July 14th, 2006
Detroit Pistons - 2006 VSL Game 4 July 13, 2006
Vs. Los Angeles Clippers
Recap:
This was another pummeling, plain and simple. Here are a few first impressions:
- Apparently Mike Abdenour digs “Rappers Delight”. Watching him bob his head to it was classic.
- Joe D and Sheed were in attendance
- Lucky for me, I had 3 card carrying members of the “Pistons will be better offensively without Ben” club behind me. They also made it a point to be Mateen Cleaves’ personal cheering section.
- No Caner-Medley tonight, not sure why
- I will NOT be referring to the Clippers at ANY POINT in this recap as the “Clips” you got that Greg Kelser???
Ok now to the game:
Starters:
- Amir Johnson
- Jason Maxiell
- Cheikh Samb
- Alex Acker
- Will Blalock
1st Qtr
Observations:
Maxiell: Maxiell was still making a concerted effort to attack the basket on offense. Pretty obvious by now that he will not need to be asked to do this.
Samb: Cheikh looks like he’s able to at least finish close to the basket when given the opportunity.
Johnson: Amir played well defensively to start the game. He came up with two early blocks, both right at the rim…one on a fast break. He did pick up some fouls late in the qtr. He seems to pick them up in bunches.
Acker: Started this game shooting poorly. It seems to be rubbing off on everyone.
Blalock: Will started this game making some honest efforts to drive the lane. Something he lacked after game 1.
Rickert: Checked in @ 2:25 and is promptly beat on a spin to the hoop for a dunk.
TEAM: As a team the Pistons were not fouling a lot to start the game, but then seem to pick up a lot of fouls in a short period of time. Everyone seems to be missing jumpers and they aren’t really converting a lot of shots when they do get into the paint. Biggest problem so far = poor shooting.
Point of interest:
LAC – Boniface NDong: Having a good game to start and getting some points around the bucket. He seems to be taking advantage of his slight advantage in strength over Samb and is helping the Clippers slowly extend their lead.
DET = 10 / LAC = 26
2nd Qtr
Starters:
- Mateen Cleaves
- Alex Acker
- Amir Johnson
- Jason Maxiell
- Rick Rickert
Observations:
Since the last two games have been blowouts, there isn’t really much to report in some of these quarters because the team just doesn’t do anything of note. There’s a bit of play up and down the floor, a jumper here and there, but nothing of consequence. I tend to leave some of the mundane stuff out of the recap because, frankly, this isn’t a play by play. If play is dull for 3-4 min. I’m not going to bore you all with it.
Cleaves: Not much from Mateen this qtr. He drives the lane occasionally, but mainly just runs the offense.
Maxiell: Maxiell is making a nice effort to attack the basket and for his trouble he is producing some points in the paint.
Acker: Alex is struggling today offensively. He can’t really get anything to fall. However, as a shooting guard is taught to do, he’s attempting take good shots and get out of the mini-slump.
Rickert: Is playing hard and gets a couple shots to fall in the paint.
Hoskin: Made it in towards the end of this qtr. He didn’t do much but did get a bucket to fall at the half-time buzzer.
TEAM: Basically, the LAC are just shooting very well from the outside, but there are a few stand out items in the Pistons’ play this qtr. First, they are making an effort to get shots in the paint, but aren’t converting most of the time. They aren’t getting much out of their offensive sets. They aren’t turning the ball over constantly, but they aren’t making the Clippers work on D either. On defense, they don’t seem to be fighting through screens and that is giving the Clippers a lot of open jumpers, which of course they are making. They don’t seem to be stopping the Clippers from scoring once they get in the paint either.
Point of interest:
LAC – Ndong: Pretty much getting whatever he wants in the paint right now.
@ the Half: DET = 27 / LAC = 48
3rd Qtr
Starters:
- Will Blalock
- Alex Acker
- Amir Johnson
- Jason Maxiell
- Cheikh Samb
Observations:
Well, folks; it seems the Pistons are just trading baskets at this point, so they don’t really make up any ground.
TEAM: The team is posting up a bit to start the 3rd. They did some of the same to start the game. Again, they are committing a lot of fouls in the lane (loose ball & shooting fouls). It appears they aren’t really challenging until way after the 1st guy gets beat off the dribble and is in a bad position. Late in the qtr the Pistons trot out the zone D and promptly get lit up for 3 (you would think that’s the last thing you would try when you’re team is being torched from this outside as it is).
Samb: Cheikh is being overpowered by NDong on some plays, but is getting no respect when he tries to establish his own position. Someone asked me if Samb might have some trouble communicating between the players and coaching staff. Not at all.
Maxiell: While apparently unable to purchase a FT the last few games, he did manage to dunk on NDong and another Clipper HARD!!!
Acker: Alex doesn’t appear to be settling for the jumper and is working this qtr to attack the basket a bit more.
Blalock: Will is pretty much just running the offense this qtr, not attacking (a lot like Mateen).
Cleaves: Does check in this qtr, but nothing to note.
Point of interest:
Of course the Pistons are burned for 3 at the buzzer.
End of 3rd: DET = 52 / LAC = 74
4th Qtr
Starters:
- Mateen Cleaves
- Alex Acker
- Amir Johnson
- Rick Rickert
- Jason Maxiell
Observations:
Team: For this qtr the Pistons got a few buckets here and there, but nothing consistent. They are not able to sustain any kind of run or continuity. They are also very slow on their defensive rotations.
Johnson: Amir is continuing to play aggressively, but gets himself hung on a 360 jam on a break….crash and burn into the bench. Sad.
Cleaves: Mateen is running the offense OK. He’s not making mistakes, but he’s not doing anything of consequence either.
Jovanovic: Checks in @7:00 and initially picks up a couple quick fouls. Again, he is not attacking the basket with force. At his size, this should be a no brainer. He’s had FOUR shots within 3 ft of the basket, has not gone up strong and any of them, and has (needless to say) not converted on any of them.
Billups: Rodney plays hard, gets in position on D, but is simply too small. His man is repeatedly shooting over the top.
Wayne Wallace checks in @ 3:00. He still doesn’t get an opportunity to do much and is more or less just running up and down with play.
Point of interest:
Well fans, there it is. Game 4 from the 2006 VSL is in. The 5th and final game is on July 14th @ 1 PM PST. Keep checking back as we will keep you up to date on the progress of the Pistons. Enjoy!
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