How bad are Miami and Orlando? Starting to think, after 2 games, our starting 4 may play at their best ever as a unit this year. Only question marks are the bench, the minutes, and even if we win 60+ can we get past the ECFs.

Watched the Toronto game, they look unstoppable, and Delfino is looking like the missing piece for them. Thanks Joe.

Eli Zaret must have pissed off Flip. Kind of short answers in the wrap up to Eli's questions.

Delfino was the missing piece for Detroit....missing in action. Pistons won't miss him a bit.

I am liking the Rip-less Pistons. Him being out has made DET be more decisive on offense. I think it makes them less flat. Who knows how it would work with him coming off the bench?

Flip is still way to dependant on CB to run the offense. How is their O so complex that only a few people can run it but the rest of the L can stop it easly come the playoffs? We all may have our favorite player(s), but I think we all agree that Billups can't play heavy minutes through the year. Does their season really rest on a rookie who hasn't played the point before? If this was a close game his mnutes would have been up again.

Sheed really can't check Howard, huh? Dysse & all the bigs played well. Lil 'Flip & Hayes. Nice win. Flip needs to be as decisive as the starters have been. He can't rely on blowouts to cut minutes.

Toronto will be a better team this year, however, Fino the missing piece?

I don`t think so.

2 nights in a row that we frustrate one of the game's premier centers with the Sheed/Dyess/Nazr/Maxiell combo.

It works.


Things that are becoming obvious-
Our bench rules... and we haven't even seen Stuckey and Amir mixed in for real yet.

Our big 4 are devastating.

Hayes plays hard.

Murray and Nazr are not nearly as bad as their reputations on this board.
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One other note. How satisfying is it to beat a team for the 9th time in a row after they say they will destroy you? Very satisfying indeed. The best part about it was watching their entire crowd leave 10 minutes early.

__________________
"I don't think MC is going to allow us to shoot as many jumpers." Tayshaun Prince.

Neither is Saunders.

Keep playing them and we may find out that they are our missing links

I'll give you that.


I think that if Flip would have found a way to incorporate and trust the bench for the last 2 years that he may have got his Championship.

Of all his shortcomings, this one will be the easiest to change.

We're off to a good start with our bench killing our opponents benches and all of our starters on board with sharing minutes. Flip might get addicted to the results.

Flip Murray had a very good game. He took the ball in. He took it in and dished. He made some outside shots off the dribble, including two straight over Arroyo. Defensively, he had a small bad stretch in the first half but was otherwise fine. He led a bench in scoring, with about 19, that scored over 40.


Afflalo got his 2nd straight start. Maybe he was nervous at first, turning the ball over a few times, but he kept hitting the shots given him, kept playing really solid D, and was out there as we took a nine point lead to end the first half.


Billups was his usual awesome self, busting it inside all game long, and nailing all his free throws. Tay was on fire yet again. Sheed was doing damage all over. These three in all, along with JMAX who was at the line all night himself, worked the inside like champs.


Dyess just shot jumpers in the first half, but he was making them, and doing more than his share of guarding Howard - and doing a fine job of it indeed. What was leftover as far as Howard Sheed took care of, and that after spending time guarding Lewis most of the game. Back to Dyess. I really liked him in the 2nd half, where he concentrated on staying around the basket and ended up getting several easy buckets, and buckets where we need them, around the basket.


Mohammed did not do much. An outside jumper made. Very late in the game, he hit a quick in the post over Augustine. I will count that as a post score over a center, so thats two games in a row.


Amir got a bit of time at the end of this blowout win for the Pistons. Man he looks great going up for bounds. JMAX jumps awful high himself, but Amir jumps just as high plus has a several inch head start. Amir can plain sky. An offensive rebound putback was all he did on offense.


Rip who? Man, we scored just shy of 120 points and our leading scorer is taking the night off. (Congrats by the way.) But then again, Orlando has some problems on D. Nelson is a shorty and Arroyo ain't much taller and can't jump. Turk can shoot, but not defend. Howard is an ok defender and Bogans can defend, but thats it. Still, the fact they used just about everything they had to impressively take it inside you got to love. Big kudos to Billups for running such a flawless game plan, and kudos to Saunders and staff for getting his team to play the right way.


Tay again was the backup point, and probably played a lot considering it was the 2nd of a back to back where he played heavy minutes just last night. Hopefully this won't continue, and why should it with Rip coming back? Anyway, what a display of talent Tay put on for the state of Florida.


Hayes again fit this game well. As Orlando plays the slower footed Turk at small forward, there was no problem with Hayes on D. On O, Hayes hit several shots in a row that took this game into slaughter land. Very impressive shooting. Hayes needs little room to get that shot off, and he is not afraid one bit to take the shot. Plus more good inside work from him on the boards.


Durpree played for a brief moment. Hunter was dressed but did not play. Samb is inactive, Rip was excused, and Stuckey is hurt.
We still have not seen the team with Amir integrated into the rotation, nor with Stuckey playing. Still a lot to look forward to.


One dig at those who wrongly believe playing rookies loses games. Afflalo no way hurt us in this game. He was plus 10 in this one as he left toward the end of the 3rd quarter. (And we were only up 10 at that point.) And JMAX, a near rookie, was pretty darn awesome on the boards, on D, and in getting to the line repeatedly. Just wait until he settles down as far as his free throws. Amir and Stuckey ain't going to hurt us one bit either. PS, its going to be quite a fight from Murray to keep minutes as opposed to Stuckey and Afflalo getting them. I don't mind a fair fight for minutes one bit, as long as the rookies are given a fair shot at the minutes too. GO PISTONS!!!!!