Game 32: Detroit @ Clippers // Sat.10.30pm on FSN Detroit

[Greyhound]

"Billups was back in Detroit taking care of a personal matter. His absence ended a streak of 276 straight games in which Billups, Wallace, Prince and Richard Hamilton had started together."

That bit of information is most certainly erroneous. Hamilton missed two games earlier in the season for personal reasons and Billups sat a couple games for something or the other as well. Rasheed was injured for a few this seasons and he was suspended for a few last season.

Someone pulled that tidbit out of a shoebox.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.mlive.com/sportsflash/index. ... thispage=2

Tayshaun Prince had 22 points and 10 assists, and Detroit beat the for the 11th straight time.

Rasheed Wallace added 17 points, helping the Pistons win for the 14th time in 17 games. They shot 54.3 percent and had 28 assists, improving to 16-0 when shooting at least 50 percent from the field and 23-0 when finishing with 25 or more assists.

Corey Maggette scored 22 points for the Clippers, who dropped their fifth straight overall. Chris Kaman returned to the lineup, scoring 13 points on 5-for-17 shooting and grabbed 14 rebounds in 33 minutes after missing four games because of a sore lower back.

[Hunter]

I've said all along I wouldn't be at all surprised if we let Jarvis go and resigned Hermann. But Joe loves depth and he'd still go out and get another wing player and the question would then be whether Flip would give Hermann a legit shot. Maybe getting a camp under his belt will make Flip more comfortable with the guy. But that's all still a few months away and nothing we need to worry about just yet.

[Phobo_Phile]

I don't know why Billups didn't make the game, except that it may be personal or family issues.

Last time one of my favorite athletes had that problem, his wife, his son, and himself all ended up dead.

Not a good time.

Chris Benoit?


Call me crazy, but I'm still not warm on Dixon whatsoever, but I want Herrmann to have Jarvis Hayes minutes immediately. The guy just never dissapoints. I look forward to his 2 minutes a game and he always makes it worth it.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.mlive.com/pistons/index.ssf/ ... ipp_1.html

STUDS: Rasheed Wallace was literally perfect in the first half, scoring all 17 of his points in the first half on 7-for-7 shooting from the field.SOLID: Tayshaun Prince more than made up for the absence of Chauncey Billups, tallying his fourth double-double of the season with 22 points and a career-high 10 assists.

DUDS: Too many Clippers to pick from on this one, but my choice has to be Corey Maggette. He scored 22 points, but he missed 10 of his 15 shots from the field, and seemed to be out of position frequently on the defensive end.SUPER SUB: I have to go with Juan Dixon on this one. He's still learning the plays, so he had no choice but to do what he does best - make shots. He had 14 points off the bench on 6-of-7 shooting.

UP NEXT: Tuesday vs. Seattle. With the Boston Celtics on deck after the Sonics, the Pistons have to be on guard about looking past the lottery-bound Sonics. The Pistons are hopeful that Chauncey Billups will be back with the team. If not, a Rodney Stuckey-Juan Dixon combo seems like a pretty good substitute. Dixon's perimeter-shooting and defense, coupled with Stuckey's ability to penetrate into the lane, gives Detroit a decent alternative to Billups. But as one player told me following the win over the Clippers, "we're still at our best when we have Chauncey."

[nasty daddy]

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/ar ... 10468/1127

After securing a 3-1 Western road swing with a 103-73 romp over the undermanned and overwhelmed Clippers on Saturday night, the Pistons (43-16) have nine road games left. After going to Boston and New York this week, the others are single-game trips.

The Pistons had 28 assists and shot 54.3 percent, running their offense very efficiently without captain and point guard Chauncey Billups, who was back in Detroit dealing with a personal matter.

Rookie Rodney Stuckey (nine points, two assists) and newly acquired Juan Dixon (14 points, six assists) combined for 23 points and eight assists from the point guard position. With Dixon leading the way, the Pistons bench outscored the Clippers' reserves, 41-13. Dixon, after just one practice with the Pistons, played 23 minutes and was 6-of-7 shooting.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.mlive.com/sportsflash/index. ... ichigannba

Tayshaun Prince had 22 points and 10 assists, and the Pistons got 41 points from their reserves to beat the Clippers 103-73 Saturday night for their 11th straight victory against Los Angeles. "When we have a good player out, especially one of our main guys, I think it's important that we depend on each other," Prince said. "It gives me more of an opportunity to play more a `point-forward,' especially when Chauncey's out. I just tried to see over the defense and make plays."

Billups was back in Detroit taking care of a personal matter. His absence ended a streak of 276 straight games in which Billups, Rasheed Wallace, Prince and Richard Hamilton had started together. Since the 1991-92 season, only one foursome had started more consecutive games together

[nasty daddy]

http://www.nba.com/pistons/news/DETLAC_ ... recap.html

Rodney Stuckey received plenty of help in his first NBA start for the absent Chauncey Billups as the Pistons

[nasty daddy]

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/arti ... 02007/1051

Pistons coach Flip Saunders had a few extra reasons to worry going into Saturday

[nasty daddy]

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/arti ... 20675/1051

Stuckey, the 15th overall draft pick, had nine points and two assists in 25 minutes as his stepparents joined a sellout crowd of 19,271 that was loaded with Pistons fans. Said coach Flip Saunders said before the 103-73 victory: "For us, it's going to be a good learning experience for Stuckey to see how he reacts in this type of situation. He's really got to run a team."

Saunders said he'd have to change the way he coached a bit to accommodate Stuckey. That impacts everything from play-calling to rotations, as he was likely to leave some starters on the floor for longer stretches to ease Stuckey's transition. "You probably limit the amount of stuff you run," Saunders said. "Sometimes we might be more apt to give Chauncey some freedom on some of the play calls. We probably won't do that as much with Stuck."

Saunders also called on newcomer Juan Dixon, despite Dixon having participated in just one full practice since his trade from Toronto on Feb. 22. Tayshaun Prince at times was the main ball-handler.Dixon played 23 minutes and finished with 14 points, making six of seven shots for Detroit.

[Rodya]

I didn't watch the game past the first half. Can someone fill me in on what Hermann did that has everyone asking for Flip's head again? I'm looking at the box score and he had 4 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists.

[Train Wreck]

I didn't watch the game past the first half. Can someone fill me in on what Hermann did that has everyone asking for Flip's head again? I'm looking at the box score and he had 4 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists.

He had a couple of swooping finger rolls that had the Piston bench going nuts.... He had a 3rd one that just rolled off and was tapped in by Max I believe.

Than he had a sweet bounce pass from the corner along the baseline right to Afflalo? for a layup..

He's got talent and he's exciting to watch.... He's a better player than Jarvis.

[Dirtgrain]

But can Hermann keep up with the quick small forwards?

[Rodya]

-= original quote snipped =-




He had a couple of swooping finger rolls that had the Piston bench going nuts.... He had a 3rd one that just rolled off and was tapped in by Max I believe.

Than he had a sweet bounce pass from the corner along the baseline right to Afflalo? for a layup..

He's got talent and he's exciting to watch.... He's a better player than Jarvis.

Thanks for the recap. Does anyone have a quote from Flip somewhat explaining why Fabio isn't getting any important minutes?

I understand most of think he's incompetent in regard to analyzing talent and adjusting rotations, but there has to be more to it.

[ajeromeo]

Did anyone else notice Tom Morello from Rage Against the Machine sitting next to some old lady with a Pistons hat?

[Rodya]

But can Hermann keep up with the quick small forwards?

Not any worse than Hayes.

[Liqourish]

Jarvis had 5 pts in the 4th quarter, on two baskets set up by Fabio, including that sweet entry pass into the post from in front of the Clippers bench. He also drove to the lane and really broke down the (non) defense of LA. He played great D and forced a couple LA turnover late in the game. Of course the team was building a 30 pt lead but Herrmann really showed alot in "garbage" minutes.

His stat line reads 4 pts 3 rebs and 2 asts.... in 4.5 mins!!