NBA / Nov 19, 2008 / 9:46 pm
The Pistons are running
Allen Iverson (photo. Gary Land)Whereas Mo Williams showed why he’s been an invaluable pickup for the Cavs in the first half , Allen Iverson is showing why he’ll have the Pistons in the championship picture in the second.
Capitalizing on a turnover-filled third quarter from the Cavs, A.I. got out and ran, giving the Pistons several easy transition buckets. As they’ve since taken the lead in the fourth quarter — ahead by nine as I write this and also thanks to some Rasheed threes — it’s their transition game that’s put them in position to win this game. When Iverson, Arron Afflalo, Rodney Stuckey, Jason Maxiell and ‘Sheed are on the court at the same time, Detroit is as fast as any squad in the League.
November 19th, 2008 at 9:49 pm
Bone says:
I know the average fan is going to be a robot and vote for Dwight Howard as the starting center for the Eastern Conference in the All-Star Game, but Rasheed should get the nod at this rate. He is playin out of his mind lately.
November 19th, 2008 at 9:54 pm
Austin Burton says:
I know what you mean, but I’d still take Dwight. I think he’s still leading the NBA in blocks, and as of a few days ago I think he was leading in rebounds.
November 19th, 2008 at 10:00 pm
Bone says:
That triple dip he had was crazy. I guess my point was more that ‘Sheed should at least get consideration. Count me as one of the people who considers Rasheed a top ten talent and it’s just fun to see him actually play like it, consistantly.
November 19th, 2008 at 11:30 pm
MoxWestCoastRep says:
Shouldnt the story be that the Nuggets are 7-1 (Including wins at Boston and San Antonio) with Chauncey and the Stones are 4-3 with AI? I think we know who got the better end of that deal.
And Sheed has no where near the talent/athletic ability of DH. So sign me as a robot cause Howard is my starting C for the all-star team and sheed aint even in the conversation. Defense, Rebounding, presence…everything you want your Center to do Howard gets the nod. Sheed might be better at shooting threes and running his mouth but thats about it.
November 19th, 2008 at 11:38 pm
tim says:
WOW. Who has Denver played going 7-1 besides Boston…the Spurs aren’t the same Spurs without Ginobli or Parker…
Pistons went 3-1 on a tough 4 game West Coast Trip…AND they beat the Leagues two of the top teams in the league…granted is early.
But to see AI penetrate and cut to the hoop for AND 1s and all that is something Billups could NOT do…If I’m down one, I’ll take AI’s driving layups over Chauncey’s heat check 3’s anyday…so I say Detroit will have the benefit of this deal in the long run…
Wait till the Pistons play Boston tomorrow…should be a good one.
November 19th, 2008 at 11:47 pm
Dagomar says:
Cavs ran out of gas at the end, too bad!
November 20th, 2008 at 12:13 am
qUeSt??? says:
visions of grandeur!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! this is what dumars saw ! if the pistons play like this every game, i see no reason why they cant challenge the lakers and celtics for the nba title! they have already beaten the lakers and they play boston tomorrow, and i dont think its going to be a blowout this time because ai has had more time to get used to detroits offense. btw that nuggets record with chauncey is fool’s gold, u will see that they will not get too far in the playoffs, and i bet u that if these two teams played right now, the pistons would win.
November 20th, 2008 at 1:14 am
Obama says to McCain: "Hows my @ss taste"!! says:
MoxWestCoastRep
The only team the Nuggets have played with a winning record was Boston. Im not trying to take anything away from them because I think the trade will go well for both teams because both guys provide what the other team needed…but give me a break. The Nuggets have probably had one of the least hardest schedules in the NBA this past few weeks..while Detroit has probably had one of the toughest. The Nuggets played their first game on the road with Iverson, turned around and had to play Boston while still trying to get used to Iverson…just to have to turn around and go on a West Coast trip where they were 3-1, just to turn around and play the CAVS then play Boston tomorrow. So im just sayin.. while a W is a W, there is a little deception in that “7-1 with Chauncy”. While I think the Nuggets will do well with having another true PG, all they look like to me is the team they were before they traded for Iverson. They had a true PG before and didnt go anywhere..they were 1 and done in the playoffs before Iverson and were 1 and done with him, which to me is more of a reflection on that organization then it is on Iverson. Your comment just reaks of hatred. LOL!! Damn, Iverson cant get no credit for anything without someone going out their way to hate.
Also, the story isnt about Denver because Dime didnt want it to be.
Im sure they will get their weak @ss shot out when Dime gives their recap of all the games tonight.
November 20th, 2008 at 1:16 am
Obama says to McCain: "Hows my @ss taste"!! says:
^Ooops, I meant to say “Detroit played their first game on the road with Iverson”.
November 20th, 2008 at 4:06 am
Pioneer says:
I’m not sure if this game proved anything for the Pistons. Rasheed hit some buckets he hits about once every 5 games. If he misses a couple of those 30 footers (and Mo wasn’t in foul trouble) the Cavs probably would’ve won.
They still rely far too much on the jump shooting to be a legit threat in the playoffs.
November 20th, 2008 at 5:33 am
Obama says to McCain: "Hows my @ss taste"!! says:
“Rasheed hit some buckets he hits about once every 5 games. If he misses a couple of those 30 footers (and Mo wasn’t in foul trouble) the Cavs probably would’ve won”.
^ And if my Aunt had balls then she’d be my uncle.
I think Dime is just trying to point out that Iverson is not messing with the teams chemistry (the way some claimed he would) and that he is showing why they brought him there and how the Pistons now have a new dynamic that they hadnt had before. That Pistons team is now built to adapt to just about any teams style of play. That team is now able to play half court offense or run with the best of them. If they get McDeyss back, then they wont need much else.
Its not the fact that they won, its the way they won. That teams main problem in the past is that they had the tendency to get stagnent on offense (that was their main trouble against Boston last season in the playoffs). With Iverson, he doesnt have to score as much as he has in the past, but he is now able to help take them over the top or charge up their offense when they need it most. I dont see why people are acting as if Detroit has something to prove when it comes to the playoffs..that team has been to the ECF like 6 times in a row. Yes Chauncy is gone, but they still have all their veteren players that know how to win. If anything, this should have been more of a statement game for the CAVS to see if their 8-0 run was legit and see how they would do against another Elite team that they could face in the playoffs. The CAVS Coach said after the game that he had never seen his team so discumbabulated. Detroit was throwing something new at them every minute, they weren’t expecting it and didnt know how to take it.
I swear, I think some people just want Iverson and this team to fail. I used to be one of Iversons biggest critics, but I have to say I like so far what I see on this Detroit team and hope he and that team succeeds, this Detroit team is down and dirty and also more entertaining then previous years. I hope Chauncey and his team succeeds as well, because Chauncey is a stand up guy.
November 20th, 2008 at 5:50 am
Dequervaine says:
if they can’t get a low post presence (since sheed is addicted to threes) he should be playin like tim duncan does for the spurs (which he CAN) for the pistons to be champs..they can’t get that far…
November 20th, 2008 at 9:38 am
Jim says:
“They still rely far too much on the jump shooting to be a legit threat in the playoffs.”
This Pistons dominated the points in the paint last night against the Cavs. I believe it was 44-20.
As much as I like to see Sheed in the post, it actually makes a lot of sense for him to stay out on the perimeter when AI and Stuckey are in the game. Both those guys are very good at getting into the lane, so by Sheed staying out around the 3 point line it creates a lot of space for them to get to the hoop. If the defense collapses on them, Sheed (or whoever is playing the 3) can get wide open looks.
November 20th, 2008 at 11:05 am
douglalr says:
When did it become the “in” thing to hate on Iverson? The Pistons lost Ben Wallace (their heart and soul) and still made it to the conference finals. Now they have AI and they have to prove they’re a contender????? When did Iverson become Eddy Curry, Chaning Frye, Jeff Foster etc.? In fact, take a look at the past Olympic team and tell me how of them did what Iverson did at a similar stage in their NBA career (and before you point out he lost the Olympics remember the greatest power forward of our time took the L too…) now where was I…oh yeah…hell, how many of them do more for their team than he does now? And as far as the better of the trade…come see me when Denver wins over 50 games and wins more than one playoff game before saying a border-line hall of famer is better than a first ballot HOF member