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Pistons aiming to stay on track against Nets

Apr 1, 2009 - 4:08 AM By Mike Lipka Stats Writer

Detroit (36-38) at New Jersey (30-44) 7:30 p.m. EDT

EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (AP) -- The dysfunctional Detroit Pistons have struggled mightily in the season's second half, but they still have the inside track at an eighth consecutive playoff spot.

A similar late-season crumble hasn't left the plummeting New Jersey Nets in such an enviable position.

The Nets have put forth performances called "embarrassing" by their coach in their last two games, and another one would likely help the Pistons solidify their hold on seventh place in the Eastern Conference on Wednesday night in New Jersey.

Injuries and inconsistency have derailed Detroit, which is flirting with its first losing season in eight years after a 9-17 stretch since early February. An unsightly offense has often been the culprit, with the team failing to reach 80 points four times in the last six weeks.

One of those came on Tuesday night, when the Pistons shot 35.4 percent in a 79-73 loss at Cleveland.

Another emerging problem has been unrest from some of Detroit's best players. In just his second contest after a 16-game absence due to a back injury, Allen Iverson scored 11 points off the bench against the Cavaliers, but he played just 18 minutes and expressed his displeasure with that fact after the game.

"I can play 18 minutes with my eyes closed and a 100-pound truck on my back," Iverson said. "I'm wondering what the rush was to get me back. It's a bad time for me mentally. I'm just trying to get through it without starting a whole bunch of nonsense. I'm looking at the big picture, if I vent my frustrations, then it's on."

One of the Pistons' other outspoken stars won't log any minutes Wednesday. Rasheed Wallace was suspended for one game after notching his 16th technical foul of the season against Cleveland.

"I don't care," Wallace said. "That (stuff) doesn't faze me. That's what happens when you speak the truth."

Tuesday's game was Wallace's first after he had missed the previous 11 with a calf injury, and his return enabled Detroit to be at full strength for the first time in more than a month.

Despite their problems, the Pistons remain in seventh place in the East, with two fewer losses than eighth-place Chicago and ninth-place Charlotte. They also have a soft schedule the rest of the way, with six of their next seven games against teams that are below .500.

Two of those are against the Nets, who have turned in questionable efforts during their five-game losing streak as they fade from contention.

After a 108-99 defeat Sunday afternoon against a Minnesota team lacking its top two scorers, the Nets were blown out at home Monday night by Milwaukee. The Bucks cruised to a 107-78 win despite lacking their leading scorer and rebounder.

"These two games can't be what we are remembered for," Nets coach Lawrence Frank said. "We have to be embarrassed by what we put forth and we have to vow to be better because it's not professional to compete the way we have competed the last two games."

New Jersey's starters managed just 35 points against Milwaukee, with stars Vince Carter and Devin Harris totaling 19 on 6-of-22 shooting. The fifth straight loss matched a season high, and the Nets have lost 17 of 23 overall.

"We have too many guys on this team who believe in what we have," Carter said. "I don't think this team has given up. We just have to change our approach."

The Nets have dropped eight of their last nine against Detroit, but the Pistons lost 103-96 on their last visit to New Jersey on November 7, falling victim to Harris' 38 points.