<?xml version="1.0" encoding="iso-8859-1"?>
<rss version="2.0">
	<channel>		<title>RUWT? News</title>
		<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com</link>
		<description>RUWT? News for Detroit Pistons</description>
		<language>en-us</language>
		<copyright>Copyright 2006-2007 areyouwatchingthis.com</copyright>
		<lastBuildDate>Sun, 22 Nov 2009 14:45:51 GMT</lastBuildDate>
		<pubDate>Sun, 22 Nov 2009 14:45:51 GMT</pubDate>
		<generator>RUWT?</generator>

		
			<item>
				<title><![CDATA[Pistons-Suns Preview]]></title>
				<description><![CDATA[By MATT BECKER
STATS Senior Writer

Detroit (5-8) at Phoenix (10-3), 8:00 p.m. EDT

While the Phoenix Suns have generally looked strong in their
climb to the top of the Western Conference, they've had some
lackluster performances in their losses.

The Suns look to bounce back from one of those defeats and avoid
losing back-to-back games for the first time this season Sunday
when they host the Detroit Pistons, who are trying to snap a
four-game skid.

After missing the playoffs for the first time since 2004 last
season, Phoenix (10-3) has been one of the most pleasant
surprises in the league. With a potent offense led by Steve
Nash, the Suns have scored 100 or more points in each of their
first 13 games and are tied with Dallas atop the West.

While it has been an encouraging start overall, Phoenix has
looked flat in its losses to Orlando, the Los Angeles Lakers and
New Orleans, getting outscored by an average of 16.0 points.

Struggling to take advantage of a Hornets team playing without
injured All-Star point guard Chris Paul on Thursday, the Suns
suffered a 110-103 road loss.

Phoenix allowed the Hornets to connect on 52.0 percent (13 of
25) of their 3-pointers, and also got pushed around in the
paint. New Orleans outrebounded the Suns 56-38 and the Hornets'
25 offensive rebounds helped produce 38 second-chance points,
compared to 13 for Phoenix.

"We didn't really have any attention to detail, we gave up a lot
of rebounds and our concentration and effort weren't good
enough. And if we're honest, we didn't deserve to win," said
Nash, who finished with 13 points and 10 assists. "Hopefully
it's a lesson we'll learn from, and we won't have many nights
like that this year."

Phoenix hopes it can turn things around against a road-weary
Detroit team coming off a 100-97 overtime loss to Utah on
Saturday.

Ben Gordon, who is averaging 30.0 points in his last six games
against the Suns, scored 25 Saturday but missed a potential
tying 3-pointer in the final second as the Pistons (5-8)
suffered their fourth straight defeat.

Detroit's biggest problems have come on the road, where it has
lost six of seven including the first three of this four-game
trip.

The Pistons are now in danger of completing their longest
winless road trip since going 0-5 from Feb. 24-March 2, 2003.

Detroit has won seven of nine in Phoenix, but one of the defeats
came in last season's visit, 104-86 on Nov. 16, 2008.

The Suns, who are 4-0 at home this season, also won in Detroit
in 2008-09, sweeping the season series for the first time since
1999-2000. Nash averaged 16.0 points and 14.0 assists against
Detroit in the two meetings while Amare Stoudemire averaged 23.5
points and 9.0 rebounds.

Stoudemire is averaging 25.3 points on 63.4 percent shooting in
three games since finishing with a season-low eight points and
shooting 2 of 15 in a 121-102 loss to the Lakers on Nov. 12. He
scored a team-high 23 in Thursday's defeat.]]></description>
				<category><![CDATA[nba]]></category>
				<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/nba/news/136313-Pistons-Suns-Preview</link>
				<guid>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/nba/news/136313-Pistons-Suns-Preview</guid>
				<pubDate>Sun, 22 Nov 2009 06:36:50 GMT</pubDate>
			</item>
		
			<item>
				<title><![CDATA[Boozer, Kirilenko help Jazz beat Pistons]]></title>
				<description><![CDATA[SALT LAKE CITY(AP) -- Andrei Kirilenko and the Utah Jazz outlasted
the Detroit Pistons for their fourth straight victory.

Kirilenko scored six of his 22 points in overtime and the Jazz
beat the Pistons 100-97 on Saturday night. Carlos Boozer scored
18 of his 22 points in the second half and overtime to help the
Jazz escape a back-and-forth game that produced 17 lead changes
and saw no lead larger than five points after halftime.

"It was a tough game for us," said Jazz guard Deron Williams,
who finished with 11 assists. "We had to win it on the defensive
end and that's what we did."

"I thought Andrei had a great game off the bench," Jazz coach
Jerry Sloan said. "Boozer made all these free throws and made
some key baskets to help us win the ball game."

Boozer was 10 for 10 from the free-throw line and the Jazz
capitalized on a large free-throw disparity. They shot 19 more
and made 12 more than Detroit. Utah shot 75 percent from line
and made its final eight, including all six in overtime.

"Defensively we did a nice job, especially at their house,"
Pistons coach John Kuester said, "but they got to the foul line
44 times to our 25. So that hurt."

Detroit's Ben Gordon scored 25 points, but missed a potential
tying 3-pointer in the final second after two Kirilenko free
throws put Utah ahead with 9.8 seconds remaining.

Detroit's Rodney Stuckey scored 18 points, and Charlie
Villanueva had 17 points in the Pistons' fourth consecutive
loss.

Detroit shot 45 percent from the field, but made just two of
nine shots in overtime. The Pistons held a four-point lead after
three quarters.

Paul Millsap missed a jumper at the buzzer in regulation after
Gordon's two free throws tied it at 90 with 22.1 seconds left.

Utah dressed just nine players and was without starting center
Mehmet Okur (flu).]]></description>
				<category><![CDATA[nba]]></category>
				<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/nba/news/136266-Boozer-Kirilenko-help-Jazz-beat-Pistons</link>
				<guid>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/nba/news/136266-Boozer-Kirilenko-help-Jazz-beat-Pistons</guid>
				<pubDate>Sun, 22 Nov 2009 05:49:26 GMT</pubDate>
			</item>
		
			<item>
				<title><![CDATA[Pistons-Jazz Preview]]></title>
				<description><![CDATA[By BRETT HUSTON
STATS Writer

Detroit (5-7) at Utah (6-6), 9:00 p.m. EDT

The Utah Jazz are hardly thrilled with their up-and-down start,
but they couldn't be more pleased with the victory that gave
them back-to-back wins for the first time.

They have to feel even better about their chances to stretch
their streak to three.

The Jazz have won eight straight games against the Detroit
Pistons, a run they'll look to extend Saturday night in Salt
Lake City as they try to hand the Pistons a fourth consecutive
loss.

Utah (6-6) had alternated wins and losses in its past eight
games heading into San Antonio on Thursday, and based on that
pattern, it was due for a loss after defeating Toronto one night
earlier.

That seemed even likelier considering the Jazz had lost 20
straight in San Antonio since a win there in 1999. Utah only had
nine healthy players but ended the drought anyway, getting 21
points and 10 assists from Deron Williams and 20 points from
Paul Millsap off the bench in a 90-83 victory.

"It was nice from my standpoint to get a win in this building
before I die," Jazz coach Jerry Sloan said.

Mehmet Okur has missed two straight games with the flu, and two
members of its makeshift frontcourt - Wesley Matthews and Kyrylo
Fesenko - have averaged a total of 8.0 points. Carlos Boozer,
though, has stepped up, averaging 20.0 points and 14.5 rebounds.

"I'm having a lot of fun out there," Boozer told the NBA's
official Web site after his fourth straight double-double
Thursday. "We're on a roll, and we're just going to have to
continue to grind. I'm loose."

Boozer missed both meetings with the Pistons (5-7) last season,
but Okur, who should return Saturday, stepped up in his absence.
Okur averaged 24.0 points in leading the Jazz to two victories,
increasing their streak over his former team to eight by scoring
22 in 21 minutes of a 99-82 home win Jan. 10.

"We play good against them here and also up there," said Okur,
originally a second-round pick by the Pistons in 2001.
"Hopefully, we're going to keep doing what we're doing."

Detroit certainly doesn't want to keep playing like it has
lately, but it found some positives Wednesday despite a third
straight loss. The Pistons fell 106-93 to the Los Angeles Lakers
on Tuesday to kick off their four-game trip and trailed Portland
70-50 after three quarters a night later, but outscored the
Trail Blazers 31-17 in the fourth of the 87-81 loss.

"It's been kind of the theme, we dig ourselves into a big hole
and then try to dig ourselves out," said forward Charlie
Villanueva, who had 20 points in just 16 minutes due to early
foul trouble. "We need to play 48 minutes of basketball. If we
play together and get open shots, we should be fine."

The Pistons are still trying to survive without Richard Hamilton
(ankle) and Tayshaun Prince (back), who have played a total of
four games and still aren't ready to return.

Ben Gordon has been looking to step up, but during the
three-game losing streak his shot has been off. Gordon,
Detroit's leading scorer at 21.2 points, has averaged 11.3
points on 27.9 percent shooting over the past week.

The Pistons last beat Utah 64-62 in Detroit on March 13, 2005,
overcoming a game-high 27 points from Andrei Kirilenko.]]></description>
				<category><![CDATA[nba]]></category>
				<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/nba/news/135698-Pistons-Jazz-Preview</link>
				<guid>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/nba/news/135698-Pistons-Jazz-Preview</guid>
				<pubDate>Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:03:43 GMT</pubDate>
			</item>
		
			<item>
				<title><![CDATA[Roy, Aldridge help Blazers hold off Pistons 87-81]]></title>
				<description><![CDATA[By ANNE M. PETERSON
AP Sports Writer

PORTLAND, Ore.(AP) -- Andre Miller had no excuses for Portland's
near slip Wednesday night against the Pistons.

"We relaxed," he said simply.

Miller had 10 points and 11 assists for the Trail Blazers in
their 87-81 victory over tenacious Detroit. Portland led by as
many as 20 points in the second half, but the Pistons closed to
78-77 with 1:05 left.

"They could have easily laid down, but they fought and got back
in the game," Miller said. "We could have easily lost that
game."

The Pistons chipped away and made it 78-75 with 1:29 to go after
Charlie Villanueva hit a pair of jumpers. After Steve Blake made
a bad pass on Portland's end, Villanueva's fast-break layup cut
it to 78-77.

Blake redeemed himself, however, by hitting a 3-pointer with
25.2 seconds left.

The teams traded free throws before Villanueva's tip-in made it
83-81 with 10 seconds remaining, but that was as close as
Detroit got.

Blake and Miller hit four straight foul shots for the final
margin.

Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge each had 20 points and Blake
scored 17 for the Blazers, home after a 4-1 road trip. Portland
has won eight of 10 to improve to 9-4, its best record after 13
games since opening 11-2 in 1999-2000.

Villanueva had 20 points and Rodney Stuckey added 21 for the
Pistons, who were playing the second of a back-to-back.

"That fourth quarter, we turned it around," Villanueva said.
"But we need to play like that the whole game. We were right
there. We were so close."

Portland had won six straight games before a 99-95 loss in
overtime at Atlanta on Monday night.

Blazers owner Paul Allen, who is being treated for non-Hodgkin's
lymphoma and is undergoing chemotherapy, attended the game - his
first since his battle with cancer was announced. Looking
thinner, Allen gave a thumbs-up to fans when he was shown on the
video scoreboard before the game.

Allen was the co-founder of Microsoft. He also owns the NFL's
Seattle Seahawks and the Seattle Sounders of the MLS.

His Blazers built on an early lead, going up 38-29 on Roy's
3-pointer midway through the second quarter.

Will Bynum's 18-foot jumper narrowed it to 42-38 for the
Pistons, but Portland led 48-38 at the break after Rudy
Fernandez's reverse layup.

Portland broke it open in the third quarter. Roy's one-handed
dunk made it 65-46 and Blake's 3-pointer extended it to 68-48.

"We just blew that lead," Roy lamented. "We tried to get our
starters back in there late and we did the best we could to get
back in the flow of the game. We held them off."

Detroit was coming off a 106-93 loss to the Lakers in Los
Angeles on Tuesday night. The Pistons are hurting without
Richard Hamilton, who has a sprained right ankle, and Tayshaun
Prince, who has a ruptured disk.

Blazers forward Travis Outlaw had surgery Wednesday to repair a
fractured left foot. He is expected to be out three to five
months.

Portland was already without forward Nicolas Batum, who was
expected to start this season but injured his shoulder before
the opener and required surgery.

"Some of it is missing Travis," Roy said about the fourth
quarter. "That's his time to come in and get some easy baskets
for us in that fourth quarter to keep our rhythm. We've just got
to learn that he's not going to be there so we need guys like
Martell (Webster) and Rudy to continue to step up."

NOTES: Ken Griffey Jr. attended the game. Earlier this month,
Griffey and the Mariners agreed to another one-year contract
that will keep the popular player in Seattle for what could be
his final season. Griffey turns 40 on Nov. 21. ... Jonas Jerebko
fouled out for the Pistons with less than a minute left.]]></description>
				<category><![CDATA[nba]]></category>
				<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/nba/news/135270-Roy-Aldridge-help-Blazers-hold-off-Pistons-87-81</link>
				<guid>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/nba/news/135270-Roy-Aldridge-help-Blazers-hold-off-Pistons-87-81</guid>
				<pubDate>Thu, 19 Nov 2009 06:49:23 GMT</pubDate>
			</item>
		
			<item>
				<title><![CDATA[Pistons-Trail Blazers Preview]]></title>
				<description><![CDATA[By MATT BEARDMORE
STATS Writer

Detroit (5-6) at Portland (8-4), 10:00 p.m. EDT

Their road trip was a major success, but the Portland Trail
Blazers weren't satisfied with how it ended.

Back home for seven of their next nine games, the Trail Blazers
look to rebound from their first loss in seven games Wednesday
night when they face a Detroit Pistons team trying to avoid its
first three-game losing streak of the season.

Portland (8-4) returns to the Rose Garden following a 4-1 trip
that ended with Monday's 99-95 overtime loss to Atlanta. The
Trail Blazers led by 12 in the third quarter and nine heading
into the fourth, but they could not close out their seventh
straight victory.

"It's disappointing because we had a big lead and we didn't do a
good job of taking care of the ball and defending," said
two-time All-Star Brandon Roy, who averaged 18.2 points, 5.4
rebounds and 5.4 assists on the trip. "But they beat us up on
the inside and dominated the paint."

Despite the disheartening finish, Portland held its opponents to
82.8 points and 39.6 percent shooting on the seven-day trip. The
Trail Blazers lead the NBA in both categories - limiting teams
to 88.1 points and 41.2 percent from the field.

Since a 111-107 loss in Houston on Oct. 31, Portland has held
nine straight opponents to fewer than 100 points.

However, not all news is good for the Trail Blazers. Forward
Travis Outlaw, who is averaging 9.9 points off the bench, will
have surgery Wednesday to fix a stress fracture in his left foot
and is out indefinitely.

In Detroit's last visit to Portland, Outlaw hit a fadeaway
jumper with 8.9 seconds remaining to help the Blazers snap the
Pistons' seven-game winning streak with an 84-83 victory on Jan.
7.

Tayshaun Prince led Detroit with 26 points in that contest, but
the veteran forward has missed the last eight games with a
ruptured disc in his lower back.

While Prince said he would start some light jogging soon, he
watched in street clothes from the bench as the Pistons (5-6)
opened their four-game western trip with a 106-93 loss to the
Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday.

Trailing by as many as 28 points in the third quarter, Detroit
pulled within seven with 1:55 remaining before Lakers guard
Shannon Brown scored five unanswered points.

"They were the aggressor, and we were reacting to everything
they were doing," Pistons center Ben Wallace said. "We were a
step behind them for the entire game. (Our) second group came in
and played the way that we should have been playing all along.
They made the game close, so we have to take a cue from our
second unit and play hard from the start."

After scoring a season-high 27 points in Sunday's 95-90 loss to
Dallas, Will Bynum led Detroit with 24 points and six assists
Tuesday. He has scored 20 or more in a career-best three
straight games.

First-year Piston Ben Gordon rebounded from a season-worst
five-point outing against the Mavericks and scored 18 on
Tuesday. Gordon averaged 14.0 points against Portland in
2008-09, while with Chicago.

Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge averaged 26.5 points as
Portland swept the season series against Detroit in 2008-09 for
the first time in six years.

Detroit hosts Portland on Jan. 23.]]></description>
				<category><![CDATA[nba]]></category>
				<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/nba/news/135003-Pistons-Trail-Blazers-Preview</link>
				<guid>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/nba/news/135003-Pistons-Trail-Blazers-Preview</guid>
				<pubDate>Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:38:19 GMT</pubDate>
			</item>
		
			<item>
				<title><![CDATA[Kobe gets 40 in Lakers' 106-93 win over Pistons]]></title>
				<description><![CDATA[By GREG BEACHAM
AP Sports Writer

LOS ANGELES(AP) -- When Lamar Odom pondered why the Los Angeles
Lakers have been able to avoid losing three straight games for
nearly two years, he instinctively glanced across the room to
Kobe Bryant's locker.

"That's a big reason," Odom said with a grateful nod.

Bryant scored 40 points for the 100th time in his career, and
the Lakers stopped a mini-skid with a 106-93 victory over the
Detroit Pistons on Tuesday night.

Andrew Bynum had 17 points and 12 rebounds for the Lakers, who
took a 28-point lead before surviving Detroit's impressive
fourth-quarter rally. Although Bryant had just five points in
the final period, he did enough damage early to push the Lakers
to another win while moving himself further into rarefied
company with the greatest scorers in NBA history.

Bryant didn't appear to be slowed by his strained groin while
scoring 27 points in the middle two quarters before reaching 40
on a 3-pointer with 19 seconds left. With four 40-point games
already this season after getting just four all last year, Kobe
trails only Wilt Chamberlain (271) and Michael Jordan (173) in
40-point games in NBA history.

"It's a true honor," Bryant said. "A lot of work went into it,
and when I look back on that, I (can't believe) I had 100 of
those games. It's just a good feeling."

Bryant led the Lakers in scoring for the 10th time in 11 games
while frequently taking Ben Gordon and other Detroit defenders
into the low post. Bryant also played with a noticeable edge,
jawing with several Pistons before and after scoring on them.

Bryant scored 13 points in the second quarter, making six of his
seven shots while the Lakers went ahead 57-42 at halftime. He
was 6 for 8 in the third, scoring 14 more points while Los
Angeles gradually increased its lead to 24 - and he wasn't
thrilled by the extra work necessary after Detroit made things
interesting late.

"We just have to talk to that second unit about maintaining that
defensive intensity," Bryant said. "The focus and energy should
be on the defensive end."

Coach Phil Jackson felt Los Angeles played only two strong
quarters following its back-to-back losses to Denver and
Houston, but he couldn't complain much. The Lakers still haven't
lost three straight games since before Pau Gasol joined the club
on Feb. 1, 2008, although Gasol again was out of the lineup with
a hamstring injury.

"Some of that is just talent, and some of it is resiliency,"
Jackson said. "They were embarrassed with the losses, and they
want to feel good about themselves, so they worked hard to
change that."

Will Bynum scored 10 of his 24 points in the final period for
the Pistons, who opened a four-game West Coast trip with their
second straight loss. Largely using reserves, Detroit chopped
the Lakers' lead to 98-91 with 1:55 to play before former
Michigan State guard Shannon Brown made three free throws and a
soaring dunk to seal it.

"They were the aggressor, and we were reacting to everything
they were doing," said Ben Wallace, who had five rebounds. "We
were a step behind them for the entire game. The second group
came in and played the way that we should have been playing all
along. They made the game close, so we have to take a cue from
our second unit and play hard from the start."

Detroit is even more seriously injury-depleted than the Lakers,
with Richard Hamilton (sprained right ankle) and Tayshaun Prince
(back injury) still out of the lineup.

Gordon scored 18 points and Jason Maxiell had 13 for the
Pistons, who committed 17 turnovers while Los Angeles compiled
12 more rebounds and 10 more assists than Detroit.

"I'm not sure how many times we turned the ball over, but we
just didn't match their energy," Gordon said. "They played
harder than us, they were more aggressive to the loose balls,
and they did a lot of the small things that got them over the
top. I think we just need to do a better job of competing
throughout the game instead of in spurts."

NOTES: Gasol might try to play for the first time this season
Thursday night against Chicago. ... Former Lakers big man Kwame
Brown was roundly booed when he entered the game for Detroit.
The former No. 1 overall pick had nine points in 27 minutes. ...
The Lakers honored Los Angeles Sparks star Lisa Leslie at
halftime. Leslie retired earlier this year. ... Oliver Platt,
MSNBC's Chris Matthews and baseball great Dave Winfield were
among the courtside celebrities.]]></description>
				<category><![CDATA[nba]]></category>
				<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/nba/news/134965-Kobe-gets-40-in-Lakers-106-93-win-over-Pistons</link>
				<guid>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/nba/news/134965-Kobe-gets-40-in-Lakers-106-93-win-over-Pistons</guid>
				<pubDate>Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:20:22 GMT</pubDate>
			</item>
		
			<item>
				<title><![CDATA[Pistons-Lakers Preview]]></title>
				<description><![CDATA[By BRETT HUSTON
STATS Writer

Detroit (5-5) at Los Angeles (7-3), 10:30 p.m. EDT

The lowest-scoring half in franchise history figured to provide
enough motivation for the Los Angeles Lakers in their latest
game. Instead, they suffered through yet another poor second
half.

The Lakers look to bounce back Tuesday night and avoid their
first three-game losing streak in nearly two years when they
host the Detroit Pistons.

Los Angeles (7-3) didn't suffer a third loss until Dec. 9, in
its 20th game, in 2008-09 on its way to the franchise's 15th NBA
championship. The team reached that mark much more quickly this
season.

Each of the defeats featured two common themes - poor shooting
and underwhelming second-half scoring. The Lakers shot 39.5
percent and had 35 points after halftime in falling 94-80 at
home to Dallas on Oct. 30. They then won six in a row before
shooting a season-low 35.2 percent and setting a franchise
record with 23 second-half points in a 105-79 loss at Denver on
Friday.

Los Angeles shot 33.3 percent and was limited to 37 points after
halftime Sunday in a 101-91 defeat to Houston, which held a
60-38 rebounding edge.

"You only end up getting six offensive rebounds on the night
when you shoot 38 percent," coach Phil Jackson said. "That's not
supposed to be like that. You're supposed to have numbers of
second opportunity chances. So we're going to have to work on
where we're getting our shots from."

Kobe Bryant was 5 of 20 from the field and scored 18 points, two
nights after finishing with 19 against Denver. Bryant, who
aggravated a groin injury against the Rockets but is set to play
Tuesday, hasn't been held under 20 in three straight games since
April 2-7, 2005.

"I've felt better," Bryant said, adding he was "mortified" at
the past two losses. "It'll be all right. I've been nursing it,
kind of playing through it. ... You know I don't make excuses."

The Lakers have not lost three in a row since Jan. 23-27, 2008,
shortly before Pau Gasol - out with a strained right hamstring -
was acquired from Memphis.

"Defensively, we need to step it up," said center Andrew Bynum,
averaging 20.8 points and 11.8 rebounds. "That's what we're
lacking right now. We got guards trying to box out bigs. Bigs
trying to box out guards. We're all over the place right now."

While Bryant tries to end his shooting slump - he hit 32.4
percent over his last two games after making 56.9 percent in his
previous four - Detroit's Ben Gordon is coming off a far worse
performance.

The Pistons led Dallas by six at halftime Sunday but lost 95-90
as Gordon missed 15 of 16 shots, the last a potential tying
3-pointer with two seconds left.

"I was getting great looks at the basket, but I could never get
myself into any kind of rhythm," Gordon said. "I was getting
open, and I can't start turning down shots, but nothing felt
good and nothing looked good."

Gordon has been the primary option with Richard Hamilton (ankle)
and Tayshaun Prince (back) out, and Rodney Stuckey left late in
the fourth quarter Sunday with an ankle injury after scoring a
season-high 28 points.

Stuckey said he is "good to go" Tuesday, and will try to improve
upon his 5.0-point average against Los Angeles last season.

The teams split their two meetings in '08-'09, with Detroit
handing the Lakers their first loss, 106-95 at Staples Center on
Nov. 14.

Bryant averaged 25.4 points in his last five home games against
the Pistons, who won three of those matchups.]]></description>
				<category><![CDATA[nba]]></category>
				<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/nba/news/134472-Pistons-Lakers-Preview</link>
				<guid>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/nba/news/134472-Pistons-Lakers-Preview</guid>
				<pubDate>Mon, 16 Nov 2009 18:42:00 GMT</pubDate>
			</item>
		
			<item>
				<title><![CDATA[Nowitzki leads Mavs past Pistons]]></title>
				<description><![CDATA[AUBURN HILLS, Mich.(AP) -- The Dallas Mavericks had several things
going for them Sunday night.

The Detroit Pistons were missing Richard Hamilton and Tayshaun
Prince, and leading scorer Ben Gordon had one of the worst
nights of his career, going 1 for 16 from the floor.

That wasn't enough to make things easy for the Mavericks,
though, as they saw Gordon get an open look at a game-tying
3-pointer with 2 seconds left.

Gordon, though, missed again and the Mavericks hit two free
throws to ice a 95-90 victory.

"We knew that they were going to give us a battle and they did,"
Dallas coach Rick Carlisle said. "We were fortunate to get out
of this one alive, but we'll take it."

Pistons coach John Kuester said that he never hesitated in
calling the final play for Gordon.

"Are you kidding?" Kuester asked. "I have nothing but the utmost
confidence in Ben, and we wanted him to take that shot. I
expected him to knock it down, and I'll call it for him again
when I get the chance."

Kuester said that Gordon was feeling ill before the game, but
Gordon said it had nothing to do with his performance.

"I was getting great looks at the basket, but I could never get
myself into any kind of rhythm," Gordon said. "I was getting
open, and I can't start turning down shots, but nothing felt
good and nothing looked good."

The Mavericks had their own health problem, as center Erick
Dampier was scratched moments before tipoff after falling ill.
Dampier was taken to a local hospital for tests during the game.
Carlisle said that he would be held overnight for observation,
but that the problem was not considered serious and Dampier was
expected to return to Dallas on Monday.

That moved Drew Gooden into the starting lineup, and he
responded with 11 points and 11 rebounds.

"I didn't know I was starting until they were announcing the
lineups - I though Erick was still on the floor with us," Gooden
said. "This was an opportunity, and with all the talent on this
team, I knew I needed to take it."

Dirk Nowitzki scored 25 points, and rookie Rodrique Beaubois
added 14 points on 6-for-6 shooting for the Mavericks. Shawn
Marion matched Gooden's 11 points, and Jason Kidd added 10
points and seven assists.

"Sometimes, things don't go the way you draw them up and you
have to grind a game out," Marion said. "This was going back and
forth, but we got some big stops in the fourth quarter and hit
some shots."

Rodney Stuckey led the Pistons with 28 points, and Will Bynum
had 27, including 17 in the fourth quarter.

"Stuckey was phenomenal and Will gave us a lot off the bench,"
Kuester said. "We're disappointed that we lost a game like this,
but these guys gave it everything."

The Pistons led late in the third quarter, but a turnover let
the Mavericks get back-to-back dunks at the end of the period
for 71-66.

Detroit tied it at 78 with 6 minutes left, but Nowitzki answered
with a three-point play. After Charlie Villaneuva made a free
throw for Detroit, Nowitzki made a jumper and Jason Terry hit a
3-pointer to give the Mavericks a 86-79 lead with 4:21 left.

Nowitzki added a running jumper with 35.3 seconds left, but
Bynum's jumper and Terry's miss gave the Pistons the ball with
5.7 seconds left, down 93-90. Gordon, though, finished his
horrible night by missing an off-balance jumper.

"We were paying attention to him, but that's a shot he usually
makes," Carlisle said. "We were fortunate to get the win, but we
worked for it."

NOTES: The game was Detroit's third straight against one of its
former coaches - Charlotte's Larry Brown, Washington's Flip
Saunders and Carlisle. ... Stuckey injured his ankle on Terry's
fourth-quarter 3-pointer and did not return. Kuester said that
Stuckey offered to come back for the final play, but the coaches
decided to be cautious. ... Pistons rookie Jonas Jerebko, the
NBA's first Swedish player, got a post-game visit from Detroit's
favorite Swedish athlete - Red Wings captain Nick Lidstrom.]]></description>
				<category><![CDATA[nba]]></category>
				<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/nba/news/134357-Nowitzki-leads-Mavs-past-Pistons</link>
				<guid>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/nba/news/134357-Nowitzki-leads-Mavs-past-Pistons</guid>
				<pubDate>Mon, 16 Nov 2009 02:42:19 GMT</pubDate>
			</item>
		
			<item>
				<title><![CDATA[Mavericks-Pistons Preview]]></title>
				<description><![CDATA[By DAN PIERINGER
STATS Editor

Dallas (6-3) at Detroit (4-4), 6:00 p.m. EDT

Short-handed for most of the first three weeks of the season,
the Detroit Pistons have taken advantage of a soft schedule to
win three straight.

Their ability to overcome their injury problems will likely face
a stiffer challenge with the Dallas Mavericks coming to town.

Likely without two of their top players again, the Pistons look
to extend their streak Sunday night against the Mavericks,
winners of four of the teams' last five meetings.

Detroit (5-4) has played most of the season without Richard
Hamilton (ankle) and Tayshaun Prince (back) and dropped four of
its first six with its two longest-tenured players sidelined.
The Pistons, though, have rebounded with three consecutive
victories by taking advantage of matchups with struggling
Philadelphia, Charlotte and Washington.

Offseason acquisitions Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva have
been integral to Detroit's recent success. Gordon is averaging
24.7 points and shooting 51.8 percent from the field during the
winning streak, and Villanueva is averaging 23.7 points and
shooting 60.0 percent over that same stretch.

Gordon had 29 points and Villanueva added 25 as the Pistons beat
the Wizards 106-103 on Saturday after trailing 95-89 with 5:04
to play.

"The thing I like about this team is, we keep chipping away,"
said Gordon, who scored eight of Detroit's final 10 points. "We
don't hang our heads. We don't make excuses. We play hard, and
that got us back in the game."

After the game, Pistons rookie coach John Kuester sounded
encouraged that Hamilton would be able to rejoin the team soon,
saying "Rip is getting close." However, it's unlikely the
three-time All-Star will play Sunday.

Regardless, the Pistons could use a scoring boost from someone
to keep up with the Mavericks (6-3). Dallas has won four of the
teams' last five meetings, shooting 54.5 percent from the field
in those victories, which have come by an average of 10.8
points.

The Mavericks have also won six of 10 at The Palace of Auburn
Hills.

Dirk Nowitzki averaged 28.0 points and shot 60.0 percent from
the field as Dallas swept the two-game season series with the
Pistons in 2008-09.

Nowitzki was held to five points in a quiet first half Friday.
After getting whistled for a technical foul following arguments
with two Minnesota players five minutes into the third quarter,
however, Nowitzki scored 13 points, grabbed five rebounds and
blocked three shots in the next seven minutes to put Dallas in
control en route to the 89-77 win.

"He got it going and hit three or four, which were big," coach
Rick Carlisle said of Nowitzki, averaging 25.8 points on the
season. "That was a big stretch."

Even if Nowitzki can replicate that performance, the Pistons
have to feel good about their newcomers' recent history against
the Mavericks.

Gordon averaged 31.5 points and shot 53.8 percent in two games
against Dallas last season, while playing for Chicago.
Villanueva, with Milwaukee at the time, averaged 28.5 points and
shot 56.4 percent in two games.]]></description>
				<category><![CDATA[nba]]></category>
				<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/nba/news/134135-Mavericks-Pistons-Preview</link>
				<guid>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/nba/news/134135-Mavericks-Pistons-Preview</guid>
				<pubDate>Sun, 15 Nov 2009 06:14:04 GMT</pubDate>
			</item>
		
			<item>
				<title><![CDATA[Arenas opens up after Wizards lose to Pistons by 3]]></title>
				<description><![CDATA[By HOWARD FENDRICH
AP Sports Writer

WASHINGTON(AP) -- Gilbert Arenas briefly hauled the Hibachi out of
storage, then opened up about his inconsistency this season.

Perhaps it was because of the sting of his Washington Wizards'
sixth consecutive loss, a 106-103 setback against the Ben
Gordon-led Detroit Pistons on Saturday night.

Perhaps it was because Arenas shot 0 for 6 in the first quarter.
Or because he didn't make a fourth-quarter field goal until 1.9
seconds were left, too late to make a difference.

Whatever the motivation, Arenas talked at length in the locker
room about thinking instead of reacting; worrying how many
assists he collects so he can be seen as a top point guard;
figuring out how to involve talented teammates in new coach Flip
Saunders' offense; having more fun on the court now that he's
healthy.

"There's always a half or a quarter where I don't shoot or I
don't score. Before, in (former Wizards coach Eddie Jordan's)
system, he needed me to score 30. In this system, I don't have
to," Arenas said. "Me sitting, not shooting for a whole quarter,
doesn't really bother (me), because we have other players that's
scoring. But then when I try to get in a rhythm, I just don't
have that feel, so I have to try to find a way to keep myself in
the game the whole time."

While he was quiet in the fourth quarter Saturday, Gordon took
over, scoring eight of Detroit's final 10 points to finish with
29. Charlie Villanueva added 25 points for Detroit, which held
Washington to one field goal over the final 5 minutes.

Reserve guard Will Bynum contributed 20 points, eight rebounds
and six assists for the Pistons, who have won three in a row.

Arenas set up a basket by Earl Boykins that put Washington ahead
95-89 with 5:04 to play - but the Wizards wouldn't register
another field goal until the closing seconds.

"The thing I like about this team is, we keep chipping away,"
Gordon said. "We don't hang our heads. We don't make excuses. We
play hard, and that got us back in the game."

The Pistons trailed by as many as 10 points in the second half,
but with Arenas going silent for stretches, they came back.

"We're not known for our defense, but Ben (Wallace) and I have
been playing terrific defense," Villanueva said. "We can score,
but it's the other end that's going to put us in a good
situation."

Back before three operations in 1 1/2 years on his left knee,
Arenas used to be the guy who would take over games late in
quarters, and he showed some flashes Saturday: He sank a
3-pointer from about 30 feet right at the end of the first half,
hopping in place as the ball cut through the net. And when he
made back-to-back 3s at another point, he waved his palms in
front of him, the old Hibachi signal that he was hot.

"Mike Miller told me to bring it back," said Arenas, who ended
up with 19 points and 10 assists. "Everyone wants the fun guy
back."

But Arenas also was deferential at times to the 5-foot-5
Boykins, who signed with Washington on Wednesday, went through
two days of practice, and scored 20 points in his first NBA game
since April 2008.

Arenas' first shot attempt of the fourth quarter was a 19-foot
jumper that he missed with 2:05 left in the game and the score
96-all. Gordon banked in a 9-footer to put Detroit ahead, and
then Boykins - not Arenas - missed jumpers on each of
Washington's next two possessions.

Arenas said teammate DeShawn Stevenson "got mad at me today,
because in the fourth quarter I only took three shots. He said,
'Before, this wouldn't have happened. You would have taken over
the fourth quarter, even if you had to take every shot."'

But Arenas said he doesn't "want to take away from the team."

It's part of a general feeling-out process he and his teammates
and Saunders are going through right now. Things aren't easy at
2-7.

"I find myself doing more thinking than I am just reacting, off
my instincts," Arenas said. "Players in this league, they react.
I was a reactor. Now I find myself being a thinker."

NOTES: Saunders said Wizards captain Antawn Jamison will play
for the first time this season Wednesday against visiting
Cleveland. ... Miller scored 20 points after missing the three
previous games with a shoulder injury. ... F Tayshaun Prince
(back injury) did not travel with the Pistons.]]></description>
				<category><![CDATA[nba]]></category>
				<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/nba/news/134042-Arenas-opens-up-after-Wizards-lose-to-Pistons-by-3</link>
				<guid>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/nba/news/134042-Arenas-opens-up-after-Wizards-lose-to-Pistons-by-3</guid>
				<pubDate>Sun, 15 Nov 2009 04:45:38 GMT</pubDate>
			</item>
		
			<item>
				<title><![CDATA[Pistons-Wizards Preview]]></title>
				<description><![CDATA[By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA
STATS Senior Writer

Detroit (4-4) at Washington (2-6), 7:00 p.m. EDT

A failure to get past the Eastern Conference finals may have
been Flip Saunders' undoing with the Detroit Pistons. He may be
facing an even tougher task trying to get the Washington Wizards
into the playoffs.

The Pistons face Saunders for the first time since firing him in
2008, and he doesn't have many healthy regulars at his disposal
with the Wizards for the teams' matchup Saturday night.

Detroit set a single-season franchise record for wins in
Saunders' first season, going 64-18 in 2005-06. The Pistons,
though, went on to lose in the conference finals in all three
seasons they played under Saunders.

Saunders was fired June 3, 2008, after Detroit lost to Boston in
the postseason. After going 19-63 last season, the Wizards (2-6)
hired Saunders in April and gave him a four-year, $18 million
deal, but he's endured a tough start in part due to injuries.

Detroit (4-4), meanwhile, is trying to find some consistency
under new coach John Kuester, who replaced Michael Curry after
he was fired June 30. The Pistons have won two in a row for the
first time this season, relying on a couple of players who are
expected to play a large role in Kuester's effort to get Detroit
to the playoffs for the ninth straight season.

Charlie Villanueva scored a season-high 30 points and Ben Gordon
added 22 with eight assists and no turnovers in Detroit's 98-75
win over Charlotte on Wednesday night.

Villanueva is averaging 19.0 points in his last six contest
after scoring a total of 15 in his first two games with the
Pistons, who signed him to a $35 million, five-year contract in
July. The fifth-year forward, who averaged a career-high 16.2
points with Milwaukee last season, was nursing a sore hamstring
late in the preseason.

"Charlie started off slow," Kuester said. "I didn't even know
what Charlie was all about because of the hamstring. Now, he's
getting comfortable."

Gordon, who left Chicago to sign a $55 million, five-year
contract in July, has scored at least 19 points in all eight
games. He's averaging 21.8 points in his last five games at
Washington, turning the ball over a total of two times in his
last three contests there.

Gilbert Arenas, meanwhile, is coming off a terrible game
handling the ball, turning it over a career-high 12 times in
Washington's 90-76 loss to Miami on Tuesday night.

Arenas led the Wizards with 21 points, but seven of his
giveaways were in a 6-minute span of the third quarter when the
Heat erased an 11-point deficit.

"It's the same thing every game," Arenas said. "We go into that
third quarter where we can't score, we can't pass, we can't
catch, we can't think."

Arenas played even though he's battling a calf injury. Wizards
guard Randy Foye sprained his right ankle in the second quarter
and his status is uncertain.

Washington is also without starting forward Antawn Jamison
(shoulder) and guards Mike James (finger), Javarris Crittenton
(foot).

"We just need some rest time," Saunders said. "I've never been
in a situation where I've lost three point guards."

Ball handling wasn't the Wizards' problem against the Pistons
last season. Washington averaged 10.0 turnovers, but still lost
three of four games.]]></description>
				<category><![CDATA[nba]]></category>
				<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/nba/news/133445-Pistons-Wizards-Preview</link>
				<guid>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/nba/news/133445-Pistons-Wizards-Preview</guid>
				<pubDate>Fri, 13 Nov 2009 18:02:59 GMT</pubDate>
			</item>
		
			<item>
				<title><![CDATA[Pistons beat Bobcats 98-75 for 1st winning streak]]></title>
				<description><![CDATA[By LARRY LAGE
AP Sports Writer

AUBURN HILLS, Mich.(AP) -- The Detroit Pistons' rebuilding plan
revolves around Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva.

If the newcomers can play like they did Wednesday night against
the Charlotte Bobcats, Detroit might not experience the demise
many expect from its new-look roster.

Villanueva scored a season-high 30 points, outscored the
opponents by himself in the third quarter and Gordon had 22
points, eight assists and no turnovers to lead Detroit to a
98-75 win over Charlotte.

Both players were regarded as offensive assets and defensive
liabilities when they signed as free agents, but are starting to
become complete players.

"They've taken the challenge of allowing me to coach them,"
Detroit coach John Kuester said. "They've bought into it."

Villanueva has averaged 19 points in the last six games after
scoring a combined 15 in his first two for the Pistons, who
signed him to a $35 million, five-year contract.

"Charlie started off slow," Kuester said. "I didn't even know
what Charlie was all about because of the hamstring. Now, he's
getting comfortable.

"He was impressive tonight."

Gordon was, too.

He had a season high in assists and didn't have a turnover for
the second time this season. The former Chicago Bulls guard has
scored at least 19 points in every game this season.

Gordon was wide open once in the third quarter, but chose to
pass to Villanueva for an open shot.

"That's just playing the game the right way," said Gordon, who
signed a $55 million, five-year contract. "Sometimes, you have
to give up a good shot to get a great shot.

"Charlie had it going."

Gordon said he didn't know Villanueva outscored Charlotte 18-12
by himself in the third quarter.

"That's crazy," Gordon said.

Nazr Mohammed had 13 points, Gerald Wallace scored 12, Flip
Murray had 11 points and Raymond Felton added 10 for the
offensively challenged Bobcats, who have lost three straight.

"That's a bad loss," Tyson Chandler said. "I'm very disappointed
because I don't feel like we should lose to that team in that
way."

Charlotte started the second quarter with a two-point lead, then
got outscored 61-31 over the next two periods.

"It was a miracle when we took the lead in the second quarter,
the way we had been playing," Bobcats coach Larry Brown said.
"It all fell apart right after that, and we never got it going
again."

Kuester beat his mentor, Brown, who had Kuester on his
championship-winning staff with the Pistons in 2004.

"We just got outcoached," Brown said. "They executed better than
we did, they played smarter than we did, they looked more
organized than we did. They played like a team when we didn't.

"I'm embarrassed."

Charlotte entered the game averaging an NBA-low 85 points a game
and didn't even approach that lowly total, settling for jump
shots and failing to create shots off the dribble.

The Bobcats' 12-point quarter wasn't even their worse of the
season. They scored just 10 in three different quarters against
three teams this season.

Detroit didn't have any trouble scoring and it was solid on
defense as it has been - surprisingly - so far with its revamped
roster thanks in part to revitalized Ben Wallace.

Detroit's Will Bynum scored 16 points and the 6-foot guard
sparked a second-quarter run with a baseline drive and dunk past
the 7-1 Chandler.

"That got us going," Gordon said. "Will is one of those guys
that is a freak of nature."

Bynum said he tried to dunk on Chandler once in high school.

"I missed," Bynum said.

Rodney Stuckey also scored 16 for the Pistons, who have a .500
record after winning two straight for the first time this
season.

NOTES: Detroit's Richard Hamilton (right ankle) and Tayshaun
Prince (lower back) didn't play and Kuester said both players
"looked better" earlier in the day. Hamilton said "probably not"
when asked if he expected to play on an upcoming road trip,
starting Nov. 17 against the Lakers and ending Nov. 22 at
Phoenix. ... Detroit's next two games are also against former
coaches: Washington's Flip Saunders and Dallas' Rick Carlisle.
... Charlotte fell to 0-4 on the road.]]></description>
				<category><![CDATA[nba]]></category>
				<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/nba/news/133102-Pistons-beat-Bobcats-98-75-for-1st-winning-streak</link>
				<guid>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/nba/news/133102-Pistons-beat-Bobcats-98-75-for-1st-winning-streak</guid>
				<pubDate>Thu, 12 Nov 2009 04:25:22 GMT</pubDate>
			</item>
		
			<item>
				<title><![CDATA[Bobcats-Pistons Preview]]></title>
				<description><![CDATA[By JEFF MEZYDLO
STATS Senior Writer

Charlotte (3-3) at Detroit (3-4), 7:30 p.m. EDT

John Kuester's positive experience as an assistant under Larry
Brown in Detroit was a big reason he decided to become the
Pistons' head coach over the summer.

The first-year coach will face his longtime colleague and mentor
for the first time when the Pistons host Brown's Charlotte
Bobcats on Wednesday night.

Kuester was an assistant under Brown in 2003-04 when Detroit
upset the Los Angeles Lakers in five games to win the
franchise's most recent NBA title.

"He's a Hall of Famer," Kuester told the Pistons' official Web
site of Brown. "Like I've said so many times before, it was a
privilege to work for him."

While Kuester also coached with Brown in Philadelphia, their
time together with the Pistons and his respect for the
organization were key factors in the decision to replace the
fired Michael Curry in Detroit.

Kuester's club heads into this reunion coming off an 88-81 home
win over the 76ers on Sunday. Ben Gordon had 23 points and Ben
Wallace added 16 rebounds, three blocks and three steals to help
the Pistons (3-4) avoid a third straight loss.

While Gordon is averaging a career-high 24.0 points in his first
season with Detroit, the Pistons also need role players like
Wallace to step up in the absence of injured stars Richard
Hamilton (ankle) and Tayshaun Prince (back). Hamilton is
expected to miss a seventh straight game while Price should sit
out his fifth in a row Wednesday.

In his second stint with the Pistons, the 35-year-old Wallace
has been a pleasant early surprise averaging 9.6 rebounds and
almost 29 minutes per contest.

"I knew Ben was going to be an asset this season because he'd be
able to teach our bigs," Kuester said. "I never imagined he
could have this kind of impact on the court. This is the old Ben
Wallace again."

Wallace is averaging 7.1 points and 10.4 rebounds in 16 career
games against Charlotte. Gordon, meanwhile, is averaging 23.3
points in his last nine against the Bobcats.

Though the Pistons are averaging 91.3 points, they rank near the
top of the league allowing 91.7 while holding opponents to 41.7
percent shooting.

"We've been preaching defense every day and never really got a
chance to see what we were going to be like offensively, because
guys went down so fast," Kwame Brown said.

That doesn't bode well for the Bobcats (3-4), who are last in
the NBA in scoring (84.7) and looking to avoid a third straight
loss after falling 93-81 to Orlando on Tuesday.

Raymond Felton had 18 points and Boris Diaw added 14 for
Charlotte. The Bobcats shot 2 for 17 from 3-point range and
committed 16 turnovers that led to 22 Orlando points.

"We weren't playing defense, we weren't guarding anybody," said
forward Gerald Wallace, who had 13 points and nine rebounds.

Felton, who had 14 points and 10 assists in a 93-90 loss at
Chicago on Saturday, is averaging 19.3 and 5.6 assists in his
last three games versus Detroit.

The Pistons went 3-1 against the Bobcats last season and are 7-2
all-time at home versus them. Charlotte is averaging 76.0 points
while going winless in three road games this season.]]></description>
				<category><![CDATA[nba]]></category>
				<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/nba/news/132879-Bobcats-Pistons-Preview</link>
				<guid>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/nba/news/132879-Bobcats-Pistons-Preview</guid>
				<pubDate>Wed, 11 Nov 2009 03:58:44 GMT</pubDate>
			</item>
		
			<item>
				<title><![CDATA[Gordon, Wallace help Pistons beat 76ers 88-81]]></title>
				<description><![CDATA[AUBURN HILLS, Mich.(AP) -- Ben Gordon scored 23 points and Ben
Wallace added 16 rebounds, helping the Detroit Pistons beat the
Philadelphia 76ers 88-81 on Sunday.

Wallace had seven of Detroit's 21 offensive rebounds, and added
three blocks and three steals. Charlie Villanueva added 16
points.

Andre Iguodala led Philadelphia with 24 points, but the 76ers
couldn't overcome missing their last eight field-goal attempts.

Detroit led 43-37 after a first half that saw both offenses
struggle, and only 20 offensive rebounds - 13 of them by the
Pistons - allowed the teams to reach 80 combined points.
Iguodala had 15 in the half for Philadelphia, while Gordon had
10 for Detroit.

The 76ers tied the game early in the second half, but Gordon and
rookie Jonas Jerebko led a surge that put Detroit ahead by as
many as nine.

Rodney Stuckey's late jumper put the Pistons ahead 64-59 going
into the fourth, but Marreese Speights' put-back dunk gave the
76ers their first lead with 7:22 to play. After Stuckey made a
free throw, Iguodala hit a 3-pointer to give Philadelphia a
three-point edge.

Wallace helped Detroit's last surge with two blocks and another
offensive rebound, and Villanueva's runner gave the Pistons an
81-77 lead with 3:09 left. Philadelphia did not score a field
goal for the final 6 minutes.

NOTES: Tayshaun Prince (back) missed his fourth straight game,
while Richard Hamilton (ankle) was out for the sixth time in a
row. Pistons coach John Kuester does not expect either to return
within the next week. ... Speights left the game with 4:50 to
play after banging knees with a Pistons player under the basket.
... The Pistons had 19 offensive rebounds in the first three
quarters, while the 76ers had only 17 offensive boards for the
game.]]></description>
				<category><![CDATA[nba]]></category>
				<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/nba/news/132380-Gordon-Wallace-help-Pistons-beat-76ers-88-81</link>
				<guid>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/nba/news/132380-Gordon-Wallace-help-Pistons-beat-76ers-88-81</guid>
				<pubDate>Mon, 09 Nov 2009 06:31:52 GMT</pubDate>
			</item>
		
			<item>
				<title><![CDATA[76ers-Pistons Preview]]></title>
				<description><![CDATA[By DAN PIERINGER
STATS Editor

Philadelphia (3-2) at Detroit (2-4), 1:00 p.m. EDT

The Detroit Pistons spent a lot of money to bring in Ben Gordon
and Charlie Villanueva in the offseason. Injuries to the team's
two longest-tenured players, however, have negated the impact of
the newcomers during Detroit's worst start in nearly a decade.

The Pistons again could be without Richard Hamilton and Tayshaun
Prince on Sunday when they host the Philadelphia 76ers.

Detroit (2-4) has dropped four of its first six for the first
time since 2000-01, and the slow start is due in large part to
injuries to Hamilton and Prince.

Hamilton, the Pistons' leading scorer each of the last seven
seasons, hasn't played since spraining his right ankle in a
season-opening win at Memphis. He remains day-to-day, and his
availability for Sunday is uncertain.

Prince had played in 496 consecutive games before sitting out
Tuesday against Orlando. The Pistons said Saturday the veteran
forward will be out of the lineup indefinitely because of a
small rupture of a disc in his lower back.

The injuries have overshadowed a strong start by Gordon, who
signed a five-year, $55 million contract over the summer after
five seasons with the Bulls. Gordon has averaged 24.2 points in
his first six games with Detroit.

Villanueva, Gordon's college teammate at Connecticut for one
season, didn't get off to as quick a start with his new club.
However, the versatile forward scored 22 of his season-high 28
points in the fourth quarter to keep the Pistons close in a
110-103 loss at Orlando on Friday night.

"I got a little bit in the zone once I made a few shots," said
Villanueva, who signed a five-year, $35 million contract after
spending the previous three seasons with Milwaukee. "I just
wanted the ball constantly. (I) just made some good shots and
all I did was try to give us a chance to win."

Detroit could need big performances from both Gordon and
Villanueva to keep up with Philadelphia, which outscored New
Jersey 29-21 in the fourth quarter to pull out a 97-94 home
victory Friday night.

Philadelphia shot 50.0 percent from the field and had four
players score in double figures, but it was just enough to
barely defeat a winless Nets team.

"I wish we could have played better," said Andre Iguodala, who
had 16 points and made a tiebreaking 3-pointer with 2:02 left
that put the 76ers on top for good. "We'll still take the win.
It counts."

The Sixers (3-2) have won four of their last five regular-season
meetings with the Pistons, including two of three at The Palace
of Auburn Hills. These teams also met in the 2008 playoffs, with
Detroit winning the first-round series in six games.

Iguodala, averaging 21.0 points and shooting 50.8 percent from
the field after a subpar performance in the season opener,
averaged 24.0 points and 8.0 rebounds while shooting 57.1
percent as Philadelphia took two of three from Detroit last
season.

Rodney Stuckey was the Pistons' most effective player in the
2008-09 series, averaging 18.3 points and 5.0 assists while
going 19 for 37 (51.4 percent) from the field.

Gordon and Villanueva averaged 18.0 and 16.0 points,
respectively, against Philadelphia last season.]]></description>
				<category><![CDATA[nba]]></category>
				<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/nba/news/132220-76ers-Pistons-Preview</link>
				<guid>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/nba/news/132220-76ers-Pistons-Preview</guid>
				<pubDate>Sun, 08 Nov 2009 02:36:11 GMT</pubDate>
			</item>
		
			<item>
				<title><![CDATA[Pistons' Prince out indefinitely with disc rupture]]></title>
				<description><![CDATA[AUBURN HILLS, Mich.(AP) -- The Pistons say forward Tayshaun Prince
will be out of the lineup indefinitely due to a small rupture of
a disc in his lower back.

The team said Saturday that the injury was confirmed following
an MRI exam and evaluation by team doctors this week. The
Pistons say Prince will continue to receive treatment for the
injury.

Prince had been sidelined since earlier this month with a back
injury.

The 6-foot-9 Prince has appeared in three games this season
averaging 12.3 points, 5 rebounds and 2.3 assists.]]></description>
				<category><![CDATA[nba]]></category>
				<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/nba/news/132108-Pistons-Prince-out-indefinitely-with-disc-rupture</link>
				<guid>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/nba/news/132108-Pistons-Prince-out-indefinitely-with-disc-rupture</guid>
				<pubDate>Sat, 07 Nov 2009 21:51:36 GMT</pubDate>
			</item>
		
			<item>
				<title><![CDATA[Howard, Magic hold off Pistons 110-103]]></title>
				<description><![CDATA[ORLANDO, Fla.(AP) -- Dwight Howard made up for a miserable
performance against the Pistons three nights earlier.

Even so, he was still irked by what happened in the fourth
quarter.

Howard's 22 points and 12 rebounds were enough to help the
Orlando Magic hold off Charlie Villanueva and Detroit 110-103
Friday night, but the win was soured by the Pistons' 35-point
fourth quarter.

"We haven't played good enough defense to be a great team,"
Howard said. "We have to try and be great every night, and
that's just not happening yet. Sometimes you have ugly games,
and tonight the fourth quarter was ugly, but we still got a good
win."

Villanueva scored 22 of his 28 points in the quarter, but it
wasn't enough to get past the defending Eastern Conference
champs, who led by 19 early and never trailed at all.

"Charlie was great. He gave us a chance in the fourth, but you
can't rely on one guy to try and bring you back," Ben Gordon
said. "We dug ourselves a hole and just couldn't get over the
hump."

Three nights after fouling out with eight points in 17 minutes,
Howard was nearly perfect. He made 7 of 8 field goals and 8 of 9
free throws and didn't commit a foul until after halftime.

Matt Barnes had 18 points and nine rebounds for the Magic and
Jameer Nelson also scored 18, with eight assists.

Orlando had lost 20 of 25 regular season games to the Pistons,
including one earlier in the week.

The closest Detroit came on Friday night was 96-90 after a shot
by Villanueva with about three minutes to play.

Rodney Stuckey scored 20 points and Gordon finished with 19 for
the Pistons.

"We're not playing smart enough. We didn't play enough defense
and for too many minutes we were just hanging on to win a
regular-season game," coach Stan Van Gundy said. "We aren't
making the push to be great. I don't know if we will. We'll have
to see."

NOTES: The Magic were already without Vince Carter (sprained
left ankle) and Rashard Lewis (10-game suspension) before losing
lost starting power forward Ryan Anderson to a sprained right
ankle in the third quarter. ... Detroit was without starters Rip
Hamilton (right ankle sprain) and Tayshaun Prince (lower back
strain). ... The Magic shot 30 of 35 overall from the line. ...
The Pistons were staying at a downtown hotel less than mile from
where a gunman opened fire and killed one person and wounded
five others late Friday morning, causing a shutdown of city
streets during a search for the assailant. They had to detour
returning to the team hotel after the morning practice.]]></description>
				<category><![CDATA[nba]]></category>
				<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/nba/news/131914-Howard-Magic-hold-off-Pistons-110-103</link>
				<guid>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/nba/news/131914-Howard-Magic-hold-off-Pistons-110-103</guid>
				<pubDate>Sat, 07 Nov 2009 04:47:23 GMT</pubDate>
			</item>
		
			<item>
				<title><![CDATA[Pistons-Magic Preview]]></title>
				<description><![CDATA[By MATT BECKER
STATS Senior Writer

Detroit (2-3) at Orlando (4-1), 7:00 p.m. EDT

When Detroit and Orlando met three nights ago, the Pistons knew
to have any chance at winning, they needed to level the playing
field and make Magic center Dwight Howard a non-factor. The
strategy worked and Detroit won.

After bouncing back from that disappointing defeat with an
impressive performance, Howard and the Magic look to avenge
their only loss of the season when they host the Pistons on
Friday night.

With Howard receiving minimal resistance, Orlando (4-1) had
little trouble winning its first three games as the three-time
All-Star averaged 21.7 points on 62.9 percent shooting and 16.0
rebounds.

The Pistons (2-3) offered the intimidating big man a much
stiffer test Tuesday.

With Richard Hamilton (right ankle) and Tayshaun Prince (sore
lower back) out, Detroit featured a smaller lineup and went
right after Howard, frustrating him into fouling out just 17
minutes into the Pistons' 85-80 win. Howard finished with eight
points and five rebounds, and also re-aggravated a shoulder
injury sustained in Sunday's 125-116 victory at Toronto.

"We knew if we could get Dwight into foul trouble, they'd be in
trouble, because we'd have an open path to the basket," Detroit
point guard Will Bynum said after that game. "So we just tried
to keep attacking."

The Pistons have had a little history of frustrating the Magic,
winning four straight in the series, but that was the first time
they got Howard to foul out. He averaged 22.0 points and 15.0
rebounds in three meetings last season.

While Howard struggled against the Pistons, he and his teammates
bounced back nicely in Wednesday's 122-100 win over previously
unbeaten Phoenix.

The frontcourt led the way with Howard finishing with 25 points
and six rebounds while Ryan Anderson had 20 points and 10
boards.

Orlando shot 52.3 percent from the field and won despite playing
without Vince Carter and Rashard Lewis.

Carter's sprained left ankle doesn't appear to be too serious
and he could be back for this contest while Lewis has been
suspended for the first 10 games after testing positive for an
elevated level of testosterone.

The 6-foot-10 Anderson, who came over in the trade with Carter
from New Jersey this summer, is doing a solid job as Lewis'
replacement. He's averaging 15.8 points on 44.1 percent shooting
from beyond the arc, but struggled against the Pistons,
finishing with seven points on 1 of 11 shooting from 3-point
range.

Still, coach Stan Van Gundy was impressed with how Anderson was
able to rebound from that performance.

"I think his response was pretty good for a 21-year-old guy
coming off of missing 10 3's," Van Gundy said. "That was a good
sign."

While the Magic responded from the tough loss at Detroit with a
win, the Pistons followed up that victory with a 110-99 defeat
at Toronto.

The Raptors scored 44 points in the second quarter and became
the first team this season to score more than 100 points against
Detroit, which entered the contest second in the NBA behind
Boston in scoring defense at 85.3.

"Needless to say, you let anybody in the league score that many
points and it's going to be tough to counter that," said Ben
Gordon, who scored a season-high 30 points.

With Hamilton and Prince both listed as out for this game, the
Pistons are counting on Gordon to continue to carry the offense.

Gordon had 23 points against the Magic and has led Detroit in
scoring in each of the last four games.]]></description>
				<category><![CDATA[nba]]></category>
				<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/nba/news/131671-Pistons-Magic-Preview</link>
				<guid>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/nba/news/131671-Pistons-Magic-Preview</guid>
				<pubDate>Fri, 06 Nov 2009 02:23:25 GMT</pubDate>
			</item>
		
			<item>
				<title><![CDATA[Bargnani, Bosh lead Raptors past Pistons]]></title>
				<description><![CDATA[TORONTO(AP) -- A second-quarter surge and a big night by Andrea
Bargnani gave the Toronto Raptors a rare victory over the
Detroit Pistons.

Bargnani had 22 points and a career-high 12 rebounds for his
first double-double of the season, Chris Bosh scored 25 points
and the Raptors used a 44-point second quarter to beat the
Pistons 110-99 on Wednesday night.

Bosh had eight rebounds, falling two shy of his fourth
double-double in four games, but was pleased to see the 7-foot
Bargnani pick up the slack.

"We want more of that," Bosh said. "He did a really good job on
the boards tonight. That shows that if he really asserts himself
on the boards, he can be a factor for us in rebounding. We need
that, we need all the rebounds we can get."

Hedo Turkoglu added 16 points and Antoine Wright had 12 for the
Raptors, who had lost seven of their previous eight games
against Detroit.

Ben Gordon had a season-high 30 points, former Raptors player
Charlie Villanueva and Will Bynum each scored 16 for the
Pistons, who have lost three of four. Rodney Stuckey added 13
points and a career-high 10 rebounds.

Toronto became the first team this season to score more than 100
points against Detroit, which began the night second in the
league behind Boston in points allowed at 85.3.

"Needless to say, you let anybody in the league score that many
points and it's going to be tough to counter that," Gordon said
of Toronto's explosive second. "It seemed like every possession
they got a good shot or got to the free throw line. It's tough
to win like that, when you're not really stopping them at all.
They're either going to get a good look or get some free
throws."

Toronto's reserves did most of the damage in the second, when
the Raptors made seven of their first eight shots and 10 of
their first 12. The 44 points were a season high for a quarter
and gave Toronto a season-high 68 in the first half.

"Our bench was outstanding," coach Jay Triano said. "I thought
they came in, gave us energy, they ran up and down the floor,
they got us stops and deflections. That was some of the best
basketball that group has played and they earned themselves
minutes in the second half because of that."

After leading by as many as 17, Toronto had an 85-77 edge to
start the fourth but couldn't hold it. Detroit rookie Austin
Daye opened the quarter with a 3-pointer, sparking a 14-3 run.
Bynum capped it with a 3 followed by a reverse layup as the
Pistons took the lead for the first time since the second
quarter, 91-90, with 7:46 remaining.

The Pistons weren't in front for long. After Jason Maxiell
missed two free throws, Jose Calderon restored Toronto's lead
with a 3-pointer. Bynum tied it again with a layup but Bosh made
a hook shot, Bargnani hit four straight free throws and Turkoglu
drained a jumper to give the Raptors a 101-93 lead with 3:45 to
go.

"It just seemed like we just ran out of gas," Villanueva said.
"When you dig yourself into a hole like that, it's tough to get
out of it."

For the second straight game, Detroit played without guard
Richard Hamilton (right ankle) and forward Tayshaun Prince (sore
lower back), both of whom are day-to-day. Prince, whose streak
of 496 consecutive games ended in Tuesday's home victory over
Orlando, did not accompany the team to Toronto.

Gordon went 4 for 5 from the floor in the first as Detroit built
a nine-point lead before Toronto closed the quarter with an 8-3
run, making it 28-24.

Jack had the highlight play of the second, using a nifty dribble
to split two defenders and get into the lane, then firing an
over-the-shoulder pass to Bargnani for a running dunk that gave
Toronto a 43-33 lead with 8:13 left. The Raptors led 68-56 at
the half.

Notes: Detroit rookie Jonas Jerebko made his second straight
start. ... Former Raptors forward Charles Oakley attended the
game and was honored after the first quarter as part of the
team's 15th anniversary celebrations. ... Toronto plays seven of
its next eight on the road.]]></description>
				<category><![CDATA[nba]]></category>
				<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/nba/news/131397-Bargnani-Bosh-lead-Raptors-past-Pistons</link>
				<guid>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/nba/news/131397-Bargnani-Bosh-lead-Raptors-past-Pistons</guid>
				<pubDate>Thu, 05 Nov 2009 04:11:33 GMT</pubDate>
			</item>
		
			<item>
				<title><![CDATA[Pistons-Raptors Preview]]></title>
				<description><![CDATA[By JEFF MEZYDLO
STATS Senior Writer

Detroit (1-2) at Toronto (1-2), 7:00 p.m. EDT

A week into the season, the Detroit Pistons are already trying
their best to overcome injuries.

Likely short-handed again, the visiting Pistons try for a second
consecutive victory and fifth straight over the Toronto Raptors
on Wednesday night.

With Richard Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince both sidelined, Ben
Gordon scored 23 points while Rodney Stuckey and reserve Will
Bynum each added 20 as Detroit (2-2) avoided a third straight
loss with an 85-80 home win over Orlando on Tuesday.

The victory was the Pistons' first in three games without
Hamilton, who scored 25 points in a 96-74 season-opening win
over Memphis and could miss this contest with an ankle injury.

Prince, who totaled 37 points in the first three games, will
miss at least two more with a back injury. By sitting out
Tuesday's contest, Prince's consecutive-games streak ended at
496. It was the second-longest active streak behind Andre
Miller's, and Prince's run of 439 straight starts was the
longest in the league.

Hamilton and Prince had never missed the same game in their
seven-plus seasons as teammates.

Though Detroit shot 37.5 percent - including 0 for 6 from
3-point range - and failed to top 85 points for a third straight
contest Tuesday, it gained confidence by playing well enough to
win without a pair of key performers.

"A victory like this is sweet - there's no question about it,"
rookie Pistons coach John Kuester said. "You always miss guys
who play such an intricate part of what you do, but it is great
to see other guys step up."

The Pistons held Orlando to 36.7 percent shooting and benefited
from a poor night by Magic star Dwight Howard, who was held to
eight points and five rebounds in 16 minutes before fouling out.

Gordon is averaging 24.0 points in his first season with the
Pistons. Chicago's leading scorer the past four seasons, Gordon
has scored 60 points in his last two games against the Raptors.

The Pistons have won seven of the last eight against the Raptors
and consecutive games in Toronto. The Raptors last beat Detroit
89-82 at home on March 26, 2008.

The Raptors (1-2) look to avoid a third straight loss after
falling 125-116 to Orlando on Sunday.

Chris Bosh scored 35 points and added 16 rebounds for Toronto,
which despite shooting 54.1 percent couldn't prevent the Magic
from making 17 3-pointers - the most ever by a Toronto opponent.

Andrea Bargnani added 26 points and Hedo Turkoglu had 19 against
his former team, but Toronto trailed by as many 22 points
against the reigning Eastern Conference champions.

"We have to learn from these games, especially being a young
team," Turkoglu told the Raptors' official Web site.

Though the Raptors are allowing 110.3 points per game, they're
playing well on the offensive end thanks to Bosh, who's
averaging 31.0 points per contest.

Also pulling down 14.7 boards per game, Bosh is averaging 23.1
points and 10.1 rebounds in his last seven contests versus
Detroit.

Turkoglu is averaging 15.0 points and shooting 50.0 percent in
his first three games with Toronto, but he's been held to 12.7
points and 42.0 percent shooting in 22 career contests against
the Pistons.]]></description>
				<category><![CDATA[nba]]></category>
				<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/nba/news/131167-Pistons-Raptors-Preview</link>
				<guid>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/nba/news/131167-Pistons-Raptors-Preview</guid>
				<pubDate>Wed, 04 Nov 2009 05:14:00 GMT</pubDate>
			</item>
		
	
			
	</channel>
</rss>









