Highlights from last night, courtesy of NBA.com:


Matchup: Pistons 3-1 in exhibitions; Minnesota 2-1.

Tip-off: 7, Van Andel Arena, Grand Rapids.

TV/radio: FSN; WDFN-AM (1130).

Overview: The Pistons' starters haven't been fully invested in a game yet this preseason, and PG Chauncey Billups said it won't be until the final three that they flip that switch.

The team is focusing on C Nazr Mohammed's initiation into the offense as well as the bench development. Coach Flip Saunders said he feels they're ahead of the curve right now.

Continue to look for new combo guard Flip Murray, who had a team-high 19 points Monday, and forwards Carlos Delfino and Jason Maxiell to do good work off the bench.

The Pistons got their second exhibition season win last Friday over Minnesota.

link (http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061018/SPORTS03/610180382/1051)

Wouldn't you rather the Pistons switch that Flip than flip that switch?

Are there any dutch players on the Pistons?

Rickert maybe?

A friend of a friend just called an wanted to know if I was interested in 2 center court seats because he can't use them.

Needless to say, at $150/each, I passed.

7 pm? That's a tricky one.

http://www.nba.com/pistons/news/pistons_gameday.html


Detroit Pistons vs. Minnesota Timberwolves
Pistons Gameday
TV: FSN Detroit; Radio: WDFN 1130 AM - The Fan

Game Preview:

The skinny: The Timberwolves come in with a 2-1 record, the only loss coming to the Pistons last week in Omaha, Neb. They won by 16 at Indiana on Monday, but coach Dwane Casey was less than thrilled with the execution of his starting unit, which includes Ricky Davis and Mark Blount – mid-season acquisitions from Boston last year, plus newcomer Mike James, the ex-Piston – at point guard to go with holdovers Trenton Hassell and, of course, Kevin Garnett. Garnett says the T-wolves are merely working out the kinks.

What to watch: Keep an eye on any subtle lineup adjustments Flip Saunders might make to indicate that Jason Maxiell is here to stay. Carlos Delfino has had two good games and two rocky outings so far; he’ll have to fight for minutes until consistency is incorporated into his game. Flip Murray is looking more and more like an ideal fit for this team, just as the front office suggested when the Pistons went hard after him in free agency.

There were a couple of us in the chat...

nasty dunk by mad max.

MMax and AJ are quite a team. I think we've increased the lead when they've been on the floor.

will blalock did very well. has no jump shot but is money in the lane.

Detroit 112, Minnesota 103 (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/recap?gid=2006101808)

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) -- Nazr Mohammed scored 20 points and had six rebounds, Tayshaun Prince added 16 points and seven boards, and the Detroit Pistons beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 112-103 on Wednesday night.

Mike James led the Timberwolves with 15 points, while Kevin Garnett had 14 points and 10 rebounds.

ADVERTISEMENT
Prince scored nine points in the first quarter, when the Pistons (4-1) opened up a 31-23 lead. Reserve Jason Maxiell, who finished with 14 points, scored 10 in the second quarter to help put the Pistons ahead 64-48 at halftime.

Detroit was 23-of-39 (59 percent) from the floor in the first half, while the Timberwolves (2-2) were 19-of-42. Detroit stretched its lead to an many as 22 points early in the third quarter, when a layup by Richard Hamilton made in 72-50.

The Pistons were 39-of-76 from the floor for the game, while Minnesota was 37-of-74. Minnesota had a 46-39 rebounding edge.

Notes

Wednesday's game at Van Andel Arena was a sellout with an attendance of 10,851. ... Detroit is 2-0 against Minnesota in the preseason. The Pistons beat the Timberwolves 101-96 on Friday in Omaha, Neb. ... Pistons coach Flip Saunders, in his second year with the team, coached the Timberwolves from 1995 to 2005.

i only got to watch a few stretches of the game, but looking at the box score (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/boxscore?gid=2006101808), i'm loving the assists from various players:

CBill: 5 assists
Rip: 4 assists
FlipM: 5 assists
WBlalock: 5 assists
Delfino: 4 assists

also, Maxiell is making a killing at the line. 6-10 FT last night. FlipS needs to really think about getting this guy in the game. at the very least, he's going to get the opposing bigmen into foul trouble.

the team is really making it a point to get Nazr going on the offensive end. he was 7-12 FG last night for 20 points. i'm not sure if last night was just opportunity buckets or they were getting him the ball on the block. maybe someone who watched the game can answer that one. regardless, having him as an scoring threat is real nice.

Delfino looks like he's been struggling with his shot. his assists have been promising. i did see FlipM and Delfino arguing at one point on the floor.....not sure if that's worth keeping an eye on. does Delfino view FlipM as a threat to him?

What a great end to the 2nd quarter.

Max, Amir & Blaylock were fiyah!

Delfino? Not so much, probably the worst game that I've seen him play.

Mark Blount is puke garbage.

What would you say to him if you were Dwayne Casey after he fouled Jason Maxiell taking a 3 pointer with .1 seconds left in the half?

How's that trade working out for the TWolves, Pharaoh? Blount is trash, Banks is in PHX, and Ricky Davis is, well, Ricky Davis.

Another solid game by Nazr.

I'm feeling pretty good about our team, are any of you doomsayers feeling any better at all?

btw, this was the second straight game where Maxiell made the Sportscenter Top Ten :2thumbsup:

it was the feed from Blalock, with Mad Max cutting across the baseline for the dunk.

here are the video highlights, courtesy of NBA.com:

http://boss.streamos.com/wmedia/nba/nbacom/recaps/pre_mindet_061018.asx

if clicking on the link doesn't work: copy the URL, open Windows Media Player, goto File -> Open URL, and paste the link.

Those dunks were sick! He must have eaten three babies who were nursed on gatorade before the game. Hopefully babies won't become a banned substance by the NBA or Maxiell will lose his superpowers.

I'll admit Glenn I feel better about Nazr as a weapon than I did, but I still don't think were a title contending team. Teams are going to have to adjust their D on us, last years plans have our center spot WIDE open from 10 feet which looks to be a gimmie for the guy when he gets the shot off. Not that they can't adjust by next May, but I still think we're a 55+ win team.

I'll admit Glenn I feel better about Nazr as a weapon than I did, but I still don't think were a title contending team. Teams are going to have to adjust their D on us, last years plans have our center spot WIDE open from 10 feet which looks to be a gimmie for the guy when he gets the shot off. Not that they can't adjust by next May, but I still think we're a 55+ win team.

that would have been enough to win the East last season :cool:

This was the first game I've gotten to watch this season. Blalock was much better than expected. The bench situation looks much better than it did in the middle of last season. I hope Flip doesn't fuck shit up.

Glimpse into the future? (http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061019/SPORTS0102/610190325/1127)

It has been observed that Pistons guards have been seemingly able to get a little more maneuvering room down low on offensive sets in the exhibition season. Not having Ben Wallace in the middle seems to open things up a little, leading to some new sparks of creativity.

The additional space facilitates guard penetration, which can produce many positive things from kick-outs, forcing defensive fouls, to more points.

Case in point: Murray drove deep in the lane in the first quarter, drawing in the Timberwolves defense. He quickly spun, kicked out to Rasheed Wallace , who hit a 3-pointer from the top of the arc.

Blalock also exploited seams with skills, leading to baskets.

"There's more things that are open in the paint now, there's more space," Saunders said. "With some of the stuff we're running, there are more lanes. It never hurts to have a little more freedom. It's something we've worked on to try to improve."

that would have been enough to win the East last season :cool:


No, you win the east by winning 4 games in the ECF.

BTW, in general I think that "look Ben's gone, there's all this room now" is WAY overblown. We didn't drive last year and our big men didn't react to drives by going to the basket very often (once Arroyo left, McDyess who had been doing it contented himself with stepping back for the 12 footer). Murray, Delfino, Blalock, these guys either weren't on the roster or didn't get to play last year. They're the ones that are driving to the lane. Maxiell, Nazir, a little bit of Amir these are the guys that are getting in position for most of the dump offs. They weren't playing for us last year.

If there was one thing Ben could do on offense, it was dunk. Its not happening more this season because Ben is gone, it just wasn't an offensive priority last year.

http://detnews.com/graphics/columnistmugs/JoanneGerstner.jpg Wed, Oct 18, 2006 at 6:56 PM
Joanne C. Gerstner
Greetings from Grand Rapids... (http://info.detnews.com/pistonsblog/index.cfm)

Howdy from the left side of the Michigan mitten. Pistons are here tonight to play the Timberwolves at Van Andel Arena. Because I am around the Pistons so much, I sometimes forget how excited people can get seeing them. Right now, as they warm up, flashes from cameras and camera phones are going off all around the Pistons side of the court. Almost like a strobe at a club. Fans, many of them teen girls, are screeching for Tayshaun or Rip to turn around and look at them. Tayshaun has waved a few times, sending the girls into squeals. Yet others are begging George Blaha for an autograph. We in Detroit can see the Pistons all the time, so going to a game isn't like a huge rock-star type of thing. The Pistons have been in GR many times before for a pre-season game, but it seems like the fans are still very much geeked to see them. Some though apparently didn't get the memo about Rip losing the braids over the summer. They seem a little shocked to see Rip with a close crop, with two even overheard saying they weren't sure if that really was him. Rip heard them, looked over and smiled. Yep, that made their day.


Glenn, i thought you said you passed on the courtside tickets??

btw, check out the NBA.com highlight video i posted above.....pretty cool clip of Sheed addressing the crowd before the game.

I missed Blaha because I was screaming for Tayshaun's beard.

Motown hates you, regardless of whether you are hot or not.



Some though apparently didn't get the memo about Rip losing the braids over the summer. They seem a little shocked to see Rip with a close crop, with two even overheard saying they weren't sure if that really was him. Rip heard them, looked over and smiled. Yep, that made their day.

That's funny.