Flip looked very frustrated with Sheed too at the end of the 4th when Sheed jacked up the ill advised brick of a three. I've never seen Flip throw up his hands in exasperation like that...yeah, the tension is there.

So, I guess Sheed is the new malcontent???

I only saw part of the game.

You're right about that play with Sheed...he was definitely in the act of shooting...even the ABC broadcast 'brain-trust' knew it and were scratching their heads verbally.

You're right about Tay backing down too. The one play I saw had him backing down right of the paint, receiving the DT as he got close to rim, missed his patented little lefty-hook, but got the put-back. I really like to see Tay posting most defenders because he CAN take most of them, one-on-one. But there are two problems I have with Tay's post play:

1) It's always from right of the paint, protecting his dribble and his shot. You rarely see him dribbling left of the paint and rarely see him shoot from the left side unless he's outside the arc. I wish he'd work on developing his right side this off season to make himself less predictable to the opponent. I think back to the work Rip did on his 3's before last season...he came into last season and surprised the hell out of opponents and most of us by being able to do what we never expected him to be able to do. With the big money should come a desire to make your game even better, in any way possible, all the time.

2) Tay is slowww in backing down defenders. He spends so much time doing it that his defender will many times get help when he closes on the paint. Which kinda leads to your point about him knowing when he should kick it out.

I really like Tay. I just hope his new contract doesn't make him lackadaisical in bettering his game.

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It's a play that he will try at least 3-4 times a game and the rest of the team stands around watching. This team is good, but they would be better if they wouldn't go into sleep mode when somebody trying a one on five maneuver.

Yeah...I've seen it over-and-over. Hey Flipper...here's a thot...how about having a player step in behind Tay's slow back down to pick Rip's defender so he can receive the pass?

Agree with that. There were a couple times during the Portland and Sonics game when either Sheed or Tay were working the post, and the rest of the team was just watching. I was yelling "little help!", but the Pistons weren't listening.

Lin, I am sure your voice is louder than Flips, but remember they don't listen to him either.

No doubt, Dre. I'm not sure they need it as much since the arrival of CWebb, but I really miss Rip's midrange game. Watching him work the screens is a thing of beauty, and it seems that they have gone away from that strategy lately. If one of the bigs could hit Hamilton in motion...