Originally Posted by Lee356  The Pistons took a long step backwards in this one. Afflalo got about 3 minutes. No Amir Johnson. No Samb.
With Rip having the flu, you might think Afflalo would get some quality minutes in this one. Instead, we see Prince play some shooting guard, followed by Flip Murray. As usual, nobody can predict what Saunders is going to do game to game for the rotation.
With Sheed out, you would think Amir Johnson would get to play a bit. Instead, Amir has his minutes go down to zero, after just 5 the previous game.
The outcome of this early season game did not matter. It basically ended up being just another wasted opportunity to develop the team.
Ok, the game itself. Billups started out doing pretty well, getting inside for scores and dishing assists. He even made some outside shots. Rip was hitting his outside shots too. But Utah's Williams was getting inside on us too. A draw there for the most part.
Tay started our scoring with a triple, but really did not shoot too much after that.
Dyess did not shoot much at first, but then hit some outside shots. Then missed a lot of outside shots. In all, his outside shooting hurt us. His rebounding was good though, as was the few times he decided to work inside. Its a shame as much potential he has to help us that he chooses not too by taking so many outside shots. As he can't defend Boozer at all, he should have been trying to get him into foul trouble.
Mohammed had a heck of rebounding game. But did anyone ever see him make a defensive play in this game? How about his work inside around the basket on offense? Weak as can be. He did get a couple of tip ins, but he should take a page from Rodman's book, pass the ball out if he gets an offensive rebound where there is anyone defending him.
Flip Murray made a couple of good drives in. About it though. Not much for all he played.
Hayes got a bucket in the post, and then hit a couple of outside shots. Did he shoot again?
JMAX was a bright spot. They let him shoot. People got to see that indeed he can make jumpers. And he played some pretty darn good D on Okur. And blocked some shots. Gee, it would be nice if they let our other shotblockers play some. Instead, the rest of our front line was slow. (Mohammed and Dyess were the rest of our front line.) Speaking of slow, and poor D, Hayes ain't none to fast on defense either. Thats a lot of slowness out there. In all, Boozer looked like he was all alone out there for most of the game.
Despite everything, the Pistons actually played pretty even with Utah, save for a bunch of technical free throws by Utah. Saunders got tossed arguing a call. They made the two tech free throws, and the two free throws for Tay's foul to put us down 8.
Our last hurrah was a triple by Billups to put us down just 5 late. That was it though. Okur's triple buried us. |
11-25-2007, 11:53 PM
Re: Utah Nov 25 1PM 
