Detroit Pistons Season Thread

[Hito 0]

Ya want an opinion on darko? His strongest area is blocking. The kid can sky and swat the rock out of the air like it is just an annoying fly. His weak areas are pretty much everything else. He always seems slow and gets burned regularly on defense, and his offense...well, Im not sure he really has one beyond throwing a shot in the general direction of the hoop and praying.

Everybody said the kid can play, but even when Flip was giving him minutes early in games he wasn't producing. At some point I'd like to see what he does over a long strech of playtime for several games, maybe he just sucks off the bench and needs 5 minutes to get into his thing (if he has a thing).

as for trading for Artest, **** NO. And I don't even care about the brawl, I think the guys is to egocentric to be on the team. Any team with him on it will have to be about ron artest (he's not as bad as kobe, but still, no way he'll play second fiddle), and that's just not the Pistons. Bringing him in would be poison to the team chemistry

[Aussie_Wing 354]

I must admit, the only two times Darko has ever started in his career, he actually performed quite well. In one of these games he had 16 points on 7-11 shooting to go with 6 rebounds. So maybe all he needs is to have an oppertunity to show that he can play, he just needs the time. And as you said, he is a great shot-blocker.

[BlueMonk 102]

The worst stretch of schedule the Pistons face all season just ended with that Utah game. They played only 6 of their first 18 games at home, and most of those roadies were on the West coast and involved some back to backs against really good teams. They've got one more at home tonight against Chicago, then a couple more on the road before coming home for an extended stretch for the first time this season.

I'm happy with the Pistons' start, especially in light of the rough schedule. If you told me they'd start out 10-2 on the road before the season started, I'd have never believed it. This team started 15-13 last year and went on to win 54 games. They're 16-3 right now! And, again, with a schedule that won't get any harder than it's already been. So far, so good.

[Hito 0]

Yeah, I'm sorry to say, but it looks like all the analysts that picked the Pacers and Heat to come out of the east are fast being made to look foolish by the Pistons.....again.

Scary thing is there is no reason we cant keep this starting line up for several more years to come. I can see the Pistons and Spurs going at it in the finals a few more times.

[Guest youssp9]

Chicago @ Detroit @ 8:00. it should be a jump shooting night.

[Aussie_Wing 354]

Detroit 110 Bulls 82

Well I called to see more of Carlos Delfino, and he one of the first off the bench tonight, he even came on before Evans. He contributed 5 points, 4 rebounds and 5 assists in almost 21 minutes.

Arroyo had 11 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, Evans 13 points and McDyess 8.

I think the Pistons are in a very intriguing situation with Milicic. We may consider trading him at the deadline, and in return we could get a good bench player capable of putting up 10-15 points every night. Or we could keep him and continue to watch his development.

Edited December 17, 2005 by Aussie_Wing

[betterREDthandead 58]

Even Rasheed wants the Lions to Fire Millen.

[Aussie_Wing 354]

All-Star Voting:

Richard Hamilton: 22.1 ppg (51%).

Votes: 97,264

Vince Carter: 21.5 ppg (45.2%).

Votes: 363,482

JOKE, WHAT A JOKE!

[dallas27 7]

"That's why you don't let the fans vote"

-Charles Barkley on the All-Star game voting

I agree Charles, I agree. They have 3 legitimate all-stars in Ben, Chauncey, and Rip but none will make except maybe Ben.

Oh yea, nobody will beat the Pistons in the playoffs this year...

[Aussie_Wing 354]

Detroit 103 Charlotte 78

No one played more than 34 minutes. Prince, Rasheed and Hamilton all played under 30 minutes which is good to see.

Some good signs regarding the bench. McDyess (4-6) & Evans (4-7) combined for 20 points. Once again Carlos Delfino played more than Arroyo, and he was pretty solid. 19 minutes, 8 pts (4-7), 4 rbs, 2 assists and he also had a monster dunk. Darko had a dunk, and assist and a block in 3 minutes.

[Aussie_Wing 354]

Very interesting read.

Passive Milicic earns more time on bench

"I noticed the same thing you noticed," coach Flip Saunders said, when asked about Milicic's 2-point, 2-rebound performance. "I told him and I have told all of our players -- nothing is given. You earn your minutes. You earn what you get. What we're going to do is put guys on the floor that are going to compete on a daily basis."

"Sometimes, in this league, it's about being mentally tough," Saunders said. "Things aren't always going to go as you want them to go. What you have to do is battle through those times. Darko is no different that anybody else."

"He's only 20 years old but sooner or later age isn't going to be an excuse," Saunders said.

Milicic

I feel the end of Darko in Detroit is near.

[betterREDthandead 58]

I would like to see them try this. Tell Darko he's going to get a tryout: guarantee him 40 minutes against Miami. (Why Miami? Shaq.) Give him the 40 minutes and see how he does. If he sulks his way through the game, then it's back to the Human Victory Cigar and struggling to earn his minutes. If he excels, and goes out there and plays like he should, and maybe he gets abused but he doesn't back down anyway, then start to get him in more games. But only give him the one shot. I'm getting a little tired of the moping.

[Aussie_Wing 354]

Yeh that's not a bad idea, it may be the only way to solve this situation. Guarantee him time and see if he performs. If he does, we know it’s just that his attitude stinks, and if he doesn’t he’s obviously not ready.

[dallas27 7]

I would like to see them try this. Tell Darko he's going to get a tryout: guarantee him 40 minutes against Miami. (Why Miami? Shaq.) Give him the 40 minutes and see how he does. If he sulks his way through the game, then it's back to the Human Victory Cigar and struggling to earn his minutes. If he excels, and goes out there and plays like he should, and maybe he gets abused but he doesn't back down anyway, then start to get him in more games. But only give him the one shot. I'm getting a little tired of the moping.

Ummmmmm.....I'd rather not lose that game. Darko playing 40 minutes would be suicide.

[BlueMonk 102]

Ben's complaints about the team's lack of ball movement and defense were well received, I'd say. Ben's looked like himself on the boards and protecting the paint, pulling down his usual rebounds and blocking shots like normal since the Utah game.

The Spurs lost again last night, they're struggling without Ginobili, and Duncan is not playing well in back to back games so far this year. If the Pistons can keep winning and put some distance between themselves and San Antonio in the standings, that would be huge. Home court advantage would almost certainly decide a playoff series between those teams.

Of course, there's a lot of basketball to be played between now and then. And the Heat will definitely have something to say about a Finals matchup. But it's a good goal to have, earning the top seed overall. The Pistons players repeatedly state that ambition, and it's nice to hear. The team went 15-13 to start the season last year, and still won 54 games. A great start like should mean more wins, especially considering how many road games they've played so far, with the worst stretch of schedule already behind them.

Big roadie in Memphis tonight. Memphis is a very good team so far, playing outstanding defense. They swept the Pistons last year, so hopefully the Pistons are up big time for this one. After this game, 5 straight at home. Finally.

[dallas27 7]

Miami is over-rated, I've said it before. I'm liking how the spot light is on Miami now because of Riley. Riley is going to keep continously feeding it into Shaq come playoff time and the Pistons have proved time in and time out that they have no problem with that. General concesous(sp?) now is that in order for Miami to stand a little chance against Detroit the Heat have to start getting it together. With Riley in place now I do expect them to show that sign but it's not going to be enough to dethrone the ECF Champs.

I think the bigger chance is out West in Dallas upsetting San Antonio in the WCF. Please not that the bigger chance does not mean Dallas has a 99.9999999% chance of beating them, just a bigger chance than Miami overtaking Detroit.

Edited December 20, 2005 by dallas27

[betterREDthandead 58]

Ummmmmm.....I'd rather not lose that game. Darko playing 40 minutes would be suicide.

In which Darko would see that his lack of effort would cost his team games if he keeps it up. I only suggest this because it looks as though the Pistons can afford a throwaway. And I don't think it has to be a throwaway....if Darko replaces Ben for most of the game, it's not like they lose much offense, Chauncey and crew can continue to do their thing. And that's even assuming Darko would be useless on offense, which I don't think he would be.

[BlueMonk 102]

That win in Memphis was a battle. It was a tough game to watch. The officials and timekeeper couldn't do anything right. The OTs seemed to last an hour each, hardly a possession going by without a foul, timeout or conference between officials. It's a freakin' clock, for pete's sake! How hard can it be to start and stop it at the right times?

Anyway, the Pistons won a really tough game against a good team on the road. They get a lot of home games now, which is nice. Only 8 of the first 22 games at home so far, the lowest total in the NBA. And the best record. You couldn't ask for a much better start, really.

[dallas27 7]

In which Darko would see that his lack of effort would cost his team games if he keeps it up.  I only suggest this because it looks as though the Pistons can afford a throwaway.  And I don't think it has to be a throwaway....if Darko replaces Ben for most of the game, it's not like they lose much offense, Chauncey and crew can continue to do their thing.  And that's even assuming Darko would be useless on offense, which I don't think he would be.

But they lose a s**t ton on defense. You have any idea how many points Shaq would put up on Darko? I would be willing to bet that if Shaq heard the idea of Darko playing 40 minutes he would be salivating from the mouth more than Homer Simpson for the next week.

Costs his team games if he keeps it up? Ummmmm.....ok? Because games depend on how much effort Darko puts out there? The starters decided whether or not they want to win or lose, they are that good. It's to the point where a 20 point deficit doesn't even scare me becuase I know they can go on a 15-0 run within a couple minutes and cut it down to 5, especially the way they have been dropping the three ball in.

When you are trying to get home court advantage throughout the whole playoffs and playing against a huge conference rival I don't think that is a throwaway game. Ben has been getting 10+ points a night the past 5-6 games.

Flip has stated that the bench plays for their minutes, you earn them. Obviously Darko hasn't showed enough to warrant little if any playing time. Playing him 40 minutes is just dumb. If I were to give him any playing time it would be 10 in the first half and 10 in the second half. Nothing more. Maybe less. He is still far away from being a viable back up to Ben especially with Dale Davis on the team.

Edited December 20, 2005 by dallas27

[johnogrodnickfanclub 0]

a couple concerns...

i think we rely on the 3-pointer a wee bit too much. sure, it's fall now. but i hope we can still smash teams when the long ball is not falling.

and i wish we rebounded better as a team. ben is the only reliable rebounder...tay and sheed rebound when they want to. overall, we don't rebound too good. seems like we get out rebounded on most nights.

as for darko playing 40 minutes? please...the kid would foul out in 20 minutes! seems like he picks up 2 fouls when he plays even 5 minutes off the bench!

[Cruiser008 37]

20-3 after last night's win. All I can say is WOW.

I'm gonna be at the game Friday night against G-State (birthday present). Should be fun!

[Aussie_Wing 354]

Thought you could all do with a laugh? According to TSN:

C.Billups- Flaws/Career potential:

Billups is not much of a defender or rebounder and needs to take better care of the basketball. Has finally settled into the role of a starting point guard and should remain there for another year or two.

Billups is only 29, what is going to stop him from being a started for another 5+ years? Plus I think he is quite a good defender.

R. Hamilton- Flaws:

Can be prone to taking too many three-pointers.

Since when does Rip take too many 3's? He barely takes them, he would be averaging about 1 or 2 a game.

[Guest youssp9]

I cant believe what I just heared. The host from around the horn just asked 6 tv analists if the pistons as of December 21st would win the NBA championsip. ONLY 1 of 6 analists said the pistons would win the championship. And all the rest of 4 of 6 said that the spurs would win it! Just to point somthing out, when the spurs loose manu ginobli to an injury they spurs stink. But win the pistons loose someone like Rip Hamilton we are still good. And yet they still pick the Spurs to win over the Pistons. We will see come playoff time.

[Guest youssp9]

Thought you could all do with a laugh? According to TSN:

C.Billups- Flaws/Career potential:

Billups is not much of a defender or rebounder and needs to take better care of the basketball. Has finally settled into the role of a starting point guard and should remain there for another year or two.

Billups is only 29, what is going to stop him from being a started for another 5+ years? Plus I think he is quite a good defender.

R. Hamilton- Flaws:

Can be prone to taking too many three-pointers.

Since when does Rip take too many 3's? He barely takes them, he would be averaging about 1 or 2 a game.

TSN probably didnt update those stats since 2000.

[betterREDthandead 58]

Thought you could all do with a laugh? According to TSN:

C.Billups- Flaws/Career potential:

Billups is not much of a defender or rebounder and needs to take better care of the basketball. Has finally settled into the role of a starting point guard and should remain there for another year or two.

Billups is only 29, what is going to stop him from being a started for another 5+ years? Plus I think he is quite a good defender.

R. Hamilton- Flaws:

Can be prone to taking too many three-pointers.

Since when does Rip take too many 3's? He barely takes them, he would be averaging about 1 or 2 a game.

yyyyyyyeah, basketball is not TSN's strong suit. the Raptors are the only team in Canada anyway and they are pretty pathetic.