Detroit Pistons Blog – Page 88 – NBA Blog

Pistons assigning two to D-League

The Detroit Pistons announced today that they will assign guard Alex Acker and rookie forward Walter Sharpe to their NBA Development League affiliate, the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, on Friday, January 2.

Acker has appeared in five games this season averaging 1.4 points and 0.4 rebounds in 3.0 minutes per game. He was originally drafted by the Pistons with the 60th overall selection in the 2005 NBA Draft.

Sharpe was drafted by Seattle with the 32nd overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft and was acquired by the Pistons on draft night in exchange for draft rights to D.J. White, the 29th pick in the 2008 NBA Draft. He has appeared in three games this season, averaging 0.7 points in 2.3 minutes per game.

No timetable has been set for their return.

Amir Johnson D helping Pistons

The Detroit Free Press (Vince Ellis) reports: Amir Johnson has averaged five points and 6.5 rebounds over the last four games, but most importantly, the Pistons are playing their best defense of the season as Johnson’s athleticism, quickness and long arms have been put to good use. And to think, before that four-game stretch, Johnson got no playing time against the Chicago Bulls and had six other DNPs after starting the first seven games of the season. Curry sat Johnson earlier in the season because of inconsistent play and the coach was experimenting with the starting lineup. But it was a rough time for the fourth-year player who the Pistons drafted out of high school in 2005.

Pistons beat Nets 83-75

The AP reports: Allen Iverson and Tayshaun Prince stepped up for the short-handed Detroit Pistons. Iverson scored 19 points, and Prince added 16 to help the Pistons win their fifth straight game, 83-75 over the New Jersey Nets on Wednesday… Detroit played without Rip Hamilton (groin) and Antonio McDyess (ribs), and lost Rasheed Wallace to a first-half foot injury, but still held the Nets to a season low… The Nets lost some of their advantage when Vince Carter was ejected after for arguing a second-quarter call with referee Derrick Stafford… Rookie Brook Lopez led New Jersey with 23 points and 12 rebounds, but the Nets weren’t able to overcome an 11-point second quarter.

Stuckey, Pistons end Magic’s winning streak at 7

The AP reports: Allen Iverson grinned as he looked at the boxscore after the Detroit Pistons’ 88-82 victory over the Orlando Magic on Monday night. “I’m not used to seeing myself with 15 points and knowing that I had a good game,” he said. “Before, even if I only had 20 points, I didn’t think I was doing my job.” Iverson was Detroit’s fourth-leading scorer on a night when no Pistons player reached 20… Detroit has now won four in a row, the last two without Richard Hamilton (groin)… Rodney Stuckey led Detroit with 19 points, while Tayshaun Prince and Rasheed Wallace each added 16. Antonio McDyess came off the bench with 11 points and eight rebounds despite a fourth-quarter rib injury… Rashard Lewis led the Magic with 23 points while Dwight Howard added 18 points and 18 rebounds.

Dec 27: Pistons 87, Bucks 76

The AP reports: With Richard Hamilton sidelined, the Detroit Pistons abandoned their three-guard lineup and used a bigger starting unit that stifled the Milwaukee Bucks. Tayshaun Prince scored nine of his 19 points in the decisive third quarter and Allen Iverson added 18, lifting the Pistons to an 87-76 victory Saturday night. The Bucks had won three consecutive games, averaging 106 points during the streak. The Pistons, starting 6-foot-9 Amir Johnson in place of Hamilton, a slim 6-7 guard, held Milwaukee to 30 percent shooting… Johnson had eight points, 11 rebounds and four blocked shots, giving the Pistons a different defensive look from their usual lineup that consists of 6-11 Rasheed Wallace as their only big starter… Andrew Bogut had 17 points and 10 rebounds for Milwaukee, which mainly rested its starters for the final 15 minutes after the game was decided. Michael Redd, the Bucks’ leading scorer, had four points and missed nine of 11 shots, including his last five.

Dec 26: Pistons 90, Thunder 88

The AP reports: A week after passing up a chance at a winning shot against the Utah Jazz, Allen Iverson hit an off-balance runner with 0.2 seconds left to give the Detroit Pistons a 90-88 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday night… Iverson led the Pistons with 22 points, and Tayshaun Prince added 16 points and 11 rebounds. Kevin Durant had 26 points and eight rebounds for the Thunder. The Pistons looked sluggish for most of the first three quarters. Oklahoma City shot 39 percent through three periods, but trailed only 66-63 heading into the fourth.

Pistons want to limit McDyess minutes

The Detroit Free Press (Chris Lau) reports: Ideally, Pistons coach Michael Curry would like to play veteran forward/center Antonio McDyess in the second and fourth quarters only, and keep him in during crunch time. McDyess is the leader of the second unit. He’s valuable because he’s the primary scoring option off the bench, a strong defensive presence and a calming influence on teammates. He’s also 34, so Curry wants to limit his playing time now to preserve him for the playoffs. That hasn’t happened of late. In Tuesday night’s 104-98 win over Chicago, McDyess played 26 minutes, 34 seconds, including the final 8:53 of the third quarter.

Dec 23: Pistons 104, Bulls 98

The AP reports: The Detroit Pistons traded Chauncey Billups because they believed Rodney Stuckey was ready to become a big contributor. On this night, he showed they were right. Stuckey scored a career-high 40 points Tuesday to help the Pistons overcome an injury to Allen Iverson in a 104-98 victory over the Chicago Bulls… The Pistons are 11-11 since Iverson joined the team, but they didn’t need much from him against Chicago… Tayshaun Prince had 14 points and 11 rebounds for Detroit. Richard Hamilton scored 14, while Antonio McDyess added 10 points and 11 rebounds off the bench… Larry Hughes led the Bulls with 19 points, while Andres Nocioni and Ben Gordon had 18 each before fouling out. Derrick Rose also fouled out, with 10 points.

Pistons winless on Sundays

The Detroit News (Chris McCosky) reports: By almost every definition, the Pistons are an average team right now. They have the fifth-best record in the Eastern Conference (14-11) and have one fewer loss than the Heat. And average teams don’t often overcome 18-point deficits on the road, especially against a Hawks team that right now is younger, bigger and stronger at almost every position. “They were just too much for us,” Allen Iverson said, after the Hawks beat the Pistons, 85-78, at Philips Arena. “They were better than us tonight.” Like the Lions, the Pistons remain perfect on Sunday — perfectly winless, 0-6.

Dec 21: Hawks 85, Pistons 78

The AP reports: Mike Bibby wasn’t with the Hawks for any of those past losses to the Pistons, and the new point guard in the Atlanta lineup made an obvious difference, scoring a season-high 27 points in an 85-78 win against Detroit on Sunday… Bibby made 10 of 13 shots from the field, including each of his six 3-point shots… Joe Johnson had 19 points and seven assists. Al Horford added 11 points and 11 rebounds and Josh Smith also had 11 points for Atlanta… Rodney Stuckey and Wallace each had 20 points for Detroit. Richard Hamilton had 16 points for Detroit before he was ejected with 1:14 remaining and Atlanta leading 83-76.