[Detroit News]

Ben Wallace flips out at Saunders
On Friday night, Ben Wallace snapped. With 7:57 left in the fourth quarter of a 89-87 loss in Orlando, and the Pistons trailing by eight points, coach Flip Saunders took Wallace out of the game. Wallace was clearly peeved. Never mind that he had played all 15 minutes of the second half to that point, he stormed to the end of the bench uttering a torrent of unprintables directed at Saunders.

[MLive.com]

Full-Court Press: Pat Riley continues to complain; what happened to Kelvin Cato?
"I think that it affects Shaquille [O'Neal] and Dwyane, but they have to be above it," Riley said. "We are the hunters, and sometimes the hunted get certain privileges and liberties."

[NBA.com]

Flame top Patriots for team's first playoff berth
After a rollercoaster ride through the 2005-06 NBA Development League regular season, the Florida Flame earned the first playoff berth in team history with a 107-95 victory over the Fayetteville Patriots on Saturday night .... Fayetteville was led by Amir Johnson, as the 6-10, forward/center on assignment from the Detroit Pistons tallied a double-double with game highs of 25 points and 14 rebounds. [Alex Acker had 12 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists. Check out the final stats assembled by FreshPrince22.]

[Booth Newspapers]

Reserves get a chance in place of missing starters
The NBA is constantly changing, but the Detroit Pistons' starting five has been the one constant -- until last week.

After an NBA-record 73 consecutive games with the same starting unit, the Pistons had to use a different group of starters in each of the last three games.

[Detroit Bad Boys]

Ben Wallace on the Inflatable Defender
The Miami Herald's Israel Gutierrez caught up with Ben Wallace recently. What do you think he asked him about? The budding Pistons-Heat "rivalry?" What it's like for a 6-8 defender to guard Shaq? Wallace's chances to repeat as Defensive Player of the Year? Nope. Gutierrez asked about something all of us have been talking about lately — the Inflatable Defender.

[Motoring]

Strategic substitution locations
That was … a loss to the Magic. But with the Spurs dropping a game to the Mavs and the fact that Davis and Maxiell both got crunch time minutes, I’m not too concerned. The Pistons are technically three games up on the Spurs because of the head to head wins with six games remaining.

[Need4Sheed]

New Chauncey and Rip wallpaper

[Detroit News]

Wallace, Pistons energized in blowout
"Every time I step on the floor, there is no question why I am out there," he said. "I play to win. I don't want to settle for being a good team. I want to reach greatness. None of this was ever given to me. I had to work for everything I've got and I am going to continue to work.

"I just want to help my team win and if I feel like I am not getting the opportunity to do that, I feel like I am cheating the team."

Rob Parker: Ben Wallace vents and Pistons listen,and both move on
If anything, what it showed is that this team is human. Things have run so smoothly around here that you almost think the players are robots.
In reality, everybody can't always be with the program all the time.

Disharmony isn't a bad thing, especially if a player can put his teammates on notice and use it as motivation.

Pistons Notebook: Pacers' season is fading fast
Stephen Jackson, who led the Pacers with 15 points, would only say, don't blame him.

"I haven't got any answers," he said. "I am out there busting my butt. My guy (Richard Hamilton) was 5-for-12. Everybody on this team needs to be accountable for their actions -- players and coaches." [Classy - especially when his guy was coming back from a funeral.]

[Indianapolis Star]

Pacers four games under .500 after loss to Pistons
Several players said they can't remember being on a team that's as low as the Pacers are right now.

"In this world there's talkers and there's doers," O'Neal said. "We're just talking. That's all we are, a talking team. I don't understand it for the life of me."

Pacers wish they faced Pistons' lone problem
Wouldn't it be nice if the only thing the Indiana Pacers had to worry about was staying focused while preparing for the playoffs?

That's one of the few concerns Detroit Pistons coach Flip Saunders has with his team during its remaining games. The Pistons have already wrapped up the Central Division title and home-court advantage throughout the Eastern Conference playoffs.

[MLive.com]

Full-Court Press: Rip talks about his mask; Ben Wallace may want out of Detroit; Ben Wallace doesn't regret protest
Richard Hamilton had a segment on the ABC pregame where he talks about his trademark mask. In the short vignette Hamilton, along with Lindsey Hunter and Dominik Hasek, impersonate movie characters and famous athletes ranging from Darth Vader, to Napoleon Dynamite, to Randy Moss. It really is a must see. Thanks to Natalie over at Need 4 Sheed for posting this. [Meanwhile, don't worry about the second article quoted. Chicago sportswriter Sam Smith makes a regular practice of inventing superstars who "may" be available for the Bulls. In Sam's world, why wouldn't everybody be clamoring for the Second City? Pure BS, but it will get lots of play. Count on it.]

[Detroit Free Press]

Pistons dismantle Pacers
The first half followed the usual script when these two defensive juggernauts and division rivals meet. The Pacers led, 20-19, after 12 minutes.

But from then on, the Pistons outscored the Pacers, 79-53. The Pacers, who have lost seven of eight and are clinging to the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference, looked ready to jump in its bus and drive right out of the playoffs for good.

Big Ben doesn't regret tantrum
The two talked after the Magic game, and Saunders said there's a multitude of things that likely built up frustrations in Wallace. But the biggest source of Wallace's angst is his usual complaint: he deeply believes that if he is not an active part of the offense, the team's chances of winning plummet.

[Booth Newspapers]

Ben Wallace leads the way in Pistons' rout of Pacers
Wallace, coming off a two-point, five-rebound effort against the Magic on Friday, hasn't been happy with what he's seen recently. While the Pistons have been praised for their success this season, Wallace has sensed that the team wasn't playing championship-caliber basketball.

"I play to win. I don't want to settle for being a good team," said Wallace, who had 22 rebounds Sunday. "I want to reach greatness."

Inside the Pistons
Who's hot: Tony Delk reached double figures scoring in each of the last four games, averaging 14 points per game while shooting 59.5 percent from the field.

Who's not: Maurice Evans has missed eight of his last 12 shots from the field.

[Detroit Bad Boys]

Rivalry no more: Pistons win a laugher over plummeting Pacers
Rather than a simple "scoring punch", which the Piston bench has readily provided in recent weeks, Tony Delk, Lindsey Hunter, and Antonio McDyess practically knocked the Pacers out themselves. Each saw the floor for 20+ and finished in double figures in points. And prepare yourself, because I'm going to utter a few words that rarely are used in combination (especially by me): Lindsey Hunter shot the lights out today. There, I said it.

[Need4Sheed.com]

The Mask - Starring Rip Hamilton
This has got to be one of the best clips that any network has run on The Detroit Pistons. During the pregame show of the Pistons - Pacers telecast ABC ran a story on Rip and his mask. If you haven't seen it you're in for a treat, if you have I know your going to watch it again. This one is a Detroit Basketball classic.

Motown Soundtrack: Motor City is burning
by Adriano Albuquerque

In a week that saw the Pistons’ streak of consecutive games with the same starters end, the press dug deep to find the flaws in Detroit’s preparations towards the playoffs. The truth from what was seen throughout the week is that the Motor City has nothing to worry about: it’s all fine, and getting revved up.

Ben Wallace’s much-publicized refusal to re-enter the game against Orlando last Friday was not by any means something to worry too much about. While the press made a huge fuss about it, wondering where the center’s heart is, Body came out on Sunday and showed just what he’s about, having one of his best nights of the season.


Running with the Bulls: The Motor City Model
by Joel "Brigs" Brigham

Only one other team in history has been able to do what the Chicago Bulls have done this year: make a playoff push and hope for a high lottery pick at the same time. The other team to be blessed with such a privilege was the 2003 Detroit Pistons, who made a significant run in the postseason that year and ended up with the #2 overall selection in that summer’s draft.

The Bulls are looking significantly less lucky of late.
.

[Detroit News]

Three reasons Pistons can win, or lose, the NBA title
"Winning a championship is the only thing that matters to all of us. All the other stuff is just things that have happened along the way to get us there." ?

Indeed, the goal is singular, but there are multiple reasons why -- or why not -- the Pistons will have success in the postseason.

Wallace's intentions were right
The general consensus was said probably said best by Chauncey Billups: "We're all grown men in here. Nobody is worried about any of that."

They understand Wallace's frustrations, and they understand the point he was trying to make. They understand Wallace's pride, determination and will. The things that make him a great player also make him a bit stubborn.

Playoff roster takes shape
Saunders has said he would prefer to use an eight-man rotation in the playoffs. Thus, at this point, the three primary reserves would be Antonio McDyess, Delk and Hunter.

That's not to say Evans and Delfino won't play. Certainly there will be situations -- foul trouble, match-up issues, etc. -- where they will be pressed into duty. The same is true for Dale Davis, who is expected to play a significant role should the Pistons face Cleveland, Miami or San Antonio.

Stick a fork in the Pacers
Fake leaders and fake tough guys. Not-ready-to-win players. That's what I see with the Pacers.

They have quit on Rick Carlisle. That seems obvious given their performances the last two weeks, especially their awful showing at The Palace on Sunday.

Alley oop to ... Greg Kelser
It was my rookie year with the Pistons (1979), and we were playing the 76ers in Philly. I was able to turn out of the post, elevate over the top of Dr. J (Julius Erving) and Caldwell Jones, and put one down over both of them at the same time.

Joanne C. Gerstner's Top 5
It's a sign of consistency and proficiency, and yes, a little flashiness. Winning an NBA scoring title means a player has been a scoring force all season. The top five ...

Slam dunks
... Michael Sweetney of the Bulls finally took a charge. He had not taken one in high school, college or pro until a week ago, when he stood his ground against Wally Szczerbiak. His teammates reacted as if he'd hit a shot to win a game.

"Yeah, I saw how excited they got," Sweetney said. "They don't have to do all that standing up, making a scene. But it's cool. We have fun."

[Detroit Free Press]

Output of Delk, Hunter scores praise
Saunders said he's pleased to see Delk's offensive aggressiveness, something that perhaps was missing before the team signed him in February after the Hawks waived him. And he likes the way Delk and Hunter switch roles from one play to the next.

"If one of those guys is being pressured more by a point guard, the other guy can bring the ball up and get you into an offense," Saunders said. "And they're both pretty good defensively. We pick up our defense, we get active, we force some turnovers."

[Booth Newspapers]

Hamilton not concerned with individual honors
He's averaging 20.3 points per game and shooting 49.2 percent from the field -- both career highs. If he finishes as Detroit's leading scorer, he will become only the sixth player in franchise history to lead the team in scoring four consecutive seasons.

"Scoring, that's what I do," Hamilton said. "But as I've gotten older, my game has expanded. I can do more things than just score now, to help my team win."

Blog: Folks divided on Ben
For those who don't like what Ben did, you have every reason to feel that way. But you have to remember one thing. His sights aren't on pleasing fans, the media or his coaches for that matter.

Full-Court Press: Pistons, Wallace move on; Artest admires the Pistons
Further assuring fans that it is a non-issue, Rob Parker has a column out today insisting that Ben Wallace refusing to come back in Friday's game has already blown over. Parker actually puts a positive spin on the whole situation.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/powerr...n=2006&week=23



http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200...407/index.html

It was bound to happen sooner or later?

From the Onion via tedwick, DBB reader and frequent commenter:
"NBA Names New Foul After Rasheed Wallace"

What if the players voted for MVP?

Percy Allen of the Seattle Times has a great idea for settling the MVP debate: locking the candidates in a room and having them vote on it:
Chauncey Billups: Hold up. This should really be a no-brainer. I'm doing the same thing Nash did last year and he got the trophy.
Wade: Yeah, and we all [...]

Detroit Bad Boys talks with David Wieme

I had very few specific goals when I launched this site last October. At first, I spent most of my time scouring the internet to find the latest info on the Pistons, attempting to serve as a clearinghouse of information on the team for whatever readers came my way. I liked to inject a bit [...]

Rasheed Wallace On Quite Frankly With Stephen A. Smith

As most of you know already I was lucky enough to attend the taping of Quite Frankly with Stephen A. Smith featuring Rasheed Wallace. My experience was something I will always remember and watching the episode makes me feel the exact same way that I felt when I was sitting in the studio audience.

**VIDEO INCLUDED**