We're talkin' about Beantown vs. Motown

My favorite basketball match-up to watch. Celtics and Pistons. Ohhh rivalry renewed.

First off, I want to thank my job for not scheduling me tomorrow. This game is an early one [1pm].

Anyway, let's talk.

The Celtics have beaten us in all 3 games we've already played against them this season. But after these past 2 Pistons games, I can see that we're getting our swagger back. They're playing like the Pistons that we all know and love lately, and I'm loving it. We even got a "Ball Don't Lie!" call-out last night from Sheed - it felt like the good 'ol days of Deee-troit Basketball. And I think we can beat them this time. *Knock on wood*

Rip has been an excellent sixth man for the Pistons, but when he was told he would have to come off the bench, he thought it would help the team, and so did Coach Curry.
“We just felt this is the best decision for us to be the best team this season.”

It wasn't. With Rip coming off the bench, Detroit went 4-12. That's not good.

Last night @ Orlando, Rip was back in the starting lineup and lead the Pistons with 31 points to help erase an 8 game losing streak.
It was announced at the start of the game that Allen Iverson would be the new sixth man.

All these blog sites and what-not have been saying that the Pistons are giving up on Allen, and vice-versa. Like having him come off the bench means he's sucking, which is definitely not the case. He plays, litterally, every game like its his last. And yes, we hear him say that 18288192 a day, but it's true.

But sending him to the bench in no way means they don't think he's a valuable asset.
They want and need him.

Michael Curry: "We need Allen. We need Allen, no different than when Rip went to the bench and we needed Rip. We need all our guys to play well."

Antonio McDyess: "You definitely can't say we're a better team without him. A guy of his caliber, that plays the game as he's been playing, scoring ... you can't say that. We were fortunate enough to win a game without him last night. This guy can definitely bring scoring, and bring mental strength to this team that we need."

But can A.I. succeed as a sixth man?
I didn't, and still don't know what to think about this. We're yet to find out.

"It's not an easy transition, especially when you're used to being 'the man' and not coming off the bench. It's something that you're going to have to adjust to. But once you adjust to it, you realize it's a little bit easier coming off the bench than starting." - McDyess

Iverson's whole career, he has been his best with the ball in his hands for long periods of time.
But Detroit is a different team, with a different style. They share the ball.

And it is because of that - as I've said since all the talk about "Pistons suck now with Iverson, bring back Billups, blah blah - they haven't been the same.
He's just not used to playing like this.

Maybe that will change with him coming off the bench. It does make sense.

Anyway,
A.I. didn't play last night, and we still don't know if he'll play tomorrow.
But if he does, I predict good things. He's never come off the bench, so we don't know how it will go, but I am seeing visions of a beast off the bench.

Boston also has a new man off the bench ... Stephon Marbury! Crazy, crazy, crazy. It's still crazy to me. But I knew it would happen.

I didn't see it, but I hear Marbury played great in his Celtics debut.

Tomorrow Steph will try to help his new team with a 4 game regular season sweep against the Pistons.

The Pistons must work their asses off to beat Boston tomorrow. They've shot 39.2% and have not gotten more than 80 points in their first 3 games against the C's.

We can do it!