SuperSonics-Pistons Preview
By KATE HEDLIN, STATS Writer
Posted Mar 4 2008 12:03AM
Before a big matchup against the Eastern Conference leaders, the Detroit Pistons have another game against a struggling team from the West.
The Pistons try for their seventh straight win over the Seattle SuperSonics on Tuesday, hoping to have Chauncey Billups back in the lineup after a one-game absence.
Detroit (43-16) has won four of its last five, including a 103-73 rout of the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday to cap a four-game road trip. Despite Billups being out for personal reasons, the Pistons had little trouble against the team with the fourth-worst record in the West, shooting 54.3 percent and jumping out to a 55-42 lead at the half. Tayshaun Prince had 22 points and 10 assists, while Rasheed Wallace added 17 points.
"When we have a good player out, especially one of our main guys, I think it's important that we depend on each other," said Prince, who was the only starter to play more than 27 minutes. "It gives me more of an opportunity to play more a 'point-forward,' especially when Chauncey's out. I just tried to see over the defense and make plays."
It's uncertain whether Billups, who is averaging 17.6 points and 7.1 assists, will be back Tuesday, but it may not matter. Detroit has won six straight against Seattle overall and eight of the last nine at home.
The biggest challenge for the Pistons may be making sure their starters get some rest. On Wednesday, Detroit visits Boston for the final regular-season meeting between the top two teams in the East, trying to cut into Boston's 3 1/2-game lead atop the conference.
Seattle (16-43), meanwhile, is looking to build off a 111-108 overtime win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday in the opener of a seven-game road trip. The victory snapped a four-game losing streak and was just the team's sixth in 28 road games.
Kevin Durant scored 25 points and Chris Wilcox added 18 and 15 rebounds. Seattle shot 55.0 percent and reached the 100-point mark for just the second time in 10 games.
The Sonics are 10-11 when hitting the century mark.
"Guys did a great job of playing through adversity tonight," Durant said. "They came out played very hard. We made a few turnovers, but we played through that and it's a good win."
This is the longest road trip of the season for Seattle, and coach P.J. Carlesimo was cautious about getting too excited over Sunday's win, which came against the worst team in the West.
"It doesn't mean a thing if we don't do a good job in the next six games," said Carlesimo, whose team has the third-worst record in the conference. "Obviously, hopefully, we will go into Detroit and Milwaukee in a more positive frame. We are just such a different team when we compete at a real high level."
Detroit beat Seattle 107-103 on Nov. 11, as Richard Hamilton had 32 points while Durant scored 19. Five of the last six games between the teams have been decided by fewer than eight points.
This one's over already. I'll start the OGT for the Boston game.
Nice call, Phhhhhhhhhhhhhhbittttthhhhfffff
03-04-2008 09:51 PM
Timone
HTFL?
03-04-2008 10:02 PM
DrRay11
lol. I just left the room when we were up by 10, and it's a 2 point ball game again.
03-04-2008 10:03 PM
DrRay11
Amir with the bucket!
03-04-2008 10:13 PM
DrRay11
Game, blouses.
03-04-2008 10:27 PM
Uncle Mxy
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sir Douche Baggins
Quote:
Five of the last six games between the teams have been decided by fewer than eight points.
That's hard to believe.
Would you believe... six out of the last seven games?
(in my best Maxwell Smart voice)
03-04-2008 11:32 PM
Kstat
Fun game tonight. It was well worth driving home through the blizzard. Dunno how the Pistons plan to catch an early flight, though...
That game reminded me a bit of 2004, where we weren't making much, but we got by on grit, and the defense was more fun to watch than the offense.
Loved the shot blocking display by Max and Amir tonight. Also loved watching the guys attack the rim. Stuckey actually got a call, wow.
The 4th quarter was highlighted by a mock-spat by a (very hot) chick and her (very drunk) boyfriend, who chose to sit in the section across from them because one of the kids bribed him with a "go sheed" sign.
The highlight was when she got fed up and went to go sit with him, she spanked her (also very hot) friend very hard in the rear to get her out of the aisle. I swear I felt shockwaves. My friend got several shots on his phone. I wasn't so lucky.
For whatever reason hot chicks make even the dumbest arguments entertaining.
I bought my girlfriend a Rodney Stuckey jersey on the way out the door. She'll be the only one in Connecticut that even knows who he is...but hey, I'm not one to argue.
Oh, and Juan Dixon is quickly getting the Jon Barry treatment. Everyone wants him to shoot as soon as he steps on the floor.
03-05-2008 12:35 AM
Tahoe
I think chicks look really good in a jersey...and nothing else.
03-05-2008 05:36 AM
Glenn
Earl Watson, bitches.
03-05-2008 08:19 AM
Black Dynamite
Quote:
Originally Posted by Glenn
Earl Watson, bitches.
Couldnt score on Stuckey for shit.
03-05-2008 09:02 AM
Glenn
Scoring isn't really his role.
If you are trying to knock him for the game he played last night, then you are a hater, plain and simple.
03-05-2008 09:19 AM
Glenn
I wonder how Sheed feels about barely seeing the floor in the 2nd half?
03-05-2008 09:42 AM
BubblesTheLion
Quote:
Originally Posted by Glenn
I wonder how Sheed feels about barely seeing the floor in the 2nd half?
Fantastic considering he plays again tonight?
03-05-2008 10:26 AM
Hermy
Quote:
Originally Posted by Glenn
I wonder how Sheed feels about barely seeing the floor in the 2nd half?
He was laughing and towel waiving on the bench, and joshing Amir after the game. It's a game-to-game thing with him, but it looked from the tip he could give 2 shits yesterday. Good job by Flip feeling that one out and keeping guys in who care if for no other reason than they would like to some day get the money he gets paid today.
03-05-2008 11:04 AM
WTFchris
I was looking at the boxscore from last night and the bench was pretty impressive. check out the +/-
If you are trying to knock him for the game he played last night, then you are a hater, plain and simple.
Nope just saying he had trouble with Stuckey on both sides of the floor from what I saw. Personally Watson can get skull fucked by a buffalo for all i care. I was just saying. He'll never be a piston Glenn, give it up. :sirdouche:
03-05-2008 05:09 PM
Darth Thanatos
You must have really low standards if you want Earl Watson.
