Detroit Recap

Hey Everybody. So back in the day when everybody was signing up for games they would recap I signed up for the Pistons (as well as next week's Bulls game). So I figured I'd right up a little something about the game.

Obviously coming into this game there are some pretty trite ESPN style narratives: "Potential Finals Matchup"; "Spurs Need to bounce back after hard Hornets loss"; as well as lingering questions about our performance against +500 teams. Before I get too far into the recap let me just say that the reason I chose this game is because I actually love watching the Pistons. My appreciation of them flows from the arrogance of having beaten them in the finals, and therefore from atop our perch I can look down and say "they were a noble opponent", but I appreciate them nonetheless.

Anyways, I missed the very beginning of the game because I was running from work to a sports bar near my apt. (I live in Chicago), and when I got there it was 12-8, which makes me happy. I have felt like several times this year we have played mediocre, if not totally awful 1st quarters and it was nice to see us put up 26. Oddly enough, I even thought Horry was playing well in the 1st. He made some good shots and a few smart passes and played alright D. The shit-show 2nd quarter negated anything good he did in the 1st, but that's another story.

I think the underlying narrative of this game is Bowen's absence. In general he is one of the most quietly effective guys in the league (as back-court defense tends to be), but in this instance the strength of Billups/Hamilton/Prince means that Bruce's absence uniquely hurts us. It means we have to shift Manu on to Billups (he is just to strong for tony to guard, whether Bruce is there or not) and put finley on Prince. I would like to take a moment to talk about Tayshaun Prince, who behind Manu, is probably the second most underrated guy in the league. He can shoot. He can drive. He actually lays down some sick dunks with those long-ass limbs of his. And he plays good D (again, note the long limbs). I think part of the reason he had sucha big night is because Bowen (and Udoka) were not out there and of their back-court guys he draws the good match-up.

As far as general observations on the game go, we played alright. I wasn't too frustrated with the loss. We were in D-town and lets be honest, after the slaughter that was the NO game, I just kind of wanted us to be in it. Parker had a really good game. He was gutsy and focused. I liked it. Duncan played well although he keeps doing this thing where he misses low-post shots in the last 2 minutes of close games (note the most recent Phoenix game). What's that about? Don't do that.

Other important questions that come to mind: why is it nobody crashes the boards when we shoot a 18 footer? We got killed on the boards in the 1st half. I mean killed. Why did Bonner log so many 2nd half minutes? I know Udoka and Bowen were out but really. It was like we had 4 people out there.

Ginobili generally had a quiet game. I know the talking heads will hack it up to Pistons-D but that's just not what it looked like to me. He just wasn't being aggressive with the ball, wasn't creating shots for himself. He didn't play poorly. I just thought his game seemed tempered. One excellent Ginobili moment: I watched the game on NBA tv (was it on FSN in Texas?). Either way, during a long break while they mopped up some sweat, they cut to Billups and Parker chatting and smiling, and to Sheed and Duncan doing the same. Which is nice. I like to think that these guys are friends. Either way, during the little moment they were having, did anyone catch how Manu stormed over to Duncan, interrupted Sheed and began intensely discussing the next play. I just thought it was great while everyone else was dicking around Manu is in the corner stewing about the next play. A small thing, but sometimes the little things illuminate the larger picture.

As far as my top 3 players of the game go, I'd give it to Duncan, Hamilton, Parker, in that order. Prince played well, but Hamilton's "and one" at the end of the game is what sealed the deal. whether the foul was bullshit or not, it was a clutch shot.

That's all I got. I could go on for forever, as I do really love discussing the nuances of the Spurs/Pistons matchup but I'll just stop. I'm going to the Bulls/Spurs game on the 20th and doing the recap for that too.

-Kid Dynamite