Open Thread: Regular Season Game 68

by JakeTheSnake on Mar 23, 2008 2:40 AM EDT in Game Threads Comment 25 comments

The Essentials:
Pistons (49-19) at Wizards (35-33)
8 p.m.
Verizon Center
ESPN

This Year:
January 2: Pistons 106, Wizards 93

Notable Pistons numbers this season:
2nd in expected winning percentage (.741)
30th in pace factor (86.6 possessions per game)
6th in offensive efficiency/offensive rating
4th in defensive efficiency/defensive rating

Key Links (drop any others in the comments)
Need4Sheed
Detroit Bad Boys
Pistons Nation Blog
Full Court Press
Pistons Insider
Wizards cope with losses by their alma maters
TAI recaps the Florida sweep

Starting Lineups:
Pistons
PG: Chauncey Billups
SG: Rip Hamiltion
SF: Tayshaun Prince
PF: Antonio McDyess
C: Rasheed Wallace

Wizards
PG: Antonio Daniels
SG: DeShawn Stevenson
SF: Caron Butler
PF: Antawn Jamison
C: Brendan Haywood

Tonight's Lines
Pistons at Wizards: Pistons by 3
Over/Under on Total Scoring: 196

Let's get all the jokes out now: What's up peeps? I hope you're all having an "eggs"tra special Easter today. I know most of you are going to ham (Ham?) it up with friends and family today, so I'll try and keep this brief.

Fingers crossed: Ivan sez Gilbert hasn't ruled himself out for tonight's game, but he hasn't said that he has ruled himself in either. If you read the whole article you get the feeling that it's more likely that Gilbert will make his return during the Western road trip which starts Tuesday, but you never know. He's a master of the dramatic moment and it's hard to see him not wanting to start his comeback in D.C.

Giving props, Part 1: Truth covered it well in his recap, but I think it's definitely worth a mention. Here's what a scout had to say about Eddie Jordan's coaching to Ivan Carter:

"He's one of the best in the business at getting his guys to run and execute that system. I mean, they are very good. A lot of teams try to emulate what they do but they can't do it. I think he's doing a great job. They are one of the most organized teams in the league at both ends of the floor."

This blatant homer couldn't agree more with the scout's analysis. Sure, Eddie can mess up his rotations sometimes, but there's only a handful of coaches in the NBA that could keep this team in the thick of the playoff chase with the injuries they've dealt with this year. I'm not sure if his performance will get him any Coach of the Year votes, but he should be commended for the job he's done this season.

Giving props, Part 2: Last year we bashed Jarvis a lot around these parts, whether it was his dreadful shooting or his inability to set a pick, but with Detroit, Jarvis has managed to find his niche. He hasn't had a dramatic turnaround, but his numbers are up just about all across the board and he's been a key cog to one of the best benches in the NBA.

Empty the Bench has a great look at Jarvis' role on the Pistons.

Key to the Game: In going along with talking about how Jarvis' role on the bench, the key to the game is going to be bench play. You probably remember in the first meeting that Prada noted that the Pistons had a clear advantage in bench play:

When it was our starting five versus their starting five, I think we did fine keeping the game within reach. It was when both teams went to their benches that this game turned. Jason Maxiell, as I feared, completely dominated Andray Blatche on the glass, and Roger Mason and Nick Young took turns getting abused by Richard Hamilton

I know bench play has been a cop out key to the game most of the season, but especially against a team like Detroit, bench play is critical.

This is an open thread, so see how many player you can find in this boxscore that went on to become GMs.

GO WIZARDS!

Update [2008-3-23 20:17:37 by Pradamaster]: Arenas is out, thanks to a last-minute decision by the Wizards' doctors to not clear him to play. Frankly, I understand his anger. Why couldn't the team doctors have been more communicative with him, so that he would know for sure when he was coming back? Why did they pull the plug on him late in the process?

Frankly, why are we still waiting for his return in the first place? Can't we let him go out there and see how he feels? What's the harm in doing that?

HT: Aldo.

0 recs | Comment 25 comments

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Comments

Picks

I'm surprised the Pistons are only favored by 3, but whatevah.

Wizards
Under

Bullets Forever: Where discussion on personnel decisions turn into arguments about Lindsay Lohan.

by JakeTheSnake on Mar 23, 2008 2:45 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I don't know about GMs...

(Six? Or five, plus Isiah?) but I do know who I turned into MVP of my worn-out NBA Live '95: Sweet-shooting Brad Lohaus.

Wizards, over.

by crucifictorious on Mar 23, 2008 11:19 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

'Twas indeed six

Dumars, McHale, Ainge, Paxson, Bird, and (possibly lame duck) Isiam are all currently GMs.

Brad Lohaus is an all-consuming fire.

Bullets Forever: Where discussion on personnel decisions turn into arguments about Lindsay Lohan.

by JakeTheSnake on Mar 23, 2008 5:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Picks

Wizards, under. We always seem to give them a run for their money.

The Washington Wizards: providing career scoring nights for unknown opposing bench players since 2004.

by mamemimo on Mar 23, 2008 12:29 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Greetings

Well, I'll take the Pistons -3 :)

Happy Easter and enjoy the game!

ps- Big up on the vintage Zeke pic (right clicked, saved as). You can always tell the pics that were taken at the SilverDome.

by PistonsNation on Mar 23, 2008 1:30 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Thanks!

If you want the big version of the photo, you can find it here.

In other news, The Vault is my new best friend.

Bullets Forever: Where discussion on personnel decisions turn into arguments about Lindsay Lohan.

by JakeTheSnake on Mar 23, 2008 5:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Picks

Pistons
Under

by MikeMid on Mar 23, 2008 2:07 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Try to remain calm

Cross your fingers a little more!

Bullets Forever: Where discussion on personnel decisions turn into arguments about Lindsay Lohan.

by JakeTheSnake on Mar 23, 2008 5:29 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Picks

Wiz, under

I'm glad I changed my plans for tonight and now will be home to watch the game. I would hate to miss an Arenas sighting

by ooba on Mar 23, 2008 5:56 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

picks

pistons, under

Gil not playing and sounds pissed:
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/wizardsinsider/2008/03/arenas_out.html

by Aldo on Mar 23, 2008 7:23 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

A whole week?!

WTF? So frustrating.

by ooba on Mar 23, 2008 8:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

This whole situation is ridiculous

They need him to play, because they need evidence as to how he looks post-injury, and they also need evidence as to how he fits in with a new set of teammates.

He's been practicing for three weeks, for God's sake. What more does he need to prove.

Predicting how this squad is going to perform is like trying to solve trig problems with pen and paper. -sierradave.

by Mike Prada on Mar 23, 2008 8:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

How about that boxscore?

121-110 Celtics, yet the teams only combined for 2-7 from long distance. You'd never see that in this day.

www.truthaboutit.net

by Truth About It on Mar 23, 2008 8:22 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

No Nick Young tonigth

Too bad...I wanted to see him destroy Stuckey, the dude picked ahead of him in the draft.

Predicting how this squad is going to perform is like trying to solve trig problems with pen and paper. -sierradave.

by Mike Prada on Mar 23, 2008 8:27 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Gil back on the sidelines

I think that's a good sign.

Bullets Forever: Where discussion on personnel decisions turn into arguments about Lindsay Lohan.

by JakeTheSnake on Mar 23, 2008 8:52 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Yes!

Great, great win.

I know Jake is in charge on Mondays, but I might have to make an exception to write something about this game.

And the best part is that Gilbert came to his senses and calmed down.

Predicting how this squad is going to perform is like trying to solve trig problems with pen and paper. -sierradave.

by Mike Prada on Mar 23, 2008 10:31 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

That was pretty convincing

Detroit missed some open shots, but still

by Aldo on Mar 23, 2008 10:34 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

The ol "we weren't trying" excuse

The Pistons' comments after the game border on stupidity. Both Billups and Prince said things that were glorified ways of saying "we weren't really trying tonight." This is why they have fizzled out in the playoffs the past two years and will most likely fizzle out this year. They think they're so good that they can turn it on and off when they see fit.

But enough about the Motor City Morons. It was a great win for our guys plus Toronto lost again. The record of this starting 5 (I think it's 7,8,or 9 games over .500) is very impressive.

by jvflail on Mar 24, 2008 11:32 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

And Hubie brown...

I can't count the number of times I heard him talking about how the piston's were playing with their rotations and giving the bench some burn to be ready for the playoffs...yet rip, billups, sheed, and prince were all on the floor.

by five by five on Mar 24, 2008 12:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Even better

Was when he went on at length about how the Wizards had to keep running the offense through Jamison during one stretch. Then the cameras flash to Jamison, who's sitting on the bench at the time.

Quality commentator for ESPN there. Quality.

by sierradave on Mar 24, 2008 2:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Honestly

Hubie is my least favorite basketball announcer. His voice is grating and he makes a big deal out of things that are either patently wrong (e.g., your Jamison story) or absolutely trivial. People over at Wiz Insider seem to love him though and I've heard other people say he's good. I don't get it.

"My swag [is] phenomenal."

by Icantfeelmyface on Mar 24, 2008 3:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

FWIW

I love Hubie Brown. I think he explains things well and can point out some not so obvious observations. He also seems to know and like the Wizards more than other national announcers. I watched the first half of the game on Comcast until I realized Hubie was doing commentary on ESPN.

by Aldo on Mar 24, 2008 3:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Different tastes

To me, Hubie has always been the best in the business precisely because he pays attention to things you don't notice. People watch games differently, but at least for me, I'd like the color commentator to tell me something I'm not noticing, instead of simply reinforcing my own probably irrational thought.

I get why people don't like him, because he does talk a lot, but he definitely talks with lots of substance, instead of blowhards like Bob Wenzel (did you listen to some of the awful things he was saying during the Duke game?). And I'd rather listen to someone give me too much substance than not enough.

Frankly, he should have retired several years ago. He's old and forgetful at times, and you can tell he hasn't prepared as much as he used to. But go listen to a 90s TNT broadcast with Dick Stockton, or a CBS broadcast before the NBA on NBC era, and you'll get what I'm talking about. He never misses anything.

Just a matter of taste, but I feel Hubie's the best color commentator out there in any sport, at least during his heyday in the late 80s and the 90s.

Predicting how this squad is going to perform is like trying to solve trig problems with pen and paper. -sierradave.

by Mike Prada on Mar 24, 2008 3:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't mind him in general...

In fact I find him better than the majority of announcers aside from his tendency to ramble. He definitely brings a coach's perspective (which doug collins for example, should do but does not). I just get a little fired up when I watch the wiz on a nationally televised game because they rarely get much love from the announcers.

That Jamison story was great by the way, I noticed it as well.

by five by five on Mar 25, 2008 10:41 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Don't look now, but...

We're three games behind Cleveland for the 4 spot. This is going to be a tough west coast road swing, 2-3 would be a fine record, I'd be thrilled with 3-2, but once the Wiz get back from that, it'll be worthwhile to take a look at the remaining schedule and start speculating a bit...

I'd still prefer a matchup with Orlando than Cleveland, particularly since BronBron will basically make it his life mission to show up DeShawn. Still, if Stevenson managed to hold LeBron to ~25/game in the series and the Wiz escaped with a victory, he'd basically have just earned Bruce Bowen-sized defensive cred.

by sierradave on Mar 24, 2008 12:01 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs