Miami March 27 8PM

tv: TNT

Not much to say about the Heat. Pat Riley may not even be there as he has been off scouting potential draft picks. Wade out, Marion out and its in the Heats best interest to lose this game.

Since the Heat players are mostly scrubs or D leaguers, Flip should have the starters play no more than 25 minutes in this game. Stuck, Max, Amir and AA should play at least 25 to 30 minutes each. And of course, we must WIN this game.

Ricky Davis
- 48 minutes
- 63 points
- 24-26 from the line
- 12 boards
- 3 blocks
- 5 steals

Single-handedly outscores the Pistons in two of the game's four quarters.

Mark Blount gets 23 boards and 9 blocks.

Miami March 27 8PM

tv: TNT

Not much to say about the Heat. Pat Riley may not even be there as he has been off scouting potential draft picks. Wade out, Marion out and its in the Heats best interest to lose this game.

Actually Max, TNT dropped this game about a week ago due to the fact that Miami sucks so bad.:loser:

Thanks Pat Riley (wherever you are).

Riley should be filed for that.

Riley should be filed for that.

Or defiled.

Riley should be filed for that.

D-Stern should take away his hair gel and make it manditory that Doug Moe be his clothing stylist for 30 games next season.

Or defiled.
That sounds dirty. :icon_evil:

Chat is open!!!

http://www.pistonsforum.com/misc.php?do=flashchat

Or defiled.


Just make Riley wear a hoodie during the game...........:)

Forgettable game against a pathetic team with an active roster that barely exceeds the D-League. Somehow the Heat were still in it early in the 4th quarter before the Pistons ended it on a big run. That has to be the least satisfying 16 point win I've ever seen!

On the plus side, AA had a really nice game, and he even hit a jumper.

It's a travesty that after Dixon comes back, we're not going to see Afflalo again until next season :(

Pistons Win Ugly and Clinch Divison

Pistons 85, Heat 69

The Pistons played uninspired ball the first 22 minutes of the game and trailed at the half by 2.

Either the Pistons Defense took over after the break or the Heat D-Leaguers finally showed their ineptness scoring only 34 points in the second half. It was obvious that the starters were more concerned about hanging out wherever Rip was than playing against some guys they didn't recognize. There was no Shaq, no Wade, No Zo, No Haslem, No white chocolate...the Pistons would have been more lively if they had been playing the MSU Spartans. :) 10 day guy Brain Ahern led the Heat with 15 points including 13 in the first half when he kept the heat out of the reach of a Piston lead, but was a -18 in the second half. He contributed to the Heat miserable 2-15 shooting beyond the arc.

Alf was the playa of the game playing good defense and scoring a career high 15 points and was a +25. Sheed, Billups, and Alf were all 5-9 from the floor and Sheed hit the only 2 three balls of the night for the Pistons. Max had his best game in weeks and Tay had one of his worst shooting nights in a while.

Stats of the night
Dice played 30 mintes and only got 2 boards
Fabio played less than 2 mins and scored 2 pts
Hayes played 13 mins and scored 0 points

We played a bunch of guys on ten day contracts, and still had a hard time winning a game. At least until Flip finally decided to pair Stuckey and Afflalo up in the 2nd half. Pretty easy after that. As good as Stuckey and Billups are individually, together they seldom do much.
Hunter played again. Another absolute zero on offense from him. Another conditining game for him. Good thing it was just Miami.

Amir played plenty, and even got to take few shots, all around the basket. One went in. One was close. Two looked not so good. He needs a ton of gametime shots to get back to where he was before sitting so long. Still nice to at least watch him play D.

Afflalo not only started this one, he got starters mintues. He tied Maxiell with 15 points for game high. One or two jumpers made and the rest going inside. Anyone want to bad mouth his offensive game tonight. Those who do just have not seen Afflalo play enough yet. Good solid D too. He checked Davis quite well.

Stuckey did not do that great, but he did can another couple of shots. But nothing inside today - against Miami?

On getting ready for the playoffs: All four of our key young players played. Check. We still did not replace Hayes at backup small forward, so Tay ended up playing a lot of miutes in this meaningless game against an opponent that should not be allowed in the gym with us. Very much unchecked.

Sheed and Billups hit a few shots. Dyess got to the line a lot, which is helpful toward a win. Nice if he would make some, but really he should be getting several days off instead.

Tay played a lot. Did not do much except hit an occasional jumper.
Hayes did not score. Still a mystery why a guy we picked up for a no risk look, and who can't play D, is still in our rotation.

This was a good win. Played our youth. Rested Rip. Did not overplay most the starters. Hunter got revved up a bit.

Herrmann got in for a bit of GT, and made a nice reverse. Theo got the night off. Hamilton was listed as questionable and then did not dress. Dixon did not dress either, which is why Herrmann was activated.
I will say this once more. If we go with a rotation based chiefly on the following eight players, we will win it all:

Billups, Stuckey, Rip, Afflalo, Tay, Amir, JMAX, Sheed.

And tonights game helped us prepare toward this.

Dyess and Theo are extra bigs for if we go up against a truly large player like Shaq or Howard.

Hunter gives a bit of added depth at guard for a quick minute or two of defensive work. Samb should be the 12th guy. One more shotblocker in the mix can't hurt.

This leaves Dixon, Hayes, and Herrmann out of the picture.

Thats my opinion. Whats yours?

GO PISTONS!!!!!

GO AHEARN! Only Missouri State player I've seen in the NBA since Kelby Stuckey!

AA, 33 min, +25, 15 pts :)

Stuck/AA = who should be backing up Chaunce/Rip

That is all.

Ugly win, The Heat actually had a lead at some point. Looks like that player meeting didn't do the trick.

Great game & great win! We Piston fans are a spoiled lot when a 16 point win clinches another Central Division title and it barely causes a ripple.

This was a statement game to the rest of the league. What's not to like? There's a directionless offense that seems to operate without a purpose 90-95% of the time. A defense that feels the need to trap the Chris Quinn's and American Idol semi-finalist Blake Ahern's of the world for some reason. Per usual, this team is rolling heading into the playoffs under the steady hand of Flip Saunders and is ready to take on the world.

Great game & great win! We Piston fans are a spoiled lot when a 16 point win clinches another Central Division title and it barely causes a ripple.

This was a statement game to the rest of the league. What's not to like? There's a directionless offense that seems to operate without a purpose 90-95% of the time. A defense that feels the need to trap the Chris Quinn's and American Idol semi-finalist Blake Ahern's of the world for some reason. Per usual, this team is rolling heading into the playoffs under the steady hand of Flip Saunders and is ready to take on the world.

Nice :pound:

Great game & great win! We Piston fans are a spoiled lot when a 16 point win clinches another Central Division title and it barely causes a ripple.

This was a statement game to the rest of the league. What's not to like? There's a directionless offense that seems to operate without a purpose 90-95% of the time. A defense that feels the need to trap the Chris Quinn's and American Idol semi-finalist Blake Ahern's of the world for some reason. Per usual, this team is rolling heading into the playoffs under the steady hand of Flip Saunders and is ready to take on the world.And to that I will add...:tape:


:rofl:

Held them to 69 points. That's pretty good. Our youth injected the energy that we needed.

Nice games from Maxiell and Afflalo.


I'm a little unsure of why Herrmann never got a real stretch of consistent PT this year to see what he can do. He seems to be the man in short bursts. He plays really hard D and looks like a natural on offense.

With Hayes' streakiness, it just seems like we would have experimented a bit.

Oh well. Not to be.

Great game & great win! We Piston fans are a spoiled lot when a 16 point win clinches another Central Division title and it barely causes a ripple.

This was a statement game to the rest of the league. What's not to like? There's a directionless offense that seems to operate without a purpose 90-95% of the time. A defense that feels the need to trap the Chris Quinn's and American Idol semi-finalist Blake Ahern's of the world for some reason. Per usual, this team is rolling heading into the playoffs under the steady hand of Flip Saunders and is ready to take on the world.

Great post!

I'm psyched now!

PLAYOFFS BABY!!

When they showed stats how many minutes pistons rookies have got, two things are mentionable:
1. AA an AJ have each ALREADY played more minutes in their rookie season than Tay did.
2. Mateen Cleaves played 150% more minutes than AJ or AA: it says how much they put on this guy and therefore how big bust he turned to be.

AJ needs really some muscle: when he gets ball, he has so much trouble to keep his position so he is not capable of making good shot.

Looks like the 1st half was good old Piston half effort stuff. Actually looked like they were trying to get into a scoring contest with the Heat and were trying to bury them that way but the Heat players were hitting their shots in the 1st half.

Then in the 2nd half the Pistons started to play some D and got some great production off the bench.

Riley was there for the game and it looks like this was one the games that he must of circled on his calendar as a game to try and win. Probably figured he would lose anyway so it was no real threat to his lottery ball hunt.

Won by 16 and I would called it by a 15-20 point margin anyway given that Hamilton was out so it ended about how it should have.

Great games by Afflalo and Amir. Especially AA, he has really been taking advantage of this golden opportunity to start. You have to be proud how these guys have been stepping up to show what they have for the playoff roster whenever they get the chance. Lot more than I can say for Past Piston young bench guys.

Thanks for the correction on the tv schedule CloudWalker.

When they showed stats how many minutes pistons rookies have got, two things are mentionable:
1. AA an AJ have each ALREADY played more minutes in their rookie season than Tay did.
...


Tay got burried on the bench his rookie year, only to emerge in the playoffs. Michael Curry was starting ahead of him and he was about as good as Lindsey Hunter is right now. About the only good that came out of that season was that Tay put his name on the map.

Maybe the Heat played well for a while last night because of Shaq's recent remarks....

I love playing for this coach and I love playing with these guys. We have professionals who know what to do. No one is asking me to play with Chris Quinn or Ricky Davis. I’m actually on a team again.

True perhaps, but why single out a second year end-of-the-bench player who by all accounts is a decent kid who plays hard. I had begun to think of Shaq as an elder statesman and was kind of starting to like him. These remarks though are utterly classless. What a jerk.

Wow. It is pretty unusual to single out players by name like that because of their ability. It's one thing if they couldn't get along personally, but to embarrass a guy like that is pretty low, I agree.

As was pointed out on Pardon The Interruption yesterday when they discussed those remarks, Shaq has pretty much thrown his previous teammates under the bus in public every single time he's switched teams--Penny from Orlando, Kobe from L.A., now those guys from the Heat.

he has grown up..... lol remember he normally throws the superstar of the team he leaves under the bus, he never said a word about wade..... well not yet anyways lol

So Chris Quinn isn't on Shaq's Fave Five? I'm really surprised by that. Maybe they are just too similar to get along.

Dice FTs lately is horrible, miss 5 in this game. Season average is lower than Max. Did i just say Max? The guy whom FTs were comparable with Big Ben early in the season?

Wow, Dice. You better start makin your FTs cause the playoffs is coming soon. And FTs are very important in the playoffs.

he has grown up..... lol remember he normally throws the superstar of the team he leaves under the bus, he never said a word about wade..... well not yet anyways lol

You mean D. Wade; the greatest player in the Association? I think that is how Shaq was affectionately labeling him when they first got together every chance he got?

You mean D. Wade; the greatest player in the Association? I think that is how Shaq was affectionately labeling him when they first got together every chance he got?

he also was referring to riley as the great pat riley.... don't think he talks that way anymore....

what is it about florida teams and there fall from the top when they win a title.... the heat and the marlins (twice now)

Was that game even on TV anywhere?

WXSP, ESPN, TNT, ESPN2 were all no gos in West Mi...

Was that game even on TV anywhere?

WXSP, ESPN, TNT, ESPN2 were all no gos in West Mi...
It showed up on the League pass via the FSN throughout the Diect TV network..

TNT was glad they switched out of that one. At one point the Heat had at least four D-league alumni and a 10 day contract guy running the Pistons starters off the floor:).

The TNT guys even joked during the highlights that they didn't recognized anybody out there other Ricky Davis and Pat Riley....just imagine the Flip fallout if TNT had televised it and these unknowns had beaten the Pistons!!:sssh:

You can't excuse a lousy effort for any reason, but these young Miami guys are playing for future contracts and their livelihood. The Pistons don't have a whole lot to gain at this point. Sure, we would like to be executing more crisply heading into the playoffs, but the non-stellar play in that game by several Pistons didn't surprise me whatsover.

Saunders on giving Arron Afflalo start: 'No one works harder than he does' | Freep.com | Detroit Free Press (http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080326/SPORTS03/803260427/1051)



Afflalo actually began the season as a starter when Hamilton missed the first two games for the birth of his son. The team is 3-0 with Afflalo in the starting lineup, but he is resigned to the fact that when Hamilton recovers, his minutes likely will disappear again.

"It's part of the nature of this," Afflalo said. "I just have to be ready, got to stay hungry and got to stay mentally tough. That's what this is about, and it's only going to help me in the long run."


bla

That's why they call him Showbe.

Not sure how the hardest worker on the team can get DNP's though.


I really enjoy watching AA play. It just seems like he makes it really uncomfortable for the man he's guarding.

That's why they call him Showbe.

Not sure how the hardest worker on the team can get DNP's though.


I really enjoy watching AA play. It just seems like he makes it really uncomfortable for the man he's guarding.

Having missed the game and just looking at the boxscore, especially the +/- I must say I'm very impressed with Aflalo.

although in Miami we were playing a 'decent' NBDL or equivalent to a 'very good' WNBA team last night.

Think about how unusual it is to have a rookie in charge of guarding the other team's best players. It's not like he always does it, but AA has done that several times this year and also he has been inserted to do so in a few late game situations.

It's impossible to tell for sure, but he really does have the potential to become known as an Artest/ Bowen type. Both of those guys are athletically gifted, but more importantly take pride in their defense and have a strange edge to them on the court.

If he turns out to be that type of player, then we have a chance at extending the legacy of the defense first mindset.

It's impossible to tell for sure, but he really does have the potential to become known as an Artest/ Bowen type. Both of those guys are athletically gifted, but more importantly take pride in their defense and have a strange edge to them on the court.

Could be. His heart does seem to be into playing defense. And he's a better offensive player than Bowen. The two inches Affalo gives up to both Bowen or Artest could be a problem though. If all else fails they can fall back on superior size to most ones and twos (and are generally equal to most threes).

Could be. His heart does seem to be into playing defense. And he's a better offensive player than Bowen. The two inches Affalo gives up to both Bowen or Artest could be a problem though. If all else fails they can fall back on superior size to most ones and twos (and are generally equal to most threes).

As we can see with Chauncey, size has its pros and cons. Afflalo should be better at dropping down to stop PG's than Bowen when he gets more experience. I actually think AA is a perfect size for a versatile SG stopper. He can defend big 1's and small 3's.

It's just cool that we were the team who was interested in the best defensive college player in the draft last year. He could have been a perfect pick for another GM trying to steal Joe's model.

It's just cool that we were the team who was interested in the best defensive college player in the draft last year. He could have been a perfect pick for another GM trying to steal Joe's model.

Could you see AA with a team like the Spurs?

AA and Bowen would be some kind of backcourt defensive tandem.

Maybe the Heat played well for a while last night because of Shaq's recent remarks....

I love playing for this coach and I love playing with these guys. We have professionals who know what to do. No one is asking me to play with Chris Quinn or Ricky Davis. I’m actually on a team again.

True perhaps, but why single out a second year end-of-the-bench player who by all accounts is a decent kid who plays hard. I had begun to think of Shaq as an elder statesman and was kind of starting to like him. These remarks though are utterly classless. What a jerk.

Remember the year he said something like "I'm really playing horrible. I'm playing like (or maybe it was "worse than") Erick Dampier." I think he thinks he is being funny when he says these things, instead of just plain mean. Like alot of people who have a certain charisma, when it comes right down to it they don't like other people very much and don't hesitate to say something at their expense just to get a laugh or some attention. Plus frankly I don't think Shaq is all that smart to think through the impact of his comments. Completely self-involved and spoiled. That said I hope he can get it together to help Steve Nash have a decent playoffs this year.

To be frank, Shaq is an idiot.

He believes he is bigger than life, that he is this huge indestructible creature that everyone loves, and he can do no wrong.

People say Kobe has an ego (well he does) however, Shaq ranks right there with Kobe! The comments he makes are meant to be derogatory and comical, IMO. It seems he has no respect for anyone but hiscurrent teamates.

I remember him on the MTV Show Punk`d, as the prank went on I believe his truck was hit and the culprit was driving away, or something like that. This oversized idiot actually reached in the car to stop the person from driving off. To him that was probably a natural reaction, if he continues to act like that he may learn that this is a crazy world away from basketball.

Saunders on giving Arron Afflalo start: 'No one works harder than he does' | Freep.com | Detroit Free Press (http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080326/SPORTS03/803260427/1051)




bla

You should start an Afflalo fan club.

To be frank, Shaq is an idiot.

He believes he is bigger than life, that he is this huge indestructible creature that everyone loves, and he can do no wrong.

People say Kobe has an ego (well he does) however, Shaq ranks right there with Kobe! The comments he makes are meant to be derogatory and comical, IMO. It seems he has no respect for anyone but hiscurrent teamates.I concur.

What he says about former colleagues in the aftermath of trades show no class at all...he sounds like a spiteful spoiled-rotten teenager. Too bad he doesn't have a character that comes close to his physical stature.

You should start an Afflalo fan club.

I obviously have to to counteract Flip Saunder's stupidity.

I obviously have to to counteract Flip Saunder's stupidity.

Hasn't Afflalo been starting lately?

Hasn't Afflalo been starting lately?

b/c Rip/Dixon are injured. When Rip comes back and/or the PO's start we can talk about AA's min.

b/c Rip/Dixon are injured. When Rip comes back and/or the PO's start we can talk about AA's min.

Do you think he should be playing ahead of Stucky? If not then you know a 4th guard during the playoffs ( if he wins it over Hunter,Dixon) does not typically play a lot.

Do you think he should be playing ahead of Stucky? If not then you know a 4th guard during the playoffs ( if he wins it over Hunter,Dixon) does not typically play a lot.

I don't think Rip should be playing 40+ min. AA should be playing at least 10.

I don't see why they both can't play.

ESPN - Cleveland vs. San Antonio - Box Score - June 07, 2007 (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=270607024)
ESPN - Cleveland vs. San Antonio - Box Score - June 10, 2007 (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=270610024)
ESPN - San Antonio vs. Cleveland - Box Score - June 12, 2007 (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=270612005)
ESPN - San Antonio vs. Cleveland - Box Score - June 14, 2007 (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=270614005)

Those are the box scores for the SAS/CLE Finals

Brent Barry
Manu Ginobli
Tony Parker
Jaques Vaugn

all played more or less depending, but each got close to 10 min or more.

Do you think he should be playing ahead of Stucky? If not then you know a 4th guard during the playoffs ( if he wins it over Hunter,Dixon) does not typically play a lot.
The question is do you want the Pistons to go out in the first round? Without Afflalo and his D, we will. They better find room for him.

The question is do you want the Pistons to go out in the first round? Without Afflalo and his D, we will. They better find room for him.

I don't think Rip should be playing 40+ min. AA should be playing at least 10.

I don't see why they both can't play.

ESPN - Cleveland vs. San Antonio - Box Score - June 07, 2007 (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=270607024)
ESPN - Cleveland vs. San Antonio - Box Score - June 10, 2007 (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=270610024)
ESPN - San Antonio vs. Cleveland - Box Score - June 12, 2007 (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=270612005)
ESPN - San Antonio vs. Cleveland - Box Score - June 14, 2007 (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=270614005)

Those are the box scores for the SAS/CLE Finals

Brent Barry
Manu Ginobli
Tony Parker
Jaques Vaugn

all played more or less depending, but each got close to 10 min or more.

Not that I don't appreciate and respect both of your views, I don't think you two are being very realistic for a playoff rotation.

I am starting a new thread on this call Playoff Rotation where hopefully we can get some discussions going on this.

Not that I don't appreciate and respect both of your views, I don't think you two are being very realistic for a playoff rotation.

I am starting a new thread on this call Playoff Rotation where hopefully we can get some discussions going on this.

I think a lot depends on how games will flow: when starters are able build a lead then bench gets more PT cuz there is more room for errors. But when they fall behind early or some starters struggle do not expect flip to try whether bench can cope better or replace struggling starters. In tough cases I'm afraid,flip still relies heavily on starters in spite of fact how badly they play.

I think a lot depends on how games will flow: when starters are able build a lead then bench gets more PT cuz there is more room for errors. But when they fall behind early or some starters struggle do not expect flip to try whether bench can cope better or replace struggling starters. In tough cases I'm afraid,flip still relies heavily on starters in spite of fact how badly they play.

Any team that wins 58 games ( which they should ) and is 2nd in the league in pt diff can't be that bad.

Any team that wins 58 games ( which they should ) and is 2nd in the league in pt diff can't be that bad.

I know, some are even pessimistic with first round but I believe that in this year starters play up their capabilities and they'll reach far. And when starters play well, bench follows it.

Any team that wins 58 games ( which they should ) and is 2nd in the league in pt diff can't be that bad.

I disagree. DET pads their stats against a lot of bad teams and by going full throttle strategy-wise during the year when they play good ones.

Their D is not nearly as good the rankings would make you think. (And it is not good enough to overcome their own offense against good teams.) They are fundamentally flawed in that they don't have a defensive mindset that says I, the individual, am responsible for guarding this man. This is especially true on the perimeter and it leads to the breakdowns that have become the norm for this group.

I hate to bring this up, but the antithesis of this was how DET guarded Shaq under you know who. Ben Wallace could not guard Shaq 1 on 1. At times he got help, but for the most part it was his responsibility to take him. That sense of accountability spread to the entire D. Guard your man. Role players didn't bury them back then. Watch Sheed the first play of almost any game and he will not even be looking at his man. It could be LeBron he's watching or it could be Blake Ahearn. DET might shutdown Mike Redd or Joe Johnson in January, but they haven't stopped anyone the last few Springs.

I disagree. DET pads their stats against a lot of bad teams and by going full throttle strategy-wise during the year when they play good ones.


sorry to burst your bubble.... but thats how all teams get there stats..... you are always better against bad teams then you are againt the good teams..... at the end of the year detroit will have played the same schedule as cleveland, and basically the same as boston. so to compare there stats is a true showing of how they compare to other teams... as much as you can do really