Hoiberg to Detroit?

Not sure what will come of this, but Timberwolves special assistant Fred Hoiberg is on his way to Detroit to...

[Detroit News]

Pistons: There's no beef with Bulls
AUBURN HILLS -- The last time the Pistons played the Bulls, Feb. 24 to be precise, the game turned into a soap opera. There were technical fouls galore. Rip Hamilton was tossed for jawing with Kirk Hinrich. Bulls coach Scott Skiles yelled at the Pistons. Pistons coach Flip Saunders also fumed.

[Oakland Press]

Bulls have had run-ins with Pistons
"Rip gets into it with everybody," Hunter said. "It's not like it's anything personal. It's just Rip. We don't have anything going with them. Maybe they have something going with us. We just play whoever is on the schedule."

Maybe so, but the Bulls do play a lot feistier now that they've crept back toward respectability under the direction of the irascible Skiles.

[MLive.com]

Pistons keeping tabs on Hoiberg
AUBURN HILLS -- The Detroit Pistons have had talks with Fred Hoiberg about joining the team, but you might want to hold off on placing an order for a Hoiberg Pistons jersey. While the Pistons won't rule out the possibility of signing the 33-year-old guard, Hoiberg's best chance of becoming a Piston will probably come next season when a roster spot becomes available.

Dancing in the streets in Champagne, Illinois

It is rumored that Isiah Thomas is secretly coveting the soon-to-be-vacant Indiana Hoosiers head-coaching job and that he was spotted today entering the offices of the IU president. As a lifelong Michigan fan, all I can say is "please."



Board Ace

"Ben Wallace knew then that the only way he'd ever touch the basketball was to go get it -- after, of course, someone else had shot it."

Hoiberg ponders return to NBA

Detroit Free Press: "Veteran shooting guard Fred Hoiberg, who underwent open-heart surgery in the off-season and hasn't played since, flew to Detroit on Tuesday night, pacemaker and all, to visit with Dumars and coach Flip Saunders about potentially joining the Pistons for the stretch run."

Where Are They Now? John Mengelt

Detroit Free Press: "Nicknamed 'Crash' for his all-out hustle and reckless abandon in diving for loose balls, 6-foot-2 guard John Mengelt was a fan favorite, electrifying the Pistons' crowd at Cobo Arena from 1972-76 with his aggressive play."

Hot Topics

Detroit Free Press: "Rip had to hit a last-second jumper to beat an awful Sonics team. Tayshaun's not scoring."

Pistons Planner

Detroit Free Press: "This rivalry is heating up. Bulls coach Scott Skiles called the Pistons whiners and got into a war of words with Richard Hamilton after Detroit won, 95-87, on Feb. 24."

Feud with Bulls has died down

"The Pistons don't forsee a revival of the near-hatred that characterized their rivalry with the Chicago Bulls in the late '80s and early '90s, despite the ruckus that erupted in their last meeting."



Could be an interesting game tonight

"When the teams met at the United Center on Feb. 24, the Pistons were whistled for 5 technical fouls and top scorer Richard Hamilton was ejected after twice throwing elbows at Kirk Hinrich."



Bulls, Pistons ready to butt heads again

"Less than two weeks after the Detroit Pistons and the Bulls turned back the clock to their wars of a couple of decades ago — one player was ejected and eight technical fouls were whistled during a Feb. 24 game at the United Center — the Central Division rivals are scheduled to butt heads again tonight."

Nice background piece on the Pistons introduction song, "The Final Countdown".


Keep your hands off my hair-band

See if you can decipher the below song lyrics, and then tell me what they have to do with our Pistons.
We're heading for Venus and still we stand tall
Cause maybe they've seen us and welcome us all
With so many light years to go and things to be found
I'm sure that we'll all miss her so.
from [...]

[Detroit News]

Pistons stave off Bulls
"I thought we had terrible energy, terrible passion in the first half," Pistons coach Flip Saunders said. "Just seemed very much disinterested. Then we picked things up, played with more energy, got the lead."

Saunders seeks more discipline
Coming into the game, the Pistons were 30-for-77 from three-point range in the past three games, with only 32.5 rebounds per game. Against the Bulls the Pistons had 43 rebounds and shot 8-for-17 from three-point range.

[Detroit Free Press]

Pistons rally past Bulls, clinch berth
"That fourth quarter was kind of fun, actually," said guard Chauncey Billups, who led the Pistons with 27 points, making four of five three-pointers. "It was a shootout. That team -- I really have a lot of respect for that team. They play so hard. You gotta beat them. You gotta take it to them."

This time, 3s please Saunders
....Unlike rookies Amir Johnson and Alex Acker, who were allocated to the NBA Development League, rookie Jason Maxiell has impressed the coaching staff enough that he likely won't be sent to the minors. "He's a guy that plays hard," said Saunders. "He's got the great attitude. Very aggressive to the rim, and continues to learn to play against guys like Ben (Wallace) and 'Sheed and those guys. Unlike Johnson and Acker, Saunders said, if Maxiell had to play due to an injury to another Pistons, the staff would feel comfortable to "put him in the game, and he could be productive for us."

[MLive.com]

Sheed clutch in win over Bulls
Wallace, who had 25 points, scored the last four points for the Pistons - all from the free throw line. He also came up with a steal with less than a minute to play with the Pistons clinging to a one-point lead at the time.

Pistons lock up playoff berth
Carlos Delfino only had two points on Wednesday, but his play in the third quarter was one of the keys to the Pistons pulling away for the win. His playing time in the third came about because Tayshaun Prince suffered a knee injury early in the quarter when he bumped knees with Chicago's Tyson Chandler. Prince was able to return in the fourth.

"It's strange because sometimes, you never know when you go on the court," said Delfino, who played solid defense on Chicago's Ben Gordon in addition to tallying two steals in the quarter. "I try to wait for that moment when I go on to the court and try to bring something." *

[Chicago Sun-Times]

Good isn't good enough
The teams have similar makeups -- both are defense-oriented with no main scoring threat -- but it's obvious the Bulls have a lot of growing to do before they truly can mirror the Pistons. ''They're on a level we're not even near yet, although we can play with them on a given night,'' Bulls coach Scott Skiles said. ''What are they, 49-11? I guess 'aspire' would be the right word.''

[Foxsports.com]

Team Report
When the Pistons signed veteran guard Tony Delk last week, they expected him to serve as a backup point guard or a mere insurance policy. So far, he has been neither of the above. Coach Flip Saunders has employed Delk as a shooting guard in his first three games with the Pistons, siphoning minutes away from Carlos Delfino and Maurice Evans. Against Seattle on Friday, Saunders paired Lindsey Hunter and Delk together. In Detroit's past two outings, he played Delk with starter Chauncey Billups. Delk, who is sure to see more action against Washington Saturday, is averaging 10 minutes per game.

[Detroit Bad Boys]

Automotion versus Luvabulls

While the Pistons and Bulls may or may not ultimately meet in the first round of the NBA playoffs, Detroit's Automotion and Chicago's Luvabulls are squaring off in the first-round of the NBA Dance Team Bracket as we speak.



Late mistakes ruin chances

"Detroit capitalized on the Bulls' disintegrating poise in the third quarter en route to a 106-101 victory in front of a sellout crowd of 22,076 at The Palace."



Fight to the finish

"But that possession ended with the Bulls’ 17th turnover and Detroit survived with a tense 106-101 victory to run its league-best record to 49-11."




Extra days of rest help Pistons put away Bulls
by DANA GAURUDER

AUBURN HILLS - A little rest did the Pistons' bodies good.

Following a grueling stretch of eight games in 12 days after the All-Star break, the Pistons got three off-days to catch their collective breaths. Back in action Wednesday night, they rebounded from two road losses in their last three games with a 106-101 triumph over the Chicago Bulls at The Palace.


Delk's role not yet fully determined
by DANA GAURUDER

AUBURN HILLS - When the Pistons signed Tony Delk last week, he was expected to serve as a backup point guard or a mere insurance policy. So far, he has been none of the above.

Coach Flip Saunders employed Delk as a shooting guard during two games on the West Coast trip last week, siphoning minutes away from Carlos Delfino and Maurice Evans.




Hoiberg still an option, Max stays, and more

Fred Hoiberg worked out for the Pistons yesterday, and met with strength and conditioning coach Arnie Kander. Since Hoiberg seems...

[Detroit Bad Boys]

Pistons sidestep Bulls; sweep season series

The Chicago Bulls shot 53% from the field and 56% from three last night against the Pistons. They also won the battle of the boards, 42-35. They also lost, 106-101.
So how did these Pistons, who shot 44% (fg) and 47% (3-point), pull out their 49th victory of the season with [...]

[Detroit News]

Saunders wants to see more rebounds
"I think some times, depending on what we're doing, if you defend the three, you're overextended. It opens up some longer-type rebounds. And those are the ones we have not been getting. We've got to get more rebounds out of our one, two and three, that's the positions that have to rebound better."

[Detroit Free Press]

Wizards' Arenas: Bring on Pistons
Washington Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas joined the Jermaine O'Neal club Thursday, telling ESPN that he'd like to see the 49-11 Pistons in the first round of the playoffs ... Arenas' desires, however, are based on something a little more personal -- revenge for lack of playing time.

[MLive.com]

Delk learning to play point in Saunders' system
"I don't think it's that difficult," said Delk, who was signed by Detroit earlier this month after he was waived by Atlanta. "It's more coming down (court), having guys in the right position. With this team, guys pretty much know where to be."

[NBA.com]

Patriots rout Flame
The Fayetteville Patriots rebounded from a lethargic opening six minutes - thanks to a timely timeout and a stern talking-to by coach Mike Brown - and rolled to a 135-95 win over the Florida Flame on Thursday night. [NOTE: Amir Johnson was team high scorer/rebounder with 22 and 10 in 28 minutes. Alex Acker had 13 and 4 assists]

i have a great feeling about our 3 rookies we got this year.

He's Mike James, b*tch!

Former Piston Mike James–Lindsey Hunter's fellow pitbull on the '04 championship squad–has finally busted out of his journeyman shell this season with the Raptors. CBS.Sportsline's Tony Mejia breaks down James' meager past and his money future. Not only is James up for free-agency after this season, but he'll have virtually no [...]


Hoiberg discussions continue for Pistons
by DANA GAURUDER

AUBURN HILLS - Flip Saunders is convinced Fred Hoiberg can play right now. Whether Hoiberg will join the Pistons this season remains a mystery.



Chandler, Prince go way back

The Bulls and Pistons are often made out to be enemies, but Bulls center Tyson Chandler goes back a long way with one prominent Piston.



Patriots continue late-season surge
by Sammy Batten

Florida Flame coach Jeff Malone was so desperate for help late Thursday evening that he was considering fantasy options.

“I’m going to call Miami and see if they can send (Dwyane) Wade and Shaq (O’Neal) to us,’’ said Malone, referring to the stars of the Flame’s NBA affiliate, the Miami Heat.

But even those two NBA All-stars might not have been able to save the Flame from the Fayetteville Patriots.



DeVos, Strykers make Forbes' list of world's richest

NEW YORK (AP) - Eight people from Michigan are on this year's Forbes magazine list of billionaires.

Detroit Pistons owner William Davidson is ranked as Number 194 on the list, with wealth of $3.5 billion. He's the highest-ranked person listed by Forbes as being from Michigan.




Stretch-run showdown
Late-season finishes will determine season's MVP
by Marty Burns

With six weeks left in the NBA regular season, the MVP race is in the homestretch. Right now it looks to be a battle between Suns point guard Steve Nash, Lakers guard Kobe Bryant, Pistons guard Chauncey Billups and Mavs forward Dirk Nowitzki.

Nash seemed to have the most votes among his peers at All-Star Weekend. Even Allen Iverson and Elton Brand, two other top candidates, said they would probably go with Nash if the voting were held that day. But there were plenty of other dissenting voices, such as Jerry Stackhouse (who went with Billups), and Billups (who went with ... Billups).