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

[nasty daddy]

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/2010 ... f-the-week

Pistons' Rodney Stuckey could play by end of the week
Finally a little bit of good news, maybe, for the Pistons. Rodney Stuckey might return to the team by the end of the week.

Stuckey wasn't in uniform Tuesday against the Cleveland Cavaliers. But Stuckey is expected to go a full practice Thursday -- coach John Kuester gave the Pistons Wednesday off -- and play in a game this weekend. "Hopefully," Kuester said of the possibility of Stuckey returning this weekend. "But we'll sort of play that by ear. Hopefully he'll be given the freedom to practice and hopefully we'll have him back soon."

Stuckey said last week he'd like to have a full practice before returning to game action.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/2010 ... f-the-week

James' views
LeBron James knew Detroit played poorly Monday night in Boston. So James was expecting a big effort out of the Pistons Tuesday, which turned out to be the case. Still, James and the Cavaliers prevailed, 113-101. "We responded to them," said James, who had 29 points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists. "We knew they were going to play a lot better than they did in Boston.

There was no way they were going to repeat that performance." James has high regard for Kuester, who was an assistant coach in Cleveland last season, and is thought of highly by Cavaliers players and present coaches. "I have a lot of history with this team," James said. "I know a lot of coaches and of course coach Kue. It was back and forth."

James only had five points at halftime, a trend in recent games as he looks to get other players involved. "It's just happened like that these past few games," James said. "I haven't scored many points in the first half but in the fourth quarter, second half, is when you have to perform at a high level. For the most part that's when the games are going to be close and that's when it's close-out time for me. "That's what I work out for and that's what I prepare myself for." Cavaliers coach Mike Brown said, "LeBron was terrific and every assist, rebound and bucket was needed. Late in the game, when it was a close game, he got Mo (Williams ) a three by calling that play."

[nasty daddy]

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/2010 ... f-the-week

Slam dunks
Along with Stuckey, Ben Wallace (right knee sprain) didn't play.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/2010 ... f-the-week

Tayshaun Prince played 44 minutes and had 15 points, seven rebounds and a season-high eight assists, one night after crashing to the floor and suffering a lower back injury.

"He played great, he was aggressive," Kuester said. "I told him as long as LeBron was in there, I tried to keep him in there as much as possible. It was very difficult to take him out because LeBron was facilitating at times. But also when he gets aggressive, he's the one guy that Tayshaun could do a good job with."

[nasty daddy]

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

Automotion Dance Clinic
Automotion will host a dance clinic on Sunday, March 21 at The Palace. The first session (ages 7-11) will run from 9:30-11:30 a.m., while the second session (ages 12 & up) will go from noon-4:30 p.m. Participants will perform at the Pistons-Pacers game on March 23!

[nasty daddy]

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/2010 ... y-s-return

No reason to rush Rodney Stuckey's return
Rodney Stuckey's return to the Pistons lineup will depend on trust. When he trusts his health, he'll return. Since collapsing on the bench and falling unconscious during a game in Cleveland on March 5, Stuckey has undergone extensive testing to determine the cause. Three doctors have seen Stuckey, a third-year guard, and all indications are that he's fine. Stuckey, however, is wearing a heart monitor to make sure everything is OK. "I feel fine," Stuckey said recently. "Everything is good."

Stuckey, who said he's in no rush to return, missed his sixth consecutive game Tuesday when the Cavaliers visited The Palace. The Pistons, too, are not putting a rush on his return. But here's the issue. Why should he return at all this year?

Despite being alive mathematically, the Pistons are out of the playoff race realistically, closer to the top pick in the draft than the top spot in the East. So if Stuckey agrees, it might be best for him to just shut down for this season, get 100 percent healthy and return stronger next season. "We are not in a rush to have him return," coach John Kuester said. "He can take his time."

[nasty daddy]

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/2010 ... y-s-return

Yesterday's gone
Chauncey Billups ripped his old team during an interview on fanhouse.com.

Billups, traded by the Pistons to the Nuggets, said one of the reasons Detroit is losing is it abandoned the blue collar work ethic that characterizes Detroit. "Our team embodied that so the city got behind us," Billups said. "And that's how we played. We hung our hat on stopping teams and offense just kind of happened. You just don't see that same commitment. You don't see that desire with the team they have right now."

Billups also believes the championship days in Detroit could be done for old teammates like Richard Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince . "I do feel bad for them," Billups said. "You hope they have the chance to win another championship. I don't know if they could do it (in Detroit) or not. But, right now, it's just not looking good."

[nasty daddy]

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/2010 ... y-s-return

Keep on truckin'
Pistons centers Jason Maxiell and Ben Wallace are not just competing for rebounds, they're competing for best truck.

Maxiell bought a gigantic, customized Ford F-450 truck. Wallace topped that with a Ford customized F-650 with six doors and plush interior. "He got me," Maxiell said.

So what's next for Maxiell? "I'm done," he said. "I am not going to try to top that."

[nasty daddy]

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/2010 ... y-s-return

I'm back ... ohhh, my back
Prince, has scored in double figures in 10 of 11 games. "I feel I am healthy again," he said. "I am getting my legs back."

Going into Tuesday's game, Prince had averaged 16.5 points and 6.5 rebounds, and was shooting 50.6 percent during that stretch.

Prince injured his back Monday against the Celtics, but bounced back Tuesday with 15 points and seven rebounds.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/2010 ... f-the-week

By the numbers
5 -- Double-doubles for rookie Jonas Jerebko
71.6 -- Pistons' free-throw percentage, worst in the NBA
12.0 -- Rebounding average for Jason Maxiell the last five games

[nasty daddy]

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/2010 ... f-the-week

Homegrown
Best Pistons who played at a university in Michigan:

Player University Comment
Dave DeBusschere Detroit Finished with 13,249 career points
Greg Kelser Michigan St. Broadcaster was traded for Vinnie Johnson

[nasty daddy]

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/2010 ... f-the-week

Draft impact
Most games with the Pistons played by drafted players:
Player Games
Ben Wallace 963
Brad Miller 776
Chucky Atkins 692
Kevin Ollie 657
Raja Bell 604

[nasty daddy]

http://www.detroitbadboys.com/2010/3/17 ... l-not-good

That Was Better, But Still Not Good Enough: Cavs 113, Pistons 101
Well, that ended as the game thread title implied. Detroit actually found effort on their flight home from Boston last night, but unfortunately, it wasn't enough to beat the beasts of the East (and their friends with whistles). Six Pistons scored in double figures, the team shot 64% from three-point range, and the game was tied at 94 apiece with 4:44 left in the fourth quarter. Then the Cavs finished on a 19-7 run.

Listen, I could hammer out monotonous drivel about what happened and why the Pistons fell apart late (and bicker a lot about the refs, which is usually not my thing), but that would be no fun for anyone -- we all get it, the Pistons are 23-45 and, in words, 'not good.'

Instead, let's have some fun. I've been lurking the comments on DBB for years and I know you're all smart, creative, and funny people. When I came across these two pictures (LeBron from NBA.com & Kuester from within SB Nation's system), I instantly wondered what kind of reaction they would get from the DBB community. So in lieu of a traditional recap, I ask for your captions for these two pictures (below). LeBron screaming like a school girl, and Kuester about to sneeze his face off. Those are the elementary interpretations, at least. Let's hear story lines, Haikus, etc. Maybe best one as voted by your peers will win something? Recap privileges for Friday and/or Sunday's game(s), perhaps? Have at it.

[nasty daddy]

http://twitter.com/detroit_pistons

DetNews: Cavaliers 113, Pistons 101: Improved effort results in another loss for Pistons: The effort was signifi... http://twurl.nl/hszfpk

[nasty daddy]

http://twitter.com/detroit_pistons

DetNews: Pistons' Rodney Stuckey could play by end of the week: Stuckey, who collapsed on the bench during a gam... http://twurl.nl/ycv31v

[nasty daddy]

http://twitter.com/detroit_pistons

DetNews: Terry Foster: No reason to rush Rodney Stuckey's return: Here's the issue: Why should he return at all ... http://twurl.nl/278j5e

[nasty daddy]

http://twitter.com/detroit_pistons

DetNews: Cavaliers 113, Pistons 101: Improved effort results in another loss for Pistons: The effort was signifi... http://twurl.nl/6a8hu2

[nasty daddy]

http://twitter.com/detroit_pistons

MLive: Pistons' Jason Maxiell raffling off 1989 Camaro: Proceeds from the raffle, which runs through April 7, will... http://bit.ly/9Dz5b2

[nasty daddy]

http://twitter.com/detroit_pistons

MLive: Pistons coach John Kuester hopeful Rodney Stuckey will practice Thursday and play Friday: Thursday would be... http://bit.ly/9BF0v1

[nasty daddy]

http://www.freep.com/article/20100317/S ... ks-Pistons

LeBron James' triple-double sinks Pistons
That was downright cruel. The Cavs, with designs on an NBA crown, came to town Tuesday night and played the role of the cat, while the Pistons were the mouse. Every time it looked like the lowly Pistons might pull an improbable upset one night after a pathetic effort at Boston, the Cavs would do something to end all hope. And the top cat was league MVP LeBron James, who only scored five points in the first half on his way to a triple double that allowed the Cavs to pull away to a 113-101 victory at the Palace. "We all knew that this was a time when he was going to try and take over the game," Charlie Villanueva said of James' 29-point, 12-rebound, 12-assist night. "He's a tremendous player. I don't know how much he finished with, but it wasn't five points."

James took over in the fourth quarter with 15 points, and his sidekick Mo Williams contributed 11 points, making three triples during the closing, 22-10 run to finish the game.
And although the Pistons (23-45) acknowledged the superiority of the Cavs (53-15), they noticeably fumed during the game about several calls involving James. The most egregious came when Will Bynum raced in for a lay-up with 1:35 left with the Pistons trailing, 104-101. James swooped in for the blocked shot but appeared to catch the ball after it hit the backboard -- which would make that goaltending. "Bad call. They know it was a bad call," Pistons coach John Kuester said. "It's a shame. That was a momentum-breaker. But, hey, that's the NBA."

Then there was a call where the officials gave James the continuation after he took three steps before completing a conventional three-point play. But you kind of have to expect that kind of stuff against arguably the top player in the league. "Those are some tough calls," Villanueva said. "Those were momentum-changing calls, I'll say. I felt like we was getting in a roll of things. But the refs, they're not perfect. They make mistakes and whatnot. We just have to live with it and deal with it."