Detroit (6-2) at LA Lakers (4-3)

By BRETT HUSTON, STATS Writer

Some so-called experts believed the aging Detroit Pistons would surrender their Central Division supremacy to younger, up-and-coming teams this season.

The Pistons are proving them wrong.

Detroit looks to make it three wins in four games on its current West Coast road trip in a matchup with the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night.

While both the Cleveland Cavaliers, who beat the Pistons in last season's Eastern Conference finals, and the Chicago Bulls have struggled to sub-.500 records, Detroit (6-2) is playing like it's headed for a fourth straight Central Division title and sixth in seven years.

The big four of Richard Hamilton, Chauncey Billups, Rasheed Wallace and Tayshaun Prince -- in its fourth season playing together -- has made the Pistons the East's only team with at least four players averaging 15.0 points.

Detroit, the only Central team with a winning record, has won two of its first three games on its five-game trip out west. After a 102-94 loss in Portland on Tuesday, the Pistons looked fatigued at Golden State on Wednesday night, trailing by 13 at halftime before rallying in the second half for a 111-104 victory.

"With playing last night and tonight, there was a lot of energy expended, but that's all right," said Wallace, who had 22 points and nine rebounds. "Just executing, that's all it was. Wasn't a matter of taking over or anything."

What made the comeback more improbable was that Detroit was playing without two injured starters, Billups and forward Antonio McDyess. Billups twisted his right knee and McDyess aggravated his sprained left shoulder in the loss to the Trail Blazers.

"That was a great win, boy," Billups said. "That was crazy."

The MRIs for both players came back negative Thursday, meaning neither one should be out for very long, though it's unclear if Billups or McDyess will play in this game.

The Pistons have dominated the Lakers since improbably ending the Shaquille O'Neal-Kobe Bryant dynasty in the 2004 NBA finals in five games.

Detroit has won five of six regular-season meetings since that series -- the victories were by an average of 16.2 points -- and posted double-digit wins in both meetings last season.

The Lakers (4-3) have been facing speculation since the offseason that Bryant would be traded, but they haven't let the rumors interfere with their play. They've only faced one opponent which currently has a losing record, yet they've come away with impressive victories over Phoenix, Utah and Houston.

Los Angeles built an 18-point lead in the first half and held on to beat the Rockets 93-90 on Wednesday behind Bryant's 30 points. He was held to 18 the previous night in a 107-92 loss at San Antonio.

"It's very good for us to bounce back and come out and play our best," said Bryant, the league's leading scorer with a 28.6 points per game. "We wanted to kick it up (in the second quarter) and I was able to get my game going. My fade-away is my secret weapon. I'm entirely optimistic all the time."

Bryant was held to an average of 18.5 points in two meetings with Detroit last season.

Andrew Bynum was not much of a factor in either of those games but is off to a decent start this season, averaging 9.7 points and 10.0 rebounds in only 23.0 minutes per game. The 20-year-old center has three double-doubles.

"Andrew's a guy that does gobble up those rebounds," said Lakers coach Phil Jackson. "If there's a ball available, he's going to get it, and I like that."

Did you guys know that Kobe was almost a Piston three days ago?

For real.

Turiaf's ankle injury leaves a hole in lineup
Jackson says Odom isn't ready to start against Pistons' Wallace.

By Jaime Cardenas, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
7:37 PM PST, November 15, 2007

Just when it looked as if the Lakers were healthy, the injury bug bit again.

Ronny Turiaf, who had started every game at power forward this season, suffered a moderate left ankle sprain during Thursday's practice and he might miss tonight's home game against Detroit.

"And it could span a little spell," Coach Phil Jackson said. "The good thing is that we got on it right away so there is not a great deal of swelling right now."

One matchup question is who will guard the Pistons' Rasheed Wallace.

Lamar Odom is not an option at power forward tonight, Jackson said. Odom, who has played in the last three games since returning from shoulder surgery, is ready to start but not against Wallace, Jackson added.

As a result, Vladimir Radmanovic and Chris Mihm probably will get increased minutes in tonight's game.

The Pistons are on a five-game West Coast trip and have won three of four meetings against the Lakers since the teams met in the 2004 Finals; Detroit won that series in five games.

Gone from that Lakers team are Shaquille O'Neal, Karl Malone, Gary Payton, Rick Fox, Devean George, among others; only Kobe Bryant, Brian Cook, Luke Walton and Derek Fisher remain.

The two franchises have gone in such opposite directions that Fisher finds it hard to conjure up any connections to that 2004 Finals. "Too much has happened since then," said the point guard, who returned to the Lakers this season. "Even though they are largely the same, our team is completely different.

"But any time the Lakers and Pistons play there's still kind of an extra sense of intensity and passion -- because of past battles from the '80s through the '90s and then our battle in 2004."


Pistons at Lakers Gameday

:langlois:
by Keith Langlois

TV: FSN Detroit (HDTV) | Radio: WDFN 1130 AM - The Fan

Last Meeting: Detroit won 93-78 (February 6, 2007)

The skinny: Against a tough early-season schedule, the Lakers are off to a 4-3 start and coming off a Wednesday road win at Houston. Speculation over the potential trade of Kobe Bryant has died off since the tumultuous opening week of the season and Bryant has been playing at his usual level, averaging 28.6 points and shooting 49 percent, though his 3-point percentage (31 percent) remains low. Bryant is also averaging 7.9 rebounds and 5.0 assists. Lamar Odom missed the first four games but is back from shoulder surgery and playing well and the combination of returning veteran Derek Fisher and second-year player Jordan Farmar – Arron Afflalo’s old UCLA classmate and backcourt partner – has upgraded point guard play significantly. Young Andrew Bynum is splitting time at center with starter Kwame Brown but outproducing him, averaging 9.7 points and a team-best 10 rebounds. Role players like Luke Walton, Ronny Turiaf and Vladimir Radmanovic are also contributing.

What to watch: Though both Chauncey Billups (left knee, right hip) and Antonio McDyess (left shoulder) got good news from MRI exams on Thursday, it’s probably less than 50-50 that they’ll be able to give the Pistons normal contributions if they can play at all. After playing tough back-to-back games Tuesday and Wednesday – the 22-point comeback to win at Golden State – the Pistons might still be feeling the effects despite Thursday’s day off. Tayshaun Prince, after struggling to find his niche within the offense for a few games upon Rip Hamilton’s return to the lineup, has put together two strong offensive games in a row. With Billups and McDyess out, Flip Murray (15 points, 12 assists, six rebounds) and Jason Maxiell (14 points, 14 rebounds) provided critical contributions in the Golden State win.

Did you guys know that Kobe was almost a Piston three days ago?

For real.

Good thing he wasn't, or this team would've been officially declared dead.

GOD DAMNIT KOBE, WHY?!?!?

That being said I think Kobe struggles tonight, is held to about 19-22 points and the Pistons cruise to a 101-90 victory.

I'd bet on Kobe outscoring Tay + Rip combined and the Pistons still winning.

Someone find me the video from last year where Tayshaun damn near broke Kobe's ankles then scored.

jkweallknowkobejustslipped

Blow these bitches out.

The last two polls from Pistons game threads reflect that we are a confident bunch, if nothing else.

I'd bet on Kobe outscoring Tay + Rip combined and the Pistons still winning.

Followed by a major post-game trade announcement.

Jesus Christ, not only can I NOT post a poll, I just voted for the fucking Lakers by mistake. I give up.

McDyess doubtful, Billups 50-50
Shorthanded Again

:langlois:
by Keith Langlois

The Pistons proved they could win with two sidelined starters when they came from 22 points down to beat Golden State – now it looks like they’ll get the chance to prove it again.

Antonio McDyess is doubtful to play in tonight’s game against the Los Angeles Lakers, while Chauncey Billups’ participation will be a game-time decision.

Both players were injured in the second half of Tuesday’s game at Portland as Billups first suffered a right hip pointer and later twisted his left knee, while McDyess reaggravated a left shoulder injury he initially incurred in the Nov. 8 game at Chicago.

Both players underwent MRI exams in Los Angeles on Thursday that revealed no serious damage. Billups has said the knee is more troublesome than his hip. The stretched ligaments in McDyess’ shoulder are limiting the mobility of the joint and causing pain.

The Pistons are 6-2 heading into tonight’s game at the Staples Center, 2-1 on the five-game West Coast road trip that concludes Sunday at Sacramento. They’ll then return home for four straight games at The Palace starting with Wednesday against the New York Knicks.

Player of the game?

Bench performer?

I'll go with Sheed and Jarvis.

Pistons win by 2.

I'd like to see Billups play, but McDyess to sit. Let Maxiell get another start and let Amir get backup minutes.

Since the Lakers are thin up front with Turiaf out, I wonder if Flipper would consider starting Nazr and Sheed together tonight?

Not that Flip is known for taking advantage of possible mismatches.

I just realized that its going to be the ESPN announcers. I don't like any of them.

I like Mike Breen and Mark Jones.

Afflalo should not be taking jumpers.

So you wanna dunk on Max, Bynum? You piece of shit.

Amir just sonned Bynum.

SAMB SIGHTING!

Amir and Samb just took turns owning Bynum!

Love seeing the young guys get some burn. I was surprised to see Samb out there.

Maybe the Pistons should trail more often.

Sonned again.

Amir and Samb!!!!! hahah, i dont even care if we win, this was worth it just to see them cause terror in the paint!

True that.

Jahhhhhhhhhhvis.

1. We shouldn't even be close let alone only two behind at the half.

2. I want more Samb from here on out.

2. I want more Samb from here on out.

Maybe this will spell the end of Nazr. I can't stand that guy, and Samb just looked like a spark plug out there.

Does Nazi ever pass the ball when he gets it in the post? Or does he just do a long drop step followed by him either a) getting stripped or b) missing a hook by 3 feet.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1212/531460813_5daf097f10_m.jpg

I AM SAMB, HEAR ME ROARRRRR!

I'm loving this game. I couldn't care less if we win or lose but its nice to see the rooks play and do some things well. I can't believe Samb. At the open practice he looked lost so often on the court. Really surprised by him.

Samb has been tearing it up defensively. Blocking, anyways... his aggresiveness is leaving us out of place as the Lakers collect O-Boards. That's OK, though, we adjusted to that with Ben....

Amir made a bonehead play in the 2nd when he fouled Odom. Odom flopped, but still--he was getting some burn and after that play he was yanked. Didn't really make any impact offensively, but I didn't really expect him to.

I don't care if we win this game, I didn't expect to coming in--I like seeing the young guys get some burn. If we win, it's a bonus. We can't expect to win w/o two of our starters.

I heard Samb killed a lion with his bare hands in Senegal.

So we have the baby eater, and the lion killer... what does Amir do that's cool?

Samb played has showed way more than he did in the Summer league and Amir is playing the defensive end better than he has all year, imo.

Agree Sid Breem and forgot the other guys name...way better than the Drama Queen Bill Walton.

Mike Breen/Jon Barry are calling the game.

EVERYONE beats Tirico.

Yea Sid and Joe Barry are pretty good. :)

Tirico doesn't know shit about sports

Lord that was a tough shot by Flip. Nice drive.

Followed by some great D by Amir!

Friggin AJ is a beast out there tonight.

Give him 5, I'm going to pretend there wasn't even a foul on that. Like the refs pretended there was one.

Clean block

HS football tonight?

My boys school is playing but I didn't go.

Wow, Amir, playing like a beast out there.

HS football tonight?

My boys school is playing but I didn't go.

Some friend you are.

Did your team get beat?

Hopefully RDub can get that glasser going

Did your team get beat?

Yep. 35-12.

this is starting to feel like the chicago game with the offensive rebounds. GRAB SOME BOARDS!

Kobe is 2-14. Now I'm definitely glad we don't have his dumb ass.

wahhhhhhhhhhh

this is starting to feel like the chicago game with the offensive rebounds. GRAB SOME BOARDS!

We 'tapped out' about 6 boards on 2 Laker possessions. Problem is we tapped them out to the Lakers. Agree Grab the sombitch.

BTW...how in the hell is that not an over the back?

Jordan Farmar just got in Flip's ass.

lol @ Mo celebrating like he won the game.

Coming apart now.

I may be wrong on the winner, but my 101-90 prediction looks to be in reach.

Not one to use refs for an excuse but god damn, the refs sure helped this little surge by the Lakers

Max knocking down FTs...nice.

Coming apart now.
No pg's biting us in the ass.

They just pissed us off now

Kobe should making that 3 for us.

RDub for 3

BBBBBBBlock party.

Agree on the PG thing.

OUr blocks underneath have been awesome by the youngsters

They just pissed us off now

FUMING!!

the offensive boards pisses me off.

Rip on Kobe=En Fuego

This is CBill time and no CBill

Fuck, this one's over.

Maybe not, but it's Kobe Cryant time now.

flip murray is not a decision maker at all.

This is CBill time and no CBill

Agreed. Tempo control. 3 bombs. It screams Chauncey.

Fuckin refs told ya

pass from the ref. makes sense.

flip murray is not a decision maker at all.


Not a very good shot maker either.


Game.

23 to 12 offensive boards. That's just obscene.

They blew this one, there's no other way to put it. The Lakers were shooting 28% and the Pistons were on a roll.

Flip Murray is garbage. A guy who needs extended minutes to find his shot. But eventually chokes up turnovers if you have him out there too long. Stuckey please get back here.


Oh yea Cheick Samb needs more minutes.

Ugh, Linda Cohn doing SportsCenter...looks like I'm gonna rest up after this one for the game tomorrow then.

please stop shooting Flip.

Embarassing. You just let a shitty team like the Lakers, who can't make 3 point shots to save their lives, flip the switch just like that.

Kobe is a douche. Slowly growing nuts.

Please be healthy when the fakers come to town. and win by 30.

Missing Stuckey is a piece to this puzzle for sure. It will be interesting to see how this teams looks with him playing.

I don't wanna hear any complaints about the refs either, they've given the Pistons plenty of calls tonight. It's just a matter of slacking off and letting a garbage team get back in it.

Kobe padding his stats now

There goes my score. FUCK YOU FLIP!!

the Lakers just played vastly better D in the 4th. That's embarressing. Jordan Farmer picking us off like that just sucks.

OR NOT!!

FUCK YOU FLIP!!

Flip padding his stats too. with more misses.

The friggin refs...:)

What was it Pop and Larry Brown use to say...something like, "proper fear' of an opponent or something? That it was we lack.

for a team this lame to run up the score? yes blow the lakers out at home.

What a joke. Vlad Radmonovic? Jordan Farmar? Mo Evans? Andrew Bynum?

Off a big win at GS and they choke in this one. Pretty damn disappointing. The '04 Pistons (and I know, it's retarded to bring up the team from 4 years ago all the time) at least woke up for every game and played hard for 48 minutes.

Nobody but sheed shook hands with those fags i think. I hope not. because that was classless showboating by the la kobies.

I'm staying positive, or trying to anyway, we had 2 starters out and Stuckey. On the road, blah blah blah, I know...

I don't even really care about that honestly, hopefully it wakes them the fuck up. The Lakers never win in Detroit anyway, so they'll get 'em back. Not really concerned, because the Lakers are an 8th seed in the West at best and they need a win against a legit team.

Eh. Unfortunate that they lost but like I said earlier its not really a big deal. The kids played great. Fun game to watch.

Eh. Unfortunate that they lost but like I said earlier its not really a big deal. The kids played great. Fun game to watch.
I never had fun losing. Bad habit though. But yea the youth stepped up. Its Flip and Rip's idiocy near the end that hurt. But atleast Rip is a solid player. Flip is just garbage.

Yep, Samb was a huge surprise for me, AJ played great D underneath.

They SHOULD blow Sacramento out. If they don't THEN I'd be pissed.

Forgot about that, I should go, gonna think about that one.

I fell asleep and we were up by 7. Yikes.

On the bright side - we were not supposed to win this game. No Chauncey = no ball control. We still have yet to see the real Pistons. At least a couple more weeks for that when Rodney comes back and gets into a rythem.

Let the Lakers have their fun now. They sure won't be having fun in the playoffs.

Oh and Kobe should give a good look into what a winning team looks like. Because he certainly isn't on one.

Caught the second half on replay this morning.

Nice rebounding, clearly Flip Murray's fault.

Glad you finally saw the light.

I'm not upset about the loss, it's tough winning w/o 2 starters, and it was only a matter of time before Kobe finally took the training wheels off...


Samb did well I thought though...

Amir and Samb!!!!! hahah, i dont even care if we win, this was worth it just to see them cause terror in the paint!
FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I chose to go to a concert in Cleveland and they play Amir AND Samb? SONOFABITCH!

:emo kid:

Amir and Samb!!!!! hahah, i dont even care if we win, this was worth it just to see them cause terror in the paint!
Co-signed!

Amir should be the 4th big on this team. I don't care who we're palying anymore.

Furthermore, in the event we DO play a massive big man, Samb should be in there, not pylon Nazr.

I almost forgot the days where Piston big men could block shots....

I think the boys mail it in tomorrow and we lose to the Kings, especially if Chauncey and Dice are still out.

Kevin Martin is really good.

So we have the baby eater, and the lion killer... what does Amir do that's cool?
Anyone? Anyone?

I think the boys mail it in tomorrow and we lose to the Kings, especially if Chauncey and Dice are still out.

Kevin Martin is really good.
Fuck, I may be out of town for this one too! I really wish I could catch some of these games that we're missing a big and the young guys get some run. I may ask my ex to tivo it for me.

Amir kills snitches, I believe.

I think the boys mail it in tomorrow and we lose to the Kings, especially if Chauncey and Dice are still out.

Kevin Martin is really good.

No way we lose to these amateurs in Sac. Martin can get on a roll, no doubt, but he won't be enough to beat us. The Kings really suck.

Getaway day has a way of getting to pro athletes.

They're probably mentally already on the plane.

Getaway day has a way of getting to pro athletes.

They're probably mentally already on the plane.
True dat, yO.

I doubt Amir and Samb are mentally already on the plane....

So we're going to take the Kings down with those two then, I suppose.

So we're going to take the Kings down with those two then, I suppose.


The Kings are a terrible team. It shouldn't take much.

Its a beautiful day here in Sac so maybe mentally they are thinking maybe they'll stay another day :)

this is awesome...Arnie is feared by all.

http://detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071117/SPORTS0102/711170359/1127/SPORTS0102


Chauncey Billups entertained notions of playing Friday night until his cell phone lit up.

"Arnie called," Billups said, shaking his head. "He told me no way was I playing. I felt like I was talking to my dad, man."

The way we got owned by Jordan Farmar was... disappointing to say the least, and the way we got out-defended too... but in retrospect that was only because I was "into" the game.

Once that's worn off, I dont care that we lost, because seeing AMIR and CHEIKH SAMB cause havok and terror in* the paint was glorious. Utterly glorious and was the most exciting moment of the season for me. Sure chances are Samb will suck the next time on the floor but so what, that's what happens when you are a raw inexperienced player.

I'd love to see him develop into a solid 10 min a game backup Center, than we may never have to see Nazr again.



* (Odom ball fake aside, but Samb was already in a bad position on that play)

our 3rd and 4th string PGs getting owned by Jordan Farmar is not a big deal.

How many games will we win this year in which Lindsay plays meaningful minutes?

How many games will we win this year in which Lindsay plays meaningful minutes?


I can probably count them on one hand...

our 3rd and 4th string PGs getting owned by Jordan Farmar is not a big deal.
We had similar sorts of problems with Phil Jackson's full court press last year -- Chauncey and Tay combined for 10 TOs.

I'm SO glad Flip learned how to adjust for that. Oh wait...

Like I said, disappointing loss but not a big deal to me. It seems they could've just let their guard down and were looking forward to the last game of the trip. I guarantee they will come out and play better vs. Sacramento, whenever that game is.

Like I said, disappointing loss but not a big deal to me. It seems they could've just let their guard down and were looking forward to the last game of the trip. I guarantee they will come out and play better vs. Sacramento, whenever that game is.


ditto, the fact that it was even close w/o 2 starters impressed me enough...

i love our depth on this team...once stuckey gets back, it will be even deeper...

I don't even know what Sacramento's starting lineup is...

Beno Udrih, Kevin Martin, Ron Artest, Mikki Moore and Brad Miller.

Beno Udrih
Kevin Martin
John Salmons
Ron Artest
Brad MIller