Pistons @ Nuggets Detroit Pistons(39-25) @ Denver Nuggets(33-29) Previous Game Pistons 83 @ Blazers 68 Nets 95 @ Nuggets 91 Streaks Pistons: Won 1 (6-4 in last ten) Nuggets: Lost 1 (4-6 in last ten) Head Coaches vs. Brown vs. Bzdelik Probable Starters PG: vs. Billups vs. Miller SG: vs. Hunter vs. Lenard SF: vs. Prince vs. Anthony PF: vs. Wallace vs. Nene C: vs. Wallace vs. Elson 6th Men vs. Williamson vs. Boykins Players to Watch vs. Milicic: 1.4 Points (.296 FG%, .579 FT%), .2 Assists, .8 Rebounds, .2 Steals, .3 Blocks Anthony: 20.4 Points (.429 FG %, .764 FT%), 2.7 Assists, 6.2 Rebounds, 1.19 Steals Sorry, I couldn't resist. Darko has a chance to prove that he is worth the #2 pick. (Assuming he plays. ) Darko has very well reounded stats, everything hovers around .2-.8 for his stats. Injury Lists Detroit Pistons Richard Hamilton is not with the team. Mehmet Okur Denver Nuggets Marcus Camby Ryan Bowen Jeff Trepagnier Mark Pope Keys to the Game <u>Detroit Pistons:</u> <ul> [*]Carmelo Anthony (The Nuggets need him to have an excellent game. Detroit is playing better and they will need to stop Anthony, even though he isn't responsible for making them good by himself this year.) [*]Attack the basket (Detroit has an excellent front court, even without Memo. They can dominate against the Nuggets inside with Rasheed, Ben, and Corliss.) [*]Rebound the ball (We took advantage of the Blazers and they have a very good front court. We should be win the rebounding war again tonight.) [*]Play Larry Brown's style of basketball/Spread the ball around (The Pistons need to get back the basics of spreading the ball around and getting open shots. The Pistons also need some smart bench play and some excellent execution on the offensive end.) [/list] <u>Denver Nuggets:</u> <ul> [*]Guard Rasheed Wallace (Rasheed will probably be looking to have a big game again tonight.) [*]Don't let Billups take the outside shot (He is deadly from that range and if he gets hot then he can destroy Denver.) [*]Penetrate and dish the ball (If Denver penetrates, they need to be able to kick it out so that the shot isn't erased by the Wallaces.) [*]Good play for Carmelo, Miller and Boykins (These players have been responsible for helping the Nuggets be on their way to the playoffs this year, at least so far. They will need to be able to challange the Pistons for the whole game.) [/list] PyroManiac's Prediction Detroit is on a role with a huge win against the Blazers. So far, we are 2-1 on this trip, lets make it 3-1! Darko against Carmelo in the final quarter. Darko outscores him by 4 in the 4th. My bold prediction. This preview is kinda for fun, so don't pay attention too much to it, I just needed to have a fun preview. Pistons by 6.
Nice Preview Pyro. This will be a close one IMO. I think the Pistons are at disadvantage because they are away. But with that superior linup of theirs they should pull off the W. Pistons by 4
Detriot without Okur and Hamilton will be some sort of a lag for the pistons, but I think the pistons will still win it.
look for carmelo to try and have a big game. for the piston's sake, if carmelo forces things and puts up a low FG%, they should take advantage. this will definitely been a good one.
I agree with iamme, Melo will want to show the Pistons why they should have given him a look last spring. The Nuggets aren't bad anymore, so they are already a team that will show up and work hard in every game. Pyro, if your prediction comes true we won't all have to start calling you "the great one" or anything like that, will we? I think it's a safe bet that Anthony will outscore Darko by double digits. Larry Brown doesn't buy into any of that media hype (he came from Philly, remember?) so I doubt Darko will see the floor. Close game, Pistons by 4.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The Detroit Pistons kept the Denver Nuggets reeling. Rasheed Wallace scored 20 points as the Pistons rolled to a 97-66 rout of the Nuggets, who were held without a field goal for more than 12 minutes spanning the second and third quarters. After Nene's dunk gave Denver a 34-33 lead with 6:09 left in the first half, the Pistons scored 40 of the next 45 points. The Nuggets did not get another basket until Andre Miller made a 10-footer with 5:41 left in the third quarter. Corliss Williamson scored 14 points and Lindsey Hunter added 13 for the Pistons, who posted their sixth straight win over the Nuggets. Denver did not have a double-figure scorer as six players, including Carmelo Anthony, finished with eight points.</div> Recap Box Score There isn't much to say about this game, except YAY!!!!!!!!! We killed you Denver! I was right on my prediction, Darko outscored Carmelo in the 4th quarter, I never said anything about the whole game. Check out this horrible line from Carmelo, 28 minutes, 3-17 shooting for 8 points, 4 boards, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 3 turnovers, that looks like a bust to me!!! Now check out Darko's monster line of 9 minutes, 4 points and 4 boards, not to mention some great defensive plays. Triple that, to make it close to the minutes that Melo played and you get, 12 points and 12 boards! Complete domination! I say Darko took the key match-up tonight!!!! Okay, seriously: This is how we play, from now on this is how we play. The defense was good, the offense was good. We spread the ball around, we went inside, we played perfectly. Even if Denver played decently, we would have still won by 15. Great game by Rasheed! Pistons will be dominating Sportscenter's top 10 plays tonight. I was impressed with Lindsey, he played very well and helped start the Pistons off. As for Fowlkes, he must not understand that garbage time is Darko's time. You do not shoot the ball during garbage time, you try to give it to Darko. Guys, I believe that I can now be called "The Great One", thanks for the suggestion BigMemo.
great game. aside from the Utah game, the Pistons have shown GREAT team chemistry on this west coast trip. if they can get a win in Seattle, they went 4-1 on their west coast swing. not bad at all. the pistons are playing pretty sweet right now. great team defense, which is leading to lots of fast break points. right now i'm hoping for two things: 1. this is how we continue to play. defense leading to turnovers and fast break points. compliment that with a solid half court game, and i think we're poised to make it to the ECF's easily. 2. this team chemistry becomes addictive to Rasheed, which leads him to want to stay in Detroit. i don't care what was said about Rasheed going to NY. winning and going deep in the playoffs will be addictive to him. now, if NY doesn't fare well in the playoffs, i think Rasheed will really consider staying in Detroit.
So much for Melo being motivated 3-17 shooting OUCH Another strong game from Sheed by the looks, the inside duo of Sheed and Ben is looking dangerous.
