<div align="center"> <span style="font-size:24pt;line-height:100%">@</span> January 19, 2007 - 8:00 pm ET<span style="color:#FF0000">Game on ESPN</span></div><span style="color:#0000FF">Detroit Pistons</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">(21-16)</span><span style="color:#FF0000">PG</span> <span style="color:#0000FF">Chauncey Billups</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">SG</span> <span style="color:#0000FF">Rip Hamilton</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">SF</span> <span style="color:#0000FF">Tayshaun Prince</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">PF</span> <span style="color:#0000FF">Chris Webber</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">C</span> <span style="color:#0000FF">Rasheed Wallace</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Key Bench Players:</span> <span style="color:#0000FF">Antonio McDyess, Carlos Delfino, Lindsey Hunter, Dale Davis, Flip Murray</span> <span style="color:#000080">Minnesota Timberwolves</span> <span style="color:#000000">(20-17)</span><span style="color:#000000">PG</span> <span style="color:#000080">Mike James</span> <span style="color:#000000">SG</span> <span style="color:#000080">Ricky Davis</span> <span style="color:#000000">SF</span> <span style="color:#000080">Trenton Hassell</span> <span style="color:#000000">PF</span> <span style="color:#000080">Kevin Garnett</span> <span style="color:#000000">C</span> <span style="color:#000080">Mark Blount</span> <span style="color:#000000">Key Bench Players:</span> <span style="color:#000080">Randy Foye, Craig Smith, Troy Hudson, Justin Reed, Bracey Wright</span> Injury Report<span style="color:#000000">MIN:</span> <span style="color:#000080">Rashad McCants is out for season (recovering from knee surgery)</span> Who To Watch Out For<span style="color:#0000FF">Chauncey Billups</span><span style="color:#FF0000">Season Stats: 18.3 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 8.1 apg</span><span style="color:#0000FF">Rip Hamilton</span><span style="color:#FF0000">Season Stats: 22.9 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 3.6 apg</span><span style="color:#0000FF">Rasheed Wallace</span><span style="color:#FF0000">Season Stats: 11.9 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 1.7 bpg</span><span style="color:#0000FF">Tayshaun Prince</span><span style="color:#FF0000">Season Stats: 15.6 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 3.0 apg</span><span style="color:#000080">Kevin Garnett</span><span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 22.4 ppg, 12.6 rpg, 4.4 apg, 1.2 spg, 2.0 bpg</span><span style="color:#000080">Ricky Davis</span><span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 15.7 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 4.4 apg</span><span style="color:#000080">Mike James</span><span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 11.6 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 4.3 apg</span>Rookie Watch <span style="color:#FF0000">DET:</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Will Blalock</span><span style="color:#000000">Overall Selection: 60</span><span style="color:#FF0000">Season Stats:</span> <span style="color:#0000FF">1.8 ppg, 1.0 rpg, 1.3 apg</span> <span style="color:#000000">MIN:</span> <span style="color:#000080">Randy Foye</span><span style="color:#000000">Overall Selection: 7</span><span style="color:#000000">Season Stats:</span> <span style="color:#000080">8.4 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 2.2 apg</span> <span style="color:#000000">MIN:</span> <span style="color:#000080">Craig Smith</span><span style="color:#000000">Overall Selection: 36</span><span style="color:#000000">Season Stats:</span> <span style="color:#000080">6.5 ppg, 4.7 rpg</span> <span style="color:#0000FF">Detroit's X-Factor</span><span style="color:#0000FF">Chris Webber</span><span style="color:#FF0000">Season Stats: 10.5 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 3.4 apg</span><span style="color:#FF0000">As A Piston: 2.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 3.0 apg</span><span style="color:#0000FF">It's his second game as a Piston, but I'd like to see C-Webb do something tonight. I want to see him play effectively and efficiently (two words that we have rarely seen in the past two seasons).</span><span style="color:#000080">Minnesota's X-Factor</span><span style="color:#000080">Mark Blount</span><span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 13.1 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 0.9 bpg</span><span style="color:#000080">Which Mark will we see tonight? The one that is motivated and can come away with a double-double? Or the lazy one who will shoot 15 footers only and grab 5-6 rebounds? He has been playing excellent ball over the last month. We'll see what Blount comes out for this one.</span> <div align="center">Key Matchup vs. <span style="color:#0000FF">Rip Hamilton</span> <span style="color:#000000">vs.</span> <span style="color:#000080">Ricky Davis</span></div><span style="color:#000000">Ricky D will be the guy with the assignment of chasing Rip around. Trenton Hassell will as well. But Ricky is one of the most lethal 1-on-1 scorers in the league when he's on, and Rip is arguably the best conditioned NBA player, who also happens to have arguably the best mid-range game in the NBA. This should be a good one.</span> CelticBalla's Extra Thoughts/NotesMinnesota has been playing well lately, winning 7 of their last 10 games. Detroit, who just got Chauncey back, has won just 3 of their last 10, including 2 straight losses. CelticBalla's PredictionI think the Wolves are going to take this one, actually. I realize Chauncey just came back the other day, but the Wolves are playing such good basketball right now. I think they pull it out at home in a close one. The safe route would be to pick Detroit to win, but I'm not playing it safe. I'll say Wolves win by 6.
I want Minny to kick some ass, but I know the Pistons are going to win this one.They have to get used to play with Webber, and I think they will do a pretty good job tonight and get the W.
Detroit is winning this IMO if Webber gets going. With Billups back we should win this and we need to stop the slump.
Why does ever one think Webber will do great?IMO, he still wont do nothing. His years with the Kings are over with.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (SunnyD @ Jan 19 2007, 01:15 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Where's Nazr Mohammed? Webber is starting tonight.</div>I left Nazr out because I'm pretty sure he was benched last game. No? Didn't it have something to do with him being a whine-ass about his minutes and touches? And didn't he ask for a trade?Thanks about Webber though. It will be interesting to see, although I do not think that Webber will settle for minimal touches in the long run. He will be fine and dandy at first, sure, but we'll see what happens as time goes on.EDIT: What's up with Jason Maxiell? Why didn't he play the other night?
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticBalla32 @ Jan 19 2007, 02:56 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>EDIT: What's up with Jason Maxiell? Why didn't he play the other night?</div>Blame Flip and his horrible rotations. Maxiell should be seeing at least 10 minutes a game. In only 5 minutes he got 5 points and 2 offensive boards tonight. Him and Webber would rack up so many points and assists. Webber posts up, demands a double team, and hits Maxiell as the trailer for the thunderdunk.Anyway, nice game for Webber so far. 8-4-3 in 18 minutes. I expect those numbers to rise as he gets more comfortable here.
Webber definitely is a center as he doesn't have the speed to stay with some of the power forwards. Rasheed is a perfect complimentary player for Webber. I expect Detroit to win tonight.
Man I love seeing Rasheed's defense on KG - he's been keeping KG pretty quiet.Also - the refs are screwing with Sheed.About Webber - for a 1st start, he has been playing great.12pts - 5 rebs, and 3 assists...not bad at all.
HAHAHA wow!!!!Ok...McDyess and Madsen were fighting for a rebound - and McDyess got the better of Madsen.So Kevin Garnett says something to McDyess and Pushes Dyess...Dyess than pushes back and KG throws the ball at McDyess.So McDyess goes at KG trying to get to him but KG runs back as fast as he could.haha KG and Dyess are both ejected...but as McDyess was leaving the court I read his lips yelling at KG - "Pussy, you're STILL a pussy!"hah I love Dyess.
Wow I just started watching. I can't believe Dyess and Garnett were ejected.79-79 tie shot clock is off with 22.5 seconds left. Let us have Billups work his magic in the clutch.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (SunnyD @ Jan 19 2007, 10:26 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Wow I just started watching. I can't believe Dyess and Garnett were ejected.79-79 tie shot clock is off with 22.5 seconds left. Let us have Billups work his magic in the clutch.</div>Ahh this is close - an excellent game though. We really need this win, too - hopefully we can get it tonight.Things they're prob gonna try:1. Wind it down to the last 8 seconds.2. Take Randy Foye all the way down and try to score it or a foul.
You kidding me?That was a ugly ass play.I would of shot the 3 after a pick and won the dam game. Bad playing calling.
The McDyess/Garnett conflict was pretty ignorant over that elbow to Madsen. Ignorant as in the way McDyess had to do what he did with the elbow push/shove. I understand Garnett steaming off and throwing the ball at him, but it was still pretty sad to see him to do that. He should have just kept his cool, said a few words if he really desperately *had* to, and then went back to focus on the game.
I'm gonna miss this OT, Cavs are coming on.I think the Pistons will win, but good luck Minny. I'm rooting for u.
