~ The Oakland Press ~

Don't read too much into Pistons' sweep of Spurs
By Dana Gauruder

At this time a year ago, the Phoenix Suns and Miami Heat were the dominant teams in their respective conferences. Two seasons past, the Sacramento Kings and Indiana Pacers played the role of conference bullies in mid-January.

None of those teams, of course, made it to the NBA Finals. That should serve as a friendly reminder to all Pistons fans giddy about their team's success that championships are not won in the first 2 1/2 months of the season.

That's also why fans shouldn't put too much stock in Detroit's 15-point thumpings of San Antonio in the past three weeks. There are still nearly 50 regular-season games to get through, plus three conference playoff rounds if the Finals are once again their destiny.

By then, the Spurs should look a whole lot tougher and ornery than they were on Christmas Day and Thursday night, when the Pistons overwhelmed them with superior defense, rebounding and execution. Tony Parker is the only San Antonio player who has performed at or above his normal level of production to this point.

Pistons beat up Bobcats
By Bill Roose

At times Saturday, the 102nd straight sellout crowd at The Palace seemed less than enthusiastic about witnessing a less than stellar matchup for the Pistons against one of the Eastern Conference doormats.

It seemed that the Pistons were cast under the same spell by the Charlotte Bobcats, who had entered Saturday's game with six losses in their last seven games.

Coming off Thursday's statement win at San Antonio, the Pistons toyed with the Bobcats, as seven players scored in double figures and the bench chipped in with 44 points en route to an easy - but less than thrilling - 114-91 victory.

"Our focus today was to just come out and play our game and take what the defense gives us," said Chauncey Billups, who had 13 points and six assists. "I love when our bench gets the opportunity to play a lot of extended minutes. Whenever we get that opportunity, it's a big plus."

~~Detroit News~~

~~Detroit Free Press~~

~~Boston Globe~~

~~Boston Herald~~

~~Booth Newspapers~~

~~The Oakland Press~~

~~ESPN~~

~~CNN - Sports Illustrated~~

~ Detroit News ~

Pistons 94, Celtics 84
Rasheed puts bite on dogged Celtics
Wallace's 18 third-quarter points help secure fourth straight victory
By Chris McCosky

There was 5:48 left in the third quarter Monday and the Pistons were clinging to a two-point lead against the stubborn Boston Celtics.

During a timeout, coach Flip Saunders and Chauncey Billups arrived at the same conclusion -- get the ball to Rasheed Wallace.

"With great players, you can look in their eyes and tell when they've got it going," Saunders said. "And when they do, you better get him the ball."

Wallace got the ball and scored 14 of the Pistons' next 16 points, finished with 18 in the quarter and 23 in the game, a 94-84 Pistons victory.

Bob Wojnowski
Wojo: Amazing Pistons could care less about the spotlight
Team is getting through the dog days and stands 30-5.
By Bob Wojonowski

You know how good the Pistons are? This is how good the Pistons are.

They can dig a healthy little 14-point deficit against Boston and nobody -- trust me, nobody -- thinks they'll lose the game. They can be 30-5, as they are after a 94-84 victory over the Celtics on Monday, and nobody seems surprised anymore.

Goodness, this is greatness, and yet everyone has to say it softly until June, when the Pistons can reconfirm it.

These are the dog days for the Pistons, beating up on dog teams, trying not to get dog tired, doggedly chasing scents and ghosts. You watch this team keep blasting away, playing with methodical professionalism, and you wonder if they're still underappreciated, somehow.

Pistons: Notebook
Delfino's dynamics pain Celtics
Saunders impressed with reserve, who gets 11 points and plays stout defense against peers.
By Chris McCosky

On more than one occasion, Flip Saunders has gone home after a game wondering why the heck he hadn't played Carlos Delfino more.

"I have been impressed with him from Day One," Saunders said. "He always seems to be pretty effective for us. He has a chance to be an impact player in this league. He's still young and he's still learning, but he plays with a lot of aggressiveness."

Saunders didn't have to second-guess himself Monday. Delfino not only played, but he also helped spark the Pistons in a 94-84 victory over the Boston Celtics.

"I felt great," said Delfino, who got 11 points off the bench and played some stout defense against one of the league's best scorers, Paul Pierce.

Roundup
Magic return Francis to team
Detroit news wire services

Guard Steve Francis was reinstated by the Orlando Magic on Monday, three days after he was suspended for "conduct
detrimental to the team."

Francis, who missed two games, met with team officials Monday.

"We now consider the matter closed and look forward to Steve's return to practice tomorrow," assistant general manager Otis
Smith said in a statement.

It was reported that Francis was suspended for refusing to re-enter the fourth quarter of a blowout loss last week.
Francis, a three-time All-Star, is averaging 16.6 points and 5.4 assists this season. He's expected to play Wednesday when Orlando plays host to Washington.

Pistons Rap
Trading Times
Pistons remain calm, but rumors are swirling through NBA
By JoAnne C. Gerstner

Ah, feel the Zen-like calm emanating from The Palace's basketball office.
Pistons president Joe Dumars and vice president John Hammond are all smiles, partially thanks to an NBA-leading 30-5 record.

Another secret behind their good cheer is the lack of acute pressure to pull off a blockbuster trade to set up the Pistons for a playoff run.

As of right now, the Pistons don't need a major overhaul and can afford to play it cool.

The rest of the NBA can't claim a similar sense of calm, as many are working the phones to figure out a move or two before
the Feb. 23 trading deadline.

Yes, there is a lot of time to go until the witching hour. Meaning, there are a lot of intriguing scenarios and rumors swirling around about who might be going where.

Burning questions
Milicic isn't a bust, but is wrong fit
By Chris McCosky

Burning questions as we near the season's midway point:

Q. Almost halfway through his third season, can we officially call Darko Milicic a bust?

A. No. If the Pistons were to release him today or trade him, thus essentially acknowledging they've given up on him, then, yeah, you could call him a bust.

They haven't given up on him. He still is only 20. He still has NBA skill, and he does some things (quickness, footwork and passing skills) that most guys his size can't do.

There is still some serious upside to this guy. I don't think he's ever going to be a star, and given he was a No. 2 overall pick, most might use that and conclude he was a bust.

But I still see him having a long and somewhat productive career, perhaps one similar to that of a Rik Smits or Detlef Schrempf, guys who averaged around 14 points and eight rebounds over long careers.

Pistons have a thing for team
By Chris McCosky

It's a sight you probably wouldn't see at a lot of other NBA practices.

The Pistons' reserves, broken into three teams, were playing a spirited three-on-three tournament at the end of practice Sunday. All five starters were seated under the basket watching, hollering and hooting.

"We all push each other," Rip Hamilton said. "It's like we are all one big family. We all know that every guy on that bench can step in and help us."

Ben Wallace had a different take: "It's not like we have jobs," he said, laughing. "We've got nothing else to do."

The buzz
Weather, urban realities tough sell for Super Bowl
Many critics believe the NFL's showcase game should be held in a warm climate and big party city.
By Lynn Henning

It's an uneasy conviction, but we're tempted to say NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue set up Detroit for a drubbing by national media, most of whom believe the Super Bowl ought to be a warm-weather party.

Frankly, we agree. The Super Bowl is a global spectacle and football festival that, like a premier college bowl game, is
best suited to a warm-weather, open-air site, minus the Eddie Bauer outerwear.

But the NFL also is a North American game played by North American teams at northern-latitude cities. And in that sense you can make the case -- occasionally -- for the NFL's prom being staged at one of those traditional NFL towns. Detroit got the nod for 2006 in spite of a generally forgettable experience here at Super Bowl XVI.

So, what will the throngs like and not like about Detroit when a Super Bowl stampede assembles in two weeks?

JoAnne C. Gerstner's top five: Players who love fouls
Some players hear more whistles than others. Here's who are the NBA's worst offenders for commiting fouls.

Alley oop ... to Ben Wallace

Slam dunks

Next 5 games
Looking ahead

~ Detroit Free Press ~

Delfino Royale
Reserve proves a good bet with block, 3-pointers
By Chris Silva

He was surrounded. Nowhere to go. And one after another, the gathering grew larger. They all wanted to know what it felt like, how he did it.

Carlos Delfino was in the spotlight. Before he could even pull up his pants in the locker room after Monday's Martin Luther King Day matinee at the Palace, reporters and camera crews had closed in on the second-year Pistons reserve.

Delfino had sparked his sluggish teammates in the second quarter of a 94-84 victory over the Boston Celtics, ending up with 11 points in under 15 minutes.

Pistons provide obvious answer
By Larry Sanders II

Larry Sanders II, an eighth-grader at Bates Academy in Detroit, sat on press row Monday for the Pistons-Celtics game after winning a Free Press contest. The newspaper asked young readers to suggest ways for Rasheed Wallace to avoid more technical
fouls, and Sanders, 13, suggested that he listen to jazz and gospel music to calm his spirits before games. Here is Sanders' account of Monday's game:

Pierce off-track in his comparison
By Chris Silva

The Pistons realize a game against Boston isn't a cakewalk. But Celtics forward Paul Pierce might have gone overboard comparing his team's starting lineup to Detroit's.

"We play them pretty tough, and they're the best team in the league right now," Pierce told the Boston Globe. "I don't know
if it's because they don't get up for us or because we match up well. You've got me and Tayshaun (Prince), and Ricky (Davis)
and Richard Hamilton. (Kendrick Perkins) is like a young Ben Wallace to me. We don't know if he'll be a great offensive player, but he's taken his strengths and worked to make the most of them. He has long arms. He knows his role is getting rebounds. Delonte (West) reminds me of Chauncey (Billups)."

Pistons coach Flip Saunders said he could understand Pierce's reasoning. The teams' personnel aren't the same, but they do share the same up-tempo style of play.

The Pistons just have more talent, which led them to a 94-84 win over Boston on Monday and an NBA-best record of 30-5.

~ The Oakland Press ~

Matinée idol
Delfino gives a live to win over Celtics
By Dana Gauruder

Carlos Delfino often gives Pistons coach Flip Saunders a guilt trip without saying a word.Saunders will review that evening's game and wonder why he left the second-year forward on the bench.

"I've been impressed with him since Day One," Saunders said. "At times, when I don't play him, I always go home at night, sit and watch the film and try to find ways why I didn't play him."

There were no regrets Monday. Saunders not only got Delfino in the game, Delfino delivered his best performance of the season. With his team fumbling around for points, Saunders waved in Delfino and got the boost his team desperately needed.

Delfino scored eight game-changing points in the second quarter and wound up with a seasonhigh 11 in a 94-84 Pistons victory over Boston, Detroit's 30th win in 35 games this season.

~ Booth Newspapers ~

Celtics learn another lesson from Pistons
By A. Sherrod Blakely

The kids stood around, in awe as the Detroit Pistons pulled away for another victory -- and we're not talking about the youngsters in the stands, either.

It was the Boston Celtics, one of the youngest teams in the NBA, who could do nothing but watch their double-digit first-half lead evaporate as the Pistons rallied for a 94-84 win on Monday.

Detroit swept the regular-season series (three games) for the second time in the past three seasons, improving their record to an NBA-best 30-5.

Delfino gives Pistons a lift off bench
By A. Sherrod Blakely

Detroit Pistons reserve guard Carlos Delfino has accepted the fact that he won't play as much as he would prefer to this season.

That doesn't mean he can't impact games -- he certainly did on Monday in the Pistons' 94-84 win against Boston.

Delfino's play in the second quarter provided the Pistons with the lift they needed. He scored eight of Detroit's 26 points in the quarter as the Pistons erased a double-digit deficit to take a 41-40 halftime lead.

"He does something that we need," said point guard Chauncey Billups. "He makes plays, he slashes."

Delfino also played solid defense on Celtics all-star Paul Pierce.

~ The Boston Globe ~

Celtics sputter again
Pistons overcome double-digit deficit
By Shira Springer

Doc Rivers saw no similarities between the way the Celtics played yesterday at the Palace of Auburn Hills and the way they played against the Pistons in the same venue two months ago.

Even though the Celtics squandered double-digit leads in both contests, collapsed in the second halves, and watched one Piston singlehandedly grab momentum in the third quarters, Rivers felt better about what transpired yesterday. Perhaps it was the perspective of a coach desperate to see some improvement, any improvement, in the wake of the Celtics' 94-84 loss.

Boston has lost 9 of 12 games, seemingly backsliding while other teams in the Atlantic Division and the East make up ground.

While there were definite, even glaring, differences in the two most recent losses to the Pistons, the players were quick to pick out the parallels. In both contests, the Celtics understood their lead was tenuous, that it was only a matter of time before the Pistons would make a run. In both contests, the Celtics also expected one of the Pistons' many offensive threats to step up. They just did not know which one it would be.

~ The Boston Herald ~

C’s watch Pistons pull: Green let 14-point lead slip
By Mark Murphy

“One of these games,” they have to be thinking.

One of these games, after looking so good early — like they did yesterday against the Detroit Pistons — the Celtics are going to check out for the night with their ties in place, their creases still military crisp, and their shirts tucked in.

But after yesterday’s 94-84 loss to the Pistons — this time after leading by a hollow 14-point margin in the second quarter - the Celts have to revise their sense of time.

“One of these years” could be more like it.

“They looked like they were just having fun out there, playing together the way they do,” said center Kendrick Perkins, who had 10 points and eight rebounds, of the Pistons.

The problem is that Perkins, like the rest of the C’s overmatched front line, had to worry about people like Rasheed Wallace and Ben Wallace.

The problem is that for the third time this season, a game they had in hand against the defending Eastern Conference champs
fizzled like seltzer water.

Point-less effort by Davis
By Mark Murphy

For a guy who has a mission statement — Get Buckets — engraved on his wristbands, a scoreless game has to hurt.

Ricky Davis also found his 0-for-8 effort during yesterday’s 94-84 loss to Detroit downright baffling.

“I don’t think I’ve ever gone scoreless in my career,” the Celtics guard said with a broad statement intended to include every NBA minute he has played. “The first time since I started playing basketball, I think.

“They just did a good job of running me off of shots,” Davis said. “I spent most of the time passing the ball, instead of trying to get my shot.”

~ Detroit News ~

Pistons: Notebook
Two road tests await
Games with Hawks and Knicks will be back-to-back, and Evans says focus is important.
By JoAnne C. Gerstner

The test could be this for the Pistons over the next two days: It's not the opponents, per se, but the sequence.

The Pistons embark today on two games, back-to-back, starting tonight in Atlanta. Then it's on to New York to play the Knicks on Thursday.

Neither the Hawks (10-26) nor Knicks (13-23) seem that formidable, but the road and back-to-back factors could make the games tougher.

Two of the Pistons' five losses have occurred in the second game of road back-to-backs (Dallas on Nov. 19 and Utah on Dec.
12).

Rob Parker
Pistons' dominance rivals or surpasses Tigers' 35-5 start
By Rob Parker

Without question, the most famous start by a sports team in this town is the Tigers' 35-5 record in 1984.

To this day, just about everybody knows that number, whether you're a Tigers fan or not. That's how gaudy and impressive it is.

But the Pistons' 30-5 start is more impressive when you take a closer look. The Tigers' start represented roughly 25 percent
of baseball's 162-game schedule. The Pistons' start is nearly 50 percent of the NBA's 82-game regular season.

Though it's hard to compare sports, it says a lot when team can win at such a rate for such a long time. The Pistons have done that.

~ Detroit Free Press ~

30 seasons of George Blaha
By Bill Dow

"Four and 26 to go, Chauncey on the sideline, lobs to Rasheed, Rasheed turns and faces, FIRES OFF THE GLASS AND HE HIT IT! COUNT THAT BABY AND A FOUL!"

In his 30th NBA season, with more than 2,600 games under his belt as the voice of the Pistons, George Blaha's up-tempo and unique play-by-play calls have thrilled fans since the days a once-struggling franchise sometimes hosted 4,000 diehards at Cobo Arena.

Time to unmask Rip's defensive skills
By Krista Latham

The defensive strengths of Ben Wallace, Tayshaun Prince and Rasheed Wallace are as well-known around the NBA as Larry Brown's good-bye speech.

Richard Hamilton's defensive skills? Not so much.

Hamilton is known for his shooting, his conditioning, his curls, his touch, even his mask. Not his shutdown ability.

But Hamilton's main defensive assignment, usual 20-point scorer Ricky Davis, went scoreless Monday. Hamilton said he tried to deny Davis the ball, and it worked. The Celtic took just eight shots and was scoreless for what he said was the first time in his NBA career, according to the Boston Globe.

It was just one game, keep in mind, but a nice chance to ask a few questions.

Upcoming games have reunions
By Chris Silva

Tonight's game against the Atlanta Hawks marks the middle of a five-game stretch for the Pistons against teams with losing records.

After disposing of Charlotte and Boston over the holiday weekend, the 30-5 Pistons have shown they still can get up for the league's bottom-feeders and keep their focus during the snoozer portion of their schedule.

After tonight, the Pistons travel to New York on Thursday and play host to Houston on Sunday.

The Pistons' next two opponents will bring reunions of sorts. Hawks coach Mike Woodson and the Knicks' Larry Brown were on the same staff that helped bring the NBA championship to Detroit in 2004.

An NBA Wolverine-Spartan rivalry
By Chris Silva

The Free Press' Chris Silva caught up with two Charlotte bobcats who used to be college rivals.

NBA Ticker
By Al Toby

Chicago Tribune columnist Sam Smith is stumping for Rasheed Wallace to make the 2008 Olympic team. "Even I can't believe I wrote that," Smith said in his weekly NBA column.

Smith's first encounter with Wallace was memorable. As president of the basketball writers' association, Smith approached Wallace, then a Trail Blazer, to discuss the importance of speaking with reporters.

"Wallace removed his omnipresent headphones briefly, stared down at me and said, "I don't give a (darn) about anyone but me and my family."

What a difference a couple of years make, eh?

By The Numbers

Pistons Planner

Soundoff

~ Booth Newspapers ~

Delfino, Evans starting to click together
By A. Sherrod Blakely

For months, the only time Carlos Delfino and Maurice Evans were on the basketball court at the same time was when they were guarding each other in practice.

Lately, Detroit Pistons coach Flip Saunders has felt more comfortable playing the two together for key stretches in games.

They were both instrumental in the second quarter of the Pistons' 94-84 win against Boston on Monday. Delfino and Evans scored 13 of their combined 16 points in the quarter, and played solid defense against Celtics' all-star Paul Pierce.

With four of the Pistons' next five games against teams with losing records, Delfino and Evans may get more playing time.

~ The Oakland Press ~

Pistons' backups step up
By Dana Gauruder

Michael Finley spurned them and signed with the defending champion San Antonio Spurs. Latrell Sprewell priced and self out of the market.

The Pistons knew they needed help at the wing positions last summer, but they didn't wind up with any big names. Instead, president of basketball operations Joe Dumars signed little-known Maurice Evans on the freeagent market last summer and expected better results from second-year player Carlos Delfino.

At times this season, there was good reason to doubt whether Dumars took the right approach. Evans has been inconsistent, and Delfino often hasn't received enough minutes to make a difference.

But a tweak in the rotation has made both of those unheralded players more effective. Evans scored a season-high 18 points against Charlotte on Saturday, and Delfino contributed a season-best 11 points against Boston on Monday afternoon.

~ Atlanta Journal-Constitution ~

Hot Pistons next for Hawks
By Sekou Smith

The Hawks had all of 48 hours to come up with the perfect game plan for the juggernaut that is the Detroit Pistons.

They could have used another 48 and it wouldn't have helped with the task they'll face Wednesday night at Philips Arena.

Because when a team is playing as well as the league-leading Pistons, 30-5 and on a record pace for wins in franchise history, no amount of trickery or gamesmanship will slow them down.

Hawks coach Mike Woodson knows that better than anyone, having been on the inside of the machine two years ago as Larry Brown's top assistant when these same Pistons starters rolled over the Los Angeles Lakers in five games to claim the NBA title.

~ Detroit news ~

Pistons 117, Hawks 89
Starters get valuable rest in lopsided win
Bench players lighten the workload, keeping starters fresh for game against Knicks tonight.
By JoAnne C. Gerstner

There are many words in the English language to describe what the Pistons did to the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday night. Many are unprintable in a family newspaper.

But the ones that fit include annihilation and sheer decimation.

The Pistons defeated the Hawks, 117-89, at Philips Arena, clearly showing the difference between the best and the worst in the NBA.
The Pistons are 31-5, the Hawks 10-27.

Enough said.

NBA: Roundup
Knicks' Davis ejected for entering stands in Chicago
Brown says player thought his wife was in trouble; Gordon jumper wins game in overtime.
Detroit News wire services

Antonio Davis was ejected for going into the stands in overtime before Ben Gordon hit a winning jump shot as time expired, lifting the Chicago Bulls to a 106-104 victory over the New York Knicks on Wednesday night.

There was no physical confrontation, but several people could be seen pointing and shouting for several moments before security finally arrived and Davis was ejected.

During a timeout, Davis jumped over the scorers' table and ascended about ten rows of seats before the confrontation started. A group of people in the area of the confrontation were later escorted from the area by United Center security.

Knicks coach Larry Brown said Davis had gone into the stands because he saw his wife "falling back," but didn't elaborate.

~ Detroit Free Press ~

The 'Fro probably won't go
By Krista Latham

Six months from now, Pistons fans will know for sure whether the player -- and the hair -- they've come to recognize most as the catalyst to the franchise's recent success will end his career in Detroit.

But for now, center Ben Wallace said his impending status as an unrestricted free agent isn't something that weighs on him.

"Right now, I'm not really thinking about any of that," Wallace said. "I'm just out here trying to have fun, play basketball."

Still, listen to Wallace speak in his quiet, deliberate way, and you can hear signs of hope, statements that seem to suggest there's no reason to think Wallace will seriously entertain options from elsewhere in June.

~ Booth Newspapers ~

Pistons drub lowly Hawks
By A. Sherrod Blakely


The Detroit Pistons are the best team in the NBA. The Atlanta Hawks are the worst.

If there was any doubt about that before Wednesday night, there was no doubt following the Pistons' 117-89 pummeling of the lowly Hawks.

The Pistons (31-5) came into the game with these objectives: to take apart the Hawks (10-27) early, get the reserves some quality playing time, and move on to the next game, tonight in New York.

~ The Oakland Press ~

Pistons rough up Hawks
Atlanta's youngsters learn lesson from NBA's top team
By Dana Gauruder

Growing up can often be a trying experience. Life isn't always fair, as the NBA's version of Romper Room found out Wednesday night. The Atlanta Hawks, whose roster is dotted with eight rookies and secondyear players, had the misfortune of running into the toughest teachers in the league. A matchup of the NBA's top team, the Pistons, and the one with the worst record produced the expected blowout.

Detroit schooled the bright-eyed Hawks 117-89 at Philips Arena for its fifth straight victory and 16th in the last 18 games. The game was over by halftime after the Pistons scored 41 second-quarter points, their highest-scoring quarter of the season. The 117 points tied Detroit's season best.

Big Ben' concentrates on job, not contract
By Dana Gauruder

Imagine the Pistons without Ben Wallace. It's not out of the realm of possibility he could wear another uniform next season.

Wallace certainly doesn't regard this season as a farewell tour, but he becomes an unrestricted free agent after the season and will be the biggest name on the market.

All indications are that Wallace will re-sign with the club. Wallace, who is at the end of a 6-year, $30 million contract, reiterated on Wednesday he's happy with the Pistons and appreciates that his free-agent status hasn't become a distraction.

~ The Atlanta Journal-Constitution ~

Wide gap for best and worst
By Sekou Smith

The miles-wide gap between the best and worst teams in the NBA wasn't hard to spot Wednesday night at Philips Arena.

The 20-game differential in the win column before the game made that abundantly clear for anyone confused about the predator and prey in this horrifying episode of When Great Teams Attack.

The fact that it took the Detroit Pistons some 15 minutes to decide how they wanted to dispose of the Hawks is of little consequence. By the time they were finished with their 117-89 crushing, it was easy to see why so much has been made about the mighty Pistons and their league-best 31-5 record.

The Hawks were little more than an amusing sideshow for the Pistons, who had to resort to trick shots in the second half to stay awake in a game that went from interesting — the Hawks led 19-18 after one quarter — to a laugher — the Pistons led by 19 at halftime — faster than you can say "Rasheed Wallace was actually a Hawk for a game" three times.

~ Detroit news ~

Pistons give Brown feeling of deja vu
Knicks coach has seen Detroit at its best, but this time he was trying to stop his former team.
By JoAnne C. Gerstner

Larry Brown has seen all of this before.

Rebounding. Defense. Assists. Low turnovers. Killer three-point shooting.
The big difference for Brown on Thursday night was simple: he was watching the Pistons in full gear, methodically taking apart his Knicks at Madison Square Garden.

The Pistons defeated the Knicks, 105-79, putting on another display of offensive and defensive superiority.

Or, simply to borrow Brown's pet phrase: The Pistons were playing the right way.

~ Detroit Free Press ~

Pistons KO shorthanded Knicks
Veterans school N.Y. youngsters
By Krista Latham

Some fights aren't fair.

This one wasn't. The Knicks had spent a long night in Chicago, losing an overtime game that ended with an incident that cost them starting forward Antonio Davis. Thanks to the made-for-ESPN drama, Davis received a five-game suspension for entering the stands in Chicago on Wednesday.

The Knicks already knew they'd be without point guard Stephon Marbury, who was out with a sore shoulder, for Thursday night's matchup with the Pistons. But full-strength probably wouldn't have helped the Knicks. The Pistons rolled to a 105-79 victory.

Saunders thrilled by Star status
By Krista Latham

It had seemed a foregone conclusion since, oh, the end of November? By then, the Pistons had separated themselves so greatly from the rest of the Eastern Conference that it seemed logical to pencil in Flip Saunders as coach of the Eastern Conference All-Star team.

But Wednesday's win over Atlanta gave the Pistons a 31-5 record and made that official. No other East team can mathematically catch Detroit's winning percentage before Feb. 5, the deadline that places the winningest coach into the job.

"Anytime you can coach the greatest athletes in the world for a day, it's a thrill," said Saunders, whose team improved to 32-5 with Thursday's 105-79 victory over the Knicks.

~ Booth Newspapers ~

Antonio Davis incident digs up memories of Palace role
By A. Sherrod Blakely

Just when it seemed the Detroit Pistons had finally put the infamous brawl at The Palace 14 months ago behind them, it has once again become a topic of discussion.

New York Knicks forward Antonio Davis was suspended for five games - the first being Thursday's 105-79 loss to the Detroit Pistons - after he entered the stands at Chicago on Wednesday night to confront a fan who he believed at the time was harassing his wife, Kendra Davis.

Seeing Davis leave the Knicks bench and go into the stands brought back memories of the brawl at The Palace which involved Indiana Pacer players and fans fighting in the stands, and later, on the court.

Pistons easily down Brown's Knicks
By A. Sherrod Blakely

Madison Square Garden was buzzing with the sounds of old school Motown music on Thursday night, a sound known as much for its collective harmony as it is for the individuals that created it.

In many ways, the same can be said about the Detroit Pistons, as they turned in yet another strong team effort with a number of impressive individual performances in easily defeating the New York Knicks, 105-79.

"It's kind of how we've been for 37 games, different guys lead us over different parts of the game," said Pistons coach Flip Saunders. "How we played tonight against New York is pretty much how this team has played through the first half of the season."

~ The Oakland Press ~

Pistons toy with Knicks
Short-handed New York squad no match for Detroit
By Dana Gauruder

Look into the rafters and the faded memories come to life.

In the good old days, Madison Square Garden was graced by one of the most celebrated starting fi ves in NBA history.

Willis Reed, Dave DeBusschere, Bill Bradley, Earl "The Pearl" Monroe and Walt Frazier won over the hearts of New Yorkers with their passing, unselfishness and teamwork in the early 1970s. Banners displaying their uniform numbers and names hang from the roof.

On "Retro Night" at the Garden on Thursday, the modern-day version of those Knicks put on an old-time show, but this group left the natives restless and angry.

Detroit's starting lineup of Ben Wallace, Rasheed Wallace, Tayshaun Prince, Richard Hamilton and Chauncey Billups dissected the current version of the Knicks in front of their former coach, winning their sixth straight by double figures, 105-79.

LB says this leap into stands different
By Dana Gauruder

Larry Brown must have felt like he was back in The Palace, circa Nov. 2004. The Detroit Pistons were in the building and he was fielding questions about a player going into he stands.

Knicks forward Antonio Davis was suspended five games Thursday for jumping into the stands after his wife got into an altercation with another fan in Chicago Wednesday. Brown felt the penalty was "really excessive" because Davis was protecting his family, rather than a Ron Artest-style confrontation with a fan over a thrown beer cup.

"I could understand the league's point of view but I'd like to see (NBA senior vice president of basketball operations) Stu Jackson or David Stern or one of those guys in that situation and see how they would have reacted," Brown said. "I'm amazed at the restraint he had, going into the stands the way he did and how he got things under control and walked back to the bench."

~ New York Daily News ~

Pistons motor in Garden rout
Best Brown, Knicks again
By Frank Isola

Stephon Marbury was sidelined again with a bad shoulder and Antonio Davis was unavailable because of poor judgment, at least in the eyes of the NBA.

But in fairness, the Knicks would have needed Marbury and Davis, plus Tim Duncan, Kobe Bryant and probably LeBron James last night. The Detroit Pistons are that good.

"It was like the JV versus the varisty," Larry Brown said after the Pistons humiliated the undermanned Knicks, 105-79, at the Garden. "I think they could have beaten us by 50."

The Pistons played like the league's best team from the start and never
were threatened. It was such a rout that Detroit's Darko Milicic entered with six minutes remaining - or five minutes earlier than usual.

~New York Newsday.com ~

Young core drilled
Minus Steph, Davis, inexperienced lineup just can’t match up
By Greg Logan

In the absence of injured Stephon Marbury and suspended Antonio Davis, coach Larry Brown trotted out the Knicks' team of the future last night at Madison Square Garden. His 21st different starting lineup featured rookies Channing Frye, David Lee and Nate Robinson together with 23-year-old Eddy Curry and 25-year-old Jamal Crawford, the very players touted by team president Isiah Thomas as his core group.

Unfortunately for the Knicks, they were playing the team of the present - Brown's old Detroit squad, which won the 2004 NBA title, fell one quarter short of repeating against San Antonio last season and now owns an NBA-best record of 32-5 after an effortless 105-79 thrashing of the Knicks' kids.

"It looked like the JV and the varsity the way they executed and shared the ball," Brown said. "I never realized you could miss Tony Davis and Stephon so much, but I think more than their playing is just their leadership ... I know how much those two guys mean to us, but we had some guys who simply didn't compete."


Reggie, Big Ben relate
By Greg Logan

Reggie Miller was incredulous as he watched the live telecast of Wednesday's Knicks-Bulls game and saw former Indiana teammate Antonio Davis leap onto the scorer's table and head up into the United Center stands to where his wife, Kendra, was sitting with their children.

The surreal scene brought back vivid memories of the Pacers-Pistons brawl Miller was involved in last season.

"When he jumped onto the table, I was like, 'You've got to be kidding me,'" said Miller, who is retired and was at the Garden last night as a commentator on the TNT telecast of the Knicks' game against Detroit.

"But it's a totally different situation than what we went through. That was like total mayhem. He's coming to the defense of a loved one, whereas ours was just craziness."

Miller received a five-game suspension for his part in the brawl at The Palace of Auburn Hills, even though he was trying to act as a peacemaker. Detroit center Ben Wallace, who also received a five-game suspension for his altercation with the Pacers' Ron Artest just before the brawl broke out, had a similar reaction when he saw TV highlights of Davis in the stands.

"Knowing Tony, I know he wouldn't go in the stands for no reason," Wallace said. "You've got to protect your family."

~ New York Post ~

Embarrassing effort at home
By Mark Berman

At least in the first meeting against Detroit on Dec. 2 at Auburn Hills, Larry Brown's Knicks did not embarrass themselves, making a gutty fourth-quarter run.

Last night, they did embarrass themselves in a 105-79 Garden massacre, the Knicks' fourth straight loss. The Pistons beat up the lethargic Knicks like Antonio Davis was prepared to beat up on a couple of United Center patrons.

The Knicks couldn't have faced the juggernaut Pistons at a worse time, missing their two leaders, point guard Stephon Marbury and Davis, the team's best defender.

With Richard Hamilton slicing them up in the first half with pull-ups and drives, with Rasheed Wallace draining 3's and Tayshaun Prince exploding in the third quarter for a monster left-handed dunk over David Lee for the climactic blow, the juggernaut Pistons destroyed the defenseless Knicks.

~ New York Times ~

Pistons bury the Knicks in a garden mismatch
By Liz Robbins

Stephon Marbury walked onto the court last night to offer impassioned advice to his struggling replacements. But he was wearing a light brown suit and his left shoulder was sprained.His teammate Antonio Davis was not even allowed inside Madison Square Garden, having been suspended yesterday afternoon for five games for rushing into the Chicago stands in defense of his wife, who was apparently involved in an altercation with a fan during Wednesday night's loss to the Bulls.

The absence of the Knicks' two most steadying starters left the team's younger players aimless and defenseless against the best team in the league, as if the Detroit Pistons needed any other opening to exploit another opponent.

The Pistons trampled the Knicks, 105-79, handing them their fourth defeat in five nights as the Knicks' deficit equaled their largest margin of defeat this season.

~~Detroit News~~

~~Detroit Free Press~~

~~Booth Newspapers~~