bit as the press, but there are times when guys just need to be replaced ... like Prince anytime he plays against Jefferson, and Sheed in this game.

This game I could not fight that feeling of a lost and it came big time. Pistons feel in luv with the 3 ball and it got them in the end. Well tomorrow is a bounce back game and it will be atough one.

13-2 is not bad at all I think every month will go about the same, it is just hard when they lose even though you have that feeling for a lost.

Flip still might get the coach of the Month. average of 2 loses a month so far.

A few crazy things about this game. Sheed for one. He flat out could not hit his shots tonight from beyond the arc. But he would not step in a bit. He would not redirect his efforts into the post. One poster got it so right. This is a weak team in the middle. If Sheed did not feel like attacking them in the middle, then he simply should have quit shooting the ball.

Next, Jason Kidd. He could not miss. Kudos for him. Great game. We lost. To a hot shooter. It happens. But then again, when something is not working, a slight adjustment might be helpful. Ben no way could afford to let Kidd open for that 3 ball that killed us in the end. If a guy is killing you all night, man, you don't leave him open.

Ok, back to more crazy stuff. CB was on fire. The kind of fire that typically burns the other team right down to the ground. He could not miss anything. Mr. Bigshot just could not pull this one off all by himself.

Ok, Tay fouled out. And he left early in the 3rd quarter for a real long stretch with foul trouble. Delfino has missed most the last few games with the flu, so really, Evans was about our only option. He comes in for Tay, and gives us what he typically does vs. decent teams. Nothing. He cost us some points by being put on players he could not guard. He missed shots. He did get one routine rebound. Yes, it probably looked quite spectacular as Evans is so short and had to jump so high to get the bound. Any small forward with any height, that is a typical routine rebound. Mo Evans is no substitute for Tay.

Delfino got in the game for a stretch. Nothing much. Looked rusty. Just missed a couple shots. I will be very glad to see him return to the rotation. We had a trend there where Delfino was slowly replacing Evans' minutes. Lets hope it continues.

Arroyo got short stints in both halves. We did just fine with him in, especially on the offensive end. Arroyo got burnt by Vaughn twice, once getting lost around a pick, and once getting beat off the dribble.

Dyess, for the 2nd game now, had a nine point first half. But again also, not much in the 2nd half. Still, I'll take the scoring for sure. Just would love to see him go off for 20 in a game some day. Just like last game, Dyess scored both on outside shots and cutting to the basket.

Rip managed to give us some scoring, but he had a bad shooting night, getting off to an especially bad start. Tay just gave us too little in all, especially be not sticking in the game. Two offensive fouls, quite a rarity for Tay.

Ben, well, he is no offensive threat, so I guess he gets his usual free pass on that score. His defense was fine for the most part. Still mad at him though for not showing on that critical play. Hey, I don't even care if his coach told him to keep just fake showing. Its sometimes better to forget what the coach said. Ben absolutely should have stayed on Kidd on that play.

Oh well, only 11 games in a row. Still the best streak in the league this year. Guess we will have to settle for that. Wow, we heard they were hurting, with all three of their big scorers having one problem or another. Carter even was limping a bit. But their play did not show much of any injuries. Just like us thinking maybe Billups would be slowed by the knee bruise, NJ did not seem to slowed by any injuries at all.

Krstic had a fine game for NJ. Thats because we shot threes all day. His fine game should never have happened. He should have been on the bench with foul trouble.

Cliff hurt us with a couple of shots. Man, we could use him to guard Duncan for us. He can do this effectively and pull Duncan away from the basket on the other end. That and get EC to come back to guard Shaq. We lose Evans, Davis and Maxiell off the playoff roster to make room for these two and Hunter.

Despite all of the problems we had tonight, I still think that if Tay gets that call with 50 secs left, we probably win the game. He should have been shooting 2 for the lead.

Also, Sheed was taking a lot of 3's, but they were more open than Chauncey's were. He should have been able to hit 3 of 11 and again, we would have pulled it out. On the other hand, CB probably shouldn't have been 6 for 6 in a fair world either.

Oh well, another streak ends and a new one begins.

I want to know what Flip's instructions to the team were during TO's tonight. Was he telling them to keep stroking 3's and they'll fall eventually? Any idiot could see the lack of post game...what was Flip telling them?

Sheed could have pounded the Nets inside and should have, considering he couldn't hit the side of barn from outside...and couldn't last game either.

Flip may be the weakest cog in the Piston geartrain.

Ok, I have been pushing the 3-ball this year but this was a bust. Sheed was way off and they should have gone done low. NJ is weak in the middle. Teams are starting to understand and get into our offensive sets. We need to go down low for variety. Right, we got nothing from Evans or Delfino which might have helped. But we haven't really been playing that well while winning lately and it finally got us. Not to worry. We could hold NJ to 75 points if we had to.

Loss #6 and it is all Flips fault!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Fire Flip and hire the washed up Bob Weiss! Get real yes the outside shots were not falling so blame Flip??? I did not see him out there chucking up bricks. What happens when we lose 2 in a row blame Joe?????

Nobody’s shot but Chauncey’s was falling Rip was 8-24, probably his worst shooting night all year. Tay was 3-11 not his usual .451% self. Mo was 0-4 Delfino was 1-4, and Arroyo was 0-0 but yeah I guess its time to get off the Pistons bandwagon after 1 night of horrible shooting. I hear the Suns are doing well without Amare, Nash is a MVP candidate again.

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" Either you play with a sense of urgency, or you will be leaving. It's that simple." Joe Dumars
Ok Joe it's time to prove it!!!!!!

I had no energy tonight either. probably wont have it tomorrow. But we wont miss 2 in a row like tonight. Look for adjustments on the offensive boards and half as many three's. Sheed should never be taking more tahn 5 three's a game, but the pick and fade is such a good play. We need a break in february. I see a potential 11-2 month, but if we rest our starters to about 32 MPG, I'd be satisfied with 8-5 (THe losses at Miami,Cleveland, Indy and Chicago and home to the Clippers)...HOWEVAH..I cant see us not accepting the challenge of Miami, Indy and Cleveland, so 10-3 monthand 47-9 record...WOW!!!!

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