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

John Kuester says Pistons will use remaining games to improve for next season
Seventy down. Just 12 to go.The Detroit Pistons have just a dozen games remaining in the season, but coach John Kuester said they still have plenty to accomplish."Every game is a challenge, and you want to continually improve," Kuester said Sunday before his team's 104-79 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. "That's what our goal is. Take these last (12) games as a challenge leading into next year. That's what we're striving for."The Pistons play the first of those dozen games Tuesday against the Indiana Pacers, who have a similar record (24-46) to the Pistons (23-47) but are 3-0 against Detroit this season.

The Pacers have raced out to big leads in all three games, but they had to hold off a furious rally from the Pistons on Friday when Detroit came back from a 24-point deficit before falling 106-102. The Pistons might have a tougher time finding wins at home than on the road. Their six opponents in the remaining home games entered play Sunday night a combined 12 games over .500, while their six opponents on the road are a combined 96 games under .500. Those road games include visits to New Jersey (7-62) and Minnesota (14-56).

Kuester's goals down the stretch match those of Pistons president Joe Dumars, who told Pistons.com last week that he is most concerned about the effort he sees out of his team down the stretch."The only thing I will be disappointed in is if we don't approach these last 14 games like we're preparing for the playoffs," Dumars said. "That should never change. Your approach, your professionalism, the way you go about your business, that never, ever, ever changes. "That's part of your culture."Still alive, mathematically speaking. The Pistons have been all but out of the playoff hunt for several weeks, but they are just now on the verge of being mathematically eliminated. Detroit could finish 35-47 if it were to win each of its remaining 12 games. Toronto is eighth in the Eastern Conference standings with 34 victories.

nasty daddy · Post #826 » by **nasty daddy** » Mon Mar 22, 2010 3:52 am

http://www.mlive.com/pistons/index.ssf/ ... iston.html

No extra time for rookies
DaJuan Summers is averaging more than 10 points in his past three games. Austin Daye has played in all but one game this month, but he isn't seeing extended minutes.

Still, don't expect playing time for Summers and Daye to increase significantly down the stretch even though the Pistons have no shot at making the playoffs.

"We're not concerned about that," Kuester said when asked if there would be a concerted effort to give his rookies more playing time. "We're more concerned with us getting better. That's the bottom line."

nasty daddy · Post #827 » by **nasty daddy** » Mon Mar 22, 2010 3:53 am

http://www.mlive.com/pistons/index.ssf/ ... iston.html

Prince's eyes on NCAA tournament
Tayshaun Prince is the last man standing.

When Gonzaga (Austin Daye), Georgia Tech (Will Bynum) and Maryland (Chris Wilcox) lost NCAA tournament games Sunday, it left Prince as the only Pistons player to still have a team alive in the tournament. Michigan State wiped out the last of the teams with a chance to outlast Kentucky when the Spartans knocked off Maryland on a buzzer-beating 3-pointer by Korie Lucious.

Several Pistons players, including Wilcox, gathered in front of a television in the visiting locker room at Quicken Loans Arena to watch the conclusion of the game.

nasty daddy · Post #828 » by **nasty daddy** » Mon Mar 22, 2010 3:59 am

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/2010 ... n-30-years

Cavaliers 104, Pistons 79: Cavs sweep for first time in 30 years
J.J. Hickson and Anthony Parker combined for 20 points in the decisive third quarter and Cleveland beat Detroit 104-79 on Sunday to give the Cavaliers their first season sweep of the Pistons in 30 years.

Cleveland held a double-digit lead most of the game, although the Pistons cut it to 55-47 on a basket by Jonas Jerebko with 10 minutes left in the third quarter. Hickson and Parker took charge, combining to score 16 of Cleveland's next 19 points while Detroit went more than five minutes without a field goal.

By the time Anderson Varejao scored on a behind-the-back pass from Mo Williams, Cleveland had increased its lead to 76-57. Cleveland led by as much as 27 in the fourth quarter.

nasty daddy · Post #829 » by **nasty daddy** » Mon Mar 22, 2010 4:12 am

http://espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=300321013

Kobe Bryant scored 20 of his 24 points on a variety of jump shots during a dynamic second quarter, and the Los Angeles Lakers sent the Washington Wizards to their 11th straight loss, 99-92 Sunday night.

Pau Gasol had 28 points and 12 rebounds for the Lakers, who won their sixth straight after a three-game skid. The defending NBA champions had little trouble with woeful Washington in the first three quarters, jumping to a 26-point halftime lead after another memorable quarter by Bryant.

Former USC guard Nick Young matched his season high with 22 points for the Wizards, who are two losses shy of tying the worst skid in franchise history, established in 1967 and matched in 1995.

nasty daddy · Post #830 » by **nasty daddy** » Mon Mar 22, 2010 4:57 am

http://www.nba.com/2010/news/03/21/lake ... ef:nbahpt2

Lakers' Bynum has strained tendon, return uncertain
Andrew Bynum's left Achilles' tendon is not torn, and the Los Angeles Lakers are cautiously optimistic their starting center can return from his latest injury in two weeks.

Yet Lakers coach Phil Jackson said Sunday he can't predict a return timetable for Bynum, who strained his tendon early in the third quarter of the defending NBA champions' win over Minnesota on Friday night. "We really have nothing definitive about it," Jackson said. "We really don't know how this therapy is going to come out. The best thing I heard today is that he felt better from Day One to Day Two."

An MRI on Saturday showed the injury wasn't as serious as the Lakers initially feared, revealing no tears in Bynum's heel. Yet Jackson acknowledged Bynum's lost conditioning and the Lakers' overall cautiousness with their oft-injured center could keep him out until shortly before the playoffs in mid-April. "An Achilles' or a leg injury is something you can't really stay in great shape with," Jackson said. "Taking off and landing, all your power moves, are something you're going to have to adjust."

nasty daddy · Post #831 » by **nasty daddy** » Mon Mar 22, 2010 5:42 am

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/2010 ... t-in-check

Danny Granger scores 32 for Pacers, keeps Kevin Durant in check
In case anyone had forgotten about him, Granger provided a reminder by scoring 32 points to help the Indiana Pacers beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 121-101 Sunday.

Troy Murphy had 22 points and 13 rebounds and Roy Hibbert had 20 points and eight rebounds for the Pacers, who have won three of four.

Jeff Green led Oklahoma City with 20 points.

nasty daddy · Post #832 » by **nasty daddy** » Mon Mar 22, 2010 5:46 am

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/2010 ... -Cavaliers

Pistons are way behind Cavaliers
When the Cavaliers wanted a bucket Sunday, a sure two points, they seemingly got it. Time and again, the Cavs toyed with the Pistons' defense, leading to their 104-79 victory. The Pistons have lost five consecutive games and 12 of their last 14. There's a wide gap between the Pistons and Cavs, who swept the season series for the first time in 30 years, and it was clearly evident all evening.

Don't expect Detroit (23-47) to compete at Cleveland's (56-15) level for a while. Cleveland has won 10 straight over Detroit. "A lot," said LeBron James about the season sweep. "We turned the corner when we beat them in the Eastern Conference finals, and since then we've been working to get better and to be the best team in the conference and the entire league. "To sweep them for the first time in 30 years, really to sweep any team that used to dominate us in the past is not only a tribute to us in getting better, but ownership, front office and the coaching staff."

The Cavs have more weapons. It showed in the second quarter, when the Pistons went to their bench, and scored five in the first seven minutes. "They were the aggressors, lets put it that way," John Kuester said. "The aggressive team is the team that is going to win a basketball game, and they were the aggressors at the end." Jason Maxiell led the Pistons with 16 points and Charlie Villanueva scored 11. "We're still professionals and we've still got a job in hand to do," Villanueva said. "We get paid a lot of money to do it. So, you have to ride it out to the end.

nasty daddy · Post #833 » by **nasty daddy** » Mon Mar 22, 2010 5:47 am

http://twitter.com/detroit_pistons

DetNews: Danny Granger scores 32 for Pacers, keeps Kevin Durant in check: Oklahoma City's Durant has created a l... http://twurl.nl/dzm7zd

nasty daddy · Post #834 » by **nasty daddy** » Mon Mar 22, 2010 5:48 am

http://twitter.com/detroit_pistons

DetNews: Pistons are way behind Cavaliers: Whenever the Cavaliers wanted a bucket, a sure two points, they seemi... http://twurl.nl/sct647

nasty daddy · Post #835 » by **nasty daddy** » Mon Mar 22, 2010 5:50 am

http://twitter.com/detroit_pistons

MLive: John Kuester says Pistons will use remaining games to improve for next season: The Pistons might have a tou... http://bit.ly/aWaDR3

nasty daddy · Post #836 » by **nasty daddy** » Mon Mar 22, 2010 5:52 am

http://www.nba.com/2010/news/03/21/cavs ... index.html

Cavaliers recall Jackson from Erie
The Cleveland Cavaliers have recalled forward Darnell Jackson from Erie of the NBA Development League.

Jackson was sent to Erie on Saturday and had 32 points and 11 rebounds in the BayHawks' 101-100 loss to Dakota. He will be available for Sunday's game against the Pistons.

Jackson has played sparingly for the Cavs this season. He's averaging less than a point and 4.2 minutes in 26 games for the league's top team.

nasty daddy · Post #837 » by **nasty daddy** » Mon Mar 22, 2010 8:29 am

http://espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=300321021

Jared Dudley scored all 10 of his points in the fourth quarter and Grant Hill hit two key baskets, lifting the Phoenix Suns to a 93-87 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday night for their fourth straight win.

Phoenix, meanwhile, moved into a virtual fifth-place tie with Oklahoma City with its fifth win in seven games during an 18-day homestand that ended Sunday. The Suns are 44-26, the first time this season they have been 18 games over .500.

Amare Stoudemire led the Suns with 18 points and 14 rebounds.

nasty daddy · Post #838 » by **nasty daddy** » Mon Mar 22, 2010 8:31 am

http://twitter.com/detroit_pistons

MLive: John Kuester says Pistons will use remaining games to improve for next season: The Pistons might have a tou... http://bit.ly/96jwqP

nasty daddy · Post #839 » by **nasty daddy** » Mon Mar 22, 2010 8:48 am

http://www.freep.com/article/20100322/S ... Basketball

Pistons rookies Austin Daye, DaJuan Summers likely to play more
Rodney Stuckey, nearing the end of his third season, remembers what it was like during his rookie season -- make a mistake and you head to the bench. "When you're a rookie, you're on a short leash," Stuckey said with a grin. "You can't really make mistakes, because if you do, you're going to come out. But they've been doing a good job, DaJuan (Summers), Austin (Daye) and Jonas (Jerebko)." That leash probably will get a bit longer as the Pistons' season winds down. With all hope of postseason play shattered, it's time for some development time for Daye and Summers.

Jerebko has received plenty of playing time as his invite to the rookie-sophomore game can attest. But Daye, who has had some moments, and Summers have played little. But the Pistons should let both players, who were selected ahead of Jerebko, play more down the stretch. Summers played his most minutes of the season Friday night and helped spark a comeback against the Pacers with 10 points in 16 minutes. He was aggressive in looking for his shot and knocked down two triples. "Just being out there and just having fun," Summers said. "Just loving to play basketball. Whenever I'm out there, I cherish every moment because I'm not out there as much as I'm used to being or as much as I would like to be. "I'm just taking my opportunities and making the best of it."

Summers admitted this season that it's a struggle not to press when you know your playing time isn't guaranteed. "Even with the minutes that I got today, if you don't play the whole season, you can still be nervous," he said. "But you just got to play basketball. At the end of the day, that's just what it is."

nasty daddy · Post #840 » by **nasty daddy** » Mon Mar 22, 2010 8:49 am

http://www.freep.com/article/20100322/S ... Basketball

NOTEBOOK: You can't print the words that left Chris Wilcox's mouth Sunday after MSU's last-second basket ended Maryland's season in the second round of the NCAA tournament. Wilcox starred on the Terps' 2002 national championship team. The only Piston with a school left in the tournament is Tayshaun Prince (Kentucky).