Pistons are in Flight; Afternoon Delight

In the words of a great song which I fondly remember from a memorable scene in the Will Ferrel classic, "Anchorman;" "when it's right, it's right, why wait until the middle of the cold dark night." Right now, things are right with the Pistons. Even in a new years matinee that saw them without Rip, Dyess, and losing Sheed early on to an ankle injury; the Pistons persisted to a fifth straight win. Iverson stepped up is scoring in the second half to help lead the Pistons. Prince continued to be consistent as did Stuckey. Amir Johnson came in and locked down defensively on Lopez when the Pistons needed it most down the stretch. AA also was a spark off the bench. It's nice to see this team finally stringing some wins together and starting to look more like the Pistons we've known these last few seasons.
The Pistons can look forward to one more home game this Friday against Sacramento before heading out a west for a 4 game trip, and 7 of their next 9 away from the Palace. Let's keep this win streak going and gain momentum for that west coast trip. Go Pistons!

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Finally back in the W Column

The Pistons finally got back on the right track last night against Indiana. This team shouldn't be tough to beat when you look at the Pacers record, but anytime a player on the opposing team goes for 40+, in this case Danny Granger, it can be a long night. Granger has really emerged as a premiere player this season. Especially when he plays against Detroit. He had 33 against us on opening night and went for a carereer high 42 last night.
Rodney Stuckey continued to impress me last night with his all around game. It's ibvious he's been working on his shot as well. He was 4 for 5 from behind the long line. And when he wasn't dropping bombs from downtown, he continued his relentless assault on the rim, driving to the lane and finishing. If we could just get some more consistent defense every night, I think this team will be fine. Hopefully, they are coming out of those growing pains.

3 losses and counting...

I'll say it again, what is happening to this team? Ever since the trade for Iverson, this team has looked nothing short of terrible. The offensive flow is gone, the defense is lax, and the intensiy that was brought by Billups is gone. We have now lost 3 games in a row. They have all come to losing teams in the Eastern Conference. These are teams that the rest of the league is dominating, and we were supposed to be one of those top 5 elite teams. I have never doubted Dumars decision making in the past. I find it very hard to believe this team can contend for a championship. Unless, this move clears the cap space for next season and lands the likes of LeBron James or Amare Stoudemire, you may have taken this teams last chance at championship glory away for many years to come...

A Much Needed Win!

The Pistons got a much needed win on the road against the Spurs last night. It still is very tough to figure this Piston team out. Some nights they look great, other nights, totally out of sorts. The one exciting thing to see is the continued emergence of everyone on the bench. The energy that Stuck, J-Max, AA, and Amir bring to the floor is very exciting to watch. They still have their growing pains moments, but when they get out in transition, you better look out if you are the opponent or you are bound to end up on a poster, and not in a good way. The continued stellar play of Rodney Stuckey has me wondering if maybe he should start and have Iverson come off the bench. I know it probably wouldn't sit well with Iverson, but if he wants to win as badly as he says he does, he'd probably come around to it eventually. He would still get 30-35 minutes a night, but if he was out there with the second unit, it would provide a lot of open looks for those other guys.

On a side note, we are only 4 more days away from the return of Antonio McDyess! I'm sure that Dyess will definitely add a spark back to this team as well.

This Rig is Flat!

The tires on the Piston Rig can officially be called flat! The Pistons have absolutely looked out of sorts these last couple of games. In Boston on the second half of a back to back I can kind of understand; but home for the previously winless on the road T-Pups! Are you kidding me! I wish I was. The Pistons offense has looked woeful. Everyone is standing around and waiting for something to happen; newsflash, nothing is happening! Richard Hamilton looks to be completely out of sorts. It's obvious that the AI trade has really affected his game adversely. Chauncey always knew where to deliver the ball to Rip, coming off screens and back cuts. That is just not happening now. Every time Rip gets the ball, he is having to create his own offense, this is not his forte. I'm hoping that all of this is just side effects from the trade and that they will work through all of it very soon. I'm hoping it's sooner rather than later as I will be attending the game Wednesday night against New York. I'll be sitting court side during warm ups courtesy of some special arrangements. Hopefully I'll have some good pictures to post as well as a first hand review from a Piston win! Go Pistons!

A Tale of 2 Halves

The Pistons game last night against Cleveland certainly had me scared after half number 1 as I'm sure many of you were as well. The ball seemed like it was to big for the bucket as shot after shot clanged off the rim after the Pistons quick start. However, the one good thing was they played good defense holding the Cavs to only 41 points in the first half.
The stifling defense continued in the 2nd half and Sheed and AI both started to get hot. Aaron Afflalo came in and provided great energy off the bench and played great defense on Lebron. You had a feeling when Sheed sank two very deep 3 balls that the Pistons were in control and wouldn't relinquish the lead. That proved to be the case and our boys came out victorious.
No rest for the weary however. The Pistons will travel to Boston to square off with the Celtics this evening. You can bet that we will be looking to avenge our loss to them just 10 days ago. AI has had a chance to gel a little more with his teammates and you can bet the Pistons will be looking to make a statement in back to back games. Tip off for this one will be 8pm and be televised nationally on TNT. Go Pistons!

Back 2 Work

The Pistons will be back in action tonight against the Cavaliers. This kicks off a very rough back to back with Cleveland tonight and away for Boston tomorrow. The Pistons finished a tough early season west coast trip at 3 - 1. After the game in Boston tomorrow night, they will be home for the remainder of the month.
Cleveland comes in winners of 9 straight. The Pistons are coming off a very flat performance in Phoenix on Sunday and have been off since then. I know it's early on in the season, but tonight is a statement game. The Pistons now have their superstar player in Allen Iverson to combat the star power of LeBron. Don't get me wrong, AI is no LeBron. However, when called on, he still can put 40+ in on any given night. Tonight, we may need one of those performances from AI.
Tune in to FSN Detroit for the tip @ 7:30 tonight. Go Pistons!

Tayshaun slays the Raptors

It was Tayshaun's night in Toronto. Still without newly acquired Allen Iverson and without the services of Chauncey, now traded away, Tayshaun stepped up in what was the biggest test for the Pistons on this young season. Tayshaun was hot all night from everywhere on the floor, helping the Pistons to remain undefeated at 4-0.
Coach Curry continued to show faith in the bench as they again logged heavy minutes, and meaningful minutes at that. Both Hermann and Kwame Brown were in the game with less than 5 minutes to go and the lead only at 4 points. This kind of valuable experience will prove dividends down the road I'm sure. And you can't help but be impressed with the steady point guard play from not only Rodney Stuckey, which we are expecting; but how about Will Bynum. He looks to be another solid pickup for the Pistons of guys that have been cast off by former teams. We'll gladly take his services.
Iverson will make his Piston debut Friday night in New Jersey. Tune in to FSN Detroit at 7pm to catch all of the action.

AI to Detroit...so long Mr Big Shot

It was a sad day for me personally when I heard the news today of Chauncey's departure from the Motor City. Don't get me wrong, I respect Allen Iverson's game and all of the accomplishmens he has made on the basketball court. But it was Mr Big Shot that took us to the promised land in 2004 and helped us slay the seemingly invinceable Lakers. I had friends comment to me that Chauncey chokes in the playoffs and hasn't lived up to his Mr Big shot moniker. I disagree. He has had the unfortunate luck of injuries in the playoffs and other factors. I firmly believe he poured his heart and soul into this organization and this team. That being said, I wish him only the best and glad that for everything that happened, at least he can go home to Denver.

I will however reserve final judgement on this deal until I see the outcome of this season. Unless we win a title, this deal means nothing. Chauncey took us to the Eastern Conference Finals for 5 consecutive years. The only thing Aleen Iverson can deliver that is better than that is another championship. Is that asking toomuch? No. Chauncey set the bar high, you are in his shoes now AI, you need to deliver.

On a side note. The Pistons did sign Rip to a 3-year contract extension after this season. Also, it appears McDyess will be bought out of his contract immediately by Denver tomorrow, making him a free agent. According to Stephen A. Smith of ESPN, McDyess will re-sign with Detroit as soon as possible.

Please leave your thoughts on this trade in the comments. Can't wait to see how my readers feel.

Slow Start...Strong Finish

The Pistons kicked off the 2008-09 season against Indiana. Although it took awhile for our boys to get going in the 1st quarter, they caught up quickly and played solid the rest of the night. For those of us doubting the Amir Johnson experiment, we were pleasantly surprised. Amir did everything that was expected of him. It was great to see him stay out of foul trouble and play great defense and hustle down loose balls. At the start of the second half, he showed a nice touch with his jumper as well; hitting several open looks from 12-15'.

We also got a nice performance from the bench, 38 points to be exact. Stuck had a tough time staying out of foul trouble, but showed us all his ability to consistently get to the basket. In time, I'm sure he'll be able to convert many more of those opportunities as well as get some more respect from the officials for the contact he takes every time on his trips to the hoop. The one thing I'd like to see more from the bench is better defense. However I'm sure this too will come as they gel together as a unit.

Our next game will be Saturday against the Washington Wizards at the Palace.

Pre-Season Game #1...In the Books

The Pistons played their 1st game of the preseason Sunday night in Miami. The game was not televised, however from looking at the box score, it's obvious that Stuckey was the star of the show. He hit 2 clutch jumpers in the final minutes to send the game into overtime. The Pistons outscored Miami 9 to 5 in the OT session to take the win. Stuck finished with a game high 23 points. You can look forward to your 1st chance to see our boys back in action this Wednesday. They play the Milwaukee Bucks and the game will be televised on FSN Detroit.

4 Weeks Until Training Camp...

That's right, we are less than a month away from the start of training camp for the 2008-09 season. Despite all of the speculation at the end of the season, the core of this team remains intact. We have a new leader on the sideline in the form of new head coach Michael Curry. We are once again primed for another title run. The emergence of more minutes this year for Stuckey, Afflalo, and Johnson should be a big boost.

The consensus seems to be that McDyess will go back to his role of a bench man. I personally hope so. Don't get me wrong, I love Dice, and he was great as a starter. However, he also would prove to be a calming influence for the bench guys and provide leadership for them when that 2nd group comes in. If that is in fact the case, who becomes the 5th starter? There are a number of possible candidates. For now, lets see what all of you think. Vote for your choice in the weekly poll.

Schedule Released

The Pistons announced their 2008-09 schedule today. The schedule has finally turned back into our favor a little bit. We play six fewer sets of back-to-backs and don't have to play the deadly Texas triangle at all. However, the beginning of the season is very road heavy. We'll have to work hard to come out strong at the beginning.

Make a Move or Stand Pat

We are at that point in the NBA off season where things have come to a grinding halt. The draft has come and gone. Most of the available free agents are signed. And most NBA fans are now focused this summer on watching the US try to get back to its rightful spot of #1 in the world at the Olympics in China. Yes, all is quiet. Which begs the question, what do the Pistons do now? Do we stand pat with what we have, knowing that this team is a bonified title contender right now; or do we still feel the need to make a big splash and shake up the roster? Is the addition of Kwame Brown enough? Do we still need that "go-to scorer"? These are all questions I'm sure that Joe Dumars contemplates day after day. If he hasn't been faced with enough tough decisions already, if we look ahead to the end of the upcoming season, he'll be faced with more. Rasheed Wallace will be an un-restricted free agent. Rip Hamilton will likely opt out of his contract and become un-restricted as well. Right there you have 40% of your starting lineup that will be on the open market to the highest bidder. Who knows, maybe the continued growth of Stuckey, Maxiell, and Johnson will make those players expendable. If that be the case however, don't you want something for those players? You certainly don't want to let them walk. However, at what point to you pull the trigger? Well, this is why Joe D makes the big bucks and us fans speculate on blogs and forums. For now, we can look forward to another fantastic Pistons season. Training camp is less than 2 months away. For now, vote in this weeks poll and give us your opinion of what Joe D should do, make a move; or stand pat...

Love for Stuck!

Rodney Stuckey continues to receive rave reviews from those in the NBA world. Fran Frischilla projected him to be on the Olympic team in 2012 during todays broadcast of USA versus Turkey on ESPN2. He went on for several minutes about how impressed he was with him when he played on the select team versus team USA in a warm up a few days ago. Add this to the continued hype that surrounds our 2nd year guard. If Stuckey lives up to all of this, and I sure hope he does, what do the Pistons do in the backcourt? Although the Pistons played him a lot backing up Billups last year, I believe for him to achieve his full potential, he needs to play the 2 spot. Much along the likes of D-Wade. If that is the case, what do you do with Rip? Rip can opt out of his contract after this season and more than likely will, if anything else to receive a pay raise. If the Pistons are committed to Stuckey at that point, they certainly wouldn't pony up bug money for Hamilton. So do you trade Hamilton now and make sure you get something in return? It certainly is something to think about. You definately don't want a player of Rip's caliber to just walk away when he could be a huge bargaining chip. Of course all of this rests on the potential of one possibly very special player...

Kwame Brown to the Pistons!

Breaking news on ESPN has Kwame Brown agreeing to a 2 year deal with the Pistons. Some of you may laugh at this deal but I for one am excited. Say what you want about KB (my new nick name for him) he is still young and still is a true center. We don't need a lot of scoring production at the 5 spot. He will provide a shot blocking presence and a rebound presence. He is still very young and still, I believe, has potential to grow his game. Maybe him being around a great big man influence in Rasheed will help him to improve. He was playing pretty well for the Lakers, with no one to help him up front. He won't have that problem in Detroit as we have a very solid starting front line and great reserves in Maxiell and McDyess. I think this could be a steal for the Pistons!

All is Quiet...

So far, Joe D's promise of big changes in the D has gone unfulfilled. This however should make us as Piston fans happy. Joe is taking his time. He's not jumping at some of these ridiculous deals that have been rumored to be offered. Let's not make changes just for the sake of change. We have 3-4 perennial all-stars on this roster. The idea that we would trade them for some guy who is the 6th - 8th man on his current team is ludicrous. The fact remains that we are still literally a player away from a championship. We just need to find that perfect match to take us to that next level and back to the promised land. Keep hunting Joe!

What's Next?

There are a lot of things floating around right now about what is next for the Pistons. I've heard ideas from trade the whole starting 5; or some who think nothing needs to be done. I think I am somewhere in the middle of that conversation. I do believe that some change is needed. A new infusion of talent if yo will that spices up the pot. However, I don't know exactly what that needs to be. That's why Joe Dumars gets paid the big bucks. He is the one challenged with making those decisions. It's possible that we could see a big trade from the Pistons on draft night. That would certainly make the draft more exciting. The Pistons pick 29th and 59th in the draft this year. It's virtually a lock that the Pistons will trade that 1st round pick. The one think this team definitely doesn't need is another guaranteed contract sitting on the bench. I guess we'll have to wait and see what Joe D can come up with.

I will say the one very intriguing idea I have heard is the idea of a Rasheed for Amare Stoudemire deal. Apparently this was discussed last year between the 2 teams and talks have resumed again. I have to say that a 24-26 year old Amare Stoudemire would look darn good in Piston red, white, and blue!

Big Changes Ahead

After a third straight disappointing loss in the Conference Finals, Joe Dumars has vowed that big changes are ahead. He started off by already letting Flip Saunders go. He also stated that everyone is in play on the trade market. When Joe says he is going to do something, it gets done. I'm positive that 1, if not 2 of our current starters will be gone by training camp next season. It's a bittersweet thought really. We've all grown to love this current group of players. They have brought many great seasons. However as Joe mentioned in his press conference, if you're good enough to be knocking on the door of the finals, you're good enough to get in. And frankly, the Pistons haven't gotten it done. Here's to the future.

It's a 3 Game Series

Thanks to a huge Pistons win last night, it is now a 3 game series. Antonio McDyess was nothing short of spectacular in this one. He was hitting every shot, grabbing every rebound, and playing stellar defense all night on Garnett. Speaking of defense on Garnett, the block that Jason Maxiell put on Garnett was awesome! Max was great all night as well. We will need him to continue that type of performance the rest of the series.

It was also great to see Chauncey hit a huge 3 in the 4th quarter. Hopefully that goes a long way towards bringing his confidence back. At this point, he doesn't look hurt to me. He just looks like his timing is a half second off. I'm hoping the end of yesterdays game is a sign of things to come. The Pistons must do everything in their power to win Game 5 on Wednesday. I firmly believe they don't want to play a Game 7 on the road. Winning Game 5 will be extremely difficult; however if they can pull it out, it should shatter the Celtics confidence and allow us to put them away at home in Game 6.

Must Win Game 4!

The Pistons are in a must win situation tonight in Game 4 of their Eastern Conference Finals match up with the Boston Celtics. They simply can't afford to go down 3-1 and expect to win the series. By winning tonight, you at least guarantee a Game 6 back at the Palace. I was blown away by the lackluster effort on Saturday. I fully expected a great game out of the Pistons, but was totally wrong. The bright spot in the series so far has been the stellar play of Rodney Stuckey. He has shown he is ready for anything and has really stepped up to the plate. However, for everything good he has done, I still believe that we must have Chauncey Billups to defeat the Celtics. I'm coming to the sad realization that Chauncey probably won't be 100% the rest of this season. That makes winning a championship extremely difficult.

Well, here's hoping things turn out better this evening. We've had a couple days to make some adjustments and hopefully we'll play with a sense of urgency and work to regain the momentum in this series. The game starts at 8:30 pm on ESPN. Let's go Pistons, win this Game 4!

All Square in the D

The Pistons continue their Eastern Conference Finals matchup with Boston tonight in the friendly confines of the Palace. The series is all tied up at 1 a piece. Detroit sent Boston to their first loss at home this postseason with a win on Thursday night. Thanks in no small part to the contribution of Rodney Stuckey. Stuck played great in his 15 minutes or so off the bench. He was hitting his open jumpers and driving the lane with no fear. He was referred to on many occasions as the next D-Wade by the TNT crew. I for one think he will be better than D-Wade for the simple fact that he is much stronger and won't bruise as easy as his counterpart in Miami.

Back to the series at hand though. Game 3 will be this evening and you can bet the Palace will be fired up for this one. Boston remember still hasn't won a road game this post season. It will be a tough task for them to achieve at the Palace at this late stage of the playoffs. I expect a fired up team this evening that is hitting on all cylinders. I llok for ths boys to take a 2-1 series lead tonight heading into game 4 on Memorial day. Enjoy the game this evening on ABC at 8:30pm and as always, GO PISTONS!

The Pistons are coming, the Pistons are coming!

Paul Revere went on a famous ride to announce the arrival of the British in Boston. Some one should probably let Boston know that the Pistons are coming. Weren't they already there for Game 1 you say? Not really. It might have been some guys in Detroit Blue, but it wasn't our Pistons. I'm hoping the real Pistons show up tonight. We'll see the tenacious D we've come accustomed too and better continuity on the offensive end as well. Hopefully Chauncey will be in a better flow that he was in Game 1 and realize he doesn't need to shoot all those jumpers early. He can take advantage down low on the box and get him in foul trouble. The Celtics don't have a very competent back up for him and when he was out i Game 1 is when we went on our runs. I'm still confident we can win this series by taking 1 in Boston. Here's hoping that will be tonight. Game 2 will be broadcast on ESPN at 8:30pm. Enjoy the game and GO PISTONS!

A Visit to Boston

The Pistons will face the Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals. All I'm looking for is the Pistons to steal one of the 1st 2 games in Boston. If we can do that, we will pretty much have the series. The Celtics have shown they absolutely can't win on the road. If you can't win in Atlanta in the postseason, you most definitely are not going to come into the Palace and take one. Detroit is possibly the most hostile road environment to play in; and you can bet the Detroit faithful will be out in force to back up the Pistons against the Celtics.

We definitely will be looking for big games from Chauncey and Rip. The Boston back court has looked terrible these last few games. The Pistons need to take it too them early and often and keep breaking their will. Tayshaun will have his hands full against Paul Pierce who is playing out of his mind this postseason. He single handily has kept Boston alive in a lot of games. Garnett will get his, and it's up to Sheed to keep pace. We should have the advantage at Center as well with McDyess vs Perkins. Antonio has really stepped up his play since the broken nose and is playing like a man possessed with winning a championship. Tuesday night is game 1 and it will be broadcast on ESPN at 8:30pm. enjoy the game, and as always GO PISTONS!

Awaiting An Opponent

The Pistons have handled their business. They dispatched of the Magic in 5 games, even without the services of Chauncey for basically 3 of those games as he went down very early in Game 3. Lindsey Hunter and Rodney Stuckey did a great job filling Mr Big Shot's shoes. The experience they gained will prove invaluable for the eastern Conference Finals, regardless of the opponent. The Celtics and Cavs continue to duke it out. Both of them still showing the inability to win a game on the road. This bodes well for the Pistons. We will see a very tired opponent in the next round. Chauncey will be rested and recovered. we have the ability to win on the road should we face Boston in the next round. I firmly believe we could take 1 of the first 2 games in Boston. And that would really be all we need as we've seen that Boston just flat out can't get it done on the road. No matter who we face, I like our chances to advance to the NBA Finals. This team has the feeling of a championship squad. They are winning on the road, overcoming adversity and injuries, and getting huge contributions from their role players. All of those ingredients add up to a Larry O'Brien trophy in June. Go Pistons!

A Chance to Clinch in the D!

The Pistons will look to clinch another trip to the Eastern Conference Finals tonight in Detroit. The Pistons won a huge Game 4 on the road without the services of Chauncey. This was thanked in large part to a huge game from Rip and a killer shot to clinch the win from Tay. Stuckey played well and Lindsey was huge off the bench; especially in the third quarter when he hit consecutive 3's during a huge Piston run to close the quarter. Chauncey will be a game time decision tonight. Joe D made it clear that the decision is totally Chauncey's to make. If he feels good, he can play, if not, then we roll with the rest of the crew. Game 5 will be broadcast this evening on TNT at 7pm. Lets go Pistons and lets send the Magic home to the golf course for the summer!

Tough Loss in Orlando; More Than Just the Game

I think we all knew the Magic were too good to get swept by the Pistons this year. Going to Orlando for games 3 and 4 I personally was hoping for a split. A split in the games mind you, not a split for Chauncey. There was definitely a loss bigger in the grand scheme of things last night than one game in the series. Early in the 1st quarter on a drive to the basket, Chauncey's feet got tied up with Jameer Nelson causing Chauncey to take an awkward fall doing the splits as he went down. It was diagnosed as a hamstring strain. The way the game had started, it certainly was a good idea in my opinion to rest him and hopefully get him back for Saturday. Hopefully Arnie Kander, the Pistons strength and conditioning coach can work his magic on Mr. Big Shot and have him ready for Saturday's game. If we can re-group and get a win going back to Detroit up 3-1, we'll be in prime shape for a series win. Get well soon Chauncey!

Game 3 in Orlando

Tonight the Pistons-Magic series shifts to Orlando with the Pistons up 2-0. You can bet the Magic will be primed and ready for this one. Especially with the news coming down that the NBA officially said that Chauncey's 3rd quarter 3 came with time expired. None the less, the people who blame the Magic's loss on this shot first off need to do the math, you lost by 7 points, not by 3. Also, if you read the full article with the statements from the NBA officials, they also say that the officials for the game made the correct call according to the rules in place at this time. Look, I'm all for re-play for shots at the end of a quarter. I believe it will ultimately get the call right for all teams all the time. But in this case, I'll take it. Every now and then you need the ball to bounce your way. I think we all know here that the Pistons usually aren't the team getting the benefit from the whistle or anything to do with the officials for that matter.

The Pistons will need exceptional games tonight from their front court guys, primarily on the defensive end. There's no question that Orlando is going to be very aggressive on the offensive end tonight. We also have to do a much better job on our rotation defense. If you watch the 3rd quarter of Game 2 when Orlando hit all those 3's, you will find most of them were not contested. The Magic were getting good open looks off of ball rotation. The Pistons have to tighten up their perimeter defense to limit those open looks. Other than that more of the same and I think we'll be fine. It also wouldn't hurt for Rip to get off the snide early as well.

This one will be broadcast at 8pm tonight on TNT. Go Pistons!

Forget the Contoversy; We're up 2-0

I'm sure the only thing everyone will talk about after this Piston win is Chauncey's 3 at the end of the 3rd quarter. After looking at the replay with the clock overlayed, it appears it was a tenth or 2 tenth's of a second late. However, let's analyze how many calls are questionable during a basketball game. Maybe they don't get replayed a hundred times like Chauncey's shot last night, but rest assured, they happen. Think of all the fouls that get assigned to the wrong player, continuation calls that are given or not given, shot clock violations that get called after the opposing team is already out on the fast break. The fact is, there are numerous things that happen during the course of a game that officials have to decide in a split second and many times they get it wrong. That's just the way it is. And, as a fan who hasn't missed a game in over 10 years, I can assure you the Pistons have been on the other side of this argument as well.


So, back to the game. The Magic certainly stepped up the effort last night. Howard was back to his normal self of 20+ points and 15+ rebounds. This guys is a beast and there's no way you're going to hold him down for a whole series. You just have to hope that if he goes off, you limit the production of the rest of the Magic team. Chauncey was again superb last night, even taking on the role of cheerleader. When he is aggressive, the rest of the Pistons follow suit and it makes the whole team better.

The next 2 games will be in Orlando with Game 3 tomorrow night @ 8pm on TNT. This will be the most difficult game for the Pistons. The Magic will be looking for payback after feeling robbed in Game 2 and they'll be in front of their home crowd. If the Pistons can steal this one, you might look for a sweep. However, the Pistons just need to get at least 1 game down there so they can come back home for a Game 5 closeout game.

The Statement Has Been Made!

It looks as if the Pistons we saw in the last couple games of the Philly series have shown up for this Orlando series as well. The Pistons dominated in Game 1 against the Magic Saturday night. The game was close at the halp but we came out firing on all cylinders in the 3rd quarter to put this one away. Granted, this is only one game, but if the Pistons keep this same game plan throughout the series, I believe they will be just fine. The barrage of big men we threw at Howard seemed to keep him off balance all night long. He never really got going and I only remember seeing him get 1 monster dunk.

On another note, Rashard Lewis needs to watch who he's trying to pick fights with. He may play the Power Forward, but he's in the weight classs of the ball boy. According to an article on ESPN, he had some words for the Rattler, but I assure you Rashard, you don't want to get bitten by the snake. Oh and if you didn't notice, J-Maxx was quick to come to the defense of his teammate, and I assure you that would be a motor-city beat down!

Chauncey also continued his absolute abuse of Jameer Nelson. Chauncey can get whatever he wants, whenever he wants in this matchup. I think this is the key matchup more than any other in this series. Howard is too good to be shut out the whole series and the other guys are going to make shots at some point. However, if we ever get into an offensive lull, all we have to do is go to this matchup and it's money in the bank.

Game 2 is tonight at 7pm on TNT. I'm sure the Magic will look to counter in this game. The Pistons will have to come out hard and take them out of this game early. You don't want them hanging around at the end with a chance to win. We don't want to lose a chance to go up 2-o on these guys and really send a message that we are ready for any challenge. Let's go Pistons!

Pistons Finish off Sixers

Well I'm happy to say that I was wrong about last night's game. I definately thought the Pistons would win this one, but I thought it would be much closer. The Pistons came out ready last night, knocking down shot after shot. Rip was absolutely on fire in the 1st quarter and got us rolling early. And everyone followed suit. The ball was moving well on offense and the defense was swarming all night long. Even the Zoo Crew came in at the beginning of the 4th quarter and kept it rolling. Amir Johnson had 10 points and 6 boards in like 8-9 minutes. I was glad the bench got some run at the end of this one. We are going to need them more in the next round.

Speaking of the next round, we will kick it off at home tomorrow night at 7:30pm against the Magic. The game will be televised nationally on TNT. I expect Rasheed to be up to the challenge of facing Dwight Howard. Sheed seems to revel in these moments of playing those who are at the top of their game. That is certainly the case with Howard. He averaged ridiculous numbers in the Toronto series, something like 22 points and 18 rebounds a game or something. I'm sure we will also see more of the Rattler (Theo Ratliff), in this series as well. He still has the height, strength, and defensive prowess to give Howard fits in spurts of the game. Here's hoping for us getting off to a good start in this series tomorrow and posting a W. Go Pistons!

Pistons Looking to Move On Tonight

The Pistons will be in Philly tonight for Game 6 of their series. This could be the closeout game with Detroit coming in up 3-2 in the series. Look for the Sixers to come out fighting in the 1st quarter and 1st half. I think the Pistons will have to absorb a lot of "punches" early on. Maybe the best we can hope for is to trade baskets for most of the 1st half and carry only a small lead if not a small deficit into the half. The hope has to be that the stiffling defense will wear the Sixers down over the course of the game and allow us to take over in the second half; much the same way we did in Game 4 in Philly.

Of course, I would much rather we just blow them out right off the bat. I'm just trying to be realistic and mention what I honestly think is going to happen. This Sixers team is not going to go quietly. They have fought hard the entire series and I expect no less this evening. They definately have the potential to be a good team for years to come with many bright young players and a lot of cap sapce over the next few seasons.



Tonight's game is the only NBA game this evening so it will be broadcast on TNT at 8pm. Or if you're like me and like to listen to my main man George Blaha, "Count that baby, and a foul." and "Special K," Greg Kelser, you can tune into your local MyNetwork affiliate for the call. Thanks and enjoy the game. Go Pistons!

Pistons Crush Sixers; Take 3-2 Series Lead

Well the Pistons definately left no doubt about this one. It was a solid effort on both ends of the court for the full 48 minutes. This is the kind of effort we have grown to love as Piston fans and are mystified when it disappears. As I've said before, when we play this way, we are virtually unbeatable. This is the kind of effort that if applied the rest of the playoffs, will result in a championship.



Chauncey decided to announce his presence in the series last night as well. He was playing like the Chauncey we've grown to love. He was dishing out assists left and right and hitting 3's in transition. He was driving the lane and drawing fouls and really setting the Pistons up for success all night long.



I look for the Pistons to close this one out on Thursday. I admit I was one of those fans getting upset after losing 2 games in this series. However, when you look back on it, we really only have had 1 bad game this series and that was game 3 in Philly. This is the game you would expect the Sixers to win since it was their 1st home playoff game in quite some time. If we wouldn't have had that rough stretch of 6-8 minutes in Game 1, we would have clinched the Series last night. So I guess it's important to keep everything in perspective.



Game 6 will be Thursday night in Philly and game time is 8pm. It will be broadcast on TV20 and TNT. Let's get this done Pistons and move on with Orlando coming to town on Saturday.

Game 5 Tonight in the D!

The Pistons will look to take the lead in their best of 7 series with the Sixers tonight and set up a close out game on Thursday when they meet for Game 5 tonight in Detroit. The Pistons showed their true colors in the second half of Game 4 playing stellar defense and playing unselfishly on offense. It is widely known that the winner of Game 5 in a tied series usually turns out to be the victor. The Pistons would do well to come out swinging and put this one to bed early. The Magic already moved on in their series, dispatching of the Raptors last night. They will be getting plenty of rest so the Pistons don't want to extend this series any longer than they already have.

Game 5 will be broadcast this evening on TV20 and NBA-TV @ 7pm.

On another note, it looks as if the Celtics are getting more than they bargained for from the Hawks as well. The upstart Hawks have won 2 in a row now to even the series at 2 a piece and assured themselves at least one more home game in the series. I certainly still believe the Celtics will prevail in this series, however it is nice to see another Eastern Conference power having to fight as well.

Weekend Recap

Well, the Pistons performance in Game 3 was certainly not anything to write home about, so we'll leave it at that.

When I watched the 1st half of Game 4 I though we were in for the same show. However, the real Pistons finally showed up in Philly in the second half yesterday. The defense was tenacious, the ball was moving on offense and we were consistently making the extra pass to get someone a wide open shot. This is the team the Pistons can be all of the time. When they play like that, they are unbeatable. Flip just has to find a way to get them in that mindset for every possession of every game.

I continue to be more impressed every game with the effort from Tayshaun Prince. He is playing excellent defense on A.I. and still getting his own on offense. I think he could possibly the most underrated player in the NBA. Let's make sure we as Piston fans appreciate him for what he does and give him the love that he deserves.

Game 5 will be Tuesday night at the Palace at 7pm. The Pistons need to be focused on bringing the effort from Game 2 and the second half of Game 4. If they do this and win Game 5, I believe it will finally break the spirit of the young Sixers. Then we would return to Philly for a series clinching Game 6 on Thursday. And, say what you want about the Pistons focus, but in closeout games, they are virtually unbeatable.

Game 3 Tonight

The Series shifts to Philly tonight for Game 3. Coming off there thumping of the Sixers on Wednesday, the Pistons need to keep the pedal to the metal tonight and reclaim home court advantage from the Sixers. The Pistons are fully capable of taking both of these games in Philly if they put their minds to it. It was nice to see Rip get going in Game 2. Even though it was a blowout in the 4th quarter, I thought it was a good move by Flip to leave Rip-City in the game to get some reps and really get his stroke back shooting the ball. These next 2 games are a homecoming of sorts for both 'Sheed and Rip as both hale from the Philly area. Here's hoping they put on a good show for their hometown friends and family and help the Pistons bring home a win tonight!



The game will be televised on ESPN2 @ 7pm.

The Giant is Awake!

Well it looks like the Sixers roused the sleeping giant on Sunday. The Pistons came out in full force last night. I was particularly impressed with the play of Tayshaun and 'Dyess. Both of these guys came out and established themselves early and set the tone for the entire night. When 'Dyess had that slam back after the offensive rebound, I had flashbacks to his early days in Denver when he routinely took it to the hole with authority.

Then there was Jason Maxiell. Boy did he bring the intensity again last night. He has proved to be an invaluable spark plug to this team. The huge block on Jason Smith surely sent a message when Max erased his dunk attempt. It also didn't hurt that J-Max' only 2 points came on this absolute poster job of Smith as well!

The Pistons surely sent a message in this game. However, they really need to make sure this intensity carries over to Philly on Friday. If they continue to play this way, we should take both games in Philadelphia, which would be ideal. The Pistons showed once again that when they put their mind to it, they can dominate any team on any given night. Also, Chauncey didn't even score until the 3rd quarter! I'd like to see Mr. Big Shot take it to Andre Miller a little bit more. However, if everybody else continuesto roll like they did last night, I guess I'm fine with that too. Go Pistons!

Must Win Wednesday

The Pistons will be in "must win" mode tonight, and personally I believe they will deliver. I think they got a wake up call on Sunday. And when you think about it, wouldn't you rather have that come in Game 1 of Round 1 as opposed to sometime in the Eastern Conference Finals like last year? I look for Chauncey and Rip to both be very aggressive out of the gate tonight. If they get hot early, the Pistons will dominate. The game will be televised on your local MyNetwork affiliate, channel 18 in the Muskegon area on Comcast. Tip-off is set for 7:30pm. Let's get this engine firing and GO PISTONS!!!

Sunday Letdown

OK, I admit it, I haven't been on here because I've been totally upset by the Pistons Sunday loss. I really didn't expect the boys to come out on the 1st game of the playoffs and give it up late to the upstart Sixers. However, I'm also keeping this loss in perspective. "We will win Game 2," as the great 'Sheed once said. This series will probably go 6 games now though. Unfortunately we won't be as rested as I would have liked for a 2nd round series. We just have to put the pedal to the metal now. The Sixers if anything have given us a wake up call and shown us not to take anything for granted and to go out there and leave everything on the floor every single game in our march to another championship!

Breakin' the Wednesday Curse, Playoffs Here We Come!

Well, the Pistons closed out the season on a high note with a thrashing of the Cleveland reserves. It also was the 1st time we had won a game on a Wednesday in 8 weeks. That was good since game 2 of our 1st round series against Philly is on a Wednesday. The Playoffs kick off this Sunday at the Palace at 6pm. The game will be televised on TNT. I look for Detroit to dispatch the Sixers in 5 games. I think the only loss will come in Game 3 in Philly. They will be amped up for their 1st home playoff game of the year, and it should prove to be their best chance at a win in the series.

If you'd like a bracket for the NBA playoffs, head over to Need-4-Sheed and print it out. Natalie does a great job over there of having all kinds of multi-media stuff prepared for us Piston fans. Her wallpapers grace all of my computers both at work and at home. Keep up the good work Natalie!

Pistons Clinch NBA's 2nd Best Record; Under the Radar?

With their win over the hapless T-Pups on Tuesday night, the Pistons clinched the NBA's 2nd best record this season. Their win total of 58 so far, (they still play Cleveland tonight) is 4th best all-time for the Pistons franchise. This was supposed to be the year the Pistons took a step back while developing their younger guys and integrating McDyess into the starting lineup. Well, that obviously hasn't happened. They have continued to play well and have positioned themselves right where they want to be, right behind the leader, and looking to hunt them down.

On another note, this has to be the least covered #2 team I've ever seen. The major media outlets continue to discuss Boston and what's going on out West. This is totally fine with the Pistons though. The disrespect and low expectations motivate this team. They love to prove everyone wrong and show them what we are capable of, regardless of the expectations.

Tonight's regular season finale will be in Cleveland and will be broadcast on MyTV 20 at 7pm. With the 2nd best record wrapped up and Cleveland being gifted the #4 spot on Monday courtesy of a questionable late game call, tonight may be a throw away game for both teams. However, I still hate Cleveland and still love beating them, regardless who is on the floor. If it's our reserves against theirs, I like our chances. Go Pistons!

Timberwolves in town for Fan Appreciation Night!

The Timberwolves will be in town tonight for the final home game of the regular season. As has been the tradition the last few years, it will be fan appreciation day tonight at the Palace. If you are fortunate enough to be at the game this evening, you are in for a treat. The Pistons will have a ton of giveaways, prizes and promotions.

At this point, the Pistons are locked in to playing the Sixers in the 1st round. The Sixers can still tie the Raptors record, but Toronto owns the tiebreaker. The Pistons have lost their last 2 games to Philly, but mind you, those games were played mostly by Detroit reserves and were still extremely close games. With these last 2 games being meaningless, expect to see a heavy dose of the Zoo Crew. The more confidence these guys can build, the better.

The game will be broadcast this evening on FSN-Detroit at 7:30pm.

On a side note, if you are a TRUE Pistons fan, you need this for your computer.

Weekend Recap

The Pistons closed out another successful weekend on Sunday. I was at the game on Friday and witnessed the absolute blowout of the Wizards. Jason Maxiell was huge with a career high 28 points. He had the full bevvy of moves on display, from catching lobs from Rip to hitting turn-around fadeaways on guys. He sure is shaping up to be a special player. I personally think we will see him starting next season and seeing 'Dyess returning to his favored spot of 6th man.

The Raptors put up much more of a fight on Sunday. Chris Bosh was getting whatever he wanted. The Pistons however, were able to hold the rest of the Raptors in check. Flip stayed true to form in playing the 2nd unit down the stretch. I was proud of them, not only did they maintain the lead, but they built on it. You can see the confidence growing in this group each and every game. Things are definately heading in the right direction heading into the playoffs.

Monday postseason matchup update

Wizards will try to work magic in Detroit

The Wizards come into Detroit tonight, winners of 3 in a row and fresh off their season sweep of the Celtics. The Wizards are coming together at the right time with Arenas coming back from what has been basically a season long injury. The Pistons should get Rip back tonight, and his firepower is definately needed. The offense has looked off in these 2 consecutive losses. Hopefully Rip can come back and provide that scoring punch in the 1st quarter that has been sorely missed.

With 4 games left in the regular season, our 1st round matchup still looks like it should be the Raptors. However, a look at the current standings shows they're still could be some movement in those bottom teams as most of them are only 1 or 2 games apart. The game will be broadcast tonight on FSN Detroit at 8pm. I'll be at the game live and in person this evening. I'll be sitting in the first row above the tunnel the Pistons so look for he on the broadcast! enjoy the game.

Another Philly Loss

For the second time in the last few weeks, the Pistons came up short to the Sixers. Our starters played very few minutes once again. The Zoo Crew put up a fight, but a Philly team that is feeling really good about itself right now was too much to handle. If the playoffs started today, we'd be playing Toronto. The Raptors are 4 and 6 in their last 10 games and kind of struggling to find their way as of late. I can tell you I definately don't want to see the Wizards in the 1st round. They are playing great tight now with Agent 0 coming back, and they took care of business against the Celtics last night. Keep in mind, the Celtics weren't resting their guys last night like we did. Do you think that the C's are getting worried about a possible playoff matchup against the Wizards? Right now, the Wiz are the 5th seed, only 2 back of Cleveland. They could still possibly catch them, and even if they don't, I still think they take them down in the 1st round. The Wiz would then face the Celtics in the 2nd round. I believe the Wiz have taken down the C's 3 times this year. Right now, the Wiz may be the Pistons best friend.

Rasheed, Our Gentle Giant

Rasheed Wallace has a reputation around the league. Many outsiders consider him demonstrative and outrageous. However, Eric Adelson of ESPN the magazine has written a nice article that takes a deeper insightful look at our beloved big man. It's a nice read and gives a closer look into a side of Sheed that many don't see. We love you Sheed!

Isiah's Knicks Ruin Celebration

On a night that celebrated the rich heritage of the Pistons organization, the bench couldn't quite squeeze out a win against the Knicks. The starters played limited minutes and at one point our boys were down by 25. The Zoo Crew did bring some intensity in the 4th quarter. They closed the quarter with a flurry nearly taking the game to OT or possibly even a chance at a winning shot. Mardy Collins however, sank a crazy off balance shot with the 24 second clock expiring to put the Knicks up by 4 with less than 10 seconds remaining.

On a more positive note, the festivities prior to the game were awesome! Seeing all of those players gathered together was really a treat. I personally feel the panel did a great job in selecting the top 30 Pistons of all time. But as Isiah mentioned, it sure would have been nice to see The Worm make his return to the Palace. Rodman really went downhill emotionally and mentally after leaving Detroit. I personally choose to remember him from his early days in Detroit when he played defense with reckless abandon, wasn't covered in tattoos, piercings, and tri-colored hair. I'd really like to see Dennis come back and be a part of the Piston family.

The Pistons will be in Philly tonight in what again could be a possible 1st round matchup. Philly came to Detroit a couple weeks ago and did a number on the Pistons. I for one am looking for payback and want our guys to send a message. However, I'm sure Flip will continue to rest the starters due to the fact that we are already locked into the #2 slot. This is your chance Zoo Crew, make us proud! The game will be televised on FSN-Detroit and game time is set for 7pm. Enjoy the game.

All Time Pistons Celebration!

Tonight, the Knicks will be paying a visit to the Palace. Looking at the schedule, this looks like a fairly meaningless game. However, I warn you, you don't want to miss this one. The Pistons will be having a celebration tonight to commemorate the all-time Pistons team! It will be great to see all of the former Piston greats gathered together. The Pistons are quite rich in basketball heritage. With greats the likes of Dave Bing, Bob Lanier, Isiah Thomas, Joe Dumars, Chuck Daly, and one of my personal favorites The WORM! (Dennis Rodman for you new Piston fans.)

The naming of the all-time Pistons team will occur tonight as well. I'm very excited to see who makes it. We have several Hall-of-Famers in our past. Not to mention, we'll soon have 2 more. Mr Davidson, the Pistons long-time and innovative owner will be inducted this year along with one of my favorite former Pistons, Adrian Dantley. I was so sad to see AD miss out on getting a ring with us as he was instrumental in the Pistons rise to greatness. I'm glad to see he's being rewarded with a hall of fame nod. Mr Davidson has always been great to the Pistons. He was the first to buy his team their very own private jet. He built the Palace with largely if not all of his own funds. I personally love that. We don't have some farmed out name on our home court like Conseco or American Airlines or something like that. Thank you Mr D!

The game can be seen tonight at 7:30pm on your local MyNetwork affiliate. Enjoy the game and the festivities!

Weekend Recap

The Pistons blew by both the Nets and Heat this weekend. They won both games easily while still getting rest for Rip Hamilton and Antonio McDyess in the Miami game. Rodney Stuckey continues to shine in extended minutes. He has to be gaining more confidence in every game, and I'm sure his teammates and coaches are gaining more confidence in him. He will be counted on to continue to provide quality minutes in the coming post season.

In addition to extending their current win streak, the Pistons also locked up the #2 seed in the East with their win on Sunday. I believe this is really where the Pistons wanted to be all along. The they like to be the hunter rather than the hunted. This way they handle their business in the 1st 2 rounds and then slay the dragon to go to the NBA finals!

A Visit from the Nets tonight in Motown

Tonight the Nets pay a visit to the Palace. New Jersey comes into the game on a 3 game losing streak. Even though the Nets will more than likely not be a playoff team this season, they still always play us tough. I look forward to hopefully seeing a lot more of Rodney Stuckey tonight. He probably won't start again, but I'd like to see him matched up against another run-and-gun PG in Devin Harris. The game tips off at 8pm and will be broadcast on FSN-Detroit. Enjoy the game!

Pistons Collar the Young T-Pups

Despite spotting the Timberwolves a 21 point lead in the 1st half and playing without Sheed, Rip, and Chauncey, the Pistons still managed to beat the Timberwolves in Minnesota last night. All of the reserves played well in an expanded role. However, special kudos have to be given to Rodney Stuckey. Not only did he score a career high 27 points, but he took over the game in the 4th quarter scoring 12. He was cool and collected at the free throw line. He was aggressive all night long, attacking the rim with wreck-less abandon. The more I watch Hot-Rod, the more I am excited about his potential.

As for the starters sitting last night, an article in the Detroit News stated that the plan is to let the guys pick 1 or 2 games to rest the remainder of the season. Flip still wants them playing and practicing to stay fresh. I think it's a good idea and so does Chauncey.

We're Movin' On Up (movin on up) In the East Side...

The Pistons moved into the top 5 in the Power Rankings on both the NBA website and on ESPN.

NBA - http://www.nba.com/powerrankings/

ESPN - http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/powerranking?season=2008&week=22

I don't know about anybody else but I get sick and tired of everybody saying how great the West is. I know they have many teams with good records, however the Pistons and Celtics continue to be in the top 5 in the Power Rankings and have the NBA's 2 best records. I personally like where the Pistons are sitting. Going into the playoffs in the championship year of 2004, they were the #2 seed in the East. No one expected them to go to the Finals, let alone win it. Much the same this year, everyone is singing the praises of the Celtics. Try to remember though how the teams with the best record have fared the last few seasons. The Pistons are right where they need to be, poised for another title run.

Weekly Preview

The Pistons should get a chance to really fine tune some things this week as well as get some playing time for the bench in preparation for the playoffs. Here is a brief look at their next 3 games.

• Tue. 4/1 @ Minnesota - 8pm - My TV20 - The T-Wolves have been really tough this season, April Fools! Seriously though, the young Wolves have stepped it up against some of the tougher NBA teams this year. Al Jefferson is a beast inside and will be a good test for our big men.
• Fri. 4/4 vs New Jersey - 8pm - FSND - The Nets are fighting for their playoff lives so expect a battle. While Devin Harris is no Jason Kidd, he still pushes the ball and scores at a much higher clip than Kidd. Look for Stuckey to get some run against a fellow scoring, up-tempo PG.
• Sun. 4/6 @ Miami - 1pm - ABC - This game is slated for national TV, however much like their home game against the Heat was yanked from TNT, I wouldn't be surprised if the same happens here as this game will pretty much be meaningless for both teams. We'll look for an update if that happens. I still want to see the game; watching the Pistons beat up on the Heat makes me so happy!

Pistons Rope and Tie Up the Cavs!

This game was definitely fun to watch. The Pistons were ready from the opening tip and didn't let up the entire night. Their defensive was especially impressive. I was worried a little bit that Cleveland would come out of the half with a vengeance. Chauncey put those fears to rest quickly as he scored 7 straight on Damon Jones (self-proclaimed best dressed player in the NBA). Needless to say, he can't play defense.

Another thing I've noticed about Cleveland is they have not played as well since the trade. Don't get me wrong, I'm not feeling sorry for them. It's nice to see other teams try so desperately to keep up with the Pistons and not be able to make the right deals. It just makes me appreciate the job Joe Dumars has done that much more.

Pistons Cool off the Heat - Clinch Division Title

Well, thanks to our friends at TNT, unless you saw this one live at the Palace, you didn't see it at all. I was one of those angry fans. Because the Heat have really fallen from grace, this one was pulled from national TV. Oh well, while following the game on-line it appeared not to be too pretty anyway. Aaron Afflalo had a career night with 15 points. Let me say, with all the buzz around Stuckey, I am continually impressed with AA. He plays solid defense, has good size, doesn't turn it over and plays very smart. He plays within himself, never trying to do to much. I think the future of the Pistons backcourt looks to be in good hands with our 2 stellar rookies.

On another note, the Pistons clinched another Central Division title. I know a lot of us spoiled Piston fans are ho-hum about this achievement. But lets take a moment to reflect and appreciate what this team continues to achieve. I believe the Pistons are in as good as a position as they've been in a long time. They have a young, athletic bench that really gets after it. This will be a huge asset this post-season. An asset we haven't had since 2003-04.

Pistons look Jurassic in visit to Raptors

Let me say this first off, the Pistons better pray that they don't have any playoff games scheduled on a Wednesday. Last night's loss makes it 6 losses in a row on Wednesdays. The Pistons looked out of sync all night. It wasn't until Stuckey and Amir teamed up for a 4th quarter run that we started to look like we had something going. Rasheed and Chauncey both posted good numbers but missed 3-pointers when it counted in the 4th. This last full month of the season has been the most inconsistent all season. Flip needs to find a way to right the ship and get us on a roll heading into the playoffs.

As mentioned yesterday, the Pistons magic number was 2 to clinch the Central Division. By virtue of Cleveland's loss last night we now have a tie for the division and can clinch it outright with a win tonight at home versus woeful Miami. The game will be televised nationally on TNT at 8pm. However, don't look for the Pistons to be too excited with a division clinching win this evening. Chauncey said after last nights loss that division titles and even Eastern Conference titles don't matter much anymore. And as Rasheed would say, It's all about that "ship"(championship for those of you who don't speak Rasheed.) Let's continue to keep that focus fellas and get it done as Champs in 2008!

Pistons North of the Border Tonight

The Pistons will look to break their recent streak of ineptness on Wednesdays tonight in Toronto. Coming into tonight's game, our boys have lost 5 games in a row on Wednesdays. I don't know why it is, but for some reason we can't get over hump day.

Toronto comes into the game losers of 2 straight and fighting to get out of the 7th spot in the East. If the playoffs started today, this would be your first round matchup. However, Toronto is only 1 game out of the 5th spot. As a potential 1st round matchup, the Pistons need to send a message tonight. Rip will be a game time decision with the sore hip. But, as we saw on Monday, Afflalo and Stuckey will be prepared to step up if called upon.

On another note, the Pistons magic number to clinch the Central Division title is 2. That means any combination of Piston wins and Cleveland losses. We have a definite shot of making this happen tonight. We have a very winnable game in Toronto and the Cavs face a tough test at home with the Hornets coming to town.

The Sun doesn't shine in Detroit

These aren't very "Sunny" days in the state of Michigan. The Phoenix Suns rolled into Motown on an NBA best 7 game win-streak. Even without Rip, the Pistons provided all the firepower needed to douse the potent Suns attack. Mr. Big Shot lived up to his name going toe to toe with Steve Nash all night long. When it mattered most in OT, Chauncey continued to deliver. The stellar defense of Rasheed on Amare can't be overlooked down the stretch, especially a huge block late in OT.

It was nice to see the entire team step up in the absence of Rip and get it done against one of the top teams in the West. This game provided valuable experience for Stuckey and Afflalo. I was a little surprised that Phoenix didn't try to attack Stcukey more in overtime. However, to his credit, Rodney has proved to be up to the challenge.

Pistons Pay a Visit to the Capital City

The Pistons will be in Washington tonight looking to get back to their winning ways. The Wiz are another potential 1st round opponent for the Pistons so I'm sure they are looking at this game as a scouting opportunity. The Wiz have proved quite resilient this year despite losing Gilbert Arenas for almost the entire year and Caron Butler for a couple of long stretches. Hopefully our boys don't get caught looking ahead to their next game with the high-powered Phoenix Suns. Let's take care of business in the Capital tonight!

This game will be televised nationally at 8pm on ESPN.

C's complete Texas 3-Step

No team had swept the Texas triangle in 7 years; that is until the Celtics completed that feat last night. The Celtics took the Mavs out of their game, forcing them to play in the half court most of the night. It is becoming more apparent every game that the Pistons and Celtics are on a collision course in the Eastern Conference Finals. And believe me, the Pistons will be ready!

Wednesday Dud

The Pistons couldn't get it going in Cleveland last night. After lighting it up Tuesday against Denver, they couldn't find the basket on Wednesday. Last nights loss makes us 0and 3 on Wednesday's in the month of March. Hopefully we can buck the trend in Toronto next week.