The Detroit news ~

Trio of Nets will be a test
Perimeter players Kidd, Jefferson and Carter earn respect of Saunders and Billups.
By Chris McCosky

The way good teams stay focused throughout a long, grueling season is to break the 82-game grind into a series of little challenges.
Tonight's challenge in New Jersey? Well, for one, the Pistons could and probably will face the Nets in the postseason. Second, with Jason Kidd, Richard Jefferson and Vince Carter, the Nets think they have the best perimeter trio in the NBA.

Thomas is let loose by Bulls
Forward, who was obtained in trade with Knicks, will draw salary while awaiting a trade.
By Phil Miller

Forward Tim Thomas apparently will not play again for the Chicago Bulls.
The sides agreed to split, with the Bulls attempting to honor Thomas' trade request, the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times reported in Tuesday's editions.
Thomas, who is in New York tending to a family matter, will continue to collect his $14 million salary.

The Detroit Free Press ~

Tri-state soap opera
Brown’s return another chapter in Pistons-Pacers-Knicks saga
by Michael Rosenberg

Larry Brown returns to the Palace Friday for the first time since he was fired in July. Will it be special? Or will he get booed, then take another job at halftime? Whatever happens, it's just another chapter in the ongoing Pistons-Pacers-Knicks hate triangle. Think of these franchises as the Montagues and Capulets, except there is a third family, and endings are never as sweet as young lovers poisoning themselves. A breakdown:

Nets will challenge perimeter defense
by George Sipple

The Pistons will face one of the best perimeter offenses in the NBA when they play tonight at New Jersey.

Coach Flip Saunders talked about the challenge Chauncey Billups, Richard Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince will have against Jason Kidd, Vince Carter and Richard Jefferson.

"Those three guys are as good as any three perimeters in the league," Saunders said Tuesday. "And we've always said our perimeters are as good as anybody. Each one of those guys has a challenge. Jason over the last 10 years has been the premier point guard."

Flip's message to Mo: Concentrate on the basics
by Krista Latham

Maurice Evans got the message, but he still isn't sure what to make of it.

Coach Flip Saunders had mentioned to reporters last week that he likes what Evans has brought to the team so far, but he wants to see him make more of the routine plays, not just the "spectacular" ones.

Guess who's coming to dinner Friday?
So, Larry, you're coming to Detroit on Friday. How you doing?
Not so well, eh? The Knicks are 4-9. Brown has criticized point guard Stephon Marbury. Marbury has criticized Brown. Brown has criticized president Isiah Thomas' roster, too.

NBA Ticker

~Two cents worth~

Larry Brown left town the wrong way. But it shouldn't tarnish all the right things he did for the Pistons.

Give our favorite coaching diva a hand when he returns to town. It'd be the right thing to do.

Will you boo Larry?
We asked Pistons fans whether they would boo Larry Brown when he returns to the Palace on Friday. A sampling of the responses:

GETTING PERSONAL WITH ... Richard (Rip) Hamilton

ROOKIE DIARY: Alex Acker

TIP OF THE WEEK: Should you buy NBA League Pass?

Hot topics

Ask Al


The Oakland press ~

Pistons exploiting switch on guards
by Dana Gauruder

The Pistons have added a post player. Sorry to disappoint the Internet rumor mills, but he's not named Kevin Garnett.

No roster changes have been made, but one starter is showing a new dimension to his game. Judging by the Pistons' most recent win, an NBA scout might conclude that Richard Hamilton makes his living near the basket.

Booth Newspapers ~

Pistons-Nets isn't the rivalry it once was
By A. Sherrod Blakely

Not that long ago, games between the Detroit Pistons and New Jersey Nets seemed destined to become this decade's version of the Boston-
Detroit battles in the late-1980s and early 1990s.

There's just one problem: the Nets (7-7) are no longer one of the NBA's elite teams.
Meanwhile, the Pistons are coming off back-to-back trips to the NBA Finals and have the best record (10-2) in the league this season.

The New York Post ~

Surging Nets face big test in Pistons
By Fred Kerber

Of course, it all gets a severe test tonight when Detroit, with the NBA's best record at 10-2, invades the Meadowlands. This could be a true gauge for the Nets (7-7), who came home from their trip with a share of the Atlantic Division lead.

But the Nets also came home a different team than the group that looked so lost starting the trip. After defeats at Golden State and Sacramento, the team began defending in Phoenix. The bench started contributing. Confidence rose. Phoenix was a defeat, but it may have been the turning point.

The New Jersey Star-Ledger ~

Nets to test defense, confidence against Pistons
by Dave D'Alessandro

Maybe the Nets had to get slapped around in the first three games of the road trip, if only to finally face up to their defensive shortcomings. And maybe they have truly turned the corner on their season, holding their last two opponents to 35.4 percent shooting combined, including 22.5 percent from 3-point range.

Maybe they're even ready to face an opponent such as the Detroit Pistons, who visit the Arena tonight, but let's not get too carried away.

This article will tickle your ribs or make you slap your knees.

From ESPN Page 2

Being a sports writer does it make you look more dumb if you don't know what you're talking about?

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Great article. I loved the last paragraph on Detroit. Absolute classic!

The Sports Guy always cracks me up. Thanks for posting it, Merc.