Nov

1

Prince Puts On Royal Performance Pistons Cool Off Heat 91-80

Posted by Jeff Sack under Main 

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The Detroit Pistons ended the 2006-2007 season in tatters. They lost in the Eastern Conference Finals to the Cleveland Cavaliers. But it wasn’t as much as they lost as how they lost. Rasheed Wallace had a Chernobyl like meltdown getting him tossed from the game. The rest of the team just looked lethargic and old, a pale imitation of the team that had been to Back to back NBA?Finals and winning one.?Most observers thought Wallace was through as a Piston, it seemed like the team was in turmoil. Things got so whacked at the home of “DEE-TROIT BASKETBALL” that team President Joe Dumars had to issue a statement that head coach Flip Saunders was being retained. As the off-season grew longer things calmed down in Auburn Hills. Free agent point guard Chauncey Billups re-signed with the team, Wallace and Saunders had a heart to to heart talk. The organization said that it would be smooth sailing in 2007-2008.

At least for Thursday night’s season opener they were right. The REAL Pistons were back as they went down to Miami and beat the Heat 91-80.?Pistons small forward Tayshaun Prince was a one man wrecking crew scoring 34 points and grabbing 12 rebounds to lead the Detroit charge. Even though the team was without guard Richard “Rip” Hamilton who did not make the trip due to “family reasons” they did not skip a beat. Billups celebrated his return with 19 points 11 assists and 4 boards, while Wallace scored 11 grabbed 8 rebounds and had 2 assists.

Miami was led by recent acquisition guard Ricky Davis who was traded to the Heat from Minnesota, last month. The shooting guard who never met a shot he didn’t like went 10-19 and 2-5 outside the arc for a team high 23 points. He also had 3 rebounds and of course no assists. Udonis Haslem had 14 points and 10 rebounds while center Shaquille O’Neal had a lackluster game scoring 9 points 7 rebounds and 2 assists. Jason Williams who is starting the season as the starting point guard as Dwayne Wade is on the inactive list had 11 points?9 assists and 7 boards in the loss.

? Copyright 2007 thesackattack.com



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