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What a game– my heart hasn’t thumped like that since… well… the playoffs. I stood the entire time, from tip off to time up. Let me tell you, if Wade had sunk that last jumper with just over a second left, this blogger would have a broken television. Gratefully, the Pistons maintained their lead with SMART defense closing out the fourth quarter.

How did Detroit take this one? 1) Rip Hamilton. 2) Great teamwork on the defensive end. 3) A little luck. 4) Depth of bench. While Miami’s offensive teamwork did outshine Detroit, with only 5 turnovers to our 10 and 16 assists to our 13, the Heat’s shooting fell just short of the basket. Detroit shot 45% to Miami’s 41% from the field. The last important stat– Detroit had 9 blocks to Miami’s 2. Bear in mind Detroit lost their leading blocker in Ben Wallace, and Miami had Alonzo Mourning on the floor (who was 5th in blocks in 2005-06).

Alright Detroit, tonight was exactly what you needed. While some may argue that this loss was barely marginal, you defeated the league’s defending champions in their own house. You’ve won the last seven in a row, and you are not far from leading the Eastern Conference record.

Over the next week, things are looking pretty shiny for Detroit The Pistons face the Knicks tomorrow night at home, then visit Charlotte on Sunday, followed by Portland on Tuesday. If they play their cards right, they’ll have 10 wins in a row before facing Dallas on Thursday. Dallas has been spooky for the Pistons over the last few seasons, and this coming game should be no different. But tonight, the ‘Stones tazed the league’s defending champions. If they can beat the Mavericks next Thursday, the whole league will take one hell of a notice…

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Aside from two wins over Washington, Detroit finally has the opportunity for a big win– one that will establish quite a bit of credibility in a season that is shakey, at best, for most of the Eastern Conference. Tonight, at 8:00p.m. EST, Detroit visits the Miami Heat on TNT. The Heat are without Shaq, Jason Williams or James Posey this evening– but the Pistons can’t expect this to be an easy win. Dwyane Wade, who has stepped into the point position, is averaging 33.6 ppg and 13.3 assists per game, and 6 rpg in the last three games. The man is practically unstoppable of late.

I’ll spare you the predictions, as you’ve likely read plenty of that. But in case you haven’t visited ESPN.com lately, Bill Simmons anal-ysis of the Eastern Conference is a must read. Here’s what he had to say about Miami:

The Heat are like a group of women who went out for somebody’s birthday, ordered food and wine and spent the next three hours talking and eating and drinking and having a grand old time. And then the check comes and they’re completely floored by the total. Wait, it’s how much??? So they spend the next 25 minutes figuring out who owes what, and there are always 2-3 people who didn’t bring enough cash, so somebody has to cover them (and they’re pissed off about it), and then there’s a girl who left early because she has a kid, and she left only $40 when it’s $75 per person (so everyone’s pissed off about that), and then there’s the one slutty friend who got housed and wants to stick around because she thinks she might have a chance to knock boots with one of the waiters, so one of the other girls has to stay to keep an eye on her and make sure the bus boy doesn’t get involved, and there’s so much drama going on that everyone ends up leaving with a bad taste in their mouth and forgetting that they had a barrel of fun for the first three hours.

I couldn’t have said it better myself. Besides, I’ve always felt that the Miami heat are a bunch of bitches. Its hard not to like or at least appreciate Wade, but this blogger has very little use for the rest of them.

Go Pistons– let’s see what you boys have got.

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Are the natives now rested? Have the mutinous cries and concerns been quelled? With the Detroit Pistons winning six games straight, a whole lot of angry voices have been hushed. With two victories this weekend, 104-95 against Charlotte and 115-111 against Washington, the Pistons have risen to the second best record in the East (tied with Cleveland)– just one win behind the Orlando Magic.

Are the Pistons growing pains behind them? Not entirely. I’d love to see our boys go for a conference leading record again this year, but I’m not too anxious to execute on that. I’d like to see Flip give Detroit’s young bench a better rotation, especially Delfino and Maxiell. After taking home 64 wins last season, we all remember how tired Detroit’s starters were in the post-season (and how that turned out). This season, I’d like to see Flip give Delfino and J-Max some much needed experience, as I feel they’ll both be vital to our playoff performance. (However, with Tay playing as hot as he has been lately, I’m not going to argue if Flip feels like keeping him in the game over Delfino).

Without further adieu, let’s take a look at the numbers and the players behind them for Friday, November 24th:

• Allen Iverson - Coming off of a two game absense due to an absessed wisdom tooth, Iverson made up for his time off in a heartbeat. Iverson led the 76ers past the beleaguered Bulls with 46 points, 5 boards and 10 assists. 16 of these points came from the line, where The Answer shot 94.1%.
• Dwyane Wade - Wade put up 33 points and dished 15 dimes on Friday’s 104-107 loss to Orlando. Wade’s performance wasn’t enough, even though Miami out-rebounded Orlando by 51-38. Orlando didn’t let Miami take off with much of a lead, and played a consistent, precisely-shot game to hold Miami to their third straight loss.
• Andris Biedrins - Biedrins, a third-year player for the Golden State Warriors, had a career night with 31 points and 10 rebounds, shooting 82.4% from the field. While Troy Murphy has returned for the Warriors, Biedrins should be a big factor in their game after proving his value to coach Don Nelson.
• Carlos Boozer - Yet another monster game from Carlos Boozer: 31 points and 16 boards. Wow.

• Dwyane Wade - This kid is amazing. 35 points, 6 boards and 12 assists the night after another huge performance. This one did earn the Heat a win, going 102-93 against the Charlotte Bobcats.
• Chauncey Bu-Bu-Billups - Mr. Big Shot himself broke two personal career records on Saturday’s win over the Washington Wizards. Chauncy had 7 assists to 1 TO and shot 18 of 19 from the free throw line. This is Chauncey’s best assist/turnover ratio performance and most dominating free throw shooting. His 29 points pushed Detroit over Washington for the win, 115-111.
• Paul Pierce - Pierce put up 34 points, 7 boards and 7 dimes to help the Celtics overtake the Bucks on Saturday’s 111-98 victory. This is Pierce’s 5th game with over 30 points this season.

On Thursday night, the Pistons visit the Miami Heat at 8:00 p.m. Eastern on TNT. The Heat will be without Shaq, who is still recovering from surgery. But can we expect another dominant performance out of Dwyane Wade? If anyone can contain him, its the Pistons– but we’re in for an exciting game nonetheless. Go Pistons!

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Having only played 8 games to last year’s 80, it is far too early to predict how Detroit’s Rip Hamilton will turn out. But we can speculate - and speculate we shall…

Aside from a slight dip in FG% and 3PT%, Rip is up across the board. In 8 games, here are the averages:

• FG%: 48.5%

• 3PT%: 32.8%

• FT%: 88.5%

• Rebs: 4.1

• Assists: 3.6

• Steals: 1.0

• PPG: 23.8

The most tell-tale number relating to Hamilton’s improving performance? His free-throw numbers. In 8 games, Richard Hamilton has shot 61 free throws. In 8 games last season, Hamilton shot only 24 free throws. Rip’s vendetta to attack that basket is proving fruitful by the contact that he pulls, not only the baskets that he sinks.

On a side note, I am not a fan of David Stern’s concept of what a foul is. Ten years ago, Hamilton wouldn’t have gone to the line half this much. All of the top guards in the NBA, from Wade to James to Parker, all play this rule like a flute. The latter plays it beyond my content, and continues to act out fouls like Manu Ginobli himself. But for honest guards like Hamilton (who is no foreigner to the flop, I must admit), this rule has enhanced his game– as proven by his numbers so far this season.

Rip, keep doing what you do. Follow this path, and you’ll wind up with one hell of a career year. Just watch yourself when driving for that basket. Your agressiveness brings not only baskets, but the risk of injury as well…

UPDATE– Need4Sheed.com has got the scoop on an upcoming GQ magazine cover with Mr. Rip Hamilton himself.  Be sure to check it out here!  Props to Natalie and Need4Sheed!]

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Maxiell on