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01-21-2006, 01:34 PM
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| Re: January Pistons Articles *Updated Daily* Not "news," but a great Joe D. video retrospective going back to his college days: http://www.pistonsbball.com/video/jo...rospective.htm   |
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01-22-2006, 08:11 AM
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| Re: January Pistons Articles *Updated Daily* ~ Detroit News ~ Bench making things easier by Chris McCosky So the question put to coach Flip Saunders was this: Given the team's efficiency and utter dominance of late, what the heck could he have possibly talked about at practice on Saturday? ~ Detroitpistons.com ~ Pistons versus Rockets Preview The Pistons will return home to take on the Houston Rockets on Sunday, January 22nd at 6:00 p.m. at the Palace of Auburn Hills. The Pistons (32-5) have beaten the Rockets (12-25) in eight of their last nine meetings in Detroit, including the last four straight. In their first match-up this season back on November 18, Detroit defeated Houston 78-70 in Texas. ~ Houston Chronicle ~ Billups near All-Star Goal by Jonathan Feigen Chauncey Billups could have played it cool, but at this point, why bother? He has been kicked around the NBA and has been MVP of the Finals. He's been underappreciated and celebrated, on lottery teams and a champion. |
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01-22-2006, 09:29 AM
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| Thanks #16. Zo and I really appreciate it.  ~~Hoopsworld~~ Scheduling "Strangeness" and Strength of it So Far By Peter Rumm, MD Currently, the Bucks are ranked as having the hardest schedule so far, followed by the Jazz and the Lakers. Give these young teams their props! On the other hand, the Detroit Pistons have played the easiest schedule in the league. That being said they are a very stout 4-1 against the top five teams in the league (albeit in fewer games versus them than some other teams so far); while Dallas is also an impressive 5-2.
__________________ Momma was queen of the mambo, Poppa was king of the congo, deep down in the jungle, I start banging my first bongo Every monkey like to be, in my place instead of me, cause I'm the king of bongo baby, I'm the king of bongo bong -Manu Chao Last edited by Zoso : 01-22-2006 at 04:45 PM. |
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01-22-2006, 02:27 PM
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| Re: January Pistons Articles *Updated Daily* No need to thank me. Cash will do just fine. Here's another one: ~ RealGM.com ~ The Big Blue Machine by Christopher Reina ....Rasheed Wallace is the purest shooter at the power forward position that I have ever seen play, if not the purest ever. Let me know another name if you can think of one, because I genuinely would like to know. “He’s the best I’ve ever played with, with his inside/outside game,” said Billups about Wallace on Thursday when asked that very question. “His feel for the game is something that people don’t talk about a lot.” |
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01-22-2006, 03:20 PM
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| Re: January Pistons Articles *Updated Daily* Regarding the RealGM piece, normally I sneer at young guys making "greatest X ever" claims without any actual basis in history. But dammit, he's right. Bob McAdoo was basically a 4 playing 5 for most of his career, and he's the closest match I can think of. Travis Grant? Stew Johnson? Big men who were hot shooters in the ABA of the 1970s, but not really consistent OR power forwards. Nowitzki is an obvious comparison, but a power forward should be able to defend the 4 or 5 spot in addition to operating down low. Raef Lafrentz? Okay, stop laughing. Sheed really IS the best all-round shooter I've ever seen at the power forward spot. When you consider his size, skills and big-program pedigree in college, the fact that three guys were taken ahead of him in '95 is pretty amazing. |
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01-22-2006, 03:33 PM
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| Atkins Interested in Pistons According to a source close to Atkins, the veteran guard is closely weighing his options and could be waiting to see what moves are made by the Detroit Pistons with the idea of possibly signing there. Atkins spent four seasons with the Pistons and was popular in Detroit, as evidenced by the ovation he received when he made six three-pointers and scored 20 points in Washington's 120-114 double-overtime victory at Detroit on Nov. 25. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...012101146.html |
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01-22-2006, 04:09 PM
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| Yes, thank you very much for the assist LF. Most definitely appreciated.  ~ The Orlando Sentinel ~ By Tim Povtak A year ago, Flip Saunders was the embattled coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves, trying to explain why his high-priced team was so mediocre, knowing he would be fired soon. Today he looks like the mailman who just won a million dollars -- only because he was selected randomly as the one millionth customer at a fast-food restaurant. It's like a pot of gold just dropped from the sky and into his back yard. "How things can change,'' Saunders quipped last week with reporters. As the first-year coach of the Detroit Pistons, he is working with a team good enough to make history, luckily landing the opportunity with a ready-made championship contender. That rarely happens. All he had to do was not mess it up. ~ Shreveport Times ~ Mavs closing in on Spurs, Pistons By Larry Wade After watching the Dallas Mavericks dismantle his team earlier this season, Detroit Pistons head coach Flip Saunders offered a simple explanation for his team's lopsided defeat. "They beat us every which way you could get beat," he said. The Mavericks outshot, outrebounded and otherwise outplayed the Pistons, who entered the Nov. 19 game in Dallas with an 8-0 record. But the Mavericks put a start-to-finish whipping on the Pistons, jumping out to a 26-point first-quarter lead before leaving with a 119-82 victory. And the Mavericks were without the services of Keith Van Horn or Jerry Stackhouse. The Pistons and the defending champion San Antonio Spurs are at the top of the NBA ladder, but they're about to have company. The Mavericks are climbing fast. ~ The Boston Herald ~ By Mark Murphy From what we can tell, at least one condition from Detroit’s Larry Brown era remains the same. As evidenced by his participation rate under Flip Saunders, Darko Milicic still can’t play. Otherwise, though, an unofficial coronation has taken place. The more people talk, the more the Pistons, and not the defending champion San Antonio Spurs, draw reverence as “the best team in the league.” ~ The Oakland Press ~ By Dana Gauruder He is everybody's favorite mistake. On any other team, Darko Milicic would be a franchise killer. Getting nothing out of the No. 2 overall pick in the draft in his third season, when the likes of Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh and Dwyade Wade were waiting for their names to be called behind him, would have sunk many general manager's careers and made Milicic the most unpopular player in town. Joe Dumars has done so many things, he could afford to roll the dice at that point in the draft. And with the Pistons off to a ridiculous 32-5 start, the Milicic issue is as much of a blemish as a curl of dust in the corner of a Rembrandt. He's so inconsequential that he still gets cheered as a novelty act when he heads to the scorer's table. Pistons stir memories of '84 By Pat Caputo The beauty of sport not only lies in the competition, but the debate. The rules of debate aren't that rigid, either, which only makes it that much more interesting. An example is the 1984 Tigers. Another example is the current edition of the Pistons. Different sports. Different eras. Yet, the two have become locked together lately because of something as simple and pure as the Pistons' win-loss record. The Pistons will carry a 32-5 record into tonight's game at The Palace against the Houston Rockets. Three more victories and they will match the 1984 Tigers' 35-5 start. First of all, the Pistons have to get there. Houston has some talent. Minnesota is never easy to beat on the road, and Milwaukee is much improved. Yet, say the Pistons do start 35-5. Which team is better? The two teams are similar in some ways, yet diametrically opposite in others. Last edited by Zoso : 01-22-2006 at 04:20 PM. |
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01-23-2006, 08:06 AM
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| January 23th - ~ Detroit news ~ Pistons 99, Rockets 97 Wallaces make big play look easy in 33rd win Rasheed's difficult pass to Ben for a dunk in final minute is enough to beat persistent Rockets. By Chris McCosky There was less than a minute on the clock and the Pistons were clinging to a two-point lead over a spirited Houston Rockets team Sunday. Rasheed Wallace got the ball about 28 feet from the basket, facing the goal from the free-throw line extended. Somehow, through the maze of a swarming Rockets' defense, he spotted Ben Wallace cutting toward the rim. Wallace hit him with a laser pass, right at the rim. Ben Wallace caught the ball with his back to the rim and brought The Palace crowd to its feet with a stunning reverse dunk. "That was the best pass I've seen in the last minute of a close game," said Pistons coach Flip Saunders, after the Pistons secured the hard-fought 99-97 victory. It was the Pistons seventh straight victory, raising the record to 33-5. Roundup Bryant's 81 points are second all-time Detroit news wire services Kobe Bryant scored a staggering 81 points -- the second-highest total in NBA history -- and the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Toronto Raptors 122-104 on Sunday night. With the fans at Staples Center chanting "MVP! MVP!" Bryant made two free throws with 43.4 seconds remaining for his final points, putting him behind only Wilt Chamberlain on the all-time scoring list. Bottom of the second: Around the sports world Billups backs his alma mater with cash gift By Chris McCosky Chauncey Billups wore his Denver colors proudly this weekend. Not only did he loudly support the Denver Broncos -- he congratulated a reporter on Saturday for wearing a Broncos T-shirt -- but he also is amping up his profile and support for his alma mater, the University of Colorado. Billups has donated a gift of $100,000 to the men's basketball program, which will be used to provide free tickets to 40,000 kids over the next four years. James' mother in trouble with the law She faces multiple charges in Akron after police stop her for driving intoxicated. By Tim Reynolds LeBron James' mother was arrested for driving while intoxicated, disorderly conduct and other charges. Gloria James, 34, was pulled over Friday night by two off-duty officers, who were working security for the Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority, said Akron Police Lt. Rick Edwards. "I don't have all the info of what's going on," LeBron James said Saturday night before the Cleveland Cavaliers played the Utah Jazz in Salt Lake City. "Once I find that out and once I sit down with my family, you know, I'll be able to comment on it a little bit better." ~ Detroit Free Press ~ Pistons survive T-Mac's 43 By Chris Silva The Pistons were due for a tough challenge, a good slap-in-the-face, take-it-to-the-buzzer type of game. They got one Sunday evening against the Houston Rockets, owners of the league's fourth-worst record. Tracy McGrady scored a season-high 43 points for Houston, but even he couldn't quell the hottest team in the league, as the Pistons escaped the Palace with a 99-97 win. 'Sheed's all-around game gets kudos By Chris Silva Houston Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy gave much praise to the consistent play of Rasheed Wallace and the way he has fit in with Flip Saunders' flex offense. Wallace is averaging 15.1 points, 6.4 rebounds and 41% shooting from three-point range. "He can do it from the post, he can do it from the pass, he can do it with the long ball, and defensively, too," Van Gundy said. "I think he's been dominating." Wallace had 11 points, seven rebounds and was 1-for-6 on three-pointers in Sunday's 99-97 victory over the Rockets. ~ Booth Newspapers ~ Rasheed's long pass to Ben keys Pistons win By A. Sherrod Blakely This is what makes Rasheed Wallace, well, Rasheed Wallace. Never one to play it safe, the 6-foot-11 Detroit Pistons forward will do whatever he believes it takes to help his team win. Even if it means throwing a long, seemingly improbable lob pass to teammate Ben Wallace for a reverse dunk in the final seconds of a close game -- the kind of pass you seldom see, let alone in a game that's still up for grabs. But that's exactly what Rasheed Wallace did, which turned out to be a key play for the Pistons (33-5) in their 99-97 win against the Houston Rockets Sunday night. Inside the Pistons By A. Sherrod Blakely A look at the Pistons heading into this week: Who's hot: Carlos Delfino came off the bench to score in double figures in three of the last four games. Who's not: Chauncey Billups shot just 35.6 percent from the field in four games. Play of the week: Leading 96-94 with less than a minute to play on Sunday against the Houston Rockets, Rasheed Wallace lobbed the ball from beyond the 3-point line to Ben Wallace, who caught the pass and completed a reverse dunk. ~ The Oakland Press ~ Close call Pistons survive Rockets' last-second three-point try and take 99-97 victory By Bill Roose Things have come mightily easy for the Pistons lately. So much so that coach Flip Saunders issued this warning to his players: Just because a team has a losing record doesn't mean it's easy prey. "When you go from about the middle of January to the All-Star break, I call it Upset City," Saunders said. "Where you see teams that are playing pretty well, you think, Well, they're going to win that one.' And teams come in and beat those teams." On Sunday, the Pistons encountered a hobbled Houston Rockets team that was ripe to pull off an upset. Despite missing several players to injury, including center Yao Ming, and Tracy McGrady in his second game back from back spasms, the Rockets pushed the Pistons to the brink of their sixth loss of the season. Billups gives $100k to Colorado for kids' tickets By Bill Roose Growing up in the rough Park Hill neighborhood of northeast Denver, Chauncey Billups was a huge sports fan without the means to worship his boyhood idols in person. But now, as one of the NBA's leaders in assists, Billups is giving assistance to Denver-area children. Billups has given a $100,000 gift to the men's basketball program at the University of Colorado, which will provide at least 40,000 free tickets to less fortunate children in the next four years. "This will bring a lot of kids up to the games in Boulder," Billups said. "I never had a chance to see games. Never. And it definitely played into getting this going, because I never went to a college game until I was a senior in high school on a recruiting visit. ~ Houston Chronicle ~ Rockets get close, but Pistons escape Chance to beat best evaporates with late misses By Jonathan Feigen The last-second shots had rolled the wrong way nearly 30 minutes earlier when Tracy McGrady sat alone at his small, metal locker and felt a different sort of pain hit him. He leaned back with his eyes turned upward and his face twisting into that tortured look so familiar this season, finally letting out a moaning, "Ahhhh, damn." It turns out being good enough to beat the best was not good enough for the Rockets. Instead, Luther Head's last 3 for the win bounced away, and Juwan Howard's tip for overtime rolled out, and the Detroit Pistons rolled on, beating the Rockets 99-97 on Sunday before 22,076 at the Palace of Auburn Hills. ~ Detroit Pistons.com ~ 20 Questions With Pistons Legend Vinnie Johnson The Detroit Pistons will honor Vinnie Johnson, also known as "The Microwave" because he could heat up in a hurry, on Friday, January 27 when they host the Memphis Grizzlies at 8:00 p.m. The Pistons have planned a halftime ceremony where they will play a video detailing Johnson's life and career. George Blaha, the voice of the Pistons, will introduce Johnson to the crowd and the organization will unveil the permanent 'signage' on the court. Johnson will briefly address the crowd. As part of the week-long celebration, Pistons.com will post "20 Questions with Vinnie" and include questions from the fans. |
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01-24-2006, 08:26 AM
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| January 24th - ~ Detroit news ~ Pistons Rap Saunders vindicated coaches success takes most of sting out of visit to his old team By Chris McCosky If you would have asked Flip Saunders a couple months ago what he might have been looking for when he finally makes his first visit to the Target Center, he might have said something like redemption. But Saunders is bringing a 33-5 Pistons team in to face his old team tonight, a Timberwolves team that is foundering at 19-19. That's all the redemption he needs. Burning question Atkins hits goal: ample playing time By Chris McCosky Burning questions as the midway point of the season -- and eventual trade talk -- arrives: Q . How come there were so many reports surfacing about Chucky Atkins wanting to come back to the Pistons? A . Because Atkins, who was bought out of his contract by the Wizards and cleared waivers, was essentially a free agent. He signed with Memphis on Monday. Atkins did explore the possibility of returning to the Pistons, but he wants to play. If he came back here, he would maybe -- maybe -- have played 15 minutes a game. And, as much as you might think the Pistons could use another shooter on the bench, it wouldn't have been that simple to add Atkins to the roster. Pistons: Notebook Taking offense about defense Saunders bristles over lingering remark that he didn't coach defense with his Minnesota teams. By Chris McCosky It was before the season and new Timberwolves head coach Dwane Casey was asked during a national teleconference how his team would be different from those Flip Saunders coached the previous nine seasons? "One thing for sure," Casey had said, "is we will hold the players accountable on defense." It was that kind of slap that had been stinging Saunders since the day he was fired by the Timberwolves last February. "Those I take as being comments from a young coach who has never been in that situation," said Saunders, who returns to the Target Center for the first time tonight. "I've never been a coach who downgrades what somebody else is doing to build myself up. I have enough confidence in my own ability to where I feel like I can just go out and show what I can do." MVP? Bryant, hands down Words don't do him justice, but just look at the numbers By Chris McCosky We probably can stop the debate on the leading candidate for Most Valuable Player honors now, right? The debate, for now, is over. Chauncey Billups may be driving the best team in basketball, but the best player in basketball is undeniably Kobe Bryant. And last I checked, the MVP was an individual award. There just aren't enough words to adequately describe what this guy is doing. The numbers speak fairly loudly, though. Start with his 81-point performance Sunday. I watched in awe as Tracy McGrady rang up 43 on the Pistons, despite some pretty heavy pressure. I cannot fathom what 81 points must've looked like. Joanne C. Gerstner's Top 5 ... Bryant's best cases against the defence Lakers guard Kobe Bryant has been wearing out scoreboards with his prolific performances. His five top scoring games this season: Detroit News Power Poll Slam Dunks Looking Ahead Around the NBA ~ Detroit Free Press ~ Flip takes 33-5 résumé vs. old team By Krista Latham Boos? He doesn't expect boos. Not after 10 years of hard work and solid community relationships. Awkwardness? He wouldn't be shocked if there was some when he takes the unfamiliar walk to the visiting locker room. Or sees the former bosses who fired him. Emotion? Surely there will be some of that. Like when he gets some rare time with his still Minnesota-based wife and kids. Or when he sees Kevin Garnett, who is almost like a son to him. Other than that, Pistons coach Flip Saunders isn't fretting about what might overcome him as he steps into the Target Center tonight for a game against his former team, the Timberwolves. ~ Booth Newspapers ~ Things will be a bit different for Saunders at Target Center By A. Sherrod Blakely Flip Saunders will be surrounded by family and friends tonight at the Minnesota Timberwolves' Target Center. The environment will seem quite normal, except one thing. One big thing. Saunders will not be leading the Timberwolves. Instead, he will be with his new team, the Detroit Pistons, who hired Saunders last summer. The Timberwolves fired him last February after 10 seasons as the team's head coach. ~ The Oakland Press ~ Saunders returns to Minnesota By Dana Gauruder Flip Saunders never wanted to leave Minnesota. That in itself makes his return to the Target Center a whole lot different than Larry Brown's first visit to The Palace this season. Minnesota's arena was like a second home to Saunders for nearly 10 seasons. When he sets foot in the building for the first time since he was fired by the Timberwolves 51 games into last season, he'll feel somewhat awkward but also happy to be coaching the other team. "Being 33-5, there's more emotion in what we're doing than what's happened in the past," he said Monday. "The only good thing about going home is that I'll be able to see my wife and kids - and we play a game." ~ Minneapolis Star Tribune ~ Saunders standing tall again with Detroit Flip Saunders took the fall for the Wolves' flop last season. But he has landed on his feet, coaching the Pistons to the best record in the NBA, and he returns to Target Center tonight to face his former employers. By Steve Aschburner Playing well is the best revenge. When Flip Saunders walks into Target Center tonight for the first time since being fired by the Timberwolves Feb. 12, he will come in on the high road. Not so much from humility or generosity of spirit toward the team that dumped him after nearly 10 years of service, but because he can. Saunders, in effect, already has won. The winningest coach in Wolves franchise history, the only man to lead the team into the postseason (something he did for eight years in a row), Saunders is back on his feet, leading a Detroit team that is the envy of the NBA. At 33-5, the Pistons have turned their rivals in the Central Division, projected to be perhaps the league's most competitive, into a bunch of also-rans, and they already have clinched for Saunders the Eastern Conference head coaching duties in the All-Star Game. ~ St. Paul Pioneer press ~ Saunders has rebounded nicely By Rick Alonzo Twice in the past three seasons, Flip Saunders has earned the honor of coaching in the NBA All-Star Game. During the other season, he was fired. The precariousness of his chosen profession isn't lost on the former Timberwolves coach. Tonight, he returns to Target Center for his first regular-season game against the team that decided in February he was no longer the right man for the job after 10 years. He comes back to Minnesota as the triumphant leader of the white-hot Detroit Pistons, who have shredded opponents on their way to the best record in the NBA. The Pistons' 33-5 start rivals that of the league's all-time elite teams and tops the Wolves' .500 record by 14 victories. Detroit is chasing history and a championship while Minnesota scraps for consistency and a playoff berth. Flip has nothing to prove By Charley Walters Other than a shoot-around with his NBA-leading Detroit Pistons this morning, tonight's game against the Timberwolves will be the first time coach Flip Saunders has been at Target Center since his firing by the Wolves nearly a year ago. The Pistons are 33-5, and Saunders, who has been a Minnesota favorite since a standout career with the Gophers, certainly has nothing more to prove. "It's not like I have to prove that they made a mistake by firing me," Saunders said of his much-anticipated return to Minnesota. "When I was fired, I didn't feel I was the problem. I felt I could be part of a solution. But that was (Wolves vice president) Kevin McHale's decision to make, not mine. We're coming in 33-5, so I think there's no need to prove anything. "My feeling is that this is an important game for us. We've won seven in a row, and I just want us to continue to play well. My emphasis for this game is that we prepare the same as the previous 38 games, no more, no less." Saunders then and now ~ MSNBC.com ~ Saunders flips firing into great fit with Pistons Former Timberwolves coach returns Tuesday with NBA's best team A/P Flip Saunders is enjoying quite a severance package these days. Yes, he was surprised and hurt last February when Minnesota fired him during his 10th season coaching the Timberwolves. But a look at the NBA standings serves as a reminder that everything sure worked out well for Saunders. The Detroit Pistons, his new team, are a league-best 33-5 with seven straight wins and victories in 18 of their last 20 games. Minnesota (19-19), meanwhile, has been hovering around the .500 mark. The two teams play Tuesday night in Minneapolis. ~ Miami Sun-Sentinel ~ Numbers don’t tell whole story for Heat By Dave Hyde Myth No. 5: Detroit and San Antonio are uncatchable. You mean like Indianapolis was in the NFL regular season? San Antonio already has issues with Tim Duncan having a lingering foot injury. And this isn't to diminish Detroit's success, which is noteworthy. But it has been playing in a top gear with its starting five for 30 injury-free months. What happens if Detroit loses, say, Chauncey Billups to injury and Carlos Arroyo becomes point guard? Plus, there's Flip Saunders, the coach who hasn't won anything in the playoffs. No, NBA coaching can't win series like players can. But they can contribute to losing them. Does Saunders, who has won two playoff series, match up to Riley? |
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01-24-2006, 11:40 AM
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| Re: January Pistons Articles *Updated Daily* For the folks who still like LB... Interview with Marc Berman Where is the Marbury-Brown relationship headed? – Adam Hahn (Hermosa Beach, California) MB: This is turning into one of the brightest points. Since the Orlando fiasco a month ago when they stopped speaking, Marbury has stepped up his play to a great level and now they joke around all the time. He's become the extension of the coach on the court. The tension for now is gone. Larry constantly calls him now “our leader and best player'' without hesitation. Marbury's absence the past three games – all losses – has shown Brown he's the engine that drives the Knicks and trading him for role players would be catastrophic.
__________________ Momma was queen of the mambo, Poppa was king of the congo, deep down in the jungle, I start banging my first bongo Every monkey like to be, in my place instead of me, cause I'm the king of bongo baby, I'm the king of bongo bong -Manu Chao |
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