'Nasty News - Traversing Time & Space' Vol: 68

[nasty daddy]

http://www.freep.com/article/20100313/S ... Basketball

NOTEBOOK: Kuester said Ben Wallace's strained knee is improving and that he is listed as day-to-day. Kuester expects him to return soon. "He is moving around better," Kuester said.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.freep.com/article/20100313/S ... Basketball

Backup forward Chris Wilcox is still struggling with a back injury and hasn't been cleared to play.

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http://www.freep.com/article/20100313/S ... Basketball

Stuckey was expected to miss his third straight game after collapsing on the Pistons' bench last Friday in a loss at Cleveland.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.freep.com/article/20100313/S ... 20-assists

Bynum nearly flawless as he racks up 20 assists
On most nights when Will Bynum enters the game, he looks to shoot. Immediately. That's how he makes an impact. But on Friday night, Bynum didn't shoot until the first half was nearly finished, which was fine with him, because at that point he had some 10 assists. The Pistons' backup point guard, starting for Rodney Stuckey, played another flawless all-court game as Detroit beat the Washington Wizards at the Palace, 101-87. Bynum kept passing all night, finishing with a career-high 20 assists. The last might have been the most memorable, coming with only 3 seconds left in the game after Bynum had found Ben Gordon in the corner. Gordon, who has struggled with his shot recently, drained it. "I knew he was going to hit it," Bynum said. "It was perfect. BG is my man. We spend a lot of time at night in the gym talking about the game."

Bynum was the first Piston to collect 20 assists since Isiah Thomas. Bynum was quick to deflect the credit. "My teammates were making shots," Bynum said. What he enjoyed even more, aside from the win, was the encouragement he kept hearing from the bench as his number grew. "They wanted me to get it more than I did, even though I wanted it badly," he said. So badly that near the end of the game as he closed in on 20, he forced the ball into a couple of bad spots, leading to turnovers. "I got a little anxious," he said. That was the only flaw of the game, really. The Pistons played with energy from the start and didn't let up."That was important," said John Kuester.

That energy, supplied in large part by Jason Maxiell and Jonas Jerebko, helped the defense, which helped the offense, as the team spread the ball around effortlessly, finishing with 31 assists. Tayshaun Prince, Richard Hamilton and Jerebko each had 18, Ben Gordon, who shot the ball better, added 17. Maxiell led the team with 10 rebounds. As for Bynum? He eventually scored, too, and ended up with five points. When did he know it would be a night of passing? "First quarter," he said, smiling. "I was trying to get the record. I don't think me and coach had the same mind-set."

[nasty daddy]

http://www.freep.com/article/20100313/S ... Wizards-87

THE PALACE OF AUBURN HILLS: Pistons 101, Wizards 87
WHAT HAPPENED: Led by Richard Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince, the Pistons beat the Washington Wizards on Friday night at the Palace, 101-87. Detroit outscored the Wizards, 29-17, in the second quarter to take control of the game. The victory was only the Pistons' second in their last nine games. They are now 23-42. The Wizards (21-42), meanwhile, lost their sixth straight.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.freep.com/article/20100313/S ... Wizards-87

WHAT HAPPENED, PART II: Jonas Jerebko and Jason Maxiell provided their usual energy and all-court antics. Their tipped balls and defense and rebounding frustrated the Wizards. Jerebko finished with 18 points, and Maxiell added 12. The Wizards were led by Andray Blatche's 23 points.

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http://www.freep.com/article/20100313/S ... Wizards-87

THE DEFENSE DIDN'T REST: The Wizards were outrebounded, 35-42. They shot 44%. But the most important number? Eleven. That is how many steals the Pistons had. Jerebko led the way with three.

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http://www.freep.com/article/20100313/S ... Wizards-87

NO RESPECT: Kwame Brown was ejected during the second quarter after arguing a foul call. It appeared Brown didn't say much and the ref who ejected him was at least 20 feet away.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.freep.com/article/20100313/S ... Wizards-87

PASSING FANCY: Will Bynum often uses his quickness to blow past defenders and toss up lay-ups. Friday night he used his quickness to open passing lanes, then delivered strikes all night. His last assist was a pass to Ben Gordon for a corner three with only 3 seconds left in the game. Gordon's effort gave Bynum 20 assists, a career high.

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http://www.freep.com/article/20100313/S ... Wizards-87

FLIP COACHING AGAINST HIS FORMER TEAM: The Pistons beat the Wizards all four times this season.

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http://www.freep.com/article/20100313/S ... Wizards-87

WHAT'S NEXT: Three games in four nights -- the Hawks in Atlanta today followed by the Celtics in Boston on Monday followed by the Cavaliers back at the Palace on Tuesday.

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http://espn.go.com/nba/dailydime/_/page ... ames-watch

Thirty Games To Follow
March 15: Detroit at Boston (ESPN)
I'm guessing this was pinpointed for the ESPN schedule back in August based on the premise that a late-season reunion involving the Pistons and Rasheed Wallace would have a bit more pop.

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http://stats.mlive.com/nba/preview.asp? ... me=1&vis=8

Pistons-Hawks Preview
With yet another stellar performance off the bench, Jamal Crawford helped the Atlanta Hawks avoid one of their longest losing streaks. Despite one of his best shooting efforts earlier this season, even the NBA's super sub couldn't lead the Hawks past a struggling Detroit Pistons team a little more than three months ago. Crawford will try again to top the Pistons and give Atlanta its fourth straight home win in its return to Philips Arena on Saturday night. The Hawks (41-23) were on the verge of suffering three consecutive defeats for just the second time Friday night, but Crawford matched a season high with 29 points in a 105-99 victory over Washington. "He's been fantastic all year. He's a big part of what we do," coach Mike Woodson said. "He's made big shots for us. He's run our offense. He's put us in position where we are today."

The veteran guard, second on the team with 17.5 points per game, has scored at least 20 points on 26 occasions, including the previous matchup with Detroit on Nov. 29. Crawford knocked down 8 of 12 shots and scored 20 points in that game, but the Hawks couldn't recover from the Pistons' 10-2 run to open the fourth quarter in a 94-88 defeat. In his 10 seasons, the former Chicago Bulls player has won only five of 28 matchups with Detroit. The Hawks, however, could use one of those rare wins as they chase home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. Atlanta is tied for third with Boston in the Eastern Conference, but has an opportunity to rack up victories as its next four opponents have a combined .370 winning percentage.

This time, Detroit (23-42) heads to an arena where it hasn't won since Feb. 12, 2008. The Pistons have also dropped five in a row away from home, but are 2-1 since losing third-year guard Rodney Stuckey indefinitely. Stuckey, who collapsed on the bench during a loss at Cleveland on March 5, was cleared to resume exercising but there's currently no timeline for his return. He led the Pistons with 23 points - on 10-of-23 shooting - in the win over Atlanta. Stuckey's replacement in the lineup, Will Bynum, hasn't equaled his scoring punch (17.1 ppg), but Bynum did have a career-high 20 assists in Friday night's 101-87 home victory over Washington. He was the third player to reach that mark in the NBA this season, and it was the most for the Pistons since Isiah Thomas had 21 against the Washington Bullets on April 12, 1985. "Obviously, Will was just great in place of Rodney tonight," coach John Kuester said. "Twenty assists is a great accomplishment for anyone." Like Crawford, Bynum had one of his best shooting performances this season in the game against the Hawks, scoring 19 points off the bench while making 8 of 13 attempts. The win snapped a three-game slide to Atlanta, but Detroit had won 30 of the previous 37 before that losing streak.

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http://www.nba.com/pistons/news/prereport_100313.html

Pistons at Hawks
The PRE Report
Broadcast Schedule:
NO TELEVISION FOR TONIGHT'S GAME
7:00 p.m. - Join the Chat and Listen Live
Who is the most important Atlanta Hawk? That question, posted on ESPN.com’s latest “NBA Awards Watch” installment, has a lot of different answers. None would be wrong. Is it All-Star guard Joe Johnson, averaging a team-high 21.4 points? Or Sixth Man of the Year candidate Jamal Crawford, who in his first season with the Hawks leads the NBA in 20-point games off the bench? (No. 26 came Thursday, when Crawford poured in 29 at Washington.) You can’t rule out Josh Smith, who has matured into one of the league’s most disruptive players, especially defensively. He’s the only NBA player ranked in the top 10 in both blocks and steals. The Hawks are getting strong contributions from so many quarters that All-Star center Al Horford – averaging 17 points and 10 rebounds in his last 10 games – didn’t even get listed on the poll, losing out to “other.”

It’s a true team effort in Atlanta, where the 41-23 Hawks are battling the Boston Celtics for the No. 3 playoff seed. Atlanta is also 25-7 at Philips Arena, where the Pistons lost twice last year. While the Celtics have faltered somewhat of late, the Hawks are surging ahead. They are 7-3 in their last 10 games, including Thursday night’s 105-99 win over the Wizards. They are averaging 106.4 points over that span, fourth best in the NBA. Atlanta’s opponents have been averaging 101 points in that time, which is precisely what the Pistons scored Friday night in a 101-87 victory over the Wizards. It was Detroit’s fifth time over 100 points in six games this month, and featured a balanced scoring attack that would rival Atlanta’s. Rip Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince and Jonas Jerebko each had 18 points, while Ben Gordon added 17 off the bench, making seven of 13 from the field. It was all overshadowed by the quarterback of the operation, Will Bynum, who had 20 assists. “I thought Will Bynum did a great job of getting 20 assists,” Pistons coach John Kuester said. “I think he really did a nice job of getting us into our offense and we had guys making shots again. I thought we had balanced scoring throughout on our starting five and also having Ben Gordon playing the way he did off the bench.”

In just his third start for the sidelined Rodney Stuckey (who will not play tonight), Bynum became the first Pistons to have 20 assists in a game since Isiah Thomas had 21 on April 12, 1985. Bynum had just three turnovers in 39 minutes. “That’s important, to have a guard who’s taking care of the basketball and making sure that we get into our offense but he’s also giving guys an opportunity to score,” Kuester said. The Pistons’ defense created a lot of opportunities, too. Detroit forced 17 Washington turnovers, leading to 24 points. Many of them on the run, as the Pistons had 28 fast-break points. “Our defense created our offense and allowed us to get out and run with a purpose." To put Bynum’s night in perspective, 39 times in 65 games the Pistons as a team had fewer than 20 assists. He had 19 points and four assists off the bench on Nov. 29, when the Pistons won the only prior meeting with Atlanta this season, 94-88, at The Palace. Ben Wallace, who hauled in 18 boards in that game, is listed as questionable with a strained right patella tendon.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.nba.com/pistons/news/prereport_100313.html

Key Matchup
Jerebko
63
9.3
5.9
0.8
.489 Games
PPG
RPG
SPG
FG% 64
15.9
8.8
1.7
.513
Smith

Jonas Jerebko was presented with his Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month award for February prior to last night’s game, to the rousing approval of The Palace faithful. It was in 42 minutes against the Hawks on Nov. 29 that the 23-year-old Swede began to reveal the kind of player he would become. He had 10 points and 11 rebounds, five off the offensive glass, for his first NBA double-double. (He’s up to five.) It was just his third game scoring in double figures.Friday night Jerebko scored eight of his 18 points in the third quarter for his share of the team-high honors. More impressive was Jerebko’s defense on Wizards forward Adray Blatche, who was coming off a 30-point effort the night before. Blatche finished with 23 points on 11-of-22 and 10 rebounds, but boosted his numbers with by going 5-for-7 for 10 points in the fourth quarter when the teams were just trading baskets. Through three quarters – as the Pistons built a 14-point lead – Blatche had a benign 13 points on 6-for-15 shooting. Jerebko had a career-high three steals by the end of the third, and finished with eight rebounds.Another commendable defensive effort from Jerebko may be needed tonight against Hawks forward Josh Smith. He is averaging 15.9 points and had a team-high 23 points against the Pistons Nov. 29, making 11 of 15 shots. Smith also had seven rebounds, five blocks and two steals in 39 minutes, illustrating why he’s in the conversation for Defensive Player of the Year. In six games this month Smith has 15 blocks (2.5 bpg) and 11 steals (1.8 spg). The 6-foot-9 forward is third in blocks and tied with LeBron James for ninth in steals, making him the only player to rank in the top 10 of both categories.

[nasty daddy]

http://64.246.64.33/merge/tsnform.aspx? ... v12377.htm

Detroit Pistons (23-42) at Atlanta Hawks (41-23), 7 p.m.
The playoff bound Atlanta Hawks return to the cozy confines of Philips Arena Saturday to take on a Detroit Pistons team headed for the NBA Draft Lottery. The Hawks salvaged the finale of their recent three-game road trip on Thursday in Washington when Jamal Crawford came off the bench to score a team-high 29 points to lead Atlanta to a tight 105-99 victory over the lowly Wizards. Joe Johnson and Al Horford each netted 18 points for the Hawks, who were coming off losses in Miami and New York. Mike Bibby chipped in with 16 points for the victors. "He's been fantastic all year. He's been a big part of what we do," Atlanta coach Mike Woodson said of Crawford. "We rely on him to score the ball, also play defense and help us rebound. He's made big shots for us, run our offense. He's put us in position where we are today." The Hawks are now dead even with Boston for the third seed in the Eastern Conference and will try and improve on their stellar 25-7 home record tonight.

The Pistons, meanwhile, are also coming off a win over Washington in their most recent affair on Friday night. Will Bynum provided a spark with a career- best 20 assists in that one, helping Detroit beat the Wizards for a sixth straight time, 101-87, at The Palace of Auburn Hills.Tayshaun Prince, Jonas Jerebko and Richard Hamilton all scored 18 to pace the Pistons. The three combined to shoot 24-of-45 for the game. Ben Gordon chipped in 17 off the bench and Jason Maxiell tallied 12 points and 10 boards for the Pistons, who recorded just their second win in nine games. "I thought Will Bynum did a great job of getting 20 assists," said Pistons coach John Kuester. "I think he really did a nice job of getting us into our offense."

Bynum was in the starting lineup for Rodney Stuckey, who missed his third straight game last night after collapsing on the bench during a loss in Cleveland on March 5. Extensive cardiac tests on Wednesday provided some good news and Stuckey, who is averaging a career-best 17.1 points per game, has been allowed to resume exercising but there is no timetable for his return to the floor. Detroit snapped a three-game series losing streak with a 94-88 win in Auburn Hills back in November.

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http://64.246.64.33/merge/tsnform.aspx? ... v12377.htm

Detroit Pistons (23-42) at Atlanta Hawks (41-23), 7 p.m.
The playoff bound Atlanta Hawks return to the cozy confines of Philips Arena Saturday to take on a Detroit Pistons team headed for the NBA Draft Lottery. The Hawks salvaged the finale of their recent three-game road trip on Thursday in Washington when Jamal Crawford came off the bench to score a team-high 29 points to lead Atlanta to a tight 105-99 victory over the lowly Wizards.

Joe Johnson and Al Horford each netted 18 points for the Hawks, who were coming off losses in Miami and New York. Mike Bibby chipped in with 16 points for the victors. "He's been fantastic all year. He's been a big part of what we do," Atlanta coach Mike Woodson said of Crawford. "We rely on him to score the ball, also play defense and help us rebound. He's made big shots for us, run our offense. He's put us in position where we are today." The Hawks are now dead even with Boston for the third seed in the Eastern Conference and will try and improve on their stellar 25-7 home record tonight. The Pistons, meanwhile, are also coming off a win over Washington in their most recent affair on Friday night. Will Bynum provided a spark with a career- best 20 assists in that one, helping Detroit beat the Wizards for a sixth straight time, 101-87, at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Tayshaun Prince, Jonas Jerebko and Richard Hamilton all scored 18 to pace the Pistons. The three combined to shoot 24-of-45 for the game.

Ben Gordon chipped in 17 off the bench and Jason Maxiell tallied 12 points and 10 boards for the Pistons, who recorded just their second win in nine games. "I thought Will Bynum did a great job of getting 20 assists," said Pistons coach John Kuester. "I think he really did a nice job of getting us into our offense." Bynum was in the starting lineup for Rodney Stuckey, who missed his third straight game last night after collapsing on the bench during a loss in Cleveland on March 5. Extensive cardiac tests on Wednesday provided some good news and Stuckey, who is averaging a career-best 17.1 points per game, has been allowed to resume exercising but there is no timetable for his return to the floor. Detroit snapped a three-game series losing streak with a 94-88 win in Auburn Hills back in November.

[nasty daddy]

http://pistonsnationblog.com/2010/03/13 ... -a-keeper/

Will Bynum is a keeper
You don’t just luck up on twenty assist nights. No Piston had recorded 20 assists since Isiah Thomas dropped 21 dimes in a game in April of 1985.

Will has proven he proven he can score when that’s what’s needed. Now he’s showing that he’s a capable point-guard. No disrespect to Rodney Stuckey but Will Bynum is the best PG on the Pistons’ roster. On a team that averages under 19 assists a game you simply can’t ignore the floor general down there near the end of your bench.

Will is a restricted free agent this summer and I only hope Joe D wasn’t just giving lip service with his intentions to keep Will a Piston: “Let me be clear, sitting here right now, we have no notion of letting Will walk out of the door. We’ll re-sign him and he’ll be one of the core members here for a long time.” Move Will to the number one guard spot, give him the keys. That’ll be the easy part for Joe. The hard part is going to be unraveling the salary heavy knot he’s got at shooting guard.

[nasty daddy]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4992142

Bobcats sign Hughes after finger heals
The Charlotte Bobcats have signed veteran guard Larry Hughes to help with depth in the backcourt as they attempt to reach the playoffs for the first time.General manager Rod Higgins announced this month they wouldn't sign Hughes because of his broken finger. But the injury has healed, and a team spokesman says Hughes passed his physical and could practice on Saturday.

The 31-year-old Hughes was traded from New York to Sacramento last month and then waived.Hughes has averaged 14.6 points since being the eighth overall pick of Philadelphia in 1998. He has also played for Golden State, Washington, Cleveland and Chicago.

Charlotte has been looking for help in the backcourt after trading Flip Murray to Chicago last month.

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http://twitter.com/DETPistons

No TV for tonight's game vs @atlanta_hawks but you can listen to George Blaha online http://bit.ly/6kUImx #pistons