MOLA1
03-12-2006, 05:49 PM
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The Detroit Pistons, mired in a mini-slump, will try to avoid consecutive losses for the only the second time this season as they host the Charlotte Bobcats.
After starting out 47-9, the Pistons have lost three of their past five games -- with all three losses coming by double-digit margins -- including Saturday's 110-92 defeat to the Wizards.
Washington and Utah are the only teams this season with two wins against Detroit, which lost back-to-back games Feb. 4-7.
"It's probably just being a little overconfident," Pistons point guard Chauncey Billups said, "coming out knowing that we can turn it on like a light switch and win the game, like we've done so many times.
"But a lot of times the best thing about your team is the worst thing about your team, too. That's what we're going through right now. We're coming out so unaggressive, and these teams start rolling."
The Pistons allow only 90.0 points per game, best in the Eastern Conference, but in the three losses, they have given up 104.3 points per game.
"We have not defended how we need to defend," Detroit coach Flip Saunders said after Saturday's loss, the Pistons' second-worst of the season. "We've been too soft on the ball. ... They kicked out butts every which way. I would like to point to one area and say that we did something well, but we didn't."
The Pistons -- 27-2 at home -- have won 13 straight at the Palace and have beaten Charlotte both times the Bobcats have come to Detroit in the two-year history of the franchise.
The Bobcats beat the Knicks 116-109 on Saturday in a game that featured the teams with the league's two worst records.
The victory allowed Charlotte to move ahead of New York in the standings and match its win total from last year's expansion season.
"I don't even know what their record is," said Charlotte's Gerald Wallace, who had 16 points and 12 rebounds. "I don't know what our record is. I just come out and play games every night. It's a battle for first place in every game we play."
Charlotte led 106-91 late in the game, but the Bobcats committed several fouls, allowing the Knicks to cut the lead to 109-107 thanks to free throws before the Bobcats were able to seal the victory.
"We have a problem understanding that just because we are up 12 or 15 with 3 minutes to go, that doesn't mean the game is over," Wallace said. "We just can't do this if we expect to win and be one of the elite teams in the league."
The Bobcats will be looking to match a season-high -- and franchise record -- with three straight wins. Charlotte had a three-game winning streak from Feb. 3-8, which was sandwiched between losing streaks of 13 and five games.
After suffering a franchise record-tying 12-game road losing streak from Jan. 2-Feb. 21, Charlotte has gone 2-3 in its last five road games.
Official Game Chat
Starts: 5:55pm EST
Requirements:
1. You must be a registered member of WTFDetroit.com (click here to register (http://www.wtfdetroit.com/profile.php?mode=register))
2. Get the latest version of Flash for your computer (http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer)
Click here to enter CHAT (http://www.wtfdetroit.com/chat/flashchat.php)
(please be aware that the chatroom is logged and monitored, and any funny stuff you say will most likely be posted here)
[smilie=dance.gif]
The Detroit Pistons, mired in a mini-slump, will try to avoid consecutive losses for the only the second time this season as they host the Charlotte Bobcats.
After starting out 47-9, the Pistons have lost three of their past five games -- with all three losses coming by double-digit margins -- including Saturday's 110-92 defeat to the Wizards.
Washington and Utah are the only teams this season with two wins against Detroit, which lost back-to-back games Feb. 4-7.
"It's probably just being a little overconfident," Pistons point guard Chauncey Billups said, "coming out knowing that we can turn it on like a light switch and win the game, like we've done so many times.
"But a lot of times the best thing about your team is the worst thing about your team, too. That's what we're going through right now. We're coming out so unaggressive, and these teams start rolling."
The Pistons allow only 90.0 points per game, best in the Eastern Conference, but in the three losses, they have given up 104.3 points per game.
"We have not defended how we need to defend," Detroit coach Flip Saunders said after Saturday's loss, the Pistons' second-worst of the season. "We've been too soft on the ball. ... They kicked out butts every which way. I would like to point to one area and say that we did something well, but we didn't."
The Pistons -- 27-2 at home -- have won 13 straight at the Palace and have beaten Charlotte both times the Bobcats have come to Detroit in the two-year history of the franchise.
The Bobcats beat the Knicks 116-109 on Saturday in a game that featured the teams with the league's two worst records.
The victory allowed Charlotte to move ahead of New York in the standings and match its win total from last year's expansion season.
"I don't even know what their record is," said Charlotte's Gerald Wallace, who had 16 points and 12 rebounds. "I don't know what our record is. I just come out and play games every night. It's a battle for first place in every game we play."
Charlotte led 106-91 late in the game, but the Bobcats committed several fouls, allowing the Knicks to cut the lead to 109-107 thanks to free throws before the Bobcats were able to seal the victory.
"We have a problem understanding that just because we are up 12 or 15 with 3 minutes to go, that doesn't mean the game is over," Wallace said. "We just can't do this if we expect to win and be one of the elite teams in the league."
The Bobcats will be looking to match a season-high -- and franchise record -- with three straight wins. Charlotte had a three-game winning streak from Feb. 3-8, which was sandwiched between losing streaks of 13 and five games.
After suffering a franchise record-tying 12-game road losing streak from Jan. 2-Feb. 21, Charlotte has gone 2-3 in its last five road games.
Official Game Chat
Starts: 5:55pm EST
Requirements:
1. You must be a registered member of WTFDetroit.com (click here to register (http://www.wtfdetroit.com/profile.php?mode=register))
2. Get the latest version of Flash for your computer (http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer)
Click here to enter CHAT (http://www.wtfdetroit.com/chat/flashchat.php)
(please be aware that the chatroom is logged and monitored, and any funny stuff you say will most likely be posted here)
[smilie=dance.gif]