Game 71: Detroit Pistons (36-34) @ Phoenix Suns (17-55)

[_Und3r][D4wg_]

Thankfully, the Suns finally remembered that they're supposed to be tanking... Had Jimmer played, this would've been a sure L. /s

[DETermination]

Wayne has been great lately

[DetroitPistons]

This should've been the result at CLE. This was important with some very difficult games coming up.

[Cowology]

It's amazing how different we look with a healthy Ish and multiple shooters.

We are still gonna get rolled in the 1st round, but this is the first time I've actually enjoyed watching us play in years. We are moving with and without the ball and actually starting to play like a team. The defensive intensity is still inconsistent, but it's getting better.

[GimmeDat]

How's Thon going? Obviously the %'s are not pretty at all, seems like he's been playing a little better lately though. Blocking shots at a solid rate and from the clips I've seen it's the most passing flashes I've seen out of him.

[El Chivo]

At least he doesn't hurt us like Stanley Johnson did. And he brings energy.

[Billl]

How's Thon going? Obviously the %'s are not pretty at all, seems like he's been playing a little better lately though. Blocking shots at a solid rate and from the clips I've seen it's the most passing flashes I've seen out of him.

Meh. He's playing like someone you might pick out of the G league. He plays hard and does a couple things OK, but there are obvious glaring holes in his game. The good part about him is that he's playing within himself. His hands suck, so he's still turning the ball over, but it's more of the "I missed a catch" variety then the "I'm forcing a play" variety. I don't think there is much chance of him being a starter, but he's showing the effort and attitude you need to survive as a bench player. If you are 7 ft tall and block the occasional shot and have range and are willing to just do whatever the coach tells you to, you can probably stick on an NBA roster.

[Snakebites]

How's Thon going? Obviously the %'s are not pretty at all, seems like he's been playing a little better lately though. Blocking shots at a solid rate and from the clips I've seen it's the most passing flashes I've seen out of him.

He's mostly bad but every now and then he'll get a cool looking block or a three pointer.

You can definitely put together a solid looking clip show with his play for us but everything outside that is rather rough.

He has a really hard time catching the ball and has a tendency to get his shot blocked by far shorter players because he has to come down with it before he takes a shot.

I won't say I hate the guy- it's not as though we gave up a ton to get him or invested much capital in him, and he seems like an okay guy, but in my mind he's struggled quite a bit.

[Manocad]

You left Vegas during the first weekend of March Madness to drive five and a half hours to watch the Pistons play the Suns?

You've got issues, dude.

I'm laughing profusely at this premise. Heck, even the NBA players on the court tonight might be scratching their head if they heard you left Vegas during March Madness to watch them.

Hell yeah. Scottsdale/Phoenix/Tempe is more fun than most think. I'm not so hot about Las Vegas during March. In the summer, the USA basketball team might practice here and that might be cool thing to meet some NBA players. But other than that, we are kind of whatever about college basketball because the Running Rebels kind of suck right now.

I go to Vegas just about every year (shoot, some years it was twice) and I go to Phoenix literally every year; I've got a close friend who lives in Anthem so I go out there to golf with him at least once a year. Point being I know both areas well and there's nothing in Phoenix/Tempe/Scottsdale that would draw me over Vegas during the first weekend of the NCAA tournament. I was talking to the owner of the D a few years ago (he was behind the bar upstairs, I sat down to get a drink, recognized him and introduced myself as being from Detroit, blah blah blah) and he said that the first weekend of the tournament is now by far the biggest weekend in Vegas; Superbowl weekend is a distant second. It is live as fark. I went three years in a row with some friends but stopped going last year during that weekend because--being the biggest weekend of the year--flights and hotels are now expensive as hell.

Just look at it on the surface--are more people flocking to Vegas this weekend or Phoenix/Tempe/Scottsdale?

[BadMofoPimp]

I'm laughing profusely at this premise. Heck, even the NBA players on the court tonight might be scratching their head if they heard you left Vegas during March Madness to watch them.

Hell yeah. Scottsdale/Phoenix/Tempe is more fun than most think. I'm not so hot about Las Vegas during March. In the summer, the USA basketball team might practice here and that might be cool thing to meet some NBA players. But other than that, we are kind of whatever about college basketball because the Running Rebels kind of suck right now.

I go to Vegas just about every year (shoot, some years it was twice) and I go to Phoenix literally every year; I've got a close friend who lives in Anthem so I go out there to golf with him at least once a year. Point being I know both areas well and there's nothing in Phoenix/Tempe/Scottsdale that would draw me over Vegas during the first weekend of the NCAA tournament. I was talking to the owner of the D a few years ago (he was behind the bar upstairs, I sat down to get a drink, recognized him and introduced myself as being from Detroit, blah blah blah) and he said that the first weekend of the tournament is now by far the biggest weekend in Vegas; Superbowl weekend is a distant second. It is live as fark. I went three years in a row with some friends but stopped going last year during that weekend because--being the biggest weekend of the year--flights and hotels are now expensive as hell.

Just look at it on the surface--are more people flocking to Vegas this weekend or Phoenix/Tempe/Scottsdale?

A bunch of RealGMers used to meet out there once a year. Not sure if that still happens anymore. You were one of them. They still got that going on?

[Wallace_Wallace]

I'm laughing profusely at this premise. Heck, even the NBA players on the court tonight might be scratching their head if they heard you left Vegas during March Madness to watch them.

Hell yeah. Scottsdale/Phoenix/Tempe is more fun than most think. I'm not so hot about Las Vegas during March. In the summer, the USA basketball team might practice here and that might be cool thing to meet some NBA players. But other than that, we are kind of whatever about college basketball because the Running Rebels kind of suck right now.

I go to Vegas just about every year (shoot, some years it was twice) and I go to Phoenix literally every year; I've got a close friend who lives in Anthem so I go out there to golf with him at least once a year. Point being I know both areas well and there's nothing in Phoenix/Tempe/Scottsdale that would draw me over Vegas during the first weekend of the NCAA tournament. I was talking to the owner of the D a few years ago (he was behind the bar upstairs, I sat down to get a drink, recognized him and introduced myself as being from Detroit, blah blah blah) and he said that the first weekend of the tournament is now by far the biggest weekend in Vegas; Superbowl weekend is a distant second. It is live as fark. I went three years in a row with some friends but stopped going last year during that weekend because--being the biggest weekend of the year--flights and hotels are now expensive as hell.

Just look at it on the surface--are more people flocking to Vegas this weekend or Phoenix/Tempe/Scottsdale?

So you're a tourist because you visited Las Vegas for a couple times a year? The D, that's a casino by the ghetto downtown. If I have friends/relatives in town, I definitely would not take them downtown, unless it's a bar like Gold Spike or Commonwealth. The glamorous Las Vegas starts at the Wynn and then you turn SOUTH (not north). You can find great amounts of fun at any time of the year. I'm not sure what your definition of fun is, but mine is definitely not going to a place and watch a basketball tournament where the favorites (Virginia, Duke, UNC, Big Ten) are on the other side of the country. Don't tell me people get excited when they talk about Gonzaga basketball. But I get to go Phoenix to watch my favorite basketball team play? **** yeah, you bet your ass I'm going to Phoenix or LA occasionally to watch the Pistons play when they're in town. Kind of hate LA because of the traffic, how dirty and expensive it is, but since it's the Pistons, I'll show some love.

When I was single, my fun is going to bars/club and frat parties, how Duke is gonna win another chip was the least of my worries. People are not flocking from Vegas this weekend for Phoenix/Tempe/Scottsdale because I'm a Pistons fan who wants to watch them when I can. People are not flocking from Vegas to Detroit at anytime, but if I have the money, the vacation time and it's a playoff game? Guess what? I'm going to Detroit, rock my Ben Wallace jersey and watch them play. By the way, the Pistons won last night, so money was well spent

[ComboGuardCity]

Vegas for thrills. Scottsdale to chill

[Manocad]

Hell yeah. Scottsdale/Phoenix/Tempe is more fun than most think. I'm not so hot about Las Vegas during March. In the summer, the USA basketball team might practice here and that might be cool thing to meet some NBA players. But other than that, we are kind of whatever about college basketball because the Running Rebels kind of suck right now.

I go to Vegas just about every year (shoot, some years it was twice) and I go to Phoenix literally every year; I've got a close friend who lives in Anthem so I go out there to golf with him at least once a year. Point being I know both areas well and there's nothing in Phoenix/Tempe/Scottsdale that would draw me over Vegas during the first weekend of the NCAA tournament. I was talking to the owner of the D a few years ago (he was behind the bar upstairs, I sat down to get a drink, recognized him and introduced myself as being from Detroit, blah blah blah) and he said that the first weekend of the tournament is now by far the biggest weekend in Vegas; Superbowl weekend is a distant second. It is live as fark. I went three years in a row with some friends but stopped going last year during that weekend because--being the biggest weekend of the year--flights and hotels are now expensive as hell.

Just look at it on the surface--are more people flocking to Vegas this weekend or Phoenix/Tempe/Scottsdale?

A bunch of RealGMers used to meet out there once a year. Not sure if that still happens anymore. You were one of them. They still got that going on?

Yep, I was one of the original members of Ruddstock, held first in Vegas during the NBA draft, a couple of times thereafter, then in a couple of other destinations at arbitrary dates. After that it pretty much just turned into guys announcing they would be somewhere for a weekend, holiday, or whatever and whoever else wanted to and could make it showing up. But for Vegas specifically I think it went three years in a row then kinda sizzled out. It was a helluva time though. You get 8-12 friends all rolling around Vegas at once and generally there are some good stories to tell later.

[Canadafan]

How's Thon going? Obviously the %'s are not pretty at all, seems like he's been playing a little better lately though. Blocking shots at a solid rate and from the clips I've seen it's the most passing flashes I've seen out of him.

https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nba/pistons/2019/03/22/detroit-pistons-thon-maker/3243319002/

[GimmeDat]

Thanks for the replies guys. Looks like he's been pretty good on D overall, and he certainly *can* be a solid stretch 3 threat. His weaknesses are really bad, though.

I've lost a lot of hope for him being more than he is lately because I'm not sure I see those elements improving. He's had bad hands for 3 seasons now (really bad), I don't see it improving anytime soon, and his body type is so extremely narrow that it's hard to imagine him putting on much size, which limits him from battling much inside, and he's not quite fluid enough on-ball to be an on-ball/face-up/driving threat, nor does he have the HS advertized handle to do so. (he's got good feet defensively but offensively he's quite stiff and he has a generally awkward gait, looks like a baby giraffe out there). So he's relegated to a dunker/lob threat (when he can catch the ball), and an inconsistently decent spot up 3 threat.

I really would love to see him develop in to a more serviceable player, and I thought the start of his season with the Bucks was promising in that the %'s were starting to trend up again and he was at the highest rebounding rate of his career. But I am very skeptical of much more development.

[Manocad]

Hell yeah. Scottsdale/Phoenix/Tempe is more fun than most think. I'm not so hot about Las Vegas during March. In the summer, the USA basketball team might practice here and that might be cool thing to meet some NBA players. But other than that, we are kind of whatever about college basketball because the Running Rebels kind of suck right now.

I go to Vegas just about every year (shoot, some years it was twice) and I go to Phoenix literally every year; I've got a close friend who lives in Anthem so I go out there to golf with him at least once a year. Point being I know both areas well and there's nothing in Phoenix/Tempe/Scottsdale that would draw me over Vegas during the first weekend of the NCAA tournament. I was talking to the owner of the D a few years ago (he was behind the bar upstairs, I sat down to get a drink, recognized him and introduced myself as being from Detroit, blah blah blah) and he said that the first weekend of the tournament is now by far the biggest weekend in Vegas; Superbowl weekend is a distant second. It is live as fark. I went three years in a row with some friends but stopped going last year during that weekend because--being the biggest weekend of the year--flights and hotels are now expensive as hell.

Just look at it on the surface--are more people flocking to Vegas this weekend or Phoenix/Tempe/Scottsdale?

So you're a tourist because you visited Las Vegas for a couple times a year? The D, that's a casino by the ghetto downtown. If I have friends/relatives in town, I definitely would not take them downtown, unless it's a bar like Gold Spike or Commonwealth. The glamorous Las Vegas starts at the Wynn and then you turn SOUTH (not north). You can find great amounts of fun at any time of the year. I'm not sure what your definition of fun is, but mine is definitely not going to a place and watch a basketball tournament where the favorites (Virginia, Duke, UNC, Big Ten) are on the other side of the country. Don't tell me people get excited when they talk about Gonzaga basketball. But I get to go Phoenix to watch my favorite basketball team play? **** yeah, you bet your ass I'm going to Phoenix or LA occasionally to watch the Pistons play when they're in town. Kind of hate LA because of the traffic, how dirty and expensive it is, but since it's the Pistons, I'll show some love.

When I was single, my fun is going to bars/club and frat parties, how Duke is gonna win another chip was the least of my worries. People are not flocking from Vegas this weekend for Phoenix/Tempe/Scottsdale because I'm a Pistons fan who wants to watch them when I can. People are not flocking from Vegas to Detroit at anytime, but if I have the money, the vacation time and it's a playoff game? Guess what? I'm going to Detroit, rock my Ben Wallace jersey and watch them play. By the way, the Pistons won last night, so money was well spent

No need to get the panties in a bunch, broseph. Like I said, I know Vegas inside, outside, up and down; I've been there many times over many years and have friends who live there. I am well aware of what some people think of Fremont Street vs. the Strip. The point of mentioning the D was only to convey that a casino/hotel owner himself said the first weekend of the NCAA tournament was by far the biggest weekend of the year...meaning more ancillary activities going on because everyone knows there will be a ton of people there. And those activities are more fun with more people (read: hot women) around. I never said the point of being in Vegas during that weekend was specifically to watch basketball; obviously you can watch NCAA tournament games anywhere in country. Nor did I ever say there wasn't anything fun to do in Phoenix/Tempe/Scottsdale; I MOST CERTAINLY can have fun anywhere. Now granted, if your definition of fun as a single guy was clubbing and frat parties, then no, we probably don't have the same definition of fun. I was more into bars (as opposed to clubs) where there were hot women, going to concerts with hot women, traveling to see hot women, and occasionally beating up a frat guy after he caught me with his naked girlfriend.

[vege]

Thanks for the replies guys. Looks like he's been pretty good on D overall, and he certainly *can* be a solid stretch 3 threat. His weaknesses are really bad, though.

I've lost a lot of hope for him being more than he is lately because I'm not sure I see those elements improving. He's had bad hands for 3 seasons now (really bad), I don't see it improving anytime soon, and his body type is so extremely narrow that it's hard to imagine him putting on much size, which limits him from battling much inside, and he's not quite fluid enough on-ball to be an on-ball/face-up/driving threat, nor does he have the HS advertized handle to do so. (he's got good feet defensively but offensively he's quite stiff and he has a generally awkward gait, looks like a baby giraffe out there). So he's relegated to a dunker/lob threat (when he can catch the ball), and an inconsistently decent spot up 3 threat.

I really would love to see him develop in to a more serviceable player, and I thought the start of his season with the Bucks was promising in that the %'s were starting to trend up again and he was at the highest rebounding rate of his career. But I am very skeptical of much more development.

He plays hard and with a lot of passion, doesn't try to do too much and his defense has been good. He started for us against Cleveland and it was a complete disaster, we had both Maker and Brown who are extremelly offensivelly challenged and neither Ellington or Drummond are that great on offense, Ellington is good at his role, but nothing more than that.

But playing off the bench Maker has been solid. He is much better than Stanley johnson. He doesn't try to shoot 10 3's a game, he only shoot when he is wide open and hit them at a decent percentage. He goes really hard after rebounds and he is long so he has been a good rebounder for us, and I think that was a weaknesses whenever Drummond was off the court . He is a very impressive shot blocker, I have no idea how many blocks he has been averaging for us but I wouldn't be surprise if it was like 2 a game.

[Wallace_Wallace]

I go to Vegas just about every year (shoot, some years it was twice) and I go to Phoenix literally every year; I've got a close friend who lives in Anthem so I go out there to golf with him at least once a year. Point being I know both areas well and there's nothing in Phoenix/Tempe/Scottsdale that would draw me over Vegas during the first weekend of the NCAA tournament. I was talking to the owner of the D a few years ago (he was behind the bar upstairs, I sat down to get a drink, recognized him and introduced myself as being from Detroit, blah blah blah) and he said that the first weekend of the tournament is now by far the biggest weekend in Vegas; Superbowl weekend is a distant second. It is live as fark. I went three years in a row with some friends but stopped going last year during that weekend because--being the biggest weekend of the year--flights and hotels are now expensive as hell.

Just look at it on the surface--are more people flocking to Vegas this weekend or Phoenix/Tempe/Scottsdale?

So you're a tourist because you visited Las Vegas for a couple times a year? The D, that's a casino by the ghetto downtown. If I have friends/relatives in town, I definitely would not take them downtown, unless it's a bar like Gold Spike or Commonwealth. The glamorous Las Vegas starts at the Wynn and then you turn SOUTH (not north). You can find great amounts of fun at any time of the year. I'm not sure what your definition of fun is, but mine is definitely not going to a place and watch a basketball tournament where the favorites (Virginia, Duke, UNC, Big Ten) are on the other side of the country. Don't tell me people get excited when they talk about Gonzaga basketball. But I get to go Phoenix to watch my favorite basketball team play? **** yeah, you bet your ass I'm going to Phoenix or LA occasionally to watch the Pistons play when they're in town. Kind of hate LA because of the traffic, how dirty and expensive it is, but since it's the Pistons, I'll show some love.

When I was single, my fun is going to bars/club and frat parties, how Duke is gonna win another chip was the least of my worries. People are not flocking from Vegas this weekend for Phoenix/Tempe/Scottsdale because I'm a Pistons fan who wants to watch them when I can. People are not flocking from Vegas to Detroit at anytime, but if I have the money, the vacation time and it's a playoff game? Guess what? I'm going to Detroit, rock my Ben Wallace jersey and watch them play. By the way, the Pistons won last night, so money was well spent

No need to get the panties in a bunch, broseph. Like I said, I know Vegas inside, outside, up and down; I've been there many times over many years and have friends who live there. I am well aware of what some people think of Fremont Street vs. the Strip. The point of mentioning the D was only to convey that a casino/hotel owner himself said the first weekend of the NCAA tournament was by far the biggest weekend of the year...meaning more ancillary activities going on because everyone knows there will be a ton of people there. And those activities are more fun with more people (read: hot women) around. I never said the point of being in Vegas during that weekend was specifically to watch basketball; obviously you can watch NCAA tournament games anywhere in country. Nor did I ever say there wasn't anything fun to do in Phoenix/Tempe/Scottsdale; I MOST CERTAINLY can have fun anywhere. Now granted, if your definition of fun as a single guy was clubbing and frat parties, then no, we probably don't have the same definition of fun. I was more into bars (as opposed to clubs) where there were hot women, going to concerts with hot women, traveling to see hot women, and occasionally beating up a frat guy after he caught me with his naked girlfriend.

Seeing you created your account 14 years ago, I'm guessing you're not exactly at a age that should be pulling sorority girls, especially if you have a family. If that floats your boat, I'm not against it. I had a good time yesterday at Talking Stick, and I'll continue to visit the cities around Vegas when the Pistons come to town

[Manocad]

So you're a tourist because you visited Las Vegas for a couple times a year? The D, that's a casino by the ghetto downtown. If I have friends/relatives in town, I definitely would not take them downtown, unless it's a bar like Gold Spike or Commonwealth. The glamorous Las Vegas starts at the Wynn and then you turn SOUTH (not north). You can find great amounts of fun at any time of the year. I'm not sure what your definition of fun is, but mine is definitely not going to a place and watch a basketball tournament where the favorites (Virginia, Duke, UNC, Big Ten) are on the other side of the country. Don't tell me people get excited when they talk about Gonzaga basketball. But I get to go Phoenix to watch my favorite basketball team play? **** yeah, you bet your ass I'm going to Phoenix or LA occasionally to watch the Pistons play when they're in town. Kind of hate LA because of the traffic, how dirty and expensive it is, but since it's the Pistons, I'll show some love.

When I was single, my fun is going to bars/club and frat parties, how Duke is gonna win another chip was the least of my worries. People are not flocking from Vegas this weekend for Phoenix/Tempe/Scottsdale because I'm a Pistons fan who wants to watch them when I can. People are not flocking from Vegas to Detroit at anytime, but if I have the money, the vacation time and it's a playoff game? Guess what? I'm going to Detroit, rock my Ben Wallace jersey and watch them play. By the way, the Pistons won last night, so money was well spent

No need to get the panties in a bunch, broseph. Like I said, I know Vegas inside, outside, up and down; I've been there many times over many years and have friends who live there. I am well aware of what some people think of Fremont Street vs. the Strip. The point of mentioning the D was only to convey that a casino/hotel owner himself said the first weekend of the NCAA tournament was by far the biggest weekend of the year...meaning more ancillary activities going on because everyone knows there will be a ton of people there. And those activities are more fun with more people (read: hot women) around. I never said the point of being in Vegas during that weekend was specifically to watch basketball; obviously you can watch NCAA tournament games anywhere in country. Nor did I ever say there wasn't anything fun to do in Phoenix/Tempe/Scottsdale; I MOST CERTAINLY can have fun anywhere. Now granted, if your definition of fun as a single guy was clubbing and frat parties, then no, we probably don't have the same definition of fun. I was more into bars (as opposed to clubs) where there were hot women, going to concerts with hot women, traveling to see hot women, and occasionally beating up a frat guy after he caught me with his naked girlfriend.

Seeing you created your account 14 years ago, I'm guessing you're not exactly at a age that should be pulling sorority girls, especially if you have a family. If that floats your boat, I'm not against it. I had a good time yesterday at Talking Stick, and I'll continue to visit the cities around Vegas when the Pistons come to town

Perhaps you missed the usage of past tense and reference to what was fun “as a single guy.” Fun now is pretty much the same as what other guys in my age and socioeconomic demographic enjoy.

[zeebneeb]

Thanks for the replies guys. Looks like he's been pretty good on D overall, and he certainly *can* be a solid stretch 3 threat. His weaknesses are really bad, though.

I've lost a lot of hope for him being more than he is lately because I'm not sure I see those elements improving. He's had bad hands for 3 seasons now (really bad), I don't see it improving anytime soon, and his body type is so extremely narrow that it's hard to imagine him putting on much size, which limits him from battling much inside, and he's not quite fluid enough on-ball to be an on-ball/face-up/driving threat, nor does he have the HS advertized handle to do so. (he's got good feet defensively but offensively he's quite stiff and he has a generally awkward gait, looks like a baby giraffe out there). So he's relegated to a dunker/lob threat (when he can catch the ball), and an inconsistently decent spot up 3 threat.

I really would love to see him develop in to a more serviceable player, and I thought the start of his season with the Bucks was promising in that the %'s were starting to trend up again and he was at the highest rebounding rate of his career. But I am very skeptical of much more development.

I really like Thon. He is a super high energy guy and goes after every shot at the rim like his life depends on it. Plays within the offense, and doesnt try to do to much.

Perfect backup center, and rotation guy but in the long and celebrated history of players with bad hands, his may be the worst I've ever witnessed and mind you this team had Kwame for a time.

I'm not sure what the problem is exactly as he seems to have at least normal sized hands but it's as if his brain is moving to fast and passes the ball before he actually has it. It can be super funny anticipating him bobbeling the ball out of bounds, or it just bouncing off his pair of bricks. Should be a drinking game.

But, with that said, this is why I really like him;

Watch on YouTube