March 2004 Detroit Pistons Wiretap

Wallace and Houston out

Mar 28, 2004 5:04 AM

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) New York's Allan Houston and Detroit's Rasheed Wallace each sat out the Knicks-Pistons game Saturday night with injuries.

Wallace, who is averaging 14.5 points and 6.8 rebounds since coming to Detroit from Atlanta at the trading deadline, has a sore lower back and is day to day.

Houston missed four games with a left quadriceps contusion before playing eight minutes in New York's win over Toronto on Friday, and is sidelined with the same injury.

Houston's injury, combined with the continuing absence of Tim Thomas (groin) and Penny Hardaway (groin), left the Knicks with only nine healthy players against the Pistons.

Associated Press

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Ben Wallace could get feisty

Mar 23, 2004 5:27 AM

It is not in Ben Wallace?s nature to blast somebody with an elbow or a forearm outside the context of the game. He prides himself on playing hard, aggressively and cleanly.

But, he admits, the time might be coming for him to step outside himself and send a strong message to opponents who continually grab and hold and shove him in the back, and to officials who look the other way.

?I have to keep playing,? Wallace said. ?I can?t allow that to affect my game. But I can?t allow a guy to come down and just hold me, either.?

?I have to get a little more aggressive,? Wallace added. ?I have to do something to get them up off of me, whether I take a foul or try to get a ref?s attention. I?m not going to let them just hold me like that.?

Detroit News

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Nuggets rookie lacks maturity

Mar 21, 2004 5:02 AM

Carmelo Anthony?s feelings were hurt when the Pistons chose not to draft him or have him work out last June. On March 6 in Denver, after Anthony had talked about making the Pistons regret their decision, he endured an awful 3-for-17 shooting night while getting abused defensively by Tayshaun Prince and Corliss Williamson.

The worst, though, had to be what happened at The Palace on Friday. Rarely do you see a team?s chemistry unravel as publicly as we saw the Nuggets? unravel, and Anthony was at the heart of it.

?I really don?t feel like talking,? was all he would say afterward.

Anthony started strongly, making eight of his first 14 shots and scoring 16 of his 20 points in the first half. But, he would make just one of his next six shots, raising the ire of his teammates and coaches with his poor shot selection and lack of effort on defense.

?He got off early, but we weren?t challenging him,? Chauncey Billups said. ?When we did challenge him, he stopped.?

Detroit News

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Rasheed Wallace may miss big game

Mar 18, 2004 6:17 AM

The Pistons enter one of the biggest games of the season not knowing whether Rasheed Wallace will be available.

Wallace left Monday for Portland, Ore., to witness the birth of his fourth child with wife Fatima. He didn't practice with the team Tuesday or Wednesday and coach Larry Brown wasn't sure whether Wallace would arrive in time for today's 7 p.m. showdown with the two-time Eastern Conference champion Nets.

"I don't know when he's coming back, but we'll see," Brown said. "I'm not anticipating anything, but I'm glad he has had a chance to spend some time" with his family.

Detroit Free Press

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Okur says back pain is gone

Mar 17, 2004 6:33 AM

?I feel good right now, no more pain in my back.?

These were the words of Detroit center Mehmet Okur Tuesday after practice, and they can only bring a smile to the faces of the Detroit Pistons coaching staff.  But more importantly for the Pistons Okur, a starter pre-Rasheed Wallace for the Pistons, wont be creating waves about playing time now that the Detroit frontline is crowded.

?I don?t care how many minutes I play out there. I am ready for everything right now.?

?We?re doing a great job right now. Play me two minutes, play me 24 minutes, I want to do my best out there.?

Brown said he?s looking at ways to get Okur back into the mix.

?I?m just trying to get him to do what?s best and not please me,? Brown said. ?He?ll play wherever we need him. He can play with Rasheed, with Ben (Wallace), with Corliss (Williamson). He gives us depth. He was a starter, and all that experience first 50, 60 games will be a plus for him.?

Detroit News

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Pistons activate Okur, place Fowlkes on IL

Mar 11, 2004 4:27 AM

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) The Detroit Pistons activated center Mehmet Okur from the injured list prior to Wednesday night's game against the Chicago Bulls.

Okur, who missed six games with back spasms, has averaged 9.9 points and 6.5 rebounds in 55 games, including 31 starts.

Pistons coach Larry Brown was not sure if Okur would play against the Bulls, but he expected Richard Hamilton to return after missing three games with a broken nose.

To make room for Okur, Detroit placed Tremaine Fowlkes (groin injury) on the injured list.

Associated Press

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Turn back the clock! The Pistons are playing '50s defense

Mar 8, 2004 5:40 AM

Turn back the clock! The Detroit Pistons have put on the type of defensive display last seen nearly 50 years ago.

The Pistons became the first team since the shot clock was implemented in 1954-55 to hold three consecutive opponents under 70 points with an 86-65 victory over the Seattle SuperSonics on Sunday night.

``This is mind-boggling,'' Pistons coach Larry Brown said. ``The idea coming out here (to the West) late in the season with everybody that we're playing is fighting for the playoffs. It was good _ real good.''

Rasheed Wallace had 18 points for the Pistons, who won 97-66 at Denver and 83-68 in Portland in their two previous games. They're 7-3 since acquiring Wallace in a trade with Atlanta.

Ben Wallace had 12 points and 13 rebounds as Detroit won for the seventh time in eight games. Lindsey Hunter had six steals for the Pistons, and the Sonics committed 20 turnovers. Seattle's 65 points tied the franchise low.

``Defensively, we really got after it,'' Hunter said. ``Defensively, I don't remember being this good down a stretch in a long time.''

In other games, it was: Houston 101, Dallas 98; Toronto 84, New Orleans 76; New York 99, Washington 86; L.A. Lakers 94, New Jersey 88; Sacramento 107, Orlando 90; Boston 80, Minnesota 77; Memphis 95, Golden State 85; L.A. Clippers 91, Portland 71; and Indiana 103, Denver 94.

The Pistons limited the Sonics to just two baskets in the final 7:49 of the first half. They used a 16-4 run, including nine unanswered points to end the half with a 51-33 lead.

Detroit then put the Sonics away early in the third quarter by making the first three baskets, including a 3-pointer by Chauncey Billups. Rasheed Wallace wowed the fans with a one-handed dunk to give the Pistons a 58-33 lead 3:09 into the second half.

``That's a good defensive team,'' Sonics coach Nate McMillan said. ``They know how they can disrupt you and take you completely out of your offense. They got up on us from the start.''

The Sonics played without Ray Allen, who was sent home with the flu. Rashard Lewis had 16 points to lead Seattle, which shot just 39 percent (23-for-59).

Raptors 84, New Orleans 76

At Toronto, Vince Carter had 26 points, including a buzzer-beater from beyond halfcourt at the end of the third quarter, and Toronto ended a seven-game home losing streak.

Toronto native Jamaal Magloire had a career-high 21 rebounds and 23 points for the Hornets, who have lost six of nine.

Rockets 101, Mavericks 98

At Houston, Yao Ming scored 29 points, including five in the final 45 seconds, and the Rockets snapped their six-game losing streak against Dallas.

Dirk Nowitzki had nine of Dallas' 20 steals.

Knicks 99, Wizards 86

At Washington, Stephon Marbury had 24 points and 13 assists, and Allan Houston added 23 points as New York won its third straight.

Gilbert Arenas scored 28 points, and Juan Dixon had 25 for Washington.

Lakers 94, Nets 88

At Los Angeles, Shaquille O'Neal went 10-of-14 from the foul line and scored 32 points in the Lakers' first game since Kobe Bryant went out with a shoulder injury.

Gary Payton added 18 points for the Lakers.

New Jersey's Jason Kidd missed his fourth straight game because of bruised left knee.

Kings 107, Magic 90

At Orlando, Fla., Peja Stojakovic scored 12 of his 28 points in the third quarter, and Sacramento defeated the Magic.

Mike Bibby had 26 points, while Brad Miller added 22 with 12 rebounds. The Kings made all 24 of their foul shots.

Celtics 80, Timberwolves 77

At Minneapolis, Jiri Welsch scored 18 points, including 14 in the fourth quarter, to lead Boston to its fifth consecutive victory after losing 12 of its first 13 games under interim head coach John Carroll.

Minnesota's Kevin Garnett had 20 points and 14 rebounds and Michael Olowokandi added his first double-double of the season with 10 points and 14 rebounds.

Grizzlies 95, Warriors 85

At Oakland, Calif., Jason Williams scored 13 of his 17 points during a decisive third-quarter run in Memphis' fifth straight victory.

Bonzi Wells had 18 points for the Grizzlies, who have won 14 of 17 to move within a half-game of Dallas for fifth place in the Western Conference playoff race.

Jason Richardson scored 17 points for the Warriors, who have lost five straight.

Clippers 91, Trail Blazers 71

At Los Angeles, Elton Brand had 21 points and 14 rebounds, and the Clippers overcame a back injury to Quentin Richardson to end a four-game losing streak.

Darius Miles had 24 points and 13 rebounds for Portland, which played without leading scorer Zach Randolph, who received a one-game suspension for taking a swing at Utah's Raja Bell during Saturday night's 91-70 victory.

Pacers 103, Nuggets 94

At Denver, Indiana won its fifth straight and clinched a playoff berth with a victory over the Nuggets.

Jermaine O'Neal had 31 points and 10 rebounds, and Anthony Johnson added 21 points for Indiana.

Carmelo Anthony had 29 points for Denver.

Associated Press

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Knicks Hire Brendan Suhr as Talent Scout

Mar 6, 2004 2:09 PM

The Knicks confirmed that Isiah Thomas will name former Chuck Daly assistant coach Brendan Suhr as a scout.

It is unclear what effect Suhr's hiring will have on Jeff Nix and Jay Hillock, two holdovers from the Scott Layden regime. Nix, who was originally hired by Pat Riley, could survive the purge. Hillock, however, is likely to be let go.

NY Daily News

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Undermanned 76ers surprise Timberwolves

Mar 1, 2004 3:57 AM

Undermanned and ridden with turmoil, the Philadelphia 76ers took out their frustrations on one of the NBA's elite teams.

Without injured stars Allen Iverson and Glenn Robinson, the 76ers received strong efforts from just about everyone else Sunday night in beating the Minnesota Timberwolves 81-74.

Rookie forward Kyle Korver made key plays down the stretch, and Eric Snow hit a jumper with 20 seconds left. Aaron McKie had 18 points to lead the Sixers, who snapped a four-game skid. Snow added 13 points, and Kenny Thomas had 11 points and 12 rebounds.

``It was a consistent effort,'' Snow said. ``We know they can score, so we had to challenge their shooters and still be able to help. Coach Ford and the coaching staff put a great plan together.''

But coach Chris Ford was disappointed in Iverson, who missed his fourth straight game with a bruised right shoulder. Iverson informed team doctors earlier in the day he was experiencing stomach problems and wouldn't attend the game. Iverson failed to contact Ford directly, though, something the coach has stressed from the start of his tenure.

``There are guidelines that we handed down,'' said Ford, who took over when Randy Ayers was fired Feb. 11. ``I'm very disappointed. In time, there will be something levied.''

Elsewhere, it was the Los Angeles Lakers 100, New Jersey 83; Detroit 100, the Los Angeles Clippers 88; Sacramento 108, Phoenix 94; Boston 91, Toronto 82; Denver 107, New York 96; Seattle 97, Houston 80; and Milwaukee 108, Miami 104.

Philadelphia won for just the second time since the All-Star break.

``We've been wanting any kind of win we can get,'' Korver said. ``This is a good one, yeah, but we'll take them any way we can get them right now.''

Kevin Garnett scored 27 points and grabbed 13 rebounds for Minnesota, which leads the Midwest Division, but has lost two of three.

``We didn't deserve to win that ballgame,'' said Sam Cassell, who scored 13 points. ``We didn't do anything we should have done from the first quarter to the fourth quarter.''

Lakers 100, Nets 83

At East Rutherford, N.J., the Lakers held New Jersey to 18 field goals and 51 points in the first three quarters.

Shaquille O'Neal had 19 points, 14 rebounds and a spectacular one-handed slam on a third-quarter fast-break pass from Kobe Bryant in helping the Lakers win for the ninth time in 11 games. Bryant, who averaged 32.6 points in his last five starts, had 11 points, 10 assists and six rebounds.

Nets guard Jason Kidd will undergo an MRI exam of his sore left knee Monday.

Pistons 100, Clippers 88

At Los Angeles, Chauncey Billups scored 28 points and Richard Hamilton had eight of his 21 points in the last seven minutes to help the Pistons win their fourth straight.

Ben Wallace contributed his 30th double-double of the season with 13 points and 13 rebounds. Coach Larry Brown was ejected.

Elton Brand had 26 points and 10 rebounds for the Clippers.

Kings 108, Suns 94

At Sacramento, Peja Stojakovic scored 32 points and the Kings never trailed.

Brad Miller, sidelined the previous seven games with a sprained right foot, had 16 points and 10 rebounds. Doug Christie didn't let a cut near his right eye bother his shooting: He scored a season-high 28 points and added eight rebounds and nine assists.

Amare Stoudemire fouled out late, but had 33 points and 17 rebounds for the Suns.

Celtics 91, Raptors 82

At Toronto, Paul Pierce scored 12 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter, helping hand the Raptors their season-worst ninth straight loss.

Jiri Welsch added 15 points for the Celtics, who ended a seven-game losing streak with a victory over Toronto on Friday.

Milt Palacio had a season-high 19 points and eight assists for the Raptors, who are without injured Vince Carter, Jalen Rose and Alvin Williams.

Nuggets 107, Knicks 96

At Denver, Carmelo Anthony had 25 points and Voshon Lenard added 16 as the Nuggets ended a five-game losing streak. New York has dropped six in a row.

Anthony played only a minute into the fourth quarter for the Nuggets, who also ended a three-game losing streak to the Knicks.

Kurt Thomas led New York with 18 points and 11 rebounds.

Bucks 108, Heat 104

At Milwaukee, Michael Redd scored 27 points and Desmond Mason added 21. The Bucks scored the most points the Heat have allowed this season.

Miami lost rookie Dwyane Wade with a sprained right foot, and Eddie Jones led the Heat with 25 points.

SuperSonics 97, Rockets 80

At Houston, Rashard Lewis scored 12 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter, the Sonics beat the Rockets for the third time this season and also snapped Houston's five-game home winning streak.

Vladimir Radmanovic had 19 points and 11 rebounds in a reserve role for the Sonics, and Vitaly Potapenko added 17 points.

Associated Press

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