Pistons try to put Celtics on the ropes
First, in case you missed it: yes, Boston’s locker room was sweltering on Monday. Were the Pistons playing tricks on the visitors? Probably not … but I’m curious to see if the ghost of Red Auerbach turns off the Pistons’ hot water after the game. With a win tonight the…
May 31, 2008, 9:15 PM ET from Detroit Bad Boys
Stat geeks everywhere love Amir Johnson
Count the Basket compares and contrasts the results of several advanced player rating systems, (including some I’ve never even heard of) … I took a look at seven popular player ratings. Two basic linear weights metrics based on boxscore stats - John Hollinger’s Player Efficiency…
May 31, 2008, 9:00 PM ET from Detroit Bad Boys
Brief thoughts
The season ended much earlier than I thought it would, so I’m going to let this marinate a little bit and try to enjoy the rest of the weekend before posting some kind of grand finale. But first, some brief reactions: Congratulations to the Celtics, who convinced me they’re the better…
May 31, 2008, 8:45 PM ET from Detroit Bad Boys
Third quarter: Lakers 64, Spurs 63
The Lakers have climbed up the mountain and can see the summit. After trailing for most of the game, the Lakers take a 64-63 lead into the fourth quarter as they attempt to reach the NBA Finals for the first time since 2004. After Duncan missed a pair of free throws with San Antonio ahead, 56-48,…
May 31, 2008, 02:30 AM ET from Lakers: Locker Talk by Kevin Ding
Foul play, Pop’s blunder and Kobe’s free throws
Forgive this intrusion into my man Kevin Ding’s world, but I just wanted to bring your attention to some bonus Lakers material available elsewhere on OCRegister.com: ** Did Derek Fisher foul Brent Barry? You can make the call by clicking here. ** Lev’s leftover observations from…
May 31, 2008, 02:15 AM ET from Lakers: Locker Talk by Kevin Ding
Lakers-Celtics first look
Celtics player to watch: Point guard Rajon Rondo, 22, is in just his second NBA season and has been up and down in the postseason, misfiring often when opposing coaches have forced him to take jumpers. He does have 6.6-to-1.9 assist-to-turnover ratio in the postseason and must be stable in getting…
May 31, 2008, 02:00 AM ET from Lakers: Locker Talk by Kevin Ding
Friday’s Layup Drill
Rasheed Wallace was fined 25 large for his profanity-laced tirade. Over at FanHouse, I revealed what I think to be a pretty ingenious solution to future fines. Speaking of bleeps, Michael Rosenberg writes for the Free Press: As he stood in the Pistons locker room Wednesday night, after a painful…
May 30, 2008, 9:45 PM ET from Detroit Bad Boys
Game 6: This is for everything
I’m at the Palace for FanHouse. Leave your thoughts in the comments.
May 30, 2008, 9:30 PM ET from Detroit Bad Boys
Talking to CelticsBlog’s Steve Weinman
There’s no love lost between Celtics fans and Pistons fans, and it’s been that way for decades. That said, I’d buy the guys at CelticsBlog a beer any day. I made a cameo answering a few questions over there earlier today, and CelticBlog’s Steve Weinman returned the favor…
May 30, 2008, 8:30 PM ET from Detroit Bad Boys
Paul Pierce: Game 5 is a “must-win”
The Pistons never use the phrase “must-win game” unless they’re literally at risk of being eliminated. A lot of fans don’t agree with it, but now I see why they do it. From the MetroWest Daily News (via CelticsBlog): While no one was particularly happy with the Game 4 effort…
May 30, 2008, 8:15 PM ET from Detroit Bad Boys
“It’s all (bleeping) entertainment”
Rasheed Wallace wasn’t impressed by the officiating last night: “All that bull(bleep)-ass calls they had out there. With Mike [Callahan] and Kenny [Mauer] — you’ve all seen that (bleep),” Wallace said. “You saw them calls. The cats are flopping all over the…
May 30, 2008, 7:45 PM ET from Detroit Bad Boys
NBA will enforce the No Ginobili Rule!
The NBA will fine egregious floppers starting next year. There really will be a No Ginobili rule!
May 30, 2008, 7:30 PM ET from Detroit Bad Boys
Down, but not out
Wow. That game was … wow. As Henry Abbott pointed out on TrueHoop, Pistons fans are no strangers to suffering through heartbreaking Game 5 losses. But you know what? I’ll take this. This feels different. Believe me, there’s plenty of frustration and a tinge a regret for the…
May 30, 2008, 7:15 PM ET from Detroit Bad Boys
Rip Hamilton has a strained elbow
The Boston Globe posted the entire transcript of Flip Saunders’ post-game presser — here’s his answer when asked about Rip Hamilton’s elbow: Q. Just give us an update on what you know what Richard did to his hand. COACH FLIP SAUNDERS: Rip strained a right elbow. It’s…
May 30, 2008, 7:00 PM ET from Detroit Bad Boys
Minnesota will keep their second-rounder
From A. Sherrod Blakely of Booth Newspapers: The Pistons were hopeful that they would have the Minnesota Timberwolves’ second-round pick in next month’s NBA draft, which is at the top of the second round, and 31st overall. But Joe Dumars, Detroit’s president of basketball…
May 30, 2008, 6:45 PM ET from Detroit Bad Boys
Walter Herrmann is a wanted man
Courtesy of PistonsForum comes the news that Pamesa Valencia, a team in Spain’s ACB league, wants to sign Walter Herrmann, who’s set to become an unrestricted free agent. Chris McCosky thinks Herrmann “will get the first crack” at being Tayshaun Prince’s backup if he…
May 30, 2008, 6:15 PM ET from Detroit Bad Boys
Pre-order the FreeDarko book
“The Macrophenomenal Pro Basketball Almanac: Styles, Stats and Stars in Today’s Game,” aka, the FreeDarko book, won’t technically be available until November, but you can get it cheap if you pre-order it now.
May 30, 2008, 6:00 PM ET from Detroit Bad Boys
Hornets Off-Season: The Draft
I've poured over the various sites that give Draft information and put together the players I'd like to see the Hornets bring in for workouts and possibly snag in the Draft if they don't trade the pick. In accordance with the off-season priority I put up yesterday, I focused…
May 30, 2008, 6:00 PM ET from Hornets247.com Blog
Rip: “There’s no way in hell I’m not playing tonight”
From A. Sherrod Blakely of Booth Newspapers: Richard Hamilton’s strained right elbow is still not feeling great, but it won’t keep him out of the lineup tonight. As he was making his way off the practice floor to receive treatments, he told me “there’s no way in hell…
May 30, 2008, 5:45 PM ET from Detroit Bad Boys
Embrace the “combo guard”
People say the phrase “combo guard” like it’s a dirty word, but guess what: most of the league’s elite point guards are in reality combo guards. Personally, I’d prefer this stay our little secret: it’s why guys like Rodney Stuckey fall out of the lottery and into…
May 30, 2008, 05:30 AM ET from Detroit Bad Boys
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