What’s Going on World?

John W. Davis here.

It’s game time and I wanted to share Mr. Rasheed Wallace’s take with you.

Rasheed’s 1st Round take:  ”It’s going to be a good challenge,” he said. “They’ve got a pretty good record, a pretty good home record and I know they are feeling themselves right now. So I guess it’s going to be like David vs. Goliath.”

That’s pretty much sums it up… 

But if the Pistons are your team you are supposed to believe no matter what.  We can be down 3-0 in the series and down by 10 in the last 3 mins of game 4 and I will still believe. 

If you call yourself a Pistons fan and you are saying this playoff series is over before it even starts then YOU ARE NOT A DIE HARD FAN! 

Check out the Pistonscast Playoff Preview Show!

We have no reason to DIE OR GIVEUP YET! 

This will be a battle just like David and Goliath!  Episode 101 Baby!

Peace,

John W. Davis

www.twitter.com/johnwdavis

Richard Hamilton, Rasheed Wallace and Allen Iverson (CLICK THE LINK) participated in a full-team practice with the Pistons on Friday, which hasn’t happened in over a month.

“They were all out there and they all looked good,” coach Michael Curry said. “I am saying that everybody is going to play (Saturday in Washington) because I want to be positive. I told Abs (athletic trainer Mike Abdenour) to make sure he brings everybody’s uniform.”

Hamilton is the only player of the three that is certain to face the Wizards on Saturday night.

“Realistically, Allen probably won’t play,” Curry said. “The one I am most confident about is Rip. We will have to see how Allen and Sheed respond. Allen hasn’t done anything for 15 games, so that’s tough. Sheed and Rip both moved around real good. So hopefully with treatment and some rest they will be ready to play, at least in a limited role.”

VIA DETROIT NEWS

What’s Going on World?

John W. Davis here. Here is an experiment that I would like everyone to take.

Think back over this current 3-game winning streak and rank our Detroit Pistons starters from worst to best.

Here are the official Pistonscast Starter Rankings. (Worst to Best)

5. Rodney Stuckey
4. Tayshaun Prince
3. Rasheed Wallace
2. Antonio McDyess
1. Richard Hamilton

Luckily with Stuckey on the bottom of the totem poll we can expect alot of improvement from him.

Rank your Pistons Starters!

Peace,

John W. Davis

www.pistonscast.com

Hey Deven and John,

I read something from Keith Langlois recently on True Blue Pistons, and he had an interesting take on the Billups for Iverson deal. He said that even though Chauncey is not a Piston anymore, he’s still helping us stay elite because the shedding of his contract allows the Pistons more flexibility, not to mention that they still certainly have the talent to compete for the championship.

I thought this was both an interesting and positive take on a decision that many people have basically condemned since November. Even though the Pistons will most certainly have a worse record this year compared to last year, the future is bright. We still have Stuckey, Maxiell, Amir, Afflalo, Rip, Rasheed, Antonio, and Tay. If Rasheed and A.I. decide to leave after this season, it gives Detroit a lot of options for the future.

Which brings me to my next thought. I really hope we don’t sacrifice any of that talent to get a big name player at the trading deadline. Lots of rumors have circulated around Amar’e Stoudemire. I don’t think that would be a good deal at all. Porter is a former Pistons assistant who believes that you win with defense. Stoudemire is not a good defensive player primarily because he focuses on the other end of the floor. He mentioned earlier this year that he wanted to be the focal point on offense for the Suns.

He’s a great player and a star, but the Pistons don’t need that type of attitude on the team. The Pistons’ struggles this season are a result of the adjustment to a new style of play coupled with a lack of focus on the defensive end. Pound for pound, Detroit can compete with anybody on any given night. They just need to put four good quarters of basketball together on a consistent basis.

If they trade for Amar’e, they will only continue to be in the same spot they’re in now. We don’t need a guy who wants to be the man. The Pistons collectively as a team need to work hard for four quarters and just play basketball together. We already have enough scorers, so adding another one wouldn’t make sense.

I still have my doubts about the trade for Iverson, but at the end of the day I felt like it could give us a chance to get to the Finals again. When the offense breaks down in the playoffs because of tough defense, Iverson can create off the dribble and make something happen. Couple that with the surrounding talent Detroit has, and there’s no reason why Pistons fans should be cashing in their hopes until 2010. This team can still get it done.

Sincerely,

Mike B.

Erie, Mi

www.pistonscast.com

What’s Going Pistonscast Posse?

Oh where, Oh where is Rodney Stuckey’s aggressiveness?

That’s the question of the day.

Matter of fact, it’s the question of the week.

If we are going to beat Boston, we need the young Thunder Cat, Superstar version of Mr. Stuckey! Rodney, you have already proven that you can practically score at will. When you score 40 points in the NBA, you have ascended to the next level. However the next level means new responsibilities.

*Is Rodney Stuckey ready to dominate every game?……………………

Another question in my mind, is if the “new” 20 point and 10 rebound Rasheed Wallace for real? I sure hope so. He is playing out of position every night but he is so skilled that he gets it done when he wants to.

Its so frustrating but when Sheed is on, all of his past transgressions go out the window. When he is not playing well, they all fly right back into the window and bring our team down.  But you can’t blame Rasheed because we all knew he was this type of player before he came to the Pistons.

*Are we going to get Rasheed……………

or

Roscoe?……………………………………..

These are the question in my mind.

What are yours?

Peace,

John W. Davis

www.pistonscast.com

What’s Going on World?

John W. Davis here. Here is something to take your mind of the Pistons recent woes. It’s a Happy Sheed!

DETROIT BASKETBALL!!!!!!!!

ROSCOE OR RASHEED?

What’s Going On World?

John W. Davis here.  The 6th Most Important Piston on my countdown is Rasheed Wallace.  (Okay everyone GASP really quickly). Now please let me explain. 

See there is a guy I know named Roscoe and a guy I know named Rasheed.  They both play for our beloved Detroit Pistons.  One plays forward, the other plays center.  One has a temper, the other is focused and on a mission. 

Both are passionate but that’s never Roscoe or Rasheed’s problem.  Both are Top 20 NBA talents.  Both have the skills to dominate inside and out.  Both are 6′11 and 235 ish pounds.

ROSCOE DOES THIS:

AND ROSCOE ALSO CAN DO THIS SEEMINGLY AT WILL:

That’s why we allow it.  Basketball is nothing more than a game.  A fun childhood game that a mere 450 NBA Players get paid to do. 

What he lacks in focus and motivation he makes up for with pure unadulterated talent. 

But you know what? It takes more than talent to be a champion.  When Rasheed was going for his first NBA title you saw that nothing was going to stop him.  Not an injured foot, or being traded to a new team, nothing. NO… THING!

I know because I have saw it with my own eyes, that Rasheed can be more than Roscoe.  He can be much more than a trash talking left-handed three point shooting big man.  He can be so much more. 

RASHEED CAN DO THIS (OLD SCHOOL):

RASHEED CAN DO THIS (NEW SCHOOL):
 

I always feel like Rasheed Wallace is not giving us everything he could that’s why he is number six.  Year after year we see the same player, teasing and tantalizing us with dominant yet erratic and sporadic post play.  Yes I want a little Roscoe but I also want a lot more Rasheed! (Sheed-scoe)

 Who do you want Roscoe or Rasheed?

Peace,

John W. Davis

www.pistonscast.com

Listen up Rasheed, Ryan has spoken!

“…his winning attitude is contagious…”

Darn right it is.

I heard that ‘Sheed went straight home, still in his uniform, after the January 5th loss to the Celtics.

He cares about winning, that’s for sure.

He’s a great locker room presence, a great coach to others while on the bench, and a great helper to the younger players.

Coach Sheed/Player Sheed combined.

I want to see him REALLY give it his all this year.

I want him to break a rim, even though they’re supposed to be sturdy.

Break the ball in half with a block.

Bring your intensity to every game, every night — let’s go get ‘em this year.

I’m excited for getting the season started, can you tell?

-Ryan

www.pistonscast.com

What’s Going on World?

John W. Davis here.  Say this over at www.slamonline.com and wanted to give this a plug.  They ranked Tayshaun as the No. 45 best NBA Player and Richard Hamilton the No. 40 Top player.   Everyone favorite big man comes in at No. 34, Rasheeeeeeeeeeeeddddddddddddddddd Wallace.  We all know Rasheed has the talent of a Top 25 NBA player but the problem with Rasheed is he shows that talent in spurts.  If he was consistently at 15 and 10 guy there would be no doubt because his defense and outside shot is something special.

SLAMonline Top 50: Rasheed Wallace, no. 34

The definitive ranking of the best players in the NBA today…

Rasheed Wallace is a specific type of basketball player. He’s the type that you don’t want to see when you come into the gym. He’s never averaged a double-double, but it’s his defense, sharp shooting, speed and intangible basketball skills that separate him from many NBA big men. His scruffy beard and ratty headband could belong to any tough playground player in America. He plays in uptowns like cats in the hood, and he’s got highly disruptive skills that can be a difference maker in any game. He’s a solid defender who blocked 100 shots and hit 100 threes in each of the last three seasons.  He filled a 6-foot-11 gap in the 2003-2004 Pistons line-up, and won Detroit it’s first title since Zeke was running things. Wallace is also the type of player that probably never fully hit his stride.

Sheed has always seemed to lack a true position. Too quick to be a center and probably too big to guard most power forwards, Wallace plays an awkward-yet-effective role in the success of most every team he has been on. However, there have been times when Wallace hasn’t played to his full potential and that’s probably cost him a lot of development as a scorer and rebounder. He should probably have averaged some double-doubles and added a Defensive Player of the Year Award to his resume by now, but he hasn’t.

He averaged 13 points, nearly 8 boards and 2 blocks per game during the 2004 Playoffs. By any account, he provided the major spark that turned the Pistons from a good playoff squad into a championship team. Though Chauncey Billups was the MVP, Wallace’s efforts were accounted for and his presence is still felt.

Wallace is a guy who has the skills to make an instant impact on most teams. While his technical fouls have cost his team tons of points through the years, his winning attitude is contagious, and he knows how to play to win when the time comes. He checks into our SLAMOnline Top 50 countdown at no. 34, but he’s the type of player who had the potential to be ranked much higher.

Want more of the SLAMonline Top 50? Check out the archive.

My name is Rasheed Amir Wade! Really it is!

Whats Going on World?

John W. Davis here.   Just had to share this story with you from Pistons.com.  No this is not Rasheed’s child or Amir’s.  It just a die hard Pistons fans infant child.   Just read the story. LOL

Clifford Wade and Latanya Bussell had an agreement about the naming of their first child. If Latanya had a boy, Clifford would name him; a girl, and Latanya would have the honor. Clifford, a lifelong Detroiter who says he comes to five Pistons games a season on average, knew precisely which name he wanted to go with. And it definitely wasn’t Dwyane.

“Rasheed is my favorite [Piston] and I also wanted as the middle name somebody off the bench so I chose Amir Johnson,” said Clifford, who named his son Rasheed Amir Wade.

Coincidentally, Clifford’s son has the same initials as Rasheed Abdul Wallace - and that’s where the similarities end for now. Fortunately for Clifford and Latanya, the four-month-old hasn’t exhibited any technical foul-worthy tantrums just yet. “He’s a great baby, nice, handsome little boy,” the proud papa gushed. “He’s very good. I just love him.”

Rasheed Amir Wade was born the morning of April 27, 2008. That night, the Pistons defeated the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 4 of their first-round series. The 93-84 victory sparked a five-game winning streak and signaled the end of the Sixers’ season. Wallace had one of his best performances of the playoffs, 20 points and 10 rebounds.

“Hopefully that can rub off on my mine and we can be watching him in the future, because I do want him to be one,” Clifford said. “Not just a basketball player but a Piston.”

What Piston would you name your child after?  Haha. Leave a Comment. 

Peace,

John W. Davis

www.pistonscast.com