Sports News and Trade Rumors: Pro Sports Daily

Not firing on all cylinders, Blazers still nip Pistons

Comment

November 19

Portland Tribune

"It was almost two years ago to the day when the Trail Blazers built a 25-point third-quarter lead at Philadelphia, then watched it disappear before their very eyes in a 92-88 loss to the 76ers. So while what happened Wednesday night at the Rose Garden conjured bad memories from that disastrous affair, Portland's 87-81 victory over Detroit was much easier to digest. "It's much better to learn a lesson in a win than in a loss," Portland's Brandon Roy said. "I'm just happy we pulled it out, and hopefully this doesn't happen again." The Blazers (9-4) squandered all but one point of a 20-point lead after three quarters, but made enough plays down the stretch to hold off the Pistons (5-7), ..."

Jonas Jerebko still searching for offense

Comment

November 19

Detroit Free Press

"For every rookie like the Bucks' Brandon Jennings, there are five like the Pistons' Jonas Jerebko. Jennings, a point guard, has dazzled with a nightly highlight reel on ESPN, staking an early claim for rookie of the year. Meanwhile Jerebko, Detroit's starting small forward for the foreseeable future, admitted after Tuesday night's 106-93 loss to the Lakers that he is still finding his comfort zone on the offensive end after the first 11 games of his career. The Pistons and first-year coach John Kuester like Jerebko because of his impact on the defensive end, but the rookie from Sweden said he can do more to help out with scoring. "(Kuester) trusts me and I can do a lot better than what ..."

Late rally not enough for Pistons

Comment

November 19

Detroit Free Press

"It looked like it was going to be a good night for Charlie Villanueva. He quickly knocked in a short jumper to start the scoring for the Pistons against the Trail Blazers on Wednesday night. He followed that up not much later with a 25-foot three-pointer. But he was sent to the bench with his second foul a short time thereafter. When Villanueva returned in the second quarter, he played just under two minutes before committing his third foul. He wound up with 20 points on 9-for-15 shooting and three fouls in just over 16 minutes in the Pistons' eventual 87-81 loss. It was an impressive scoring night considering the number of minutes he played, but Villanueva's absence for stretches ..."

Pistons' latest comeback fizzles again

Comment

November 19

Detroit News

"This looked as if it would be a difficult trip, and it's turning out to be so. Four games, two back-to-backs, against teams who all made the playoffs last season. The Portland Trailblazers sure look as if they'll be in the playoffs again this season. The Pistons, playing their fourth game in five nights (in four different cities) had few answers to counter Portland -- until late in the game, which is becoming a custom -- losing 87-81. "It's a great effort, the comeback is nice, but why be in that position in the first place?" Charlie Villanueva said. The Trailblazers led 48-38 at halftime, and stretched the lead to 20 points after three quarters (70-50). Then, as the evening before in ..."

Lakers almost let it get away

Comment

November 18

Los Angeles Times

"It's not comparable to the Lakers' 33-game winning streak in 1971-72 or the Boston Celtics' string of eight consecutive championships in the 1950s and '60s, but a curious little Lakers streak continues to thrive. They still haven't lost three consecutive games since acquiring Pau Gasol in February 2008. Their latest blush came after two uninspiring, even perplexing, losses to Denver and Houston, but their recent sins were whisked into the past after a 106-93 victory over Detroit that restored order to their season Tuesday at Staples Center. Kobe Bryant had 40 points despite a slow start and a strained right groin, and the Lakers led by as many as 28 points. It's becoming redundant to point ..."

Injured Piston Tayshaun Prince flies with team, says he's feeling better

Comment

November 18

Detroit Free Press

"There was a familiar face at Detroit Pistons shootaround this morning. Tayshaun Prince, nursing a ruptured disk in his lower back, made his first trip with the Pistons since the trip to Milwaukee for the third game of the season. He has been out of the lineup since, and he didn't have a timetable today for when he would return to the floor -- except to say he won't play during this four-game Western Conference trip. Prince did say he's feeling a lot better and made the trip mostly because he didn't want to do without strength and conditioning coach Arnie Kander for a week. "I've been making strides the last four or five days. I think the one thing that was kind of a question mark was ..."

Pistons hit the road on a treacherous trip

Comment

November 18

Detroit Free Press

"John Kuester looked like somebody had asked him the color of the sky. His team had just beaten the Wiz in D.C. on Saturday night and somebody asked him about the upcoming western trip. In Kuester's mind he was thinking: "Why are they asking me about those pesky four games out West when we still have to play Dallas at home on Sunday?" He was asked because sometimes reporters need to get sound bites or quotes for future use because sometimes stuff happens and you might not get another chance to ask a question."

Pistons fall to defending champion Lakers

Comment

November 18

Detroit Free Press

"The Pistons got a first-hand look at a team with dominant size and length Tuesday night when they faced the world champion Lakers. And they didn't like what they saw. The Pistons lost, 106-93, for their second-straight loss after a three-game winning streak. The Pistons were dominated on the glass (44-32) as Lakers center Andrew Bynum continued his early-season dominating play with 17 points and 12 rebounds. Things might have been worse if Pau Gasol, still nursing a right hamstring injury, had been able to suit up. Oh yeah, some guy named Kobe Bryant scored 40 points - the 100th time he reached that mark in his career. But this game was decided in the paint, where the Lakers had 56 ..."

Pistons lit up by livid Lakers

Comment

November 18

Detroit News

"The Los Angeles Lakers came into Tuesday's game angry, and the Pistons paid the price. After ugly losses their previous two games, the Lakers beat the Pistons, 106-93. But not without the Pistons giving the Lakers a scare at the end. The Lakers (8-3) took a 28-point lead in the third quarter, but the Pistons cut the margin to seven points (98-91) with 1:55 left in the game. DaJuan Summers then fouled the Lakers' Shannon Brown (Michigan State) on a 3-point try, which extended the lead to 101-91 and all but clinched the outcome. "We gave them too much respect early on," Pistons rookie Jonas Jerebko said. "In the fourth quarter, we just played hard and not as much respect. But we can play ..."

Lakers' Bryant shows true grit in win over Detroit

Comment

November 18

L.A. Daily News

"Kobe Bryant had the ball in his hands in the third quarter Tuesday night at Staples Center. Ben Gordon of the Detroit Pistons tried to body him as Bryant posted up against him just off the edge of the lane and to the left of the basket. Didn't work. Bryant twirled away from Gordon and drifted toward the basket. Suddenly, inexplicably, he turned his back to avoid the pressure of Detroit's Kwame Brown and flipped the ball over his head. The ball rose in an arc and then fell through the basket as a sellout crowd of 18,997 roared its approval."

Pistons' trip might provide measuring stick

Comment

November 17

Detroit News

"It's still difficult to gauge who the Pistons are at this early stage of the season. Maybe they are who we think they are -- to paraphrase former NFL coach Dennis Green -- a 5-5 team that can look like an extremely dangerous team on certain evenings. An opportunity for a clearer picture of who they are, or better yet, how good they really are, could come into focus this week. The Pistons begin a four-game, six-day West Coast trip tonight in Los Angeles against the defending champion Lakers (7-3). The next evening, the Pistons are in Portland to face the Northwest Division-leading Trail Blazers (8-3). Detroit concludes the trip with back-to-back games Saturday in Utah (4-6) and Sunday ..."

Mavs snap Pistons' winning streak

Comment

November 16

Detroit Free Press

"Dallas took advantage of a poor shooting night by Ben Gordon and used a balanced scoring attack to defeat the Pistons, 95-90, tonight at the Palace. Dirk Nowitzki led five Mavericks in double figures with 25 points, as the Western Conference crew improved to 7-3 while the Pistons fell to 5-5. Gordon, the team's leading scorer at 24.3 points per game, was 1-for-14 from the field through three quarters and finished with just five points, missing a three with 2.5 seconds left that would've tied the game. He was 1-for-16 from the field. Rodney Stuckey had 17 of his 28 points in the first half and was the only player on either side in double figures as the Pistons took a 46-40 halftime lead, ..."

Pistons hang close but can't shake Mavs

Comment

November 16

Detroit News

"Never mind he was struggling, Ben Gordon was going to get the last shot. With the game on the line Sunday, Gordon had the ball and it was his shot to take. He would take the Pistons into overtime, or to defeat. It turned out a defeat, 95-90, to the Mavericks. Gordon's 3-point attempt at tying the game bounced off and Dallas guard Jason Terry made two foul shots with 0.5 seconds left, sealing the visitors' victory. Gordon's final stat line: five points on 1-for-16 shooting, 0-for-6 from 3-point range, and 3-for-6 from the foul line. "I had a good look. I just wasn't able to knock it down," Gordon said of the potential tying shot. "I just wasn't able to knock any down. My team was ..."

Mavericks 95, Pistons 90: Will Bynum's late run isn't enough for Pistons

Comment

November 16

Detroit News

"This time, staying close didn't prove good enough for the Pistons. They stayed close to the Mavericks in the second half and had a chance to extend the game to overtime, but wound up losing, 95-90. Ben Gordon's three-point attempt at tying the game was no good with 0.5 second left. Dallas guard Jason Terry was fouled and made both free throws to end the scoring. Gordon struggled with five points Sunday on 1-for-16 shooting (0-for-6 from three-point range). Rodney Stuckey scored 28 and Will Bynum had 27 for the Pistons. Dirk Nowitzki scored 25 for Dallas. Bynum's two free throws cut the Dallas lead to 91-88 with 52 seconds left. But after a timeout, the Mavericks worked the ball to ..."

Dallas Mavericks survive Pistons, Dampier scare

Comment

November 16

Dallas Morning News

"The Dallas Mavericks survived a scary situation Sunday evening that had nothing to do with a heartfelt 95-90 win over the Detroit Pistons. When Erick Dampier left the pregame warm-ups because he wasn't feeling right, nobody was quite sure what was happening. Minutes later, with emergency medical personnel working on Dampier, he was whisked by ambulance from the Palace of Auburn Hills to a Pontiac, Mich., hospital. By the end of the game, the Mavericks had gotten news that Dampier's symptoms had subsided. No team personnel divulged what those symptoms were, but an NBA official said that doctors had ruled out any serious health issues, including H1N1. Dampier apparently was lightheaded ..."

Pistons seesaw to 3rd win in row

Comment

November 15

Detroit Free Press

"From the grin on Joe Dumars' face, you know it had to be a satisfying Saturday night for the Pistons. The president of basketball operations was watching his team put the finishing touches on a 106-103 victory over the Wizards -- the Pistons' third straight win. The whole organization shared the satisfaction of watching the young team take an early 13-point lead, fall behind in the third quarter by 10 points, then outscore the Wizards, 17-8, in the last 5 minutes. The Pistons (5-4) are standing firm without injured captains Rip Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince. "We have a gutsy group," first-year coach John Kuester said. "What a gutsy win in having a big lead, losing the lead, them playing ..."

Ben Gordon 'closes' for Pistons in win over Wizards

Comment

November 15

Detroit Free Press

"Ben Gordon scored 29 points, including the eight with less than two minutes to play, as the Detroit Pistons beat the Wizards, 106-103, tonight in Washington. Charlie Villanueva added 25 points and Will Bynum came off the bench with 20 points, eight rebounds and six assists. Rodney Stuckey had 17 points and seven rebounds. "The thing I like about this team is, we keep chipping away," Gordon said. "We don't hang our heads. We don't make excuses. We play hard, and that got us back in the game." Earl Boykins (Eastern Michigan), in his first game with the Wizards, scored 20 points. He played all last season in Italy and was signed late last week. Mike Miller, who returned from a left shoulder ..."

Richard Hamilton's message to Pistons: Hang tough

Comment

November 15

Detroit Free Press

"Losing veterans Rip Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince to injuries for an extended period early in the season can't be good for the Pistons, right? But after Saturday night's 106-103 victory over the Wizards, the Pistons are 5-4 and have won three straight, including impressive home victories over the 76ers and Bobcats. And Hamilton wants the young team to hang on awhile longer until he can return from a severe ankle sprain that has caused him to miss every game since the opener last month. "It could have went the other direction, where we could be looking at 2-6," Hamilton said after Saturday morning's shoot-around. "I thought that the guys did a great job after losses to Oklahoma City and ..."

Pistons guard Ben Gordon comes up big with 8 assists

Comment

November 15

Detroit Free Press

"Ben Gordon was a gunner in college. He made his name in Chicago as a shooter as well. Wednesday night at the Palace, Gordon dished out eight assists. That led the team and helped Gordon's former college teammate, Charlie Villanueva, to a team-high 30 points. "Those two guys are buying into what we are doing," said Pistons coach John Kuester. He was proud of Gordon's assists. He was proud of Villanueva's defense, which didn't show up in the box score along with all those points, but will show up on film when the coaches break it down. Kuester credits Ben Wallace for helping Villanueva improve his defense. "A lot of this defense, Ben Wallace had corporate knowledge," Kuester said. "Having ..."

Small guards Will Bynum and Earl Boykins could square off when Pistons face Wizards

Comment

November 14

Michigan Live

"Detroit Pistons guard Will Bynum is small by NBA standards, but he is a physically gifted athlete who plays with a lot of heart. Sounds a bit like Earl Boykins. Bynum and Boykins likely will find themselves face to face on Saturday night when the Pistons play a road game against the Washington Wizards. The Wizards signed Boykins, a former Eastern Michigan University star, this week after guards Javaris Crittenton, Mike James and Randy Foye sustained injuries. The Wizards will be the ninth NBA team for Boykins in his 11-year career. Not bad for a guy who stands 5-foot-5 and weighs 133 pounds. "It's a great tribute to what he's all about and what his heart is in regards to his love for the ..."

Pistons cracking down on defense (5th in NBA)

Comment

November 14

Detroit Free Press

"The defensive numbers are in after eight games.

The Pistons are allowing 89.62 points per game -- good for fifth in the NBA. Opponents are shooting only 41.9% -- good for second. And they lead the league in defending the triple -- allowing opponents to make only 27.8%. It's a good performance for a team that was thought to be weak defensively and still missing defensive stalwarts Rip Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince because of injuries. But first-year coach John Kuester said after Friday's practice that the Pistons can get better because the players are beginning to recognize mistakes on their own -- they don't need to be corrected by coaches. "They understand ..."

Numbers don't lie: Pistons defense is better than expected

Comment

November 14

Detroit Free Press

"The defensive numbers are in after eight games. The Pistons are allowing 89.62 points per game -- good for fifth in the NBA. Opponents are shooting only 41.9% -- good for second. And they lead the league in defending the triple -- allowing opponents to make only 27.8%. It's a good performance for a team that was thought to be weak defensively and still missing defensive stalwarts Rip Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince because of injuries. But first-year coach John Kuester said after Friday's practice that the Pistons can get better because the players are beginning to recognize mistakes on their own -- they don't need to be corrected by coaches. "They understand all of our concepts and all of ..."

Pistons agree on retiring '23'

Comment

November 14

Detroit News

"LeBron James plans to give up No. 23 next season and wants other players to stop wearing Michael Jordan's iconic number as well. Maybe even have the number retired around the NBA. "Michael has done some incredible things for this league," Pistons center Kwame Brown said. "I'm all for it. That would be something out of respect for Michael and what he's done." After Thursday's game in Miami, James, who has worn No. 23 for Cleveland, said he's switching to No. 6 next season. James would wear No. 6 to honor another of his legendary favorites -- Julius Erving. But also, James' son was born on Oct. 6, 2004, and his second son was born in June (the sixth month of the year). James believes ..."

Pistons guard Will Bynum's dunks get ESPN's attention

Comment

November 13

Detroit Free Press

"Add prophet to the list of many words to describe Ben Gordon. After the Pistons' surprisingly easy 98-75 victory over the Charlotte Bobcats on Wednesday night, someone asked him about the two highlight-reel dunks of diminutive point guard Will Bynum. "Will is one of those guys that's like a freak of nature," said Gordon, who scored 22 points. "When he gets a lane to the basket, he's liable to end up on 'SportsCenter.' " That was the case as both dunks made the ESPN show's nightly top 10 list of plays. In the second quarter, Bynum drove past a defender and dunked on 7-footer Tyson Chandler. Then later in the game, Bynum blocked a shot, kept running down court and took the outlet pass to ..."

Ben Gordon wants to do more than just score

Comment

November 13

Detroit News

"Ben Gordon knows he can score, but he wants to be a complete player. That's why his eight assists were almost as important as his 22 points during the Pistons' 98-75 win over the Bobcats on Wednesday night. More importantly, though, Gordon also wants to shed the perception he is a poor defender. He understands defense wins, and he wants to hold his own. "I think the more consistent you are out there and how you play on the ball is important," Gordon said. "It will take me some time to become a better defensive player. I have to be more consistent but it will happen." Pistons center Ben Wallace said Charlie Villanueva and Gordon have the tools to play better defense. It simply wasn't a ..."

Charlie Villanueva scores 18 points in third quarter as Pistons rout Bobcats, 98-75

Comment

November 12

Michigan Live

"Two players combined for 52 points for the Detroit Pistons. But another who didn't score a single point had just as much impact on the final outcome. Charlie Villanueva scored 30 points, Ben Gordon had 22 and Ben Wallace turned in another outstanding defensive performance Wednesday night as the Pistons rolled to a 98-75 win against the Charlotte Bobcats. Wallace did not score a point, but he grabbed a team-high nine rebounds to go with three assists, three steals and three blocked shots. "It might not show up in the stat sheet every night, but we definitely see what he's doing," Gordon said. "He just sparks us tremendously. It seemed like he had about 50 deflections. "He got a lot of ..."

Pistons beat former coach

Comment

November 12

Detroit Free Press

"Charlie Villanueva led all scorers with 30 points, 18 in the third, as the Detroit Pistons beat the Bobcats, 98-75, tonight at the Palace. The Pistons held the Bobcats to 12 points in the third quarter and outscored Charlotte, 61-31, in the second and third quarters. Ben Gordon added 22 points and eight assists and Rodney Stuckey had 16 points and seven assists for the Pistons. Will Bynum scored 16 points. Gerald Wallace led Charlotte with 12 points. Former Piston Flip Murray scored 11 and Raymond Felton added 10. Pistons coach John Kuester beat his mentor, Charlotte coach Larry Brown, who had Kuester on his championship-winning staff with the Pistons in 2004. Brown said before the ..."

Pistons guard Ben Gordon comes up big with 8 assists

Comment

November 12

Detroit Free Press

"Ben Gordon was a gunner in college. He made his name in Chicago as a shooter as well. Wednesday night at the Palace, Gordon dished out eight assists. That led the team and helped Gordon's former college teammate, Charlie Villanueva, to a team-high 30 points. "Those two guys are buying into what we are doing," said Pistons coach John Kuester. He was proud of Gordon's assists. He was proud of Villanueva's defense, which didn't show up in the box score along with all those points, but will show up on film when the coaches break it down. Kuester credits Ben Wallace for helping Villanueva improve his defense. "A lot of this defense, Ben Wallace had corporate knowledge," Kuester said. "Having ..."

The respect is mutual between Kuester, Larry Brown

Comment

November 12

Detroit Free Press

"Larry Brown returned to the Palace on Wednesday night to face another member of his considerable coaching tree. When Brown was guiding the Pistons to the NBA championship, current Pistons coach John Kuester sat right alongside. Kuester, like Brown, had learned the game playing for Dean Smith at North Carolina. He learned to coach under Brown. "He is a great teacher," Kuester said of his mentor. Kuester said Brown taught him how to bring passion to every practice, to every shoot-around, to every game -- and to try to get the maximum potential out of every player. "He's meant a lot to me and my family," Kuester said. Kuester spent time on the bench with Brown in Detroit and in Philadelphia ..."

John Kuester says former Pistons coach Larry Brown is special

Comment

November 12

Detroit Free Press

"Pistons first-year coach John Kuester will try to treat the next game like every other, but that's not possible. That's because former Pistons coach Larry Brown will bring the Charlotte Bobcats to the Palace tonight and on a professional and -- more important -- a personal level, Kuester owes a lot to the man who guided Detroit to an NBA title in 2004. "Coach Brown has meant so much to my life," Kuester said after Tuesday's practice. "He's been very special, not only to me, but my family. "I'm very appreciative of everything he's done for me. I'm looking forward to seeing him." Kuester was a part of the staff in 2004 and comes from the same coaching tree started by former legendary North ..."

Charlie Villanueva sparks Pistons' rout of Bobcats

Comment

November 12

Detroit News

"A blowout in every sense. That's what this was, with the Pistons easily defeating the Charlotte Bobcats, 98-75, on Wednesday night. The first half was fairly close. The Pistons took a 52-41 halftime lead on an 11-4 run to end the second quarter. Then the rout began. Behind red-hot Charlie Villanueva (30 points) and Ben Gordon (22 points, eight assists, no turnovers), the Pistons outscored Charlotte 29-12 in the third, taking an 81-53 lead. "How we closed the second quarter and started the third quarter set the tone as time went on," Pistons coach John Kuester said. "The way we closed the second quarter gave us a little cushion." Villanueva was 13-of-17 from the field, including 2-of-4 ..."

Ex-Pistons coach Larry Brown: I owe a lot John Kuester, too

Comment

November 12

Detroit News

"John Kuester talked much the past few days about how much he owes to Larry Brown. But before Wednesday's game, Brown, the Hall of Fame coach who won a championship with the Pistons in 2004 and has been successful on so many stops, credited Kuester for much his own success. Sort of the mentor extending thanks to the pupil. "I don't look at him as my protégé. He's been a big part of my career. I owe a lot to him," said Brown, in town Wednesday with his Charlotte Bobcats. "But the nice thing is there is a lot of guys in this league that have helped me that are doing quite well and have positions that they deserve. "I am happy for him. He deserves it. Joe (Dumars, the Pistons president of ..."

John Kuester says former Pistons coach Larry Brown is special

Comment

November 11

Detroit Free Press

"Pistons first-year coach John Kuester will try to treat the next game like every other, but that's not possible. That's because former Pistons coach Larry Brown will bring the Charlotte Bobcats to the Palace tonight and on a professional and -- more important -- a personal level, Kuester owes a lot to the man who guided Detroit to an NBA title in 2004. "Coach Brown has meant so much to my life," Kuester said after Tuesday's practice. "He's been very special, not only to me, but my family. "I'm very appreciative of everything he's done for me. I'm looking forward to seeing him." Kuester was a part of the staff in 2004 and comes from the same coaching tree started by former legendary North ..."

Pistons' John Kuester eager to face mentor Larry Brown

Comment

November 11

Detroit News

"The pupil faces the mentor Wednesday night. John Kuester was an assistant for Larry Brown -- now the head coach of the Charlotte Bobcats -- a total of seven seasons, in Detroit and Philadelphia. For a basketball lifer like Kuester, getting an opportunity to work with Brown was an unforgettable experience. "Coach Brown has meant so much to my life and he's been a very special not only to me, but my family. I appreciate everything he's done for me," Kuester said Tuesday after practice, as the Pistons prepared to face the Bobcats on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. at The Palace. "He's a competitor and he's somebody I learned so much from. I'm looking forward to seeing him.""

Pistons' Hamilton ruled out of Wednesday's game

Comment

November 10

Detroit News

"Richard Hamilton's severely sprained right ankle is going to idle him at least one more game. Coach John Kuester ruled Hamilton out for Wednesday's game against Charlotte. Hamilton isn't walking around with as significant of a limp as he did after spraining his ankle Opening Night in Memphis. But there's obviously enough discomfort to keep him out of the lineup. The Pistons are also without Tayshaun Prince, who is out indefinitely with a small ruptured disc"

Jonas Jerebko and Austin Daye are filling in well

Comment

November 10

Detroit News

"Life won't be easy for the indefinite time Tayshaun Prince is going to be out of the Pistons lineup. But while Prince is healing his small ruptured disc, suitable replacements appear to have been found. Rookies Jonas Jerebko and Austin Daye combined for 17 points, five rebounds, and quality defense in Sunday's victory over the 76ers, the first game since the Pistons announced Prince will be out of the lineup indefinitely. Replacing Prince's experience, and savvy on the floor, isn't going to happen. The rookies can't match Prince in those departments. But in terms of statistics, maybe they'll be able to come close. "I was very impressed with their willingness to play defense and their ..."

Pistons' Wallace kicks Sixers in the glass

Comment

November 9

Philadelphia Daily News

"Now in his second stint with the Detroit Pistons, some observers might think that center Ben Wallace is simply riding out the rest of his career with the team he won a championship with in 2004. He proved yesterday against the 76ers that he is still capable of much more than some courtesy minutes during a farewell tour. Wallace snared 16 rebounds, including seven off the offensive glass, blocked three shots and collected three steals to help the Pistons to an 88-81 win over the Sixers at the Palace of Auburn Hills. Mainly due to Wallace, the Pistons were able to outscore the Sixers 27-13 on second-chance points and limited the visitors to just 26 points in the paint, compared to the ..."

Villanueva finds his rhythm in Motown

Comment

November 9

Detroit Free Press

"The Pistons were nursing a four-point lead with 1:18 left when Charlie Villanueva received the pass along the baseline. In the early part of this young season, Villanueva might have just settled for the 15-footer. But in play that carried over from his fourth-quarter eruption Friday night at Orlando, Villanueva took it strong to the basket. He was denied on his first attempt, but he grabbed the rebound and floated in a short jump hook, and the Pistons were on their way to an 88-81 home victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday. Villanueva contributed 16 points and five rebounds to go along with the 28 points he scored in Friday night's loss to Orlando. After a slow start, the ..."

Rick Mahorn knows Tayshaun Prince's pain

Comment

November 9

Detroit Free Press

"Longtime Pistons fans probably remember watching former player Rick Mahorn lying on his stomach on the floor to rest his aching back during the team's postseason run during the 1987-88 season. He was suffering an injury similar to the one that will sideline starting small forward Tayshaun Prince indefinitely. For now, the remedy is rest for the ruptured disk in Prince's back, but possible surgery to correct the problem hasn't been ruled out. The team announced after Saturday's practice that the seven-year veteran will be out indefinitely. On Tuesday, Prince's streak of 436 consecutive starts ended because of the injury. The Pistons realized the seriousness of the injury Tuesday, and Prince ..."

Depleted Pistons rally past 76ers

Comment

November 9

Detroit News

"The Pistons are missing some experience and leadership without Tayshaun Prince (disc) and Richard Hamilton (sprained right ankle). This is a different team without the two mainstays, but they showed some definite poise Sunday afternoon in an 88-81 victory over the 76ers at The Palace. The 76ers (3-3) took a 77-73 lead on a Willie Green (Detroit) jumper with more than five minutes to play. But the Pistons (3-4) roared back, scoring eight consecutive points, including a pair of Ben Gordon jumpers, and played shutdown defense in the final two minutes to clinch the victory. Gordon had 23 points and Charlie Villanueva scored 16 for the Pistons. Ben Wallace had 16 rebounds. Andre Iguodala ..."

Wallace keys Pistons victory with 16 rebounds

Comment

November 9

Detroit News

"The Pistons are missing experience and leadership without Tayshaun Prince and Richard Hamilton. This is a different team without the two mainstays. A team that's still finding itself, but one that showed admirable poise and toughness Sunday afternoon in an 88-81 victory over Philadelphia at The Palace. "It speaks volumes for our players," said a pleased coach John Kuester, whose team didn't buckle after Philadelphia took a 77-73 lead with six minutes left in the game. "They're realizing they're never out of a game. It's another step for us to being a good team." Not that it was a must-win, but Kuester placed a bit more emphasis on this game after losses to Toronto and Orlando. In those ..."

Sixers soft on boards in loss

Comment

November 9

Philadelphia Inquirer

"Yesterday afternoon, the Detroit Pistons beat the 76ers not by making shots but by rebounding the shots they missed. The Pistons did it again and again - sometimes a few times in one possession - clearing space under the rim like fullbacks through a line. Led by the headbanded rebound-grabber known as Ben Wallace, Detroit defeated the Sixers, 88-81, at the Palace of Auburn Hills. The Pistons outrebounded the Sixers, 51-39. Detroit grabbed 21 offensive rebounds, scored 27 second-chance points, and accumulated 42 points in the paint. The Pistons, missing injured veterans Tayshaun Prince and Rip Hamilton, improved to 3-4. The Sixers dropped to 3-3. The Sixers will play the Phoenix Suns (6-1) ..."

Tayshaun Prince out indefinitely with disk rupture

Comment

November 8

Detroit Free Press

"It looks as if the Pistons will have to do without small forward Tayshaun Prince for the foreseeable future. The Pistons announced Saturday that Prince will be out indefinitely due to a small disk rupture in his lower back after an MRI exam confirmed the injury. The Pistons didn't give a timetable, but said Prince is being treated for the injury and will be evaluated further. Such an injury typically heals through rest, and surgery usually isn't necessary. But it's hard to say how long the recovery will be. Coach John Kuester was first informed there was something wrong with Prince's back at Tuesday morning's shoot-around, and Prince's streak of 436 consecutive starts ended that night in a ..."

Disk injury KOs Prince indefinitely

Comment

November 8

Detroit Free Press

"It looks as if the Pistons will have to do without small forward Tayshaun Prince for the foreseeable future. The Pistons announced Saturday that Prince will be out indefinitely due to a small disk rupture in his lower back after an MRI exam confirmed the injury. The Pistons didn't give a timetable, but said Prince is being treated for the injury and will be evaluated further. Such an injury typically heals through rest, and surgery usually isn't necessary. But it's hard to say how long the recovery will be. Coach John Kuester was first informed there was something wrong with Prince's back at Tuesday morning's shoot-around, and Prince's streak of 436 consecutive starts ended that night in a ..."

Tayshaun Prince out indefinitely with ruptured disc

Comment

November 8

Detroit News

"All those Tayshaun Prince trade rumors can be put to rest for the time being. The Pistons announced Saturday that Prince will be out of the lineup indefinitely because of a small rupture of a disc in his lower back. The injury was confirmed following an MRI exam late this week and by evaluation by team doctors. Prince will continue to receive treatment. The injury is a crushing blow to Prince, one of the more durable players in the league. Before getting hurt, Prince had a streak of 496 games played -- and 439 consecutive starts -- dating to the 2003-04 season. Prince played in the first three games this season, averaging 12.3 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 38.7 minutes."

Easy looks doom Detroit as coach's words ring true

Comment

November 7

Detroit Free Press

"Pistons coach John Kuester emphasized during the Friday morning shoot-around that the Magic would go for a knockout punch in the first quarter. And it appears the team didn't do a very good job of listening. The Magic (5-1) scored 40 points, rolled to a 17-point lead at the end of the first quarter and held off a late Pistons' (2-4) rally to take a 110-103 victory. The victory gave the Magic some momentary respite as it had lost 20 of the past 25 games to the Pistons. And Dwight Howard was the catalyst with 22 points and 12 rebounds to bounce back from his poor performance when he fouled out against the Pistons at the Palace on Tuesday night."

Slow traffic delays bus after Orlando shootings Pistons Basketball

Comment

November 7

Detroit Free Press

"Pistons coach John Kuester knew something was up when the team bus, headed to Friday morning's shoot-around, was delayed by slow-moving traffic and sirens. Just over a mile away from the Grand Bohemian, where the team was staying, a gunman had entered a downtown Orlando office building, killing one and injuring five, and law enforcement had started a manhunt. Bustling downtown Orlando came to a stop for almost 3 hours before the suspect was apprehended, but not before he caused some concern for the Pistons. Kuester learned of the situation after the team had returned from the shoot-around and received a call from trainer Mike Abdenour. The team was in contact with the league office, which ..."

Hamilton, Prince to miss Pistons game

Comment

November 6

Detroit News

"The Pistons aren't going to have Rip Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince tonight when they face the Orlando Magic. This will be the fifth game Hamilton has missed with a sprained right ankle. Prince will miss his second game with a lower back problem."

In the tales of two cities, Detroit and Orlando, one isn't pretty

Comment

November 6

Orlando Sentinel

"On Tuesday night in Auburn Hills, Mich., the Orlando Magic and Detroit Pistons played a basketball game in front of an announced crowd of 15,487. That left at least 6,589 empty seats inside an arena that until recently had hosted five consecutive years of sold-out NBA games. On Thursday morning in downtown Orlando, about 200 guests gathered as workmen fastened the final two structural steel beams to Amway Center, the future home of the Orlando Magic. That arena — which opens next October — and the team's 2009 NBA Finals appearance have helped the Magic build their ticket base and maintain sponsorship levels. Teams like the Pistons, who face the Magic tonight at Amway Arena, haven't been so ..."

Magic coach Stan Van Gundy doesn't expect him to play vs. Pistons

Comment

November 6

Orlando Sentinel

"Orlando Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said he doesn't expect to have SG Vince Carter (sprained left ankle) available Friday night against the Pistons. Carter sat out Wednesday night's game against the Phoenix Suns. Carter reinjured the ankle on Tuesday night against Detroit in Auburn Hills, Mich, and Van Gundy is second-guessing himself on whether he should have played him. "We probably shouldn't have played him in Detroit, but Vince said he wanted to go," Van Gundy said."We'd probably would have been better off sitting him." Carter originally injured the ankle last Friday night in New Jersey against the Nets."

Pistons News