[FadedMario]

The return of - should be a fun game to watch. Hopefully this game draws a decent crowd.

[Kstat]

Rip has a sore groin. He didnt play last game and I'm not sure he'll play this one.

[FadedMario]

Originally Posted by Kstat

Rip has a sore groin. He didnt play last game and I'm not sure he'll play this one.

Probably a good thing for us. I'd like to beat the Bulls. That would be 3 wins in a row against playoff-caliber teams.

[Stefan S]

We'll see how we'll do against their D. (~shivering~~)

By the way, Mr. FadedMario, you have a nice (winning-)game thread starting streak going on.
I hope we'll keep it on!

[mn3]

Originally Posted by Stefan S

We'll see how we'll do against their D. (~shivering~~)

Our offense is hardly even installed, let alone practiced. This will be a great opportunity to learn some tough lessons. Knight will have his first exposure to a great NBA defense. I'm not expected a close game, although I hope we fight hard.

[Billl]

I'm not expecting a win here. The Bulls play hard and have talent. We're just learning to play hard.

[Kstat]

We should have an advantage in the backcourt, with both hamilton and CJ watson nursing injuries.

Chicago plays atlanta tonight, which should give better insight on the status of both guys. Chicago's guard production opposite Rose falls off a cliff after that.

[Stefan S]

By the way, Atlanta plays very well at the beginning of the season.
yesterday, playing lots of zones, they beat Miami (their first loss).

[Kstat]

That game was as much about Atlanta playing well as it was about Miami's small-ball 2.0 approach getting steamrolled.

When the Atlanta Hawks look like the bully on the floor, you are officially too small. Bosh and Haslem are basically a red carpet to the rim.

[Stefan S]

Originally Posted by Kstat

That game was as much about Atlanta playing well as it was about Miami's small-ball 2.0 approach getting steamrolled.

When the Atlanta Hawks look like the bully on the floor, you are officially too small. Bosh and Haslem are basically a red carpet to the rim.

So, who is their designated C of the future?
Or they do not have him yet?

The Bulls seem to me much better designed team.
I hope they will have everyone healthy during playoffs.

[Kstat]

Miami is the same as last year. No PG and no C.

The difference is this year, they aren't even trying to have one. Joel Anthony starts but plays all of 20 minutes a game. Norris cole and Chalmers both play a quarter or two, but they generally play off the ball now.

Miami's lineup for most of the game is Bosh, Haslem, James, Wade and Chalmers, which is easily the most athletic unit in the league, but Dwyane Wade is the only shot-blocker on the floor.

Miami is in the bottom half of the NBA in defensive %FG this year. Last year they were #2 behind Chicago. Yes. they score a ton of points, but they also lose focus on the defensive end of the floor with their new approach.

[FadedMario]

Originally Posted by Stefan S

We'll see how we'll do against their D. (~shivering~~)

By the way, Mr. FadedMario, you have a nice (winning-)game thread starting streak going on.
I hope we'll keep it on!

That's exactly why I made this thread bro!

[Stefan S]

I hear you (have not seen much of Miami).

Of course, they do not need a traditional PG
for the offense will go through Wade anyway.
But they definitely need an inside presence and size
otherwise, it is a recipe for a playoff disaster.

[FadedMario]

Charlie Villanueva is another guy currently out of the Pistons rotation. Villanueva was suspended for the first three games of the season, but did not play in Saturday’s win over Indiana, the first game he was eligible.

“It’s unfortunate for Charlie, he’s missed some time,” Frank said. “I think Charlie is another guy who will help us win games. Right now I’m not going to get into every individual player, but we’ll continue to go in the direction that we have. We’ll have an open mind. Practice and preparation and all the things that go into deciding playing time will always be a factor.”

Villanueva has been battling a minor foot injury, but Frank said Villanueva is healthy enough to play.

“He’s right about there,” Frank said. “It’s between his foot and ... I think compensation from other parts of his body. But, yeah, he’s health enough to play.”

........

[FadedMario]

AUBURN HILLS — Pistons coach Lawrence Frank has chose to go with a three-guard lineup of Rodney Stuckey, Ben Gordon and Brandon Knight as of late. That has left Will Bynum out of the rotation.

Other than the final three minutes in the loss at Boston on Dec. 30, Bynum has not played in the Pistons last three games.

“It’s hard,” Frank said. “Will’s a very, very good player. He’s obviously a guy we see as a game changer, especially on the offensive end. Someone who ... is one of our better pick-and-roll players. But it’s hard to play three point guards, especially cause outside of Rodney our guards are small.

“Will’s definitely going to have his day in the sun. He’s going to help us win games, but right now this is where we’re at.

“Especially with a new coach and a new system the one thing I’ve said to the group and I also say to myself is, ‘Flexibility.’ We don’t have all the answers right now. Will we feel is part of the solution. We’ll just see how it all fits.”

Bynum played nearly 13 minutes in the season opener, finishing with six points on 1 for 5 shooting, three assists, three rebounds and two turnovers. Bynum did not play in the home opener against Cleveland, played the final 3:25 at Boston on Dec. 30 and did not play in the Pistons win over Indiana on New Year's Eve.

Even though Bynum hasn’t been playing, Frank still feels he can be a part of the team's success.

“Even when you’re not playing you can contribute and part of that is being a good teammate, being involved, especially as a point guard you should really be engaged in the game,” Frank said. “Everyone on this level can play. A lot of it is about opportunity and combinations on the floor. What may be your lineup today could be different a week from now, could be different a month from now. Really the guys play determines how much they do or do not play.

“(With) Will, it’s not a lack of confidence, a lack of faith, a lack of belief or lack of ability. It’s just we have small guards and we’re not a good rebounding team. Defensive rebounding takes precedent and we’ll go from there. But Will will have his day.”

..............

[Kstat]

Bynum and CV31 on the bench make for a better team. It isn't rocket science.

Of course Frank will try to sugar-coat it, but the fact is we play actual defense now for the first time in years, and a major reason is those two guys are not playing anymore.

Austin Daye needs to sit next to them for a while and decide if that's where he wants to end up as well.

[FadedMario]

AUBURN HILLS – The Detroit Pistons' rotation will remain fluid because the pitiless National Basketball Association schedule will dictate it. Nevertheless, the pecking order is becoming clearer by the game as the Pistons and head coach Lawrence Frank get to know each other, and the coach's surname serves just as well as an adjective to describe his approach.
Four Pistons saw little or no playing time in Monday's win over the Orlando Magic, and their limited roles may be somewhat clearer entering Wednesday's 7:30 game against another Eastern Conference power, the Chicago Bulls, led by last year's Most Valuable Player Derrick Rose.
Frank doesn't want players like point guard Will Bynum, and big men Charlie Villanueva, Austin Daye and Vernon Macklin, becoming discouraged.
“In a season like this, with the number of games coming, all those guys will contribute,” Frank said after today's practice.
But before Monday's win, Frank said it would be difficult to play three point guards, and with Rodney Stuckey and Brandon Knight ahead of him, Bynum could find playing time difficult to get.
Villanueva and Daye apparently haven't advanced as quickly as other teammates in the defense-first principles Frank espoused in the condensed training camp. Villaneuva's first appearance of the season, against Orlando, lasted the final 38 seconds of the first half after Jason Maxiell picked up his fourth foul. Daye played the last 11 of those seconds to protect Ben Wallace.
Frank said defining players' roles isn't for “public consumption,” but added that it's just as important to be forthright about them.
That means in an open team setting, not in private, Frank said, to “cut down on the murmuring and whispering,” adding that he doesn't conduct many closed-door meetings.
“I think it's important that guys don't just know their role, they know each other's role,” he said. “I think you just address it. When you have a family, when you have a brotherhood, you handle things in the circle. I think it's just being honest, good and bad, put yourself out there.”
Swingman Damien Wilkins is another veteran who could have difficulty squeezing out minutes, even though Frank likes his toughness and grit.
“We have good players at every spot,” Frank said. “Not everyone can play.”
The Pistons aren't likely to expand their rotation against the Bulls, who Frank called “as good as anyone in the NBA.”
“They're a dominant defensive team with an MVP player, with great depth, extremely well-coached, but it's an opportunity for us,” he said. “We have to take it as a big-time challenge. Nothing's supposed to be easy and it won't be. But we have to just keep on building and getting better.”
Frank said honesty is key with those players who aren't advancing as quickly.
“The smartest guys I know are NBA players,” he said. “You're not fooling them. So whether it's something they did wrong, or something they did right, if it's not pointed out, they know. And they know that you're avoiding it.”

[FadedMario]

[hack]

Maybe it's a youth-sized clipon he's wearing?

[Dave Bing]

It’s just we have small guards and we’re not a good rebounding team. Defensive rebounding takes precedent and we’ll go from there.”

Finally! Fantastic.

[Kstat]

It's crazy how 3 years of John Kuester and Michael Curry can help you appreciate the little things...like common sense.

[alias gym rat]

Hey FadedMario, where do you get all your info clips/quotes from? Source?

[Mel Kiper Jr]

Chicago beat Atlanta tonight 76-74.

[papalawrence]

Originally Posted by Mel Kiper Jr

Chicago beat Atlanta tonight 76-74.

Yep - and they were down 14 to start the 4th. The Bulls are very very good. I hope they can take down the Heat.

[Money23]

I don't know if we can win this game, but I expect competition. VERY encouraged by a few fellas in that Magic game, particularly BG (who seems to have taken a course in passing over the lockout) and Jerebko. Looks like Big Ben still has some gas in the tank, as well. Rose should have a huge game, though...much harder to gang defend a perimeter slasher than a big relying on others in the post.

[Kstat]

Rip another DNP. You know if he can move at all, he'll be out there tonight.

[FadedMario]

Originally Posted by alias gym rat

Hey FadedMario, where do you get all your info clips/quotes from? Source?

I run a sports card business - so I frequently check the wiretaps and latest articles around the web (so I know when to buy/sell). Been doing it for years - so I know where to look. Twitter believe it or not is good for latest news too if you follow the right people. Sorry if I didn't post any links - sometimes I'm in a hurry and forget - I'll make sure I do it in the future.

[TJPiston]

I hope Rip gets a nice little ovation today.

He was a major part of a very successful period in the Piston history.

Boos would be very disappointing.

[Kstat]

Boos would be appropriate. I'll cheer for him when they retire his jersey.

For now, he's a big part of the reason we're in this mess. He could have been more professional and he chose not to be.

[FadedMario]

Rip's comment tonight from the Tribune -

On the bright side, the Tribune is also reporting that Richard Hamilton could play Wednesday when the Bulls visit Detroit. It won't be easy though. Hamilton told the Tribune, "I just don't know how I'm going to act. When I get to the arena, I'm sure it will be emotional." CSN

[FadedMario]

After hearing that - I hope he's cheered. His attitude went south when Dumars resigned him than a week later traded Chauncey. Could he have been more professional? Sure. But he left us decent with his buyout and I see no reason for him to be booed.

[Kstat]

he left us with a decent buyout... 2+ years after he checked out on us. And he got compensated by Chicago for every penny he gave back to us when he left.

He was making $10+ million a year and he stooped playing hard. He started getting himself ejected from games on purpose, to boot. That's reason enough for me.

[Billl]

I predict silence when rip is introduced. Not because the fans don't want to cheer from him, but there is only so much noise those 5 remaining fans can make. The palace has been a ghost town.

[hack]

LOL, point taken.

[The King]

How's the card business? I was a big collector as a kid. I sold all my cards right before I went to college. I made about $5 K. I got rid of a lot of jersey/auto cards. This would have been around 2000/2001. I thought the market was so flooded with different brands that they just lost all the appeal.

I'm curious how the market is today.

[The King]

I always get the urge to grab a Beckett at the store. Shit, I haven't looked at one in 10 years. It would be interesting to see how the prices changed over the years.

[diecast75]

i thought the sports card market went right into the shitter.

[papalawrence]

I still have a ton of cards from ~ '71-87. Lost interest when it went bust in '87. Those late 80's cards are basically worthless. My prize cards are a fair condition t206 Cobb, '54 Topps Kaline, '53 Satchel Paige and a couple 1910 Jack Johnson boxing cards. I have many others including Ted Williams ('54), Gehringer and Greenberg Playballs, Cochrane Goudey......ah, too many to mention.

[Stefan S]

Link: Detroit Pistons vs Chicago Bulls Live Stream | Basketball

[Stefan S]

Link with the sound: Detroit Pistons vs Chicago Bulls Live Stream Online (the Bulls' feed)

[Whiteman]

Hey I love the effort on defense. Tay you gotta make your lay ups bro.

[Hobbs]

The defense has been good, but with how bad our offense has been there will inevitably be a few easy buckets for the other team.

[Stefan S]

yes, exactly.

they dominate us on the boards (16-13) and pass better (6-2).

[tin mad dog]

Another sparse crowd at the Palace. I thought there might be some people that would've wanted to see D. Rose and Rip's (expected) return.

[Whiteman]

LOL go Wilkins!

[Stefan S]

By the way, Rip got some love from the crowd and from Kelser and Blaha.

[Stefan S]

Originally Posted by Whiteman

LOL go Wilkins!

He has a nice game on both ends.

[Stefan S]

JJ too small to guard Noah (hence a foul).

[tin mad dog]

The Chicago broadcasters are laughing at the Chilla's D.

[Stefan S]

Originally Posted by tin mad dog

The Chicago broadcasters are laughing at the Chilla's D.

It is laughable
and Will pretty much useless, too.

By the way, I switched back to Kelser/Blaha (the first link above).