Detroit Pistons vs. New Jersey Nets
Sunday, March 26th @ 7:30PM

TV: FSN / NBALP / ESPN
Radio: WDFN


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Your Comments?
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The game we lost to the Nets, J Kidd was hot and was firing on all cylinders. J Kidd is like Zeke, both not very good in career FG%, but when they gets hot, they can shoot from anywhere.

So, basically CB just got J Kidd in check. If J Kidd gets or feel kinda hot, Flip should immediately put Hunter on him. Rip and Tay should be able to defend Carter and Jefferson as they did the 3 games they played each other. Our bigs have their ways against this team. Maybe we can finally see Cato in his first game for the Stones.

Hopefully, we can see the bench more again.

DETROIT BASKETBALL!!!

we'll be alright since i'm goin to the game :)

we'll be alright since i'm goin to the game :)oooooooooooooooo laaawwwwwwwd!:doh: have fun bruddah! 106-93!

AGH! I thought this game was on at 3:30 and was going nuts because no station had it on! Pistonsbball got it wrong! Man, I've been using that schedule all season without fail.

The Nets will be highly motivated... we have to sustain an early push.
They haven't seen Hunter yet... he can be a major factor against Kidd.

Dare I say the Pistons are a better defensive team than last year... what would the points per game against be if L.H. had played all year instead of Arroyo?

Well, I'll get ESPN out here so I'll get the full scoop on how much better the Nets are than us because they have "stars"

Chat is open. Information *here* (http://www.pistonsforum.com/news/853-pistonsforum-com-game-chat-debut.html)

Once again they come in thinking they can turn it on any time. How many times must they get behind the 8-ball for Flip and the players to establish a methodical game plan offensively and defensively?

What's up with Chauncey losing possesion late in games? Either he slips or he makes a TO. Don't understand his poor shot selection in general.

Damn Nets got us again. 14 rebounds from Kidd?!?!?!?!?!

Billups looked horrible tonight. 2-10 and 1 for 3 from downtown. He's been Mr. Bad Shot lately.

Sheed's shot was off as well. 1 for 10 and 0 for 5.

Great game from Dice. 18 boards off the bench! Dice was all over the court, looking like the Dice of old.

Nice minutes from Delk as well. He'll be a great weapon off the bench in the playoffs.

Nets snapped our 10 game win streak earlier this season and now stopped our home winning streak @16, plus held us to our lowest point total of the season.

I hate the Nets.

Damn Nets got us again. 14 rebounds from Kidd?!?!?!?!?!

Billups looked horrible tonight. 2-10 and 1 for 3 from downtown. He's been Mr. Bad Shot lately.

Sheed's shot was off as well. 1 for 10 and 0 for 5.

Great game from Dice. 18 boards off the bench! Dice was all over the court, looking like the Dice of old.

Nice minutes from Delk as well. He'll be a great weapon off the bench in the playoffs.

Nets snapped our 10 game win streak earlier this season and now stopped our home winning streak @16, plus held us to our lowest point total of the season.

I hate the Nets.

Dang, if they are a streak stopper, do we want to see them in the EC finals or the Heat? I don't understand how they can beat us twice and in both games Sheed is a no show. I missed most of the game and now will have to decide if I want to watch it later on my Tivo.

Somebody needs to show the Tivo to Flip that his bench looked well in the second qtr of the last two games and he needs to let them play in the 4th too....especially when your stars are playing lackadasical.

Looks like the defense got us back in the game, but why didn't we pound it inside those last two possessions, instead of going for the kill with a three ball? We could have got this one into OT and had the momentum carry us on to victory. Bad decisions by the CB and the coaching if they called the last play.:doh:

Dang, if they are a streak stopper, do we want to see them in the EC finals or the Heat? I don't understand how they can beat us twice and in both games Sheed is a no show. I missed most of the game and now will have to decide if I want to watch it later on my Tivo.

Somebody needs to show the Tivo to Flip that his bench looked well in the second qtr of the last two games and he needs to let them play in the 4th too....especially when your stars are playing lackadasical.

Looks like the defense got us back in the game, but why didn't we pound it inside those last two possessions, instead of going for the kill with a three ball? We could have got this one into OT and had the momentum carry us on to victory. Bad decisions by the CB and the coaching if they called the last play.:doh:

Miami, New Jeresy, Indiana in that order are the top 3 teams I would want to avoid in the Eastern Conference Playoffs.

I agree about the bench needing more 2nd half and early 4th Q minutes. Billups was looking tired the last few minutes. You could really see him breathing more heavily than usual.

Live by the 3, die by the 3.

Forget the way the Pistons played before February 1st. It's a memory.

The offense bogs down in the halfcourt, Sheed and Chauncey are MIA, and worst of all, Ben has been looking for them for a month, and he was supposed to check in daily but we have gone days without hearing from him.

I don't understand how Flip can leave Dice on the bench at the end of the 4th Q when we needed a 3. What is Ben supposed to do out there? Dice was gobbling up boards like Reggie Evans on speed.

I really don't know what can be said. The starters are out of sync, they're winded on a day's rest, the energy level at home is quite frankly, CRAP.

The only bright spot is that the bench played well. I think we could start them and beat Atlanta, Charlotte and New York.

I always give Sheed a pass, but he's playing terrible lately. So many shots off the front of the rim, and he looks kinda chunky for a guy whose minutes are up over last year, particularly this late in the season. Munchies?

They are a playing a little crappier than the Pistons were last year. Problem is, expectations were raised and promises were made. Homecourt. Focus. Get the belts back. What the hell is going wrong?

And no, I'm not panicking. This is no longer a one or two game blip. It's become a trend. Efficiency is down, energy is down and winnable games are slipping away. PLEASE DO NOT TELL ME ABOUT THE HOME RECORD! We'll see about the home record after Dallas comes to town.

We are just jacking up threes. We are not shooting in rythym off of a pass or inside out or spreading the floor like Phoenix. We just jack them up and our offense has become a two man game and a slow one at that. Maybe the guys are bored--who knows. This offense is now producing the same 70 points last year's offense was producing at times with the opposite philosophy. Either extreme is not good. At least Dyss and Tay are playoff ready. We will take Dallas Tuesday.

If anyone is worried about HCA, don't. Spurs lost tonight to the Sonics and play the paperclips and lakers this week again. Half of Dallas' team is injured and we are up 2 games with 13 to go.

If Chauncey plays like this the rest of the season, I'd worry. Our biggest concern seems to be ironing itself out, the bench. I think we should take some pride in that. As that grows, and the season ends nears, the starters should get less minutes as to prepare for the playoffs.

I'm really sick of worrying about our starters' minutes every season though.

I would say that was probably the best game I have ever seen from Dyess as a Piston. His hands were really quick on some of those boards. If he is saving that kind of effort for the playoffs, we are golden.

Why does it seem like Chauncey is taking f.o.r.e.v.e.r. to get into sets lately? Then to add onto that, the rest of them just stand there. This team puts absolutely ZERO pressure on the defense. Chauncey has completely gone away from the penetration and dish, and gone strictly to high pick and rolls with Sheed, Rip off curls, or dumping the ball to Tayshaun about 20 feet from the rim. Far too predictable.

Dice was incredible though. He was "vintage" Ben Wallace but with an offensive game out there. Actually, the entire bench (Delk, Delfino, Hunter) brought a ton of energy and hustle plays. Flip should have made a statement and started them in the 2nd half.

Also, Delfino may not have made a big impact on the boxscore, but he played a total of 6 minutes (the start of the 2nd quarter), and the team was +12 with him in the game. With Tayshaun coming back in, they were even for the final 6 minutes of the 2nd quarter. It's just a different energy level, and that energy is contagious. There was no reason to DNP him in the 2nd half.

[Detroit Bad Boys]


Woeful O; Nets trap Pistons (http://feeds.feedburner.com/detroitbadboys?m=402)

The Nets came to the Palace for what was supposed to be a relatively easy win for the Pistons."Easy," because despite a comfortable lead in the pathetic Atlantic division, the Pistons were 30-2 at home and Jersey was 16-19 on the road. This one should not have been an L, but the [...]

Sheed has been more than disappointing. O like a stud, no effort.
Bright spots were Dyess (18rebs in 26 minutes!!!) as well as Hunter,Fino and Delk- unusually, the bench.
CB is forcing it too much, maybe he wants to hear the MVP start again- not, if you play like that, CB!
Extremely weak shooting performance- and this is when you have to go into the paint more-if the shots don't fall, you take it in the middle.

was @ the game...first loss i've seen at the palace since game 5 of the finals last year. the pistons were not into this one at all in the 1st quarter...just going through the motions (which was unfortunate because the place was packed at the start of the game and the crowd was ready to get into it). they were a step slow and jersey really brought it defensively. sheed was a no-show the entire game - if i was flip i woulda kept him and ben in toward the end of the game...i just don't see how you can take dyess out while he's in the zone.

rip shot too much (9 of 27) and although he didn't get to the line, he had several drives to the basket that went completely unchallenged. he should have been doing that more. chauncey's problem is that he is passing up shots now in the early game, and then he never gets into a rhythm. he needs to jack up a few more shots earlier in the game.

at least san antonio lost. hopefully we can make a statement tuesday against dallas.

This tied the season series at 2-2

Dyess was great but you don't want to overplay him in the reg season. He still has that sore hand or whatever it is and his knee still has to be an area of caution.

The good. Team was getting into the paint more. At least Tay, Rip and Dyess were. Offense boards were great which gave the Pistons 10 more shot attempts. Nice production from the bench with Delk and Dyess. Something we did not get last season. And the defense kept the Pistons in the game during the 1st half.

The bad. Chauncey and Roscoe stunk it up. Bad games all around. 3 points for Roscoe as he was content at shotting 3's from the top. Differense was no other starter stepped up and picked up the slack like they usually do. Delfino continuing to be underplayed remains a mystery. Oh and bad clock management at the end there. Should have saved an extra timeout.

I've been so busy lately, I haven't had a chance to see many games, but this one I thought was safe to miss.

Imagine my disapointment when I checke the score at nba.com. I almost gagged on my saliva. WTF is going on, and if Micro is right, and Sheed is MIA again, that really blows.

Ok, this was a mini-statement game, but it was a game we should have won easily(74 points?).

I guess somebody forgot to tell them to use Flips playbook, not LB's.

bnech did great, but our first 3 options on offense was a combined 12-47. With the spurs losing both dallas and san antonio are tied and are 1.5 games behind us. We'll see how this team responds. Unlike before our defense is good, but our offense is bad.

I guess you can't beat NJ shooting 34% from the field and 55% from the line. Probably can't beat anyone. Got lots of boards, mostly because there were so many to be had - 17 offensive leading to what seemed like about six points. Ben looked down and Sheed and CB couldn't throw the ball down and hit the floor.

Dice might have won it single handedly if he had been on the floor when it counted. Given the bench effort in the first half that turned this from a blowout to a close game, it's hard to imagine not giving that exact same group at least a try in the second. Beyond hard to imagine, verging on criminal.

“I thought our bench played pretty good overall. Our bench the last couple of games has really won games for us. We’ve got to get our starters, supposedly the best starting five in the league, we’ve got to get them back playing the way we’re capable of playing.”
Flip Saunders

I'm with dba...Sheed and Chauncey weren't getting it done. Delk, Dyess, Huner and Delfino were looking great. Why not ride the bench instead of trying to force guys who are in a funk to play through it?

Even though we lost Piston fans have to be excited by the emerging bench unit. Dyess was incredible and the Delk Hunter combo is looking like the Pit Bulls reincarnated. Delfino's defense makes him the clear winner over Mo Evans....he has beaten Mo out of his spot in the rotation.

Ben looked down and Sheed and CB couldn't throw the ball down and hit the floor.

ben got manhandled constantly. toward the end of the game when chauncey airballed the open 3, ben was going to catch it before it went out of bounds, but one jersey guy on each side blatantly grabbed and held his arms so he couldn't move. it was obvious that this went on much of the game.

what made me the most upset was 74-72, plenty of time left, and we jack up a 3 instead of going for the tie.

I hope the +Delfino/-Evans part of the rotation is a sign of things to come. This bench unit of Hunter/Delk/Delfino/Dice has some serious chemistry. Hunter and Delfino are pests on the defensive end, and both Dice and Delk are capable of lighting it up at a moments notice.

Gameflow (http://popcornmachine.net/cgi-bin/gameflow.cgi?date=20060326&game=NJNDET)

Pretty interesting that despite being a big zero offensively Sheed was the only + starter. More ammo for the Delfino fans, he lead the team at +8 in only 6 minutes.

How Tayshaun can play nearly 40 minutes and not rack up a single foul is beyond me. There is some physicality required to play good defense. Not to mention he didn't even draw a shooting foul... :ohwell:

Bring on the Mavs, and someone please, FIND A JUMPSHOT.

Interesting that the teams we lose to typically come back and beat us again. (Washington, Utah, Nets ...) Either they've got our number, or the starters really don't care enough about the regular season to make revenge an issue. I'd bet the latter, yet it still bugs me. And Chauncey's quotes after losses are always the same - no big deal. You wonder what it takes to actually make the guy mad about losing.

Jersey's a lot tougher now that Krstic is stepping up and diminishing Collins' role. That was always their glaring weakness. Like the idea of them playing Miami before the Eastern Finals.

Random thought: Has Jefferson got a restraining order on Prince or something? That play where Jefferson blew past Ben for the dunk, Prince just stood under the basket with his hands in his pockets.

Hard to keep perspective, but it's vital. These guys have played more games than anyone in the league the last four years, so they know the priorities and aren't about to change. Flip should recognize and rely on the bench guys' hunger more, especially since it helps them prepare for the playoffs. Here's hoping that the Pistons have enough pride to actually TRY and inflict a payback game on the Mavs.

someone please explain this play since i was at the game and couldn't figure out what the deal was. it was the 1st quarter, we had 14 points, and one of our guys missed a free throw but we tapped it in. originally we were given 1 point for that, then it was switched to 2 points, then the refs talked about it and changed it back to 1 point and counted it as a made free throw. this single point could have been big later in the game.

what happened here??

They originally thought that the free throw went in and gave us 1 point. Then they thought that McDyess tipped in the miss, so they changed it to 2 points. Then they decided that, the free throw really did go in, so they changed it back to 1.

The replay showed that McDyess did tip the ball, but it was still in the cylinder and should have been a goaltend and 0 points.

So we got lucky, then it became really lucky, then it was downgraded to just lucky.

Like the idea of them playing Miami before the Eastern Finals.

Random thought: Has Jefferson got a restraining order on Prince or something? That play where Jefferson blew past Ben for the dunk, Prince just stood under the basket with his hands in his pockets.

Really like the idea of Miami having to do through both Indy and New Jersey to get to the conference finals. Course to your other point, that means we might need to go through DC unless the Cavs can take a stand.

And as micro observes - Prince - 39 minutes, 4 boards, 1 assist, 12 points, loads of zeros, and nary a foul to be seen. That young man needs a talking' to.

Here's the deal on Sheed..we love him because we have no other choice. I'm gonna say what I've always thought about Sheed and I'll eat my words later:
1. KG would "never" have the no-shows that Sheed has. I've never seen KG go 1-10 and not make at least an impact on the boards.
2. Its not that Sheed has ever shown any interaction with the fans or media. Sure his goin for the gold makes us all winners, but there's still a selfishness to his motives.
3. I suggested this in Nov that this team would be better served starting Dice (because of his knees staying warm) and putting Sheed with the pitbulls. Sheed was awesome with the 2nd unit and gives them some stability. Dice can give us that early game low post presence like Buddah used to do.
4. Sheed had had a good three year run and Ben has the face of the franchise, but i would trade them both for KG and a 1, easily. We got to get a decent center/backup to spell Ben , even if we do keep him. If ben aint 12 boards and 3 blocks, he's nothing to us. Remember, when he OWNED the offensive glass?
what2do?????????:doh:

I don't get the Kevin Garnett point. Are you bored with winning, or has the NBA hype machine brainwashed you into thinking that it's cooler to have a superstar than a great team?

Sheed is limited the same way every one of our players is limited ... in a way that is mysteriously, chemically balanced out by the other guys.
Expecting him to be great is a failed tactic - just ask Portland. But with him we get a guy who can pretty much defend any power forward in the league, which Ben can't always do. We also get a frontcourt scoring option talented enough to play well against elite guys, which we didn't have with Cliffy or Rebraca. (Or with Dice, who just cannot get his shot off against big, athletic 4s who jump like he used to - just count the pump fakes and fadeaways against a Kenyon Martin. Not to mention the fact that starting would take its toll on a kneecap that was literally ripped apart 3-4 years ago.)

We don't go anywhere without Sheed. And Minnesota would never take him 1-for-1 for Garnett, or anyone else on the team, so losing two or more parts of a championship contender for a guy who's proven that he can't win by himself is pointless.

I don't get the Kevin Garnett point. Are you bored with winning, or has the NBA hype machine brainwashed you into thinking that it's cooler to have a superstar than a great team?

Sheed is limited the same way every one of our players is limited ... in a way that is mysteriously, chemically balanced out by the other guys.
Expecting him to be great is a failed tactic - just ask Portland. But with him we get a guy who can pretty much defend any power forward in the league, which Ben can't always do. We also get a frontcourt scoring option talented enough to play well against elite guys, which we didn't have with Cliffy or Rebraca. (Or with Dice, who just cannot get his shot off against big, athletic 4s who jump like he used to - just count the pump fakes and fadeaways against a Kenyon Martin. Not to mention the fact that starting would take its toll on a kneecap that was literally ripped apart 3-4 years ago.)

We don't go anywhere without Sheed. And Minnesota would never take him 1-for-1 for Garnett, or anyone else on the team, so losing two or more parts of a championship contender for a guy who's proven that he can't win by himself is pointless. wHAT A BUNCH OF HORSEWASH!!! R u saying great teams cant have great players????The Lakers had 4 of the best 100 ever, the Celtics of Bird had 4 half of famers in the starting lineup and The Bulls had Jordan!! Nuff said.. All I am saying is Garnett is better than Sheed and works harder on the bench than Sheed does in the game. We win cause we are good. But winners seek perfection. I dont care if I beat my little brother 21-20- I impose my will and win 21-14. Same with tennis. He takes lessons, I cant afford to. My all time record vs my bro? 7 and 1! cause I cometo play. KG does! Sheed...when he wants to! 1 for frakin 10 vs Collins...jeeez!!!!!!!:P

Kevin Garnett is a better rebounder than Rasheed Wallace. And, well, ah, hmm... Oh! Yeah, he makes a lot more money, too.

As for the game - great show by Dice. But when 7 of the 9 players who played give a lot less than they normally do, it's tough to win. I almost agree with themicrowave and LanierFan here, but I'm hoping that the last two games have just been a coincidence, and that Chauncey and Ben are just in a funk. I'm less disturbed about these losses than I was about many wins earlier in the season, though. Even though the offensive efficiency has gone into the toilet, I'm a lot more comfortable with games in the 70s.

The Nets are flat-out murdering the Suns tonight. 83-45 after 3, with Phoenix shooting 25% from the field. Nash is being worked over by Kidd.

The Nets are flat-out murdering the Suns tonight. 83-45 after 3, with Phoenix shooting 25% from the field. Nash is being worked over by Kidd.

Its now a final. The Nets beat them by 38 a night after kicking our butts. Dang. Did I mention that I hate the Nets? VC especially!

Beating us gave them some more confidence as if they needed any with the win streak they are on.One more team to look out for come playoff time.Granted our O stunk it up but they are dangerous,specially with Kristic playing well now.

For the Nets to trash the Suns that bad on a back to back, that I would give props to the coach. The coach, Lawrence Frank got them ready to play. Not that they are playing some scrubs but the 2 of the top 5 teams in the league currently.

Flip, get the point? Please do not give any excuses that the players are tired cause we have a bench as every other teams. Our bench is not that bad as you think they are.

Yes, no doubt we have the best record in the league and on course the break franchise records and whatever records there is to break but getting starters to play almost 40 minutes every game and still lose a game is pretty dumb when you keep saying you are getting them ready for the playoffs. I rather have the starters lose a game playing less than 30 minutes than losing a game playing 40 minutes and higher risk at getting injured.

I sincerely hope the secret strategy reserved for the playoffs, as said by Flip himself is having our bigs playing 'attack the rim'. If we can win 80% of the games in the regular season shooting jumpers, I believe we will not lose more than 2 games in any series which will lead us to a championship.

2006 NBA CHAMPIONS, DETROIT PISTONS!!!

Its now a final. The Nets beat them by 38 a night after kicking our butts. Dang. Did I mention that I hate the Nets? VC especially!They remind of "the Sith" in Stars Wars, Pt 1 when Lord Sidious introduced Darth Mohr. The response from the federation goons "Now there are two of them!".......hoooah-boy!:P