Posts tagged ‘Heat’

Hello Pistonscast,

I was at the Palace last Wednesday to see the Pistons beat the Heat, and, although it’s a little late, here is my game report.

I arrived at the Palace early, as one of the winners from Need4Sheed’s Suite contest. It was an incredible experience, and I am so very thankful for it.

Anyhow, with a good view of the whole floor, I watched the Pistons get off to a horrid start in the first quarter. A 9-0 run to start the game and I’m sure Pistons fans were thinking, “Huh? This looks too familiar.” But that familiarity is often with the Pistons finishing games, not starting them. That seems to be going on in Pistons games nowadays - they get off to a bad start and win, but when they get off to a good start, they lose. Maybe we should let the other team go on a run in the first, and we’ll play well the rest of the way.

I must say, Antonio McDyess plays with heart; a lot of heart. He plays with more heart and determination than most players I’ve seen on the court. He gives his all every time he plays the game; and on top of that, he’s a gentleman, too. Being courtside for a little bit while he was shooting jumpers a long while before tipoff, I got to see him do nothing but smile. He had a smaller, much skinnier guy (looked to be a teenager) guarding him as he was warming up, and ‘Dyess was cracking up — I assume he was joking with both the coaches on the side and the person guarding him.

In the game, ‘Dyess was active on the glass - 17 boards. He’s been rebounds in the teens a lot lately. Did I mention he plays with a lot of heart?

I was wondering why Walter Sharpe was dressed for the game, but a day or so later, I found out that it was because Walter Herrmann’s wife gave birth, and therefore, he did not attend. I’m glad he got to go tend to something important, because Curry was going to play small ball when Tayshaun was off the floor anyhow.

I really can’t stand the fact that a shooting guard comes in for a small forward, and that’s what kept happening in this game. The Pistons love to have the only small forward be Tayshaun, and it doesn’t make sense. We need size, not five Will Bynums on the floor (no offense to Will Bynum, who his an outstanding point guard).

On the note of Will Bynum, he was nowhere to be found again. Curry keeps going with Iverson at the point to rest Stuckey. This, after Curry said he wanted Bynum starting the second quarter with Rip. Aye carumba, make a decision and stick to it, Coach. I don’t want to keep hearing a new line every day. If we heard him say “I’m going to make Kwame Brown the point guard,” as ridiculous as it sounds, you can’t trust him — he doesn’t stick to his lineup plans.

After a so-so first half, with the Pistons holding a small lead, the third quarter started great, and the Palace crowd was into it (not a sellout crowd, though — the 259 game sellout streak ended that night). The Pistons had a 13 point lead at one point, and it seemed as though we could build on that lead. But remember, these are the 2009 Pistons. The Heat shaved off a large portion of that lead to end the period, and 4th, it ended up being a nailbiter. Rip missed two free throws that could’ve put the game out of reach, I believe another Piston missed a free throw, also. The game ended with Dwayne Wade streaking down the floor to lob up a potential game-tying three that, thankfully, bounced off the rim. Pistons win, 93-90.

During the game, I noticed Tayshaun wanted more touches. He had his hands up, wide open on the floor, and when no one passed him the ball and the play either ended up becoming a turnover or a missed shot, he put his hands up as though he was thinking, “What are you guys doing?” I was glad he got some nice threes in. I was especially proud of the one where a Piston was blocked at the rim and the ball kicked out to Tay for the three.

As of today, the Pistons have lost two games in a row heading to the All-Star break.

If we are to have hope in 2009, the players need to find their passion; it seems to have left the building this year.

Thanks,

Ryan

www.pistonscast.com