Pistons vs Warriors/Big Ben Jersey Retirement 7:30pm Jan. 16th

Todd3 · Post #1 » by **Todd3** » Fri Jan 15, 2016 11:30 pm

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZm5Ow-r3Rs[/youtube]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrJNkYZ-ojM[/youtube]

DetroitPistons · Post #2 » by **DetroitPistons** » Sat Jan 16, 2016 12:03 am

Sigh 3 straight losses after this one. And the roller coaster season continues. We go from a hot streak to a cold streak and so on and so forth. That MEM loss was huge. The CHI and HOU game will be equally huge for getting us back on track. A 5 game losing streak might drop us all the way to 12th in the East if we don't get lucky...

Todd3 · Post #3 » by **Todd3** » Sat Jan 16, 2016 12:04 am

Draymond published a letter to Ben on Freep.com

It was the early 2000s and I was just a young kid growing up in the city of Saginaw, which is approximately 72 miles north of the Palace of Auburn Hills, where an undersized guy by the name of Ben Wallace was wreaking havoc for the Detroit Pistons. Ben was dominating anyone who came anywhere near the paint.

During that time, I wore a huge afro, as I thought it was cool because at home games at the Palace, Big Ben sported a huge afro as well. At 6-feet-9 (on a good day) one should never be able to be as dominant as he was. Consequently, as a kid, I wondered how in the world was he doing it. It was a mystery for about two more years.

My basketball career then took me to an AAU team in Detroit -- called The Family -- where I met someone that I still consider my brother, Jordan Dumars. When I met Jordan, he took me to my second-ever Pistons game and the first since I was 8 years old. That is when I had the opportunity to meet Ben and I quickly figured out how and why he was one of the most feared players to grace the court at that time in the NBA.

Ben had an incredible work ethic. Not only did he work out extremely hard every day, but more importantly, he had the heart of a lion. It was amazing because he didn't say much, but everyone knew that he meant business.

The day came where I was able to build a relationship with Ben and, to this day, he continues to be a big brother to me. Here we are about 10 years later and a common story line has surfaced --- how am I able to do what I do while undersized, just like Ben. I refuse to be outworked and I consider myself to have the heart of a lion. As I sit now, I begin to ponder, "Why was Ben's path directed to Detroit, where I could watch every game he played?"

The only answer I can come up with is that God placed him there because a kid from Saginaw was watching with a dream of playing in the NBA. This kid would also be considered undersized, but had that similar drive and a heart that never stops pumping with determination to never be denied. It is only fitting that with my return to Michigan only a day away to play in my home state against the Detroit Pistons, Big Ben's jersey is being retired. I feel it is only right to say THANK YOU.

Thank you, Mr. Wallace, for showing me that it is possible to make it to the NBA and wreak havoc while being undersized! Hopefully, there is a kid watching me and wondering the same things I did about you, realizing that man does not have the ability to judge what's in another man's heart!
Congrats, Big Ben.

All the best,

--Draymond Green

http://www.freep.com/story/sports/nba/pistons/2016/01/15/draymond-green-ben-wallace-letter/78852594/

DetroitPistons · Post #4 » by **DetroitPistons** » Sat Jan 16, 2016 12:05 am

I still hate Draymond

ducler · Post #5 » by **ducler** » Sat Jan 16, 2016 10:28 am

gusman · Post #6 » by **gusman** » Sat Jan 16, 2016 12:31 pm

They should use the final countdown for intros tonight and against Denver. Don't y'all think? Maybe the fire too!

Sent from my iPhone using RealGM Forums

Laimbeer · Post #7 » by **Laimbeer** » Sat Jan 16, 2016 1:44 pm

DetroitPistons wrote:Sigh 3 straight losses after this one. And the roller coaster season continues. We go from a hot streak to a cold streak and so on and so forth. That MEM loss was huge. The CHI and HOU game will be equally huge for getting us back on track. A 5 game losing streak might drop us all the way to 12th in the East if we don't get lucky...

You must be a blast at parties.

Laimbeer · Post #8 » by **Laimbeer** » Sat Jan 16, 2016 1:45 pm

DetroitPistons wrote:I still hate Draymond

Me, too, but I have mad respect for the guy. And I'd love him if he'd signed with us. :lol:

whitehops · Post #9 » by **whitehops** » Sat Jan 16, 2016 4:26 pm

can't watch the game tonight unfortunately but hopefully we give em all we got.

may KCP "shut down" curry again.

DetroitPistons · Post #10 » by **DetroitPistons** » Sat Jan 16, 2016 7:10 pm

Laimbeer wrote:
DetroitPistons wrote:Sigh 3 straight losses after this one. And the roller coaster season continues. We go from a hot streak to a cold streak and so on and so forth. That MEM loss was huge. The CHI and HOU game will be equally huge for getting us back on track. A 5 game losing streak might drop us all the way to 12th in the East if we don't get lucky...

You must be a blast at parties.

Haha I view myself as more of an optimist but I also try to be realistic. We are in a bad stretch and this game doesn't give me much hope. However, DEN of all teams just beat GSW so maybe we have a chance. We will see.

DetroitPistons · Post #11 » by **DetroitPistons** » Sat Jan 16, 2016 7:11 pm

Laimbeer wrote:
DetroitPistons wrote:I still hate Draymond

Me, too, but I have mad respect for the guy. And I'd love him if he'd signed with us.

Me too..... :oops:

Maker_84 · Post #12 » by **Maker_84** » Sat Jan 16, 2016 8:28 pm

DetroitPistons wrote:Sigh 3 straight losses after this one. And the roller coaster season continues. We go from a hot streak to a cold streak and so on and so forth. That MEM loss was huge. The CHI and HOU game will be equally huge for getting us back on track. A 5 game losing streak might drop us all the way to 12th in the East if we don't get lucky...

Agreed. People forget that this team still isn't very good and is just very average. Don't have much size, scoring, or depth and that is a big time burden against the NBAs best. Just don't have the horses to compete

Spider156 · Post #13 » by **Spider156** » Sat Jan 16, 2016 10:24 pm

Laimbeer wrote:
DetroitPistons wrote:I still hate Draymond

Me, too, but I have mad respect for the guy. And I'd love him if he'd signed with us.

You know he was sitting with Dumars waiting for his name to be called during the draft. We were supposed to draft him over Middleton but Golden State got him. That's the same draft we got Drummond. They'd probably be the best front court in the league by now.

BadMofoPimp · Post #14 » by **BadMofoPimp** » Sat Jan 16, 2016 10:52 pm

I hope the Pistons play this game with a chip on their shoulder.

Spider156 · Post #15 » by **Spider156** » Sat Jan 16, 2016 11:09 pm

A win would soothe the pain of the last game. That one hurt really bad.

Han Solo · Post #16 » by **Han Solo** » Sun Jan 17, 2016 12:28 am

no way we beat Golden State.

offense · Post #17 » by **offense** » Sun Jan 17, 2016 12:33 am

Ben Wallace was great, looking forward to the jersey retirement!

Liqourish · Post #18 » by **Liqourish** » Sun Jan 17, 2016 12:36 am

I'm so excited. I'm in the upper level but not only get to watch Draymond return to Detroit, but the Pistons beat the Warriors and Ben Wallace's jersey get raised to the rafters.

Blkbrd671 · Post #19 » by **Blkbrd671** » Sun Jan 17, 2016 12:38 am

i want this win so bad

basedjesus · Post #20 » by **basedjesus** » Sun Jan 17, 2016 12:44 am

ok illy with the rebs