The AP reports: Rasheed Wallace scored 12 points to lead the Detroit Pistons to a 73-62 preseason victory over the Washington Wizards on Friday night… Chauncey Billups had 10 points, Kwame Brown added nine and Richard Hamilton had eight for Detroit (3-0, which is undefeated under new coach Michael Curry. Caron Butler, Etan Thomas, Dominic McGuire and JaVale McGee all had eight points for the Wizards (1-2), who missed 30 of 40 shot in the second half.
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Oct 8: Pistons 85, Bucks 71
The AP reports: Arron Afflalo said: “I’m going to find ways to take advantage of what I can do offensively.” He did just that Wednesday, leading the Pistons with 15 points on 6-of-7 shooting from the floor and connected on all three of his 3-point attempts… The Bucks were missing several key players, including first-round pick Joe Alexander (abdominal strain), Richard Jefferson (quad), Luke Ridnour (knee) and Charlie Bell (Achilles tendinitis). Andrew Bogut played after missing Milwaukee’s first preseason game because of a migraine, but finished with just seven points… Charlie Villanueva had 20 points for Milwaukee and Malik Allen added 18.
Oct 5: Pistons 95, Heat 91 OT
The AP reports: Michael Beasley scored 16 points in his preseason debut, 13 in the third quarter, but Rodney Stuckey scored a game-high 23 for Detroit and the Pistons scored the first six points of overtime on the way to beating the Heat 95-91 in the exhibition opener for both clubs. Jason Maxiell finished with 13 points for Detroit, including the first two baskets of overtime. Richard Hamilton added 12, even though he—like virtually most of the projected regulars for both teams—played sparingly… Mark Blount scored 12 points, while Daequan Cook, David Padgett and Olympic gold medalist Dwyane Wade each added 11 for Miami… The Heat placed Udonis Haslem (foot), Shaun Livingston (knee), Dorell Wright (knee) and James Jones (wrist) on the game’s inactive list. Detroit didn’t have any inactives.
Pistons PF starter is Amir Johnson
The Detroit News (Chris McCosky) reports: Calling him a “welcome addition,” coach Michael Curry made official Saturday what he’s long been hinting at — Amir Johnson, as of now, is the Pistons’ starting power forward. “Amir does things without having to have the ball,” Curry said. “He’s able to pick up baskets through his activity, by running the floor and playing off the other four guys. He does all the intangible things, and through that he’s able to create offensive opportunities for himself.” How long Johnson holds onto the spot is completely up to him.
Michael Curry bleeds Pistons colors
The Detroit Free Press (Drew Sharp) reports: The Pistons always have been Michael Curry’s second family. It’s basically why he replaced Flip Saunders as head coach. It bothered owner Bill Davidson that Saunders didn’t move his family to Detroit when he succeeded Larry Brown three years ago. Davidson made a point of reminding everybody that Curry doesn’t just work in the area. He lives here. He’s part of the community. He travels with Michigan State’s football team as often as possible to follow his son Deon, a senior wide receiver. That heightened sense of family might not translate into more playoff victories, but it definitely has helped Curry persevere.
Flip Saunders had lost Pistons veteran respect
The Detroit News reports: Rasheed Wallace said that he didn’t really have a disconnect with former coach Flip Saunders, though it was clear that Saunders had lost the respect of the older players. “It was just with us as vets and he really didn’t want to listen to us,” Wallace said. “That’s what really hurt him.” Speaking on radio station WDFN, Wallace used this analogy: “If you mess up a guy’s desk and throw coffee on it every day and he doesn’t do anything to stop you, are you going to respect him?” Wallace, though, didn’t blame Saunders for the team’s failures against the Celtics. “Basically, it was just not our time,” he said. “That’s just the way the ball bounces sometimes. I think we were all positive and thought that we would beat Boston. But we can’t cry over spilled milk now. We just have to go out and prove to all the naysayers that are saying we’re too old and our window is closed and all this and that — we have to prove them wrong.”
Rasheed Wallace now jersey no.30
Michigan Live (A. Sherrod Blakely) reports: Rasheed Wallace is back to wearing jersey No. 30. He gave no particular reason for the change, other than to say that he always planned to return back to wearing the number at some point. A couple of media folks pointed out how Wallace looked to be in great shape. Flashback to the last couple of training camps, and you’ll see that Wallace usually comes to camp in pretty good shape. But maintaining it throughout the course of a season, now that’s another story.
InsideHoops.com editor says: Both teams played hard.
Pistons give Alex Acker a guaranteed contract
Michigan Live (A. Sherrod Blakely) reports: The announced signing of Alex Acker was interesting. The fact that Detroit signed the 6-foot-5 combo guard isn’t all that unexpected. This guy has been on the cusp of sticking with the team for years. But it is a bit surprising that they guaranteed his contract for the season considering most of his time will likely be spent on the inactive list. Usually teams keep that 15th spot open in case a talented player is unexpectedly waived, or as a cushion to absorb an extra body in a possible trade.
A look at Rodney Stuckey
The Detroit Free Press (Vince Ellis) reports: Detroit Pistons guard Rodney Stuckey missed the first 25 games of his rookie season after suffering a broken left hand in the final exhibition game, but averaged 7.6 points and 2.8 assists during the regular season. He really flashed his potential as a big 6-foot-5 guard in the playoffs. In Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Orlando Magic, he replaced an injured Chauncey Billups and led a Pistons’ surge with 19 points, although the team dropped the game. He followed with three double-figure scoring efforts out of six games in the Eastern Conference finals against the eventual NBA champion Boston Celtics. He upped his scoring average to 8.2 points per game during the playoffs. His play impressed so much that he was picked to scrimmage against the Olympic team in Las Vegas just before the team departed for its date with a gold medal in Beijing.
Quick East thoughts
The season is approaching, folks. Training camps open in around one week (I’m in Prague right now, haven’t looked at a calendar in a while. Tuesday I’m off to hang out in Berlin for a week, then about 8 days in Amsterdam. I’ll be back in New York City right around the start of preseason.)
In the east, the Celtics remain the best of the conference, though I wonder if Ray Allen will drop off a bit this season. They also need to improve their bench.
The Pistons bring back last year’s team, with Rasheed Wallace and Chauncey Billups a year older.
The Magic still need to improve their backcourt.
The Cavaliers add scoring punch with the addition of point guard Mo Williams, but it’s still the LeBron James show with a supporting cast that will have to work very hard to carry their weight.
The Wizards must once again play without Gilbert Arenas for a while, though even with him they’re a lower-level playoff team.
The Raptors have to hope Jermaine O’Neal regains former All-Star form; it’ll be tough.
The 76ers added a star by signing power forward Elton Brand, and that should definitely raise them in conference standings.
The Hawks aren’t locks to return to the playoffs, but it’s good they kept Josh Smith.
The Bucks improved on paper, adding a pass-first point guard in Luke Ridnour, but more importantly, a legit good forward in SF Richard Jefferson.
The Knicks have the same talented yet flawed roster, but a new coach. Can Mike D’Antoni work miracles?
The Nets are rebuilding and aside from Vince Carter and young Devin Harris, everyone on the team who matters is young and in development.
The Bulls have the same team as the last few seasons, though Ben Gordon remains unsigned. Will they play like the good Bulls from two years ago, or the disappointing ones from last season? Flip a coin, because they’re capable of going either way.
The Bobcats have nice swingmen in Jason Richardson and Gerald Wallace, plus Emeka Okafor, but everyone else is young and in development.
The Heat could make a leap in the standings now that Dwyane Wade is healthy, plus Shawn Marion needs a new contract, and Michael Beasley doesn’t like losing. The supporting cast is still extremely weak, though.
The Pacers always do a bit better than expected. The bad news is, almost nothing is ever expected. Danny Granger, Mike Dunleavey and TJ Ford are very nice players, though. They may surprise a little, but not a lot.
I’ll share quick West thoughts tomorrow. Right now I’m off to hike up to the Prague castle. I’ll be right here in about an hour.
–Jeff