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YOUNG STUCK/50 CENT JR: ST ST ST STARTER UNIT!

What’s Going on World?

John W. Davis here. It’s official, and now starting at Guard for the Detroit Pistons!!!! Rodney Stuck-ey!

Yup, thats the word from Coach Curry today.

MC (HAMMER) VIA MLIVE:

“I like the fact that Stuckey is running the point, and I get A.I. and Rip more in their natural positions of being able to just run the wings,” Curry said. “They have someone to create the offense for them. Stuck also gives us a guy that can get the ball to where we want to get it to.”

ALSO DICE IS BACK!

In other Pistons news, Antonio McDyess was not at practice today because all the paperwork for his contract had yet to be completed. However, the Pistons still expect to have everything done in time for him to play against Washington tomorrow night.

I like the move. I just wish Stuckey was starting for Iverson instead of Killa Kwam Kwam Brown. I think we need a Pistons A team with Hamilton and a Pistons B team with Iverson.

Can you imagine how sweet we would be?

Peace,

John W. Davis

www.pistonscast.com

Allen Iverson on adjusting to fewer minutes via DET NEWS:

-”I am just in a better situation now, for me,” Iverson said. “Hopefully I get the chance to compete for a championship. That’s what it’s about for me.”

-”It’s different. I am not called upon to score as I was throughout my career. It’s just a different experience for me.

-”I am used to leading the league in minutes every year. This is just something I have to adjust to.”

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What’s Going on World?

John W. Davis here. Even though the Pistons didn’t beat the 76ers, I want to be first to congratulate Mr. Allen Iverson. He played a good game. He picked his spots to score. He was on the money with his passing.

I like it! I like AI!

Now let’s get everyone on the same page, especially defensively!

Peace,

John W. Davis

www.pistonscast.com

So I hate the Boston Celtics. Yes, you all know that I’m a Pistons fan, but even if I wasn’t I would still not like the Celtics. Why, you ask? Well, I’m glad you asked as I’ve made a list.

1. They’ve beaten the Pistons 8 out of 11 games the past season and this season combined (including the Eastern Conference Finals).

2. That the Pistons have been very good the last 7 years and have just one championship to show for it while the Celtics have been good for just 1 year and have the same number of championships.

3. They act like babies and thugs. For further proof just look at the technical foul leaders this season. Boston leads the league by a wide margin. They have 39 technical fouls, which is 14 more than the next team, Phoenix. Kendrick “I’m a bigger baby than Big Baby Davis” Perkins leads the NBA with 9 techs in 19 games, the same number he had all last season. Boston has 3 players in the top 11 in technical fouls. Ouch.

4. It seems that not a day goes by without some mention of a Celtic doing something ridiculously stupid. Literally off the top of my head I can think of several: KG taunting Jose Calderon, KG “slapping” Andrew Bogut, Paul Pierce flashing gang signs at the Atlanta Hawks during the playoffs.

5. The Celtics’ arrogance. I was recently watching a game in which the Celtics were up by 20+ points. Perkins received a pass down low in the paint and he dunked it home. So naturally he celebrated and started to jaw and stuff. Thankfully he got hit with a tech. Another example is when they beat Minnesota by one point at the buzzer and KG celebrated like he won the title as he was jersey-popping, etc. KG, you barely beat a truly awful team. Wowsers.

6. The media love they get. It sickens me. The Pistons and Spurs have been dominant for the better part of this decade and yet the media has covered the Celtics more in the past year and a half.

7. The fact that they acquired KG in a “trade” with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Seriously, the T-wolves had several better deals than the one Boston offered. Just the fact that the Minnesota’s GM Kevin McHale and Boston’s GM Danny Ainge used to be Celtics teammates is enough to make me vomit.

8. The fact that the message seems to be that you have to be bad (2007 Celtics) in order to be good later (2008 Celtics).

9. That the 2007 NBA Draft Lottery essentially gave the Celtics Ray Allen and KG. If Boston would have won the lottery, or even gotten the second pick, then whey would have taken another young player (Greg Oden or Kevin Durant). But they got the 5th pick which set off a series of events that led to the 2008 NBA title.

10. That KG wasn’t suspended in the playoffs for pushing a referee during a skirmish, even though he definitely should have been.

11. That Tony “I broke my leg dunking because I’m a moron” Allen and Eddie “I can’t do anything at all (especially dribble) but shoot” House trashtalk all the time even though they both suck. Seriously, all House does is shoot and he thinks he’s a god at it. Newsflash to House: You’re open so much because opponents are guarding KG, Pierce, and Ray Allen.

12. That Rajon Rando thinks he’s sweet even though he has no jumpshot and couldn’t hit a 3 pointer to save his life.

13. That Sam Cassell and P.J. Brown jumped on the Boston bandwagon late in the season (playing only some 17 regular season games) and played less than 14 minutes per game in the playoffs, and yet they both still got their rings. And that Cassell acts like he’s been a Celtics for life because of it.

So hopefully you can see now why I hate the Celtics. If Boston wins the championship this year I will probably swear off NBA basketball for life. Okay, not really, but you get my point.

-Steve Kays

stevekays.blogspot.com

Hi everybody!

Its been a while since my first entry and a lot has happened since then. We are now 6 games into the season and our record is 4-2. We lost a tough game last night when the center on the other team, Traiskirchen Lions hit a 3 point shot at the buzzer. We were up 2 points and missed a shot and they pushed the ball down the court and he was trailing all alone and hit the 3 pointer as time expired.

It was a tough road loss but we played good and will learn from it and come back stronger next time. Overall, we have been playing really good so we are just focused on improving everyday and keeping our eyes on the ultimate prize which is winning the championship.

Personally, I am focused on just getting better everyday also. I feel like this is an extra year of preparation for me after college to get to my ultimate goal which is to play at the highest level, the NBA. I think about that every day and keep it on my mind every time I go to the gym so I can push myself to become the best player I can be.

A very interesting situation happened to me off the court also. One day a few of my teammates and I were driving on the autobahn (the highway in the States) and all the lanes were cut off and you had to drive through a back way. There were at least 50 cops back there and they were checking every car that passed through. As we were driving through, they pulled us over and started speaking to us in German. No one in the car spoke German so we were trying our best to communicate with him.

Eventually we had to pull over to the side and he took all my information because I was driving and says that I will have to pay 300 Euros because I didn’t have an Austrian license or a Vignette. A Vignette is a sticker that you must have when you drive on the autobahn. No one informed me of this before this incident.

So we called some people and had to wait about an hour until they came to help us. I ended up having to pay 120 euros for not having the sticker but got out of the rest because the cop was lying about the required Austrian license. The rule is you can be here for about 3 months before you are supposed to get an Austrian license. I knew he was lying because what if a tourist was here? He was basically saying that they wouldn’t be able to drive a car for transportation.

When I told my other teammates the story, they were all laughing and saying this is the first time they have ever heard of someone getting stopped for that. Some of them don’t have it on their cars because they said that the police never check. This whole year is a big learning experience for me so this is just another situation where I am going to learn from.

Other than that everything has been good. They recently opened a hooters and a movie theater here so me and my American teammates had our thanksgiving dinner at Hooters!!!! The theater only shows movies in English on Tuesday’s but we have yet to go catch a movie. I got to talk to my family on Thanksgiving which was great but also put back in my mind how much I miss everyone and wish I was there to laugh and joke with everyone. I hope everyone had a great holiday and I will get back to you soon!

-Marcus Stout

www.pistonscast.com

VIA DET NEWS:

“My rhythm is just not there,” said Iverson, who missed seven of nine shots and scored nine points in the Pistons’ 96-85 loss to the Trail Blazers on Sunday. “It’s kind of a different situation for me. I’m finally sitting more than I usually do. This is the most I sat down (during games) in my whole career and my rhythm isn’t there where I want it to be.”

Iverson, 6-6 as a Piston, didn’t say that as a complaint or an excuse — he offered it as a simple fact. He always has played close to 40 minutes a game. He played 32 minutes Sunday and has averaged 31 minutes over the last five. He is shooting under 40 percent as a Piston and has now had three nine-point games.

“I am positive,” Iverson said. “And I have enough confidence in my game to know it’s going to come back. It’s early struggles right now, that’s all it is.

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What’s Going on World?

John W. Davis here and I’m started to be consumed. Consumed by what you ask? Allen Iverson.

I realize that he is the most notable player on the team. I realize that he is a first ballot hall of famer. I also realize that it has only been 12 games and he is still getting adjusted. I realize a lot of things about AI and this Detroit Pistons team but I’m still frustrated.

I know this team has all of the tools. The Pistons are the only team to beat the Los Angeles Lakers this year. The Pistons beat the LA Kobe’s Lakers at the Staples Center during the midst of a west coast road trip. If that’s not a tough road victory I don’t know what is.

If the Lakers victory was Mount Everest, then both losses to the Boston Celtics were Death Valley. The Celtics just have our number right now. It’s just than plain and simple. No one can say the Pistons are better than the Celtics because they beat us soundly not once, but twice.

I believe there is hope left, plenty of hope for the Pistons. I’m not trying to be mean or satirical but it starts with PRACTICE. Iverson has to been reined into playing Piston basketball. He has to realize that he is not going to get more playing time. There is no reason for him to average over 35 minutes a game. What’s the point of more minutes for AI when Afflalo, Stuckey and even Will Bynum play much better on the ball defense. What’s the point of more minutes for AI when he is asked to be a primary distributor, someone who makes the game easier for his teammates, and he doesn’t consistently make plays for only one player on the court, himself.

Allen, this is not about you as an NBA basketball player. Your legacy has already been made 12 full seasons over. You are a great basketball player. You are not struggling because of the lack of minutes, or the system or even age. You are struggling because you haven’t given yourself unto the team. Rip plays for the team. Tayshaun goes out there and dies for his teammates. It’s the same of any player off the Pistons bench.

Allen, when you are ready to sacrifice more than a few minutes of playing time and more than a few shots for the team, you will easily become the best Piston on this team. Maybe even the best Piston ever.

Peace,

John W. Davis

www.pistonscast.com

Are we just talking about practice?

Before Allen Iverson came to town the Detroit Pistons were undefeated.  In the ten games with “The Answer” the Pistons have been 5-5.  The story told by the Pistons to explain this outcome is that the team simply hasn’t found the right “chemistry”.  Here is how Iverson described the situation.

“(Iverson) talked Saturday about the importance of finding chemistry with a new team through practice.

“I’ve been through it before,” Iverson said. “I think the toughest part of it has been our schedule. We’ve been on the road a lot. That was tough. For me, it’s just getting a chance to settle in.

“The most important thing is getting more practice time.”

In an effort to get more practice time, Michael Curry - Detroit’s head coach - called for an additional practice session on Thanksgiving. Although I am sure the team was not happy with this decision, with but one exception, everyone made it in today.  The lone exception was none other than Mr. Iverson.

Curry has said that Iverson will pay a “hefty” fine for missing practice.  But I am not sure this is necessary.  In fact, I think I agree with Iverson’s actions (not his words).  Practice is probably not going to make much difference.

Iverson vs. Billups

To see my point, consider what Iverson has done this season, as well as across his career.  For comparison purposes, let’s also consider the numbers Chauncey Billups - the primary player the Pistons gave up to acquire Iverson - has posted.

• Iverson Career (prior to this season): 0.090 WP48
• Iverson with the Nuggets in 2008-09: 0.083 WP48
• Iverson with the Pistons in 2008-09: 0.086 WP48
• Billups Career (prior to this season): 0.181 WP48
• Billups with the Pistons in 2008-09: 0.254 WP48
• Billups with the Nuggets in 2008-09: 0.225 WP48

When we look at Wins Produced per 48 minutes [WP48] for these players, we see that Billups has done more than Iverson.  And this is the picture we see if we look at the numbers across each player’s career, as well as what each player has done this year.

Given the disparity in what these players offer, it’s not surprising the Pistons have struggled somewhat with Iverson (although I think they are better than a 0.500 team).  And it’s not surprising the Nuggets have improved with Billups.

Changing the Story in Denver

Right now, though, the Pistons are in denial (at least publicly).  As for the Nuggets, the denial has apparently ended.

The following article from the Denver Post — Point guard praise: Billups over A.I. - indicates that George Karl is no longer one of Iverson’s biggest fans:

Unquestionably, the Allen Iverson experiment produced some scintillating moments for the Nuggets and their fans. But the more coach George Karl watches Chauncey Billups run his offense - and watches Iverson lead the Pistons - it has become clearer that Iverson, well, wasn’t the answer.

“There are less bad plays, more solid plays,” Karl said. “I think the wasteful, cheap possessions that we used to have 10 to 15 a game, they don’t exist very much anymore.”

What always irked Karl was Iverson’s inability to run the offense like a general. Arguably, Iverson shot too much, and like Karl said, Denver could outscore about half the teams in the NBA. But when it came to beating the elite teams, the Nuggets had too many questions with “The Answer” - about his shot selection, his dedication to defense and his ability/inability to trust his teammates.

“We have contested-shot charts, bad-shot charts and cheap defensive possessions,” Karl said. “I would say that when A.I. was here, we had most games in the teens of contested, tough shots, sometimes in the 20s. And I don’t think we’ve had a double-digit one since (Billups has) been here.

“I don’t think there’s any question coaching a team for many minutes, without a passing and point guard mentality, is frustrating for a coach. Sometimes I saw something, but I couldn’t get it done on the court because I didn’t have a playmaker out there.”

But with Detroit, Karl thinks Iverson can thrive, because he is surrounded by more veteran playmakers and will trust his teammates, as opposed to forcing a shot he thought he had a better chance of making.

“A.I., at times, had trouble trusting the guy he’s throwing it to,” Karl said.

It’s important to note that Iverson had practice problems in Philadelphia with three different head coaches (Larry Brown, Chris Ford, and Maurice Cheeks). And he now has a problem with Curry.  But he never had a problem with Karl (at least none that we have heard about).  Despite consistently practicing with the Nuggets, though, Iverson only posted a 0.134 WP48 last season.  This is above average, but less than what Billups offered in even his worst season in Detroit.

Now it’s certainly possible that practice makes perfect.  But it seems unlikely, at this point in Iverson’s career, practice is going to transform “the Answer” into a great player.  So maybe the Pistons shouldn’t be too upset when Iverson skips practice.  Maybe he’s just telling Curry — despite what Iverson says publicly — that practice really isn’t going to help.  And after ”the Answer” departs Detroit, I suspect Curry will follow Karl’s lead and tell us that he agrees.

-Prof. David Berri

dberri.wordpress.com

-If no one is around and a tree falls in the forest, does it make a sound? Ask Yogi Bear…

-What does it sound like when Doves cry? Ask Prince…

*Does an apology without an explanation really count?  Ask Joe D, Coach Curry and the Detroit Pistons…

These are the many questions of life…

Seriously, Allen you could have just called. 

Like Mike Gundy IMA MAN, I’M 40! Aren’t you 33?  Thats pretty close to the Mike Gundy man age.

Anyway here’s what Allen had to say to ESPN:

“First of all, I have no excuses. I apologize to my teammates, first and foremost, the coaching staff, the organization and definitely our fans,” Iverson said after the morning shootaround. “It’s something that shouldn’t have happened and it won’t happen again.

“It was a personal matter, but I just handled it the wrong way,” Iverson continued. “I didn’t call and let them know what was going on.”

ARE YOU ACCEPTING AI’S APOLOGY?

Peace,

Pistonscast

www.pistonscast.com

First of all, I must give thanks to one of my favorite listeners, Lil’ Richard.  Thanks for the link to this big LACK OF THANKS.

There is so many places I can take this.  I can joke about the Old Practice Rant from Philly.  I can make reference to the new practice joke from AI’s first press conference as a Piston.  I can even quote my own Practice Pistonscast rant.

I wont though, because this is honestly no joking matter.  All he had to do was go to shoot around and maybe run some plays.  Regardless of how hard practice was going to be, he should have been there.

1.  It was a 10 am practice that was only going to last one freaking hour, giving him all of the rest of the day to do whatever like travel, watch football, sleep, be merry.

2.  Again it was only 1 hour.  I can do almost anything in this world I dont want to do for an hour.

3.  It’s your job.  Having an hour practice is better than those 3 hour Mike Curry specials.

4. The team needs practice because you guys are still nowhere close to playing as a cohesive unit.

Come on Mr. Iverson, you told all the Detroit Pistons fans that you wanted to win a championship.  You told Joe D, Michael Curry and your teammates the same thing.  Most importantly you supposedly told yourself that.

Be true to thine own self Allen.

Peace,

John W. Davis

www.pistonscast.com

The Pistons are taking on the New York 2010 Free Agent Class Knicks tonight at the Palace of Auburn Hills.  A nice Pre Turkey day game that should be much better than the Detroit Lions game this week…

Anyway, I hope all the Piston players get out there and play some tough defense to burn off some extra calories for tomorrow’s Thanksgiving feast.

Coming into today, the Pistons are 8-5 and the Knicks are 7-7.  These are not Marbury’s Knicks anymore, they can actually score and most nights put up and very good fight regardless of their opponent.  If the Pistons don’t play defense this might be a run&gun shootout well above the 110 point mark for both teams.

Good News for all Amir Johnson fans from the True Blue Pistons blog:  AMIR MIGHT START! YAH!  About freaking time.  Seriously though,  Amir can only start against teams without a true center.  I.E. The Knicks with David Lee at center and Wilson “Benton Harbor, Mi” Chandler at power forward.  Putting Amir up against Shaq, Big Z or even guys like big baby Andrew Bynum is just asking for trouble.  I dont think he should start against true centers but he should still be used of the bench alot more than he is being used recently.

Every game it shouldn’t be that hard to find 15 solid minutes for Amir.

WHAT’S YOUR PREDICTION FOR THE FINAL SCORE?

Peace,

Pistonscast

www.pistonscast.com

According to his agent, McDyess will be back this December. (PRAISE THE LORD!)  This is an addition the Pistons have admitted they sorely need.  Mike Curry has said the bench needs a scoring big man to get some consistent post offense going.

VIA ESPN:

“It was a very difficult decision for him. He was weighing good offers financially, along with other variables he thought were important,” agent Andy Miller told ESPN.com. “But going into the year he had a team goal set, and to not finish up with it, he didn’t want to do that. He wants to finish the year, finish what he started in Detroit, then reevaluate after the season is over.”

HOW HAPPY ARE YOU THAT MCDYESS WILL BE BACK?