70 still possible?

[emveepee]

After losing to the injury plagued Pacers , I wonder if the 70 win talk will simmer out with regard to the pistons. :angel

[timvp]

Stephen Jackson plays big in big situations.

Nice.

:smokin

[Kori Ellis]

Now the Pistons have only 3 fewer losses than the Spurs.

[emveepee]

ex -spur sjax provided the dagger

[Brutalis]

They can forget about 70.

[Obstructed_View]

Does that 2.5 game lead look insurmountable now?

[ducks]

Stephen Jackson plays big in big situations.

Nice.

:smokin

NICE BAD PASS WITH 53 SECONDS LEFT TO
SEE NBA FORUM

[ducks]

Jackson Had The Best Game For The Pacers And Only 2 Turnovers Though

[Brutalis]

If the Mavs lost today would have been a good day.

Pistons losing to a pathetic injury plagued Indiana team.. check
Razorbacks slaughter the chick-fil-a's of South Carolina.. check
Spurs win.... off night..
Leave with more money you came with at the Oaklawn horsetrack.. check
Mavs losing.... ...please..

[Spurologist]

Now the Pistons have only 3 fewer losses than the Spurs.

Spurs are slowly creeping behind them. The 70 talk is close to dead. Pistons would have get on long winning streak. You can't take nights off if you expect to win 70 games. Billups was only 2-8 w/ 10 pts tonight

[Kori Ellis]

The Pacers shot poorly but won it on the glass. O Boards can kill -- they got off 20+ more shot attempts.

[Brutalis]

Spurs are slowly creeping behind them. The 70 talk is close to dead. Pistons would have get on long winning streak. You can't take nights off if you expect to win 70 games. Billups was only 2-8 w/ 10 pts tonight
MVP! MVP!

:lmao

[ducks]

If the Mavs lost today would have been a good day.

Pistons losing to a pathetic injury plagued Indiana team.. check
Razorbacks slaughter the chick-fil-a's of South Carolina.. check
Spurs win.... off night..
Leave with more money you came with at the Oaklawn horsetrack.. check
Mavs losing.... ...please..

HEAT LOST
:elephant :elephant :elephant

CAVS LOST :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol

[emveepee]

pistons' starters are getting fatigued. if they continue to play heavy minutes after the all-star break........
















































...........they'll BREAK!!!!

[picnroll]

Didn't see the game but Pistons got beat up on the boards apparently 59 to 44 by Foster (12) and Pollard (14 wtf).

[boutons_]

Pistons now only -3 L, dangling the grapes closer to the coyote. :)

Big pressure on the Spurs not to screw up and return the favor to Pistons.

Spurs squeezed behind between the Mavs and the Pistons.

[Brutalis]

You know the Mavs. Due for a mid-season reality check.

[Spurologist]

Didn't see the game but Pistons got beat up on the boards apparently 59 to 44 by Foster (12) and Pollard (14 wtf).

Hard to figure Detroit being out-worked on the glass. Guess they were thinking ahead to the all star break.

[ducks]

4 Game In 5 Nights Piston Poster Posted In Nba Forum

[boutons_]

"Hard to figure Detroit being out-worked on the glass"

Utah demolished Pistons twice on the boards to sweep the series.
So that makes 3 Pistons losses on the boards.
Still strange as hell.
The two teams shot shitty.

[JMarkJohns]

The Pistons are starting to play like the Lakers of 02-04 when they would just show up and try to win on talent. If they aren't careful, they can develop some BAD habits that could cost them against a top team. Playing down to competition and allowing teams to stay in games for three quarters won't win a team a Title. They'll cost them one.

[Amuseddaysleeper]

"Hard to figure Detroit being out-worked on the glass"

Utah demolished Pistons twice on the boards to sweep the series.
So that makes 3 losses the same way.
Still strange as hell.
The two teams shot shitty.

so all the more reason we need to desperately improve on our own rebounding to stand a chance. our rebounding is still absolute shit

[FreshPrince22]

"Hard to figure Detroit being out-worked on the glass"

Utah demolished Pistons twice on the boards to sweep the series.
So that makes 3 Pistons losses on the boards.
Still strange as hell.
The two teams shot shitty.

Here's a "strange" fact. All 3 of those losses were on the 2nd of back-to-backs. This one was the 4th in 5 nights to make it even worse.

Dead legs = bad rebounding = loss

Luckily for us, our opponent won't be able to rely on b2b's in the playoffs for wins :spin

[ducks]

Pistons Spurs Had Back To Back Games
Game 3 And 4

[Amuseddaysleeper]

Pistons Spurs Had Back To Back Games
Game 3 And 4


uhhh no

they didnt

playoffs NEVER have a b2b

Thu 9 Detroit Finals W 84 - 69 1-0
Sun 12 Detroit Finals W 97 - 76 2-0
Tue 14 @ Detroit Finals L 79 - 96 2-1
Thu 16 @ Detroit Finals L 71 - 102 2-2
Sun 19 @ Detroit Finals W 96 - 95 OT 3-2
Tue 21 Detroit Finals L 86 - 95 3-3
Thu 23 Detroit Finals W 81 - 74 4-3

[FreshPrince22]

Pistons Spurs Had Back To Back Games
Game 3 And 4

game 3: June 14th 2005
game 4: June 16th 2005

There are no back-to-backs in the playoffs. Thank god.

[gospursgojas]

The Spurs always do this.... Let another team get hyped up b/c of a great start( i.e the Suns of last year, and the Mavs of the previous) and then end up with the best record in the league :spin

[Amuseddaysleeper]

The Spurs always do this.... Let another team get hyped up b/c of a great start( i.e the Suns of last year, and the Mavs of the previous) and then end up with the best record in the league :spin

its not gonna happen this year

you need to understand that even though we are 3 games behind, even if we tie with detroit, they still get HCA b/c of the tie breaker which they dominate. I hope we get HCA throughout the playoffs, cuz that'd be a HUGE boost but I have a hard time believing that we'll finish an entire 4 games better than detroit between now and the end of the season.

[Amuseddaysleeper]

The Spurs always do this.... Let another team get hyped up b/c of a great start( i.e the Suns of last year, and the Mavs of the previous) and then end up with the best record in the league :spin

and the suns DID get the best record last year

even though we spanked them when it mattered

[FreshPrince22]

and the suns DID get the best record last year



:lol I was going to bring that one up. Beat me to it

[gospursgojas]

and the suns DID get the best record last year

even though we spanked them when it mattered

Touche.... I forgot they did.

[ducks]

Who Would Have Thought That The Pistons Would Have Lost 2 Times In The Last Week Though?

[ducks]

Touche.... I forgot they did.

HOW COULD YOU FORGET :spin :oops

[Darrin]

After losing to the injury plagued Pacers , I wonder if the 70 win talk will simmer out with regard to the pistons. :angel

All the credit to the Pacers; they played tough, like a Rick Carlisle team.

They are still on a 70-win pace. I don't think the Pistons are chasing the record, but with their ability over the last 3 years to run off double-digit win streaks, I doubt the talk will calm down until (if) they punch their 13th loss.

[1Parker1]

Pistons were laughing and joking around yesterday during timeouts at the Sixers game. I think tonight's game was just a combo of overconfidence and tired legs.

I expect the Pistons to get together another 10 game winning streak.

[JamStone]

Pistons played poorly. Pacers outhustled them, and outplayed them in the third and fourth quarters. Apparently, the Pistons have reached the hype level (thanks to the over-hyping media) that fans of other contending NBA teams throw parties after every loss. Even as short-handed and injured as the Pacers are, it's not the biggest surprise that the Pistons lost to them. Even very good teams have poor nights. This one was one of them for the Pistons. The Pacers were the better team tonight. Fatigue can be used as a reason, but it is not an excuse. Great teams find ways to win, and the Pistons still had their chances despite being outworked. They just couldn't close the deal.

70 wins is still possible, but definitely unlikely. And, those people who want to gloat how the Pistons won't get 70 or will fatigue or will "come back down to earth" don't really realize that it was the media, and especially ESPN, that really started the 70 or 72 win talk, not most Pistons fans.

I'd still love for the Pistons to get 70 wins, but tonight showed that the Pistons are going to have those bad nights more often, not only because of the grind of the 82 game schedule, but every single team that plays the Pistons are playing their best game against them. The Pistons were lucky they beat the Sixers the night before, because they played like crap that game too. Sixers were without Iverson, and the Pistons barely beat them.

Again, it's not an excuse, but I'll be the predictable Pistons homer and note that while the Pistons were playing their fifth game in seven nights and the second of a back-to-back set, FOURTH in FIVE nights in FOUR different cities, the Pacers were coming off three days rest and playing at home. That's my homer rationale, but I know it's really no excuse.

It won't be the last time this season that the Pistons simply don't play well, and the opposing team just outplays them. I just hope it doesn't happen too much more.

Spurs are still right there with the Pistons, as well as the Mavericks. I'm suspecting that that fact alone will push the Pistons to focus more on games like this one and hopefully play better when the game is on the line.

[mavsfan1000]

I think the spurs and mavs can catch the pistons. They are good but they shouldn't be losing to Indiana and New Jersey.

[Trainwreck2100]

70 is def out of reach, but it's not like they cared anyway.

[Darrin]

I disagree a little here. The Pacers beat the Pistons because they have more motivation to beat Detroit than any other team in the NBA. It's an important game to them and not because the Pistons are number one and the defending Conference Champions. For instance, did you see Conseco boo the opening tip when the Pistons won it? Did you see 20,000 people taunting Ben Wallace as he missed two free throws late in the game?

The Pistons showed a graphic during the game that should shed some light on this:

89-30 - Pistons since November 19, 2004.
59-58 - Pacers since November 19, 2004.

They brought their A game and a lot of passion and pain and used it all. Give them credit; they came together and executed down the stretch without Jermaine O'Neal and Jamaal Tinlsey, with an injured Stephen Jackson, and no Ron Artest or Reggie Miller. Fred Jones had a great fourth quarter, and Scot Pollard was inspired (considering his Pistons career, I didn't think that was possible).

[FreshPrince22]

In a perfect world we win 1 game more than the Spurs and Mavs. I don't want the Pistons to be such overwhelming favorites that they get big headed. And winning 70 games brings a lot more post-season pressure than winning mid-60s. You don't want to be the team that won 70 games, and lost in the playoffs. And that isn't added pressure this team needs.

[picnroll]

After the loss to the Spurs in the Finals Pistons came out focused and on a mission. But tfor the good team the season doesn't begin until late March - April. Lot of people had conceded to the title to the Pistons. Don't think so. Even in the East there are a couple of real bear traps for Detroit. That said in Duncan can't get healthier and Manu can't stay healthy Spurs won't be going anywhere.

[Darrin]

In a perfect world we win 1 game more than the Spurs and Mavs. I don't want the Pistons to be such overwhelming favorites that they get big headed. And winning 70 games brings a lot more post-season pressure than winning mid-60s. You don't want to be the team that won 70 games, and lost in the playoffs. And that isn't added pressure this team needs.

That ship has sailed: pressure added. The Pistons are a top-five first half of the season in NBA history - '69 Lakers, '63 Warriors, '96 Bulls. Every team that has started as hot as they have been has won an NBA Championship.

[Amuseddaysleeper]

I disagree a little here. The Pacers beat the Pistons because they have more motivation to beat Detroit than any other team in the NBA. It's an important game to them and not because the Pistons are number one and the defending Conference Champions. For instance, did you see Conseco boo the opening tip when the Pistons won it? Did you see 20,000 people taunting Ben Wallace as he missed two free throws late in the game?

The Pistons showed a graphic during the game that should shed some light on this:

89-30 - Pistons since November 19, 2004.
59-58 - Pacers since November 19, 2004.

They brought their A game and a lot of passion and pain and used it all. Give them credit; they came together and executed down the stretch without Jermaine O'Neal and Jamaal Tinlsey, with an injured Stephen Jackson, and no Ron Artest or Reggie Miller. Fred Jones had a great fourth quarter, and Scot Pollard was inspired (considering his Pistons career, I didn't think that was possible).

the same reason why the pistons can beat our spurs in 6 or less

[JamStone]

I think the spurs and mavs can catch the pistons. They are good but they shouldn't be losing to Indiana and New Jersey.


Why not? Both teams are still top teams in the Eastern Conference. Both games were played on the road for the Pistons. Both teams had more rest than the Pistons. Why shouldn't they be losing to good teams on the road?

It's no difference than the Mavericks losing to the Lakers, Knicks, or Timberwolves, or the Spurs losing to the Hawks, Hornets, or Bulls. Sure, the Mavs and Spurs are better than those teams, but sometimes the better team gets outplayed and loses. It happens over the course of an 82 game schedule.

[mavsfan1000]

We'll see but I guess lately the mavs don't lose to inferior teams so I guess you have a point. There is only a 2.5 game difference between the pistons and mavs. The pistons are in a weaker conference also. I think it is fair to say that the pistons no longer are the clear favorite this year and that mavs and spurs are just as good if not better.

[emveepee]

this must probably be detroit's worst loss so far given the fact that Indiana was missing key players.

[JamStone]

We'll see but I guess lately the mavs don't lose to inferior teams so I guess you have a point. There is only a 2.5 game difference between the pistons and mavs. The pistons are in a weaker conference also. I think it is fair to say that the pistons no longer are the clear favorite this year and that mavs and spurs are just as good if not better.


If the Pistons are in a weaker conference, doesn't that bode well for the Pistons in the second half of the regular season, especially since the Pistons have already played 23 of the 30 games against the Western Conference ... and have a 20-3 record against the Western Conference teams, including 10-2 at Western Conference cities. If the Pistons are in a weaker conference, as you claim, then the Pistons are in very good shape for the second half of the season. Or would you disagree?

[JamStone]

this must probably be detroit's worst loss so far given the fact that Indiana was missing key players.


It's a bad loss, but not the worst. Dallas was worst. Dallas really beat up on the Pistons. It's not fun to lose against the Pacers, but the players they had were really hyped to beat the Pistons, and the Pistons appeared to be on pretty tired legs. No excuse, just a reason. The Pacers still outplayed the Pistons and were the better team. But, it wasn't that bad of a loss.

[HB22inSA]

Bottom line, Pistons won't win 70, but they will end up with homecourt throughout.

Easy.

[Winnipeg_Spur]

At least if the Spurs make it to the Finals this year they'll be able to take advantage of the idiotic 2-3-2 for a change.

[mavsfan1000]

At least if the Spurs make it to the Finals this year they'll be able to take advantage of the idiotic 2-3-2 for a change.

Yeah the big question here is if. Maybe rephrase it to if somehow.

[T-Pain]

They can forget about 70.


if the pistons want to beat that bulls record, there gonna have to pretty much win out the rest of the season.

[mavsfan1000]

I think the pistons are the 3rd best team in the league. The spurs and mavs haven't been healthy for a lot of the year while the pistons have been injury free. The pistons have gotten the breaks and that is why their record is so good. Expect it to get closer soon.

[JamStone]

Yep, 34-2 to beat the Bulls' record, 33-3 to tie it, 31-5 to get 70. All unlikely.

But, as has been intimated by several people already, I don't think the Pistons players much care about beating the Bulls' record or even getting 70 wins.

[JamStone]

I think the Utah Jazz is the second best team behind the Spurs, since the Jazz are 3-1 against the Pistons and Mavericks and they've had major injuries to Kirilenko and Boozer all season long.

[Winnipeg_Spur]

Wow, if we keep using excuses we can drop the Pistons further and further. This is fun! :)
Screw this win-loss nonsense, I bet the Pistons are REALLY the 9th best team in the East (because of injuries and uhh stuff), therefore they shouldn't be in the playoffs. Someone call the NBA.

[Darrin]

Those losers - 39-7.

Dallas, Washington, Cleveland, New Jersey, Indiana, and Utah (2) have all beat them! I mean, that's 6 teams that are obviously better than they are.

[mavsfan1000]

Well Dallas gave the pistons a whooping. Howard owns Prince for sure.

[Darrin]

No argument there, outside an individual matchup comparision. That was a thrashing, an ass whuppin'.

There's still one more game. I look forward to see what happens.

[Rummpd]

Pistons 70 still possible?

Answer it never was - the Pistons are a great team but certainly not in the class of the Bulls team. Their ppg differential is mundane for their record.


Prediction Pistons 66 games +/- 2 and more likely in the lower range.

[boutons_]

Pistons have 36 games left.

To win 70, they must finish 31 - 5 (they've already done 37-5 in 1st half) .

To win 64, they finish just 25 - 11 ( only injuries will push them that low )

I figure they'll come in 68 - 66 Ws.

=======================

Say the Pistons finish improbably low at 66 - 16.

Therefore, to win Finals HCA, the Spurs must finish 67 - 15.

Meaning the Spurs must finish 30 - 5 (they started only 30 - 9).

Spurs could finish 30 - 5 only with everybody healthy (Tim isn't) and gelling very quickly, esp the defense.

But finishing 30 - 5 and 66 - 15 probably won't win Finals HCA for the Spurs, since the Pistons will probably win 66 - 68.

============

Spurs can't win Finals HCA without extensive Pistons injuries, so forget about Finals HCA. The Spurs can only shoot for stealing back HCA with split of Games1,2 @Auburn Hills.

Spurs have to concentrate on WC HCA.

Spurs are now 2nd in SWD, and 4th in WC.

Spurs can't do anything about the Pistons, but they play the Mavs 2 more times.

[1Parker1]

I think the pistons are the 3rd best team in the league. The spurs and mavs haven't been healthy for a lot of the year while the pistons have been injury free. The pistons have gotten the breaks and that is why their record is so good. Expect it to get closer soon.


The Pistons are the THIRD best team in the league? :lmao Just because the Mavs happened to have beat them in their first meeting in the regular season, does not mean that the Mavs>>>>>Pistons. Get a grip. Mavs are a surprisingly good team and I have no doubt they'll give the Spurs some trouble if they meet in the postseason. But your blatant disregard and downplaying of the Pistons in almost every "Piston thread" on the forum is getting a little too much.

I'm a Spurs fan, I get the homerism aspect of being a fan. But, seriously how can you use "excuses" such as injuries to help support your Mavs while using the same "Excuse" to discredit the Pistons. Bottom line is, it's all luck. Mavs and Spurs have had some bad luck injury-wise and Pistons have had some good-luck. I'm not saying the Pistons are unbeatable or that the Mavs or Spurs are better than them. It's the regular season and there's still a whole second half of the season to be played.

[Banks91]

Hmm, lately i've wanted the Pistons to win 70 games, because it looked like they were gonna get HCA anyways, and it would make us look better when we beat them in the Finals.

But now , with the losses they've had recently, we might catch them afterall, and now see myself rooting for them to lose, rather than get 70.

But if we start losing again, and they get on a roll, i'll go right back to rooting for them to get 70

[FromWayDowntown]

Spurs have to concentrate on WC HCA.

Spurs are now 2nd in SWD, and 4th in WC.

Spurs can't do anything about the Pistons, but they play the Mavs 2 more times.

I agree with you that the Spurs can only concentrate on what they can control and right now, all they can control is their division and conference.

Detroit is 4 games up in the loss column on the Spurs, which is insurmountable, absent an extremely-unlikely collapse by the Pistons.

As for things closer to home, the Spurs would actually own the tiebreaker over Dallas right now, because the teams have split their games and the Spurs a 3 game lead in the loss column for the second tiebreaker, conference record. They have the Mavs two more times, but both of those games will be in San Antonio and neither will have any clouding. (both teams have 2 days off before the 3/2 matchup and neither will be on a back-to-back for the 4/7 game).

[lilmads]

Spurs just need to make sure they get WC HCA. Injuries aside, it's very unlikely that the Spurs will be able to get HCA over Pistons. They need to worry about the WC first. And I'm pretty sure they're gonna meet the Mavs down the road in the Playoffs simply because they are both gonna be at the top in the WC.

[exstatic]

Detroit is 4 games up in the loss column on the Spurs, which is insurmountable, absent an extremely-unlikely collapse by the Pistons.

Actually, as of Friday night, it's 3 games, and Dallas was up further than that in 2003. That being said, I'm looking only at Dallas right now. It sucks that we can only meet in the second round. The 2-3 bracket gets almost a free pass to the WCFs.

[mavsfan1000]

Actually, as of Friday night, it's 3 games, and Dallas was up further than that in 2003. That being said, I'm looking only at Dallas right now. It sucks that we can only meet in the second round. The 2-3 bracket gets almost a free pass to the WCFs.
Yes Dallas and San Antonio are both screwed due to these divisions. Phoenix has the 2 seed all by themselves and will most likely play a tired spurs or mavs team in a series that will either go 6 or 7 games. Phoenix will have plenty of time to get Amare healthy and used to playing in the starting lineup. The setup favors Phoenix big time.

[boutons_]

"it's 3 games"

To win Finals HCA, Friday the Spurs "Ls back" dropped by 5 to 4 games, since we must end up with a better record than the Pistons for HCA.

If Spurs and Pistsons tie, the Spurs lose the first tiebreaker (season series between tied teams).

[himat]

i don't think it will happen, but the 70 wins is still possible. the pistons will have to go 31-5, and if they get a good winning streak they can very well reach there.

[1Parker1]

Well, these recent losses have helped us figure out at least two ways to beat the Pistons: Outrebound them while keep THEM off the offensive glass and shut down Billups :tu

Easy. :lol

[mavsfan1000]

The key to the spurs success is Manu returning to all star level. If he doesn't do this the spurs are very beatable.

[FromWayDowntown]

Actually, as of Friday night, it's 3 games, and Dallas was up further than that in 2003. That being said, I'm looking only at Dallas right now. It sucks that we can only meet in the second round. The 2-3 bracket gets almost a free pass to the WCFs.

Actually, to win HCA, it's 4 games. A tie in the loss column with the Pistons does the Spurs no good. So, if the Pistons lose only 3 more times than the Spurs the rest of the way, the teams will be tied and the Pistons hold the tiebreaker. Thus, the Spurs have a shot at HCA in the Finals over the Pistons only if the Pistons lose 4 more games that the Spurs do the rest of the way. Therefore, the Spurs are 4 back in the loss column for HCA.

I also don't think the 2005-06 Pistons are like the 2002-03 Mavericks.

[exstatic]

Ah, my bad. 4 actual tie breaker games it is.


I also don't think the 2005-06 Pistons are like the 2002-03 Mavericks.
In some ways, they're not, but like all of the Nelson teams, Detroit overplays their starters this year. I'm wondering if that may not be why they are not so invincible right about now. Did Flip do this in Minny, too?

[FromWayDowntown]

In some ways, they're not, but like all of the Nelson teams, Detroit overplays their starters this year. I'm wondering if that may not be why they are not so invincible right about now. Did Flip do this in Minny, too?

Flip did burn out the T'Wolves at least once that I can think of, but, again, I can't see this Pistons team having the same sort of problems that either the T'Wolves or the Mavs had in the years that the Spurs made up big deficits.

It also doesn't help the Spurs chances that the Pistons play in the East and will have an East-heavy schedule down the stretch of the season.

[mavsfan1000]

The pistons aren't going to win 70 games. I predict 65 games which the mavs or spurs could possibly get also. It is not a lock the pistons get the best record.

[Tanya]

God. I hope we can lose few more so people can stop talking about 72 or 70 wins.

[Tanya]

Ok Dallas and Spurs fans. We will probably lose more games this month because of the schedule. This month we have 5 sets of back to backs in 20 days. We already have done two sets and came out two Ls. We still got three more sets so it is very possible for the spurs and dallas to catch their record. But the spurs will have a long road trip as well so good luck.

And Flip is not the person to blame. You only have 20% to win if playing 4 games in 5 nights in 4 different cities against some well rested teams. I blame the schedule I don't blame the coach or any of the players.

[SAGambler]

After losing to the injury plagued Pacers , I wonder if the 70 win talk will simmer out with regard to the pistons. :angel

Don't look now, but over on the Pistons board, the fainthearted are saying the SA word and the D word.. A Lot.. As in....look out...they are both right on our azzes..
<br> <br>
The fainthearted in Detroit City are starting to have some concerns...
:spin

[Tanya]

Don't look now, but over on the Pistons board, the fainthearted are saying the SA word and the D word.. A Lot.. As in....look out...they are both right on our azzes..
<br> <br>
The fainthearted in Detroit City are starting to have some concerns...
:spin

Your point?
I saw a thread named "the Dallas are on our azzes" on this spurs board.

[TDMVPDPOY]

spurs are still on scedule to win 72 games.