Starters:

Amir Johnson

Jason Maxiell

Cheikh Samb

Alex Acker

Will Blalock

Observations:

Maxiell: Maxiell wasn’t shooting well to start the game, however he was being aggressive attacking the basket and managed to improve his FT shooting.

Samb: Cheikh looks very good early. He is helping out on defense extremely well and has already led to 3 blocked shots. He is getting back in position on defense very well after helping out and is being very aggressive on both ends of the floor. It appears to me that the more Samb plays, the more hear learns and the better he gets. This is very promising and I think the Pistons should have an interest in keeping him around for a little while to see how he develops.

Johnson: Amir didn’t do a lot in the 1^st, but is running the floor well.

Acker: Alex hit his first two shots today and looked to be in rhythm, but didn’t force anything.

Blalock: Ran the offense very well in the first quarter. The team is getting great shots.

TEAM: The team is executing very well to start the game. The offense looks very crisp at the start. They are rebounding well and as a group are doing a good job of breaking down the Celtics defense. At one point they stole 2 straight inbounds passes and converted on both. They are not giving up the driving lanes and are forcing the Celtics to shoot jumpers. Boston is resorting to 3s

DET = 22 / BOS = 14

2^nd Qtr

Starters:

Mateen Cleaves

Alex Acker

Amir Johnson

Jason Maxiell

Rick Rickert

Observations:

There was a bit of up and down this qtr. Not a ton of action.

Cleaves: Ran the offense pretty well. He knocked down a 3 and had a nice drive for a 3 pt play.

Maxiell: Maxiell is making a nice effort to attack the basket and is being fouled religiously.

Acker: Not much of consequence this qtr.

Rickert: Is making an effort to take a couple attempts strong to the basket.

Samb: Checks in @ 7:44. He’s crashing the boards very well and has shown a very nice stroke hitting 3 shot from 10-15ft. He has a very soft touch. Nice.

Johnson: Running the floor well, this quarter also and finishing strong on the break.

TEAM: They rushed a couple shots on the break to start the qtr, but are still attacking inside. They are doing a great job defending inbounds passes and are simply out hustling the Celtics at this point.

@ the Half: DET = 49 / BOS = 34

3^rd Qtr

Starters:

Will Blalock

Alex Acker

Amir Johnson

Jason Maxiell

Cheikh Samb

Observations:

TEAM: The Pistons did have a stretch where they turned the ball over a few times. They are still attacking the basket and defending well. They are challenging shots at the rim aggressively and are coming away with blocks.

Samb: Cheikh is having a great day personally. He’s hit nice little jump hook from about 5 ft and has gotten himself another block.

Maxiell: Spending a lot of this qtr making Boston’s big men bounce off of him.

Johnson: Picks up 2 quick fouls to start the qtr

Blalock: Will has finally made a few efforts to drive the lane this game.

Cleaves: Checks in @ 2:50, gets himself a 3 pt play and does a great job of keeping Boston’s guards from penetrating

Point of interest:

To start the qtr, BOS was getting into the paint 1 out of every 5 tries. About midway through the qtr they just start dive bombing the lane to about 50% efficiency (fouls mixed with some conversions).

End of 3^rd: DET = 71 / BOS = 61

4^th Qtr

Starters:

Mateen Cleaves

Alex Acker

Rasheim Wright

Rick Rickert

Cheikh Samb

Observations:

Team: About halfway through this qtr the Pistons gave up a few buckets and some fouls enabling BOS to cut into the lead. Then once the game is down to a 3-5 pt lead they go into a zone (why???). They are promptly burned for a 3. There is some back and forth for a while then a goal tending call gives BOS an 83 - 81 lead. In my opinion, the BOS run and the subsequent loss of the lead are a direct result of the zone defense they began using. A zone is reactionary in nature so the Celtics are able to get wherever they want on the floor and the Pistons are therefore not attacking on D. They are simply reacting to the Celtics moves. This is providing the Celtics with some open jumpers and also letting them get into the paint before anyone reacts. Besides, a lot of the Pistons offense was being generated by rebounds and steals they were getting from their man to man D. That’s gone now.

Cleaves: Hits another 3 ptr and is doing a pretty good job of attacking the lane.

Rickert: Checks in @5:40 and the only real noticeable thing this qtr from Rick is that on some of the plays where Samb was challenging at the rim, Rickert stays planted.

Samb: He is still challenging at the rim and comes up with yet another block and hits another short J to tie it at 83. I’m really starting to like his production.

Acker: Didn’t make an impression this qtr, but did manage to sink two FT to give DET an 85 - 83 lead.

Blalock: Checked in @ 5:40 also, but only managed to back off just enough to give BOS an open look at a 3 and an 86-85 lead.

Final: DET = 85 / BOS 88

Well fans, there it is. Game 5 from the 2006 VSL is in. Our goal here at Pistonsforum.com was to provide you with the most comprehensive information regarding the individual performances of the Pistons’ Summer League roster. I hope that you have enjoyed reading these recaps as much as we have enjoyed bringing them to you.

Until next year!

-Low