First off I still think they are a great team. But IMO it kinda pisses me off that they were able to neuter their main competition in the East and their Division. That almost makes their chances of reaching the Finals a guarantee. And all they had to do was get Artest in their home court, push him to let the fans know something was up, then have the Fans do the rest. Even Ben Wallace's brother was involved in the brawl. I think Ben Wallace was as big as part of provoking the incident and should've been suspended for the rest of the season as well. It would've only been fair compared to the punishment Artest recieved. Don't think that punishing Ben Wallace for the rest of the season would be fair? Neither do I but now you know how Pacers fans feel about the punishment Artest recieved. It ruins a team's chances of being able to compete. At the same time though, suspending Wallace for the rest of the season wouldve been the PERFECT way to teach the fans a lesson. I'm sure no fans want to see their team's best player suspended so they would think twice about doing what the Pistons fans did, am I right? Anyways, if Ben Wallace was suspend for the season, you would see how every Pistons and Pacers fan would unite to let Artest and Wallace back in the game. But most of Pistons fans don't care because they just know that their chances of reaching the Finals and repeating just got better. And all it cost them was a 6 game suspension to their star player and several 1 game suspensions to the rest of the team. Sounds like a good move on behalf of Ben Wallace if you ask me.
I don't like the Pistons as much because they've lost their "underdog" status. Last year, it was cool because they came out of nowhere and played amazingly. This year, they're champions and more high-profile, so they aren't quite as interesting. Plus, I think the Pacers were shafted with the severity of those suspensions, and the Pistons are indirectly benefiting from it which makes it hard for me to route for them anymore.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting detroit223:</div><div class="quote_post">The Pistons have nothing to do with how A COUPLE of Pistons fans act. And I don't think those fans thought they 'hey since we won the championship lets go throw things at players'. I think at that point any arena would have acyed the same way.I am not excusing what those morons did, but those of you who are saying they did it because they think they can bully ppl are wrong, and the blame should not go to the Pistons for what a couple of fans did.</div>Thank you. Just because a team won a championship doesnt mean Sh!t as far as them throwin chairs. A couple of morons threw a beer at a angry and unpredictable player. Wow that doesnt mean anybody whos a pistons fan that moronic.
Ben Wallace should never of even got 6 games nevermind be suspensed the rest of the season. He should of got 3 tops, all he did was push Artest. I've seen alot worse than that this year and past seasons. It wasn't Ben Wallace's fault some fan decided to throw a cup at Artest, It is also not Ben's fault that Artest decided he would go into the crowd and attack fans. Artest was asking for It by laying down on the scorers table, he was acting very arrogant about the whole incident. Ben Wallace should not of pushed Artest but Artest was the one who made this a whole bigger deal due to the fact he couldn't keep his emotions in check. If the Pacer players didn't act like little kids in a playground then they would still be in a good position to win an NBA title. I can't imagine how heartbreaking It is for Pacer fans, It must suck but these things happen. Ben Wallace likes to beat the best and I'm sure he hates the fact the Pacers main players are suspended. He's a winner and likes to face and beat the best teams, he's not the kind of guy to start a fight to get guys suspended.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting kobe_8:</div><div class="quote_post">ask iverson or shaq if they'll do the same thing. </div> I'm sorry I don't understand why everyone is blaming ben. Or I don't understand why everyone suddenly thinks that ben is some goon. If you watch the NBA you should know it happens all the time. Especially when you are in a game with your rival, ben was frustrated to start with and then artest goes and provokes him. I am not saying he should've shoved artest but if nothing happens with the fans nobody even remembers that ben pushes artest. So, it annoys me when people all of sudden hate on the hardest worker in the nba because he got shoved another player. as for iverson or shaq...who knows. You all think that iverson is some goodie too shoes and it makes no sense. Just because a brawl has never come of an action doesn't mean that those two have never gotten a technical or pushed another player. I don't remember it happening, because it's not that big of a deal, but i guarantee that those two have done something like it before.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting AllNet:</div><div class="quote_post">Artest was asking for It by laying down on the scorers table, he was acting very arrogant about the whole incident.</div> lol! so laying down on the scorer's table is asking a fan to throw something at you? <div class="quote_poster">Quoting allnet:</div><div class="quote_post">he's not the kind of guy to start a fight to get guys suspended.</div> he already did...
I believe people are hating on the pistons not only because of what durvasa statements which i totaly agree with, those concerning the whole fight incident and the other topics of discussion he brought up. <div class="quote_poster">Quoting durvasa:</div><div class="quote_post">I don't like the Pistons as much because they've lost their "underdog" status. Last year, it was cool because they came out of nowhere and played amazingly. This year, they're champions and more high-profile, so they aren't quite as interesting. Plus, I think the Pacers were shafted with the severity of those suspensions, and the Pistons are indirectly benefiting from it which makes it hard for me to route for them anymore.</div> But I also believe one reason there is hate towards the pistons this year is the same reason why so many people were cheering for them last year. As fans i believe we dont want to see one team dominate all the time alla the lakers. I mean people loved to see the lakers play dont get me wrong. but i also believe everyone wanted in the back of their mind for a team to beat the champs. And it just seems to me this year people for some reason just dont want the pistons to repeat. i think guys would be happy if a team like the sonics won this year. But personally me myself i would like to see the spurs pull it out this year. i was rooting for them last year. which made me cheer the pistons on also to knock off the guys that knocked off th team i was rooting for.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> lol! so laying down on the scorer's table is asking a fan to throw something at you? </div> Of course he didn't deserve It but why on earth what someone lay down on a scorers table at someone else's arena? he was trying to act all clever but in the end It bite him in the ass <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> he already did... </div> Wrong, Ben Wallace didn't force players to hit fans. The Pacer players have no one else to blame but themselves.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting AllNet:</div><div class="quote_post">Of course he didn't deserve It but why on earth what someone lay down on a scorers table at someone else's arena? he was trying to act all clever but in the end It bite him in the ass</div> who knows why he lay on the scorer's table. it seems like he was calming his self down. <div class="quote_poster">Quoting AllNet:</div><div class="quote_post">Wrong, Ben Wallace didn't force players to hit fans. The Pacer players have no one else to blame but themselves.</div> it's human nature to act what they did, professional or not. if someone threw a beer cup at me, i'll probably do the same, wouldn't you?
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> who knows why he lay on the scorer's table. it seems like he was calming his self down. </div> Calming himself down by smiling and laughing with his legs crossed? riiight <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> it's human nature to act what they did, professional or not. if someone threw a beer cup at me, i'll probably do the same, wouldn't you?</div> If I was getting paid 8 million a season to play basketball and be told not to even listen or react to fans I would let the police handle It. Any person with a brain would do the same. Prefect example was Lebron James last week who was getting abuse from fans behind the bench and what did he do? nothing... and went to the end of the bench and let the security deal with It. That how you handle stupid fans.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting AllNet:</div><div class="quote_post">If I was getting paid 8 million a season to play basketball and be told not to even listen or react to fans I would let the police handle It. Any person with a brain would do the same. Prefect example was Lebron James last week who was getting abuse from fans behind the bench and what did he do? nothing... and went to the end of the bench and let the security deal with It. That how you handle stupid fans.</div> human nature man well, lebron knows and saw what happened so he has a warning there. i guess artest has a brain, he was the former defensive player of the year, wasn't he? haha! you're right, stupid detroit fans!!! ooops!
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting kobe_8:</div><div class="quote_post">human nature man well, lebron knows and saw what happened so he has a warning there. i guess artest has a brain, he was the former defensive player of the year, wasn't he? haha! you're right, stupid detroit fans!!! ooops! </div> So you need a warning to use your own common sense? give me a break. NBA players are getting paid millions and they know the risk of what some fans may do. I also doubt you need to be smart to win NBA awards, last I checked there are no tests on the basketball court. You dont let one Piston fan get in your head and in the end cost you your season. Artest has always been a problem child and belongs in a mental home.
I still like the Pistons. (I didn't like them when they beat the Lakers lol). Every arena in the NBA has stupid fans. I won't judge the Pistons organization from what I see in a few stupid fans. As far as the Artest situation goes, the incident in the Palace was going to happen eventually. If it didn't happen in Detroit, it would have happen some where else. It's obvious that Artest isn't all there. The guy asked for time off to promote a washed up R&B group who hasn't had a hit in about 10 years. Then after the brawl, he gets on TV and still tries to promote the album. Artest is a great player, but he need professional help before he returns to the NBA.
it ended up with more than 1 piston fans... <div class="quote_poster">Quoting AllNet:</div><div class="quote_post">Artest has always been a problem child and belongs in a mental home.</div> can you say that to rodman? i guess not since he played with your team
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">can you say that to rodman? i guess not since he played with your team</div> Artest is far worse than Rodman was, even though Dennis had his problems he always had guys who controlled him and stopped him from being a team cancer. The bad boy Pistons team all suited each other and his style was pretty much the same as everyone elses. Tough minded who took no prisoners. It also helped to have a guy like Isiah to control his temper. Same goes for MJ. During his time with Dallas and L.A, Rodman become a real team cancer and therefore ended up out of the NBA, quite ironic this happened as soon as he left MJ.
