Game 14: Pistons Vs Suns - 11/22/09

[Deleterious]

5-8 (Road: 2-6) @ 10-3 (Home: 4-0)

Live from US Airways Center

Game Info: 8:00 pm EST Sun Nov 22, 2009

TV:

Injury Report:

Detroit: Rip Hamilton - Out (Ankle). Tayshaun Prince - Out (Ruptured disk).

Phoenix: Robin Lopez - Out (Foot).

Team News



Pistons coach John Kuester felt his team played well enough to win at Utah.

"Our guys did a real nice job other than the first quarter of really holding off a lot of their push," he said. "We had some great efforts. Defensively we did a good job. We've done a number of good things on this trip, but we have to keep working."

Charlie Villanueva, on the Pistons' intensity: "We played good basketball. We concentrated, moved the basketball, and played with a lot of energy. The effort was there. You've got to give them (the Jazz) credit. They played good."

Kuester, on how Utah F Andrei Kirilenko continually hurt the Pistons late in the game: "He made some big shots. That's one of the things that happen when you're looking to shrink the floor as much as we were, (and) it allows him to get open. We had a number of people on him, but it didn't work out the way we wanted."



The Suns missed a chance to match the best 13-game start in franchise history at 11-2. The 1980-81, 2004-05 and 2007-08 teams started 11-2.

The rebounding gap that figured to be a problem for the Suns coming into the season played a role against New Orleans. The Hornets finished with a 56-38 edge overall and their 25 offensive rebounds led to a 38-13 edge in second-chance points that ultimately did in the Suns.

The Suns are 13-for-13 when it comes to reaching 100 points in a game. But the Suns didn't score more than 27 in any one quarter and didn't have that one explosive quarter that has given them separation so often this season.

The Suns have now trailed by double digits in eight of their 13 games this season, and have trailed after three quarters eight times. But there was no final rally this time.

With all their problems, the Suns still had the lead at 92-91 on an Amar'e Stoudemire jumper with about 4 minutes left. But Peja Stojakovic answered with a 3-pointer that kicked off a 10-3 run that put the Hornets up for good.

[Deleterious]

Back to back games, OT last night, had to travel, last game of road trip. This has blowout written all over it.

[Elevate]

Originally Posted by Deleterious

Back to back games, OT last night, had to travel, last game of road trip. This has blowout written all over it.

Not many games this year don't.

[Truth]

Originally Posted by Deleterious

Back to back games, OT last night, had to travel, last game of road trip. This has blowout written all over it.

It does except they have the advantage of some young guys who are trying to impress the coach.

[mtk1210]

Will Bynum triple-double

[Chaz]

GO STONES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[DaBishop]

just found oiut the game is on the NBA channel on direct tv...looks like I didn't miss much.

[Johnny Mac]

could Stuckey ever shoot above 40% in a game?

[Deleterious]

Originally Posted by Johnny Mac

could Stuckey ever shoot above 40% in a game?

Your comment got me interested, so I looked it up. Out of 13 games so far this year, he has shot over 40% just 4 times. It's painful to even type that.

EDIT: Tonight made it 4 out 14.

[DTroppens]

Originally Posted by Deleterious

Back to back games, OT last night, had to travel, last game of road trip. This has blowout written all over it.

That's what I thought going into the game as well. But after the Lions, that was no big deal. I could live with it.

And on the bright side, the blow out made it easy to flip flop between the Pistons and the MLS championship game.

My biggest concern right now is if the team keeps losing, we'll eventually see the energy fall as the team starts "realizing" how tough it's going to be to really compete - especially with Rip and Prince gone.

[Truth]

Originally Posted by Deleterious

Your comment got me interested, so I looked it up. Out of 13 games so far this year, he has shot over 40% just 4 times. It's painful to even type that.

EDIT: Tonight made it 4 out 14.

It's more painful to watch. Gordon wasn't shooting much better tonight (4-11) but Stuckey just shoots way, way too much and too often. He seems to consider himself the number 1 scoring option too often.

[Deleterious]

I'm starting to think I gave this team a bit to much credit. My original prediction of 7th or 8th seed is looking a bit optimistic. I am starting to think they will struggle to win 40. Things don't get much easier. Here is their schedule for the rest of 2009.

vs Cleveand
vs Clippers
vs Hawks
@ Chicago
vs Milwaukee
vs Washington
@ Philly
vs Denver
vs Golden State
@ Houston
@ New Orleans
@ Oklahoma
vs Lakers
@ Charlotte
vs Toronto
@ Toronto
vs New York
vs Chicago

I see 8 wins in that schedule tops. So that makes them about 13-19 at the new year. January schedule doesn't look much easier. A lottery pick is starting to look very possible.

[DTroppens]

They'll be hard pressed to win 36 games if the roster remains the way it is for the rest of the season.

It's really not that good a team at all. But at least they seem to care.

[Hart]

They are desperate for Rip to come back. There are just not enough shooters on this team. Stuckey and Bynum can be easily contained when you don't spread the floor with shooters. Also, our front court is very thin. Ben and CV are solid starters but once you get beyond those two guys, we are hurting.

[Buddha]

Originally Posted by Deleterious

I'm starting to think I gave this team a bit to much credit. My original prediction of 7th or 8th seed is looking a bit optimistic. I am starting to think they will struggle to win 40. Things don't get much easier. Here is their schedule for the rest of 2009.

vs Cleveand
vs Clippers
vs Hawks
@ Chicago
vs Milwaukee
vs Washington
@ Philly
vs Denver
vs Golden State
@ Houston
@ New Orleans
@ Oklahoma
vs Lakers
@ Charlotte
vs Toronto
@ Toronto
vs New York
vs Chicago

I see 8 wins in that schedule tops. So that makes them about 13-19 at the new year. January schedule doesn't look much easier. A lottery pick is starting to look very possible.

Without Rip and Prince they probably are a lottery team. With them, they're probably a 7th seed, with the ceiling of a 5 seed.

In fairness to you and everyone else, I'm not sure we envisioned this team missing 2/5ths of its starting lineup most of the season.

In the big picture, a chance at a top 3 pick is probably what this franchise really needs to get out of the middle of the pack. Add a physical, athletic big man to this squad and they're a pretty good team.

[Buddha]

Originally Posted by DTroppens

They'll be hard pressed to win 36 games if the roster remains the way it is for the rest of the season.

It's really not that good a team at all. But at least they seem to care.

I like watching them play. They play hard and compete even if they're outgunned on most nights.

[Truth]

It's tough not to be negative after that road trip but I'm going to give them some more time before writing them off. It hurts not having Rip and Prince and the team that's starting has never played together before (with the exception of the Bens in Chicago).

[DTroppens]

Originally Posted by Truth

It's tough not to be negative after that road trip but I'm going to give them some more time before writing them off. It hurts not having Rip and Prince and the team that's starting has never played together before (with the exception of the Bens in Chicago).

I guess it's writing them off, but it wasn't the road trip that made me think that. They seriously lack frontcourt scoring production, and much of that production isn't coming from inside. When it does, it's not because they are scoring options. It's scrappy points. That's going to catch up on them, especially because they don't have a true PG that can try to help make those players more effectively offensively. But even if that happens, none of those guys can hit free throws. On the off-chance they do become semi-reliable offensive options, they aren't going to make free throws and that's going to hurt the team. Of course, some of that can change a bit if Prince gets back.

It's going to be a team that struggles to win a lot of games. It's going to have put a lot of emphasis on defense and effort to win. That can get them some wins and help keep them in a lot of games that they may otherwise lose, but I think it's going to be tough for them to hit that 40-win plateau with the team they have right now.

Getting Rip and Prince back will change some of that. It sounds like they are doing some work now, so maybe their return is going to be sooner than later. I wonder if Sunday may be a good date for at least Rip's return.

All that said about my projected win total with this lineup, I'm having fun watching them play. I think they play hard and it's a refreshing change.

[Hart]

If we found a small foward who is more of a threat to score, I think that would go a long way to shoring up some of the weaknesses in the frontcourt. CV and Big Ben are a solid combo at power foward and center. Ideally, you would like Wallace coming off the bench but up to this point in the season, you can't complain about the production of CV or Big Ben. Depth is the biggest concern. And we are basically getting nothing out of the small foward position right now besides hustle and energy. That is fine on a good team but the Pistons really need more. Tayshaun is not even close to being the answer. Rip will help some a lot on the offensive end but he does not have the strength you would like out of your small foward.

[Truth]

Originally Posted by DTroppens

I guess it's writing them off, but it wasn't the road trip that made me think that. They seriously lack frontcourt scoring production, and much of that production isn't coming from inside. When it does, it's not because they are scoring options. It's scrappy points. That's going to catch up on them, especially because they don't have a true PG that can try to help make those players more effectively offensively. But even if that happens, none of those guys can hit free throws. On the off-chance they do become semi-reliable offensive options, they aren't going to make free throws and that's going to hurt the team. Of course, some of that can change a bit if Prince gets back.

It's going to be a team that struggles to win a lot of games. It's going to have put a lot of emphasis on defense and effort to win. That can get them some wins and help keep them in a lot of games that they may otherwise lose, but I think it's going to be tough for them to hit that 40-win plateau with the team they have right now.

Getting Rip and Prince back will change some of that. It sounds like they are doing some work now, so maybe their return is going to be sooner than later. I wonder if Sunday may be a good date for at least Rip's return.

All that said about my projected win total with this lineup, I'm having fun watching them play. I think they play hard and it's a refreshing change.

Big Ben is still Ben when it comes to scoring and hitting FTs. Charlie V. is actually a better FT shooter than Rasheed and so far is averaging about the same PPG. They can't defend like the old tandem of Wallaces though.

The bigger problem, besides the injuries, is the PG play that you point out and ball movement. The last time I looked the Pistons were averaging something like 15.5 assists per game. I really hope that this changes and they get away from so much 1-on-1 stuff, especially from Stuckey. It just doesn't make sense to me with Villanueva and Gordon on the floor that he's taking as many shots as does (he's averaging more than either of them).

I'm not looking for much out of the season except for the effort we have seen so far and the development of some kind of core to build around.

[DTroppens]

Originally Posted by Hart

If we found a small foward who is more of a threat to score, I think that would go a long way to shoring up some of the weaknesses in the frontcourt. CV and Big Ben are a solid combo at power foward and center. Ideally, you would like Wallace coming off the bench but up to this point in the season, you can't complain about the production of CV or Big Ben. Depth is the biggest concern. And we are basically getting nothing out of the small foward position right now besides hustle and energy. That is fine on a good team but the Pistons really need more. Tayshaun is not even close to being the answer. Rip will help some a lot on the offensive end but he does not have the strength you would like out of your small foward.

I think Ben has to stay in the starting lineup. You want him there to help impose that defensive mindset with the starting five.