Detroit Pistons – 2006 VSL Game 2 July 10, 2006

Vs. Phoenix Suns

Recap:

Ok folks; this recap will be shorter than game 1. If you would like to know why, here’s a little tidbit: THERE WERE OVER 70 FOULS CALLED IN THIS GAME FOR GOD’S SAKE! Here are a few first impressions:

Two really cool things happened to me which topped the game and also delayed my return home leading to this recap not being delivered until this morning:

1. I got my picture taken with Walt Frazier
2. I got to meet and talk with Ronnie Nunn for a good 20 min. or so after the game. (You regulars will see the full irony of this)

There is one huge difference in this year’s summer league performances…there is no lack of effort from anyone. What I mean by this is: even if a guy’s talent level isn’t at the top of the pack, he’s still out there working his butt off on EVERY play.

Starters:

• Amir Johnson
• Jason Maxiell
• Cheikh Samb
• Alex Acker
• Will Blalock

1^st Qtr

Right off the bat, these refs decide that EVERYTHING is a foul. We can’t get any plays in succession so there isn’t much of a flow to establish how anyone is really doing.

Observations:

Maxiell: Started the game by bodying up and being very physical with Amare Stoudemire. Early in the first qtr Maxiell is defending Amare to the point where he has to pass off when he drives and he’s forced a traveling violation close to the basket. I really like the fact that he has no fear and will take it to anyone (bumping with Ben for a season should have had that effect on Darko as well). Not to mention he gets a really nice tip jam on Amare’s head….ouch.

Samb: There wasn’t much from Samb in the first quarter although he is playing hard and willing to crash the boards. I probably need to make something clear as well. When I refer to a guy crashing the boards or rebounding aggressively I don’t always mean he’s pulling down every board he goes for. I, personally, don’t mind if a guy is not pulling down 10 + boards as long as he’s making the attempt and fighting for position. I’m sure if you look at the box score, my reference to guys crashing the boards may seem misleading. Clarification complete.

Johnson: Not much from Amir in the first quarter. He picked up some quick early fouls (surprise) and had to sit down.

Acker: Started this game a lot differently than game 1. He was fairly aggressive to start and made efforts to attack the basket. I’m glad that he’s not willing to settle and just launch jumpers. If he can get significant minutes, I really like his willingness to go to the hoop and not foolishly challenge big men. He makes good decisions even if he doesn’t finish every play.

Caner-Medley: Checked in at about the 4:45 mark. He was aggressive, but didn’t really do a heck of a lot. This isn’t a negative comment, there just wasn’t much for him to do what with all the FOULS

Blalock: There wasn’t really much out of Blalock in the first qtr.

Point of interest:

There were over 22 personal fouls called in the 1^st Qtr.

DET = 21 / PHX = 22

2nd Qtr

Starters:

• Mateen Cleaves
• Alex Acker
• Jason Maxiell
• Sam Hoskin
• Rick Rickert

Observations:

Cleaves: Mateen started his stint with a decent amount of energy. He’s defending the point pretty well and running the offense effectively.

Maxiell: I really like what I see out of Maxiell. He is being very physical with Amare and it’s actually frustrating him. I don’t think Stoudamire really expected or even wanted anyone to really take it to him in summer league. Maxiell is actually getting Amare to the point where he’s trying to take it at Maxiell. That’s entertainment.

Acker: He is making defenders look silly, again. He is playing with confidence, which I feel is his strongest asset, and got to a point this quarter where he basically just took over. He scored on 4 straight possessions and got fouled on the 5^th). It’s just silly. He’s able to take his man off the dribble at will and apparently there is nothing they can do to stop him. He’s not invincible, but he is one of the few guys out there that are creating his own shots and not just running around tossing up shots.

Rickert: Is working hard on the boards and pulling down a couple. He didn’t get much time this quarter, but played hard.

Hoskin: Checked in this qtr, but didn’t really do much. It’s not from not playing hard. However, he’s really not making himself an active part of the action. I don’t know if it’s Hoskin or if the game plan just doesn’t really involve him (a little of both, I think).

Wright: Gets into the game at the 9 min. mark, but doesn’t really do much for the time he’s in there.

TEAM: This qtr, the team really suffered from defensive collapses that saw all 5 guys sink into the paint anytime the Suns drove the lane. This resulted in them being killed from 3 on the kick out to the weak side.

Point of interest:

Samb, Blalock, Maxiell, and Amir Johnson all check in at the 7:47 mark.

The Suns’ Lampe had a field day this quarter with Samb. Samb didn’t really move or react very well to Lampe’s choice to hoist from the outside. Part of this was because of the team breakdowns with everyone ending up in the lane as well.

AGAIN, TOO MANY FOULS

@ the Half: DET = 33 / PHX = 49

3rd Qtr

Starters:

• Will Blalock
• Alex Acker
• Amir Johnson
• Jason Maxiell
• Cheikh Samb

There was some up and down the court for some of the quarter, but nothing outstanding.<

This qtr was pretty much action less because: THEY WON’T STOP CALLING FOULS! By the end of this quarter the summer league crowd is heckling and booing these refs. This is just insane. There wasn’t much flow to the game because play was continuously stopped.

Blalock: Still hasn’t done a whole lot. Blalock hasn’t been a detriment; he just hasn’t really been active and inserted himself into the action.

Acker: Started off this quarter torching his man again. I know I probably sound like an Alex Acker cheerleader, but this guy is just better than a lot of the guys he’s seeing here. I really do think once he gets comfortable in the NBA he’s start playing this way there too.

Maxiell: This quarter belonged to Maxiell. He and Acker drew a number of fouls between them in order to help the Pistons make a run and get back into this game. Maxiell is still getting the better of Amare tonight. He picks his pocket clean on a dribble to the hole (that happens to Amare a number of times tonight….he’s no Isiah Thomas with the dribble). On a separate play, he takes a hard dribble to the hole and WHAM! – he dunks past Amare HARD and swings on Tommy Smith (which a) is funny and b) he gets a tech for). Maxiell is running the floor hard and finishing breaks very well.

Point of interest:

To start the quarter, no one is interested in stopping Lampe. He actually looks good out there. I don’t mean to insinuate that he doesn’t have any skills; it’s just that he’s always open tonight.

There were 20+ personal fouls called in the 3^rd Qtr.

End of 3rd: DET = 62 / PHX = 68

4th Qtr

Starters:

• Mateen Cleaves
• Alex Acker
• Amir Johnson
• Rick Rickert
• Jason Maxiell

Observations:

This game has 10 min. qtrs with 5 min. halftime, started at approx 6 PM, and it’s now 8 PM and we’re just now starting the 4^th qtr. This qtr wasn’t as stagnant as the 1^st and 3^rd. But, there are still a ton of fouls being called although a few of them are a bit more legitimate.

The Pistons are taking the ball inside this qtr which really helped them get into a position to take this game over. The Pistons cut the Suns’ lead to 70-69 with 7:23 remaining.

Samb: Cheikh did one very noticeable thing this qtr. He got up very high for a nice rebound over everyone, came back down, and went up and flushed with two hands…very nice, very impressive. While Samb doesn’t quite have the NBA body yet, he is not clueless on the floor and appears to understand the game. He plays hard which is really what you expect from a guy at this stage. He hasn’t been the disappointment I expected. He also hit a huge jumper with 0:11 on the clock to make sure the Pistons stayed in front. Nice.

Cleaves: Gave me my surprise of the night…he hits a 3 to tie the game at 72! Late in the 4^th he did allow himself to get bogged down trying to run the offense. The team offense slowed a bit as he wasn’t really creating much off the dribble and the rest of the team wasn’t responding well to get open.

Maxiell: Jason knocked down a couple of mid-range jumpers this qtr to mix it up a bit. He didn’t get into this qtr long before fouling out with his 10^th personal at the 6:45 mark.

Acker: Again, was very aggressive attacking his man and really making an effort to lead the team in crunch-time. He did have a couple of unforced turnovers in the 4^th, but made up for them on subsequent plays.

Point of interest:

Amare Stoudamire fouled out with his 10^th personal as well at the 1:53 mark of the 4^th and received a T on his way to the bench for “additional commentary”

There were 20+ personal fouls called in the 4^th qtr.

Final: DET = 90 / PHX 87

Well fans, there it is. Day two from the 2006 VSL is in. Keep checking back as we will keep you as informed as anyone on the actual progress of your favorite team. I’m always happy to clarify anything that is posted so feel free to find me on Pistonsforum.com and send me a message with any questions you have. Enjoy!

-Low