Postgame

Pistons 101, Hornets 93

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20060405/capt.dtp10804050109.hornets_pistons_basketball_dtp 108.jpg

The only way they could try to contain Dice, last night:
http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20060405/capt.dtp11004050224.hornets_pistons_basketball_dtp 110.jpg

Box Score (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/boxscore?gid=2006040408)

NBA.com Video Highlights (http://boss.streamos.com/wmedia/nba/nbacom/recaps/recap_1101_nokdet.asx)

Chat Log (http://www.wtfdetroit.com/chatlogs/4.4.06_hornets_chatlog.txt)


AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) -- Antonio McDyess doesn't want any part of the starting lineup.

Luckily for the Detroit Pistons, that's the only thing he won't do.

With Rasheed Wallace sidelined Tuesday night, McDyess had a season-high 26 points and added 14 rebounds to help the Pistons win their 60th game, beating the New Orleans Hornets 101-93.

"Antonio was great tonight," Pistons coach Flip Saunders said. "He's been playing like that for a while now. He has a lot of confidence in himself."

Wallace missed the game after picking up an automatic one-game suspension for receiving 16 technical fouls. While McDyess took most of his minutes, it was Dale Davis who started, ending Detroit's NBA-record streak at 73 straight games with the same lineup.

"I'm superstitious," said McDyess, who is averaging 17 points in Detroit's last four games. "I didn't want to start and mess up my rhythm."

The Pistons have won five straight, and need four wins in their final eight games to break the 1988-89 team's franchise record of 63 wins.

"We're not going to chase that record, but if it comes, it comes," Saunders said. "Our focus right now is health and staying sharp. We're going to rest some guys and give our bench extended minutes to get them ready for the playoffs."

The Hornets had their three-game winning streak snapped as they lost their fourth in a row to Detroit.

"That's a championship team," New Orleans coach Byron Scott said. "Being so young, we knew it was going to be difficult going against the Pistons, even without Rasheed."

Chauncey Billups added 22 for the Pistons, but turned the attention to McDyess, who appears to be approaching the levels he reached before a series of knee injuries nearly ruined his career.

"He's playing great," Billups said. "He's got his confidence all the way back, and it shows."

Detroit Pistons forward Tayshaun Prince, left, drives against New Orleans Hornets forward Linton Johnson III in the second half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday April 4, 2006, in Auburn Hills, Mich. Prince scored 18 points and dished out three assists in the Pistons 101-93 win.
AP - Apr 4, 10:27 pm EDT
More Photos
McDyess' return didn't escape the opposition's notice, either.

"Right now, he looks like the Antonio of old," Scott said. "I told him tonight it was good to see him back."

David West and Chris Paul led New Orleans with 24 each.

To make things worse, the Hornets had to move to an auxiliary locker room due to a sewer problem, and didn't get to take postgame showers.

"I'm feeling pretty nasty right now," said Speedy Claxton. "We didn't know how bad it was until after the game."

The Pistons had to come from behind in their last three home victories, but had things under control for most of Tuesday night. Detroit outscored the Hornets by identical 26-23 margins in the first two periods, then played a little more defense and held New Orleans to 18 points in the third.

That gave them a 77-64 lead heading into the fourth, and they led by as many as 19 before a Hornets rally cut the deficit to 87-81 with 4 minutes to play.

Tony Delk, though, beat the shot clock with a 3-pointer with 1:21 left to put the game away.

Notes

Pistons president Joe Dumars met with the media before the game to talk about his upcoming induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame. "Not much overwhelms me in life, but Thursday was a pretty overwhelming experience," he said. "That was an awesome phone call to receive." ... Counting last year's playoffs, Rasheed Wallace, Ben Wallace, Prince, Richard Hamilton and Billups had started 98 straight games. Darko Milicic and Carlos Delfino started in place of Rasheed Wallace and Hamilton in the final regular-season game last year.
Pregame
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VS
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http://www.wtfdetroit.com/ogt/game74pistonsvshornets.jpg


Just when it seemed the New Orleans Hornets had faded out of the playoff picture, they have put themselves back in the hunt.

This game might not help their cause.

New Orleans takes a three-game winning streak to The Palace of Auburn Hills, where the Detroit Pistons are a league-best 33-3 this season.

Though the Hornets have to visit the owner of the NBA's best record, the good news is the team they're chasing for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference also has a tough road game on Tuesday. The Sacramento Kings, seeded eighth with a two-game lead over ninth-place New Orleans, face a Dallas Mavericks team which is 31-6 at home.

It seemed New Orleans' shot at making the postseason had all but disappeared with a recent 1-12 stretch, but the team has responded with three straight wins.

Two of those victories were on the road, including Sunday's 120-113 double-overtime win over the Toronto Raptors.

Rookie Chris Paul had 24 points, 12 assists and 12 rebounds for his first career triple-double to lead the Hornets. He scored seven points in the second overtime and hit a key 3-pointer that gave New Orleans a 111-103 lead with 3 minutes left.

"This is huge for our confidence. We're in a tough situation right now where we are trying to fight for the eighth spot in the playoffs," Paul said. "We knew we had Detroit coming up so we really needed this one."

Team scoring leader David West returned to score 23 points after missing three games with a sprained ankle.

Others picked up the slack without West in the lineup.

Paul has led the Hornets with 21.0 points, 8.3 rebounds and 8.0 assists per game during the win streak. This stretch also has seen Marc Jackson and Rasual Butler account for 36.0 points per game, more than double their combined season average.

Seven of the Hornets' remaining 10 games are against playoff contenders, including an April 16 matchup in Sacramento.

Playing in Detroit is the ultimate challenge, as the Pistons have won 19 of their last 20 home games. Their only loss in that stretch came on March 26 to New Jersey, 79-74.

New Orleans does catch a break, however, because Detroit will be playing without Rasheed Wallace.

The All-Star forward was given an automatic one-game suspension Monday, a day after being called for his 16th technical foul of the season.

"I don't care about No. 16," Wallace said. "I'm just going to be cheering from home."

The Pistons held the Phoenix Suns to 18 fourth-quarter points Sunday for a 109-102 come-from-behind victory.

Chauncey Billups scored 35 points against reigning league MVP Steve Nash and hit a 3-pointer with 3:40 left to put the Pistons ahead. That performance may have boosted Billups' hopes for this season's MVP honors.

"I think I made a good case," Billups said. "It would mean a lot. Not as much as another championship, but it means a lot to even be mentioned."

The Pistons won for the eighth time in nine games and secured home-court advantage throughout the Eastern Conference playoffs. They are two games ahead of San Antonio for the best record in the NBA.

Detroit needs to win five of its final nine games to break the single-season franchise record, set in 1988-89 when the team finished 63-19 en route to the first of back-to-back NBA titles.
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[smilie=llama_banan:

Go Dale.

I assume that Ben will guard the opposing power forward, but who plays the pf spot on offense?? Both Dale and Ben have no range.

If Dyess and Ben are going to play their average minutes(better to not risk injuries), I think both Dale and Cato will get playing time as I don't think Dale can play 25 minutes out of nowhere. I'd give Dale 15 and Cato ten sorta deal.

Might we set a team record for three point attempts tonight?

Seems like an odd thing to say with Sheed not able to contribute some threes, but how willing are our guards going to be to give up the ball to Ben & Dale?

Dale has range out to 10 feet.

He's no sharpshooter but he's a better scorer than Ben.

The more pressing question is how does NOK expect to grab a rebound against those two?

Putting Ben at PF, we suddenly have a physically imposing frontline defensively. Not as quick, but bigger and stronger.

Putting Ben at PF, we suddenly have a physically imposing frontline defensively.

I'm not sure, but that sounds like a bit of a veiled jab at Sheed's D.

Putting Ben at PF, we suddenly have a physically imposing frontline defensively.

I'm not sure, but that sounds like a bit of a veiled jab at Sheed's D.

No, it's just a different kind of defense.

Sheed's a finnesse defender. He doesnt throw people around or out-fight people for rebounds.

Dale's the complete opposite. He can't cover smaller players like Sheed, but he also won't give up any ground in the paint and he's a monster on the glass.

Nothing at all against Sheed's defense, it's just fun to see a different look defensively, and two guy thats will be fighting each other for boards all night.

Prince needs to take LJ/D-Mase into the post all night. He should have a 24 and 8 night.

Which means he'll put up 8 and 2.

probably.

Which means he'll put up 8 and 2.

On 2 of 23 shooting

~cough~ haters

http://img116.imageshack.us/img116/7515/hornetspray1dc.jpg

http://img116.imageshack.us/img116/7515/hornetspray1dc.jpg

LOL

At least we're fortunate enough to have Sheed out for this game instead of the Miami game.

[ponders the the thought of crushing Miami WITHOUT Sheed in the lineup] [smilie=anxious.gif]

Good win without Sheed.

The bench was fucking sweet except Lindsey and Evans as usual.

Chris Paul is sweet.

Why again did the hawks NOT draft chris paul? weird and dumb on their part.

Maybe they knew they would have to pay him later in his career?

Maybe they knew they would have to pay him later in his career?

....but they don't mind paying Joe Johnson?

Eh, You got me.







Maybe they dont want to pay two people?

Eh, You got me.







Maybe they dont want to pay two people?

Apparently they're going to offer Al HArrington aboud what they gave Joe Johnson.

They took the risk that Marv is going to be a better player.

It's that simple.

Everyone knew Paul could play straight away but in the long run many scouts believe Marv will be better.

Time will tell, but you can't judge a Draft after 1 season.

Tayshaun coulda had a career high
...
But you damn WTFers took to log to make the thread
...
Or else I woulda said my usual

They took the risk that Marv is going to be a better player.

It's that simple.

Everyone knew Paul could play straight away but in the long run many scouts believe Marv will be better.

Time will tell, but you can't judge a Draft after 1 season.
but depth wise they were pretty deep at Williams position. what the needed was a PG.

At what makes it worse: Chris Paul wanted to be drafted by the Hawks.

ROFL

McDyess' statline while playing "starter" minutes:

A. McDyess
Mins: 37:32
FG: 11-17
FT:4-6
OReb: 5
DReb: 9
Total Rebounds: 14 *
Points: 26

* out-rebounded Big Ben, 14-10

Fucking SICK!

With the way Dice is playing we might be as good IF NOT BETTER if Dice and Sheed switched places!!! Its just a hypothetical, i dont think we should touch our lineup, but I certainly wouldn't mind dipping Sheed's regular mins down to 30 and giving those spare 7 to Dice.

THat is the mother of all bad ideas.

I do not want Dice playing 35 minutes EVER AGAIN.

I'm happy that he's feeling so healthy, but in no way do I want to tempt fate.

He's one play away from retirement. Lets not forget that.

i was just speaking hypothetically, no way am I suggesting we actually play him that many minutes regularly. But its great to have the option if we ever need it.

I'm more talking about Dice getting an extra 5 or so (currently 20, to 25 minutes) from sheed.

Antonio's minutes are up to around 25-27 mpg over the last 12 games...right where he should be going into the playoffs.

That said I somtimes wish Flip would leave him in at the end of close games.

http://espn-i.starwave.com/media/apphoto/DTP10704050101.jpg


aside from ^that^, good game [smilie=2thumbsup.g:

At what makes it worse: Chris Paul wanted to be drafted by the Hawks.

ROFL

Just like Carmello Anthony wanted to be drafted by the Pistons...


I don't know what has gotten into McDyess, but the man is on a mission. Hopefully he can keep it up and it's not a fluke run. I mean he didn't even look this good last season. I hope it is the case where either he realized what he was doing wrong and fixed it or Flip figured out how to use him properly and isn't some dumbluck sorta thing where it could go just as easily as it came.

Antonio's minutes are up to around 25-27 mpg over the last 12 games...right where he should be going into the playoffs.

That said I somtimes wish Flip would leave him in at the end of close games.

He'd never do that to Ben Wallace. I'd think about it if Dyess was a better free throw shooter though...

hmmm relax the Dice fort president election. 2 things.

1.)the hornets frontline is dog poop. Aaron williams and Marc Jackson are not starting or getting meaningful minutes on most teams. In fact Marc Jackson couldnt get playing time on Jersey's fronline(ouch). sheed coulda put up 40 on these guys.

2.)Dyess doesn't need, want, or require that we play him more than what he's getting now. He came here to play 20-25 minutes a game. His medium set of minutes is a direct contributer along with our medical staff into his string of great health as of late. As capable as he is. His desire is to be the lead guy off the bench getting his medium set of minutes. He loves his role and does it better than most. no need at all to tweak it or change it. its good gravy that he and tayshan have found their spots in the system. And to Flippity Doo Da's credit he finally tweaked the system to fit them both lately. we're the first team to 60 wins and everything from 1-8 in the rotation is set. no need to fuck around because Dyess owned the hornets. [smilie=arrgh.jpg]

Dyess isn't as good a defender. I'm happy with Sheed in the crunch.

Did you guys see Zierden at halftime?

I only caught part of it, and it appeared that he had a red headband in his pocket that he was saying was Sheed's. All I heard him say was "we need to free Rasheed".

Was there any more to that?

Also, if Cato couldn't get on the floor even with Sheed out, I don't expect to see him at all until/if we clinch HCA throughout, if he ever plays for us at all.

Maxiell was in civvies too.

Dyess isn't as good a defender.

Mad props for living up to your name.

Dyess isn't as good a defender.

Mad props for living up to your name.

Its on you if you think Dyess hangs with Sheed defensively. I don't hear guys like Duncan and JO talking about how Dyess guards them as well as anyone in the league. But maybe its the constant failure to draw offensive charges that tips the scale Dyess' way.

They took the risk that Marv is going to be a better player.

It's that simple.

Everyone knew Paul could play straight away but in the long run many scouts believe Marv will be better.

Time will tell, but you can't judge a Draft after 1 season.
but depth wise they were pretty deep at Williams position. what the needed was a PG.

So, if the Hawks scouts believed Williams will be a better NBA player down the road than Paul they shouldn't have drafted Marv because they had depth at his position and needed a PG?

Is that what you're saying?

IF the Hawks organisation believed Josh Smith was gonna develop into a fine F, Harrington was gonna bolt as a free agent or demand too much cash and Josh Childress wasn't ever gonna be starting material at SF and they took Marv because they needed a F I'd laugh my fucking ass off.

Because that meant they picked for need and didn't fill the most important voids (PG and/or C obviously)

But everything I've seen, heard or read has the Hawks taking Marv because they believe he will be the Best Player from that Draft down the road.

It has nothing to do with need.

And you shouldn't fucking pick for need anyway.

Dyess isn't as good a defender.

Mad props for living up to your name.

Its on you if you think Dyess hangs with Sheed defensively. I don't hear guys like Duncan and JO talking about how Dyess guards them as well as anyone in the league. But maybe its the constant failure to draw offensive charges that tips the scale Dyess' way.

Not being as good a defender as Sheed doesn't make Dice a bad defender. Nice try though.

Not being as good a defender as Sheed doesn't make Dice a bad defender. Nice try though.

Unless I missed it, I don't think Fool said that Dice was bad, he said he "isn't as good" as Sheed defensively.

If you think he is wrong, then you are saying that, defensively speaking, Dice is Sheeds equal, or he is better.

You aren't saying that, are you?

d'oh! I thought he said Dice isn't a good defender. In this case I'm the fool.

Think I can get $220/hr. for mediation?

Prolly not.

They took the risk that Marv is going to be a better player.

It's that simple.

Everyone knew Paul could play straight away but in the long run many scouts believe Marv will be better.

Time will tell, but you can't judge a Draft after 1 season.
but depth wise they were pretty deep at Williams position. what the needed was a PG.

So, if the Hawks scouts believed Williams will be a better NBA player down the road than Paul they shouldn't have drafted Marv because they had depth at his position and needed a PG?

Is that what you're saying?

IF the Hawks organisation believed Josh Smith was gonna develop into a fine F, Harrington was gonna bolt as a free agent or demand too much cash and Josh Childress wasn't ever gonna be starting material at SF and they took Marv because they needed a F I'd laugh my fucking ass off.

Because that meant they picked for need and didn't fill the most important voids (PG and/or C obviously)

But everything I've seen, heard or read has the Hawks taking Marv because they believe he will be the Best Player from that Draft down the road.

It has nothing to do with need.

And you shouldn't fucking pick for need anyway.
LOL@not picking for need. If that were the case N.O. wouldnt have picked him either.

All i'm saying is if i'm a GM with the #1 pick. Why gamble on a max contract to play a SG at PG? As opposed to getting a PG in the draft for far cheaper and more cap room to build the whole team for the better. Honestly The hawks were a Chris paul from being a serious playoff team. they have all those athletic finishers with no real PG to run them.


So, if the Hawks scouts believed Williams will be a better NBA player down the road than Paul they shouldn't have drafted Marv because they had depth at his position and needed a PG?

Is that what you're saying?
Nope. i'm saying if they didnt factor in what position they needed they are stupid. Overall player is for video games. you're supposed to look for the "right" player. Marvin Williams wasnt the "right" guy. Call me crazy but picking williams over paul cost them atleast 20 wins. Maybe they'll make it up down the road. but i doubt it. Their lack of a true pg will be their achilles heal for awhile unless they address it in the offseason. but i dont think they want a "true" pg. they drafted stoudemire and gave the whole city to joe johnson. so i expect them to ride the scoring PG with no passing skillz thing out.

Gutz, I believe New Orleans picked Paul because he was the best player available.

Every shit team should pick the best player available regardless of position, because they're already shit and the more talent they have on the roster the better.

You can always trade depth later to fill your needs and if you were smart enough to draft wisely you'd get a better return on your pick.

In the Hawks' opinion they chose the "right" player, the guy who will become a superstar down the road.

Before the Draft Paul was highly regarded, but no one thought he was a superstar-type.

Did Atlanta make the right choice on Draft Day. Like I said time will tell.

Throwing Joe Johnson into the Draft Day thought process doesn't work, since he wasn't a Hawk then.

Oh, and the ONLY time it's ok to pick for need is in a Draft like 2006.

The Top 6 are all on the same level so I'd be fine picking for need then. But for the Hawks in 2005 it was an easy choice because they believe Marv is gonna be better than Paul down the road.

Gutz, I believe New Orleans picked Paul because he was the best player available.
then we have two differernt religions on this then. And to go one step further, just picking who is rated the best available hasn't been always a great move. Especially for the #1 pick. best example is the orlando and golden state situation. they traded their picks so golden state could webber and the magic could get Penny. Because at the time both players addressed each team's need. Chauncy Billups career got screwed to start off because boston followed the flawed theory of "draft the best guy available" instead of getting the right guy. Basketball's draft maybe different from football. but i feel they both share an importance in getting the best player who fits your team available. History for the most part hasnt been kind to teams who dont.

Before the Draft Paul was highly regarded, but no one thought he was a superstar-type.
He was the highest rated PG in the draft bar none. So he was rated way higher than channing frye and danny granger, but not superstar type? That sounds a lil' fishy on the lip service tip. I still say he was the best choice for Atlanta and that it was an obvious choice. the same reason Your fellow aussie Bogut was the obvious choice for the bucks. Because they needed a big man. otherwise i doubt he goes at the spot he did. not say he goes that much lower(maybe 2-3 spots at most). But the point is that they were getting what they needed help with. any of these lottery picks could be stars. thats why they are lottery picks. What a team needs to do is draft one that fits.

I tell you this much. If the cavs had kobe bryant and michael redd on their team, i bet you money they dont draft lebron. Darko or bosh would be in cleveland easy.

Gutz, WTF are you debating here?

I said Atlanta believes they picked the BPA for down the road.

That's true - they honestly believe that.

Don't you believe me?

Or don't you believe that Atlanta believe Marv is gonna be better than Paul down the road?

Either way that's cool - just explain your position on that and forget everything else.

All this other shit (BPA v Need, GSW v ORL, Billups' career etc, Lebron or Bosh for a team with Kobe and Redd) doesn't even matter to me.

Gutz, WTF are you debating here?

I said Atlanta believes they picked the BPA for down the road.

That's true - they honestly believe that.

Don't you believe me?

Or don't you believe that Atlanta believe Marv is gonna be better than Paul down the road?

Either way that's cool - just explain your position on that and forget everything else.

All this other shit (BPA v Need, GSW v ORL, Billups' career etc, Lebron or Bosh for a team with Kobe and Redd) doesn't even matter to me.
I know what atlanta believes. My point is that its stupid and a bad way to draft.

I dont agree with the idea that marvin williams was a better pick than paul just on the idea of "well he's a higher rated overall player" Its obvious that if he was, it wasnt by much if paul went at 4. doesnt make him a better player. and he'll probally never be better thn paul even down the road if he's able to crack the starting lineup in atlanta. I'm talking bout looking at things overall. Drafting a true pg and spending your offseason money elsewhere would've gave the hawks a serious amount of more wins. Just bad team management IMO. Another reminder of how cool it is to have Joe D.