'Nasty News - Traversing Time & Space' Vol: 58

nasty daddy · Post #1 » by **nasty daddy** » Mon Nov 23, 2009 6:53 am

Link to volume 57: viewtopic.php?f=14&t=958327&p=21352560#p21352560

This thread will contain Pistons news, injuries, free agent signings, trades, draft and news throughout the NBA, plus scores from both the NBA and college.

nasty daddy · Post #2 » by **nasty daddy** » Mon Nov 23, 2009 6:57 am

http://wdfn.com/pages/DETROITPISTONS.html

Pistons Winless on four game road trip, fall to Suns 117-91
Amare Stoudemire scored 21 points and Steve Nash added 20 for Phoenix, then sat out the fourth quarter to watch the Suns rout road-weary Detroit 117-91 Sunday night for the Pistons' fifth straight loss. Nash made 7 of 8 shots and had nine assists. Jason Richardson scored 17 as the Suns (11-3), with six players in double figures, improved to 5-0 at home and tied Atlanta and Orlando for the best record in the young NBA season. Charlie Villanueva and rookie DaJuan Summers each scored 13 for Detroit. Ben Gordon was in foul trouble and finished with 10 on 3-of-11 shooting. The Pistons, who lost at Utah in overtime on Saturday night, finished off a winless four-game road trip.

The Suns, who shot 58 percent overall and were 11 of 18 on 3-pointers, scored the last 12 points of the first half to lead 58-42 and Detroit never seriously threatened after that. The Pistons still are without injured Richard Hamilton (ankle) and Tayshawn Prince (back). The two have played a combined four games this season. Phoenix, coming off an ugly 110-103 loss at New Orleans on Thursday night, made its first eight shots to go up 17-10, but the Pistons came back with a 10-0 spurt to briefly take the lead at 22-19 on Rodney Stuckey's 19-footer. Phoenix responded with a 20-7 run to go up 39-29 when Goran Dragic drove for a layup with 8:39 left in the half

The Suns led the rest of the way. After Will Bynum's driving layup cut it to 46-42 with 4:51 left, Phoenix scored the last 12 points of the half. Channing Frye sank a 3-pointer, on his only shot of the half, Stoudemire stuffed a fastbreak rebound and Nash made a layup after a weaving drive through the lane. Phoenix led by as many as 22 in the third quarter and was up 84-63 entering the fourth.

nasty daddy · Post #3 » by **nasty daddy** » Mon Nov 23, 2009 7:08 am

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/2009 ... oss-in-row

Hot Suns send weary Pistons to fifth loss in row
Maybe returning home will do the Pistons some good. Certainly the time spent on the road last week didn't accomplish much in the win column. At least the first three games of the trip, the Pistons could bank on the fact they stayed close and had a chance to win each night. There wasn't much suspense in Sunday's 117-91 loss to the Phoenix Suns. The Suns (11-3, tied for NBA best) controlled the game pretty much from the start, while stretching the losing streak to five games for the Pistons (5-9). "They (the Suns) played well and took advantage of easy opportunities," Pistons coach John Kuester said. "We just didn't get back on defense the way we're capable of. "There are no excuses in this league. You have to be ready to go.

Everybody talked about it being the last game of a road trip, but sometimes you have to lie to your body. Unfortunately, we just didn't have the juice we've had (in other games). "I'm disappointed in the way we played." Charlie Villanueva and DaJuan Summers had 13 points each, and Will Bynum scored 11. Amar'e Stoudemire scored 21 for Phoenix, while Steve Nash had 20 points and nine assists. Before the game, Kuester talked about Nash's impact in the game. "He'll go down as one of the greatest point guards of all time," Kuester said. It's Nash's passion for the game, said Kuester, that separates him from many players. "He's a tremendous competitor, and he has a great love for the game," Kuester said. "Other players enjoy playing with him and that's as big a compliment as you can have."

The Suns shot a blistering 62.9 percent (22-of-35) from the field in the first half, thanks largely to Nash's 12 points and six assists, not missing any of his five shots or two free throws, while helping the Suns to a 58-42 lead. Playing their fourth game in six nights -- and coming off an overtime loss against the Jazz the night before -- the Pistons had little energy. The backcourt, which played heavy minutes against the Jazz, struggled against the Suns. Stuckey scored only eight points on 4-for-15 shooting. Ben Gordon scored 10 while going 3-for-11 from the floor in a foul-plagued 24-plus minutes. "It was tough to defend out there, the constant movement and pick-and-rolls, it was tough," Bynum said. "They pretty much did what they wanted to do and outplayed us."

nasty daddy · Post #4 » by **nasty daddy** » Mon Nov 23, 2009 7:09 am

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/2009 ... oss-in-row

Taking advantage
In the NBA the schedule plays such a determining factor, and the Suns knew they had an advantage in this game.

"We did a good job of coming out with energy," said ex-Piston Grant Hill, who had eight points and eight rebounds for the Suns. "We did what we had to do. They (the Pistons) played hard. They have some young guys over there and they aren't going to quit."

Said Suns coach Alvin Gentry: "We were playing a tired team. We did a good job of trying to jump on them early and get off to a good start."

nasty daddy · Post #5 » by **nasty daddy** » Mon Nov 23, 2009 7:10 am

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/2009 ... oss-in-row

Slam dunks
Phoenix has opened the season with 14 consecutive games scoring over 100 points.

nasty daddy · Post #6 » by **nasty daddy** » Mon Nov 23, 2009 7:12 am

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/2009 ... oss-in-row

The Pistons are 1-6 against Western Conference opponents.

nasty daddy · Post #7 » by **nasty daddy** » Mon Nov 23, 2009 7:31 am

http://www.nba.com/video/games/suns/200 ... index.html

Pistons vs. Suns
Amar'e Stoudemire scores 21, Steve Nash adds 20 points of his own as the Suns defeat the Pistons.

Video in the link above^.

nasty daddy · Post #8 » by **nasty daddy** » Mon Nov 23, 2009 9:09 am

http://www.freep.com/article/20091123/S ... Pistons-91

Recap: Suns 117, Pistons 91
Suns 117, Pistons 91
WHAT HAPPENED: The Pistons dropped their fifth game in a row and were blasted for the first time this season. Steve Nash and Amare Stoudemire led an efficient offense that shot 57.7%. Nash (20 points, nine assists) and Stoudemire (21 points) sat the fourth quarter. The Pistons got 13 each from Charlie Villanueva and DaJuan Summers.

nasty daddy · Post #9 » by **nasty daddy** » Mon Nov 23, 2009 9:09 am

http://www.freep.com/article/20091123/S ... Pistons-91

The big number: Seven -- the number of Pistons free-throw attempts. For the second straight night, there was a major disparity.

nasty daddy · Post #10 » by **nasty daddy** » Mon Nov 23, 2009 9:09 am

http://www.freep.com/article/20091123/S ... Pistons-91

Turning point: When this game was scheduled. There was no way the Pistons would win the last game of their four-game, six-day trip out West. They were 0-4.

nasty daddy · Post #11 » by **nasty daddy** » Mon Nov 23, 2009 9:10 am

http://www.freep.com/article/20091123/S ... Pistons-91

The other side: Besides strong games from Nash and Stoudemire, Channing Frye (10 points) and former MSU star Jason Richardson (17) were in double figures. Ex-Piston Grant Hill scored eight.

nasty daddy · Post #12 » by **nasty daddy** » Mon Nov 23, 2009 9:10 am

http://www.freep.com/article/20091123/S ... Pistons-91

Bright play: In the first quarter, Pistons rookie Jonas Jerebko stuffed Richardson's lay-up attempt. Villanueva outhustled Richardson for the loose ball and passed the ball ahead. And in a good example of the secondary break, Villanueva trailed the play, and when he was found, he nailed a triple.

nasty daddy · Post #13 » by **nasty daddy** » Mon Nov 23, 2009 9:11 am

http://www.freep.com/article/20091123/S ... Pistons-91

Highlight play: The Suns' Leandro Barbosa scored on a one-handed scoop shot that brought loud oohs and aahs from the crowd.

nasty daddy · Post #14 » by **nasty daddy** » Mon Nov 23, 2009 9:11 am

http://www.freep.com/article/20091123/S ... Pistons-91

Highlight play II: Jerebko came flying down the paint in the third quarter and pulled off a double-clutch bank shot that displayed some athleticism.

nasty daddy · Post #15 » by **nasty daddy** » Mon Nov 23, 2009 9:12 am

http://www.freep.com/article/20091123/S ... Pistons-91

Injury report: Rip Hamilton (ankle) missed his 13th straight game and Tayshaun Prince (back) his 11th in a row. Robin Lopez (foot) was out for the Suns.

nasty daddy · Post #16 » by **nasty daddy** » Mon Nov 23, 2009 9:12 am

http://www.freep.com/article/20091123/S ... Pistons-91

Up next: The Pistons are off today before preparing for a Wednesday night visit from LeBron James and the Cavs, who were 3-1 against the Pistons last year during the regular season before sweeping them in the first round of the playoffs

nasty daddy · Post #17 » by **nasty daddy** » Mon Nov 23, 2009 9:13 am

http://www.freep.com/article/20091123/S ... Pistons-91

Two cents: The Pistons will be looking forward to getting home.

nasty daddy · Post #18 » by **nasty daddy** » Mon Nov 23, 2009 9:18 am

http://www.freep.com/article/20091123/S ... uns-scheme

Ex-MSU star Richardson fits into Suns' scheme
The Phoenix Suns are back to their wheeling-and-dealing ways with Steve Nash dishing and Amare Stoudemire dunking. But another Sun doing some dunking and shooting is former Michigan State and Saginaw Arthur Hill star Jason Richardson.

Entering Sunday's game against the Pistons, the eight-year veteran was averaging 16.7 points and 5.4 rebounds. He had 17 points and one rebound in Phoenix's 117-91 win Sunday night.
Richardson said he is feeling more comfortable with the Suns after being traded from the Charlotte Bobcats early last season. "Last year I really didn't know my role," Richardson said. "By being traded halfway through the year, I really didn't want to step on anybody's toes. "But this year I pretty much know what my role is, and I'm just going out there and trying to do my job."

The Suns' up-tempo style fits Richardson's game. "It's us returning to a style of basketball where everybody knows the Phoenix Suns get up and down," Richardson said.

nasty daddy · Post #19 » by **nasty daddy** » Mon Nov 23, 2009 9:19 am

http://www.freep.com/article/20091123/S ... uns-scheme

IN THE ZONE: Coach John Kuester was asked about the Pistons' use of the zone defense for the second game in a row, and he said something about wanting to keep it a secret from the rest of the league.

He had to be kidding, since there usually are three to five advance scouts from around the league at each game, so the cat's out of the bag.

But the Pistons can be an effective zone team in short doses because of the length of their wing players.

nasty daddy · Post #20 » by **nasty daddy** » Mon Nov 23, 2009 9:20 am

http://www.freep.com/article/20091123/S ... uns-scheme

FAST BUDDIES: Swedish rookie Jonas Jerebko, 22, has fit in well with the Pistons and has become fast friends with Rodney Stuckey, 23.

The two hang out often and have been seen around the Detroit area getting something to eat. "He's my age and he's a good guy," Jerebko said. "We just enjoy going out to eat."

It's all part of living the dream for Jerebko. "It just feels good to be here in the NBA and be accepted by the players and stuff like that," Jerebko said.