This is a seriously tough call. But Boris Diaw is now gone and I think the Bobcats are better for it. Although the double on Maggette would have been better. As much as I want the Pistons to get better, this team needs a player like Davis or MKG more than anyone in the league.
* Pistons playing at home * Charlotte is worst team in league (7-42) * Charlotte has lost 6 straight games * Charlotte is without its leading scorer (Magette) Add all that up and what do you get?
Pistons comeback from certain regulation loss to the Bobcats with a couple of threes by Brandon and Will I am, and a breakaway steal, bucket and FT conversion by Monroe. Lets see which team really wants to win this one...after all, I think Bobcats already have the # 1pick sewn up....
Charlotte got hosed on several calls in OT. No wonder they have only won 7 games...besides being sucky... Does anyone else find it strange that Charlotte's head coach lets his son coach a game every once in a while?
Pistons hold on in OT surviving a three point attempt by Charlotte's Reggie Williams to tie the game, after he had hit three pointer a few seconds earlier to bring the Bobcats within one. A couple of clutch FT's by the Isotayer and and sweet pass by Knight to Monroe where he cashed in on two FT's lifted the Pistons to their 19th win of the season and extended the Bobcats losing streak to 7.
You mean Charlotte right. That was best part of the game for me ...seeing the younger Silas drawing up plays and Dad just sitting their watching and not providing any input. He almost out coached Frankie..
If the Pistons came into this game thinking it'd be as easy a win as their previous two against this same team, they were sadly mistaken. At certain points, even as late as 5 minutes through the fourth quarter, this looked like a Piston loss in the making with Charlotte up by double digits for some of it, but when it came to gut check time, they passed and got the win, as the esteemed Mr. Blaha aptly pointed out. More people than I'm used to seeing at the Palace as well, especially given the opponent, and they were great. Loud and cheering for their team, especially on that great run. Will Bynum - credit where it's due, despite his lackluster start and face palm worthy turnovers during the course of the game, he came up big for the Pistons with the game-tying 3 to force overtime. Couple of clutch FTs in OT as well. Liked his aggressiveness throughout the game as well, so long as he wasn't going 1 on 4. Good game from him. Brandon started cold and stayed cold during the first half, 0-3 with a goose egg on the scoring column but with 5 assists (finished with 6) at the half. He did better scoring wise in the third quarter, scoring 4, but came up big when it counted in the fourth with two critical 3 pointers that trimmed the Bobcats' 8 point lead down to size, scoring double digits for the third straight game (12 tonight). He did commit a potentially costly turnover trying to get it to Tayshaun late (he had 4 total), but he made up for that by contesting and getting a hand on Augustin's 3 attempt on the other end. He also had a pretty pass to Greg in OT that resulted in FTs for the big man. Good defense as well, tying Greg with 2 steals. Greg played really well, and started off great, being able to get pretty much anything he wanted against Biyombo down in the post early and late. His best play came when he stole the ball, took it all the way himself, got the bucket + a foul that was part of that regulation-ending run that made Bynum's heroics possible. He also played fairly well defensively for the most part, and had a terrific Ben-like swat of a Biyombo (iirc) shot in the second half. Hit some clutch free throws at the end of OT as well, off the aforementioned pass from Brandon. Greg finished one rebound shy of another double double with 16 points and 9 boards. It's great to have a big man who can hit his freebies, especially in the clutch. No hack-a-Gregs on the horizon for Piston opponents. Jonas had a great game, he was active all throughout, and hit a nice three in the fourth when they really needed it off a nice pass from Greg. He also had a nice tip in off a Tayshaun miss in overtime, where as George and Greg noted, he out jumped and out hustled Bismack Biyombo to get his team a two-point lead. He scored 18 off the bench on 8 of 11 shooting to go with 5 boards and 3 assists. Tayshaun was good, the Pistons' leading scorer with 24. He hit on a short hook in OT in between Bynum free throws and despite getting burned off a screen from Najera, he contested well on the next Bobcat 3 try and made his man miss that time. He's been playing pretty well since Stuck and BG have gone out, despite the not-so-awesome night against Chicago. Max started really well, getting blocks and a dunk over noted shot blocker Biyombo in the first quarter. Pretty good game from him as well, though he's clearly not very comfortable stepping out to contest jumpshooting big men like Mullins. Even TT got in a few jumpers. Daye was the Aye we all know and the one I was frustrated with this game. He started off well enough, getting a nifty layup off a nice pass from Greg in the first quarter, but disappeared on offense the rest of the way. He unfortunately played badly on defense after doing well his first 5 minutes, and went on to give up and 1s on weak hits on 3 of his 4 fouls. It was a classic game for him, stepping out of bounds and hesitating on his shots again. His confidence looked shot the whole game, and with good reason. BG and Stuck are coming back soon, so he doesn't have much time left to prove himself. Big Ben played pretty well too, and scored off a smooth-looking hook shot in the first quarter. They're going to miss him next year. Wilkins was pretty bad offensively, and had a particularly ugly turnover where despite having Greg in good position right next to him, he opted to make the long pass to Tay in the corner that was picked off very easily. Walker played some minutes due to foul trouble from Daye, and didn't do much, though he helped keep that ball movement alive for the most part. Unfortunately, this was also when Charlotte started the run that eventually had them up one at the half. Side note: Rodney looked animated on the bench. He was really supportive of his teammates and was often one of the first guys with his hand up out on the floor to give the other guys high fives. Nice to see a team that seem to really get along, win or lose. This game turned out more...exciting than expected, given the very real possibility of a ping pong ball friendly but potentially embarrassing loss to the even more lowly Bobcats - but they clawed their way into a gutsy win against a desperate team looking to stop a now 7 game losing skid, despite the sometimes tired-looking legs and missed shots off the front of the rim. Best stat of the night? They had 62 points in the paint.
Good recap Alexa...I agree that the energy of Will was one the catalysts in keeping the Pistons close . With only 14 games left and 7 games out of the last playoff spot, it may be time to give Macklin some of Wilkins PT.....this guy is clueless on the offensive end...
Thanks Dre. Yeah, I can't figure why Macklin's never gotten PT, but if he does get some, it probably won't be Wilkins' PT he'd be taking, imo. Agree Wilkins' offense sucks, though Frank seems willing to overlook that so long as he plays decent defense.
Ok, I have given up on a top five pick. It hurts to say this: the Pistons get the 8th or 9th pick. This is the last year this team will be losing like this and I wanted one more piece. I like seeing Monroe and Knight getting big minutes. The Pistons kept Stuckey and Gordon on the bench and but still couldn't lose it. Ouch! I like seeing JJ play well. But, he is not better at finishing around the hoop than earlier in the season. Those scoop shots and hooks display a lack of game around the rim and lack of coaching in his regard. Until he can score around the rim (he gets there a lot which is good), his offensive impact will be limited. How about sending the 8th pick to Sacramento for Cousins? Maybe he is available? Maybe Sacramento can be enticed to go in a different direction? One more young piece...just one more...
I though that was Michael Curry out there playing under an alias. Good game. Wins like this will give the guys some confidence. It was an accomplishment playing this game with both shooting guards out. Had trouble finding some offense until later in the 4th quarter. Nice comeback win and overtime victory.
