http://www.nba.com/pistons/news/practice_070927.html


Pistons to hold open practice at Oakland University
First Look
by Keith Langlois

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – The Pistons are taking training camp on the road – for one night, at least – and inviting the public in to watch. The open practice that’s been a popular feature of past Pistons camps will be held on Thursday, Oct. 4, at Oakland University’s Athletic Center on campus.

Doors to The O’Rena will open at 5:30 p.m. with the open practice scheduled for 6:30-8:30. Admission is free to all fans and OU students. Fans are asked to park at either the Athletic Center parking structure or Vandeberg Hall.

Pistons training camp starts Tuesday, so the open practice will give fans their first look at several new Pistons – first-round draft choices Rodney Stuckey and Arron Afflalo, fellow rookies Cheick Samb and Sammy Mejia and free-agent signee Jarvis Hayes.

“The open practice is a great event where our fans can come out and get a preview of this year’s team,” said Joe Dumars, Pistons president of basketball operations. “Having the practice free to the public is a great way to kick off training camp and get the community excited about the upcoming season.”

The cozy setting of OU’s arena should provide for a uniquely intimate fan experience that will also include the debut of this season’s Pistons’ dance team, Automotion, as well as Pistons mascot Hooper and the acrobatic Flight Crew.

OU students will have the opportunity before practice starts to compete for prizes that will provide free books for the winter semester to one male and one female student.

anyone going? i think i might try to make it.

bump!

i believe it is thursday Oct. 4th not Oct. 5th

Good catch!

http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/9739/ingemm0.jpg

yes, its true, im absolutely stoaked for the nba season. and the pistons are finally an intriguing team again. i cant wait to see what amir and stuckey can bring to the table. i cant remember the last time when there was even the slightest amount of intrigue with this team. gooooooooooooooo pistons!

I think I am going.

Some things were the same -- Lindsey still can't run a fast break, Maxiell still has this ugly FT form, Rip can make shots at the buzzer

Some thing were different -- Stuckey can flat-out play, Tayshaun seems pretty tired out there, Samb seems more "together" than I expected

Some things were fun -- Automotion, Sheed having a ball with a couple kids, the butchering of names like Afflalo and Mejia

Some things were disturbing -- Krista's hubby wearing an Ohio State shirt, Krista's hubby wearing an Ohio State shirt, Krista's hubby wearing an Ohio State shirt

i was there......it was just great to see Pistons bball again. Stuckey got the line AT WILL. he's going to have a field day with backup PGs and he should hold his own against many starting PGs.

btw, parking was a biiiiotch.

Parking did suck, we ended up way back by the soccer fields. It was nice to see stuckey drive so consistently and so effectively but I don't remember his finishing many and I don't think he hit a jumper while I was watching. Afflalo was solid with a set shot from outside. Samb was having to be told to get into position very often from what I saw but he did have a nice block. Poor Super Dupe didn't even get a numbered jersey to wear. Hayes looked solid hiting open jumpers and driving a bit. Michael Curry was very vocal. (that one's for WOD)

Oh, and Rip was already bitching to the refs ... all fucking ready.

Parking did suck, we ended up way back by the soccer fields. It was nice to see stuckey drive so consistently and so effectively but I don't remember his finishing many and I don't think he hit a jumper while I was watching. Afflalo was solid with a set shot from outside. Samb was having to be told to get into position very often from what I saw but he did have a nice block. Poor Super Dupe didn't even get a numbered jersey to wear. Hayes looked solid hiting open jumpers and driving a bit. Michael Curry was very vocal. (that one's for WOD)

Stuckey did have a real nice drive straight up the middle and finished w/ a two handed dunk. that was unexpected. despite Stuckey missing his layups, he was easily the high scorer and spent most of the night at the line. i don't think he missed one FT the entire night. Stuckey's upper body strength is ridiculous. his arms and chest are so thick, he has awesome control after getting bumped and fouled.

jarvis hayes' outside J did look nice. he might get plenty of those with Stuckey penetrating and Maxiell getting attention inside the paint.

FWIW, the trick is to park at Hamlin, then cut through campus and goose shit.