Detroit must still win in SA

1) San Antonio will throw everything but the proverbial kitchen sink at Detroit on Sunday...I think they will drive and force the refs to make calls...Which brings me to the key to the game, officiating...As a series goes on, refs tend to avoid deciding games...I say tend to because you never know these days.

2) Dupree has a player option clause on his contract and while he likes it here in Detroit, I think LBs departure may be enough incentive to stay but you never know...The guy just wants some playing time.

3) Joe D is the biggest reason to believe Detroit will continue to challenge for the title...As GMs go, Piston fans have their own logo and I have no fear that he will tirelessly build a competitive team...Those dark years are over as long as he is at the helm.

4) It'll be interesting to see what is done with Arroyo...LBs absence will factor into it like with Dupree but his salary slot is too large for a guy getting 10 minutes a game...So either his minutes will have to increase or he'll be packaged outta town (Personally, I'd like to see him remain but then there's reality)...Ironically, Utah looks like they are practically down to 0 PGs since trading Arroyo for a bag of peanuts to Detroit.

5) EC retires, Ham is done and contract extensions for Ben and Tayshaun...As for Chauncey, it'll get done as Joe does...Plus, for a journeyman like Billups, the guy has found a home here and I am doubtful he's going anywhere either...Then again, stranger things have happened.

Who gives a crap about all these Detroit Pissies?

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Originally Posted by May_The_Best_Team_Win

Did you guys see the bucket he made when he came into the game? I was impressed, sure it was against your guys deep bench players but I was geeked for him to come out and be agressive like that.

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Well, what was more impressive to me was how assured and confident he seemed out there even in limited action...It is the Finals afterall and the guy is being 'Cheered' onto the court when the outcome is set already...It's mopup time and he's being lauded by the crowd after sitting for 45 minutes, not exactly the kinda thing that lights a fire under ya.

Yet, he looked very active, especially rotating on pick & rolls...Very focused and mature...That baby left hook off the glass, that is a shot that will become his patented move in the future and Piston fans will grow accustomed to seeing that much like Spurs fans see that bank shot from the elbow by Duncan.

I know this, if you want to become a great frontcourt player, playing against Sheed and Ben everyday in practice is a pretty good way to season ya, don't ya think?

I'd like top see Pop not change the line-up every 3 minutes. Here would be my SOLID starting line-up this sunday:

He'll have to play these guys for the first quarter at least:

Tim
Rasho
Horry
tony
Manu

Yes, I did say Rasho.
I think my man can hang in there. What do they have to loose? The series? It may be tied but it is in actuality the "bottom of the ninth", "2 minute warning" and these ARE ALL THE MARBLES.

STICK WITH THIS LINE UP POP

This is what I've been preaching all year long and I'm going to preach it one more time!

Defense and POISE!

Yes, I'm sure you all get tired of me saying that, but it's truth....
DEFENSE and POISE!

nuff said...

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Originally Posted by Mr.Vas Deferns

I'd like top see Pop not change the line-up every 3 minutes. Here would be my SOLID starting line-up this sunday:

He'll have to play these guys for the first quarter at least:

Tim
Rasho
Horry
tony
Manu

Yes, I did say Rasho.
I think my man can hang in there. What do they have to loose? The series? It may be tied but it is in actuality the "bottom of the ninth", "2 minute warning" and these ARE ALL THE MARBLES.

STICK WITH THIS LINE UP POP

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Interesting lineup. Put Manu on Rip, he does a pretty good job, then we would have Horry on Prince, there goes the matchup problem, and then stick Rasho on Ben. I would try that at some point in the game if things aren't working out. I would just def. make some adjustment. We can't do the same thing we have been doing.

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Originally Posted by SpursFanInAustin

Don't the contracts of Prince, Ben, as well as Chauncey expire in 06?

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Prince is this year, Ben next, and Chauncey I will almost swear is 07. JD has been planning for the Prince and Ben resigning for quite some time. One of the reasons for getting rid of signed for a longer term Corliss Williamson and takng on an expiring Derrick Coleman contract, was to clear space for the Tayshun signing....Ben while great, IMHO has peaked. I sure would hate to see some offer of a close to max contract for him. He deserves to cash in, but please Joe just do it for a shorter period of time.....As far as Larry Brown goes, inside sources with the Pistons are saying they have had enough of his act. The old fella that owns the Pistons, while kindly looking, didn't become a billionaire without demanding some loyalty, which Larry doesn't know the meaning of.

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Prince is this year, Ben next, and Chauncey I will almost swear is 07.

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Prince's contract doesn't end this year. It's guaranteed through 05-06 (they picked up the team option on his fourth year, I believe). Ben ends after 05-06 and Chauncey 07-08.

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Originally Posted by Kori Ellis

Prince's contract doesn't end this year. It's guaranteed through 05-06 and then they have a team option for 06-07, I believe. Ben ends after 05-06 and Chauncey 07-08.

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Well there's loads of talk around town about Tayshun being resigned in the off season.

According to the local rumor mills, Prince will most likely get a contract extension with a healthy raise this summer. His rookie contract is good for another year but they know they want to lock him up and won't wait around to do it.

Ben will probably get his next year. He's not greedy and Dumars won't low-ball him, don't expect any bumps in the road with him finishing his career as a piston.

Billups is signed through the 07/08 season, Rasheed through 08/09 and Hamilton through 09/10.

Barring injury or Dumars finding an opportunity to swindle some team in a lopsided trade, the starting five is set for the forseeable future.

Well, no matter what happens from here on out, I give props to the Pistons and Spurs.

They finally made a Finals interesting to watch. It's just too bad no one is watching except us....

But NBA Fans better get used to it. I see these two teams in the Finals again next year.

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According to the local rumor mills, Prince will most likely get a contract extension with a healthy raise this summer. His rookie contract is good for another year but they know they want to lock him up and won't wait around to do it.

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Yep, it's one of the reasons why the Pistons respond so well when they really have to on the court. They appreciate the loyalty and respect shown them from the top down...Take Lindsey Hunter situation. His best friend Dumars traded him right off the bat after becoming President. Yet has brought him back twice out of loyalty and look how hard Lindsey plays for him, and came up big in game 4.

Also I have been very impressed at what a fine, quality person Tim Duncan is. What a model citizen that some of these kids should imitate.

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According to the local rumor mills, Prince will most likely get a contract extension with a healthy raise this summer. His rookie contract is good for another year but they know they want to lock him up and won't wait around to do it.

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I guess he's in the same situation as the Spurs were with Tony Parker last summer - he has one more year on his rookie contract, but they'll try to extend his this summer.

Do you guys know how much money he's looking for?

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Originally Posted by Kori Ellis

I guess he's in the same situation as the Spurs were with Tony Parker last summer - he has one more year on his rookie contract, but they'll try to extend his this summer.

Do you guys know how much money he's looking for?

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The radio guys think in average 5-7 mil range. Rip Hamilton type money, and a 5 year contract....Ben I think should be 3 years, and the quiet promise of don't be a jerk about this, and you'll have a job in the organization for life.

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Originally Posted by PistonFreak

Also I have been very impressed at what a fine, quality person Tim Duncan is. What a model citizen that some of these kids should imitate.

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And that's it really...The media love to dissect whether or not this is a boring series but what it is is devoid of real villains or megalomaniac personalities...As far as I can tell, these are teams with a lot of very likable personalities.

Bruce Bowen gets a lot of criticisms around the league despite coming off as a very likable guy...I heard him in an interview in the Bay Area several times and any distate I had for the guy was muted by his charm and personality.

Rasheed Wallace gets a lot of grief around the league, particularly from the officials but Piston fans know this guy to be a fundamental cog to the Pistons success and love his personality, Ts and all...To quote the Jerry Maguire movie 'He's all heart baby'.

Esp. for 200dollar tickets lolq