<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Friday, March 3, 2006Pistons at Sonics Preview: Game 58The Pistons will play the third of for straight road games as they travel to Seattle to take on Ray Allen and the Seattle SuperSonics on Friday, March 3rd at 10:30 p.m. at KeyArena. The Pistons (47-10) defeated the Sonics (22-36) in Detroit on January 6th 97-85. Tayshaun Prince and Chauncey Billups led the Pistons with 21 points each while Ben Wallace added 21 rebounds. Seattle?s Rashard Lewis led all scorers with 27 points and eight rebounds. Seattle was off to a rough start this season with a disappointing 14-17 record while also allowing opponents to score a league-worst 104.93 points per game and shooting a league-high 49.5 percent from the field. The Sonics had high hopes for this season after finishing with a 52-30 record last year and advancing to the second round of the playoffs since missing the postseason the previous two years. In an effort to turn things around, the Sonics front office fired coach Bob Weiss just 30 games into his three-year contract and replaced him with assistant coach Bob Hill. Unfortunately Coach Hill has had no better luck going just 8-19 since taking the position. In an effort to recover, Hill and the Sonics made some recent changes to the Seattle roster. On February 23 the Sonics acquired Bryon Russell, Earl Watson and a 2008 second-round draft pick from the Denver Nuggets in a four-team trade that sent Reggie Evans to Denver and Vitaly Potapenko to Sacramento. In a separate deal, Seattle acquired Mike Wilks from the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for Ronald Murray and some cash considerations. The Sonics are hoping these changes will improve the team?s defense. Currently, while the team is scoring the second most points in the league with 101.7 points per game, they are also allowing opponents to score a league high 106.7 points per game. Nonetheless, it has been Sonics guard Ray Allen and forward Rashard Lewis who have been leading the team so far this season. Allen?s 24.9 points (fifth in the West), 3.3 assists, and 1.46 steals per game have been instrumental to Seattle scoring 101.7 points per game. Rashard Lewis? 21.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.28 steals per game have also given them an additional lift in the paint. Seattle is coming off a 114-104 victory Tuesday night against the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets. Ray Allen led all scorers with 33 points including going five-for-seven from three-point land, while Rashard Lewis added 25. Friday?s game will be the second of five straight home games for the Sonics. The Pistons are hoping to bounce back after a 87-98 loss in Denver on Wednesday night, however, it will be tough as Detroit has lost seven of the last ten games in Seattle. Injury Reports: Sonics forward Danny Fortson has missed 22 games due to a sore left knee and is unlikely for Friday night?s game.</div>I think that the Pistons will take care of business on the road after that frustrating loss to the Nuggets. I expect Tayshaun to come off of his slump and deliver for the Pistons.
21-24 Pistons down after one. the Sonics came out good the pistons narrowed it with a 8-3 run...stay tuned
50-47 at half. chauncey went off in the last 3 minutes of the half. i say the pistons win an easy one.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (GrandMasterA @ Mar 3 2006, 11:50 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>50-47 at half. chauncey went off in the last 3 minutes of the half. i say the pistons win an easy one.</div>Nice Teamwork!!! :rock: Well it hasn't been as easy as you said, Sonics just took a 76-75 lead with about 8:00 to go...Keep on watchin'NVM, Sheed just hit a three, 78-76--oops, now its 80-78...
Rip is becoming another clutch option for the Pistons. Glad to see he stepped up in the end of the game.
