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.