We're talkin' about getting back on track.

When asked about the Iverson-less Pistons [Iverson left the game in the 1st quarter 3 games ago, and has missed ther last 2 games with his team], the Boston Celtics Paul Pierce spoke The Truth:

"You can tell they're playing the same system they played before Iverson got there. Those guys that are out on the court, they're comfortable with each other. You know when Iverson is out there, they're still trying to figure out how to use each other, how to all be successful."

As hard as it is for me to admit, I agree. The Answer to the Pistons trade, as I've mentioned time and time again, was what I always wanted but never believed would happen, and I loved it. But something has just been off. Lack of chemistry? Sort of. Different styles of play? Definitely.

Curry didn't bench A.I. because he thought he was doing a bad job, because if you have been watching Detroit basketball since the trade, you can clearly see that he is still giving it his all - mind, body, and heart- and playing the same way he has played his entire career.

He has played one way for 13 seasons. The Pistons knew they'd have to change their game when Allen got there, and adjust to him and his style, which is to get the ball, keep the ball, and attempt to take down anyone standing between him and the basket, and score. [Throw in some circus shots and plenty of crossovers.]

But with so many superstars and so much talent in Detroit, it just didn't work. I, for one, can see how much he has tried to change for this team. Just last season, he was 3rd in the league in scoring. Since coming to Detroit, his numbers have dropped, now averaging 18 points per-game.


Curry has tried everything from small-ball to 3 guards to position changes to benching the team captain, and none of it worked in the Pistons favor. So he hopes that this final change will get his team back on the right track and produce W's.

So far, so good.

In the last 2 games, Orlando and Boston, the Pistons played without Iverson and won both games, putting that 8 game losing streak behind them and starting a new streak - a winning one.

And the way the Pistons bench played against the Celtics [J-Max had 8, Walter Herrmann had 11, Will Bynum had 9, Kwame Brown added 2] people are wondering how Iverson will fit in there now.

Rip Hamilton knows how A.I. must be feeling.

"He's a starter in this league, and he's a starter on our team, too." He said.
"When they told me I was coming off the bench, the thing I tried to do was say, 'OK, do this for the team; hopefully we get to where we want to get to.' I believe he's a starter, man, but it is what it is."


As for me, I never gave up on my team, even when everyone around me that claims to be a fan did. I've been hopeful and optimistic when we were being called "lowly" and "sinking", and confident that we would eventually figure things out.

I am just as confident as I was back in November when I got the news telling me that my home team would be acquiring my favorite player - one of the greatest scorers in NBA history.

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!

We're talkin' about Rippin' it up.

"The way we've been starting is the way Curry wants it, I've said I'm happy to come off the bench as long as we're winning. But we're losing. Something's got to give. I'm all for doing whatever it takes for the team, but coming off the bench with us not winning, something's got to change."

And it did. Last night, MC made yet another change to the Pistons lineup and put Rip back in the starting lineup. So guess who's the Pistons new sixth man? A.I.

In his 13 years in the NBA, he has never come off the bench. He has always been a starter.

Back in n '04 when he was still a Sixer, A.I. skipped a game against the Pistons when he was told he would have to come off the bench after returning from an injury. This is how he reacted back then:

"A lot of people might look at it like it's a selfish thing or something like that. Why wouldn't I start? I'm the franchise player here. I don't know any franchise players that come off the bench. I don't know any Olympian that comes off the bench. I don't know any All-Star that comes off the bench. I don't know any former MVP that comes off the bench. I don't know any three-time scoring champion that comes off the bench."

But we all know that Allen has grown a lot since then, and he did say he'd be willing to do whatever it takes for his team to win a ring, and he'd be willing to do whatever the coach wants him to do. Even practice!

But is this the right move? I have mixed feelings. I'm just gunna watch and see how this goes before I say anything harsh. But I will say this: We all know he is an amazing player and he could be an amazing sixth man. He could play SMASHINGLY with the 2nd unit since he will be playing with players who aren't as good. He would be on the court at crunch time, when it matters, to help win games because of his ability to get to the line.

I'm not sure if it has anything to do with the fact that he didn't play last night [back injury] because that's hard for me to swallow, but the Pistons played amazing last night. They played like ... the Detroit Pistons. Like the Pistons who have always been talked about when talking about the East Elite. Like the Pistons who know each other, trust each other, and work as one.

Rip's first game back in the starting lineup and he scored 31. Stuckey had 22, and Tay added 17. We beat the Magic 93-85. We ended the longest losing streak in 14 seasons.

"It's nothing on Allen. He's just a guy that needs the basketball. And because of that, it reduces the amount of time Stuckey has the ball in his hands. That has taken away some of Stuckey's aggressiveness. Hopefully, this can help Stuckey out." Michael Curry said before last night's game.

"We need more guys to play better together, and play in sync. Hopefully, this will help."


The Pistons next game is a rematch of last year's eastern conference finals ... we're going to Boston.
The C's have won all 3 games we've played them this season, including 2 by double digits.
It's not clear yet if A.I. will return for this game ...

We're talkin' about ... changes.

Please, please excuse me from saying this, but ...

Is this the Detroit Pistons or the Washington Wizards?! What is going on here? I have no idea. We're on an 8 game losing streak, which hasn't happened to Detroit since the 1994-95 season.

The Pistons are now 2-9 in February, with 1 game to go [@ Magic].
In the last 4 Februarys combined, the Pistons have lost just 8 games, going 38-8 over-all.
We have fallen to below .500 for the first time since 2001.
It's been 7 years since the Pistons didn't reach the Eastern Conference finals. [I still think we will this year, but there are lots of nay-sayers.]
It's been 8 years since the Pistons had a losing record for the season.
It's been 8 years since the Pistons didn't win 50 games in the regular season.

Iverson's back pain came back [he injured it the night before] early in the 1st quarter last night. I was sad, pissed, and lost hope of us winning that game. But after he left the game, the Pistons played like the old Pistons. Like ... champions. And I hate to say that and not include iverson, but its true. I don't know why.

But then Sheed got a tech in the 4th [just what he needs, right? Psh] and then was ejected from the game with 7:55 left in the 4th quarter after picking up a 2nd tech for the night ... all in 27 seconds.

If Sheed didn't throw the towel in [literally and figuratively] I have no doubt in my mind that we would have won, and ended this awful, embarrassing losing streak.

Coach Curry needs to go. I still believe that. Not A.I., not Sheed. I wish him and Joe D weren't secret lovers. He'd be gone by now.

But, I'm a huge fan, so I'm not giving up. Not yet, folks. We're not dead, we're not done. We're now the 7th seed in the Eastern Conference, and there is still time to climb.

We're talkin' about haircuts!

HE CUT OFF HIS CORNROWS.
Yes, it's true. For the first time in 13 years, Allen Iverson has shaved off his signature cornrows.

I apologize if you were one of the many people in my phone I sent a text to saying "OH MY GOD A.I. CUT OFF HIS BRAIDS I AM SO SAD I AM CRYING WAH WAH WAH."

And that was before I actually saw it.

My sister and I were sitting in the movie theater waiting for All-Star Saturday Night to start [which was dope, by the way. Well worth the money, and the 3D was amazing] and I got a text from a friend saying "A.I. cut his hair off." and I flipped out. Like, really.

He looks younger, if that's even possible. He is 33 and looked like he was in his early 20's even with the braids, but now he looks ... wow. I thought I'd hate it, but he is still the most beautiful man on earth, and I'm getting used to the cut. It's just still to crazy to see.







_______________________________________

Another change that we all knew was coming but nobody wanted to discuss or think about ... Stephon Marbury to the Boston Celtics.

It's official like a referee with a whistle.

I kinda like it. It makes me giggle. Welcome back to the game, Starbury.

We're talkin' about All-Star break.

Sheed got the first shot of the game with a sheedtastic 3 [what do you expect?] and then got the next Piston shot with a turn-a-round jumper. He finished with 9, but only played about 25 minutes due to knee pain.

Nobody knew if A.I. would be playing last night until just before tip-off. He has the flu and didn't play Monday against the Bulls.

"I don't have any energy," Iverson said before joining his team for pregame layups.
"I'm still real light-headed, I was dizzy at times and actually threw up during a timeout. I was real weak."

But even having that flu, being light-headed and dizzy and throwing up, he played one of his best games since becoming a Piston. That's warrior status, that's commitment, that's heart. That's what Iverson has brought to the floor ever since I've started watching him back in '96.
That's what we need on this team, especially now.

At around 40 seconds left in the 1st, there was a Josh Smith turnover. He lost the ball, and A..I. had a beautiful steal - I can't even describe the beauty, the hustle, the pain he must have felt diving for that ball - and threw it to Rip who "laid it up, laid it in, count that baby!"

Blaha and Kelser said it was hands down his best play since he's been a Piston. I'm gunna agree, and following closely is that pass to Rip when we played The Suns the other night THROUGH GRANT HILL'S LEGS.



Anyone who ever said A.I. and Rip didn't mesh well together or work well together on the court, think again and pay attention to games.

Speaking of Rip, he had another great game with 14 off the bench, and J-Max had another good night of IN YO FACE jams. Man, I love what he does when he goes out there.
Tay and Stuck both had 12, and Amir added 4.

At the start of the 4th, we were down 6. More Iverson on fire [he scored 15 of his 28 in this qarter!], more Maxiell jams, some good plays by Stuck, Tay and Rip, but just too much ATL. I was on the edge of my seat this whole quarter, especially after my boy A.I. got a beautiful layup and got us up to only a 2 point difference. Joe Johnson got fouled by Afflalo and made both free throws, and at 8 seconds left A.I. had the ball, made a 3 point attempt ... SO CLOSE. SO DAMN CLOSE.
We lost by 5.

The Hawks are 31-21 and have won 4 of 5, matching the most wins they've had going into the All-Star weekend in 10 years.
Detroit is now 27-24 before heading into the break. We've lost 3 straight.

Rip: "I don't even pay attention to our record anymore."

Detroit has their worst record at the break since 2002.

A.I.: "It's not a good feeling. But in life you have to deal with adversity. It's something that we're going to have to deal with right now. I have not seen anybody blaming anybody or pointing fingers. Once that starts to happen, if that happens, which I don’t think it will, once that happens we are really in trouble. Once we stop trusting each other, then you might as well throw the season in. The whole thing is to stay positive, stay with each other. Not to point fingers. Not to play the blame game, and be real men about the situation. We win together. We lose together. It's going to be important to stay together. You don't win a championship at the break."

The next time I'll see my boy is Sunday night when he returns to the East for the first time in 2 years [he was still an All-Star in '07 and '08, but on the west] in the All-Star game.


Go East!

We're talkin' about Amar’e Stoudemire. And tonight's game.

I hate these trade rumors. We've had them all this season, but this one is starting to read true.
Amar'e Stoudemire on the Pistons. Crazy.

I'm not sure if I like it.

Not because he's a bad player or anything, but we've just gotten used to A.I., and it took what seems like forever for him to fit in on the team. Do we really need another big trade this far into the season? I say no. Bad idea.

I read recently that a fan made a comment near the end of the 4th quarter the other night when te Pistons played the Suns. Amar’e was walking back onto the court after a time-out, and a fan said to him:

“Hey Stoudemire,”
Amar’e looked at him.
“You’ll be here next week!”
Amar’e nodded his head as if he was in agreement.

Feb. 19 is the trade deadline. And, yes - he would improve our chances, but a huge part of me just hates this whole thing. Mostly because Tayshaun, Amir, and Sheed are all involved in this trade talk. Fuck that mess.


Anyway, we play the Hawks tonight, and I'm nervous. The Pistons have played like, their best basketball this season in these past few games, but have either lost or came out with what they call an "ugly win."

The Hawks have lost 7 straight games at the Palace, but won the last time we played on their home court.

We're 5th in the East, but are dealing with our fewest wins at the All-Star break since the 2001-02 season, BUT Detroit went 24-11 down the stretch that season to win our 1st of 2 straight central division titles.

A.I. missed the game last night due to the flu, and is questionable again tonight.
This is not good.