http://www.donyell.net/images/james.jpg


The Detroit Pistons have had a couple of tough games since returning from the All-Star break. They now get to face one of the eight teams to beat them this season when they begin a home-and-home series with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Detroit returned from the break with an easy 97-87 win over Atlanta on Tuesday, but had trouble defeating Indiana 88-83 on Thursday. The Pistons played again on Friday and came away with a 95-87 victory over Chicago in a game that featured seven technical fouls.

Detroit's Richard Hamilton scored 14 points before being ejected for picking up his second technical midway through the fourth quarter, and Ben Wallace, Rasheed Wallace and coach Flip Saunders also collected technicals.

Chauncey Billups had 17 points to lead the Pistons, but it was the play of reserves Antonio McDyess and Maurice Evans that was the difference in the game. McDyess tied his season-high with 16 points on 8-for-10 shooting, while Evans added 15.

"It was one of those situations because of foul trouble, the technicals ... it gave our bench a chance to play a little more," Evans said. "We were able to contribute and that's what the key is if we're going to be the type of championship team that everyone thinks we are."

Cleveland has won five of the last eight meetings with Detroit, including a 97-84 victory at home on Dec. 31. LeBron James had a game-high 30 points in that contest, and is averaging 22.9 points in nine career appearances against the Pistons.

James scored 25 points to lead the Cavs on Friday night, but missed all eight of his shots in the second half of a 102-94 loss at home to the Washington Wizards. He was also just 8-for-19 from the foul line as Cleveland suffered its second straight defeat after winning three in a row.

James came into the game averaging 35.8 points and 52.0 percent shooting in his previous five contests.

"I put all the blame on myself," he said. "It was a bad performance by me, simple as that."

James was booed in the final minutes, and said he "of course" heard them, adding, "If these fans want to boo me, it's on them."

James will get a chance to get back on the good side of Cleveland's fans when these teams conclude the home-and-home set on Monday.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/preview?gid=2006022608

Official Game Chat

Starts: 11:45AM EST (15min before gametime)

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Link to OGC: http://www.pistonsbball.com/chat/flashchat.php

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B0000687BQ.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

Going to the game.

Bitches.

A EM GOING TO PISTONISMA GEM WHERE I SEE PISTONISMA AS 5 UNIT OF FINGERS ON GLOVE AND LEBRON JAMES 1 LIKE MOZZERALLA STICK.




(That was a really terrible attempt to be Achiello)

i won't be around online for the game today.....be good :)

Sheed should have got ejected for the hack job on Ilgauskas' melon. Bullshit he was going for the ball...

We're a bunch of whiny bitches...

o yeah, we're up by 11 at the half, but don't expect Cleveland to shoot so putridly in the second half.

but don't expect Cleveland to shoot so putridly in the second half.

You could say the same thing for us.

Sheed should have got ejected for the hack job on Ilgauskas' melon. Bullshit he was going for the ball...

We're a bunch of whiny bitches...

o yeah, we're up by 11 at the half, but don't expect Cleveland to shoot so putridly in the second half.
Yea sheed hates foreigners and wants to fight big Z. i mean with all the fights and dirty shots he throws out. his arm came down and his elbow smacked his head. Its unfortunate that his elbow hit him. but that wasnt intentional.

Also, yes expect cleveland to shoot like shit if we dont give them open shots like we didnt in the first half. [smilie=angel.gif]

Sheed should have got ejected for the hack job on Ilgauskas' melon. Bullshit he was going for the ball...

I'm a whiny bitch waah waaah waah

o yeah, we're up by 11 at the half, but don't expect Cleveland to shoot so putridly in the second half.

Fixed

Cleveland looked terrible, or more aptly put, we made them look terrible. The Cleveland swoon is because Lebron James gets tired from playing 40+ minutes a night to keep them in the first half of the season. Hughes would have been a great help, but got injured.

Ben Wallace was a beast today - amazing statline. Donkey Jones is useless on anyteam other tham Miami, he can't guard anybody. Yahoo is all screwed up(no statlines), but it seemed like Evaqns had a solid all around game, Delfino not so much. I expect Flip will ride the hot hand off the bench, with Evans getting the first crack sorta deal. DD and Hunter got some burn as well, Davis doing what he is supposed to do.

Flip emptied they bench and we promptly got outscored by seven or so. This was another 20 point win in reality. I hope we get Delk because Acker looks like crap for the most part. Way too tentative, then again Billups probably wouldn't look too good with Davis, Maxiell, Evans and Delfino on the floor with him either.

Sheed should have got ejected for the hack job on Ilgauskas' melon. Bullshit he was going for the ball...

I'm a whiny bitch waah waaah waah

o yeah, we're up by 11 at the half, but don't expect Cleveland to shoot so putridly in the second half.

Fixed

Don't you have another repetitive thread to start?? What about another gamethread for today?? [smilie=boxing.gif]

Pistons came out and played a solid second half. Ben Wallace's statline would put Kirilenko to shame. Guy was everywhere.

My Hawks are still the team to beat in the East, though.

...I hope we get Delk because Acker looks like crap for the most part. Way too tentative, then again Billups probably wouldn't look too good with Davis, Maxiell, Evans and Delfino on the floor with him either.

The guy has played like 4 minutes all year. I think it's a little early to call him crap.

I didn't call him crap, I said he looked like crap. Either way, I think we need a wily vet 3rd string option sorta deal. Acker needs PT as well, I'd look to send him tot he D-Leagues when/if we sign Delk.

Sheed went to the low post early today and looked good. He started floating outside the arc late though. I have a feeling that he'll head to the low post when the games "mean something" otherwise he'll float to stay healthy. IIRC, he was in the low post in both SA games as well. Our three pointers are not falling, hopefully it is a slump and not a sign of things to come. We've never shot so many threes, and guys start losing their legs late in the year.

This was pretty much an ideal game in terms of starter minutes for the front end of a back to back. 29-36 mins should mean fresh legs for tomorrow.

Acker's been a 2 guard his whole career, I think that's why he'll play in the NBA.

Maybe the last few games of the year we can play guys like Acker, Maxiell, and Johnson and get a good evaluation on them.

Amir Johnson> Darko already.

Either way hunter gave billups the most effective rest he's had all season. I hope to see it continue.

Was at the game.


Hunter looked real good out there.
Ben was amazing. Everytime I looked up, he was in the middle of the action. Great game.

Ilgauskas missed most of the first quarter after needing five stitches to close a head wound caused by Rasheed Wallace's elbow. Ilgauskas felt Wallace was getting revenge for an incident moments earlier.

"I think he was frustrated because I caught him first with an elbow and then he hit me back," he said. "Mine wasn't intentional. His, I haven't seen the replay."

Wallace, who was called for a flagrant foul, hit Ilgauskas in the top of the head as the Lithuanian drove for a layup.

"I'm not going to start the game by cracking a cat in the skull if I don't get elbowed first," he said.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=260226008

Sheed Cracked him good. I had a nice view of it too. He nailed him.

this may do wonders for Cavalier vs pistons rivalry being recharged back up. some say that if Jordan hadnt hit that shot on Ehlo in the playoffs that we might not have beaten the cavs in a 7 game series that year. Of course they are haters. But nevertheless they did used to cause the bad Boys Fits.

Sounds like it was intentional. If so he should get a game for it.

Sounds like it was intentional. If so he should get a game for it.
because he didnt show remorse? it didnt look intentional to me.

Sounds like it was intentional. If so he should get a game for it.
because he didnt show remorse? it didnt look intentional to me.

Because of the quote. He says he did it in retaliation i.e. intentionally.

Gutz is in denial. It was obviously intentional when he did it, though he probably didn't want to bust him open. The payback is usually worse than the initial accident. Ilgauskas seemed to know it was coming as well because he didin't put up a stink after it happened. He must have caught Rasheed pretty good initially though...

And these guys have to play again tomarrow night? Ben's got to step in and say, "If you do anything cheap to my guys you'll pay for it."

well i expect a brawl in cleveland monday. those fans are so classless they'll boo lebron for missing a triple double. [smilie=angel.gif]

i expect blood and murder. i also expect several key figures of al queda to be captured during the brawl as the government finds out osama is a cavalier fan and has threatened to blow up the nba if abdul rahim isnt a cav by next year.

is there anything sweeter than watching Ben get into one of his "defensive zones". when it feels like he's EVERYWHERE at once? that one-man full court press he put on Gooden was classic. forced Gooden to call a timeout.

it's laughable when people argue whether Ben deserves DPOY. i mean, there are guys like Bowen who can D up an opposing SG/SF. but Ben just changes the complexion on the game. he's swatting everyone, grabbing loose balls, getting in the passing lanes, forcing guys into tough shots, etc.

btw, we had a Dale Davis sighting.....7 min, 5 reb, 2 blks. not too shabby.

also, how'd you guys like the Piston loving that Hubie Brown gave us all game long?

http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/sports/14136386.htm

Last week, Orlando Magic television commentator Matt Guokas [smilie=a.gif] , who used to do Cavs games [smilie=shit.gif] , told his audience that center Zydrunas Ilgauskas [smilie=footballhel: had been so frustrated with his teammates lack of response in Rasheed Wallace [smilie=bullwhip.gi: elbowgate [smilie=army.gif] three weeks ago that he went to the front office and asked to be traded in the offseason. [smilie=argue.gif] Many Cavs fans around the country who watched the game on the NBA League Pass, which picked up the Sunshine Network's feed, were shocked by the comments. [smilie=arrgh.jpg] Guokas was partially right and partially wrong. Team insiders said Ilgauskas did go to management upset [smilie=angry.gif] but never expressed desire to go anywhere. [smilie=cry.gif]

[smilie=applause.gi:

http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/sports/14136386.htm

Last week, Orlando Magic television commentator Matt Guokas [smilie=a.gif] , who used to do Cavs games [smilie=shit.gif] , told his audience that center Zydrunas Ilgauskas [smilie=footballhel: had been so frustrated with his teammates lack of response in Rasheed Wallace [smilie=bullwhip.gi: elbowgate [smilie=army.gif] three weeks ago that he went to the front office and asked to be traded in the offseason. [smilie=argue.gif] Many Cavs fans around the country who watched the game on the NBA League Pass, which picked up the Sunshine Network's feed, were shocked by the comments. [smilie=arrgh.jpg] Guokas was partially right and partially wrong. Team insiders said Ilgauskas did go to management upset [smilie=angry.gif] but never expressed desire to go anywhere. [smilie=cry.gif]

[smilie=applause.gi:I love this news. The legue has been turned into a bunch of pussies. I love it when players fight, and blood fills the areana. It causes hatred, and awesome rival games.

I know that sounds extreme, but man, the Cavs were AFRAID of Rasheed, and the Pistons. There is no way in HELL they have a chnace in the playoffs against a team they are afraid of.

Grow a pair. Hats off to Z getting pissed. I know I would be.