NBA Obsessed takes you into the hit and run game of NBA Basketball.

What is going on with Joe Dumars? He announces he wants a coach by Tuesday and pursues Avery Johnson, but was unable to come to terms with Johnson on a contract. No matter, the coach that brought quick offense to Dallas and seems to know a lot about point guard play will not be the Pistons coach, because he wants too many years and too much money.

So now Joe D is pursuing John Kuester and lo and behold we find out Kuester was a Piston assistant to Larry Brown when they won the NBA title. Why didn’t we know that? We should have.

He earned a lot of respect within the franchise during that stint for two reasons.
One: More than any other assistant, he stood up to Larry Brown. Kuester and Mike Woodson were considered Brown’s two best assistants, but Kuester was more likely to disagree with the head man. This was especially impressive because Kuester is a North Carolina alum, like Brown, and Carolina guys form the tightest fraternity in basketball.

And two: After one season in Detroit, Kuester left to be an assistant for the New Jersey Nets. That was partly because Kuester’s family stayed in Philadelphia when Kuester followed Brown from the 76ers to the Pistons. But it was largely because Kuester knew that in order to be an NBA head coach, he had to work for somebody besides Larry Brown.

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Antonio McDyess to the Spurs

Oh, and one more Piston related morsel. Antonio McDyess is ready to sign with the San Antonio Spurs.

Joe D has gotten rid of Chauncey Billups, Rasheed Wallace, Allen Iverson, Amir Johnson, and now Antonio McDyess. Can Rip Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince be considered anything but trade bait at this point? It is a Piston garage sale.

Photo source Newscom

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All part of the Allen Iverson for Chauncey Billups deal was the releasing of McDyess to return to the Pistons. The Gary Peyton rule makes the Pistons wait 30 days to resign him. Denver has already bought out his contract.

Now technically Antonio can sign with anyone, but he claims to want to return to the Pistons. The Pistons need the help down low.

Now there are quite a few NBA teams that would love to have Antonio, but he has said he only wants to play in Detroit.

The classic quote comes from Doc Rivers of the Boston Celtics.

“It’s not a pleasant thing,” said Celtics coach Doc Rivers, upon hearing of the deal. “I was hoping they’d trade all five of their starters.”

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Photo source Newscom

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NBA Obsessed takes you into the hit and run game of NBA Basketball.

Check out this list of free agents.

Now you can see why the Pistons, Nets and other teams are clearing off salary cap room for next year:

Player option: Player has right to opt out of contract if he wants.

It is just amazing to even think about it.

It could become the most talented free agency class ever in professional sports in that there will be five players — LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Amare Stoudemire and Joe Johnson — with already one NBA championship, two NBA Finals, four U.S. Olympic team invitations and 16 All-Star appearances among them and not one of them will be older than 30 in 2010.

If that doesn’t whet the appetite, then there will be an available 32-year-old former league MVP (Dirk Nowitzki) and a just-turned-31 Michael Redd, one of the game’s deadliest perimeter sharp shooters.

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Ray Allen shooting over Rodney Stuckey and Antonio McDyess has had his struggles in the playoffs

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Ray Allen for Hall of Fame

Had a friendly discussion with my best friend RonB about the possibility of Ray Allen making the Hall of Fame. My choice is that he is a lock. RonB feels he has to win something. Winning was not done a whole lot in those years with Milwaukee and Seattle.

So for comparison sakes here are the stats.

Reggie Miller will be used as a comparison.

Reggie played for 18 seasons
averaged 18.2 points
scored 25,279 regular season points.
(please note Reggie’s last 3 seasons were subpar at 12.3, 10.0, and 14.8)

Ray Allen has played 13 years (-5 to Reggie)
averaged 21.1 points (+2.9 to Reggie)
scored 18,227 regular season points (-7,052 to Reggie in 5 less years)

Ray scored 1,273 points this past year (down for him). 1,273 X 5 years = 6,365. Putting him very close to Reggie Miller.

Let’s compare that to the player known as the next Reggie Miller, Rip Hamilton.

Rip Hamilton has played 9 years (-9 to Reggie)
averaged 17.9 points (-.3 to Reggie)
scored 12,059 regular season points (-13,220)

Rip scored 1,244 points this past year (down for him). 1,244 X 9 = 11,196. Putting him a few thousand from Reggie Miller.

Reggie Miller is 13th on the NBA All Time scoring list with his 25K points. For comparison purposes Kobe Bryant is 24th with 21,619, AI is 20th with 22.9K, and Shaq is 11th with 26K+. They are still active players on the list.

Ray Allen will move into the top 30 in the next two years with his current pace.
(NBA special note: Kevin Garnett will be in the top 30 early next year!)

The Top 30 NBA scoring list reads like a who’s who of the Hall of Fame.

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Kevin Garnett could not be stopped by Rasheed Wallace, even with Rip Hamilton’s help

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Ok, ok, we expected Kevin Garnett to play much more aggressive in game 5. You know, we discussed that in our last writing, but where in the heck did Ray Allen and Kendrick Perkins come from?

Boston Celtics 106, Detroit Pistons 102

Kevin Garnett

The Big Ticket came to play.

“We knew the significance of this game,” said Garnett, whose 33 points were his most in the playoffs this year. “You don’t win this game, you put basically yourself in a corner. … They’re experienced, and they’ve been in a lot of pressure situations. Now it’s up to us to go up there and try to get one.”

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Kendrick Perkins comes alive

Kendrick Perkins killed the Pistons.

Pistons trail 52-46 at halftime. They had the lead for much of that half, but the Celtics closed the half on a 16-4 run The Pistons only basket in that run was a three from Wallace, and he’s leading the team with 12 points. But being beat on the boards 28-11 and allowing the Celtics to shoot 51.3% is not going to get it done. I mean, 28-11? That’s just mind-boggling. The Pistons need more from just about everyone. And again, less from Kendrick Perkins.
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Ray Allen finds his shot

Ray was once again nailing shots from the outside.

Ray Allen scored 29, hitting a long 2-pointer with a minute left after Detroit came within one point, then he and Kevin Garnett each made a pair of free throws down the stretch as the Celtics beat the Detroit Pistons 106-102 in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals on Wednesday night.

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Allen added consecutive 3-pointers midway through the third to turn an eight-point game to a 14-point lead.

Rodney Stuckey is no longer a rookie

Rodney came to play.

Saunders kept Stuckey in the game when McDyess went out, a small line-up with Prince at the four. And Stuckey just drew a foul and knocked down two free throws to make it a three-point game. Can we even call him a rookie at this point?

• To answer my previous question… I’d say no, we can’t. He just hit a three, which isn’t even a great shot for him. And the Pistons trail by one point with 1:17 left. All the pressure is on the Celtics now. They’ve blown a huge lead, they’re in their own building, and they know they’re supposed to win this game. I honestly did not see this coming.
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The return of Chauncey Billups

Chauncey is looking more and more like the leader that the Pistons need to win this series.

Billups (26 points) was banged up and bruised, but he continued to look more like himself. After Hamilton’s scoring barrage, Billups scored nine straight fourth-quarter points — a triple, a lay-up and four free throws — that cut Boston’s lead to 98-94.
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Game 6 is Friday at the Palace.

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The story of game four of the NBA playoffs between Boston and Detroit was defense.

Detroit won with defense. Jason Maxiell, Rasheed Wallace, and Antonio McDyess ganged up to make it a long night for Kevin Garnett. He was very tentative as the game went on.

Check out this video of Jason Maxiell blocking a slam attempt by Kevin Garnett.

Although Antonio McDyess was the story of the game, this highlight was too good to pass up. Dyess did play out of his mind.

McDyess was the best player on either team — grabbing every rebound, hitting 18-foot jumpers, leading the Pistons to a 94-75 victory. McDyess scored eight points before the Celtics had a chance to check out the cheerleaders, let alone make a shot.

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The series is tied 2 - 2 now and will head back to Boston. Expect Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen to shoot much better in Boston. The Celtics will be much more offensively aggressive in Boston.

Meanwhile, Chauncey Billups really had to tough it out with the bad hamstring and it showed. He could use a rest.

Boston probably takes game 5 and then it heads back to Detroit for a chance for the Pistons to make it a 7 game series.

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Antonio McDyess nailing another shot

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This is the harshness of pro sports. What have you done for me lately?

Hero

Antonio McDyess

‘Dyess was everything for the Pistons in Game 4, leading them in points (21), rebounds (16) and hustle plays (innumerable). He set the tone early and didn’t let up.

Goat

Ray Allen

Boston’s struggling sharpshooter netted just two baskets and missed a pair of late free throws that all but sealed the Celts’ loss. His defensive efforts didn’t seem to bother Richard Hamilton (8-for-10 shooting), either.

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NBA Obsessed takes you into the hit and run game of NBA Basketball.

Rip Hamilton gives the secret password to victory to Antonio McDyess

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The Boston Celtics had their way during the season winning everything in sight both home and away, but that does not mean that much now.

Detroit quietly went about their business. They were waiting.

Waiting for what?

The Detroit Pistons were waiting for this series. Boston Celtics vs. Detroit Pistons in the Conference finals.

This is the battle the Pistons want to win. They feel as if they underperformed the last two years, by being eliminated in the Conference finals by first Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat and then by LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

This year they knew it would be Boston, although LeBron James put a little doubt in that idea. You have to wonder what LeBron will be like with an actual team around him.

Detroit stole the home court advantage from Boston with the victory in game 2 and now we will find out what Boston is made of. It does not matter that Boston has not won on the road in the playoffs. They have beaten Detroit on its court during the regular season in a game that had playoff intensity. Boston knows what it has to do.

Detroit is still waiting. Antonio McDyess can hardly wait any longer. McDyess came to Detroit to win a title, an NBA title, and he has been so close for so long that the waiting is getting tougher. McDyess has been on fire. He wants that title.

Nobody’s taken the Pistons’ recent history of Eastern Conference finals disappointments harder than McDyess.

After last year’s Game 6 exit against Cleveland, he uncontrollably sobbed on a trainer’s table. Most of his teammates were long gone from the locker room, but he remained wrapped only in a towel.

He put off the simple formality of getting dressed. Why was that so difficult?

When you’ve quite possibly finished the last game of your career, you avoid all symbols of finality. The same sensation hit Chris Webber. He and McDyess were the last two Pistons to leave the locker room at Quicken Loans Arena that evening.

McDyess wasn’t sure if he could make the extreme physical and emotional investment required to make another serious championship run.

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Rip Hamilton is hitting shots, Chauncey Billups has Read more

NBA Obsessed takes you into the hit and run game of NBA Basketball.

Rasheed Wallace and Kevin Garnett - will this matchup determine the series?

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The Boston Celtics present certain matchup problems for the Pistons that other teams do not.

Detroit Pistons

Before discussing the Detroit matchup problems, we should discuss the opposite problem for Boston and all other NBA basketball teams. The Pistons put four guys on the court that always present a matchup problem for your favorite team. Chauncey Billups, Rip Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince, or Rasheed Wallace will be matched up with someone they can consistently beat or if you try to double anyone, Antonio McDyess will drill a set shot from 15 feet.

Boston Celtics

Rajon Rondo will not impress Chauncey Billups. Chauncey will chew on him most of the time, eating him alive. Chauncey is just too strong. It is like when Karl Malone used to play for Utah, he is just one size larger than you are. Rajon will get his points and bring energy, but Chauncey will win this matchup. The wild card here is Chauncey’s hamstring. Can it take a beating?

Rip Hamilton and Ray Allen should have a battle royal. Both of them live on jump shots from mid range and further with Rip usually closer to the basket and both are from UConn. Ray Allen has been cold during the playoffs, but Rip will have him fired up to play.

Tayshaun Prince will be matched up with Paul Pierce and Paul has been winning this matchup in the past by not only scoring, but shutting down Tayshaun. The difference here is that Tayshaun does not always see himself as a scorer or needing to score. Prince has been hot during the playoffs, but expect the points to come a little harder during this matchup.

Rasheed Wallace will not always be matched up with Kevin Garnett. The Pistons do not like Rasheed to get into foul trouble. McDyess will often cover Garnett with Jason Maxiell sometimes helping out as well. Kevin Garnett has the ability to step out and hit the 15 to 17 foot jumper and if you go out on him, he will take you to the hole. Garnett can also post up as well. He cannot post Rasheed Wallace. Wallace is too strong, but you do not want Wallace running out on Garnett to stop his jump shot.

This matchup of Garnett and Detroit will determine the series. Read more

NBA Obsessed takes you into the hit and run game of NBA Basketball.

Tayshaun Prince blocks Hedo Turkoglu with the game on the line

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Hard to believe it came down to Hedo Turkoglu at the top of the key and Tayshaun Prince guarding him with the game on the line.

In game 4 you will remember that Hedo Turkoglu went to his left after a jab step to the right and found his way blocked by Jason Maxiell in what looked like a charge. It was later noticed on tape that Maxiell had a foot on the circle and that would make it a foul on Maxiell. Turkoglu missed the shot and the Pistons won by 1 point.

This time with the playoff series on the line, Hedo went to his right on Tayshaun and there was no one waiting. The Pistons were up by 3 and Tayshaun was going for the block. It looked like Hedo was going to score the basket and get the foul. That would give him a chance to tie the game.

So Prince rose inch for inch with Turkoglu, as if taped to his body, and he pinned the would-be jam against the backboard and off the rim. It caromed away, the game was safe, and moments later, the Pistons were headed to a familiar place, the Eastern Conference finals, for the sixth straight year.

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Defense.

Defense by the Pistons won the game.

At halftime the Orlando Magic were shooting 54%. You do not lose many games if you shoot 54%. By the end of the game the Orlando Magic were still shooting 48%. This did not include the multiple fouls on Dwight Howard taking away a lot of his misses and moving them to the foul line where he shot 6 for 15. That is right, 6 for 15 at the line.

Detroit only shot 36% for the game.

The Detroit Pistons missed 64 percent of their shots and had a rookie filling in for an All-Star at point guard.

It didn’t matter.

Detroit set an NBA playoff record with just three turnovers and made just enough shots and stops to advance to their sixth straight Eastern Conference final with a 91-86 win Tuesday night over the Orlando Magic in Game 5 of the second-round series.

Richard Hamilton scored 31 points, made victory-sealing free throws late in the game and Tayshaun Prince had a key block to help Detroit eliminate Orlando.

The Pistons are the first franchise to play in six conference finals in a row since the Los Angeles Lakers went to eight straight in the 1980s.

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Rasheed Wallace made some huge shots and played excellent defense. Antonio McDyess was on fire with 17 points on 6 of 9 shooting mostly on set shots from the foul line extended.

NBA Playoffs Rip Hamilton factoid Rip became the all time Piston playoff scorer taking over that spot from Isiah Thomas.

With his 11th point, Hamilton broke Isiah Thomas’ career playoff scoring record of 2,261 points and he did it in 110 games—one fewer than Thomas needed to set the mark. “That’s a great honor because Isiah is Detroit basketball,” Hamilton said. “To pass one of his records is crazy because I haven’t been here that long.” … Hamilton is four games away from breaking Bill Laimbeer’s franchise record of 113 playoff appearances source

Now Chauncey Billups can heal up for the winner of the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers.

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