[Detroit Bad Boys] It?s official: Detroit fans hate the Pacers! (http://feeds.feedburner.com/detroitbadboys?m=316)

A few days ago, we asked "Which current Pistons rival do you dislike the most?" One hundred and fifty people participated, with exactly 30% of the vote choosing the Pacers and 27% choosing the Heat.
The Spurs (20%) were a distant third, followed by the Nets (15%), Lakers (5%) and Kings (4%). I'm not too [...]



[/URL][BEYOND THE ARC] Dumars, Darko and the draft...oh my. (http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060228/SPORTS0102/602280323/1127/rss13)

In the aftermath of the trade that sent Darko Milicic and Carlos Arroyo to Orlando Wednesday, there was some pretty...



[Detroit Bad Boys] LeBron versus the Pistons (http://feeds.feedburner.com/detroitbadboys?m=317)

FOXSports.com's Charley Rosen analyzed Detroit's win over Cleveland on Sunday in his latest article. It's not your average game recap — instead, it's a technical article that takes a very close look at LeBron James' game. A good read to prepare for tonight's rematch in Cleveland.




[Detroit News] Picking up speed (http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060228/SPORTS0102/602280325/1127/rss13)

They're fun to watch. They can shoot the lights out and play tough defense. The wins are piling up, and people are starting to wonder what's going to happen in the playoffs.



[Detroit News] Dealing Darko was good move (http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060228/SPORTS0102/602280337/1127/rss13)

Burning questions as Darko-mania continues to grow:



[Detroit Bad Boys] Pistons sweep up Cavaliers in spite of an inspired performance by Damon Jones (http://feeds.feedburner.com/detroitbadboys?m=319)

The Pistons beat King James and the Cavs last night, 84-72, at Quicken Home Loans Arena. The "wine and gold"–as the Cavs are referred to by their announcers (thank you, NBA League Pass)–answered my questions about their toughness by playing the Pistons close for three quarters. Zydrunas Ilgauskas even exacted a bit of revenge [...]



[BEYOND THE ARC] Big challenges lie ahead (http://www.mlive.com/weblogs/beyondthearc/index.ssf?/mtlogs/mlive_beyondthearc/archives/2006_02.html#114553)

As the Pistons get ready to kick off the second "half" of the season (actually, 31 games remain) tonight against...



[Detroit Bad Boys] No laughing in basketball (http://feeds.feedburner.com/detroitbadboys?m=320)

If you haven't already heard about it, Cleveland's Zydrunas Ilgauskas earned a technical last night after throwing Rasheed Wallace to the floor, perhaps in retaliation for Sheed splitting open Z's skull the day before. How did Sheed react to the play? He laughed it off, which somehow earned him a technical foul, as well. (Need [...]



[Detroit Bad Boys] Welcome the newest Piston, Tony Delk (http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060301/SPORTS0102/603010315/1127/rss13)

A. Sherrod Blakely of MLive reports on his blog that Tony Delk, recently released by the Atlanta Hawks, will become the newest Piston sometime tomorrow morning. Delk joins the team as a second point guard option off the bench behind Lindsey Hunter. Blakely:
Obviously, Delk isn't going to be a player that's going to [...][URL="http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060301/SPORTS0102/603010316/1127/rss13"]

~ The Detroit News ~
Rasheed's fouls not as technical (http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060301/SPORTS0102/603010316/1004/SPORTS)
Pistons forward Rasheed Wallace has been a magnet for technical fouls lately, but the situation is not as dire as it seems. Wallace has been called for 15 technicals this season, but just 12 count toward the NBA's suspension system.

Parker: Technical fouls are just side effect of Pistons' tenacity (http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060301/SPORTS08/603010319/1004/SPORTS)
Don't let the recent rash of technical fouls by the Pistons worry you. This team isn't coming apart. In fact, the Pistons are actually coming together.

~ The Detroit Free Press ~
Delk could be insurance at guard spots (http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060301/SPORTS03/603010392/1051/SPORTS)
DENVER -- Sometime today, the Pistons expectveteran point guard Tony Delk to sign as a free agent, filling the team's vacant roster spot and adding some backcourt insurance.

Hunter's contributions fit with Pistons' plans (http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060301/SPORTS03/603010399/1051/SPORTS)
Pistons owner Bill Davidson is a big fan of jigsaw puzzles, so much so he often leaves them at the team's practice facility. Guard Lindsey Hunter spent the first 46 games of the season rehabilitating his left ankle, and he would often work on the puzzles, sometimes even take one home.

~ Foxsports.com ~
Thomas, Dumars going different ways ... again (http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/5358968)
If you're going to build a basketball team in your own image, you better know who you are. Are you a narcissist who displays "a pattern of traits and behaviors which signify infatuation and obsession with one's self to the exclusion of all others?" Or, are you an altruist, willing to sublimate personal desire for the greater good of the whole?

[Booth Newspapers]


Delk set to sign with Pistons
(http://www.mlive.com/pistons/stories/index.ssf?/base/sports-1/1141211428148930.xml&coll=1)by A. Sherrod Blakely

DENVER -- Ex-Atlanta Hawk guard Tony Delk will become a Detroit Piston today.

Delk, who cleared waivers Tuesday at 6 p.m., agreed to become a Piston shortly after that.

The Pistons had until midnight tonight to sign the 6-foot-2 guard to ensure that he would be eligible for the playoffs.


Column:Officials out of control with quick trigger on technicals
(http://www.mlive.com/pistons/stories/index.ssf?/base/sports-1/1141211447148930.xml&coll=1)By A. Sherrod Blakely

DENVER -- OK, OK. We get it now. The Detroit Pistons whine about every foul called against them, and NBA officials are sick and tired of hearing it.

They can't make the Pistons shut up, so their way of trying to mute the complaints is to assess the Pistons with as many technical fouls as possible, even if it means calling one or two stupid ones just to make a point.


[The Oakland Press]


(http://www.theoaklandpress.com/stories/030106/spo_2006030105.shtml)Pistons don't like their 'T' times (http://www.theoaklandpress.com/stories/030106/spo_2006030105.shtml)
by DANA GAURUDER

DENVER - The Pistons don't have any problem walking the walk. Recently, they have been stripped of the ability to talk the talk.

Every time an offi cial toots his whistle nowadays, they half-expect to see him form a "T" with his hands. A rash of technicals has them steaming about what they perceive as unfair treatment from the men in striped shirts.

[Denver Post]


Fans rise: Cheers to Chauncey (http://www.denverpost.com/nuggets/ci_3556775)

"You already know Chauncey Billups is playing basketball as never before. Now for what you may not know: He's a better man than ever before, too. That's why the Pepsi Center crowd should give him a standing ovation during tonight's pregame introductions."

[Rocky Mountain News]


McDyess wants a ring of his own (http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/nba/article/0,2777,DRMN_23922_4504729,00.html)

"There are six regularly on display in the locker room. When Antonio McDyess sees them gleam, all he can do is look on in envy. They are rings from the Detroit Pistons' championship season of 2003-04."


[USA Today]


One-on-One: Readers pick Pistons-Spurs rematch By David DuPree
(http://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/2006-02-27-one-on-one_x.htm)
Get ready for a rematch of last season's NBA Finals.

Readers overwhelmingly feel that the Detroit Pistons and San Antonio Spurs will be the last teams standing, and they are split as to who will win in response to this week's question.


Scorer's Table: Heat in good hands with Wade
(http://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/2006-02-27-scorers-table_x.htm)By David DuPree

The highest score of anyone on the All-Hands team belonged to Wallace, who averages 2.1 assists, 4.1 offensive rebounds, 1.7 steals, 2.3 blocks, 2.1 fouls and one turnover, making him the only player with a total score of seven or more.

[FOX Sports]


Pistons starters should go for the gold
(http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/5325542)by Peter Schrager

When the reserves for the Eastern and Western Conference All Star teams were announced in February, there was a bit of public outcry. The guys from Dime made their case for Chris Paul's spot on the Western squad. Reggie Miller defended Jason Terry's right to play for the West on TNT's Inside the NBA on Thursday. Several experts spent last week crying foul over the omissions of Carmelo Anthony, Baron Davis, and Dwight Howard as well.

There was only one guy that I thought got "jobbed". Sure, he averages two less points per game than Caron Butler, and yes, the legend that is Viktor Khryapa grabs more rebounds per game. He's also undoubtedly the fifth best player on his team.

All that said — Tayshaun Prince is an NBA All Star.

[Detroit Bad Boys]


U.S. National team announced
(http://www.detroitbadboys.com/archives/2006-03-01/us-national-team-announced/)by Ian Cameron

The 22-member U.S. National team was unveiled yesterday by director of USA Basketball, Jerry Colangelo. The players, to be coached by Duke's Coack K (Mike Krzyzewski), will compete for 12 active (and three inactive) roster spots for the 2006 World Championships in Japan and the 2008 Olympics in China. Including a lone Piston, Chauncey Billups, the squad looks like this...


Denver loves Chauncey Billups
(http://www.detroitbadboys.com/archives/2006-03-01/denver-loves-chauncey-billups/)by Matt Watson

For Chauncey Billups, tonight's game in Denver isn't just another game out of 82, it's a homecoming. And the Denver Post's Jim Armstrong hopes the Pepsi Center fans will give Billups a standing O...

[Detroit Bad Boys]


Isiah Thomas and Joe Dumars have taken different paths (http://feeds.feedburner.com/detroitbadboys?m=326)

While perusing the discussions over at PistonsForum.com, I stumbled across an interesting article from FOXSports.com comparing the careers of Isiah Thomas and Joe Dumars, from their pre-college days all the way up to where they are today. Good read for long-time fans who remember watching the two play in the same backcourt.

[Detroit News]


Pistons sluggish in 10th loss (http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060302/SPORTS0102/603020302/1127)

"It was just Carmelo Anthony, Kenyon Martin and the Denver Nuggets running a dunk line on the Pistons in a 98-87 romp Wednesday."


[Detroit Free Press]


Pistons' streak ends at 6 (http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060302/SPORTS03/603020581/1051)

"But 22 dunks later, the Nuggets ended the Pistons' six-game winning streak, 98-87, and smashed home more lob jams than Pistons coach Flip Saunders said he'd seen in the previous 56 games."


[The Oakland Press]


Mile-high misstep
(http://www.theoaklandpress.com/stories/030206/spo_2006030206.shtml)
More than a few NBA teams have trouble with the altitude in the Rocky Mountains. Ditto for the Pistons, who strained their necks for the better part of three hours Wednesday night looking skyward as the Denver Nuggets soared around them.


Sheed thinks officials have it in for him
(http://www.theoaklandpress.com/stories/030206/spo_2006030209.shtml)
Rasheed Wallace has fought pitched battles with officials throughout his career. After several strange technicals against him over the past week, Wallace is taking the proverbial gloves off and striking back with some verbal swipes.


[NBADraft.net]


Trade Deadline Winners and Losers
(http://nbadraft.net/palumbi003.asp)
"It was clearly apparent that the Darko experiment had failed miserably in Detroit. But the name of the game in trading disappointing players in today's NBA is to get cap relief if possible."

[Denver Post]


Denver delivers 'Classy' victory (http://www.denverpost.com/nuggets/ci_3560543)

"There is an upside to playing to the level of your competition. A case in point was the Nuggets' 98-87 win over everyone's NBA title favorite, the Detroit Pistons."


Billups lends all-Star support to youngsters (http://www.denverpost.com/nuggets/ci_3560537)

"Regis University announced Wednesday that Billups was joining forces with Porter in the renamed Porter-Billups Leadership Academy, benefiting Denver-area inner-city kids through academic and leadership training."

[Rocky Mountain News]


Denver is better in hurry (http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/nba/article/0,2777,DRMN_23922_4508341,00.html)

"The Nuggets blitzed the vaunted Detroit Pistons in the second half Wednesday night at the Pepsi Center. It added up to a 98-87 win."


[Detroit News]


Pistons get depth in Delk (http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060302/SPORTS0102/603020411/1127)

"'Detroit was my No. 1 choice,' said Delk, the 32-year-old guard who signed with the Pistons on Wednesday morning."



Rasheed cries foul on referees (http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060302/SPORTS0102/603020330/1127)

"Rasheed Wallace read the story in USA Today on Wednesday, about how referees believe there is an increasing 'environment of hostility' between officials and players."



Billups takes the point for new 'Life academy' (http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060302/SPORTS07/603020310/1127/SPORTS0102)

"Chauncey Billups , a native of Denver who grew up in the tough Park Hill area of the city, lent his name, his time and $100,000 to help provide academic and leadership training to inner-city kids."



[Detroit Free Press]



Delk could get significant time (http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060302/SPORTS03/603020535/1051)

"When the Atlanta Hawks waived guard Tony Delk last week, a number of teams called, wanting him to bring his veteran experience, shooting tough and rugged defense their way. It was easy to ignore all those calls but one."


[Booth Newspapers]


Flurry of dunks propels Denver past Pistons, 98-87 (http://www.mlive.com/pistons/stories/index.ssf?/base/sports-1/1133282402136880.xml&coll=1)

"This was not the kind of homecoming Chauncey Billups had envisioned.

The Denver native put on a great show for his family and friends attending Wednesday night's game.

There was just one problem: he didn't get much help."


Delk's role could be larger than anticipated
(http://www.mlive.com/pistons/stories/index.ssf?/base/sports-1/1133284201197470.xml&coll=1)
"While there are many who believe Tony Delk was signed by the Detroit Pistons as added insurance in case Chauncey Billups or Lindsey Hunter gets hurt, he's probably going to have a more expanded role than that."

[Detroit Bad Boys]


Nothing to see here; Nuggets bury Pistons (http://feeds.feedburner.com/detroitbadboys?m=327)

There are some nights that I wish I hadn't ordered NBA League Pass this season. Last night, for instance, I could have been sitting on the couch, blissfully complaining to my fiance about having to watch Project Runway and struggling to follow the Pistons through the live updates on CBS Sportsline. But instead, [...]


Watch out for that ball boy on the floor behind you (http://feeds.feedburner.com/detroitbadboys?m=328)

The refs seem to think they're often the unfair targets of abuse, but it seems to a lot of Pistons fans lately that it's the refs have been the ones picking on the players in recent games.
Rasheed Wallace, whose reputation precedes anything that comes out of his mouth, spoke out on Wednesday:
"They say, [...]


Alex Acker heads to the farm (http://feeds.feedburner.com/detroitbadboys?m=329)

Ian called it: with Tony Delk on board, the Pistons have decided to dispatch rookie Alex Acker to the NBDL's Fayetteville Patriots.

[Detroit Bad Boys]


Tayshaun Prince is looking for his shot (http://feeds.feedburner.com/detroitbadboys?m=331)

Seems like it's not just our readers who've noticed Tayshaun Prince's recent slump: both the Free Press and News ran nearly identical articles today discussing the matter.
Just how bad have things been? As the News reports, Prince has averaged just 8.6 points per game on 23% shooting. The decreased scoring isn't the [...]


It's official: 63% of fans think Sheed will miss time (http://feeds.feedburner.com/detroitbadboys?m=330)

Man, you guys are a bunch of pessimists. In our last poll, we asked "Will Rasheed Wallace earn enough technical fouls to be suspended?" 52% of the 62 who voted think that he'll end up missing one game, while 11% of you think he'll be suspended for two. As for me, I'm among the 37% [...]


Pistons scout joins Team USA (http://feeds.feedburner.com/detroitbadboys?m=332)

The Detroit News reports that Pistons international scout Tony Ronzone was named an advance scout for Team USA for the World Championships this summer and the Olympics in 2008. Who is Tony Ronzone? This 2004 article from Time Magazine is a great introduction. I just added him to my list of guys I want to [...]


[Detroit News]


Prince: Wins matter, not points (http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060303/SPORTS0102/603030333/1127)

"Tayshaun Prince is doing what he does when he hits a rough stretch -- he's keeping his head down, his mouth pretty much shut and he's grinding."


Pistons scout joins Team USA (http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060303/SPORTS07/603030308/1127/SPORTS0102)

"Pistons international scout Tony Ronzone will be one of the advance scouts for the U.S. men's national team for the World Championships this summer and the Olympics in 2008."

[Detroit Free Press]



Scoring woes don't worry Prince -- yet (http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060303/SPORTS03/603030396/1051)

"Although forward Tayshaun Prince admits he is in a bit of a scoring slump -- he has averaged 9.3 points a game since the All-Star break -- he's not letting it bother him."


[Seattle Times]


Pistons sharing their brand of ball in Seattle (http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sonics/2002840535_soni03.html)

Seattle Times: "No one talks about Detroit joining the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls as the only team to win at least 70 games anymore, but the Pistons are still showered with superlatives whenever they take their unselfish brand of basketball on the road."

[Seattle Post-Intelligencer]


Pistons embody unity Sonics seek (http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/basketball/261603_sonx03.html)

"The Detroit Pistons took 14 years to build the type of chemistry that wins championships. The Bad Boys aged and eventually left or retired. Grant Hill's tenure as a franchise player ended with his demand for a trade while Jerry Stackhouse was never comfortable as the No. 1 option."


[Tacoma News Tribune]


Seattle next on Pistons’ path (http://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/sonics/story/5563298p-5006400c.html)

"All the talk about the Pistons matching the Chicago Bulls’ all-time mark of 72-10 was spurred by Detroit’s 24-3 start, coming after advancing to the NBA Finals last June."

[The Oakland Press]


Prince's production falls off
(http://www.theoaklandpress.com/stories/030306/spo_2006030307.shtml)by DANA GAURUDER

Tayshaun Prince is considered the Pistons' 'glue' guy. He does a little bit of everything to complete the league's top starting five.

Lately, Prince has been doing a whole lot of nothing at the offensive end. He cannot make any of his shots stick, and his offensive funk has put more pressure on Richard Hamilton and Chauncey Billups to score.


[Booth Newspapers]


Delk fits in well with Pistons
(http://www.mlive.com/pistons/stories/index.ssf?/base/sports-1/114138424819610.xml&coll=1)by A. Sherrod Blakely

Mini-streams of sweat kept flicking off Tony Delk's head, sort of like the rhythmic swishing of jump shots he made during 3-on-3 drills Thursday at the University of Denver's Ritchie Center.

[Detroit Bad Boys]


FreeDarko on McSweeney?s (http://feeds.feedburner.com/detroitbadboys?m=333)

Congrats to Bethlehem Shoals and the rest of the FreeDarko crew for their new spot at McSweeney's. Their first piece, My Faith Is in the Specter, is a gem and might, might explain my absolute loyalty in Darko Milicic's potential. (But probably not, since Darko is still going to be a stud.) Their latest post [...]


Listen up, New York (http://feeds.feedburner.com/detroitbadboys?m=334)

"I'm in this for the long haul."
–Larry Brown, when asked if he would walk away from the Knicks job at season's end.
That's right Knick fans–it's time for you to take part in one of the most time-honored traditions of 'play-the-right-way' basketball: the frenzied speculation over whether LB will continue to grace your team [...]

[Free Darko]


Blood from the Shoulder of Pallas
(http://freedarko.blogspot.com/2006/03/blood-from-shoulder-of-pallas.html)
Richard Hamilton hits a midrange shot off of a Billups pass. So many things have gone right for him to get that open look, but we quantify what we easily observe; we value Hamilton’s shot with two points and Billups’s pass with an assist. However, statistics don’t credit Ben Wallace’s pick, or the attention the rest of the defense pays to Rasheed, or Hamilton’s ability to induce fatigue in his defenders, or an opportune play call by Flip Saunders, or a host of other things. Unlike baseball, a basketball game is basically one fluid and exceptionally complex event.

Micro: This is a must read in case you miss the link in the Detroit Bad Boys articles above.

[Detroit News]
Hamilton's jumper sinks Sonics (http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060304/SPORTS0102/603040437/1004/SPORTS)
"I know before I get the ball if the shot is going in or not," Hamilton said. "It's all a rhythm shot. The follow through and the shot are the easy part. It's just getting there and stopping on a dime, and being in the right place at the right time, and getting the shot off."

True basketball fans treasure Pistons' success (http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060304/SPORTS0102/603040357/1004/SPORTS)
The golden era of team play in the NBA is ... now? You may not have heard much about it but while Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant and Phil Jackson were feuding, splitting up and coming back, the aw-shucks San Antonio Spurs won two titles. The who-are-you-again Detroit Pistons won one, made the Finals twice and maintained a 72-win pace the first half of this season.

[Detroit Free Press]
Pistons reign in Seattle (http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060304/SPORTS03/603040365/1048/SPORTS)
The score was tied at 96 with 20.9 seconds to play after Sonics guard Luke Ridnour sank two free throws. The Pistons called a time-out and set up a play for Hamilton to run the baseline and get open for a long jumper from the corner. It worked, and Hamilton's shot fell with 0.2 second left.

"Dinosaur" discovers new era (http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060304/SPORTS03/603040344/1051/SPORTS)
"This is more me," said Delk, a 32-year-old guard. "Not to say the guys in Atlanta are bad guys. They're young guys, and they're building around young players. But this is a veteran team, and veteran guys know how to play with each other, and they understand the game."

Billups lends a big hand (http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060304/SPORTS03/603040345/1051/SPORTS)
Pistons point guard Chauncey Billups announced Wednesday he's donating $100,000 to and becoming involved with a program that gets Denver's inner-city children into classrooms, mentorships and, hopefully, college.

[Seattle Times]
Sonics hang on till end, but Pistons have last say (http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sonics/2002843197_soni04.html)
With the score knotted at 96-96 with 20.9 seconds remaining, Detroit's Chauncey Billups began the possession at the top of the key, where he proceeded to dribble out the clock. The Sonics were focused on a pick-and-roll between Billups and Rasheed Wallace, and coach Bob Hill designed a defense during the previous timeout to negate the play.

[NBA.com]
Patriots frazzle the Dazzle (http://www.nba.com/dleague/games/20060303/ROAFAY/recap.html)
The Fayetteville Patriots got another big night from veteran NBA player Mateen Cleaves and a solid debut from a pair of newly-arrived Detroit Pistons to beat the Roanoke Dazzle, 132-120, in D-League action in Fayetteville on Friday .... Acker and his Pistons teammate Amir Johnson who was assigned to Fayetteville on Monday, dominated the final three minutes. Acker scored five, and Johnson hit five free throws to go along with a pair of steals, to shut down the Roanoke run.

[Fayetteville Observer]
Fayetteville assignment should benefit Johnson (http://www.fayettevillenc.com/print?id=227710&type=article)
“The Pistons are a great team to be with,’’ Johnson said. “Everyone in the organization has taken me under their wing, from the coaches to the players, everybody. The team has a swagger when they go out on the court. They know they’re going to win, and that’s exciting to be part of that. But now I think they want to see me get out there on the court and show what I’ve learned. And I’m fine with that."

[Detroit Bad Boys]


Pistons quiet Sonics (http://feeds.feedburner.com/detroitbadboys?m=336)

The Pistons trailed the Sonics for much of the first half, and with a little more than three minutes remaining in the second quarter they faced a 33-43 deficit. Rather than letting the Sonics turn it into a rout, however, the Pistons caught fire by scoring 17 points in the final 3:15 to enter halftime [...]


Gilbert Arenas is crazy (http://feeds.feedburner.com/detroitbadboys?m=335)

Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas claims that the Pistons so often get the benefit of the doubt from the refs that "you have to totally outplay them to barely beat them." Umm, Gilbert… have you seen any of Detroit's games lately?

[Detroit News]


Hamilton gives Billups some big-shot company (http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060305/SPORTS0102/603050316/1127/rss13)

LOS ANGELES -- Maybe we need to call them, Misters Big Shot.

Pistons run out of gas vs. Lakers (http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060305/SPORTS0102/603050310/1127/rss13)

LOS ANGELES -- Former Pistons coach Doug Collins used to call it fool's gold. It's when a team builds a false sense of security from hitting a bunch of spectacular shots from the perimeter early in the game.


[Detroit Free Press]



Tired legs, Kobe's 40 leads to Lakers' win over Pistons, 105-94
(http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2006303050003) by KEN PETERS
ASSOCIATED PRESS

Kobe Bryant scored 40 points, Lamar Odom had 24 points and 10 assists, and the Lakers took a 105-94 victory Saturday night over the Detroit Pistons, who have the NBA's best record.

"It was a big win for us and a win that we don't usually get, against a great team like Detroit," Bryant said. "It's probably the biggest home win of the year for us.


[NBATV]


Highlights from the March 4th, Pistons @ Lakers Game (http://boss.streamos.com/wmedia/nba/nbacom/recaps/recap_873_detlal.asx) (Video)



[Alex Acker & Amir Johnson News]


Fayetteville plays Florida this evening. Audio is free, streamed from the NBA D-League website.

Sunday, March 5
Fayetteville @ Florida
5:00 p.m.

http://www.nba.com/dleague/

http://www.pistonsforum.com/images/picdump/dleague-audio.gif

[Los Angeles Times]



Lakers Get It in Gear
(http://www.latimes.com/sports/basketball/nba/lakers/la-sp-lakers5mar05,1,5945734.story?coll=la-headlines-sports-nba-lakers)They beat Detroit for the first time in seven games, a well-earned 105-94 win over the NBA's best team that gives new life to L.A.'s playoff drive.
by Mike Bresnahan

It was like old times at Staples Center, a throwback to four, five, six years ago, when victories were plentiful and all — well, most — was well in the Lakers' sphere of influence.

They took it to the Detroit Pistons on Saturday, beating back the league's top team with a surprising but well-earned 105-94 victory that filled the Laker stretch drive with new life and reminded Laker followers that the past wasn't all that long ago.



[L.A. Daily News]



Lakers are the elite
(http://www.dailynews.com/lakers/ci_3570617)Lakers' rally stuns Pistons
by Ross Siler

The Lakers weren't supposed to beat the Detroit Pistons because they hadn't in six games since the 2004 NBA Finals and because the Pistons came into Saturday night's game on pace to win 68 games this season.

They weren't supposed to beat a team that sent four players to the All-Star Game and has been chasing greatness, especially not after falling behind by 13 points midway through the third quarter.

They weren't supposed to beat the team that holds the patent on lock-down defense and 18-0 runs and everything the Lakers did right at the end of the third and start of the fourth quarters.

Out of nowhere, though, the Lakers came up with their most improbable and impressive win since Phil Jackson returned as coach, pushing back to beat the Pistons 105-94 with the Staples Center crowd on its feet in the end.

[Detroit Bad Boys]


Pistons fall asleep at the wheel in Los Angeles (http://feeds.feedburner.com/detroitbadboys?m=337)

Got an IM this afternoon from Ian, who wasn't able to watch the game last night:
4:27 PM Ian: what the f happened to the Pistons last night?
I can sum it up with two numbers: 18-0.
After Carlos Delfino drained a three with 3:06 left in the third quarter, the Pistons basically took a nap [...]

More fuel for the Pistons-Bulls rivalry (http://feeds.feedburner.com/detroitbadboys?m=339)

Should the Bulls get their act together and sneak into the playoffs — they're currently two and a half games behind Milwaukee for the last spot — we could be treated to a feisty first round matchup between Chicago and Detroit. Steve Luhm of the Salt Lake Tribune examined the rivalry today, digging up some [...]

Alex Acker and Amir Johnson lighting up the NBDL (http://feeds.feedburner.com/detroitbadboys?m=338)

I had previously mentioned in passing that Amir Johnson and Alex Acker should be able to put up some numbers with the NBDL Fayetteville Patriots if they got the playing time… but even I didn't expect this.
Acker joined Fayetteville just two hours before tipoff on Friday but still managed to score 28 points, three [...]

Bulls want to emulate Pistons (http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/sports/14026332.htm)

CHICAGO - So the Detroit Pistons won't be beating that 72-10 Bulls record from 1995-96 after losing No. 11 on Saturday night to the Lakers and Phil Jackson. "I thought about that," Jackson admitted.
Still, the Pistons are cruising toward the top seed in the East while the Bulls are in the ninth spot with a shot at moving up one. Wouldn't the NBA love that for a first-round playoff matchup? The story lines are already there thanks to Rasheed Wallace's laughing at and taunting the Bulls in a December Detroit victory and Scott Skiles suggesting the Pistons are more whiners than winners in a commentary on their complaining to referees after a Bulls loss last month. Perhaps that's where Antonio Davis is missed most on a non-confrontational team that needs the coach to do the challenging.

[BEYOND THE ARC]


Scheduling wins and losses (http://www.mlive.com/weblogs/beyondthearc/index.ssf?/mtlogs/mlive_beyondthearc/archives/2006_03.html#117756)

Heard of the term "schedule loss"? It's a term some might use to describe the way the Nuggets pushed the...

[Detroit Free Press]


It's official: Billups will steer USA (http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060306/SPORTS03/603060363/1051)

"His inclusion had been known for weeks, if not months, but Sunday it became official. If the USA is to return to worldwide dominance and win an Olympic gold medal in 2008, it will be Pistons point guard Chauncey Billups running the show."

[Detroit News]


Tough stretch took its toll (http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060306/SPORTS0102/603060366/1127)

"The road losses at Denver and Los Angeles last week were as much related to their recent travel-heavy schedule as any kind of breakdown in their system or their play."

[Booth Newspapers]


INSIDE THE PISTONS
(http://www.mlive.com/pistons/stories/index.ssf?/base/sports-1/1141643429151370.xml&coll=1)A look at the Pistons heading into this week:

Who's hot: Chauncey Billups continues to make a strong case to be considered for the league MVP award. In four games last week, Billups averaged 21.8 points and 10.3 assists per game, and had three double-doubles.

[Detroit Bad Boys]


Page 2's ode to Bill Laimbeer (http://feeds.feedburner.com/detroitbadboys?m=341)

In honor of yesterday's Academy Awards, Patrick Hruby of ESPN Page 2 profiled some of the Association's greatest actors in "The Art of the Flop." As you can imagine, the original Bad Boy–Bill Laimbeer–was featured prominently in this piece. Hruby describes the best of all-time this way:
The Godfather. A master at appearing hurt [...]

Keeping up on the farm (http://feeds.feedburner.com/detroitbadboys?m=342)

Looks like following Alex Acker and Amir Johnson's progress with the D-League Fayetteville Patriots just got a bit easier: Pistons.com just added a Pistons Patriot Games tracker.

The Devil speaks (http://feeds.feedburner.com/detroitbadboys?m=343)

Duke's Mike Krzyzewski, coach of Team USA on Chauncey:
"I think he's a consummate point guard," Krzyzewski said. "He makes hard passes look easy. He runs the team. He knows the time to score. He feels the nuances of the game. He can flat out shoot it. He's great at end of game situations at the [...]


[BEYOND THE ARC]


Billups earns K's praise (http://www.mlive.com/weblogs/beyondthearc/index.ssf?/mtlogs/mlive_beyondthearc/archives/2006_03.html#118459)

Though his wife's pregnancy will prevent Chauncey Billups from helping Team USA in Japan at the World Championships this August,...


[Washington Times]


Duty calls (http://www.washtimes.com/sports/20060307-120603-5092r.htm)

"Team USA's most valuable player won't be playing in this summer's world championship, and it's not Shaquille O'Neal, Tim Duncan or Kevin Garnett. It's Chauncey Billups. "

[Detroit Free Press]


Granting rest for the weary (http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060307/SPORTS03/603070374/1051)

"Coach Flip Saunders hoped the break would rejuvenate his tired team before the season's final stretch that begins with practice today and a game against Chicago on Wednesday."


[ Detroit News]


Looking ahead: Pistons (http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060307/SPORTS0102/603070377/1127)

"Even though the Pistons have crushed the Bulls three times this season, this still is a nasty rivalry."


Alley oop to ... Pistons broadcaster George Blaha (http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060307/SPORTS0102/603070369/1127)

"Q . Are you a movie buff? A . I usually watch movies at home."


Road tour gets blame for fatigue (http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060307/SPORTS0102/603070376/1127)

"Q . Why are the Pistons looking tired at times, such as down the stretch against the Lakers and Nuggets last week?"


Billups has the game because of versatility (http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060307/SPORTS0102/603070398/1127)

"Whom better then to ask this question: How good an international player will Chauncey Billups be?"


[Booth Newspapers]


Pistons trying to focus on strong regular-season finish
(http://www.mlive.com/pistons/stories/index.ssf?/base/sports-1/1141729814106920.xml&coll=1)by A. Sherrod Blakely

AUBURN HILLS -- Like a slew of crunched-up vehicles on the side of the highway you're driving on, there are some things that are just too inviting to ignore no matter how hard you try.

Staying focused on the road ahead will be one of the Detroit Pistons' biggest challenges during the final 23 regular-season games before what they anticipate will be a long playoff run.

[Detroit Bad Boys]



Damage control? (http://feeds.feedburner.com/detroitbadboys?m=344)

At the beginning of the season, the Pistons quote machine was churning out repeated statements like the following from Chauncey, et al:
"We are working on getting home-court advantage. That is our regular-season goal. We all know if we had it last year, we would be starting this season as two-time defending champions."
For 40-something games [...]


Tony Ronzone: Chauncey Billups has international style (http://feeds.feedburner.com/detroitbadboys?m=345)

Tony Ronzone, Pistons international scout extraordinaire, thinks Chauncey Billups is a good fit to lead Team USA in the Olympics. From the Detroit News:
"Chauncey is just perfect," Ronzone said.
"He can adapt to any style of play. In the international game they play so much zone. That's one of the reasons we've been getting [...]


[Detroit News]



Looking ahead: Pistons (http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060307/SPORTS0102/603070377/1127/rss13)

Wednesday: Bulls

[Blue Collar Blueprint]



"Psyched" to be Home (http://bluecollarblueprint.typepad.com/blue_collar_blueprint/2006/03/psyched_to_be_h.html)
by Eli Zaret

I'm writing this flying back on Roundball One, reflecting on a week-long trip with America's most celebrated sports road show. For reasons I can't explain, time feels so extended on the road. One day feels like three and a week feels like month. Although it's a privilege to travel with the world's best basketball team, we're all ready to get back to our own beds and our families. I can’t even wait to walk the dog again.


[Hoopsworld]



Motown Soundtrack: Chill Out (http://www.hoopsworld.com/article_16434.shtml)
By Adriano Albuquerque

What else can go wrong for the Detroit Pistons? First, they start losing with regularity. Then, Tayshaun Prince doesn’t make the All-Star squad. That’s followed by GM Joe Dumars trading away Carlos Arroyo and Darko Milicic and both of them turning into studs instantly with the Orlando Magic. In the All-Star Game, coach Flip Saunders has the “brilliant” idea of using his four players, not tired enough from playing more than 35 minutes a game regularly, for almost two entire quarters each. Now, Rasheed Wallace approaches his first technical fouls-related suspension, Tayshaun Prince wants more of the ball, Chauncey Billups says he’s tired and the team looks like it’s forgotten what was good about them.

[BEYOND THE ARC]


Hoiberg to Detroit? (http://www.mlive.com/weblogs/beyondthearc/index.ssf?/mtlogs/mlive_beyondthearc/archives/2006_03.html#118832)

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 (http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060308/SPORTS0102/603080340/1004/SPORTS)
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 (http://www.theoaklandpress.com/stories/030806/spo_2006030808.shtml)
"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 (http://www.mlive.com/pistons/stories/index.ssf?/base/sports-1/1141816221158750.xml&coll=1)
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.

[Detroit Bad Boys]


Dancing in the streets in Champagne, Illinois (http://feeds.feedburner.com/detroitbadboys?m=346)

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."


[Detroit Free Press]


Board Ace (http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060308/SPORTS03/603080382/1051)

"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 (http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060308/SPORTS03/603080396/1051)

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 (http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060308/SPORTS03/603080394/1051)

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 (http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060308/SPORTS03/603080402/1051)

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

Pistons Planner (http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060308/SPORTS03/603080403/1051)

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 (http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060308/SPORTS03/603080385/1051)

"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."


[Daily Herald]

(registration required)


Could be an interesting game tonight (http://www.dailyherald.com/sports/bulls.asp?id=163962)

"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."


[Daily Southtown]


Bulls, Pistons ready to butt heads again (http://www.dailysouthtown.com/southtown/dssports/pro/082sd2.htm)

"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."
(http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060308/SPORTS03/603080396/1051)

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

[Detroit Bad Boys]

Keep your hands off my hair-band (http://feeds.feedburner.com/detroitbadboys?m=347)

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 (http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060309/SPORTS0102/603090401/1004/SPORTS)
"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 (http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060309/SPORTS0102/603090341/1004/SPORTS)
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 (http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060309/SPORTS03/603090593/1048/SPORTS)
"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 (http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060309/SPORTS03/603090536/1051/SPORTS)
....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 (http://www.mlive.com/pistons/stories/index.ssf?/base/sports-1/1133449169214120.xml&coll=1)
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 (http://www.mlive.com/pistons/stories/index.ssf?/base/sports-1/1133449170214120.xml&coll=1)
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 (http://www.sun-times.com/output/bulls/cst-spt-bull093.html)
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 (http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/teamReport?categoryId=71082&type=InsideSlant)
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 (http://feeds.feedburner.com/detroitbadboys?m=349)

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.


[Chicago Tribune]
(registration required)


Late mistakes ruin chances (http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/basketball/bulls/cs-060308bullsgamer,1,6513677.story?coll=cs-bulls-headlines)

"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."


[Daily Herald]
(registration required)


Fight to the finish (http://www.dailyherald.com/sports/bulls.asp?id=164398)

"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."


[The Oakland Press]



Extra days of rest help Pistons put away Bulls
(http://www.theoaklandpress.com/stories/030906/spo_2006030908.shtml)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
(http://www.theoaklandpress.com/stories/030906/spo_2006030909.shtml)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.


[BEYOND THE ARC]



Hoiberg still an option, Max stays, and more (http://www.mlive.com/weblogs/beyondthearc/index.ssf?/mtlogs/mlive_beyondthearc/archives/2006_03.html#119532)

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 (http://feeds.feedburner.com/detroitbadboys?m=351)

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 (http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060310/SPORTS0102/603100319/1004/SPORTS)
"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 (http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060310/SPORTS03/603100390/1051/SPORTS)
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 (http://www.mlive.com/sports/statewide/index.ssf?/base/sports-1/1141989043111120.xml&coll=1)
"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 (http://www.nba.com/dleague/games/20060309/FLAFAY/recap.html)
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.

[Detroit Bad Boys]


He's Mike James, b*tch! (http://feeds.feedburner.com/detroitbadboys?m=352)

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 [...]

[The Oakland Press]


Hoiberg discussions continue for Pistons
(http://www.theoaklandpress.com/stories/031006/spo_2006031010.shtml) 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.


[Daily Herald]
(registration required)


Chandler, Prince go way back
(http://www.dailyherald.com/sports/bulls.asp?id=165485)
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.


[The Fayetteville (NC) Observer]


Patriots continue late-season surge
(http://www.fayettevillenc.com/article?id=228254) 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.


[WWMT-TV]


DeVos, Strykers make Forbes' list of world's richest
(http://www.wwmt.com/engine.pl?station=wwmt&id=24393&template=breakout_local.html)
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.


[CNN/SI.com]



Stretch-run showdown
(http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writers/marty_burns/03/08/mvp.candidates/index.html) 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).

Florida Flame coach Jeff Malone was so desperate for help late Thursday evening that he was considering fantasy options.
So that's what happened to Jeff. Sweet jump shot.

[BEYOND THE ARC]

Down on the farm (http://www.mlive.com/weblogs/beyondthearc/index.ssf?/mtlogs/mlive_beyondthearc/archives/2006_03.html#119945)

Alex Acker and Amir Johnson are making the most of their D-league detour. On assignment to the Fayetteville Patriots while...

[Detroit Bad Boys]

What's eating Gilbert Arenas? (http://feeds.feedburner.com/detroitbadboys?m=353)

I cannot believe that it took us until now to pick up on this story. According to today's Free Press, Bullets guard Gilbert Arenas has stated that he'd like to play the Pistons in the first round of the NBA playoffs in order to exact revenge on Flip Saunders.
"What g*damned reason could [...]

[DetroitPistons.com]
Carlos Delfino makes trip in support of cornerstone schools (http://www.nba.com/pistons/community/delfino_cornerstone_060227.html)
“For me this is great for me because we are in touch with the Hispanic community. From when I was a child, I needed somebody to look up to and to be like. This is also great for the kids. Giving inspiration to the kids is the best part of my job. When the kids spoke it in Spanish, it was exciting.” (Note: Carlos was also excited about taking home some authentic Mexican chow)

[MLive.com]
Disdain for defeat drives Pistons to the top (http://www.mlive.com/pistons/stories/index.ssf?/base/sports-1/114203040677740.xml&coll=1)
Said Ben Wallace: "When you lose, you go through a whole lot of different things. Food don't taste right. The sound in your car don't sound right. Your trip to the gym is longer. It's all a part of losing."

Pistons Bulletin: Expect Pistons to pass on Hoiberg; rookies on fire (http://www.mlive.com/pistons/weblog/index.ssf?/mtlogs/mlive_pistons/archives/2006_03.html#119958)
Folks around the NBA are finally starting to see why the Pistons were so giddy over drafting Amir Johnson and Alex Acker in the second round of last June's NBA draft. While both guys are putting up impressive numbers in the D-League, what has impressed many in the NBA with the two is how they have brought a winning mindset to one of the worst teams in the D-League, and how that mindset has translated into victories.

[Washington Post]
Wizards Are Looking for a Repeat of Earlier Victory Over the Pistons (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/03/10/AR2006031001872.html)
(Registration Required) When the teams met at the Palace of Auburn Hills on Nov. 25, the Wizards played one of their best all-around games and pulled out a 120-114 double-overtime victory. "They're the best team in the league right now and we're one of the teams that beat them," said Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas.

Pistons Feel That If It's Not Broken, Keep Winning (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/03/10/AR2006031002451.html)
(Registration Required) The Pistons are the only team that has had the same starting lineup for all 60 games this season, which has contributed to much of their success. Such continuity is hardly the norm in a league filled with constant roster turnover, but Dumars said he has had no trouble keeping this team together.

"It's actually pretty easy because, when you make a change, you make it out of necessity and there has not been any reason to make any moves in terms of our starting five," Dumars said.

[Detroit News]
NBA Notebook (http://detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060311/SPORTS0102/603110352/1127)
The New York Knicks and Chicago Bulls are subscribing to the theory that everyone is Irish on St. Patrick's Day. Or maybe they're just looking for some luck. The Knicks will wear green uniforms for the first time when they host the Detroit Pistons on Friday night, and the Bulls will be decked out in green the next day when they host the Miami Heat.

[Detroit Free Press]
Fifty victories not a significant milestone (http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060311/SPORTS03/603110339/1051/SPORTS)
Saunders said the Pistons will likely leave rookies Alex Acker and Amir Johnson in the NBDL until the team returns from next week's trip to Toronto, New York and Charlotte. ... Saunders also said there is no update on talks with guard Fred Hoiberg, who is considering a return to the NBA with the Pistons after off-season heart surgery.

[Foxsports.com]
Bryant, Billups will be key for Team USA (http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/5392132)
Bryant and Billups are clutch shooters, excellent passers, and incredibly skilled, as well as being strong defenders. On an international stage, Kobe will play much more unselfishly than ever before, while Billups' mature decision-making is unsurpassed. In fact, Bryant and Billups will not only be the squads' most important guards, but will be nothing less than the keys to Team USA's success.

[The Oakland Press]
Pistons' board work has slipped this year (http://www.theoaklandpress.com/stories/031106/spo_2006031108.shtml)
Though the Pistons are trying to run more this season than they did under Larry Brown's guidance, Saunders doesn't buy that as an excuse. "We don't want to leak out," he said. "That's one of the things we talk about to our guards sometimes. We've got to get more rebounds out of our ones, twos and threes."

[NBA.com]
Pistons seek 50th win against slumping Wizards (http://www.nba.com/games/20060311/DETWAS/preview.html)
The Detroit Pistons can become the first team in the NBA to reach 50 wins when they visit the sliding Washington Wizards on Saturday. Owners of the best record in the NBA this season, the Pistons, who have won 54 games each of the last two seasons, would match their franchise best of five straight 50-win seasons with a victory.

[Detroit News]
Pistons hope loss will motivate them (http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060312/SPORTS0102/603120311/1004/SPORTS)
The way Chauncey Billups sees it, getting pummeled by the Washington Wizards 110-92 on Saturday might be one of the best things that happened to the Pistons this season. "For whatever reason, I think we felt like we were going to coast to the finish line and not do what we've been doing all season to be looked at as the best team in the league," Billups said. "We have gotten away from what we do a little bit. Guys are looking too far ahead to the playoffs. You know, we are so far ahead in the East that maybe we've let up."

McDyess has nose for work (http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060312/SPORTS0102/603120404/1004/SPORTS)
From McDyess' standpoint, he wants to do more. He concedes that the broken nose has set him back. He was going to have surgery last week but decided against it. He had been playing at a high level before he took a hard shot in the face in New Jersey on Jan. 31 .... When asked if the nearly four minutes less per game made a significant difference, he said, "Yeah, it does. It makes a difference to me. From 19 to 23, that's totally different. But I'm just taking it in stride and waiting for the playoffs."

[Detroit Free Press]
Pistons fall to Wizards -- again (http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060311/SPORTS03/60311004/1048/SPORTS)
The Wizards won by shooting 55 percent, including 59 percent through the first three quarters. They led by six at halftime and then pulled away, scoring the first eight points of the second half to build a 14-point lead. Back-to-back 3-pointers from Antonio Daniels and Antawn Jamison then put Washington in full control.

[Washington Post]
Wizards Stun the Pistons Again (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/03/11/AR2006031101621.html)
(Registration Required) With a little less than six minutes remaining and the Wizards ahead by 23 points, a fan sitting behind the home team's bench rose and yelled, "We own you, Detroit!"

[Washington Times]
NBA's best goes down (http://www.washingtontimes.com/sports/20060312-020728-9885r.htm)
The beating was so complete that when an altercation broke out in section 116 with just more than six minutes left, the 20-point lead the Wizards held could do nothing to distract the gaze of most of the 20,173 fans, mostly because the game was over long before the scuffle.

[Fayetteville Observer]
Patriots' defense holds Flame at bay (http://www.fayettevilleobserver.com/article?id=228403)
The Flame was especially vulnerable inside against Fayetteville’s post players Rickert, Kevin Lyde, Ryan Randle and Amir Johnson. That foursome combined for 37 points and 35 rebounds in the game. Johnson, the 18-year-old NBA rookie who is on assignment from the Detroit Pistons, scored 18 points and had six rebounds in 29 minutes of work. [NOTE: Alex Acker didn't fare so well, with 9 points and 4 assists on 3-10 shooting]

[Detroit News]
Pressure defense returns (http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060313/SPORTS0102/603130359/1127)
It wasn't the most awe-inspiring of victories, but for the Pistons, their 94-78 romp over the Charlotte Bobcats Sunday represented the first step on the road to recovery .... Rasheed Wallace , who contributed 10 points, two blocks and two steals, might have made his best play in pregame warm-ups. He stood at the top of the key with a ball in each hand and shot each at the same time. Swish and swish.

[Detroit Free Press]
Pistons step up 'D', get 50th (http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060313/SPORTS03/603130455/1051)
If there were a 12-step program for struggling basketball teams, the Detroit Pistons would be at about Step 3 in the recovery process. They took Step 1 and admitted they have a problem after getting sautéed on Saturday in Washington. And Sunday, they took Step 2, and reaffirmed their core identity as a defensive-minded team.

Pistons Corner: Focus now on shaking March swoon (http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060313/SPORTS03/603130376/1051)
"Listen, I've said many times, there's teams that are bad teams in this league, but there aren't bad players," he said. "Any night you give them a comfort level, they're going to go out and beat you."

[Charlotte Observer]
Observations (http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/sports/14085523.htm)
Looking back, it's astounding the Bobcats beat the Pistons twice last season. Not a single Detroit starter is inferior to his Charlotte counterpart and the benches at best are even.

[NBA.com]
Patriots rally to top Toros (http://www.nba.com/dleague/games/20060312/AUSFAY/recap.html)
Acker and Daniels scored 23 apiece, while Acker's Pistons teammate Amir Johnson added 21. "I like that kid Acker," said Toros coach Dennis Johnson, the Boston Celtics great who played at Pepperdine in the early seventies. "I've followed his career for a while, watched him a lot on TV. He's silky smooth and he plays with a lot of confidence."

[Booth Newspapers]


Pistons' defense comes through when needed to whip Bobcats
(http://www.mlive.com/pistons/stories/index.ssf?/base/sports-1/1142248225248090.xml&coll=1)Monday, March 13, 2006
By A. Sherrod Blakely

AUBURN HILLS -- The exasperated look on the face of Detroit Pistons head coach Flip Saunders following a defensive breakdown by his team on Sunday night said it all.

He's struggling to make sense of the Pistons' recent inconsistent defensive play.


Inside the Pistons
(http://www.mlive.com/pistons/stories/index.ssf?/base/sports-1/1142248259248090.xml&coll=1)Monday, March 13, 2006

INSIDE THE PISTONS

A look at the Pistons heading into this week:

Who's hot: Newcomer Tony Delk seems to be getting more comfortable as his playing time increases. In his last two games, Delk has averaged 13.5 points per game in just 18.5 minutes per game. On Sunday, nine of Delk's 11 points off the bench came during a critical second-quarter stretch that helped the Pistons gain control of the game.


[Charlotte Observer]


Wallace hurt in Bobcats loss
(http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/sports/basketball/nba/charlotte_bobcats/14085517.htm)Forward expects to play again later this week
RICK BONNELL

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. - Was it a strain or was it a rip?

Actually it was both, doing in the Charlotte Bobcats on Sunday. First, Gerald Wallace strained a calf muscle four minutes into the game. Then, Detroit Pistons guard Rip Hamilton (24 points) had three baskets and an assist in a 9-0 run leading to a 94-78 win.

[Detroit Bad Boys]



Wizards put a spell on Pistons (http://feeds.feedburner.com/detroitbadboys?m=354)

As Ian pointed out on Friday, I was able to make the trek down to D.C. this weekend to join some friends for the Pistons-Wizards tilt at the Verizon Center. We had pretty good seats, the first row of the second level from the opposite diagonal of the Pistons bench — Section 413, Row A, [...]


Pistons spay Bobcats (again) for 50th win (http://feeds.feedburner.com/detroitbadboys?m=355)

I didn't actually watch Sunday's Pistons-Bobcat game — unlike the Pistons, I didn't have Roundball One waiting for me after Saturday's game, and I was still driving when they took the court on Sunday. But just looking at the box score, it was nice to see that Rip Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince picked up where [...]

[Detroit News]
Gerstner's Top 5: Position Fights (http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060314/SPORTS0102/603140396/1004/SPORTS)
The Pistons appear to have things in hand for the Central Division and Eastern Conference regular-season titles. But the race for best record in the NBA is still on the line. Here are five playoff slot races to watch.

The travelin' man: Adventurous Delk is already proving to be a good fit (http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060314/SPORTS0102/603140395/1004/SPORTS)
Delk is proving he's a quick study, scoring in double digits the past two games. He had 11 points in 15 minutes against the Bobcats. And, he had a season-high 16 points, in 22 minutes, against the Wizards.

Burning questions: Hoiberg not in plans this season (http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060314/SPORTS0102/603140394/1004/SPORTS)
Are the Pistons going to sign Fred Hoiberg? No, and quite frankly, I don't think they ever intended to -- not this season. They brought him in as a favor to Flip Saunders, and they might try to sign him this summer.

Alley oop to Pistons center Kelvin Cato (http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060314/SPORTS0102/603140387/1004/SPORTS)
"I collect baseball hats. Braves baseball hats. I've got over 200 of them, different colors, different styles, you name it."

Billups: Pistons fighting for home court throughout the playoffs (http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060314/SPORTS0102/603140372/1004/SPORTS)
"I know with the 2-3-2 format in the Finals, it sort of takes away the home-court edge," Billups said. "But with that being said, I still want home-court advantage all the way through."

[Detroit Free Press]
Pistons Corner: Poor defense leading to bad offense (http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060314/SPORTS03/603140377/1051/SPORTS)
The Pistons haven't shot more than 50% from the field since Jan. 19. And after scoring at least 100 points 23 times through January, the Pistons have topped the century mark only once since, in last week's win over Chicago. So where did that offense go? You'll have to look to the other end of the floor for the answer.

[Detroit Bad Boys]



Spring is in the air? (http://feeds.feedburner.com/detroitbadboys?m=356)

… which means that baseball season is around the corner! From the creator of the invaluable lowpost.net comes striketwo.net, which was officially launched this past weekend. Baseball junkies get their fix — it's monitoring no less than 600 baseball blogs, aggregating and sorting posts into relevant conversations. Congratulations, Jason!

Readers: show us your pics! (http://feeds.feedburner.com/detroitbadboys?m=357)

After taking a few pics at the Pistons-Wizards game this weekend, I had two thoughts: 1) I'm not (yet) a very good photographer; and 2) I'm sure someone out there is taking more (and better) pictures at Pistons games than I am.
Then it hit me: why not set up a Detroit Bad Boys group [...]

[Detroit Bad Boys]

Delk heats up Piston bench (http://feeds.feedburner.com/detroitbadboys?m=358)

Tony Delk has never met a shot he didn't like…or take, for that matter. Those were my sentiments to Matt after watching Delk fire at will from the perimeter during Saturday's embarrassing loss to the 'Zards. My first inclination walking away from that game was to complain about Delk's chucker habits. My [...]

[Detroit News]
Wallace calling for better defense (http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060315/SPORTS0102/603150375/1004/SPORTS)
"I don't really think Charlotte was a big test to our defense," he said. "Our defense has got to be better. We're making strides."

[Detroit Free Press]
Pistons Corner: NCAAs a time to talk trash (http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060315/SPORTS03/603150384/1051/SPORTS)
"That's when guys get to trash-talk," Pistons forward Rasheed Wallace said. "And it's pretty much stroll down Memory Lane. You know, when cats say, 'Oh, back when I was playing, when we went to the tournament and this and that.' It's just a stroll down Memory Lane more than anything."

Getting personal with ... Tony Delk (http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060315/SPORTS03/603150386/1051/SPORTS)
What hobbies do you have off the court? "Ping-pong, man. Ping-pong, every day. But I just have a pool table at home."

The Great Pistons Quiz (http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060315/SPORTS03/603150397/1051/SPORTS)
Think you know everything about Detroit's hoopsters? Well, give these 25 questions a go. There's no prize -- just pride. Keep track of your responses. The answers are linked below. And no cheating.

Don't worry about who's in, who's out of rotation (http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060315/SPORTS03/603150394/1051/SPORTS)
Saunders has spent the past two weeks trying to figure out where they belong, how their skills mesh and who should play with whom. One day, the odd man out in the rotation is Carlos Delfino. The next, it's Hunter. Then, Maurice Evans. "We have a lot of guys that are situational players," Saunders said. "Depending on what we need, they can go in and play that position."

Hot topics (http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060315/SPORTS03/603150401/1051/SPORTS)
Let's welcome the return of Tayshaun Prince's game. He scored 23 points and made 10 of 17 shots from the field in Sunday's victory over Charlotte. It was the first time he scored more than 14 since Feb. 8, when he had 22 against the Clippers. In the 13 games before Sunday, Prince shot 32.5% from the field.

[MLive.com/Booth Newspapers]
Mid-range jumpers help keep Hamilton off the line (http://www.mlive.com/pistons/stories/index.ssf?/base/sports-1/1142421047267070.xml&coll=1)
Hamilton is currently 18th in the league in scoring with a 21.2 points-per-game average. However, he's averaging less than four free-throw attempts per game, the fewest he has averaged in a season since he was traded to Detroit in 2002. Only Phoenix's Shawn Marion, who averages 21.7 points per game, is getting to the free-throw line less than Hamilton among the NBA's top 20 scorers.

Trust is a major reason for Pistons' success (http://www.mlive.com/pistons/weblog/)
For all the intangibles that coaches and players talk about being important, rarely do they mention trust. When you look at the characteristics that distinguish the Pistons from most teams, their trust in one another sticks out like a Ben Wallace 3-pointer. Flip Saunders understands this, but it seems he's having some trouble applying that theory to his bench.

Best record doesn't mean as much as performance (http://www.mlive.com/pistons/stories/index.ssf?/base/sports-1/1142334605117720.xml&coll=1)
Said forward Antonio McDyess: "You always want to be playing your best basketball, but you really want to be playing your best come playoff time. Everyone in this locker room knows that we can play better than we are now. We have played better than this earlier this season. We just have to get back to playing the way we know how, and hopefully, that'll happen right when the playoffs begin."

[NBA.com]
Late surge lifts Patriots to fourth straight win (http://www.nba.com/dleague/games/20060314/AUSFAY/recap.html)
With the score knotted at 68-68 heading into the final stanza, Fayetteville scored three unanswered baskets, including a jumper by Alex Acker and a pair of driving layups by point guard Mateen Cleaves .... Amir Johnson added 17, Cleaves had 16 and Acker netted 14.

[Fayetteville Observer]
Patriots battle their way to win (http://www.fayettevilleobserver.com/article?id=228609)
The Patriots made big plays on defense and used the hustle of reserve center Ryan Randle in the final minutes to hold off the Austin Toros for a 99-94 NBA Development League win at the Crown Coliseum. Austin missed its final six field-goal attempts, two of them blocks by Fayetteville’s Amir Johnson on former N.C. State star Julius Hodge, to drop its second game to the Patriots in three days.

[Detroit Bad Boys]


A reason to like Stephen A. Smith (http://feeds.feedburner.com/detroitbadboys?m=360)

I'm like most people; I can handle Stephen A. Smith in microscopic doses. But he (or, let's be honest, his production team) has won me over this week. Not only is Rasheed Scheduled to appear on Smith's "Quite Frankly" tomorrow (March 16), but Natalie at Need4Sheed has been invited to attend the taping [...]

Vegas, baby (again) (http://feeds.feedburner.com/detroitbadboys?m=361)

Two things I've recently posted that came back to bite me in the arse:
Remember, only one team has beaten the Pistons more than once this season?the Memo-led mighty Jazz of Utah. That the Wizards/Zards/Bullets pulled out a double-OT win over the Pistons the last time the two teams met, should spell their doom on Saturday.
[Result: [...]

Test your Pistons knowledge (http://feeds.feedburner.com/detroitbadboys?m=362)

Be sure to check out The Great Pistons Quiz in today's Free Press. Don't let the first couple of questions ("match the nickname to the player" type stuff) fool you — it gets pretty tough. Both Ian and I scored 37 out of 47 — can anyone beat that? Post your score in the comments. [...]

Daily Dime on Darko and Arroyo (http://feeds.feedburner.com/detroitbadboys?m=363)

There's an interesting article on the impact Darko Milicic and Carlos Arroyo have made in Orlando over at ESPN's Daily Dime. (link via Motoring)

[Need4Sheed.com]
Mad Love for Rasheed - See you in NYC! (http://need4sheed.blogspot.com/)
"Current NBA star and stand-out power forward Rasheed Wallace, is scheduled to appear LIVE in the studio of ESPN's - Quite Frankly with Stephen A. Smith on Thursday, March 16 at 3:00 pm."

[Toronto Globe & Mail]
Pistons 105, Raps 98 (http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20060316.RAPTORS16/TPStory/TPSports/)
The Detroit Pistons were the cat and the Toronto Raptors were the ball of string in what was a 105-98 Toronto loss to the National Basketball Association's best team in front of a sell-out crowd of 19,800. In a game that teetered on the edge of a blowout but kept being reeled in thanks to some tenacity on the part of the Raptors and some nonchalance on the part of the Pistons, Detroit finally shut the door late in the fourth quarter as they forced two turnovers on one end, while scoring two layups on the other.

[DetroitPistons.com]
Postgame Quotes (http://www.nba.com/pistons/news/DETTOR_060315.html)
Mike James: "That is what a championship team is all about. When the hole was wide-open and all of a sudden two or three players are coming to help, you are not just beating one line of defense, you are beating two or three lines of defense. That’s the difference and one thing that we have to learn. How to play at the defensive end is one thing we have to take from this team (Detroit). When we were on offense, we were getting good looks and driving to the basket. It looked like the Red Sea parting, and then at the last minute, it looked like when the Egyptians were in the Red Sea.”

[Roanoke.com]
Dazzle takes close one over Fayetteville (http://www.roanoke.com/sports/probasketball/wb/56954)
Taking advantage of a questionable blocking call on Fayetteville's Mateen Cleaves, Bynum sank two free throws with 5.4 seconds left to give the Dazzle a stirring 115-114 victory over the Patriots at the Roanoke Civic Center. [Alex Acker: 29 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists; Amir Johnson, 25 points, 6 rebounds, 3 blocks, 10-14 FGs]

[Hoopsanalyst.com]
Predicting the MVP (http://www.hoopsanalyst.com/0506ew6.htm)
Billups is clearly the best player on what is currently the best team in the league. He’s demonstrably the best player at his position in the league. In a year when the MVP field appears so wide open, a player who meets those two standards has usually taken the award. Things could change in the final month, but right now Chauncey Billups has the best case of any player for MVP.

[Detroit News]
McDyess comes up big (http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060316/SPORTS0102/603160361/1127)
Antonio McDyess kept sneaking peeks over toward the scorer's table. It had been so long since he'd been on the floor in the final minutes of a game, he almost didn't know how to act. "Never been done," he said of his nearly 12 minutes of work in the fourth quarter. "It was definitely unexpected. I was tired, to tell the truth. I kept looking at the sideline waiting on Sheed to come back in. He never did."

[Detroit Free Press]
Pistons' rotation twirls Raptors (http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060316/SPORTS03/603160596/1051/SPORTS)
"We wanted to try establishing our bench more," Saunders said. "So basically we're playing three guys a little bit more minutes. I think what happens you get a chance to get in a comfort zone."

NCAA talk brackets the locker room (http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060316/SPORTS03/603160557/1051/SPORTS)
"I just pick them game-by-game, not that bracket thing," forward Rasheed Wallace said. "It's more profitable that way."

[MLive.com/Booth Newspapers]
Reserves see a lot of time as Pistons beat the sagging Raptors (http://www.mlive.com/pistons/stories/index.ssf?/base/sports-1/1134484802193080.xml&coll=1)
"Your eyes definitely light up a little bit when you see games like this on the schedule," Evans said. "But that team, they're not as bad as their record."

[Detroit Bad Boys]

Pistons win in Canada, eh? (http://feeds.feedburner.com/detroitbadboys?m=364)

Given Detroit's struggles to find a reliable backup point guard this year, it's almost painful to see the type of player that Mike James has become with the Raptors. He kept pace with MVP candidate Chauncey Billups all night on Wednesday, finishing with 24 points and 11 assists with one steal; Billups, meanwhile, finished with [...]

[BEYOND THE ARC]


Central crown in sight (http://www.mlive.com/weblogs/beyondthearc/index.ssf?/mtlogs/mlive_beyondthearc/archives/2006_03.html#121888)

At 36-29 and 32-30 respectively, Cleveland and Indiana still technically have a mathematical chance to catch the Pistons in the...

[BEYOND THE ARC]


Central crown in sight (http://www.mlive.com/weblogs/beyondthearc/index.ssf?/mtlogs/mlive_beyondthearc/archives/2006_03.html#121888)

At 36-29 and 32-30 respectively, Cleveland and Indiana still technically have a mathematical chance to catch the Pistons in the...

Delfino or Evans? (http://www.mlive.com/weblogs/beyondthearc/index.ssf?/mtlogs/mlive_beyondthearc/archives/2006_03.html#121880)

Interesting take on our forum today from someone calling themselves "vthomp (http://www.pistonsforum.com/members/60.html)". Have no idea what his status is as relates...

[Detroit Bad Boys]


Acker and Johnson having D-league success (http://feeds.feedburner.com/detroitbadboys?m=365)

In case you've been wondering about the rookie duo of Amir Johnson and Alex Acker down at Fayetteville, you'll be happy to know that they've been tearing things up.
Both players are now starting for the Patriots. In 25.9 minutes, Johnson is averaging 17.9 points per game (on .632 shooting!) with 7.2 boards, 2.0 blocks [...]

Toronto Star
(registration required)


Raptors haunted by lapse (http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1142463013476&call_pageid=968867503640&col=970081593064)

That Toronto went on to eventually lose 105-98 is really not unexpected and secondary — the Raptors are not yet in the same class as the supremely talented Pistons — but the glaring errors of that brief span speak volumes to what's consistently wrong with the Toronto team.


Billups finally makes good (http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1142463013473&call_pageid=968867503640&col=970081593064&t=TS_Home)

A second-team All-American, Billups was taken third overall by Boston in the 1997 draft after playing only two years at the University of Colorado. He was shipped to Toronto a few months later, then got traded to Denver.


Toronto Sun


Raps strung along (http://torontosun.com/Sports/Basketball/2006/03/16/1490929-sun.html)

The Raptors last night ensured they will finish with a losing record, bowing 105-98 to the league-leading Pistons before a sellout crowd of 19,800 -- the second announced full house of the season -- at the Air Canada Centre.

Globe and Mail


Wily Pistons toy with Raptors (http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20060316.RAPTORS16/TPStory/TPSports/)

The Detroit Pistons were the cat and the Toronto Raptors were the ball of string in what was a 105-98 Toronto loss to the National Basketball Association's best team in front of a sell-out crowd of 19,800."

[Detroit News]
Knicks' drama unfolds (http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060317/SPORTS0102/603170354/1004/SPORTS)
.... Lindsey Hunter sat out most of practice Thursday as he continues to wage a fight against all sorts of irritants. He still hasn't regained the weight and stamina he lost after bouts with the flu and food poisoning. On top of that, he was dealing with a toothache Wednesday night and Thursday.

[Detroit Free Press]
Dumars gives underdog advice (http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060317/SPORTS08/603170411/1051/SPORTS)
Every year, it seems, a small school arrives at the NCAA tournament and charms fans around the country. This year, that team could be Northwestern State .... Thursday morning, the Demons hung out at the Pistons' practice facility. Joe Dumars, a Louisiana native, spoke with the 14th-seeded team. "He told us not to be intimidated," said guard Jermaine Wallace of Heflin, La.

Pistons Corner: NY Knicks soap opera a sad sight (http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060317/SPORTS03/603170413/1051/SPORTS)
"There was times where myself, Chauncey, Ben, at one point or time, we went at it in practice with Larry," Prince said. "But at the end of the day, you have to understand what he's trying to tell you. You're going to be upset -- one of those days you're going to be upset with him no matter what."

[MLive.com/Booth Newspapers]
Ex-Piston James refining game to become a top free agent (http://www.mlive.com/pistons/stories/index.ssf?/base/sports-1/1134472202126480.xml&coll=1)
"Nobody can ever take that away from me, winning a championship in Detroit," James said. "Now, it's just trying to get my own legacy, trying to get my own team and, if the Lord's willing, I'll lead a team to an NBA championship."

A. Sherrod Blakely Blog (http://www.mlive.com/pistons/weblog/)
Flip Saunders wants to take a good look at an 8-man rotation that includes the starting five plus Antonio McDyess, Tony Delk and Maurice Evans. The only surprise in that group is Evans, who hasn't really distinguished himself from Carlos Delfino who, to me at least, has been a bit more consistent at both ends of the floor lately. I like Evans' ability to be physical and make hustle plays, but Delfino has been able to achieve a lot of that as well, plus he's a better shooter and ball-handler than Evans. Saunders' eight man rotation isn't etched in stone, so I suspect Delfino will get another chance at some point to play his way into the regular rotation. If he does, don't be surprised if Saunders goes nine-deep with Delfino becoming that ninth player.

Brown-Marbury clash worse than what Pistons had with ex-coach (http://www.mlive.com/pistons/stories/index.ssf?/base/sports-1/1142593852258420.xml&coll=1&thispage=2)
Billups has spoken with Marbury, and advised him about what might help his transition in dealing with Brown. However, Billups said he has nothing to offer considering how damaged the Brown-Marbury relationship is now. "I got no advice for this," said Billups, who said he spoke with Marbury a couple weeks ago. "I've never been through something like this. I hope I never do."

[New York Post]
Marbury Flips for Saunders (http://www.nypost.com/sports/knicks/63257.htm)
(Registration Required) Saunders, whose Pistons practiced at the New York Athletic Club, said he wasn't shocked Brown and Marbury have feuded. "Maybe more than any other guy I've ever coached, he's one of the most competitive guys," Saunders said of Marbury. "And he can be incredibly stubborn."

The Pistons awoke in New York to back-page headlines of the Marbury-Brown war.

"It stinks, man, it's really tough," Tayshaun Prince said. "It should have never got to that point between those two and the media. Obviously they should have dealt with that behind closed doors. That's bad on both of those guys' part."

Chauncey Billups, who advised Marbury on dealing with Brown, said, "That's crazy, man, crazy. I never thought that it would get like that."

Despite his ugly departure, Brown has pulled for Detroit. "I'm proud of that team," he said. "It's great for our league. I love this sport. I love our league. I love coaching. The more Detroits we have, the better my profession is going to be."

[Detroit Bad Boys]


Lindsey Hunter is banged up (http://feeds.feedburner.com/detroitbadboys?m=366)

We haven't see much of Lindsey Hunter lately, but that's not (just) because he's being replaced by Tony Delk in the rotation. From the Detroit News:
Lindsey Hunter sat out most of practice Thursday as he continues to wage a fight against all sorts of irritants. He still hasn't regained the weight and stamina he [...]

Larry Brown versus Stephon Marbury (http://feeds.feedburner.com/detroitbadboys?m=367)

Larry Brown can be real hard on his point guards, a fact that Chauncey Billups learned early after Brown's arrival in 2003. But, man, things between Brown and Smooth — and even between Brown and Allen Iverson before he came to Detroit — never got as bad as they have between Brown and Stephon Marbury [...]

[Detroit News]
Knicks have Pistons seeing red, not green (http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060318/SPORTS0102/603180420/1004/SPORTS)
Jamal Crawford scored 15 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter, including the tiebreaking jumper with 2.2 seconds left, and the Knicks rallied to beat the Detroit Pistons 105-103.

[Detroit Free Press]
Knicks, officials do job on Pistons (http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060318/SPORTS03/603180345/1051/SPORTS)
Wallace's technicals were judgment calls. Early in the third quarter, he was called for two questionable fouls -- his third and fourth of the game. After the fouls, Wallace went to the bench mad, and as he sat down, he jawed at Knicks guard Steve Francis, saying, "You need all the help you can get."

Over his shoulder, Francis said, "No, we don't. You need help."

Wallace responded, and Francis then turned and yelled, "Shut up," as the play began. An official across the court blew his the whistle, calling Wallace for a technical. He yelled in protest, and the second whistle -- carrying an ejection with it -- followed quickly.

Hamilton is ripped from foul line (http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060318/SPORTS03/603180317/1051/SPORTS)
In Hamilton's mind, he gets fouled nearly every time he goes up for a shot. Perhaps that's part of the problem -- he still shoots nearly 50% from the field despite any added resistance. "I think they're so used to me getting grabbed and held that they don't call it," Hamilton said. "I tell them, 'Yo, I don't want to play like this.' Everybody wants to wrestle with me. I don't want to wrestle with anybody."

[MLive.com/Booth Newspapers]
Pistons' ejections aid Knicks' win (http://www.mlive.com/pistons/stories/index.ssf?/base/sports-1/1142680228147230.xml&coll=1)
"I can't really say too much, honestly," said Billups, who led all scorers with 24 points. "I wish we had something where they (officials) would have to explain what happened, and why they did this and why they did that. That (expletive) ain't fair, man." The ejection of Wallace, just 57 seconds into the third quarter, was the game's turning point.

Delfino trying to deal with inconsistent playing time (http://www.mlive.com/pistons/stories/index.ssf?/base/sports-1/1142680205147230.xml&coll=1)
"He works hard," Saunders said. "I can't say how many times I've known that he goes in the gym 8 o'clock at night to shoot. He's continuing to work on his game."

[New York Times]
With an Improbable Finish, Crawford Buries the Pistons (http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/18/sports/basketball/18knicks.html)
(Registration Required) It was Brown's first victory in three tries against Detroit (51-13), the team that dumped him last summer. And yet even in (rare) victory there was discontent. Stephon Marbury, who openly feuded with Brown all week, was left on the bench for all but 3 minutes 24 seconds of the fourth quarter. Marbury was visibly upset about the move, which came two nights after he was benched for the final 22 minutes of the Knicks' double-overtime victory over Atlanta.

[New York Post]
GREEN GIANTS (http://www.nypost.com/sports/knicks/65493.htm)
(Registration Required) Because these are the Knicks, even a terrific, stunning upset of the league juggernaut Pistons last night is not all candy and roses. Stephon Marbury was benched in the fourth quarter for a nine-minute stretch. Marbury also was yanked by coach Larry Brown with 41.7 seconds left for two critical possessions with the Knicks down two points - and Marbury could be seen grumbling while his teammates were up cheering.

[NBA.com]
Late Run Gives Patriots Sixth-Straight Home Win (http://www.nba.com/dleague/games/20060317/TULFAY/recap.html)
Detroit Pistons rookies Amir Johnson and Alex Acker continued their run of strong D-League performances, and center Rick Rickert continued to provide a solid inside presence, as the threesome each scored over 20 points and accounted for all of a late 10-0 spurt that pushed the Patriots from a two-point deficit to a 120-110 win over the Tulsa 66ers .... Acker finished with 25 points, Johnson added 24.

[Detroit Bad Boys]


Lindsey Hunter is banged up (http://feeds.feedburner.com/detroitbadboys?m=366)

We haven't see much of Lindsey Hunter lately, but that's not (just) because he's being replaced by Tony Delk in the rotation. From the Detroit News:
Lindsey Hunter sat out most of practice Thursday as he continues to wage a fight against all sorts of irritants. He still hasn't regained the weight and stamina he [...]

Larry Brown versus Stephon Marbury (http://feeds.feedburner.com/detroitbadboys?m=367)

Larry Brown can be real hard on his point guards, a fact that Chauncey Billups learned early after Brown's arrival in 2003. But, man, things between Brown and Smooth — and even between Brown and Allen Iverson before he came to Detroit — never got as bad as they have between Brown and Stephon Marbury [...]

Refs steal scene, Pistons make cameo appearance in Knicks soap opera (http://feeds.feedburner.com/detroitbadboys?m=368)

Yeah, about last night… I'm not really sure what to say except this was definitely one of the biggest WTF games of the year. I admit, early in the year the refs really seemed to be on Detroit's side, but ever since the All-Star break1 the tables have turned, and hard.
It has to be [...]

[Detroit News]
Pistons hang on for win (http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060319/SPORTS0102/603190348/1127)
The Pistons did everything they talked about not doing after they lost to a 19-win New York team Friday night. They played with no energy, no urgency, no efficiency and they let another inferior team hang around far too long. This time, though, the 18-win Charlotte Bobcats simply weren't good enough to take advantage of it.

[Charlotte Observer]
Hamilton helps Pistons beat Bobcats (http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/sports/basketball/nba/charlotte_bobcats/14133405.htm)
The Bobcats held the Pistons to two scores in 13 possessions during a span of the fourth quarter. Seemingly that should have been enough to make up a 12-point deficit, but the Bobcats scored just three points in the last 3 1/2 minutes to waste perhaps their best performance this season against an elite team.

“The problem is, the group that was getting stops wasn’t very good offensively,’’ Bobcats coach Bernie Bickerstaff said. “(Detroit) recognized it and started packing it in."

[Fayetteville Observer]
Short-handed Patriots overcome injuries (http://www.fayettevilleobserver.com/article?id=228861)
Realizing he’d never had so much space to maneuver during a shootaround drill, Fayetteville Patriots guard Alex Acker started counting teammates prior to Friday night’s NBA Development League game against Tulsa. When he didn’t fill up two hands, he knew it was going to be an interesting evening.

[South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
The Pistons and Heat are locked into playoff seeding and fighting the inevitable complacency of a long regular season (http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/columnists/sfl-ira19mar19,0,2937870.column)
For months, the Pistons and Heat had little in common other than the huge gap separating them as the top two seeds in the conference. But now, with the two essentially locked into postseason position -- Detroit at No. 1 in the East, the Heat at No. 2 -- the similarities are stark.

[HoopsAnalyst.com]
Playoff stretch run thoughts (http://www.hoopsanalyst.com/0506pt1.htm)
The Pistons, Heat, and Nets have are all divisional winner locks .... The Bucks and Sixers have been limping along lately but only the Bulls are threatening to get into the playoffs in their stead. The Bulls are 2.5 games out of the eight seed and the Sixers. In addition, the Bulls (-0.2 ppg) actually have a much better point differential than Milwaukee (-1.3 ppg) or Philly (-1.5 ppg). The Bulls would need to get hot and for one of the two teams ahead to play very poorly. The Sixers are a more likely candidate to be caught with Allen Iverson's injuries and the fact that they have a home-and-home with the Bulls in April. I think the Sixers will hang on (and then, again, be thumped by Detroit).

[MLive.com/Booth Newspapers]
Pistons squandered chance to put Knicks away (http://www.mlive.com/pistons/stories/index.ssf?/base/sports-1/114276661839040.xml&coll=1)
Last month, the Pistons blew a 13-point lead going into the fourth quarter at Miami, and lost when Dwyane Wade made an 18-foot game-winning jump shot with 2.3 seconds to play. On Friday night, the Pistons led the Knicks by as many as 16 points before allowing New York to come back and eventually win on a jumper by Jamal Crawford with 2.2 seconds to play.

"When we got a team down, we gotta keep them down," said Pistons guard Richard Hamilton. "We can't play with them, we can't fool with them or anything like that."

Pistons squeak past Bobcats (http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060319/SPORTS03/60319002/1051/SPORTS)
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The Detroit Pistons needed a lucky basket and an iffy call to avoid their first back-to-back losses of the season. Clinging to a two-point lead, Tayshaun Prince drove the ball toward the basket and tossed up a running jumper just as he was fouled. The ball went in with 4.9 seconds to play, Prince made the ensuing free throw and the Pistons wrapped up a 108-103 win over the Charlotte Bobcats on Saturday night.

[Detroit Bad Boys]


Carlos Delfino is squeezed out for Mo Evans (http://feeds.feedburner.com/detroitbadboys?m=369)

What was left unsaid in my post about Friday's loss to the Knicks was that Carlos Delfino didn't play a single minute while Maurice Evans logged 17. I've repeated my preference for Delfino over Maurice Evans so much that even I'm starting to get a little board, so I'm going to make a strong effort [...]

Rewarding players vs. staying competitive (http://feeds.feedburner.com/detroitbadboys?m=370)

The Pistons assembled their core with undervalued players that simply didn't fit in elsewhere. But can the Pistons continue to compete for championships after every key player has been compensated with rich, long-term contracts? That's the question being examined in The Price of Loyalty over at PistonsForum.com.

[Detroit Bad Boys]


Pistons make things harder than they have to be against Bobcats (http://feeds.feedburner.com/detroitbadboys?m=371)

Alternate title: Um, is it time to start worrying yet?
Statistically, a win is a win is a win — the final record does not reflect games a team should have won, nor does it make a special distinction regarding games it barely won. So perhaps we should just put Saturday's squeaker against the [...]

Joe Dumars takes questions (http://feeds.feedburner.com/detroitbadboys?m=372)

The Chicago Sun-Times has a nice Q & A with Pistons czar Joe Dumars:
How do you plead to charges of being the main reason your team keeps winning despite continuous turnover in coaching and on the roster?
I have great respect for the jobs that the coaches in this league do, but I have never [...]

[Detroit Bad Boys]


Introducing Reader Pictures of the Week (http://feeds.feedburner.com/detroitbadboys?m=373)

Last week we announced the creation of a new Detroit Bad Boys group on Flickr, the popular (and free!) photo-sharing site. We're inviting Pistons fans far and wide to join, contributing as many Pistons-related pictures as possible. I'm happy to say that we now have eight members who are sharing a total of 66 pictures.
In [...]


[BEYOND THE ARC]


Dumars speaks (http://www.mlive.com/weblogs/beyondthearc/index.ssf?/mtlogs/mlive_beyondthearc/archives/2006_03.html#122741)

Lacy J. Banks of The Chicago Sun-Times has a brief one-on-one with Pistons president Joe Dumars in Sunday's edition. Not...

[Detroit News]
Team hasn't been on the March (http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060320/SPORTS0102/603200376/1127)
"We are not in a situation right now, where we have to really turn it on and go," he said. "It's a fine line between trying to get everything well-oiled and pushing too hard. Right now, from our perspective, we're looking to play 45-to-50 more games. You look at it that way and you'll be careful how you approach things."

[Detroit Free Press]
Pistons Corner: Elite foes should give team a spark (http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060320/SPORTS03/603200376/1051)
"No disrespect to anybody," point guard Chauncey Billups said, "but it's fun to play other elite teams. It makes a difference." The Miami Heat plays at the Palace on Wednesday, beginning a stretch that runs through early April during which Detroit plays only playoff-bound (or playoff bubble) teams, including Indiana, New Jersey, Dallas and Phoenix.

[Atlanta Journal-Constitution]
Rookies don't make trip (http://www.ajc.com/hawks/content/sports/hawks/stories/0320hawksnotes.html)
Hawks rookies Marvin Williams and Salim Stoudamire both will miss tonight's game in Detroit. Williams left the team after Sunday's game to go to North Carolina, where his father and other family members are with his ailing grandfather .... Stoudamire stayed back to have further tests on his right elbow.

[MLive.com - Beyond the Arc]
Acker points the way (http://www.mlive.com/weblogs/beyondthearc/index.ssf?/mtlogs/mlive_beyondthearc/archives/2006_03.html#122742)
For the game, Acker tallied 18 points, 7 boards and 6 assists. Amir Johnson, the Pistons' other rookie assigned to the Pats, had 22 points and a game-high 10 rebounds. Johnson also got the start.

The Patriots are 8-2 since Johnson and Acker joined the team.

[NBA.com]
Patriots outlast 66ers (http://www.nba.com/dleague/games/20060319/TULFAY/recap.html)
After Tulsa's Ersan Ilyasova nailed two free throws to tie the game with 1:04 left, point guard Alex Acker seized control of the game. He found center Rick Rickert for a short hook shot, got Erik Daniels to the line where he made one of two, and then drew a foul and hit two free throws with 14 seconds left to close out the game. The 66ers' John Lucas III led all scorers with 26, but Acker denied him a decent look at the basket in the last three minutes.

"We have a group of guys here now that know how to win, how to close out a game," Daniels said of the Patriots' recent run of success. "I love playing with these guys. Everybody really plays as a team. We don't have to force things now."

[HoopsWorld]


Motown Soundtrack: Cramp your style
(http://www.hoopsworld.com/article_16594.shtml)by Adriano Albuquerque

There are few teams that really have an identity that’s been firmly associated with them throughout the years in the NBA. When you see teams like the Sacramento Kings, for instance, that don’t really have that lasting identity – to the point that after years of offensive and creative basketball got a transformation into something different as Ron Artest got there – or the L.A. Clippers, whose lack of identity has been the key to years and years of futility, you value seeing the few franchises which have maintained a certain style for years.


[Need4Sheed]


Rasheed Wallace Is Quite Frankly Awesome
(http://need4sheed.blogspot.com/2006/03/rasheed-wallace-is-quite-frankly_19.html)
So let me tell you about my adventure. It all started with an email I receiced Tuesday afternoon the 14th, from ESPN2's Quite Frankly with Stephen A. Smith inviting me and my guests to watch the taping of Thursday's show featuring my website's namesake and centerpiece, Mr. Rasheed Wallace. I quickly called everyone I knew and read them the e-mail. My first call was to my best friend and fellow Sheedologist. The first thing that came out of his mouth when I finished reading him the letter was, "SHEEEEED" followed by "I'm looking for flights right now." When I actually read the letter it was about 6pm Tuesday evening, we had to all be in NYC at the studio by Thursday at 1pm. Not everyone who wanted to go could drop everything and fly to New York at a moment's notice, but I knew I could count on Team Sheed. Jeff met me in New York from Miami and my nephew Michael, who runs the forums, flew in with me.


[The Oakland Press]



Pistons get caught looking ahead
(http://www.theoaklandpress.com/stories/032006/spo_2006032009.shtml)by DANA GAURUDER

Construction season looms just around the corner. Like many weary travelers, the Pistons want to find every shortcut possible.

In their case, trying to be sneaky only makes their trip longer and more agonizing than necessary.

[Blue Collar Blueprint]


Where are we and when does the bus leave?
(http://bluecollarblueprint.typepad.com/blue_collar_blueprint/2006/03/where_are_we_an.html)by Eli Zaret

I was lying in bed late Wednesday night making some notes for this blog when I looked up from my pad and did a double take. I had my Toronto hotel room in mind’s eye and it took me a second to remember that I wasn’t there anymore. This was New York and that other room was yesterday.

Life on the road is a world unto itself.

[Detroit Free Press]
Pistons wrap up Central (http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060321/SPORTS03/603210426/1051/SPORTS)
Detroit won, 91-84, and the victory clinched the Central Division title, Detroit's fourth such title in five years. The celebration was minimal, at best. "The thing about it, nobody even knew about it before today's game," Tayshaun Prince, who scored 18 points, said of winning the division. "That just shows you where our mind is at."

Pistons Corner: Winning Central no big deal (http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060321/SPORTS03/603210371/1051/SPORTS)
They've played well enough to own an NBA-best 53-13 record despite a bumpy past few weeks. And that's largely due to the group of five players who tied an NBA record on Monday by starting their 66th straight game together. The other group to do so was the 2002-03 Golden State Warriors. "I think that says a lot about the guys here, being dedicated to winn