Wow Pistons are back!

[JR Giddens]

They were amazing last night (despite 19 turnovers) and Iverson's penetration really spread out the floor. The Lakers were like 10-1 on their homecourt in the playoffs last year and they lost by 11 last night. Beating the Celtics or Lakers on their homecourt is 3X more impressive as beating them on the road. I thought the Nuggets would suffer by the trade and the Pistons would benefit but it last night is indication that both teams got better. I kind of wrote off the Pistons to be lower than the Hawks and Cavs but are you still cynical of AI on that team?

[housecall]

Its still early yet.One game doesn't tell a tale.My concerns with this team with AI now is more of personalities not gelling in the end or the chemistry working in the long haul.At the moment they are in the honeymoon stage.Lets see down in March or April what is going on with this team.As far as him joining their team i could care less personally.I just hope it doesn't work for our sakes. 

[NoraG1]

They were amazing last night (despite 19 turnovers) and Iverson's penetration really spread out the floor. The Lakers were like 10-1 on their homecourt in the playoffs last year and they lost by 11 last night. Beating the Celtics or Lakers on their homecourt is 3X more impressive as beating them on the road. I thought the Nuggets would suffer by the trade and the Pistons would benefit but it last night is indication that both teams got better. I kind of wrote off the Pistons to be lower than the Hawks and Cavs but are you still cynical of AI on that team?

How fast teams can be considered 'back' is 2 now? It is way too early to make judgements.

[Finkelskyhook]

They will be lucky to get to the second round of the playoffs.  They don't have a PG anymore and Iverson won't assume that role for any length of time without going back to being a shoot-first, second, and always PG.  They also gave up a great defensive PG for somebody who plays no defense.

One game does not a season make.

[LB3533]

If AI doesn't play defense, neither does Rondo....their same exact player on defense.

[Fafnir]

If AI doesn't play defense, neither does Rondo....their same exact player on defense.

You're not giving Rondo enough credit. While both get a number of steals out of the passing lanes, Rondo does not gamble nearly as much to get them. Nor is he abused off the dribble like AI can be. Rondo is also longer and is therefore better able to run out on shooters.

[jackson_34]

They will be lucky to get to the second round of the playoffs.  They don't have a PG anymore and Iverson won't assume that role for any length of time without going back to being a shoot-first, second, and always PG.  They also gave up a great defensive PG for somebody who plays no defense.

One game does not a season make.

While I do agree they will have a tough time during the playoffs with likes of atlanta and cleveland playing so well, they do have a great young point guard in Stuckey, who I hope gets the start for them by the end of the year.

[nickagneta]

They were amazing last night (despite 19 turnovers) and Iverson's penetration really spread out the floor. The Lakers were like 10-1 on their homecourt in the playoffs last year and they lost by 11 last night. Beating the Celtics or Lakers on their homecourt is 3X more impressive as beating them on the road. I thought the Nuggets would suffer by the trade and the Pistons would benefit but it last night is indication that both teams got better. I kind of wrote off the Pistons to be lower than the Hawks and Cavs but are you still cynical of AI on that team?

Dude, do you ever start a thread where you either praise the Celtics or criticize another team?

All your threads seem to be to brag about the players of the Celtics rivals, praise the Celtics rivals, or criticize and condemn Celtic players. And yet you continue to claim to be a Celtic fan? I don't get it.

You do know it's okay to post here and not admit to being a Celtic fan, don't you? If your a fan of another team, that's okay.

As for Detroit, I wouldn't go crazy because they beat your beloved Lakers. They aren't that good and Iverson only takes away from the chemistry that team has built over the years. After two losses and three wins I'm not about to crown them ECF champs.

[Roy Hobbs]

A reminder about our posting rules:

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[hoopaddict08]

I don't think the Pistons have really gone anywhere. Their first two games together were losses, but what do you expect? They had one practice in, if you watched them against LA team chemistry just wasn't a problem. This is team that looks hungry for another championship, something they lacked the past few years after their Finals loss to San Antonio. They aren't the same predictable team on offense, and that's going to be a huge advantage for them this year. And while Chauncey was a great defender, his defense has also cost them playoff games. Remember when Daniel Gibson lit him up with over 30 points during a game? So I definitely think this trade benefited both teams, but I also think Detroits chances at a title shot have increased since last year. Only time will tell.   

[NoraG1]

I don't think the Pistons have really gone anywhere. Their first two games together were losses, but what do you expect? They had one practice in, if you watched them against LA team chemistry just wasn't a problem. This is team that looks hungry for another championship, something they lacked the past few years after their Finals loss to San Antonio. They aren't the same predictable team on offense, and that's going to be a huge advantage for them this year. And while Chauncey was a great defender, his defense has also cost them playoff games. Remember when Daniel Gibson lit him up with over 30 points during a game? So I definitely think this trade benefited both teams, but I also think Detroits chances at a title shot have increased since last year. Only time will tell.   

They won the last 2 games. That is it. Too early to decide anything. If Detroit is really hungry for a champiobship we will find out but the last 2 games do not prove anything.

[LB3533]

While I agree that there needs to be a larger body of work before we can properly evaluate the current Piston's team...beating the undefeated Lakers is no easy task.

The Lakers are playing like the way the Celtics were playing early last year....sheer domination.

[hoopaddict08]

I don't think the Pistons have really gone anywhere. Their first two games together were losses, but what do you expect? They had one practice in, if you watched them against LA team chemistry just wasn't a problem. This is team that looks hungry for another championship, something they lacked the past few years after their Finals loss to San Antonio. They aren't the same predictable team on offense, and that's going to be a huge advantage for them this year. And while Chauncey was a great defender, his defense has also cost them playoff games. Remember when Daniel Gibson lit him up with over 30 points during a game? So I definitely think this trade benefited both teams, but I also think Detroits chances at a title shot have increased since last year. Only time will tell.   

They won the last 2 games. That is it. Too early to decide anything. If Detroit is really hungry for a champiobship we will find out but the last 2 games do not prove anything.

That's why I said only time will tell.

[nickagneta]

Update on this thread:

Phoenix 104
Detroit 86

Allen Iverson 4 for 17 with 5 points and 5 turnovers


So can we once again talk about just how back the Pistons are? I think Iverson is going to revert right back to Iverson, that is he will over-dribble, over shoot, kill team chemistry, get beaten badly by good PGs, and lead his team out of the playoffs short of expectations.

Iverson was brought in as an expiring contract not as a franchise savior. He will not be there next year and neither will Rasheed. Heck Rasheed might not be there until the end of this year. Pistons are now in full rebuild mode and are going nowhere.

EDIT: As pointed out Iverson had 9 points. My fingers are too fast for my own good sometimes. Thanks big guy

[Redz]

Update on this thread:

Phoenix 104
Detroit 86

Allen Iverson 4 for 17 with 5 points and 5 turnovers

Nick, I'm sure it was typo, but Iverson had 9 points (5 pts with 4 fgs would be quite a trick )...He did have 7 assists too, but point taken (and I'm not refuting your point, just making the slight correction).