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12 blocks
HE IS CATCHING UP WITH JAMES BY THE GAME
I just got this in my NBA update e-mail. Sorry if it was previously posted.
Pistons 87, Bulls 76
Milicic is center of attention
He plays an active role in exhibition victory with 4 of Detroit's 12 blocks, 7 points and 4 rebounds.
By Chris McCosky / The Detroit News
http://www.detnews.com/2005/pistons/...D01-346297.htm
GRAND RAPIDS -- You aren't supposed to draw conclusions from one exhibition game, but one thing was pretty clear Tuesday night.
If the Chicago Bulls want to muster any fight against the Pistons in the Central Division this season, they had better find themselves another big man. Or two.
"Yeah, they are definitely different without Eddy (Curry) and Antonio (Davis) in there," said Chauncey Billups, after the Pistons opened their exhibition season with an 87-76 romp over the Bulls before a sellout crowd (11,130) at Van Andel Arena.
"Their guards are going to have to do a lot more scoring to keep them afloat. They don't have the same post presence they had."
Curry and Davis are now in New York, leaving the likes of Tyson Chandler, Ot a Harrington, Malik Allen and Michael Sweetney to man the middle. And they weren't much of a match against the Pistons' dominating front line of Ben Wallace, Rasheed Wallace, Antonio McDyess and Darko Milicic.
The Pistons blocked 12 shots (four each by Rasheed Wallace and Milicic) and, despite some lapses on the defensive boards in the fourth quarter, they controlled the paint for much of the game.
Rasheed Wallace, playing 24 minutes, finished with 15 points and eight rebounds. Ben Wallace had 11 points, seven rebounds and three steals in 19 minutes.
Milicic, though he had some trouble with the wide-bodied Sweetney in the final quarter, was impressive as well, finishing with seven points and four rebounds.
"I thought he played good," Billups said of Milicic.
"He was active. He got his hands on a lot of balls. He was physical defensively and he made some great passes."
Milicic helped trigger a 12-0 run in the second quarter. He pulled down a rebound in traffic and dunked. Then he blocked a shot on the Bulls' next possession.
Milicic had another block and kept two scoring possessions alive by tipping loose balls.
He also clinched the victory in the final two minutes, when off a set play he drained an 18-foot baseline jumper, effectively ending the Bulls' final run.
But he did struggle some against Sweetney, who scored nine of his 17 points in the fourth, eight off second-chance shots.
Milicic had five fouls in 24 minutes.
"In his position, coming in off the bench, he can't worry about fouls," Billups said.
"He just has to play hard, and he did that."
Coach Flip Saunders, making his debut with the Pistons, was pleased - for the most part.
"Overall, I thought for a first game, we did a lot of nice things," he said. "I thought the first group executed very well. We had 27 assists and 13 turnovers and that's what our offense is geared toward."
12 blocks
HE IS CATCHING UP WITH JAMES BY THE GAME
Baby steps ... minor progression ... that's all most of the "realistic" Pistons fans are hoping. 8-12 minutes, 4-5 ppg, 3-4 rpg, 2 bpg would be a great step in the right direction.
He may never be as great as LeBron or Wade. He might not even be anywhere close as good as Bosh or Hinrich. But, if he is serviceable and functionable to the point where he can be counted on for 10-12 ppg and 8-9 rpg in the prime of his career, while he won't be the franchise type player the Pistons hoped for when they drafted him, he can still be a very valuable piece for the future of the Pistons. And, there is still that small chance that he will be even better than that ...
.. to be continued ...
Darko had FOUR blocks. The Pistons as a team had 12 blocks.
Darko is the greatest.
I was there.
Detroit looks really good this year. The bench is great.
Darko is the bench, so of course it looks great.
The Pistons are 10 deep this year. With a bench of Arrojo, M. Evans, C. Delfino, Mcdyess, and Darko how can they lose.
No, I was there.
We both were there. Did you see Abdenour's amazing towel throws, WHAT FORM!!!
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