http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060403/SPORTS0102/604030388/1127


McDyess rejects his opportunity to start

He remains a reserve after Wallace arrives late to Palace.

Chris McCosky / The Detroit News

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Ankur Dholakia/The Detroit News

Rasheed Wallace, guarded by the Suns' Brian Grant, will miss Tuesday's game against the Hornets because of his 16th technical. See full image


AUBURN HILLS -- Rasheed Wallace was driving to the game Sunday. Everything was calm. Everything was normal.

Then he looked at his cell phone.

"Oh, snap!" he said. "I've got to get to where I'm getting."

Wallace forgot to spring ahead. He was an hour behind because of daylight savings time. He didn't get to the arena until about 15 minutes before tip-off, and that set off a series of bizarre events.

Coach Flip Saunders announced that Antonio McDyess would start in place of Wallace. However, public address man John Mason announced Wallace with the starting lineup.

"The most surprised person in the arena when they announced that Sheed was starting was me," Saunders said.

Then, Mason corrected himself, saying McDyess was starting.

But McDyess didn't want to start.

"Sheed was here, why would I start," said McDyess. "I just felt like that would have messed up the whole rhythm. Just keep it like it is. That's why I said I didn't want to start."

McDyess has averaged 13 points over the last five games and is playing his best ball of the season. Nobody blamed him for not wanting to change things.

"Even in the huddle, Sheed kept saying, 'Dyess, you're starting,' and I was like, 'I don't want to,' " McDyess said. "He said, 'For real, you're starting.' I thought he was joking. I told him right off the bat that I didn't want to and everybody agreed to keep it the way it was."

The rest of the team backed McDyess.

"You don't want to disrupt a guy who's coming off your bench, especially the way Dyess has been playing lately," Tayshaun Prince said. "You want to keep the same rotation and not break his rhythm. Starting him would have been bad, for him and for the team."

Wallace, though he was a bit sheepish afterward, said, all's well that end's well.

"I didn't know what was going on," Wallace said. "Flip said I wasn't starting and I was cool with it. I've come off the bench before in my career so it wasn't a problem for me."

Streak to end

There will be no confusion about the starting lineup against the Hornets on Tuesday -- Rasheed Wallace will not be in it.

He picked up his 16th technical foul of the season in the third quarter and will become the first player suspended under the NBA's new technical foul rules. He also will be suspended for a game for every other subsequent technical foul.

"I don't care about the 16 techs, you all should know that about me by now," he said. "It doesn't change nothing about us or what we're doing. There will be no difference. We will still go out and do what we've got to do to get the win. I will be here in heart, but I will be cheering from home."

No. 16 was a touchy call by referee Bennie Adams . Ben Wallace had been fouled hard by Tim Thomas . Wallace and Chauncey Billups were arguing that it should have been a flagrant foul on Thomas.

When asked how much of Wallace's problems with officials stem from his past reputation, Saunders said: "All of it. He gets a lot of technicals that other guys don't get. He's gotten some that he's deserved and he's gotten some that are questionable because of his reputation."

With Wallace out, the Pistons NBA-record streak of games started by the same fivesome will end at 73.

Don't look for McDyess to start in place of Wallace. It will probably be Dale Davis .

"I think Dale's going to start," McDyess said. "I would rather keep the same rotation."

Super defense

The Pistons put on a defensive clinic in the second half, holding the potent Suns to 39 second-half points. The highlight, though, was one possession, late in the game. The Pistons were ahead by three points. Ben Wallace had just missed two free throws. The Suns used six passes, moving the ball inside and outside and around the perimeter, but didn't create an open shot.

"From 1:30 (left) to 1:11 was as good a defensive sequence as you will ever see," Saunders said. "Guys were helping and recovering. They had three drive-and-kicks and every one was contested. Rip Hamilton finally contested the last shot (by Boris Diaw ). That won the game."

The Pistons had eight steals (five by Ben Wallace) and five blocks (three by Rasheed Wallace).

In the bonus

The referees were a bit chippy Sunday. They called three technical fouls on the Pistons, and very nearly a fourth -- on public address announcer John Mason. Referee Steve Javie caught Mason shaking his head disapprovingly after one of his calls. Javie stopped the game, walked over and got right in Mason's face -- telling him that he wouldn't tolerate any editorial comments from the scoring table.

… The Pistons are the only team in the NBA the Suns didn't beat at least once this season.

The referees were a bit chippy Sunday. They called three technical fouls on the Pistons, and very nearly a fourth -- on public address announcer John Mason. Referee Steve Javie caught Mason shaking his head disapprovingly after one of his calls. Javie stopped the game, walked over and got right in Mason's face -- telling him that he wouldn't tolerate any editorial comments from the scoring table.

That is the biggest bunch of horseshit.

Mason should have gave a big "DEEEETTTRRRROOOIIITTTT BBBAAASSSKKEETTTBAALLLLLLL!!! right to Javie's face and got kicked out. The crowd would have ate it up...

Damn, Mason should have fucked him up.

Next bad call, he should have been like

"And another bull shit call, against #36, Rasheed Wallace."

I could understand McDyess getting out of replacing Rasheed Wallace vs PHX. But he has to nut up and start for us against NOK because we simply cannot have DD and Ben Wallace on the floor at the same time for an extended period.

Of course playing McDyess more than his 25 minutes a game is risking disaster. His body won't be used to 35+ minutes a game sorta deal. I'd like to see Cato get some burn as well. I don't think we can activate Maxiell unless we benched somebody else as a suspended player cannot be replaced.

I could understand McDyess getting out of replacing Rasheed Wallace vs PHX. But he has to nut up and start for us against NOK because we simply cannot have DD and Ben Wallace on the floor at the same time for an extended period.

Of course playing McDyess more than his 25 minutes a game is risking disaster. His body won't be used to 35+ minutes a game sorta deal. I'd like to see Cato get some burn as well. I don't think we can activate Maxiell unless we benched somebody else as a suspended player cannot be replaced.

You just contradicted yourself.

You say starting Dice gives us a better chance, but in the next you admit it's bad for Dice's health.

I think we can all agree that Dice's health is more important.

And BTW, Dale and Ben is our best possible lineup, defensively and on the glass. Move Ben to PF and Dale to center, and we suddenly become a much bigger team than New Orleans.

Our guards can carry the scoring load, for one day.

I agree Dyess should stay on the bench. If Dyess starts, who scores when the subs come in? At least when DD and Ben are out there, you still have Billups, RIP and Tay. Tay is going to have to step up this game and provide some post play for us to replace what Sheed brings when he's in the post.

The positive note is, Our guards and Tay can focus less on helping out with rebounding with Dale in there. They can afford to leak out on the break more.

Dale can score a little bit in the paint. He's not in SHeed's league, but he's not in Ben's either.

I also agree we should let Cato show us what he can do.

I'm a walking contradiction.

Not to mention, I don't think anybody wants to screw with Dice's routine right now, by starting him.

You know, I'm surprised no one has mentioned Blaha's call of the game. I missed the TV part, but listened to the whole thing, and Blaha, I KID YOU NOT said this about bennie Adams;


"Wow he needs an attitude adjustment"

"That technical was unjustified. Someone should T-up Adams"


No joke. He was riding Bennies ASS the whole game for poor calls.

"The Sunsre a good team, not taking anything away from them, but they don't need the help of the officials"

I LOVE BLAHA!

DUDE! DUDE! DUDE!

Blaha is a HOF for sure. God, I wish I would have heard that shit! Wow.

Thats some great shit right there

It's time they unleash the beast...

http://espn-att.starwave.com/i/pkg/05NBAdraft/250/18791.jpg

[smilie=reporter.gi:

http://www.nba.com/news/rwallace_060403.html?rss=true


Detroit’s Rasheed Wallace Suspended

NEW YORK, April 3, 2006 -- Detroit Pistons forward Rasheed Wallace has received an automatic one game suspension without pay after receiving his 16th technical of the 2005-06 season, it was announced today by Stu Jackson, NBA Senior Vice President Basketball Operations.

This season the NBA instituted a progressive technical foul schedule that applies to players and coaches. A player or coach receives an automatic one-game suspension after receiving his 16th technical foul. Every other technical foul beyond 16 (18, 20, 22, ect.) will also result in a one-game suspension without pay.

Wallace received his most recent technical foul with 3:26 remaining in the third period of yesterday’s 109-102 win over the visiting Phoenix Suns. Wallace will serve his suspension on Tuesday when the Pistons host the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets.

Damn, you switched that shit fast. I had a reply typed out and everything. Oh well:




Really, this is the dumbest rule ever. And i'm not just saying that because Sheed is getting tossed for a game. This is really a dumb ass rule. If JO got tossed for a game because of techs i'd still think its a dumb rule.

You cant fault a guy for playing with a passion. Thats just dumb. Not to mention all techs depend on how the offical feals at that moment. And Its pretty needless to say that most officals in the NBA are biased vs Sheed, and they're not the brightest bunch. I mean, Sheeds tech yesterday, he didnt even say much at all. The game was getting close and he's trying to argue a call for his teammate that just got wacked, how the fuck do you give him a tech for that shit? This rule is bogus. Its telling the players to not play with any emotion and just take the refs BS because you'll be suspended. I hate this fucking rule.

I actually like the rule. I'd like to see the complaining taken out of the game. The problem is that the refs suck, and they deserved to be yelled at a lot of the time. Also, I think Sheed has turned a page on that part of his life yet the refs can't seem to bury the hatchet. I do like the rule, I just don't like the crap he's getting techs for. I also don't like the crappy calls (across the board) that lead to the players bitching. To me the rule is meant to fix the problem that exists with a hyppocracy by refs. It should be meant to correct problem players (like Sheed in Portland). Instead of fixing the reffing problem, they ignored that and simply told players to deal with it and shut up.

I like the rule except the the officiating has been really bad this year. I always expect some missed or bad calls but the refs have been so inconsistant this year that guys can't help but to complain. I think that refs should be graded on every game that they do. When they get enough bad grades, they get suspended. Fair is fair!

I don't like suspensions, I'd just keep increasing the fines. Suspensions should only be for physical offenses or severe verbal attacks on a referee sorta deal. The playoff seven tech rule is absolutely ridiculous - it penalizes the good teams who go far. Teams in the finals could play 28 games, in a very high intensity atmosphere - If Sheed is suspended game six or seven in the finals, I'm going to find Stern and kick him in his fat ass.

I agree about the fines, Kilo.

Hit them in the wallet, don't penalize the whole team.

That is part of the reason that I think Flip let Sheed start last night, even though he was late.

Not starting him would only "hurt" the rest of the starters and there was no reason to go down that road unnecessarily.

I think a system of escalating fines might even work better. I know they already do that now, but $2500 isn't a deterrent to these guys. Something like $25,000 for each tech after 16 would do a lot more.

Or make them go to classes teaching them how to be nice.

Fuck the refs and the league.

A test of the bench's bigs nevertheless.

My problem with this rule, as I stated when I first heard it is if you are allowed one tech, and the second is an ejection in game, why suspend a guy if he has never been tossed? To my knowledge Sheed's techs never got him tosed this year. This rule should be modified if a player has never been tossed from a game in which he picked up a tech, to a higher total before being suspended. l think they should say a player cannot have a tech to total NBA reg season game ratio of more than 25% if he does automatic 1 game. When you think about 16 techs is one tech every 5 games. IMO it is petty to cost a guy and his team a game. I think if any foul rule they need to do a beter job of controlling is flagarants.

I wish that Stern could fire Javie, from what I have heard they have tried but the Union has saved his ass.

Dude, Sheed just got tossed in NY 2 weeks ago.

That is right, that was the day before my tv was hooked up. My apologies.

Dude, Sheed just got tossed in NY 2 weeks ago.

Thats one fucking ejection, and you could argue, that sheed didnt earn the 1st one. Him and Francis were going back and fourth and the ref stuck his whistle into it. So the first one was bull shit. Then he told Bennit Salavator "Fuck you" and that I can see getting you a tech. But the first one was crap. Fuck the officals in the NBA.

Question wasn't that he deserved it, question was when was the lat time he got ejected.

I know, but i'm saying, in relation to the rule, that right there is a bad tech. Sheed wasnt talking to the ref when he got the first tech. If there was a tech, it should have been a double tech. But no, its Rasheed Wallace, so he's obviously the bad guy there, while Francis is the angle.

What i'm trying to get at is you cant punish players for calls that are totally jugement by the officals.

Maybe we can get our first look at Kelvin Cato tomarrow night.

I love this rule. It's one of the best rules to come around this league.

Shut the fuck up and play the game. Reffing is not an easy job, and they're going to fuck up. Alot. Knowing that, why talk shit to the refs and give them a bunch of hell? I don't mind players walking up to the refs and stating their case, but I hate it when players go bonkers after a call.

Hitting them in the pocket books won't do a damn thing. The two biggest whiners in the league are both making eight figures. A fine in the lower thousands won't affect them at all.

Shouldn't the penalty for a technical, be the technical itself. IMO there should never be a technical for talking, only physical shit. If the refs are supposedly unbiased they should just be able to ignore the talk of an upset player, and it should have no effect on how they call the rest of the game. A ref just needs to call the game in a fair and unobjective way. If Sheed tells Javie that he massaged his mother's lasagna all night, Javie should be able to ignore the rantings of the person. If you truly believed that you made the right call you wouldn't feel the need to dish out a T. You just say that's the way I saw it and move on. Maybe instead of T's the ref should be allowed to have the player removed for a possesion or two like the box in hockey, but there is no way in a game that moves so fast and many calls are missed that a player shouldn't be able to have an opinion about the officiating.

Shouldn't the penalty for a technical, be the technical itself. IMO there should never be a technical for talking, only physical shit. If the refs are supposedly unbiased they should just be able to ignore the talk of an upset player, and it should have no effect on how they call the rest of the game. A ref just needs to call the game in a fair and unobjective way. If Sheed tells Javie that he massaged his mother's lasagna all night, Javie should be able to ignore the rantings of the person. If you truly believed that you made the right call you wouldn't feel the need to dish out a T. You just say that's the way I saw it and move on.

That's a bad idea. Imagine if you allowed the players to say whatever they wanted whenever they wanted to the refs. How could you even do your job as a ref? You have to have some control over the game or you have no leg to stand on.

http://www.mlive.com/pistons/stories/index.ssf?/base/sports-1/1144145427141370.xml&coll=1


Davis ready for first start for Pistons

Tuesday, April 04, 2006
By A. Sherrod Blakely

AUBURN HILLS -- Dale Davis knew his opportunity to get significant playing time for the Detroit Pistons would come.

However, this is not what he had in mind.

Davis is expected to be in the starting lineup tonight in place of Rasheed Wallace, who is serving a one-game suspension for receiving too many technical fouls (16) this season.

Pistons coach Flip Saunders said on Monday that Davis is "more than likely" to be in the starting lineup tonight against the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets.

"He's one of those guys that could step in and be a starter, and you feel good about it," Saunders said.

Davis has appeared in 21 games this season. His last start came during the second round of the playoffs last season with the Indiana Pacers, who were defeated by the Pistons.

Prior to the Pistons' 75-72 win at Indiana on March 24, Pacers coach Rick Carlisle marveled at Detroit's depth that prevented Davis from playing much.

"Dale Davis is sitting over there. He doesn't get into games," Carlisle said. "He'd probably be starting for us."

The 37-year-old Davis knows there are some teams he would start for, and others that he would at least be in their regular playing rotation.

"It's been tough at times (not playing much), but the main thing is winning a championship," Davis said. "And we've been pretty doggone good. Whether I play a lot, or whether I don't, that remains to be seen. But I'm here, ready and prepared, ready to go."

The good thing for Sheed and Pistons is that the slate is wiped clean when the playoffs start.

He won't get suspended until his 7th tech in the playoffs. A suspension in the playoffs hurt.

The good thing for Sheed and Pistons is that the slate is wiped clean when the playoffs start.

He won't get suspended until his 7th tech in the playoffs. A suspension in the playoffs hurt.

This is why I don't want to take Indiana or Chicago in the first round. Sheed needs to get out of the first round tech-free, and Chicago and Indy will be to physical and highly strung series for that to happen. If we can get out of the first round with no techs, Sheed will have at most 21 games to spread his seven tech's over. If Sheed has six going into the finals, I really believe the referees will be told to swallow their whistle. Even if their not, Sheed will simply not pick up his seventh tech at home, because the referees will legitimately fear for their lives.

applying the tech rule to the playoffs was a chaotic move by the league IMO. They give the refs too much credit in calling techs when they should. Like kilo said, the ref who gives sheed a 7th wont do it on the pistons homecourt.