Detroit Pistons Blog – Page 69 – NBA Blog

Jonas Jerebko injures shoulder, achilles

Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free Press reports:

But when Pistons coach John Kuester picked his starter at power forward for Tuesday night’s exhibition opener against the Heat, he turned to last season’s All-NBA rookie second teamer, Jonas Jerebko, to join fellow starters Ben Wallace, Rodney Stuckey, Rip Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince.

That’s not surprising, considering Jerebko quickly established himself last season as a willing defender and rebounder and was a burgeoning offensive presence as the season progressed.

Jerebko’s next starting assignment will not be any time soon. He left the game in the first quarter with a shoulder injury and also suffered an injury to his right Achilles during the Heat’s 105-89 victory. His status will be in doubt for at least the time being.

Kuester, who is entering his second season, said in pregame comments that he will reserve the right to experiment with lineups during the exhibition season.

Wade hurts hamstring in Heat preseason debut

The AP reports:

The Big 3 were together for merely three minutes. LeBron James and Chris Bosh more than picked up the slack after Dwyane Wade’s preseason debut came to a quick end.

And with that, this era for the Miami Heat got off to a promising, but not perfect, start.

James and Bosh combined for 38 points in their exhibition debuts, and the Heat easily beat the Detroit Pistons 105-89 in the preseason opener for both teams Tuesday night.

“It was something I’ve waited for all summer,” James said. “To be able to be back on the court, it was great. The reception from the fans was awesome and it was great we were able to give them the same energy that they gave us.”

The outcome was meaningless, but the game wasn’t for Miami — not after Wade limped off just 3:17 into the game with a strained right hamstring. He went into the locker room shortly afterward, did not return, and could miss up to two weeks. Wade expects to be back long before the Oct. 26 regular-season opener in Boston.

Detroit officials optimistic Pistons will move downtown after sale

Darren A. Nichols of the Detroit News reports:

Detroit officials say they’re hopeful the Detroit Pistons will relocate to downtown following the sale of the franchise to pizza and sports mogul Mike Ilitch.“We continue to be excited about the possibility of the Detroit Pistons returning to Detroit, which is nationally recognized as a destination for professional sports,” Karen Dumas, a spokeswoman for Mayor Dave Bing, said in a released statement. “The deal is not done, but we remain optimistic.”

Crain’s Detroit Business and other media outlets today are reporting that Ilitch is in negotiations to buy the Detroit Pistons and Palace Sports & Entertainment Inc.

Ilitch, who already owns the Detroit Red Wings, Detroit Tigers and Little Caesars Pizza, could work out the deal with Pistons ownership in the next 30 days, according to the reports.

Talk about the team on the Detroit Pistons forum.

Fan poll results: Six East locks to make playoffs

An InsideHoops.com front page poll asking fans to predict the eight Eastern conference teams that will qualify for the 2010-11 NBA playoffs had the following results:

Celtics     2,046 votes
Heat    2,045 votes
Magic    2,011 votes
Bulls    1,985 votes
Hawks    1,886 vote
Bucks    1,658 votes
Bobcats    1,011 votes
Knicks    1,074 votes
Wizards    637 votes
Sixers    481 votes
Pistons    336 votes
Nets    333 votes
Cavaliers 333 votes
Pacers    229 votes
Raptors    173 votes

Fans felt that the six teams — the Magic, Celtics, Heat, Bulls, Hawks and Bucks — are strong locks to make the playoffs.

After those teams, the Bobcats and Knicks came in next, with the 7th and 8th highest votes.

InsideHoops.com editor says: These are some pretty fantastic results. Look at the top eight teams, in order. That’s pretty close to what an East power ranking list should look like.

Missing the playoffs but getting good support were the Wizards, receiving the 9th highest votes.

Orlando Magic's Dwight Howard (12) is congratulated by teammates Rashard Lewis (L), Jameer Nelson (14) and Vince Carter (15) during overtime in Game 4 of their NBA Eastern Conference playoff series against the Boston Celtics in Boston, Massachusetts May 24, 2010. REUTERS/Adam Hunger (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT BASKETBALL)

Pistons add Ike Diogu to training camp

The Detroit Pistons announced today the addition of Ike Diogu to the 2010-11 training camp roster.

Diogu, the ninth overall pick in the 2005 NBA Draft, has career averages of 6.1 points and 3.1 rebounds in 187 games with Golden State, Indiana, Portland and Sacramento. A veteran of four NBA seasons, Diogu averaged a career-high 7.0 points as a rookie with the Warriors in 2005-06. The 2005 Pac-10 Player of the Year averaged 21.4 points and 8.8 rebounds in 91 career games over three seasons at Arizona State. The 6-9, 250-pound forward missed last season with a knee injury.

Portland Trailblazers forward Ike Diogu dunks in the second quarter against the Denver Nuggets at the Pepsi Center in Denver on December 22, 2008. (UPI Photo/Gary C. Caskey) Photo via Newscom Photo via Newscom

Pistons seek big-man

Terry Foster of the Detroit News reports:

The Pistons are loaded with guards but are thin up front. They re-signed 14-year veteran Ben Wallace, who was their best frontcourt player last season. Rookie Greg Monroe is a 6-foot-11 big man out of Georgetown who has a nice passing touch but is rough around the edges offensively. Chris Wilcox played in just 34 games and sometimes the Pistons were so desperate in the post that they put 6-7 energy man Jason Maxiell inside.

Dumars has assets other teams don’t appear to want. Guard Richard Hamilton and forward Tayshaun Prince have been named in trade talks for years, yet they remain.

Dumars wouldn’t say if anybody was on the trade block, saying: “I want a big man. Let’s put it that way.”

Prince is in the final year of a contract that will pay him $11.1 million this season. Hamilton is difficult to move because he will be paid $12.65 million in each of the next three seasons. Unless a team becomes desperate, it’s unlikely Dumars will get his wish.

Manager confirms Allen Iverson is considering a deal to play in China

The AP reports:

Manager confirms Allen Iverson may play in China

Gary Moore, Allen Iverson’s personal manager, said Iverson has not been contacted by any NBA team with training camps set to open in less than two weeks. Moore said there is “legitimate interest” between Iverson and a team in China to work out a deal. Moore did not know the team’s name and was vague on details.

“We’re very astonished, to say the least, that not one team has contacted us with any interest,” Moore said. “I just don’t understand it.”

Iverson played three games for Memphis last season before he returned for a second stint with the Philadelphia 76ers. He averaged 13.9 points for the Sixers before he took a leave of absence in March because of family issues.

January 27, 2010 Milwaukee, WI. Bradley Center.. Philadelphia 76ers Allen Iverson makes a fast break for the hoop..Milwaukee Bucks won over the Philadelphia 76ers 91-88. Mike McGinnis/CSM.

Former NBA player Rumeal Robinson guilty of fraud

The AP reports:

Rumeal Robinson, who led Michigan to the NCAA men’s basketball championship in 1989 and later played in the NBA, was convicted in federal court Wednesday of borrowing more than $700,000 for a sham business deal and then spending the money on a condominium, expensive furniture and cars.

A jury found Robinson guilty of 11 counts, including bank bribery, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit bank fraud and making a false statement to a financial institution. He faces up to 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine on each count. A date for sentencing hasn’t been set.

Among a lengthy list of accusations by prosecutors was one accusing Robinson of scheming to sell his mother’s home in Cambridge, Mass., without her knowledge.

Hamptons partygoers get earful of Dennis Rodman sex

Page Six of the New York Post reports:

Hamptons partygoers got to listen to a little Dennis Rodman lovemaking after he took six girls up to his bedroom with a cordless microphone switched on in his pocket. Promoters at the Hotel Indigo in Hampton Bays were astonished when they heard Rodman talking dirty over the music at their pool party in the early hours of Monday morning. A source told us, “Rodman had quite a lot to drink and had been making shout-outs on the mike. He headed up to his room with six girls. Then, the next thing you could hear through the speakers downstairs was Rodman describing in full sexual detail what he wanted to do to them. Organizers pulled the plug before it got any dirtier.”

Former Pistons PR director Matt Dobek dies

Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free Press reports:

Matt Dobek, 51, died unexpectedly at his Rochester Hills home on Saturday.

Dobek spent 29 years with the Pistons organization before he was fired in May as the team’s vice president of public relations.

Hired by former Pistons executive Tom Wilson, Dobek was a confidant to many of the players during the Bad Boys era of Pistons basketball, including Isiah Thomas, Rick Mahorn and Joe Dumars.