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

[nasty daddy]

http://twitter.com/DETPistons

RT @CV31: http://twitpic.com/rmz8h Please don't try this at home... tweeting while pre-surgery no policies against that, right?

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http://twitter.com/DETPistons

Story on @CV31 mask fitting: http://bit.ly/58vX62

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http://twitter.com/Adaye5

sittin in the room bored as hell in chi town wat to do

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http://twitter.com/detroit_pistons

DetNews: Ted Kulfan: Still-healing Ben Gordon might get chance to face old team tonight: Ben Gordon keeps in touc... http://twurl.nl/ezvnwv

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http://twitter.com/detroit_pistons

MLive: Ben Gordon hopes he's healthy enough to face former teammates when Pistons play Bulls: Gordon spent his firs... http://bit.ly/8mYomt

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http://twitter.com/detroit_pistons

MLive: Pistons' Charlie Villanueva fitted for mask after nose surgergy: Villanueva continued to post updates Tuesda... http://bit.ly/5Camgj

[nasty daddy]

http://www.freep.com/article/20091202/S ... s.-ex-team

Sore ankle may sideline Pistons guard Ben Gordon vs. former team
The shooting form looked good. Ben Gordon spent the minutes after the Pistons' practice Tuesday catching passes from strength and conditioning coach Arnie Kander, and the subsequent good shots were barely touching the net.But it was easy to see his sprained left ankle was still bothering him as he wasn't getting the customary lift on his jumper and he wasn't cutting.

The Pistons are listing the free-agent acquisition from Chicago as questionable and will know more after a shoot-around today at the United Center, but he looks iffy for tonight's game against his former team. Gordon, who has missed the past two games, is itching to get back on the floor. But he said it is because he doesn't want to miss any more time -- not because the next game is against the Bulls. "I really won't know how it's going to be until I get there," Gordon said. "I'm just trying to get healthy right now so it doesn't matter who we play."

Gordon has no hard feelings toward the Bulls, who made no effort to re-sign him last summer. "I had to learn real early in this league that there's the game of basketball, but it's also the business of basketball, so I don't have any disappointed feelings or whatever," said Gordon, who is averaging 19.8 points per game. "I'm happy how it turned out."

[nasty daddy]

http://www.freep.com/article/20091202/S ... s.-ex-team

NOTEBOOK: Charlie Villanueva (broken nose) was fitted with a mask Tuesday. He is listed as questionable as well -- it appears it's just a matter of his comfort level with the nose.

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http://www.freep.com/article/20091202/S ... s.-ex-team

Rip Hamilton (severe right ankle sprain) and Tayshaun Prince (back) will continue to be out. Hamilton got up some shots after practice with Kander but wasn't jumping at all.

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http://www.freep.com/article/20091202/S ... s.-ex-team

The Bulls' Tyrus Thomas (left forearm) and Kirk Hinrich (left thumb) are battling injuries.

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http://www.freep.com/article/20091202/S ... s.-ex-team

Tonight: Bulls
Matchup: Pistons 6-11; Chicago 6-9.
Tip-off: 8, United Center, Chicago.
TV/radio: FSD; WXYT-FM (97.1).

[nasty daddy]

http://www.freep.com/article/20091202/S ... al-anxiety

• Reggie Hayes, the News-Sentinel of Ft. Wayne, Ind., on Rasheed Wallace being fined $30,000 for criticizing officiating: "Ironically, if Wallace had kept his mouth shut over the years, he would have saved enough money in fines to buy his own referee."

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http://blog.mlive.com/fullcourtpress/20 ... ck_in.html

Allen Iverson might be back in the NBA just in time to play the Pistons
Several outlets are reporting that the Philadelphia 76ers have offered Allen Iverson a non-guaranteed contract to return to the team, possibly as early as Monday should he accept. The interesting thing isn't the partnership so much -- it kind of makes sense for both. Philly is sputtering and needs to make a move to infuse some interest, Iverson will only play for a team with a starting spot open. With Lou Williams out two months, he can immediately move into the lineup at point guard. Williams has already insinuated he'd be OK moving back to his Sixth Man role when he's healthy, should the team sign AI. No, what's interesting is who his potential first game would be against: the Detroit Pistons. If Iverson signs and completes his physical by Monday, the Pistons will be in Philly Dec. 9, adding a bit of intrigue to what will already be a bit of a media frenzy.

Adrian Wojnarowski at Yahoo! doesn't think an Iverson return to Philly is such a good idea, and he uses Detroit as part of his reasoning: Thirteen months ago, Allen Iverson made a compelling case for change at the dining room table of Joe Dumars. He made something of a stump speech to the Pistons president, understanding what a champion wanted to hear, what would play to this audience. Over dinner, Iverson suggested that the public had such bad ideas about him, and he wanted to change it all with Detroit. He wanted the structure, the responsibility, the culture of the Pistons’ winning program. His children were older, and he wanted to reshape the legacy he left for them. Iverson has been the showman of his time, forever playing to the circumstance and crowd.

I'm often (rightly) accused of being a bit of an Iverson apologist. It's true, while I don't care for his game much, I do believe he's a truly unique, Hall of Fame talent who played harder on the court in his prime than virtually any player in the league. That being said, I didn't particularly enjoy his tenure playing for the team that I've followed for my entire life, even though I also don't pin all of the blame for last season's failures on him. Will I watch him in Philly? In a second. Does it have potential to end particularly well? Probably not. Iverson has succeeded in his career under one coach, Larry Brown, who happened to be as strong-willed and had enough clout that Iverson had to respect him. Philly, as currently constructed under Eddie Jordan, doesn't really fit that profile. It will either be a nice redemption story (unlikely) or a spectacular failure. Either way, it will be fun to watch.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/2009 ... with-76ers

Ex-Piston Allen Iverson back with 76ers
Allen Iverson is rejoining the Philadelphia 76ers.

Sixers president Ed Stefanski announced the signing Wednesday on the team's Web site. Iverson, who spent most of last season with the Pistons, is expected to make his debut Monday against the Denver Nuggets. Stefanski says in a news release that the team felt "Allen was the best available free agent guard to help" after the injury to Lou Williams, who will miss up to eight weeks.

Iverson, his agent and business manager met with Stefanski, coach Eddie Jordan and two other members of the organization Monday. Iverson, 34, announced his retirement last week after an ill-fated stint with the Memphis Grizzlies. The 10-time All-Star was NBA MVP in 2001 when he led the Sixers to the NBA Finals.

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http://www.nba.com/pistons/news/prereport_091202.html

Pistons at Bulls
The PRE Report
Broadcast Schedule:
7:00 p.m. - Pistons In-Focus
7:30 p.m. - Pistons Live
8:00 p.m. - Watch Live on FS Detroit HD
8:00 p.m. - Listen Live on 97.1 FM The Ticket
If Ben Gordon is unable to play on his sprained ankle tonight in his return to the United Center, he might notice something from the bench: his new team is looking an awful lot like his old one.
The Bulls (6-9) return to the United Center humbled by a road trip as difficult as Detroit’s winless westward swing two weeks ago. Chicago won at Sacramento but then dropped five straight, not reaching 100 points once. They lost by an average of nearly 16 points (109.2 to 93.4). Detroit’s much maligned offense (92.5) has been better, barely, than the Bulls (91.5). They rank No. 26 and 27, respectively, in scoring and are in the league’s bottom 10 in field-goal percentage and 3-point shooting. But both teams can make an argument they’ve lost some firepower to players in street clothes. Starting power forward Tyrus Thomas has been out since the third game and replaced by the surprisingly solid rookie Taj Gibson (7.1 ppg, 5.5 rpg), not unlike Jonas Jerebko stepping in for Tayshaun Prince. Guard Kirk Hinrich has a sprained thumb, leaving the Bulls thin at guard – which is ironic given that shooting guard was one of their deepest positions last year. The Pistons are in the same predicament now having lost Gordon and Rip Hamilton to ankle injuries. The road records, injuries and sporadic offense all lead to another similarity: both teams could really use Gordon in the lineup.

The Pistons’ leading scorer (19.8 ppg) sprained his ankle a week ago, and is optimistic that he can return tonight. “It’s feeling pretty good,” Gordon said Monday. “If it continues to progress the way it has been, hopefully I’ll be able to play on Wednesday.” With no definitive answer on Gordon or Charlie Villanueva – both are listed as questionable – Pistons coach John Kuester wouldn’t divulge whether he’ll use the surprisingly successful starting lineup he did Sunday that ended the seven-game skid. Chucky Atkins started at point guard and Rodney Stuckey flourished at shooting guard (23 points, season-high eight assists). After not recording an assist in last week’s Thanksgiving eve loss to the Cavaliers, Stuckey has dished 15 assists in the last two games while still averaging 22.0 points. The third lineup alteration had Villanueva moving to the bench for Jason Maxiell. Villanueva was fitted for a protective face mask Tuesday in hopes of being able to play, but stepping on the court just two days after surgery to reset his broken nose is no sure thing. Gordon, drafted No. 3 overall by Chicago in 2004, will be determined to perform against his former employer, whom he says didn’t attempt to keep him when he became a free agent over the summer, despite leading Chicago in scoring the past four seasons.

Last year Gordon helped the Bulls take three of four meetings with the Pistons, averaging 20.0 points on 48.4% shooting. The Pistons, who won 10 straight games at the United Center from 2000 to 2006, haven’t won there since, losing their last six visits. Detroit is just 3-9 against the Bulls in the regular season since 2006, but did win their only playoff series encounter during that stretch, in 2007. Gordon is one of many links between the longtime Central Division rivals. Pistons guard Will Bynum is a Chicago native, while Lindsey Hunter – yes, that Lindsey Hunter – landed in Chicago following Bynum’s emergence in training camp prior to last season. Hunter saw the most extensive action of his 17th NBA season Monday in Milwaukee. He had five points, five rebounds and two assists in 22 minutes in the Bulls’ 99-97 loss. Then of course there’s Ben Wallace, who brings the past four years of his career full circle with his first game at Chicago since rejoining the Pistons. Wallace left Detroit for the Bulls in the summer of 2006. Read more in key matchup.

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http://www.nba.com/pistons/news/prereport_091202.html

Scouting Report - Chicago Bulls
Scott Perry talks with the Pistons Weekly's Pete Skorich about tonight's game against the Chicago Bulls.

Key Matchup
Wallace
17
4.4
9.9
1.5
.509 Games
PPG
RPG
APG
FG% 15
11.5
12.1
2.3
.531
Noah

Having signed Ben Wallace to the notorious $60 million deal just a summer before, the Bulls surprised a lot of people – surely no one more than Wallace himself – when they drafted 6-foot-11 Joakim Noah ninth overall in 2007. It appeared the Bulls had sacrificed their lottery pick for a player who too closely resembled their expensive free-agent acquisition – an energetic rebounder and shot blocker but one with limited offensive skills. Noah was solid enough in his first two seasons, averaging a point for every rebound (7.1 ppg, 7.1 rpg), but looked confined to being a role player.
This season, he looks like a candidate for Most Improved Player. Noah’s offensive game has come around – he’s averaging 11.5 points on 53.1% shooting – and he’s established himself as one of the league’s top rebounders (12.1 rpg). Noah is battling Dwight Howard and Chris Bosh for the rebounding lead; they are the only three averaging at least 12 boards per game. In a sight that is becoming increasingly common, he had 16 points and 17 rebounds in Chicago’s last game Monday, a 99-97 loss at Milwaukee. The biggest surprise of all, however, is that Noah’s onetime mentor has been keeping pace with the 24-year-old. Already off to a strong start in his first season back in Detroit, Wallace has 34 rebounds in his last two games, 21 of which came off the offensive glass. He helped the Pistons end their seven-game skid with 18 rebounds (11 offensive) and 10 points, all season highs, against the Hawks Sunday. The drafting of Noah was the most significant indication Bulls management may have agreed with outside opinion that they had miscalculated what Wallace had left to offer after 10 NBA seasons. Wallace has once again proved doubters wrong, making his first game at Chicago since rejoining the Pistons something to watch. “He’s back and playing basically better than anytime with the Bulls after being dumped by the Cavs and buying himself out in Phoenix,” Bulls.com’s Sam Smith wrote in his blog. “Can money buy happiness? Of course, Ben did get the money and is back in Detroit. So maybe he did have it figured out.”

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http://www.nba.com/pistons/video/2009/1 ... index.html

Scouting Report - Chicago Bulls
Scott Perry talks with the Pistons Weekly's Pete Skorich about tonight's game against the Chicago Bulls.

Video in the link above^.

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http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop

Can you start the season like the Pistons have, and finish in the playoffs?

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http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop

Ted Kulfan of The Detroit News: "Ben Gordon keeps in touch with several former teammates -- he gives Luol Deng a call, sends a text to either Tyrus Thomas or Joakim Noah. Tonight, he'll get to see them in person, although he might miss the close on-court contact. Yes, Gordon will reunite with his Bulls teammates when the Pistons hit the United Center. 'I learned pretty early in this league, yes it's a game but it's also a business,' said Gordon, who became one of the NBA's most feared sixth men with the Bulls. 'I don't have any disappointed feelings. I'm happy with the way things turned out.' After averaging 20.7 points last season, Gordon is hitting for 19.8 points despite nursing a sprained left ankle (he's questionable tonight). And that's the key for his reunion: His health. 'I want to be healthy enough to play, regardless of who we're playing.' Gordon said. 'The worst thing would be to re-injure it. I just have to be smart with it.' "

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http://www.nba.com/pistons/index_main.html

Join Tonight's Live Chat
Pistons.com's Keith Langlois will chat live with fans during tonight's game against the Bulls. If you have a question or comment on the game or on the Pistons in general, join in on the conversation beginning just prior to the 8 p.m. tip off on FS Detroit HD.