Lebron Spits "Forever"

Last night when the Cavs BEAT the Lakers (HA!) Lebron caught a little extra curricular action rapping Em's verse to "Forever". Not bad, Lebron. I've seen Marshall on the basketball court, though...

Detroit Spartans

A very appropriate t-shirt for the Spartans playing the Final Four in The D. A very appropriate t-shirt for a man like me that went to State. Good job by Kid Rock's Made In Detroit clothing company.

Kobe/DJ AM/Mike Epps Nike Ad

Check out this mini-spot for Kobe's new Zoom4 sneakers. AM loses his Air Yeezy's in a game of HORSE... I don't like the colorway anyway.

Sheed's Nicknames

Rasheed Wallace has nicknames for each of his teammates on The Pistons. Check out the video. He's not the only one that thinks Stuckey resembles 50. He calls Maxiell "Darkness"... Aye yo?

Props to The Rap Up for the link.

Curtis & Rodney

Ever since Rodney Stuckey started playing for the Detroit Pistons in '07, we have noticed that he looks very similar to Shady Records' own 50 Cent. On his recent trip to The D, we had a chance to get a photo of the two together to verify the similarities. Deee-troit Baaasket-ballll!

Mello In the D?

The Detroit Free Press reported today in this article that the Detroit Pistons are eyeing Denver Nugget Carmello Anthony as an addition to the team. If true, this would obviously be a major move and the Pistons will lose someone major in the event of that trade.

Flip Fired

The inevitable occurred this morning when Detroit Pistons' Head Coach Flip Saunders was canned. He has one more year on his contract for $5+ million dollars that will be paid out while he sits this year, I understand why he's being let go. As Joe Dumars explained in today's press conerence, he had seen enough in the last 3 years with Flip to know that he didn't want a lame duck season during his final contract year, and didn't feel strongly enough to sign him for a longer period of time.
As the Pistons' General Manager further explained, no player is safe after this season- "everyone is in play". It appears that Joe is adamant about making some major moves this off-season, and that he also is adamant about coming back stronger. As Joe reasons, there is no rebuilding. As long as he is with the organization, he expects to compete at an elite level. He cut himself short from saying "rebuilding years are bullshit". Gotta love this guy, he's so no-nonsense and keep-it-real.
As for me? Yeah I'm disappointed for sure. I feel like we could have and should have beat Boston, especially in games 5 & 6. But we didn't, and that's that. I'm still very proud of our team, they have been the clear dominant contenders in the East for the past 6 seasons, and we still have that ring in '04. I believe in Joe D. and we'll be back.

Rasheed AF1's, Game 6

Tonight is obviously a "big game". They all are in the playoffs. Momentum swings like a pendulum, which is half of the fun of the NBA playoffs. Before every series starts, everyone talks about how important Game 1 is because it "sets the tone for the series". Then Game 2 is really important because if you go down 0-2, it means you can't win on the other team's court. Then Game 3 is so important because it's the first game home or away... blah blah. They are all important. Period.
One thing I do know is that the Pistons wont lie down. Everyone else knows that too. It's unfortunate that all of my friends who are Laker fans, and plenty of new bandwagon LA douche fans, are all crying for Detroit's head to be severed by Boston. We know why, you are scared. Scared that you could be handed defeat in your cocky purple and yellow jersey's in the toughest city in the USA. You know the feeling, and you don't want to relive it. I understand, I wouldn't either.

In honor of tonight's "big game" I have included photos of my recently purchased Nike AF1 Rasheeds. Sheed is one of the only pro-players I know of that wears Nike AF1's on the court and he has forever. I first heard about these new Sheeds on the great Pistons blog Need4Sheed, and sent the troops hunting for some size 13's (thanks Ed!). The charcoal grey pair are my favorite, the leather was treated with that 3M reflective coating and they are the most subtle of the pack. Yes, I bought all three color ways. Yes, Rasheed is my favorite Piston. Yes, I do think he might get another T tonight because he can't control his mouth. Yes, I don't need any more sneakers and it's ridiculous already.

The thing I admire most about Sheed is his unbridled passion for the game. It can both hurt us and help us, and I was disgusted following last year's elimination. But for a player to care as much as Sheed does and to play hard every game and wear his heart on his sleeve like that is what us fans love. Now, if he was on another team, I'm pretty sure I'd hate him like all of them do. Until then, Sheed will have my support (even when he gets on a terrible roll of shooting and missing 3's from Flint). OK, and no more KG hugging!
BONUS: Rasheed's MTV Cribs Episode (pre-Pistons)

Sit This One Out, Chauncey

With Mr. Big Shot sidelined due to a strained hamstring (don't you hate when announcers just call it a 'hamstring' like 'Chauncey is out with a hamstring'... no kidding, we know he has a hamstring), the Detroit Pistons managed to do what no team has done yet this second round of NBA playoffs- they won one on the road. Quite an accomplishment. Kobe and them couldn't pull it off, neither could Boston. Gotta give it up to Rip Hamilton with his 32 points and amazing fourth quarter play, in addition to The D's most solid player thus far in the post-season, Tayshaun Prince (of Compton). Now if Rip can just play that well in the same game that Sheed is poppin' and we have Chauncey back look out. Unbeatable... everyone knows it. Look for the Pistons to put this one away in Detroit on Tuesday night, and have some time to rest up for their SIXTH consecutive Eastern Conference Finals.

How Chauncey Got His Groove Back

I don't know exactly what it is... But the Detroit Pistons routinely do what they aren't supposed to do in the NBA playoffs. In '04 they weren't supposed to beat the Lakers in the finals (especially not in 5 games), in '07 they weren't supposed to lose to the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals- hell, they aren't even supposed to originally have been in the Eastern Conference Finals for the last 5 seasons. There are more examples of this.
So now, in '08, we are playing the young Philadelphia 76'ers in the first round. Philly is not considered to be one of the top tier Eastern Conference teams (#7 compared to the Pistons who are the #2 seed with the second best record in the league). But we are having a tough time with them, and of course that's not supposed to happen. But the 'Sixers are hungry, young and fast. And they are destroying the Pistons on fast breaks, hustle, aggression and offense in-the-paint I almost would have liked it better if the Pistons had squeaked into the playoffs and then my expectations would be a lot lower. But instead, we have every analyst, player and human being in front of an electronic voice-amplifying device spreading their opinions about how Detroit doesn't care, they are too relaxed, they aren't hungry, Flip Saunders resembles Huey Lewis (ok, they don't say that but Fisher and I do), etc. Even rejected former Piston and Detroit native Chris Webber has weighed in on the matter (see this article).
So what is a Pistons fan to do? My suggestion is to do like Chauncey does lately and don't even show up until the second half, if at all. Watching the first half is pretty frustrating in these playoffs, so just skip it. As a matter of fact, skip game 1 of the next series altogether if you are a Pistons fan. It will be beyond exasperating as you watch the Pistons relax strolling into the second round, cockily, to face another team they will underestimate, the Orlando Magic. I tested this theory on Sunday as spousal obligations prevented me from seeing the first half fiasco. I settled in to watch the second half comeback, without living any of the pain. I highly recommend it. And yes, I have skipped to the second round. We got this...

Pistons vs. 'Sixers Game 2

We went to the Palace of Auburn Hills last night for Game 2 of the first-round of the NBA playoffs. Luckily, Rip remembered that he can sink baskets and our man Maxiell really came alive and made a difference so we clobbered Philly like we are supposed to. Unluckily for the poor older woman at the game she was seated next to me, and those seats aren't too big. So I think I kind of cramped her style, as evidenced by the expression on her face. What are ya gonna do? My brother is blurred on the left.