Knicks Shut Down Pistons 104-92

Posted by Jeff Sack under NBA Game Recap

During an 82 game season even elite NBA teams will occasionally lose a contest that they should have won. As we reach the end of the first quarter of the 2008-2009 NBA campaign, the Detroit Pistons are no longer a team that could truthfully be classified among the elite in the Association. However when you are playing a foundering New York Knicks team that had come into the contest 2-8 in their previous 10 games, you should walk away with the victory. Sunday the Pistons did not even really put up much of a challenge, as New York shut Detroit down in the first half, and the Pistons never recovered losing 104-92 at Madison Square Garden. Point guard Chris Duhon led the way for the team from Gotham, scoring a game high 25 points.

The way it appears as we reach the quarter-pole in the NBA season, the only consistent quality about the Pistons since their make-over last month, is their inconsistency. Over the last few years the Pistons have been able to impose their style of play into most of their games, leading to many wins. Detroit with Chauncey Billups at the helm were the masters of the half court grind it out offense, and had a defense that most opponents would succumb to.

Since trading last month for Allen Iverson, the Pistons do not have a true NBA quarterback on the floor controlling the flow. Tayshaun Prince, Richard Hamilton, and A.I. have all tried but none have succeeded for long. The Pistons have to make a decision, is ”The Answer” part of their long term solution, or just a way to eventually clear salary cap space? If he is not going to be retained after this season, then put him on the bench, and have Rodney Stuckey in the starting line-up. If you are going to keep Iverson, then Prince or Hamilton have to be traded. Detroit right now is like a baseball team with three first basemen, and without a shortstop, you can’t win that way! Until the Pistons get Stuckey in the starting line-up, they will remain an inconsistent entity on the hardwood.

New York came out on fire in the first, while Detroit looked like they left their game in the team’s hotel as the Knicks jumped out to a 29-12 lead at the end of the quarter. The Pistons found their shooting touch in the second, however the Knicks kept up making their shots as well and New York led at the half 65-43. Detroit was able to cut the deficit by the end of the third quarter to below 20 points, but not by much as New York was ahead 81-63. The Pistons actually cut the lead to just 5 points, when Tayshaun Prince hit a short jumper with 5:43 remaining making it an 89-85 game. However, even then there was the feeling in the arena that the Knicks would weather the storm and Detroit would fall short. With 46 seconds remaining David Lee sank that final dagger as he drove the lane and put the ball up and in putting the Knicks on top 101-90.

All five New York starters scored in double figures led by Chris Duhon, 25 points, 9 assists, and 5 rebounds, in the Knicks victory. Quentin Richardson added 23 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 steal, while Al Harrington put in 18 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 block. Wilson Chandler scored 17 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal, and David Lee recorded a double-double, 12 points, 19 boards, and 3 assists.

Tayshaun Prince recorded a double-double for the Pistons, a team high 23 points, 10 boards, 3 blocks, 2 steals, and 1 assist. Allen Iverson scored 17 points, 7 assists, 4 rebounds, and 2 steals, Arron Afflalo came in off the bench and added 17 points, 2 steals, 2 assists, and 1 rebound. Richard Hamillton contributed 16 points, 3 assists, and 3 rebounds. New York improves to 9-11, Detroit is now 11-8.

Updates, Fresh From the Oven, Straight to Your Inbox

Promote:

Comments

2 Responses to “Knicks Shut Down Pistons 104-92”

natethegreat on December 8th, 2008 12:19 pm

was a great win for the knicks….duhon is really starting to come into his own..hopefully this can keep up…hit me up on my knicksnet.com profile..http://knicks.knicksnet.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=4092956&as=32034 ..and we’ll talk more about duhon and the rest of the team
Strong Second Half Leads Wizards Past Sinking Pistons 107-94 » Slam Dunk Central on December 10th, 2008 3:05 am

[...] putting Rodney Stuckey in the starting lineup after they lost to the N.Y. Knicks on Sunday Knicks Shut Down Pistons 104-92. I also was adamantly against the Pistons signing Kwame Brown, and putting him in their starting [...]

Leave a Reply