Pistons Seek Revenge From the Season Opener; Host Bucks

By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA, STATS Senior Writer

A season-opening loss to the Milwaukee Bucks raised questions about how effective the Detroit Pistons' defense would be.

There's little doubt now, though, as the Pistons come off another solid game to take on the Bucks on Friday.

Michael Redd scored 37 points as Milwaukee (18-28) attacked Detroit (26-18) for a slew of easy baskets in a 105-97 win on Nov. 1, ending a six-game road losing streak against the Pistons.

Detroit gave up 70 points in the paint, and there was concern about the defense after struggling in its first game since losing Ben Wallace to Chicago in free agency.

The Pistons bounced back, however, and now rank sixth in the NBA in scoring defense, allowing 93.9 points per game.

Detroit held an opponent under 90 points for the 17th time Wednesday night, beating the New Jersey Nets 113-89.

It was also the Pistons' third-best scoring game of the season. Richard Hamilton scored 24 points and Detroit set a team record by hitting 27 consecutive free throws.

"We seem to score when we don't run," Pistons coach Flip Saunders told the team's official Web site. "We are a half-court execution team. We're almost like a counterpuncher. We see how people defense us and then we take counters off of that. We were able to get the ball to people we needed to in their spots."

The Pistons are averaging 100.1 points over their last seven games, winning five. They shot 54 percent from the field Wednesday and finished 33-of-38 from the line.

Chauncey Billups was perfect on 12 free throw attempts in scoring 18 points. He had 25 points and made all 12 of his free throws in Detroit's first game against Milwaukee.

Hamilton has scored 20 or more points in 16 of his last 19 games. He is averaging 28.3 points in his last three games against the Bucks.

Redd is averaging 33.5 points in his last four games versus Detroit, but is expected to miss his 14th straight game with a strained patellar tendon in his left knee.

Milwaukee clearly missed Redd's scoring in a 98-73 loss at Orlando on Wednesday night.

The Bucks have been held to 80 points or less four times since Redd's injury, and have lost 13 of their last 15 games.

"I have never been through a stretch where we lost so many games and played this badly," Bucks guard Charlie Bell said. "We've got to realize there is still a lot of season to be played and we can make up for it."

Milwaukee got 23 points from Mo Williams, but shot only 37 percent for the game. The Bucks are 0-16 when shooting under 44.9 percent this season.

Bucks forward Charlie Villanueva made his first start since returning from a shoulder injury four games ago. He had six points and nine rebounds in 35 minutes.

Another game on mytv, another game i can't watch.

Let's run over the Bucks.

You must never go into the Palace Bambi, Man lives in the Palace.

Wow MM just got blocked on a dunk attempt right at the end of the half. Hopefully the guy who blocked it has many fractures in his lower arm.

Technical foul on the Man that is the Pistons

WTF did Sheed get T'ed for?
WTF is he jabbering about?

WTF is flip subbing Webber out for Nazr for?

WTF did Sheed get T'ed for?
WTF is he jabbering about?

Fuck if I know. We got the bucket on a call that could have went either way and he ends up with a Tech. Maybe he wanted a foul for CW too. lol

WTF is flip subbing Webber out for Nazr for?

Fuck if I know.

WTF is flip subbing Webber out for Nazr for?

Webber was getting his ass handed to him by Bogut.

Frankly, i don't blame him for putting someone else on Bogut.......although, I would have liked to see some Dale Davis instead.

although, I would have liked to see some Dale Davis instead.

That was my point.

Why Nazr....ever....

Rasheed, shut the fuck up and play!

Or don't. Fuck you very much, Flip.

I love angry-Sheed.

I don't love 0-4 Sheed since becoming angry-Sheed.

Rip's getting good at chucking the shot up when he knows he's getting the whistle, lol.

Rip's getting good at chucking the shot up when he knows he's getting the whistle, lol.
Must have watched tapes of their series against the Miami Crybabywades

Dice ejected?

WTF.

These refs are fucking jackasses tonight

quit fuckin' crying and beat these fools....

The way Sheed's been, I can't blame the refs for wanting to whistle any Piston.

Well, I shouldn't blame the refs, even if they are fuckers.

Ok here we go with the 'this is ALL Sheeds fault' posts.

Tahoe <----wants to throw a jab but not really get into a fight

Tayshaun working the boards!!!

2 straight offensive boards!

Myomy... Tayshaun was lively...

MAXIELLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok here we go with the 'this is ALL Sheeds fault' posts.

Tahoe <----wants to throw a jab but not really get into a fight
Not blaming Sheed for everything, just pointing out that him jabbering so damn much has to hurt more than just how he's called.

great decision by Chauncey to give Mad Max the dunk, igniting the crowd.

also, great block by Nazr and full court pass to Chauncey. can FlipS/Nazr get some love? Bogut has been ineffective since Nazr came in.

SHocking, Nazr playing well.

"Nazr has cooled off Bogut" Blaha

damn, i always get goosebumps when Rip and Maxiell go for that alley-oop play that Rip/Ben used to do.......once they get that workin......

OMG, i almost soiled myself on that last sequence.

Nazr *edit* I think I'll pick a good QB with a strong arm instead

Nazr Palmer ?

Not blaming Sheed for everything, just pointing out that him jabbering so damn much has to hurt more than just how he's called.

I know his style isn't for everyone, but I think he lit a fire under their asses.

Gotta take the good with the bad with Sheed.

1. Nazr w/ another full court pass right on the money
2. Tayshaun w/ the great catch
3. Tayshaun w/ the behind the back, no look pass
4. Maxiell about to throw down another thunder dunk
5. Brian Skinner leading the league in fouling-Maxiell-to-prevent-the-thunder-dunk.

wow, Ruben Patterson just manhandled Tayshaun.

"Nazr has cooled off Bogut" Blaha
i could almost see bogut dunking on us not too long after that statement. sure enough. :yingyang:

nazr isnt a bum, not good enough to start like he thinks, but not a bum.

Tayshaun's gooooooin to work!

There have been some hard fouls tonight by the Bucks. Tay just got hit by Bogut fairly hard.

SHocking, Nazr playing well.
He's playing against an immobile true center. This is the only situation he plays really well in.

According to Sheed, the basketball never lies.

Nazr was getting more and more comfortable with the team. I think his production was up and by the playoffs he would have been fine at the very least.

JMax!

Nazr was getting more and more comfortable with the team. I think his production was up and by the playoffs he would have been fine at the very least.
i disagree. he's not good enough to start consistently. SA found that out and now we have.

Jason Maxiell just ate Charlie V's unborn child.

Oh. My.

maxiell has bought a vanilla wafer liver and ate it immediatey.

Jason Maxiell just ate Charlie V's unborn child.

Oh. My.

And you notice he never really trash talks. He just goes about his biz of hurting peeps.

And you notice he never really trash talks. He just goes about his biz of hurting peeps.
One of my favorite parts about him.

Billups signed up for the Earl Boykins free lunch program.

Sheed cracks me up

Why can't the NBA just mic Sheed up every game?

The basketball tends to tell the truth.

Why can't the NBA just mic Sheed up every game?

the dude's so loud, he'd break TV speakers.

damn, tayshaun's getting some opportune offensive boards tonight.

Why can't the NBA just mic Sheed up every game?
the censors would not be pleased. Kinda like when he said fuck in the locker room interview earlier this season.

the look on the fsn guys after he does that is priceless. They try to find a way to pretend it didnt exist.

the only reason the bucks are in this game is because we've run way too many ISo's and not enough feeding through webber.

ruben patterson must get paid by the shot....

the fact that i'm not watching this is crushing me.

Why can't the NBA just mic Sheed up every game?

He had the Bucks guys crackin up on the FT line.

Maxiell w/ the coooooooooool jumper.

Oh man, that was going to be a 360 too.

LOL, Bogut had to intentionally foul Maxiell and came away with a bloody hand.

I think that rim might be bent

I wonder why Amir Johnson was activated in place of Dale Davis...?

Pistons got 18 pts 13 rebounds off the bench tonight.

that's with Dice getting ejected afte 7 minutes of play.

I wonder why Amir Johnson was activated in place of Dale Davis...?
1.) showcasing nazr for other teams.
2.)struck a deal for davis and flip murray.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVdIwndT-s0

MAN > BAMBI

From what I read Dice was ejected for arguing a call? How bad was he arguing? Did he grab the ref or something?

davis was de-activated for missing early morning shootaround. so as a result, amir was activated.

FYI- this might be something to keep an eye on. from ESPN: "Davis, who is frustrated after losing most of his playing time to Chris Webber, said that he didn't sleep through his alarm clock. "I didn't set it," he said before the game."

From what I read Dice was ejected for arguing a call? How bad was he arguing? Did he grab the ref or something?

He wasn't yelling so he must have said the right thing. They refs were sensitive little bitches last night, imo. Sheed just got a tech a couple of minutes earlier, then Flip had to yank Sheed cause he was about to get number 2. Then Dice got 1 and between fouls shots(?) he got another one with a smile on his face.

This is how I remember it anyway. I was just reading Matts post where Dice only had 7 mins. Maybe I didn't rc.

i disagree. he's not good enough to start consistently. SA found that out and now we have.

He's good enough to start for 75% of the teams in the NBA. I guess its debatable if he is a starter for the top 6-8 teams in the league.

I guess its debatable if he is a starter for the top 6-8 teams in the league.
Well since we are aiming for the top 6-8 teams, He isnt a starter on our squad just like he couldnt hold it down consistently in SA. On a bad team, yea he could start all day w/o rival. On our team, no.

was that a 'super dunk' i saw from maxiell last night?! im pretty sure i've never seen a super dunk before, so that was exciting.