Detroit Pistons by In Play! Magazine

PISTONS' CHARLIE VILLANUEVA INJURY UPDATE

2012-02-03T15:47:00.000-08:00

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – The Detroit Pistons announced today the following injury update regarding forward Charlie Villanueva.

Following repeated imaging studies as well as multiple consultations from foot and ankle orthopedic surgeons, it has been determined that Charlie Villanueva’s right ankle soreness can be attributed to a resolving posterior tibial tenosynovitis with small talotibal spurs.

A few weeks of partial ankle immobilization have been recommended in an attempt to alleviate the soreness and discomfort.

He will be re-evaluated after that period.

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Pistons Experiencing Growing Pains

2012-01-31T18:16:00.000-08:00

Pistons Experiencing Growing Pains
By Steve St-Pierre

It’s hard to pinpoint one specific reason for the Pistons’ misfortunes during this condensed 2011-12 NBA season. A glaring cause for concern, though, has been the inconsistent play from the majority of their young players.

Surely, injuries and a general lack of depth have plagued the Pistons early this season. They’ve been without veteran reserves Charlie Villanueva and Will Bynum most of the year, and they’ve had to shuffle their backcourt rotation due to various injuries to guards Ben Gordon and Rodney Stuckey.

The lack of health to the team has caused the Pistons to rely heavily on rookie Brandon Knight, who has been thrust into the starting point guard position after beginning the season as a backup to Gordon and Stuckey. Additionally, the team – along with the rest of the league – must endure the responsibility of playing a compressed schedule.

“I’m fine,” Knight says. “Just trying to make sure I rest myself, get a lot of sleep and just working with Arnie (Kander, Pistons Strength and Conditioning Coach) and our strength staff.”

“You just focus it one game at a time, and it’s a mental-toughness test,” adds Lawrence Frank, Pistons Head Coach. “A lot of games, short amount of time. The NBA is a no-sympathy league. You line ‘em up, and you’ve better come out and give your best effort and compete.”

Even with the low expectations they had coming into the season, the Pistons have disappointed fans by not only losing but being blown out most nights by their opponents.

“Losing sucks,” Frank says. “It’s misery. To me, it’s how you win and how you lose.”

“We just can’t afford to pick our spots,” adds Gordon. “We’re just not that good of a team yet. I think we’ve just got to do a better job of playing a complete game with the same intensity level. We know we’re gonna make mistakes, but the key thing is playing with a maximum-level of effort and energy at all times.”

“We have to continue to put more into the game in order to have a chance to win,” Frank says. “Look, the other team, they want to win too.”

The Pistons, as a result of their struggles, have yet to commit to a set rotation. It remains to be seen who will start in the backcourt once Knight, Gordon and Stuckey are all healthy. Lately, it’s been Knight and Stuckey starting with Gordon out with two shoulder injuries.

“It’s kind of nagging, so I’m just trying to find a way to help the team and play through it…” Gordon says. “…We need as much help as we can get.”

Frank has also failed to pick a consistent starter at power forward. Jonas Jerebko began the season as the starter, but he struggled early on with foul trouble. Detroit has since been opening games with veteran Ben Wallace in the starting lineup, though he is no longer capable of handling significant minutes during games. It’s possible reserve Jason Maxiell could wind up challenging for more playing time, and Villanueva could even earn the starting spot whenever he returns from a sore ankle.

The bright side to a season like this is that it allows a team like the Pistons to give its young players plenty of minutes on the floor. While center Greg Monroe has emerged as the team’s best and most consistent player, Jerebko and forward Austin Daye have both battled through stretches of inconsistent play. Even Knight, as a rookie point guard, is experiencing the ups and downs of running an NBA franchise.

“It’s still a very big learning process as to when to attack and when not to, how to position yourself when you’re driving,” Knight says. “As a rookie, it’s tough to get calls at certain times of the games. You’ve got to get completely killed to get a call sometimes. I’m just trying to be aggressive and stay positive no matter what the situation is – continue to attack, continue to try to lift your teammates, continue to provide intensity, provide positive spirit for everybody.”

“He’s learning,” adds Frank. “This is a process. The step for most players, when they come from college to the NBA, is how to play pick-and-roll basketball. At Kentucky, they ran some pick and roll, but it was more dribble handoffs. Now you’re going against the best.”

The Pistons aren’t kidding themselves. They know they aren’t going to be a playoff team this year. They also know that nobody feels sorry for an organization that was once an annual staple atop the Eastern Conference elite.

“We are what we are right now,” Gordon says. “We can’t just change our record because we think we’re better than we are.”

“We can tell that we’ve been getting better,” Knight optimistically adds. “We’ve been competing a lot more. We’ve been trying to put it out on the court a lot more, but it’s just a matter of us doing it for an entire game versus just stretches.”

Many believe the Pistons’ best bet is to continue losing games in order to increase their chances of landing a top selection in the upcoming NBA Draft. The players on this team, however, are only concerned right now with improving and turning the season around.

“Until we prove otherwise, we just need to continue each and every night to try to find a way to muster the effort that it takes to win an NBA game,” Gordon says. “We haven’t been doing that.”

Pistons Re-Sign Russell Jr.

2012-01-21T20:58:00.001-08:00

Steve St-Pierre
Sports Writer
In Play! Magazine
sstpierre@inplaymagazine.com

To compensate for various injuries to their backcourt, the Pistons have re-signed Walker Russell Jr., who attended training camp with the Pistons before being released and joining the Fort Wayne Mad Ants of the NBA D-League.

Russell Jr. averaged 16 points and a league-high 9.9 assists per game in the D-League in 16 games this season with the Mad Ants. The son of former Piston Walker D. Russell, Russell Jr. should continue to see spot minutes behind rookie Brandon Knight and veterans Ben Gordon and Rodney Stuckey.

Enthusiasm Mixed As Pistons Begin Season

2011-12-27T08:19:00.001-08:00

Enthusiasm Mixed As Pistons Begin Season
By Steve St-Pierre

With a new owner and head coach at the helm, the Pistons were expected to be a team on the brink of starting over with a fresh crop of new players to wash the losing stench that has plagued the franchise the last few seasons. Yet, the roster remains mostly intact, and this team is going to be a tough sell for fans in the Motor City.

In an extended offseason, the Pistons brought in Tom Gores, Pistons Owner, who in turn hired Lawrence Frank, Pistons Head Coach. Gores also assisted Joe Dumars, Pistons President, in drafting point guard Brandon Knight out of Kentucky. Then, before the start of preseason, the front office negotiated a buyout of longtime off-guard Rip Hamilton, whose frustration with the franchise had rubbed off on many – if not all – of his Pistons teammates.

When the organization drafted Knight last June, it appeared the Pistons were declaring the need for a new playmaker to run the offense and spread the floor. Along with promising frontcourt players Greg Monroe, Austin Daye and a re-signed Jonas Jerebko, a foundation was put in place to market to Pistons fans as part of the new era in franchise history.

This entire outlook has changed, though, since the Pistons re-signed small forward Tayshaun Prince. Like Hamilton, Prince had appeared to be done in Detroit. It was widely assumed that he would leave in free agency and sign with a title contender. The Pistons already had two players in Daye and Jerebko who were ready to battle for the starting small forward spot.

Prince decided to stay with the Pistons. Whether it was for more money, to reestablish his legacy within the franchise or to simply be a part of turning the organization around, Prince signed a four-year contract to remain in Motown. As a result, the team keeps a versatile forward who helped guide it to a championship in 2004, but the young players take a back seat.

The Pistons also re-signed guard Rodney Stuckey this preseason. After drafting Knight, the team appeared set on moving Stuckey to shooting guard, his natural position in the NBA. As of this moment, however, Frank is starting Stuckey at the point and Ben Gordon at shooting guard. Knight and reserve point guard Will Bynum are sharing minutes with the second unit.

Furthermore, the team has elected to not use its amnesty clause this season, meaning that they are giving players like Gordon and Charlie Villanueva one more chance to prove their long-term value to the organization. Ben Wallace, the only other holdover from the 2004 championship team, is also back for one more season but will likely see spot minutes off the bench. He will see time at center behind Monroe and at power forward behind Jerebko and Villanueva.

Overall, this just does not seem like a team ready for a new regime. The Pistons have an opportunity to develop their young talent and sell their fans on a desire to change the culture while ridding themselves of players who provided little in the ways of winning games or bringing leadership to the locker room. Yet, their young assets continue to get pushed to the side in favor of other players who, despite possessing talent and skill, have been unable to gel and produce wins.

Pistons fans know this, and they are not going to support this product. This is a city with the perennial contending Red Wings, the promising Tigers and the up-and-coming Lions who have just clinched a playoff berth for the first time since 1999. Most fans are not going to miss out on any of that to follow a Pistons team that continues to lose games and remain without an identity.

It is painfully obvious that this current Pistons group is not a championship contender or even a playoff threat at this point. Most fans will not follow the team until they get back to winning. If the team wants to keep any of its remaining diehard fans, though, they will need to utilize their young assets if they are truly selling the concept of change.

Pistons Set To Waive Hamilton; Invite Others To Camp

2011-12-10T16:27:00.000-08:00

Steve St-Pierre
Sports Writer
In Play! Magazine
sstpierre@inplaymagazine.com

The Pistons continue to make several moves to their roster. A day after re-signing forwards Tayshaun Prince and Jonas Jerebko, the team has decided to part ways with longtime shooting guard Rip Hamilton.

Detroit has also invited several free agents to training camp. Those players include Damien Wilkins, Walker Russell, Jake Voskuhl, Kareem Rush and Brian Hamilton. Wilkins has a good shot of sticking with the team to back up Ben Gordon, who is now penciled in as the starting shooting guard to replace Rip Hamilton.

Since the Pistons are buying out Rip's contract, they will still have their amnesty clause available to use on another player if/when they choose to do so. Rip was owed roughly $20 million, but the buyout is reportedly worth about half of that. He is expected to sign a two-year deal with the Chicago Bulls.

Pistons Agree To Terms With Prince, Jerebko; Waive White

2011-12-08T18:44:00.001-08:00

Steve St-Pierre
Sports Writer
In Play! Magazine
sstpierre@inplaymagazine.com

The Pistons have reportedly agreed to terms with free agent forwards Tayshaun Prince and Jonas Jerebko. They have also waived reserve guard Terrico White.

Prince will sign a four-year contract worth $27 million, while Jerebko's deal is also four years at $16 million. White, a combo guard, missed his entire rookie year last season with a broken foot.

Jerebko's signing comes as no shock, but the re-signing of Prince is surprising given the Pistons' amount of young forwards and several other teams' interest in the veteran Prince.

Ben Wallace appears ready to play one more season after taking his physical today. Training camp begins tomorrow, when the Pistons are expected to officially announce the signings of Prince and Jerebko. They are also likely to continue discussions with restricted free agent guard Rodney Stuckey.

Lockout Ends; Pistons Eager To Play

2011-12-01T18:21:00.000-08:00

Lockout Ends; Pistons Eager To Play
By Steve St-Pierre

The NBA Lockout, which began July 1, is finally ending after players agreed to ratify a deal with the owners. Both free agency and training camp will begin Dec. 9, and a 66-game season will commence Christmas Day.

NBA teams are already allowed to negotiate with player agents, but no contracts can be signed until the start of free agency. Players are allowed to use team facilities, but team personnel cannot be present during basketball-related activities and are still not permitted to have any contact with players.

The Pistons can finally begin working on their roster. The nine Detroit players currently under contract are Will Bynum, Austin Daye, Ben Gordon, Rip Hamilton, Jason Maxiell, Greg Monroe, Charlie Villanueva, Ben Wallace and Terrico White. Both Jonas Jerebko and Rodney Stuckey are restricted free agents, while Tracy McGrady, Tayshaun Prince and Chris Wilcox are unrestricted free agents.

Daye and Pistons second-round draft pick Kyle Singler spent the lockout playing overseas. Daye played a couple months in Russia but has since returned to the States. Singler, on the other hand, has been playing in Spain and has decided to remain there for the rest of the season. He anticipates signing with Detroit this summer.

The first order of business for the Pistons will likely be signing rookies Brandon Knight and Vernon Macklin. The front office also anticipates making quick decisions on Jerebko and Stuckey. Under the new Collective Bargaining Agreement, teams have three days to match any offer sheets signed by restricted free agents.

As previously reported during the lockout, the Pistons will have a chance to begin a rebuilding process with a potential youth movement. Prince is not expected to return, and Wallace could still opt for retirement. Likewise, the team will continue to shop Hamilton on the trade market. This should allow the franchise to begin building around younger players like Monroe, Knight and possibly Daye, Jerebko and Stuckey.

With this new labor deal, an amnesty clause has been granted that allows teams to waive one player with pay and have 100 percent of that player’s salary removed from the team’s payroll. The amnesty can be used once prior to any season of the new CBA but only for contracts in place as of July 1, 2011. The Pistons had been expected to utilize the clause by waiving either Hamilton, Gordon or Villanueva but are said to prefer taking their time before making a decision.

With Singler staying in Spain, and the possibility of losing both Prince and McGrady, the Pistons will work to add depth to the small forward position. Daye would likely be the starter if the season began today, but they will need to re-sign Jerebko as well as look to a veteran free agent backup.

The power forward spot is also wide open. Jerebko and Villanueva will likely battle for the starting role, with Maxiell and Macklin both likely to see spot minutes off the bench. It’s also possible the Pistons could acquire another center and move Monroe to power forward.

More likely, Monroe will remain the team’s starting center. Wallace, should he elect to return, will be penciled in as the backup in what should be a more limited role. The Pistons won’t have significant cap space this offseason to pursue a veteran big man unless they decide to utilize the amnesty.

At shooting guard, Gordon and Hamilton will continue to battle for minutes as long as both are on the active roster. Clearly, one will need to go in order for the other to flourish on a consistent basis. At this point in his career, Hamilton would be a better fit on a championship contender, allowing Gordon to play the necessary minutes he needs to resurrect his NBA career.

In a perfect world, Knight would start the entire season as the Pistons’ point guard. However, Stuckey will battle for the spot if he re-signs with Detroit. Bynum, too, is not going to take a backseat without a fight. That said, neither Stuckey or Bynum have been able to solidify the role in recent years, and Knight is a promising lottery pick who surprisingly slipped to the Pistons at No. 8 in the 2011 NBA Draft.

Certainly, the team has several options for its rotation this season. Lawrence Frank, Pistons Head Coach, has had a great amount of time to go over the various possibilities in his head. He’ll also continue to receive guidance from Joe Dumars, Pistons President, and their new leader Tom Gores, Pistons Owner.

It’s an exciting time to be a fan of Detroit Basketball. It’s the beginning of a brand new era in franchise history. For the players, it’s a chance to get back to playing the game they love and to give the fans the show they’ve been so patiently waiting for.

Pistons Have Plenty of Amnesty Candidates

2011-10-30T08:49:00.000-07:00

Pistons Have Plenty of Amnesty Candidates
By Steve St-Pierre

The NBA and its players remain divided on a new deal for the league’s next collective bargaining agreement. However, both sides have apparently OK’d a proposal for a new amnesty clause that would allow each team to waive one player and shed 75 percent of that player’s contract against the salary cap.

According to multiple reports, the new amnesty clause is still being discussed in labor meetings. Some teams are arguing that, if they don’t currently have a bad contract they wish to shed, they should be allowed to save their amnesty clause for at least a year or two.

Certainly, the Pistons are a team that could desperately use such a privilege. One would think that the logical candidates for this clause would include guards Rip Hamilton, Ben Gordon and forward Charlie Villanueva. All three players have struggled the last two seasons in terms of performance, and each is due a substantial amount of money over the next two to three seasons.

Hamilton, who the Pistons have tried to trade the last two years, is due to make over $25 million the next two seasons. Though he was a major contributor during Detroit’s title run in 2004, he has been a thorn in the franchise’s side for a number of years with his lackluster behavior both on and off the court. Since the Pistons traded away his former backcourt mate Chauncey Billups, Hamilton has appeared disinterested and welcome to a change of scenery.

The year after they traded Billups, the Pistons appeared ready to part ways with Hamilton when they spent $90 million to sign Gordon and Villanueva in the summer of 2009. Gordon, who like Hamilton is a shooting guard, established himself as one of the NBA’s best scorers with the Chicago Bulls. Unfortunately, Detroit hasn’t found a way to make it work with either player. Gordon is owed more than $37 million the next three seasons.

Villanueva, a power forward who was signed to replace veterans Rasheed Wallace and Antonio McDyess, has also failed to live up to expectations in his two seasons with the Pistons, leaving a major void in the frontcourt. Villanueva will make over $24 million the next three seasons.

Assuming the Pistons elect to exercise an amnesty clause, they would have to decide between waiving Hamilton, Gordon or Villanueva. To do so, the front office would need to gauge its feelings on each player. Three years ago, Joe Dumars, Pistons President, elected to sign Hamilton to a three-year, $34-million contract extension. Two years ago, Dumars was willing to pay $90 million to sign Gordon and Villanueva. Obviously, Dumars will need to determine which player’s value has decreased the greatest the last couple seasons.

This time around, Dumars will surely need to consider the input of Lawrence Frank, Pistons Head Coach, and even Tom Gores, Pistons Owner. Even during this current NBA lockout, these three individuals should be communicating on a regular basis, preparing for a possible amnesty clause and discussing the number of scenarios it presents.

The Pistons could very well elect to waive one of either Hamilton, Gordon or Villanueva via the amnesty clause while arranging a buyout for another. For example, the team could decide that since Hamilton only has two years left on his contract, it might make more sense to either continue trying to trade him or simply buy out the remainder of his salary whenever the lockout ends. If he was bought out, Hamilton would still stay on the Pistons’ salary cap for the duration of his contract, but he would be free to sign with another team, and the Pistons could use his roster spot to sign a different free agent.

Another option, of course, is to just use the amnesty clause on Hamilton and commit to moving forward with Gordon and Villanueva. Clearly, both players have been misused during their first two seasons in Detroit. Gordon, though undersized, is perfectly capable of handling a starting role at shooting guard. His scoring and ball-handling make him extremely valuable on the offensive end, and the Pistons must utilize these capabilities if he’s going to remain on the roster.

Even with Hamilton gone, it could still prove difficult to commit the proper amount of playing time to Gordon. The Pistons still have a logjam in the backcourt with point guards Will Bynum and rookie Brandon Knight. Likewise, combo-guard Rodney Stuckey is a restricted free agent who Dumars has previously expressed interest in retaining. If Stuckey was to return, Detroit’s rotation issues would likely continue.

If they used their amnesty clause on Villanueva, the Pistons would be even thinner up front. Veteran Greg Monroe is set to remain as the team’s starting center, but both forward positions are up for grabs. Austin Daye is currently penciled in at small forward, and restricted free agent Jonas Jerebko will likely be re-signed. If Villanueva was to be released, Jerebko could start at power forward. The Pistons still have veterans Ben Wallace and Jason Maxiell under contract, but Wallace appears on the brink of retirement, and Maxiell has never been more than a complimentary reserve player.

It remains to be seen how long the NBA lockout will last and what results will come of its completion. It does, however, appear certain that there will be some sort of amnesty clause for each of the league’s 30 teams. The Pistons are arguably in need of it more than any other, and they’d better be ready to make the most of it.

THE DETROIT PISTONS TO HOLD AUDITIONS FOR NEW CHEER TEAM

2011-10-21T06:51:00.001-07:00

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – The Detroit Pistons will hold auditions for a new cheer team that will perform during home games at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Auditions begin at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, October 23 at the Cheerleader Training Center (14922 Technology Drive, Shelby Township, MI, 48315).

Cheer Team members are required to perform during every Pistons home game and represent the organization throughout the year at various team and charity functions. A flexible schedule is a must for selected team members.

To audition, male and female candidates must be 18 or older and are required to show proof of identification. Aspiring cheerleaders should be elite stunters that are stage ready, physically fit and have a strong work ethic. Co-ed nationals experience is a plus. Participants are encouraged to wear athletic apparel to the auditions and be ready to perform.

For more information on tryouts contact Tim Dameron at tdameron@palacenet.com or log onto http://www.nba.com/pistons/media/cheerflyer.jpg.

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Players Out, Coaches In

2011-10-01T07:00:00.000-07:00

Players Out, Coaches In
By Steve St-Pierre

Due to the current NBA lockout, more and more players are opting to play overseas in order to earn a paycheck while continuing to enhance their basketball skills. The latest Piston to join that group is veteran forward Austin Daye, who has signed a two-month deal to play in Russia.

Daye is the third Piston to sign a contract overseas. At the beginning of the offseason in July, Detroit parted ways with former free agent DaJuan Summers, who signed a two-year deal to play in Italy. Then in mid-August, Pistons rookie Kyle Singler signed with a club in Spain. Both Daye and Singler will return to the Pistons immediately following the lockout.

Current Pistons Will Bynum, Greg Monroe and Charlie Villanueva have each expressed some interest in going overseas if/when the NBA begins cancelling regular season games, though nothing is imminent. Villanueva says he’s currently in Michigan working out regularly with Pistons teammates Ben Gordon and Jonas Jerebko. A restricted free agent, Jerebko plans to wait out the lockout in hopes of getting a long-term contract with Detroit whenever free agency begins.

The lockout hasn’t stopped Daye or Villanueva from playing a great deal of competitive basketball. Daye starred in the Impact Sports league in Las Vegas this summer, going up against some of the NBA’s best players including LeBron James and Kevin Durant. Villanueva, on the other hand, played this summer with the Dominican Republic national team, coached by John Calipari, University of Kentucky Head Coach.

Meanwhile, the Pistons’ front office has stayed extremely active this summer despite not being allowed to negotiate trades or free-agent signings. Lawrence Frank, Pistons Head Coach, has finalized his staff of assistant coaches. Brian Hill, an assistant the last two seasons under former Pistons coach John Kuester, will stay in Detroit. He is joined by John Loyer, Roy Rogers, Dee Brown and Charles Klask. Bill Pope, another assistant under Kuester, will also remain with the Pistons but as an advance scout.

Hill has worked with Frank in the past as members of the New Jersey Nets and the then-Vancouver Grizzlies. Rogers, a former NBA player in the late-90’s, coached under Frank in New Jersey before working alongside him last season with the Boston Celtics. Brown, a former Celtics player famous for winning the 1991 Slam Dunk Contest, has coached in the NBDL and WNBA. Loyer has spent the last two seasons as an assistant with the Nets.

Klask, a Michigan native, was an assistant last season with the Orlando Magic. He brings a unique emphasis on statistical analysis. The advanced stats movement, which has been popular for years in Major League Baseball, is something the Pistons want to continue to explore. Tom Gores, Pistons Owner, recently sent business partner Bob Wentworth to an advanced-stats seminar at Harvard University. It’s a technique Gores hopes to focus on in order to quickly improve the Pistons and make them elite again in Detroit sports.

The Pistons will continue to keep tabs on their players as much as they can during the lockout. Aside from monitoring the decisions of players signing overseas, they’ll also have to pay close attention to the situation involving veteran center Ben Wallace. With one season left on his contract, Wallace has been contemplating retirement, though he is leaning towards returning for one more year. He was recently arrested in Oakland County for drunken driving and unlawfully carrying a concealed weapon, though he’s not expected to receive jail time.

As the NBA closes in on a deadline to begin cancelling games, we could wind up seeing more players going overseas or even calling it a career, including in Detroit.

Pistons Hire Brown, Rogers As Assistant Coaches

2011-09-13T02:41:00.000-07:00

Steve St-Pierre
Sports Writer
In Play! Magazine
sstpierre@inplaymagazine.com

The Pistons have hired new assistant coaches: Dee Brown and Roy Rogers, who both played in the NBA during the 1990's.

Joining them as an assistant coach will be John Loyer, who has spent the last two seasons as an assistant with the New Jersey Nets.

Brown, who has coached in the NBDL and WNBA, is most famous for winning the 1991 Slam Dunk Contest. Meanwhile, Rogers spent last season working with Lawrence Frank, Pistons Head Coach, as assistants with the Boston Celtics. Prior to last season, Rogers was an assistant and scout under Frank with the New Jersey Nets.

Brian Hill, an assistant the last two seasons under former Pistons coach John Kuester, is likely to be retained. Pat Sullivan, also an assistant under Kuester, does not appear to be returning.

Stuckey, Jerebko Likely Top Free-Agent Targets

2011-09-07T15:42:00.001-07:00

Stuckey, Jerebko Likely Top Free-Agent Targets
By Steve St-Pierre

We don’t know when the NBA lockout will end, but when it does, you can bet the Pistons will be talking quickly with restricted free agents Rodney Stuckey and Jonas Jerebko.

It’s easy to envision a long, bright future for Jerebko. Despite being injured and missing all of last season, he remains a fan favorite and heavily-marketed Piston. The people of Sweden adore him, and as a versatile combo-forward, Jerebko easily fits into the rotation.

Stuckey, on the other hand, is a different story. Though he’s still young and improving as a scorer and ball-handler, he’s failed to establish himself as the Pistons’ point guard. In fact, he’s struggled to prove he can even handle playing the position. It’s because of this that the team opted to draft point guard Brandon Knight this summer.

With Knight and Will Bynum both expected to earn minutes at the point, Stuckey’s future could be at shooting guard. Unfortunately, he has to prove he can handle playing that position as well. Stuckey’s outside shot still needs work, and he’ll need to improve defensively if he’s going to check the Kobe Bryants and Dwayne Wades of the NBA every night.

Most importantly, Stuckey finally needs to do what he’s said he would since the day Detroit traded Chauncey Billups – take control of the locker room. Instead, Stuckey has followed in the footsteps of disgruntled veteran teammate Rip Hamilton, publicly ignoring or cussing at coaches. Yet, he’s failed to take control of the team on the floor or in the huddle the way Pistons fans were used to seeing from Billups.

If the team decides that Knight is the franchise point guard, Stuckey will have to compete for minutes at shooting guard with Hamilton and Ben Gordon. If Detroit finds a way to trade Hamilton, that still leaves a four-guard rotation with Knight, Gordon and Bynum.

Joe Dumars, Pistons President, still says he plans on keeping both Stuckey and Jerebko around long-term. Because each player believes he’s about to sign a lucrative contract, neither of them are expected to play anywhere during the lockout and risk getting injured.

On the other hand, Detroit second-round pick Kyle Singler is set to play in Spain until the lockout ends, and former Piston DaJuan Summers signed a two-year deal to play in Italy earlier this summer. Current veterans Greg Monroe, Charlie Villanueva, Austin Daye and Bynum have all expressed interest in playing during the lockout but have yet to sign anywhere.

If Stuckey and Jerebko both return, they’ll be playing for Lawrence Frank, Pistons Head Coach. In all likelihood, Dumars believes that Frank will have an easier and more effective way of communicating with his players than Detroit’s last two coaches did. Frank could have what it takes to get the best out of them, particularly Stuckey. It’s likely that Frank is spending his days at the Palace practice facility studying tape and determining where each of his players best fits in the rotation.

With nine players currently under contract and three rookies set to join them, the Pistons roster would be at 14 out of a possible 15 after adding Stuckey and Jerebko back. If Frank assumes both free agents will return, he can already begin planning his lineups based around those 14 players. Dumars wouldn’t be able to make many other additions unless it was via trade.

Should the Pistons bring Stuckey and Jerebko back, they’ll need to clearly define each of their roles. Both Dumars and Frank will be required to work closely and carefully to balance out the rotation and put each player in the best positions for them to be successful on the floor.

DENNIS MANNION NAMED PRESIDENT OF THE DETROIT PISTONS AND PALACE SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT

2011-09-06T14:11:00.000-07:00

In Play Magazine

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – The Detroit Pistons and Palace Sports & Entertainment announced today that Dennis Mannion has been appointed President, effective immediately.

Mannion, 52, will oversee all Detroit Pistons and Palace Sports & Entertainment business operations, including sales, marketing, finance and administration. Detroit Pistons President of Basketball Operations Joe Dumars will continue to oversee all basketball operations.

Mannion brings a broad and unique perspective, having spent 29 seasons working in four major professional sports, including two years managing business operations for the NBA’s Denver Nuggets and the NHL’s Colorado Avalanche from 1998 to 1999. Mannion most recently served as President of the Los Angeles Dodgers where he worked from 2007 to 2010. He also previously worked for the Baltimore Ravens from 1999 to 2007, and for the Philadelphia Phillies from 1982 to 1997.

“Dennis is very well qualified and will bring a fresh perspective to the organization,” said Detroit Pistons and Palace Sports & Entertainment owner Tom Gores. “He is an innovative guy and he shares our vision of creating the best possible experience for our fans. He also shares our core values of hard work and commitment to the community. Dennis knows what it takes to succeed at a high level and we are excited to have him on board.”

Throughout his career Mannion has led operations during 12 post-season runs, including two World Series, an NHL conference championship and a Super Bowl.

“Detroit is an incredible sports and entertainment town and I am honored by this opportunity,” said Mannion. “I look forward to working with the Detroit Pistons and Palace Sports & Entertainment team, our corporate partners and the community to build on the legacy of this great organization. We will do everything we can to provide the best, most exciting experience possible for everyone that comes out to see a game or a show.”

In Los Angeles, Mannion’s marketing initiatives and efforts to improve the game day experience helped the Dodgers lead Major League Baseball in paid attendance in 2009 for the first time since 1986. He also created the Dodgers Sports Lab, an in-house production facility and staff that generates content for all of the team’s game broadcasts, motion graphics and video, online content and printed materials.

Mannion joined the Dodgers in 2007 following eight seasons with the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens where he was Senior Vice President of Business Ventures. In that role, Mannion oversaw all revenue streams, image, and brand-generating properties. He led and coordinated the development of more than 60 Ravens sub-brands, 12 season-long Ravens television and radio shows, and annual events such as Spring Football Festival, Ravens Kickoff Week, State of the Ravens, and the Ravens All Community Team.

Prior to joining the Ravens in 1999, Mannion spent three years as Senior Vice President at Ascent Sports, owner of the Denver Nuggets, the Colorado Avalanche and the Pepsi Center. Mannion managed all business operations for both teams and the arena.

Mannion spent 16 years with the Philadelphia Phillies from 1982-1997, serving as Vice President of Marketing and Sales for his last eight seasons. He was noted for enhancing the fan experience at Veterans Stadium during his tenure and was instrumental in securing and the staging the 1996 MLB All-Star Game in Philadelphia.

Mannion is a native of New York and graduated from the University of Massachusetts in 1981 with a bachelor's degree in business and sports management.

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2011 DETROIT PISTONS PRESEASON SCHEDULE ANNOUNCED

2011-08-19T09:33:00.000-07:00

In Play Magazine

First Home Preseason Game Scheduled For October 9 At The Palace

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – The National Basketball Association announced today that the Detroit Pistons will open their eight-game 2011 preseason schedule at home against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday, October 9 (6:00 p.m.).

Three of the team’s eight games will be played at The Palace, featuring contests against the Minnesota Timberwolves (October 9), Charlotte Bobcats (October 23) and Miami HEAT (October 26).

The Pistons are scheduled to make their ninth consecutive trip to Grand Rapids to play in The Meijer Basketball Classic at Van Andel Arena on Wednesday, October 12 against the Toronto Raptors (7:00 p.m.).

Following is the Pistons 2011 preseason schedule (all times are Eastern Standard Time):

PISTONS 2011 PRE-SEASON SCHEDULE

        DATE    OPPONENT        LOCATION        TIME
        October 9       Minnesota       The Palace of Auburn Hills      6:00 p.m.
        October 10      at Atlanta     Philips Arena   7:30 p.m.
        October 12      Toronto         Van Andel Arena, Grand Rapids, MI       7:00 p.m.
        October 14      at Toronto      Air Canada Centre       7:00 p.m.
        October 21      at Milwaukee    Resch Center, Green Bay, WI   7:30 p.m.
        October 23      Charlotte       The Palace of Auburn Hills      6:00 p.m.
        October 26      Miami   The Palace of Auburn Hills      7:30 p.m.
        October 27      at Orlando      Amway Center    7:00 p.m.

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Pistons Starting Over With Frank

2011-08-03T13:36:00.001-07:00

Pistons Starting Over With Frank
By Steve St-Pierre

Nobody knows when Lawrence Frank will actually get to begin coaching his new team, but when he does, he intends to start from scratch.

Frank has been introduced as the new head coach of the Pistons, who want to get back to being a blue-collar organization that can ultimately compete for a fourth NBA Championship.

“We need to reclaim the Pistons culture, and that’s about hard work,” Frank says. “The slates are clean. They have to be, because your scrapbooks don’t matter in this game.”

With the current NBA lockout, teams are not allowed to have any contact with players or player representatives. Coaches and other team personnel are not even able to mention players in public conversations.

“This is going to be a little difficult because of the situation we are in,” Frank says about the lockout. “I can’t talk in specifics or about the players.”

“Right now, our first job is to get this franchise back on track,” adds Joe Dumars, Pistons President. “We went through a very lengthy process with this hire – we started talking to Lawrence in June, and it is now August – and I’m very confident that he’s the right person to get us going in the right direction.”

Assisting Dumars with the hire were Tom Gores, Pistons Owner, and his business partners Bob Wentworth and Phil Norment.

“Working with Tom and his people was different because they have a system in place that they use for a big hire, and this was definitely a big hire,” Dumars says. “It was a very thorough search process, and that’s what we needed because we are desperate to find a long-term coach.”

Reports surfaced that Dumars actually preferred Mike Woodson, former head coach of the Atlanta Hawks and an assistant coach on the Pistons’ 2004 Championship team. Though such rumors have yet to be addressed, Frank acknowledges his flaws while maintaining confidence in working around those imperfections.

“I was like a bad Hollywood actor,” Frank says about his days in high school as a wanna-be basketball player. “All I ever heard was ‘cut, cut, cut, cut.’ My senior season, the coach put his arm around me and told me I had a ton of courage, but I was still cut.”

Despite never playing basketball, Frank has managed to be successful in the sport enough to warrant his second job as an NBA head coach. He previously spent seven seasons coaching the New Jersey Nets before joining the Boston Celtics as an assistant coach last season.

“It comes down to your actions as a coach and whether or not you back up what you say,” Frank says. “If you don’t back up what you say, no one trusts what you say.”

It also helps that Frank is known around the league for his hard work and dedication to his profession and the game of basketball.

“Lawrence won’t want me to say this, but he started on Monday, and he was here at 5:30 in the morning,” Dumars says. “We might be in an odd situation with the lockout, but he’s still here working.”

The next step for Frank will be hiring assistant coaches. He says he is already considering both Brian Hill and Pat Sullivan. Both previously coached under former Pistons head coach John Kuester.

“The qualities we’re looking for, one is high character; two is great work ethic; three is a passion and energy you can bring every day; four is an excellent teacher; and five is a lifelong learner,” Frank says. “Everyone we hire, regardless of names, they’re going to buy that because we have to be about what we talk about.”

Whenever the lockout ends, Frank will be expected to begin rebuilding the Pistons around a new core of younger players including center Greg Monroe and rookie point guard Brandon Knight. Dumars anticipates re-signing restricted free agent forward Jonas Jerebko, who would also be considered a centerpiece to the team’s future.

Meanwhile, the organization will have to address several other questions involving its current roster. It’s been well-documented that the team has been trying to trade disgruntled veteran Rip Hamilton, who along with Ben Wallace are the only holdovers from the ’04 title team. If Hamilton cannot be moved before the season begins, Frank will be stuck in the same position as Detroit’s two previous coaches, having to balance playing time between Hamilton and the rest of the Pistons’ crowded backcourt.

Guard Ben Gordon and forward Charlie Villanueva, Dumars’ prized free-agent additions in 2009, struggled immensely under Kuester. Frank must find a way to get both players consistent minutes on the court. Because both players signed for a combined $90 million, the team has limited ability to sign additional free agents. For Gordon, the opportunity for set playing time might only come if Hamilton is moved.

If Jerebko is re-signed, he could start at either forward spot alongside either Villanueva or Austin Daye. Tayshaun Prince, the Pistons’ starting small forward for nearly the last decade, is a free agent and isn’t expected back. Likewise, restricted free agent guard Rodney Stuckey could also be done in Detroit considering the team has Knight and veteran Will Bynum already set at point guard, with Gordon and Hamilton manning the shooting guard position.

Though Frank is currently unable to publicly address any of these decisions, he does accept the expectations being placed on him as coach of the Pistons.

“You look at the numbers – six straight years in the conference finals, playoffs in eight of the last 10 seasons and those three titles (in 1989, 1990 and 2004, respectively),” Frank says. “There are only five teams in the NBA with three of those, and this is one of them. That’s an honor.”

Pistons Set To Hire Frank

2011-07-21T18:23:00.001-07:00

Steve St-Pierre
Sports Writer
In Play! Magazine
sstpierre@inplaymagazine.com

According to reports, the Pistons have decided to hire ex-New Jersey Nets head coach Lawrence Frank. He has beat out candidates Mike Woodson, Bill Laimbeer, Kelvin Sampson and Patrick Ewing.

Frank coached the Nets for parts of seven seasons before joining the Boston Celtics' staff as an assistant last season. It remains to be seen who will serve as assistants to Frank in Detroit, but Laimbeer could be considered for such a position after serving that role the past two years with the Minnesota Timberwolves, who coincidentally are the only team currently looking for a new head coach.

GIRLS GIRLS GIRLS - Pistons Automotion Dance Team To Hold Pre-Audition Clinic On July 18th

2011-07-08T08:03:00.000-07:00

In Play Magazine

DANCE FOR THE DETROIT PISTONS IN 2011-12

Automotion Auditions Set To Begin August 1

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- The Detroit Pistons dance team Automotion will host a pre-audition dance clinic for dancers interested in auditioning for the 2011-12 dance team on Monday, July 18th at 6:00 p.m. at The Palace of Auburn Hills. The clinic will serve as a precursor to the Automotion auditions which begin August 1. All prospective candidates interested in trying out for the team are encouraged to sign up for pre-audition clinic. Registration for the pre-audition clinic can be found on-line at http://www.nba.com/pistons/automotion_tryouts.html.

Female candidates must be 19 or older by October 1, 2011 and are required to show proof of ID along with their registration. Choreography will be provided at the pre-audition clinic by the audition staff and dancers are encouraged to wear dance tops, shorts and tights – dress to impress. See the Pistons website (www.pistons.com) for more details.

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Lockout Cools Pistons’ Draft Fire

2011-07-05T14:18:00.000-07:00

Lockout Cools Pistons’ Draft Fire
By Steve St-Pierre

When its collective bargaining agreement expired July 1, the NBA locked out its players after failing to reach a new deal with owners. The timing’s unfortunate for anybody associated with the league but especially teams anxious to begin developing their new rookies.

The Pistons, who had the No. 8 pick in the first round of the 2011 NBA Draft, might have wound up with the biggest steal of the year in Kentucky point guard Brandon Knight. Detroit had every intention of taking a power forward at No. 8, anticipating Knight being off the board as early as No. 3. It just wound up working out that none of the teams drafting ahead of the Pistons had a dire need at point guard.

“We targeted big guys initially, but we said if those guys were gone, we would take the guy with the best value,” says Joe Dumars, Pistons President. “It was a talent we didn’t think we could pass up.”

“I’m definitely happy to be here in Detroit,” Knight says. “It’s a great feeling to be picked by Detroit. It’s a great city with a great tradition.”

When Knight was initially selected with the eighth pick, he wore an expression that screamed disappointment. Yet, he insists his only frustration stems from slipping in the first round.

“I think I reacted that way because I’m just a serious guy, and that’s always been my nature to be calm and collected,” Knight says. “Like I said, there’s a great tradition here. They have won three championships, and I’m hoping we can add to that.”

Detroit is also pleased with their second-round selections: Duke combo forward Kyle Singler at No. 33 and Florida power forward Vernon Macklin at No. 52.

“These are some good people,” Dumars says of his draft choices. “These guys have been raised the right way. Their families have done an incredible job with them, and we’re happy to have these guys represent us on a daily basis.”

Some argue Knight could wind up being better than the only point guard selected ahead of him, Kyrie Irving of Duke. The Cleveland Cavaliers took Irving with the No. 1 overall pick despite the fact he only played 11 games as a freshman due to a toe injury.

“(Knight) may have been the most impressive guy in terms of the interview process in Chicago,” Dumars says. “Just an off-the-charts guy…we spent a lot of time with him in Chicago. Everybody on the staff spent time with him.”

Though the Pistons were targeting a power forward in the beginning, it couldn’t have worked out better for them than to land a top point guard. It was Detroit’s most glaring need as the team has yet to find a replacement for former star Chauncey Billups. Rodney Stuckey, who the Pistons had hoped would settle into the role, is a restricted free agent and much more suited to play shooting guard.

Now, the Pistons can comfortably pencil in Knight as their starting point guard, splitting the minutes there with veteran reserve Will Bynum. If the team opts to re-sign Stuckey, he’ll likely share minutes at shooting guard with veteran Ben Gordon. Disgruntled swingman Rip Hamilton remains on the roster, though he could be traded or bought out whenever the lockout ends.

“We’ll end up adding more talent to this team,” Dumars says. “(Knight) can play in the backcourt with the other guards we have, and we’ll allow him to grow.”

Local media has already begun comparing Knight to Billups.

“The comparison is because he can shoot so well,” Dumars says. “(Knight) can really shoot the ball so well. When you name the best-shooting point guards, he’ll be one of those guys.”

As for their frontcourt, the Pistons still have plenty of depth. Greg Monroe remains the team’s starting center, and they have every intention of re-signing restricted free agent Jonas Jerebko, who will likely start at one of the forward positions. The other starting spot could go to Austin Daye, who hopes to finally have an opportunity to play consistent minutes.

The NBA’s free agency period will resume as soon as the lockout ends. Besides Jerebko and Stuckey, the Pistons have four unrestricted free agents in forwards Tayshaun Prince, Tracy McGrady, Chris Wilcox and DaJuan Summers, who has already signed a two-year contract to play in Italy.

Though the lockout forbids teams from any kind of player movement or contact, it doesn’t stop teams from being able to hire or fire coaches. The Pistons, since firing John Kuester, have interviewed five candidates for their head coaching vacancy: Mike Woodson, Bill Laimbeer, Lawrence Frank, Kelvin Sampson and Patrick Ewing. Since Detroit is the only team currently without a head coach, they haven’t felt rushed to make a decision.

Whoever becomes the Pistons’ next head coach knows it will be a prerequisite to play his new young players, particularly Knight.

“It’s not about years or anything like that,” Dumars says. “It’s just about trusting that this kid is going to get better. You draft a kid like this, the way they get better is you allow them to make mistakes. You’re not going to put them out there and put them in a position that they have to be perfect or else. You have to live with some mistakes with a young player.”

If there’s one thing to keep Pistons fans enthused during this lockout period, it’s knowing that the franchise is committed to adding talented players with the right mentality and commitment to winning.

“Brandon told me he’s tough, although he’s a little, slim guy,” Dumars jokes. “He told me he’s tough, so we believe that. There is no question about Kyle and Vernon’s toughness.

“But by and large what I’m saying is these guys epitomize what we’re about going forward.”

Pistons Take Knight, Singler and Macklin

2011-06-23T20:45:00.000-07:00

Steve St-Pierre
Sports Writer
In Play! Magazine
sstpierre@inplaymagazine.com

They went into the 2011 NBA Draft prepared to select a big man, believing that the top point guards would be off the board by the time they picked at No. 8. Fortunately, all but one slid down to the Pistons, who wound up selecting Kentucky's Brandon Knight.

Detroit also owned two selections in the second round, opting for Duke's Kyle Singler at No. 33 and Florida's Vernon Macklin at No. 52. Singler's a talented all-around combo-forward, while Macklin's a tough-minded power forward known for his blue-collar work ethic.

Knight should be penciled in immediately as the Pistons' starting point guard as Rodney Stuckey is set to become a restricted free agent July 1. Stuckey could be brought back to play alongside Knight in the backcourt, which also features veterans Ben Gordon, Will Bynum and Rip Hamilton, though Hamilton could be moved before next season.

Joe Dumars, Pistons President, addressed the media shortly after the selection of Knight, admitting that he had planned to take a big man but could not pass on the promising point guard. Knight had been expected to go between picks 3 and 5.

Gores, Dumars Prepare For NBA Draft

2011-06-07T18:51:00.000-07:00

Gores, Dumars Prepare For NBA Draft
By Steve St-Pierre

Officially the new owner of the Pistons, Tom Gores has wasted little time making his mark on the franchise. He’s decided to keep Joe Dumars as President and GM, who has since announced the firing of John Kuester as Head Coach. Gores and Dumars now have less than a month to negotiate trades, interview coaching candidates and gear up for the 2011 NBA Draft before the league enters into a lockout in July.

Dumars has recently admitted that he was unable to make all the moves he’s wanted to make due to the sale of the franchise. Now that his restrictions have been lifted under Gores, Dumars is hopeful he can make significant progress on his plan to rebuild the Pistons’ roster.

Currently, the Pistons have nine players under contract: Rip Hamilton, Ben Wallace, Ben Gordon, Charlie Villanueva, Greg Monroe, Austin Daye, Will Bynum, Jason Maxiell and Terrico White. According to reports, the team has been trying to trade Hamilton for the past couple of years, and they’ll need to in order to give Gordon the amount of playing time and shot attempts he requires to flourish at the shooting guard spot. Likewise, Monroe is ready to be the team’s full-time starter at center, making the aging Wallace expendable as well.

With Detroit prepared to rebuild around Gordon and Monroe, the team’s goal now is to put pieces around them. Bynum and White are the only point guards under contract at this time. With few options available to them in the draft at that position, the Pistons will likely look to free agency or trades to acquire a starting-caliber point guard to play alongside Gordon in the backcourt. Up front, the team has all intentions of re-signing restricted free agent Jonas Jerebko.

With that in mind, the Pistons are expected to take a power forward with their first-round pick in this year’s draft to split time with Villanueva and Maxiell. That would leave Jerebko and Daye to battle it out for the starting spot at small forward. Detroit owns the No. 8 overall pick in the draft, and they expect to have a number of potential prospects to choose from at that spot. Those candidates include international forwards Jonas Valanciunas, Jan Vesely and Bismack Biyombo to go along with Texas big man Tristan Thompson.

With two additional picks in the second round, the Pistons could be looking to target a natural center to play behind Monroe. One name that certainly intrigues them is a local standout from Oakland University, Keith Benson. It’s also possible Detroit could shop both picks in order to acquire another first-rounder or to bring in another veteran player, perhaps in a deal that would also include Hamilton.

Besides improving the roster, Gores and Dumars will have to decide whether or not to pursue a new head coach before the expected lockout. Local reports are currently indicating Mike Woodson and Bill Laimbeer as the early front-runners. Woodson, who was the head coach of the Atlanta Hawks for six seasons, served as an assistant on the Pistons under Larry Brown during the team’s 2004 championship season. Laimbeer, of course, is a fan-favorite due to his past success as a Pistons player and as head coach of Detroit’s former WNBA franchise, the Shock.

It’s quite possible the Pistons’ front office will elect to focus solely on improving its roster for the month of June and simply wait until after the draft to hire a head coach. Either way, the team will need to be aggressive these next couple weeks in terms of shopping players and scouting the upcoming rookie class. The 2011 NBA Draft should hopefully be the beginning steps toward revitalizing the ball club.

PISTONS FIRE HEAD COACH!

2011-06-05T12:17:00.000-07:00

In Play Magazine

JOHN KUESTER RELIEVED OF PISTONS’ COACHING DUTIES

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – Detroit Pistons President of Basketball Operations Joe Dumars announced today that John Kuester will not return next season as the team’s head coach. The decision was made following a meeting between ownership and the head coach.

“Decisions like this are difficult to make,” said Dumars. “I want to thank John for his hard work and dedication to the organization over the last two years, however, at this time we have decided to make a change.”

Dumars goes on to say, “As our organization moves forward and prepares for the future, the search for our club’s new head coach is a priority and will begin immediately. However, at this time, we do not have a timetable for hiring a successor. We’ll conduct our due diligence privately and announce a decision when we’ve identified that individual.”

Kuester, who was named head coach on July 9, 2009, tallied a regular-season record of 57-107 in two season’s with the Pistons. He served one season in Detroit as an assistant coach under Larry Brown in 2003-04, helping the Pistons win the NBA Championship that year.

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SALE OF PALACE SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT AND DETROIT PISTONS COMPLETED

2011-06-01T15:19:00.000-07:00

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – The sale of Palace Sports and Entertainment (PS&E) and the Detroit Pistons to Tom Gores and his investment firm, Platinum Equity, was formally completed today, following unanimous approval by the NBA’s Board of Governors. With the transfer of ownership Mr. Gores becomes the fourth owner in Detroit Pistons’ franchise history.

“I am very excited at the opportunity to lead this great franchise into the future,” Mr. Gores said. “The passion and commitment of Pistons fans is legendary, and our goal is to meet every one of their expectations. That starts with the hard work and values necessary to compete for championships. It also includes being a real partner in the community, and we intend to do that as well. We’re going to do everything we can to ensure that this organization deserves the passion of our fans. We can’t wait to make a difference in Detroit.”

NBA Commissioner David Stern announced on Tuesday that the NBA Board of Governors had unanimously approved the change of ownership.

“It's very important to us, because we think Tom will bring renewed vigor and energy to that great franchise,” Mr. Stern said at a news conference prior to Game 1 of the NBA Finals. “He's really very anxious to get going…and that's a very good development for the Detroit Pistons and the good fans of Detroit.”

The Detroit Pistons are one of only seven teams in NBA history to win three or more championships and have made 40 playoff appearances in franchise history (fourth-most in the NBA). Since the 2000-01 season, Detroit has compiled a record of 512-390 (.568), won six Central Division titles, made six consecutive trips to the NBA’s Eastern Conference Finals from 2003 to 2008, won two Eastern Conference Championships (2004, 2005) and made consecutive trips to the NBA Finals, including an NBA Championship in 2004.

On the entertainment side, PS&E’s Michigan venues average 300 events and 3.5 million guests annually. The Palace has been voted Arena of the Year eight times by Performance magazine, twice by Pollstar magazine and is listed annually among North America’s top-grossing arenas. Voted “Best Outdoor Concert Venue” in Pollstar’s 2000 Readers’ Poll, DTE Energy Music Theatre has been listed as the nation’s most attended amphitheater by Amusement Business/Billboard each of the 20 years of PS&E ownership. Meadowbrook Music Festival on the campus of Oakland University hosted a record-tying six sold out shows in 2010 and achieved its second highest attendance average under PS&E’s 17 years of management.

“I have a tremendous amount of respect for the Davidson family and what has been built here. Palace Sports and Entertainment and the Detroit Pistons have enjoyed a great tradition of success and have been committed to being a positive influence in the community,” Mr. Gores added. “Our mission is to continue that legacy and do it the right way.”

Karen Davidson transfers control of the company to Tom Gores after nearly 37 years of Davidson family ownership. William Davidson became the club’s majority owner in 1974.

“Throughout this process, my goal was to find the right owner to lead Palace Sports and Entertainment into the future and I am certain that Tom Gores is that person,” said Davidson. “He is an astute businessman, works hard and will bring a passion to this organization – that same passion that Bill had for so many years.”

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Pistons Get No. 8 Pick In 2011 NBA Draft

2011-05-18T06:43:00.001-07:00

Steve St-Pierre
Sports Writer
In Play! Magazine
sstpierre@inplaymagazine.com

The Pistons were hoping for a bit of luck in their second straight trip to the NBA Lottery. Unfortunately, it was bad luck that crept up on them as they were actually bumped down a spot and wound up with the No. 8 pick in this year's NBA Draft.

The 2011 NBA Draft, being held June 23 in New Jersey, is loaded with power forwards, making it likely that the Pistons go with somebody at that position to play alongside center Greg Monroe. Despite moving down a spot, Detroit is still expected to have plenty of big men to choose from.

The other possibility is that the Pistons take a point guard in the first round in hopes that a big man will slide to them in the second round. The Pistons have a hole right now at point guard since Rodney Stuckey and Tracy McGrady will be free agents this summer, leaving the team with just Will Bynum and Terrico White, who missed his entire rookie season last year due to injury.

Gores Leads Pistons’ Youth Movement

2011-05-04T17:57:00.000-07:00

Gores Leads Pistons' Youth Movement
By Steve St-Pierre

The Pistons are committed to rebuilding around a youthful core. It begins at the top with Tom Gores, the franchise’s dynamic new owner.

Chairman and CEO of global investment firm Platinum Equity, Gores reached an agreement in early April with Karen Davidson, former Pistons Owner, to purchase the team along with The Palace of Auburn Hills, DTE Energy Music Theatre and the operating rights to Meadow Brook Music Festival. The deal was announced after several months of negotiations.

“We are pleased to welcome Tom Gores as the new owner of the Detroit Pistons and Palace Sports and Entertainment,” Davidson says. “Just as my late husband, Bill Davidson, was the face of the Pistons, I am confident that Tom will bring the same energy, dedication and love to this organization. I look forward to seeing Tom follow in Bill’s footsteps and carry on his legacy…we look forward to facilitating a smooth transition under Tom and achieving even greater success in the future.”

The deal is expected to be finalized by June 30, pending league approval and normal closing conditions.

“I’m excited,” says the 46-year-old Gores, who grew up near Flint. “‘Excited’ is not actually the right word. Ecstatic. I’m back in Michigan, where I grew up, and I appreciate everybody welcoming me back.”

Gores considers the opportunity to own the Pistons a dream come true and a chance to be a difference-maker.

“It’s interesting about dreams,” he says. “I mean, of course, I’ve always wanted to own a sports team, but it came together. Everything came together at the right time. I grew up with sports, but mostly I’m excited about inspiring the town.”

The plan is for Gores, once his ownership is completely finalized, to continue traveling between Detroit and Los Angeles. Yet, he vows to take an active role with the Pistons.

“I’ll be whatever owner this team needs and this franchise needs,” Gores says. “When they need me back, I’ll be back. I will be impactful, that’s for sure.

“I want us to be successful. I didn’t show up here to not be successful. (I’ll do) whatever it takes.”

Gores acknowledges that he will not be able to turn the organization around alone.

“This is a community asset,” he says. “This is not an asset that we’re gonna handle alone…we have to do this together. It is a true partnership.”

A number of challenges present themselves to Gores when it comes to improving this basketball team. He has several decisions to make, including the status of John Kuester, Pistons Head Coach, as well as the upcoming 2011 NBA Draft, which will be held June 23. His first task, though, is to meet face-to-face with Joe Dumars, Pistons President and GM.

“We’re in the learning process,” Gores says. “Joe is an amazing part of the Pistons organization, and we have to talk more, make sure we’re all on the same page, but he clearly is a part of this legacy…

“…We’re gonna learn first, so we’re not in decision-making mode. Are we afraid of change? Absolutely not. We’re ready for change, no problem. Sometimes you need change, but we’re gonna learn right now.”

Assuming Dumars remains with the organization, he and Gores will likely focus on the coaching situation. Very few believe Kuester will remain as head coach. Reports have already emerged that the team is considering both former Pistons legend Bill Laimbeer and former Atlanta Hawks head coach Mike Woodson, a one-time assistant in Detroit, as possible replacements.

The 2011 NBA Draft Lottery will be held May 17. The Pistons have a 4.3 percent chance at landing the No. 1 pick in this year’s draft, though their best chances are at landing the No. 7 pick. They’re expected to take either a point guard or a power forward.

In the meantime, the sale of the franchise must be officially completed. Gores is thankful to the Davidson family for giving him the opportunity.

“I think Karen handled the situation really, really well,” he says. “Bill (Davidson) clearly built this house, and I have to build on it. I haven’t done anything yet.

“Bill did it all. He built the stadium, he built the team, he built the championships, and we have to go to work. Karen, I think, handled the situation beautifully, and all we want to do now is go to work and help the team, the Pistons organization, the community. All we’ve done is make a deal to buy the team, and we have to do more.”

To anybody who questions Gores’ loyalty towards the community and keeping the Pistons in Detroit, he insists he’s doing just that.

“Do you think I’m crazy? We’re here,” he says. “We’re here.”

Despite the organization’s question marks, its new owner remains optimistic he can turn things around for the Pistons.

“There’s a great, deep organization here that existed before us, and we need to make the most out of that,” Gores says. “This is not a culture you throw away. This is an unbelievable city. It’s an unbelievable organization.

“How long did Bill own the team? 30 some years, right? We need to take advantage of that, and I want to make Bill Davidson proud that we bought the team.”

Pistons Miss Playoffs For Consecutive Season

2011-04-03T08:42:00.000-07:00

Pistons Miss Playoffs For Consecutive Season
By Steve St-Pierre

For the second season in a row, the Pistons have missed the playoffs and will return to the NBA Draft Lottery in May. Last year, the team blamed its lack of success on injuries, but this time around it’s been everything else.

John Kuester, Pistons Head Coach, has struggled mightily this season to establish not only a set starting five but an entire rotation as well. Just about every player on the team received at least one DNP-CD (did not play, coach’s decision.) It’s led to a great amount of criticism from the media and heavy backlash from the players, some of whom have been very open about their feelings.

“Every game, I’m expecting not to play,” says reserve guard Will Bynum. “That’s how I’m approaching the game.”

At one point, rumors emerged that Kuester would be dismissed and replaced by Darrell Walker, current Pistons Assistant Coach. Instead, the team has opted to let Kuester finish the season. It’s been difficult for players to adjust to inconsistent playing time, but it’s something they’ve all had to do together as a team.

“Whatever (Kuester) decides, however long he decides to play me, I’m gonna take that and just try to produce as long as I’m out there,” says rookie center Greg Monroe.

“I’m not in control of minutes or when I play and don’t play,” Bynum adds. “All I control is being ready, and that’s what I try to do…it’s my job, man. It’s my job to be ready. It’s not to complain and pout, and I try to stay positive. When I’m out there, I try to make him regret not playing me.”

The coaching staff believes players haven’t worked hard enough in practice, leading to lackadaisical performances during games.

“We’ve got to get out of the habit of playing a good game and then not playing as well the next game or getting off this rollercoaster…” Kuester says. “…It’s the same old story. When we make shots and we defend better, things look so much better for us.”

Though the team has been relatively healthy this season, the Pistons have had to cope with the loss of forward Jonas Jerebko, a promising rookie last season who has missed his entire sophomore campaign after straining his right Achilles’ tendon during the first preseason game. He is set to become a restricted free agent this summer but has said he expects to stay in Detroit for the foreseeable future.

Unfortunately, the future remains murky for this organization and the NBA as a whole. The NBA’s Collective Bargaining Agreement is set to expire June 30, and much like the NFL, players and owners are arguing over the possibility of cutting salaries. If the two sides don’t reach a new agreement by July, the NBA will also enter a lockout that could stretch into next season. As a result, it’s become impossible for teams to truly plan a strategy for free agency this summer.

Furthermore, the Pistons have their own issues at hand. The team is still in the process of being sold, leading to speculation that the front office has essentially been frozen from making any transactions. In fact, Detroit has not made one transaction since the start of the season.

The pending expiration of the league’s CBA will have no direct impact on the upcoming 2011 NBA Draft, which is being held June 23. Therefore, the draft is likely going to be the Pistons’ only way of improving their roster in the near future. If a coaching change is going to be made, it should be completed as soon as possible. Yet, even that might not be possible as current ownership would have to approve the hiring of a new coaching staff, which probably isn’t a top priority for them at this time.

For now, the Pistons will continue to prepare for a lottery pick in the draft. Based on how many games they lose down the stretch, they could wind up at or around a top-five selection. The lottery itself gives Detroit – and every non-playoff team – a shot at one of the top three picks.

If the Pistons are stuck with their current roster, they’ll have plenty of holes to fill once all front-office restrictions are lifted. The only real asset the team has at this point is Monroe, who’s been one of the best rookies in the NBA all season.

“He’s just so doggone active,” Kuester says about his rookie big man. “For a guy that I think a lot of us early on said, ‘How is he going to rebound?’ we’re finding out that he can rebound with anybody.”

Rebounding is only part of the package. Monroe has been an extremely consistent scorer and passer in the post, something Detroit hasn’t had in years. He has the ability to play both power forward and center, and best of all, he’s brought an extremely rare positive attitude to the Pistons’ locker room.

“To me, every win is important to us right now,” Monroe says. “We’re trying to win every game.”

Besides Monroe, the only players under contract after this season are Bynum, Rip Hamilton, Ben Wallace, Ben Gordon, Charlie Villanueva, Austin Daye, Jason Maxiell and rookie Terrico White. Wallace could opt to retire, especially if there’s a lockout next season. That leaves either Hamilton or Gordon likely penciled in as a starter at shooting guard with Monroe, but the team will have holes at point guard and small forward as well as either power forward or center, depending on where Monroe plays.

The hope is that Gordon and Villanueva, who signed long-term contracts with Detroit in the summer of 2009 totaling $90 million, can finally establish themselves as fixtures in the team’s rotation. For that to happen, the coach needs to commit to both players in the lineup, with Gordon solidifying the two-guard spot and Villanueva playing power forward alongside Monroe. If the team assumes it will have no trouble keeping Jerebko, he could take over the small forward position.

That leaves a hole at point guard. Bynum has played effectively at the position, but he’s by no means a legitimate starter at this time. Rodney Stuckey, a combo guard who has been groomed for the position his entire career, hasn’t been able to keep the starting job and is also set to become a restricted free agent this summer. There are those who still believe Stuckey can play the position.

“(Stuckey’s) been terrific for us,” Villanueva says. “He’s pushing the basketball, and he’s been making the right plays. He’s been scoring a lot of points. Rodney’s a tremendous player.”

Yet, Kuester hasn’t trusted Stuckey at the position. Perhaps it’s an area the team can focus on for the upcoming draft. Then again, there aren’t many clear-cut point guards available this year.

The Pistons certainly have their hands full this off-season. It remains to be seen just how much ability they’ll have in order to fix the roster. Until then, fans are going to have a hard time believing things will improve for this organization.

PISTONS CARE TELETHON RAISES MORE THAN $350,000

2011-03-23T13:34:00.000-07:00

In Play Magazine

DETROIT PISTONS CARE TELETHON RAISES

MORE THAN $350,000 FOR BOYS & GIRLS clUBS IN MICHIGAN

The 2011 Pistons Care Telethon, which culminated in an 18-hour donation drive and telecast of the team’s game on March 18, raised $351,110 in pledges to benefit Boys & Girls Clubs in Michigan with net proceeds being distributed amongst the 35 Boys & Girls Club locations across the state of Michigan. The pledge total will fund over 7,000 Boys & Girls Club annual memberships as well as support the cost of programming for youth in need.

Although the Telethon took place on March 18, there is still opportunity to support the Boys & Girls Clubs in Michigan. Pistons fans can visit pistons.com and click on the red “Charity Auctions” link through March 29 to donate via an online auction of 10 unique Pistons experiences and memorabilia including two hours of play to host a pick-up game with friends on the official Pistons court; golf for two with Pistons forward Jonas Jerebko and two signed Jerebko jerseys; an opportunity for a group of three to play video games against Greg Monroe in the Pistons locker room; a meet and greet with former Pistons “Bad Boy” Dennis Rodman including four lower-bowl tickets to the April 1 Pistons vs. Chicago game in which Rodman’s jersey will be retired; and a trip for two on the Pistons team plane to a road game which includes two lower-bowl tickets and accommodations at the team hotel.

Additional online auction items include an autographed Joe Dumars basketball; a limited edition autographed Rodney Stuckey jersey; a meet and greet with Tracy McGrady including two press row tickets to a future game; a meet and greet with Joe Dumars including two press row tickets to a future game; and even an opportunity to sit courtside with Greg Kelser and George Blaha during one of their in-game broadcasts including an on-air mention, two lower-level tickets and a George Blaha and Greg Kelser autographed basketball.

“Exemplifying the true spirit of teamwork, our fans and sponsors have rallied together to help raise funds for thousands of children who will be given the mentoring and guidance to succeed.” said Alan Ostfield, President & CEO of the Pistons and PS&E. “The Pistons and Boys & Girls Clubs look forward to teaming up to implement Telethon funds to the 35 Club locations statewide throughout the calendar year.”

“The Pistons players and the entire Pistons Sports & Entertainment family went above and beyond for Boys & Girls Clubs across the state. Their leadership will help provide brighter futures for many children.” said, Len Krichko, President & CEO, Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan.

Entertainers including Bob Seger, Kid Rock, Eminem, Rihanna, Usher and Jimmy Buffett supported the event.

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Pistons Pass On Trades, Move Past Alleged Protest

2011-03-05T09:16:00.000-08:00

Pistons Pass On Trades, Move Past Alleged Protest
By Steve St-Pierre

An already difficult season for the Pistons took a turn for the worst in late February when several Detroit players allegedly orchestrated a player protest, skipping a pregame shootaround. The organization has gone at great lengths to deny the allegations and move past the ugly occurrence.

The incident took place following the NBA’s trade deadline. According to various reports, the Pistons negotiated two separate deals involving veterans Rip Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince.

The Dallas Mavericks, interested in acquiring Prince, offered Detroit the expiring contract of injured forward Caron Butler along with their 2011 first-round draft pick. Joe Dumars, Pistons President, allegedly passed on the deal because he wasn’t interested in swapping expiring contracts – Prince is also a free agent this summer – or acquiring Dallas’ pick, which is expected to be in the late 20’s overall. Likewise, Dumars wants to keep his options open with Prince, looking to either keep him this offseason or sign-and-trade him in a more beneficial deal.

Reportedly, the Pistons agreed to send Hamilton to the Cleveland Cavaliers along with a lottery-protected 2012 first-round pick in exchange for a $12.6 million trade exception and a second-round pick. Hamilton allegedly made it clear he did not want to play for the league’s last-place team, so the Cavs discussed a contract buyout that would have paid Hamilton $18 million of the $25 million left on his contract and allowed him to sign with any other team.

Supposedly, Hamilton passed on the offer, perhaps hoping the Pistons will be purchased soon by a new owner, opening up the possibility of a higher buyout.

With frustration building throughout the Pistons’ locker room, several players apparently decided to take their frustrations out on John Kuester, Pistons Head Coach, by boycotting the shootaround. The players accused of participating in the protest include Hamilton, Prince, Tracy McGrady, Chris Wilcox, Rodney Stuckey and Austin Daye.

The organization has denied the allegations, vouching for each player. According to the Pistons, Prince and McGrady were excused due to illness, Wilcox overslept, and Stuckey and Daye showed up towards the end of shootaround due to a mix-up.

Hamilton, though he was unexcused, apologized to Kuester. The two had been at odds since Hamilton was benched early in the season in favor of McGrady. For the time being, it appears that Kuester has flip-flopped the two in his rotation, opting to play Hamilton and sit McGrady. Hamilton has been coming off the bench, with Stuckey moving back to point guard and Ben Gordon starting at shooting guard.

Additionally, Ben Wallace missed shootaround the day of the protest but has been excused from the team to deal with the death of his brother. As a result, Daye and Wilcox have been starting at the forward positions alongside rookie center Greg Monroe. In an effort to move forward from the so-called shootaround shun, the Pistons quietly issued fines for Hamilton, Wilcox, Stuckey and Daye.

“We’ve had a lot of interesting things happen to our team…” Kuester says. “…This is an emotional game, a passionate game, and my goal as a coach was always – and will always be – to get the maximum potential out of players.

“I always go back to Ben Wallace saying ‘Players aren’t going to like coaches, coaches aren’t going to like players, (and that’s) the way it is.’ I just want the maximum potential out of these guys.”

As of now, Daye has been the only player to open up about missing shootaround.

“For me, personally, I have no problem with Coach,” Daye says. “He’s been playing me, so why would I protest someone that’s playing me?”

Daye stands by the Pistons’ explanation of what occurred and acknowledges it was his fault.

“That’s why I got punished,” he says. “You make a mistake, and you learn from it…trust me, if I could’ve been on time, I would have…it’s a mistake I’ll never make again, and I apologize to Pistons fans and the Pistons family for being late.”

Dumars, who’s known for shying away from the media, issued a statement to voice his support for Kuester. The players understand why Dumars carefully picks and chooses when to speak out.

“If he feels that something needs to come up and something needs to happen, he’s going to do it because he’s the head honcho around here,” Daye says. “And we all respect him.”

Despite the negative that’s come out of this season, the Pistons have had some positive highlights as well. For example, the players who did not protest against the coach have benefited by staying on the floor and continuing to develop for the future.

“That’s what it’s all about, getting an opportunity and taking advantage of it,” Kuester says. “One of the things that happens in this league is that no one is entitled to anything. The big thing about respect and earning respect, you earn that every day. You don’t earn it on the past. You earn it on how you work every day and how you react to things every day, and that’s how you earn respect.”

“I’m here to play basketball,” Monroe adds. “That’s my job, and that’s what I’m going to do.

Though the odds are against them, the Pistons believe they have enough in them this season for a playoff push. However, they know it’s going to require a commitment from the entire team.

“We have a lot of maturity, and I think Greg Monroe has benefited a lot from Ben Wallace,” Kuester says. “I think Austin Daye has benefited a lot from Tayshaun Prince. I think Tracy McGrady has done some things to help our young players too.”

“Of course, those guys are a big part of our team,” adds Monroe. “They’ve been a big part of this franchise for a long time.”

Despite the constant backlash from his players and the rumors of his eventual dismissal, Kuester maintains confidence in his team.

“This isn’t about coaching,” Kuester explains. “This is about players, and this is about them wanting to win.

“Sometimes, you’re not going to execute the right way or do things the right way. But when you play with energy and play with intelligence…good things will happen.”

STATEMENT FROM PISTONS PRESIDENT OF BASKETBALL OPERATIONS JOE DUMARS

2011-02-28T11:30:00.000-08:00

In Play Magazine

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – The following statement was released this afternoon by President of Basketball Operations Joe Dumars.

“First of all, John Kuester has my full support as we try to make a push towards the postseason over these last 21 games. We’ve had a long and proud history of being a first class organization that handles its business the right way. We expect everyone that represents the Detroit Pistons to do so in a first class manner and that will continue as we move forward.”

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DETROIT PISTONS TO RETIRE DENNIS RODMAN’S #10 JERSEY

2011-02-11T09:55:00.000-08:00

In Play Magazine

Forward Helped The Pistons Win Back-to-Back NBA Championships

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – The Detroit Pistons announced today that the club will retire Dennis Rodman’s #10 jersey during a halftime ceremony on April 1, 2011 when the Pistons host the Chicago Bulls at The Palace of Auburn Hills.

“I’m pleased that we are honoring Dennis for his accomplishments as a player and his contributions to the success of the organization,” said Joe Dumars, President of Basketball Operations for the Pistons. “His jersey retirement is well deserved.”

Drafted 27th overall by the Pistons in the 1986 NBA Draft, Rodman was a key member of the Pistons ‘Bad Boys’ teams that led the franchise to back-to-back championships in 1989 and 1990. An elite defender and rebounder, he averaged 8.8 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 1.3 assists while shooting 54 percent from the field in 549 games as a Piston. Rodman led Detroit in rebounding four consecutive seasons (1989-1993) and was the league’s top rebounder from 1991-93 when he averaged 18.7 and 18.3 rebounds per game, respectively. He was a two-time NBA All-Star while playing for Detroit (1990, 1992) and was named to the All-NBA Third Team following the 1991-92 season. Rodman was named the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year in 1990 and 1991 and was also named to the NBA All-Defensive first team for five consecutive seasons (1989-93).

“Individual accomplishments have never been a big deal for me as a player, but to be honored for my contributions in this way by the Detroit Pistons organization is truly humbling,” Rodman said in a statement issued through his manager, Steven Simon of Prince Marketing Group. “This organization gave me a chance to blossom regardless of my size or what school I came from. My only regret is that the man that believed in me more than I did myself, Chuck Daly, is no longer with us. I’m sure he’ll be with us that evening in his own way.”

The 6-7, 210-pound forward, nicknamed “The Worm” during his playing days, ranks fourth among all-time franchise leaders in total rebounds (6,299) and still holds team records for most rebounds in a game [34, vs. Indiana (3/4/92)], most offensive rebounds in a game [18, vs. Indiana (3/4/92)], most defensive rebounds in a game [22, at Sacramento (3/14/92)] and most games with 25-plus rebounds (15). He also recorded 30 or more rebounds three times and holds the team record for highest field goal percentage in one season at 59.5 percent (1988-89).

Rodman was traded to the San Antonio Spurs on October 1, 1993 and also played with the Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks. He played a key role in the Bulls’ three consecutive championships from 1996-1998 and holds the NBA records for most consecutive seasons leading the league in rebounds [7, (1991-97)] and most seasons leading the league in defensive rebounds [3, (91-92, 93-94, 97-98)]. Rodman picked up two more NBA All-Defensive First Team honors after leaving Detroit (1995, 1996), a NBA Second-Team All-Defensive honor in 1994 and an All-NBA Third Team honor in 1995. Overall, he played in 911 career NBA games averaging 7.3 points, 13.1 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 31.7 minutes per game.

“We are excited to welcome Dennis Rodman back to The Palace and honor him with his jersey retirement,” said Alan Ostfield, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Pistons and Palace Sports and Entertainment. “We look forward to hosting an exciting evening for Dennis as well as our fans.”

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Monroe Establishing Himself As A Starter

2011-02-04T22:31:00.000-08:00

Monroe Establishing Himself As A Starter
By Steve St-Pierre

The Pistons are clearly going through a rebuilding process. The bad part of that is seeing the team move away from the veteran players who helped bring Detroit the 2004 NBA Championship. On the bright side, though, the team is seeing great success out of their younger players like rookie Greg Monroe.

After a slow start to the season, Monroe has worked his way into the Pistons’ starting lineup, shifting between power forward and center. He’s greatly improved both his hands and footwork. Not only has his team noticed, but the entire league has acknowledged his improvement, so much so that he has been named to the 2011 T-Mobile Rookie Challenge and Youth Jam at All-Star Weekend later this month in Los Angeles.

“He’s such a refreshing player to be around because he just wants to play basketball,” says John Kuester, Pistons Head Coach. “It’s pretty impressive to see him continually grow.”

Monroe’s been consistent at rebounding as well as moving without the ball, finding open paths to the rim and getting a variety of scoring opportunities.

“My teammates find me, and that’s basically it,” Monroe says. “I’m just trying to get myself in position to get easy baskets, and they’re making great passes that find me.”

To his credit, Monroe’s been able to adjust to extended minutes. With recent injuries to veteran Ben Wallace, Monroe’s had to shoulder the load in the post.

“I’ve got to come out and perform,” he says. “I’m not worried about my legs right now. It’s my first year, so I’m trying to produce.”

The rookie’s opened many eyes on the court, and his teammates acknowledge that he’s increasing his workload and improving day by day.

“I wouldn’t say he’s becoming one of the leaders,” says point guard Tracy McGrady. “He’s still a baby. The guy ain’t 21 yet. He’s still got a lot to learn in this league, but he’s progressing. He’s playing well, great energy, he’s learning the game and he’s going to continue to get better because he works.”

Monroe admits that having a teammate like Wallace has been extremely beneficial towards his development as an NBA player.

“It’s been great,” Monroe says of Big Ben. “He’s been out for a while, but it’s always good to have somebody that’s out here rebounding, great defender, somebody who can play off you, very unselfish. It’s always good to have a player like him on the floor.”

Unfortunately, the Pistons are beginning to transition themselves away from some of their veteran players. In fact, former starting shooting guard Rip Hamilton claims to have played his last game in a Detroit uniform. He had been rumored to be close to being traded, but the deal fell through. As a result, the team has opted to bench the disgruntled veteran in an effort to give extra playing time to younger players. The team has even moved him to the inactive list, meaning he will be in dress clothes during games.

Many players have voiced their frustrations throughout the season regarding not only Hamilton’s situation but even the constant shuffling of the rotation.

“That’s none of my business,” McGrady says. “I mean, really, I don’t get involved in that. But at the end of the day, we support Rip.”

“It’s tough, but it’s part of being a professional,” adds reserve guard Will Bynum. “We get paid a lot of money to play this game, so all I can do is stay ready…I’m 100 percent behind it.”

Kuester insists he’s just searching for the best combination of players throughout his entire roster.

“Anybody that wears a uniform in the NBA (has) to be ready to play…” Kuester says. “…We’ve talked about this throughout the season. Sometimes you’ve just got to have a gut where you’re gonna ride the people that are playing well.”

“We have so many weapons on this team,” adds forward Charlie Villanueva. “Sometimes, we’re going to need something from each and every guy.”

Though the team has essentially gone with a youth movement, the Pistons haven’t completely given up on all their veterans. Besides Wallace, they have depended greatly on the guidance of McGrady and longtime forward Tayshaun Prince. Prince has been Detroit’s best all-around player, while McGrady has become the team’s primary ball-handler and floor leader.

“He’s really done a nice job of keeping the pace of the game,” Kuester says of McGrady. “That’s one of the things I love about him…he’s always probing the court to see where there’s a mismatch.”

T-Mac’s conditioning continues to improve, as he said it would when he first signed with the Pistons this past summer.

“My legs are starting to feel normal,” he says. “I feel like I’m getting my bounce back, so it’s starting to show a little bit.”

“I think one of the things that’s evolved about him is, listening to him, how he talks to his teammates,” Kuester explains. “The other thing that’s very impressive is he was a superstar, and he has checked his ego. He really doesn’t care whether he scores. He wants to make sure that everybody’s involved.”

As the organization continues to steer itself into a new direction, the goal remains to compete for a postseason berth in a weak Eastern Conference. As up and down as the Pistons have played this year, they still have a chance to finish the season strong.

“Momentum can change like that,” Kuester says. “Momentum can change from play to play, to quarter to quarter, to a half, to a game and then all of a sudden things change.”

“For us to make a playoff push, we’ve got to step it up,” adds McGrady. “We’ve got to play a lot better on both ends of the court, and the effort’s definitely got to be there.”

DETROIT PISTONS HOST FOURTH ANNUAL PISTONS CARE TELETHON BENEFITING BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS IN MICHIGAN

2011-02-02T10:21:00.000-08:00

In Play Magazine

All Proceeds Help Pay for Memberships and Programming for Youth in Need

The Detroit Pistons announced today that the 2011 Pistons Care Telethon benefiting all Boys & Girls Clubs in Michigan will take place on Friday, March 18. The team is devoting the entire day leading up to the Pistons game against the New York Knicks, including their in-arena presentation and game broadcasts, to raise money for Boys & Girls Clubs. The telethon begins at 5 a.m. with live radio and television broadcasts at The Palace and runs throughout the day, culminating with the Pistons-Knicks game at 7:30 p.m., broadcast on Fox Sports Detroit and 97.1 The Ticket.

Boys & Girls Clubs will utilize all proceeds from this year’s telethon to funding memberships, programs and initiatives to help children enhance their lives in the areas of character and leadership; education and career development; the arts; sports, fitness and recreation; and health and life skills. Many Michigan children struggle with the effects of single-parent households and families dealing with economic struggles, substance abuse, violence and poverty. The team and the entire Palace Sports & Entertainment organization are asking for the support of the Pistons community.

“We are excited to announce the Boys & Girls Clubs of Michigan as the beneficiary of the 2011 Pistons Care Telethon,” said Karen Davidson, owner of the Pistons and Palace Sports & Entertainment. “Bill Davidson’s legacy of philanthropy lives on through Pistons Care and Pistons-Palace Foundation’s community outreach efforts.”

Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan reports that its members have a proven track record of excellence both scholastically and professionally with 90% of members graduating from high school and 95% of those members going on to higher education. Furthermore, Club alumni report earning an average household income that is 39% higher than the national average. The cost of an annual membership for a child is only $50, however the actual cost of delivering a year of service is $500 per child. Members can participate in many programs and activities with each receiving the individual attention they need when they visit their Club, which is often the third most frequented location in that child’s life besides their home and school. Members are given the opportunity to interact with professional staff that serve as much-needed role models and mentors and encourage them to set goals, build on their strengths and fulfill their potential.

“We have a unique opportunity as a professional sports organization to give back and make a consequential and lasting impact on people’s lives,” said Alan Ostfield, President & CEO of the Pistons and PS&E. “Boys & Girls Clubs provide a safe and developmental environment for kids when they need it most and The Palace family is dedicated to providing services for youth statewide during the 2011 calendar year."

Donations can be made immediately by visiting www.pistons.com and clicking the “Donate Now” button. Online donations will be accepted until March 18. Donors interested in participating on the day of the telethon will be provided a toll free number to call throughout the day. To learn about other fundraising programs that allow individuals, businesses, schools or churches to get involved, please call the Pistons community relations department at 248-377-0100.

“We would like thank the entire Pistons organization for its commitment and dedication in supporting Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan and Boys & Girls Clubs throughout the state of Michigan as this year’s beneficiary of the Pistons Care Telethon. Together, Boys & Girls Clubs across the state serve some 100,000 children annually, ages 6-18, 1st -12th grades,” said Len Krichko, President & CEO, Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan.

In 2008, the Pistons became the first professional sports team in Detroit and in the NBA to present an entire home game as a charitable fundraiser and since then has raised more than $1.3 million in pledges through the annual Pistons Care Telethon.

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Monroe Selected For Rookie Challenge

2011-02-02T02:42:00.000-08:00

Steve St-Pierre
Sports Writer
In Play! Magazine
sstpierre@inplaymagazine.com

The NBA has announced that Pistons rookie center Greg Monroe has been selected to play in the 2011 T-Mobile Rookie Challenge and Youth Jam at NBA All-Star 2011 in Los Angeles. The game will be played on Friday, Feb. 18 and televised live nationally on TNT at 9 p.m. ET.

The participants in the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam were selected by the NBA’s assistant coaches, with each team submitting one ballot. Monroe will represent the Pistons a year after Jonas Jerebko helped lead the rookies to their first win over the sophomores since 2002. Monroe, the seventh overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft, will likely come off the bench in favor of DeMarcus Cousins, the fifth overall pick this past summer.

Monroe continues to produce for the Pistons this season in a starting role. He appears set to remain in Detroit's starting five going forward.

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Rejuvenated McGrady Making a Difference

2011-01-15T11:45:00.000-08:00

Rejuvenated McGrady Making a Difference
By Steve St-Pierre

Tracy McGrady signed a one-year contract with the Pistons this past summer after no other NBA team would offer him a guaranteed deal. After a slow start, T-Mac is beginning to round into form, working up the rotation all the way to the starting five.

A former NBA superstar, McGrady has suffered the past few seasons from various knee, back and shoulder injuries. As a result, nobody wanted to take a chance at signing him for fear that he’d get hurt once again. The Pistons, desperate for some type of splash during the offseason, were the only ones to step up to the plate.

The Pistons continue to struggle, as they did a season ago. Though they were ravaged by injuries last year, they’ve remained relatively healthy this season. Therefore, injuries cannot be used as an excuse. Because the team has struggled, John Kuester, Pistons Coach, has had to change his rotation on numerous occasions.

One of the few positives this season has been the play of McGrady. He’s stepped up as a vocal leader, something the Pistons have not had since trading away Chauncey Billups in 2008. McGrady has also been Detroit’s best ball-handler, so much so that he’s been inserted as the starting point guard.

“He’s had a big impact,” forward Austin Daye says of McGrady. “He’s a knowledgable guy at that position. He’s a playmaker. He’s not just a star player, he’s a playmaker. He can pass, he can score. It’s a great thing for the team.”

“That’s just my game, just having the ball and making plays,” McGrady says. “It opens a lot of stuff up (offensively) once that happens. I told coach, ‘I see a lot of things that can be helpful to our team as far as making cuts (to the basket.)

“I’m always confident when I’m on the court. It doesn’t matter if I’m a starter or coming off the bench.”

Kuester’s probably more grateful than anybody to have the veteran swingman on his roster. He’s had difficulty finding a combination of players to stick with as a rotation. In terms of the backcourt, Kuester had been using Rodney Stuckey as the starting point guard but hadn’t settled on a shooting guard between Rip Hamilton and Ben Gordon.

It appears that Stuckey will now shift guard positions with T-Mac, allowing Gordon to continue coming off the bench. Hamilton, reportedly close to being traded by the Pistons, has been taken out of the rotation entirely.

“This is one of the things that’s crazy about our game,” Kuester says. “And the reason I say ‘crazy’ is sometimes you can’t wait for people’s motors to get going.”

It isn’t just the backcourt that Kuester’s been waiting on. While Tayshaun Prince has held his own at small forward, the Pistons’ post players have struggled to stay consistent. Ben Wallace has been the starting center all season, but he’s clearly past his prime and unable to handle playing in the middle. At power forward, Kuester’s rotated several players in and out of the starting lineup, including Daye, Charlie Villanueva, Jason Maxiell, Greg Monroe and Chris Wilcox.

It’s proven difficult for the players on Detroit’s roster to stay patient and wait for their minutes to come. Players have openly complained about their inconsistent minutes and seem hopeful that a trade involving Hamilton could open up more playing time at least in the backcourt.

“It’s tough because I’m a player, and I definitely want to play,” says reserve Will Bynum. “But I’ve been through it before. It’s (about) just staying positive and just working hard. Everyday I’m getting up the same amount of shots…I’ll be ready whenever the opportunity comes.”

“It seems like when we’re undermanned, guys are a little bit more comfortable,” adds Gordon. “They know they’re going to be playing. They have time to get a rhythm. We’ve got to figure out something that works, that can get everybody going. I think when we do that, we play well.”

Clearly, the Pistons are much more relaxed when they don’t have to worry about looking over their shoulders when they’re out on the floor.

“When we’re having fun, things can come easier for us…” says Villanueva. “…That’s the way we should be playing.”

With a healthy McGrady, the ball’s been moving more on offense. As long as he can handle staying on the floor, T-Mac will likely remain a starter the rest of the season.

“I’m gradually just getting better game by game,” McGrady says. “Confidence-wise, I’m just feeling more comfortable on the basketball court. The last thing to overcome is getting over the mental part when you’re getting over a significant injury.”

It remains to be seen who will emerge as the full-time starter at shooting guard. Stuckey’s a restricted free agent at the end of the season, so with Hamilton’s days in Detroit likely coming to an end Gordon appears to have the best chance of winding up back in the starting lineup between now and the end of the season.

Up front, Prince will remain at small forward. Because he’s also a free agent at the end of the year, there’s a very good chance he, too, could wind up being traded. The long-rumored deal that would send him to the L.A. Clippers for veteran center and Michigan-native Chris Kaman could finally come to fruition.

In the meantime, expect Wallace’s minutes to decrease as Detroit gives extended minutes to Monroe at center. Unfortunately, power forward will likely continue to be a juggling act all season. Injured veteran Jonas Jerebko hopes to return sometime in February, so it’s possible he could wind up starting either at power forward – as he did a season ago – or at small forward if Prince is dealt.

“It’s a long season still…” Kuester says. “…The bottom line is we’ve got to regroup and understand that we hope that (players) learn valuable lessons in these things. If you want to be successful, period, you’ve got to approach your work with a tremendous amount of heart.

“When we’re playing hard, we can compete with anybody.”

Pistons Alter Lineup Once Again

2011-01-12T14:15:00.001-08:00

Steve St-Pierre
Sports Writer
In Play! Magazine
sstpierre@inplaymagazine.com

The Pistons have named a new starting lineup of Rodney Stuckey, Tracy McGrady, Tayshaun Prince, Chris Wilcox and rookie Greg Monroe, who is starting in place of injured center Ben Wallace.

McGrady will actually handle point guard duties on offense, with Stuckey sliding to shooting guard. Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva, who have both struggled in recent games, move back to the bench. Rip Hamilton will back up Prince at small forward for the time being but hopes to be traded shortly. Rumors surfaced Sunday of a trade that would send Hamilton to the New Jersey Nets, but nothing appears to be imminent.

It's anybody's guess who will remain in the lineup once Wallace returns. In all likelihood, Monroe will stay in the starting five after posting three straight double-doubles and showing the promise the Pistons envisioned when they drafted him this past summer.

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Villanueva Rolling In Starting Lineup

2010-12-29T07:18:00.000-08:00

Steve St-Pierre
Sports Writer
In Play! Magazine
sstpierre@inplaymagazine.com

Pistons veteran Charlie Villanueva worked hard this summer to bounce back from a miserable, injury-plagued season with hopes of being reinserted into the team's starting lineup. He's done just that, playing his best basketball since signing with Detroit in the summer of 2009 and has quietly been the Pistons' most consistent player this season.

Despite only being named the starting power forward just four games ago, Villanueva has been productive all season, averaging 14 points and over five rebounds per game. He's been a major scoring threat both inside and out, and his defense has improved, averaging close to a block a night.

Another factor that could have led to additional motivation for Villanueva came early in the season in a Nov. 2 game against Boston. Villanueva accused Celtics forward Kevin Garnett of calling him a "cancer patient." It created headlines across the country, and tonight the two will square off again at The Palace of Auburn Hills.

The Pistons are still without injured veteran Jonas Jerebko, who started over Villanueva last season at power forward. It's possible Jerebko, who doesn't plan on returning until mid-February at the earliest, will compete for the spot this season. As long as Villanueva continues to produce on a nightly basis, it's going to be difficult for John Kuester, Pistons Head Coach, to keep him off the floor.

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Hamilton Benched For Gordon

2010-12-21T09:19:00.000-08:00

Steve St-Pierre
Sports Writer
In Play! Magazine
sstpierre@inplaymagazine.com

In yet another shakeup in their rotation, the Pistons intend on moving forward with Ben Gordon as their starting shooting guard. The team hopes former starter Rip Hamilton will cooperate in a reserve role, but according to reports, he does not accept the change.

It's likely the Pistons will look to trade Hamilton. The team remains desperate for a true center, but it could prove challenging to complete a deal as the franchise is still up for sale.

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Monroe Starting Over Maxiell

2010-12-16T09:44:00.000-08:00

Steve St-Pierre
Sports Writer
In Play! Magazine
sstpierre@inplaymagazine.com

The Pistons are now using rookie Greg Monroe as their starting power forward. He takes over for veteran Jason Maxiell, who could be completely out of the rotation. Little-used reserve Chris Wilcox has played well of late and could continue to see additional minutes off Detroit's bench.

John Kuester, Pistons Head Coach, continues to scramble trying to establish a set rotation. Injured veteran Jonas Jerebko hopes to return at some point this season, perhaps as early as February. It's likely Kuester would look to reinsert Jerebko into the starting lineup at power forward.

Of all the Pistons capable of manning the power forward spot, veteran Charlie Villanueva has played the most minutes and is quietly having an impressive second season in the Motor City. Yet, Kuester will continue to keep him in a reserve role to help balance out scoring on the second unit.

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MSU Squeaks By OU, 77-76

2010-12-12T06:26:00.000-08:00

Steve St-Pierre
Sports Writer
In Play! Magazine
sstpierre@inplaymagazine.com

For the first time all year, fans at the Palace of Auburn Hills got a chance to witness a great basketball game. 17,000 fans packed the seats to witness the No. 7 Michigan State Spartans take on host Oakland University Golden Grizzlies.

The contest featured all of the elements one could ask for in an ideal collegiate setting. It consisted of players with NBA-caliber talent, two extremely passionate fanbases and two of the most knowledgeable, experienced coaches in all of college basketball.

The underdog Golden Grizzlies hung with the Spartans the entire game, but MSU prevailed 77-76. Oakland, a D-1 program, is trying to prove itself that it can compete against the Top 25 teams in the country.

"We're that close," says Greg Kampe, OU Head Coach. "It's really disappointing that we couldn't get this win.

"I told (my players) 'Everybody's gonna pat you on the back...that's crap. They have one more point than we do. We came to win.'"

Despite the tough loss, OU remains confident it can compete with any team in the country.

"The difference between this team this year and the team last year is...we're better," Kampe says. "We're more mature. We've been there. We've played these games. We're not intimidated. The (Michigan State logo) didn't intimidate us at all."

The Spartans, consistently amongst the top programs in the country, weren't surprised by how difficult it was to escape the Palace with a win.

"I thought we played awfully well," says Tom Izzo, MSU Head Coach. "I really did. I think you've got to give a lot of credit to Oakland. We did everything we wanted to do...we did a lot of good things today, and all that being said, Oakland played a hell of a game."

The game featured a battle between two players expected to be selected in the 2011 NBA Draft this summer. MSU guard Kalin Lucas is considered amongst the top players in the Big Ten, while OU center Keith Benson has shown he can compete against the best big men in the nation. Both players could be available to the Pistons as a potential second-round pick.

Meanwhile, both teams are bracing themselves for a competitive season with a chance at making some noise come March.

"If you ask me, Oakland is gonna be an NCAA team," Izzo says. "I think it's the best team (Kampe's) had...Greg Kampe's a very good coach. He has a unique way about him. I think he's getting a little more animated...but I like the way he's handling this team."

"This is it," Kampe says. "We're ready. This is the time."

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Maxiell Starting At Power Forward

2010-11-15T11:05:00.001-08:00

Steve St-Pierre
Sports Writer
In Play! Magazine
sstpierre@inplaymagazine.com

As they continue to search for the best fit at the starting power forward spot, the Pistons are now using Jason Maxiell at the position. Austin Daye, a natural small forward, had been starting but is much better suited for a reserve spot on the perimeter.

Injured forward Jonas Jerebko, who started at power forward last year in Detroit, is expected to be immediately reinserted into the starting five once he returns. He's hoping to return sometime after the holidays.

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Stuckey, Kuester Moving Forward

2010-11-09T18:33:00.001-08:00

Steve St-Pierre
Sports Writer
In Play! Magazine
sstpierre@inplaymagazine.com

Last week, Pistons point guard Rodney Stuckey was bebcged for 1 1/2 games after he ignored John Kuester, Pistons Head Coach, on multiple occasions.

Since then, Stuckey has been reinserted into the team's starting backcourt. Also returning to the starting lineup is Rip Hamilton, who had missed time due to injury. Ben Gordon, Hamilton's backup, had been playing well in his place but has once again returned to a reserve role.

Kuester's still working towards establishing a set rotation amongst his guards, which also includes backup point guard Will Bynum, who is also returning from injury.

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Hamstring Injury Forces Bynum To Sit

2010-10-30T22:35:00.000-07:00

Steve St-Pierre
Sports Writer
In Play! Magazine
sstpierre@inplaymagazine.com

Pistons reserve guard Will Bynum is struggling with a hamstring injury and is expected to miss a week or so. The training staff is hopeful it won't be a long-term issue, and in the meantime Detroit has been able to use Ben Gordon and Tracy McGrady at backup point guard behind starter Rodney Stuckey.

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Daye To Start At Power Forward

2010-10-25T15:58:00.000-07:00

Steve St-Pierre
Sports Writer
In Play! Magazine
sstpierre@inplaymagazine.com

The Pistons have named Austin Daye their starting power forward to begin the 2010-11 NBA season. Daye, entering his second season, beat out veteran Charlie Villanueva after the position became open when fellow NBA sophomore Jonas Jerebko tore his Achilles tendon.

Extremely thin for the power forward spot, Daye will be tested Wednesday at New Jersey when the Pistons face a frontcourt-heavy Nets team. By no means is this lineup set in stone, as Detroit continues to work several other players into its rotation, including rookie big man Greg Monroe and veteran swingman Tracy McGrady, who missed all but eight minutes of preseason.

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Pistons Waive Ike Diogu and Vernon Hamilton

2010-10-20T09:50:00.000-07:00

PISTONS REQUEST WAIVERS ON GUARD VERNON HAMILTON AND FORWARD IKE DIOGU

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – Detroit Pistons President of Basketball Operations Joe Dumars announced today that the club has requested waivers on guard Vernon Hamilton and forward Ike Diogu.

Hamilton appeared in five games, averaging 0.6 assists and 0.8 rebounds in 3.6 minutes per game. Diogu appeared in three games, averaging 2.3 points and 1.7 rebounds in 5.3 minutes per game.

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Pistons Missing Several Players

2010-10-08T20:58:00.001-07:00

Steve St-Pierre
Sports Writer
In Play! Magazine
sstpierre@inplaymagazine.com

For a second season in a row, it appears the Pistons are going to have to make adjustments on the fly in terms of their rotation. The team is already missing injured swingmen Jonas Jerebko and Terrico White, and they played last night without the services of veterans Rip Hamilton and Tracy McGrady.

McGrady, still recovering from multiple injuries from the past two seasons, was given the night off by John Kuester, Pistons Head Coach. Hamilton, meanwhile, returned home for the birth of his second child.

In addition, veteran big man Chris Wilcox remains day-to-day with a sore hamstring. It's unfortunate timing as Detroit is anxious to see Wilcox this preseason, particularly now that Jerebko is out for essentially the season. It's possible he could challenge veteran Charlie Villanueva for the starting power forward spot.

Kuester says he'll continue to experiment with various lineups as the Pistons head into the regular season at the end of the month.

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PISTONS FORWARD JONAS JEREBKO GONE 5-6 MONTHS

2010-10-06T13:35:00.000-07:00

In Play Magazine

PISTONS INJURY UPDATE ON JONAS JEREBKO AND TERRICO WHITE

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – The Detroit Pistons announced today injury updates on forward Jonas Jerebko and guard Terrico White.

Pistons medical staff confirmed today through an MRI that Jerebko suffered a partially ruptured Achilles tendon on his right leg during the first quarter in last night’s game at Miami. He is scheduled to have surgery on Friday, October 8 and is expected to miss the next five-to-six months.

Pistons medical staff also confirmed that White broke the fifth metatarsal in his right foot during the fourth quarter of last night’s game at Miami. He is scheduled to have surgery on Friday, October 8 and a timeline for his return will be determined following that procedure.

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Palace Sports and Entertainment Mum On Sale of Pistons

2010-10-05T10:54:00.000-07:00

In Play Magazine

In Play! Magazine contacted Palace Sports and Entertainment earlier today and obtained the following response directly from Jeff Corey, Spokesman for PSE.

"The Davidson family and its constituents, working together with Palace Sports & Entertainment ("PSE") management and Citi Private Ba...nk, have instituted a robust process that is well under way. We are extremely pleased at the level of serious interest from multiple potential buyers in purchasing the Pistons and PSE. We will proceed with the best interests of the Davidson family, the Pistons, and PSE. At this time, we plan no further comment."

In Play! will provide updates as they become available.

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Pistons Add Free Agent Hamilton To Camp

2010-09-28T15:00:00.000-07:00

Steve St-Pierre
Sports Writer
In Play! Magazine
sstpierre@inplaymagazine.com

The Pistons have signed another player to their training camp roster in free agent point guard Vernon Hamilton. Detroit's roster now stands at 17 but will have to be cut to 15 by the start of the regular season.

Hamilton played in Switzerland last season after spending time with the Cleveland Cavaliers as well as the NBA Development League.

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Pistons Invite Diogu To Camp

2010-09-27T20:40:00.000-07:00

Steve St-Pierre
Sports Writer
In Play! Magazine
sstpierre@inplaymagazine.com

Instead of free agent center Earl Barron, the Pistons have opted to invite fellow available big man Ike Diogu to training camp.

Diogu, a 6'9" power forward who missed all of last season after signing with the New Orleans Hornets, was drafted No. 9 overall by the Golden State Warriors in 2005. He's also spent time with the Indiana Pacers, Portland Trail Blazers and Sacramento Kings.

Already maxed out at 15 players on their roster, the Pistons aren't likely to keep Diogu unless they make a trade that opens a spot on the team.

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DETROIT PISTONS FREE OPEN PRACTICE SET FOR SATURDAY, OCTOBER 2

2010-09-27T17:54:00.001-07:00

In Play Magazine

Coca-Cola To Provide Refreshments And Give Away Free Preseason Tickets

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – The Detroit Pistons will host a free open practice inside The Palace of Auburn Hills on Saturday, October 2 from 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Admission and parking is free for all fans and doors will open at 10:30 a.m.

“The open practice is a great event where our fans can come out and get a preview of this year’s team,” said Joe Dumars, Pistons President of Basketball Operations. “Having the practice free to the public is a great way to kick-off training camp and get the community excited about the upcoming season.”

Pistons players will practice on the court beginning at 11:30 a.m. Coca-Cola has teamed with the Pistons and will provide a free soft drink and hot dog as well as free preseason tickets. In addition, the event will feature a number of exciting opportunities for those in attendance. Pistons coaches will be on the microphone at the beginning of the practice to provide interaction with the fans while the 2010-11 Pistons Dance Team “Automotion” and Pistons mascot Hooper will perform along with the Pistons Flight Crew. Tours of the Pistons’ locker room will be available at the conclusion of the event.

“The Coca-Cola system, through its partnership with the Detroit Pistons and Domino’s Pizza, is offering Detroit fans free refreshments at the Pistons Open Practice and the opportunity to receive free tickets to a future preseason game,” said Mike Alter, Marketing Development Manager for Coca-Cola. “Coca-Cola has always been about small moments of refreshment – something that we all could use – so we’re inviting people to enjoy an ice-cold Coca-Cola, a hot dog and a future preseason game, all free of charge. It’s a little break that everyone can enjoy, and it’s on us.”

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Pistons Could Bring Barron To Camp

2010-09-27T02:12:00.000-07:00

Steve St-Pierre
Sports Writer
In Play! Magazine
sstpierre@inplaymagazine.com

The Pistons have reportedly contacted free agent center Earl Barron. Detroit, already at the 15-player roster limit, would likely sign Barron to a non-guaranteed deal.

Surprisingly, Barron has yet to secure a guaranteed contract. He averaged 11.7 points and 11.0 rebounds per game in seven games last season with the New York Knicks.

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No Extras Expected For Training Camp

2010-09-13T20:22:00.000-07:00

Steve St-Pierre
Sports Writer
In Play! Magazine
sstpierre@inplaymagazine.com

The Pistons are reportedly expected to invite only the 15 players currently under contract to training camp next month. The team has no room on its roster, meaning Detroit would have to waive a player with guaranteed money just for a free agent to have any chance at making the roster.

Barring any trades, the Pistons will likely bring back the same starting lineup from last season: Rip Hamilton and Rodney Stuckey in the backcourt with Tayshaun Prince, Ben Wallace and Jonas Jerebko up front. Veteran reserve Charlie Villanueva has reportedly been working out all summer in Auburn Hills hoping to challenge Jerebko for the starting spot at power forward.

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PISTONS SIGN SECOND ROUND DRAFT SELECTION TERRICO WHITE

2010-08-13T10:34:00.000-07:00

In Play Magazine

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – Detroit Pistons President of Basketball Operations Joe Dumars announced today that the club has signed its second round draft selection Terrico White to a contract. Per team policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed.

White was drafted 36th overall in the second round of the 2010 NBA Draft. A 6-foot-5 guard from University of Mississippi, he ranked second on the team in scoring with 15.1 points and averaged 4.6 rebounds a game last season. He scored in double figures in 26 of 35 games and scored 20-plus points six times. White scored a career-high-tying 29 points (11-18 FG) against Jacksonville State (12/29/09) and scored 27 points (11-20 FG) vs. Troy (3/17/10) in the NIT Tournament.

A native of Memphis, TN, White earned SEC Freshman of the Year honors in 2009 when he averaged 13.7 points and 3.4 rebounds per game. He averaged 18.4 points in SEC play and scored 20-plus points nine times, including a career-high 29 points on 9-of-16 shooting against Arkansas (3/4/09). White was a member of the gold-medal winning United States under 19 National Team in the FIBA World Championship in the summer of 2009.

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2010-11 DETROIT PISTONS REGULAR-SEASON SCHEDULE

2010-08-10T11:50:00.000-07:00

In Play Magazine

2010-11 DETROIT PISTONS REGULAR-SEASON SCHEDULE

(All Times Are Eastern Standard Time)

Home Games Are In Bold

Day Date Opponent Time

Wed. Oct. 27 at New Jersey 7:00 p.m.
Fri. Oct. 29 Oklahoma City 8:00 p.m.
Sat. Oct. 30 at Chicago 8:00 p.m.

Tue. Nov. 2 Boston 7:30 p.m.
Wed. Nov. 3 at Atlanta 7:00 p.m.
Fri. Nov. 5 Charlotte 7:30 p.m.
Sun. Nov. 7 Golden State 6:00 p.m.
Tue. Nov. 9 at Portland 10:00 p.m.
Fri. Nov. 12 at L.A. Clippers 10:30 p.m.
Sun. Nov. 14 at Sacramento 6:00 p.m.
Mon. Nov. 15 at Golden State 10:30 p.m.
Wed. Nov. 17 L.A. Lakers 7:30 p.m.
Sun. Nov. 21 Washington 6:00 p.m.
Tue. Nov. 23 at Dallas 8:30 p.m.
Wed. Nov. 24 at Memphis 8:00 p.m.
Fri. Nov. 26 Milwaukee 7:30 p.m.
Sun. Nov. 28 New York 1:30 p.m.
Tue. Nov. 30 at Orlando 7:00 p.m.

Wed. Dec. 1 at Miami 7:30 p.m.
Fri. Dec. 3 Orlando 7:30 p.m.
Sun. Dec. 5 Cleveland 6:00 p.m.
Tue. Dec. 7 at Houston 8:30 p.m.
Wed. Dec. 8 at New Orleans 8:00 p.m.
Fri. Dec. 10 at Minnesota 8:00 p.m.
Sat. Dec. 11 Toronto 7:30 p.m.
Tue. Dec. 14 Atlanta 7:30 p.m.
Fri. Dec. 17 L.A. Clippers 7:30 p.m.
Sun. Dec. 19 New Orleans 6:00 p.m.
Wed. Dec. 22 at Toronto 7:00 p.m.
Sun. Dec. 26 Chicago 6:00 p.m.
Mon. Dec. 27 at Charlotte 7:00 p.m. NBA TV
Wed. Dec. 29 Boston 7:30 p.m.
Fri. Dec. 31 at Phoenix 9:00 p.m.

Mon. Jan. 3 at Utah 9:00 p.m.
Tue. Jan. 4 at L.A. Lakers 10:30 p.m.
Sat. Jan. 8 Philadelphia 7:30 p.m.
Mon. Jan. 10 at Chicago 8:00 p.m.
Wed. Jan. 12 Memphis 7:30 p.m.
Fri. Jan. 14 at Toronto 7:00 p.m.
Sat. Jan. 15 Sacramento 7:30 p.m.
Mon. Jan. 17 Dallas 3:30 p.m.
Wed. Jan. 19 at Boston 7:30 p.m.
Fri. Jan. 21 at New Jersey 7:00 p.m.
Sat. Jan. 22 Phoenix 7:30 p.m.
Mon. Jan. 24 at Orlando 7:00 p.m.
Wed. Jan. 26 Denver 7:30 p.m.
Fri. Jan. 28 at Miami 7:30 p.m.
Sun. Jan. 30 at New York 7:30 p.m.

Wed. Feb. 2 Charlotte 7:30 p.m.
Fri. Feb. 4 New Jersey 7:30 p.m.
Sat. Feb. 5 at Milwaukee 8:30 p.m.
Tue. Feb. 8 San Antonio 7:30 p.m.
Wed. Feb. 9 at Cleveland 7:00 p.m.
Fri. Feb. 11 Miami 7:30 p.m.
Sun. Feb. 13 Portland 6:00 p.m.
Mon. Feb. 14 Atlanta 7:30 p.m.
Wed. Feb. 16 Indiana 7:30 p.m.
Tue. Feb. 22 Houston 7:30 p.m.
Wed. Feb. 23 at Indiana 7:00 p.m.
Fri. Feb. 25 at Philadelphia 7:00 p.m.
Sat. Feb. 26 Utah 7:30 p.m.

Tue. Mar. 1 at Milwaukee 8:00 p.m.
Wed. Mar. 2 Minnesota 7:30 p.m.
Sun. Mar. 6 Washington 6:00 p.m.
Wed. Mar. 9 at San Antonio 8:30 p.m.
Fri. Mar. 11 at Oklahoma City 8:00 p.m.
Sat. Mar. 12 at Denver 9:00 p.m.
Wed. Mar. 16 Toronto 7:30 p.m.
Fri. Mar. 18 New York 7:30 p.m.
Sun. Mar. 20 at Atlanta 2:00 p.m.
Wed. Mar. 23 Miami 7:30 p.m.
Fri. Mar. 25 at Cleveland 7:30 p.m.
Sat. Mar. 26 Indiana 7:30 p.m.
Wed. Mar. 30 at Indiana 7:00 p.m. ESPN

Fri. Apr. 1 Chicago 7:30 p.m.
Sun. Apr. 3 at Boston 6:00 p.m.
Tue. Apr. 5 at Washington 7:00 p.m.
Wed. Apr. 6 New Jersey 7:30 p.m.
Fri. Apr. 8 Milwaukee 7:30 p.m.
Sun. Apr. 10 at Charlotte 6:00 p.m.
Mon. Apr. 11 Cleveland 7:30 p.m.
Wed. Apr. 13 at Philadelphia 8:00 p.m.

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Pistons Agree To Terms With McGrady

2010-08-10T09:16:00.000-07:00

Steve St-Pierre
Sports Writer
In Play! Magazine
sstpierre@inplaymagazine.com

Free agent swingman Tracy McGrady has agreed to sign with the Pistons. As expected, his contract is a one-year deal worth the NBA league minimum.

McGrady, once one of the league's top scorers, has spent the past few years recovering from various injuries. He's expected to play a reserve role in Detroit, though the team is likely to continue working on potential trades involving either Rip Hamilton and/or Tayshaun Prince to create more minutes for McGrady and the Pistons' younger players at shooting guard and small forward.

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Gordon Skipping Nationals; Pistons Contemplating T-Mac

2010-08-07T21:40:00.000-07:00

Steve St-Pierre
Sports Writer
In Play! Magazine
sstpierre@inplaymagazine.com

The Pistons' Ben Gordon has decided to continue rehabbing his left ankle and will not be playing for Great Britain's national team this summer. Instead, he hopes to finish recovering from surgery in late April to remove bone spurs and be completely healthy by October for training camp.

Just in case Gordon isn't ready for preseason play, the Pistons might be working on a backup plan. According to reports, the team is considering offering a one-year, minimum-salary contract to former superstar swingman Tracy McGrady. T-Mac, who finished last season with the New York Knicks, hasn't had many teams showing interest in his services.

At the moment, it would appear McGrady would have difficulty even finding consistent minutes in a reserve role, though it's still possible Detroit could opt to trade either Rip Hamilton or Tayshaun Prince for another center to open up additional playing time for McGrady.

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PISTONS ANNOUNCE 2010 PRESEASON SCHEDULE

2010-08-05T11:34:00.000-07:00

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First Home Preseason Game Scheduled For October 8 At The Palace

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – The Detroit Pistons announced today that the club will open their eight-game 2010 preseason schedule at the Miami HEAT on Tuesday, October 5 (7:30 p.m.).

Three of the team’s eight games will be played at The Palace, featuring contests against the Milwaukee Bucks (October 8), Atlanta Hawks (October 11) and Memphis Grizzlies (October 22). Tickets for all pre-season home games at The Palace will go on sale Monday, August 16 beginning at 10:00 a.m. and will be available at The Palace Box Office (248-377-0100), online at www.pistons.com and at all TicketMaster outlets.

“There is always a sense of excitement to start a new season and we look forward to this year’s slate of preseason contests,” said Dan Hauser, Executive Vice President with Palace Sports and Entertainment and the Pistons. “Playing in the Toledo market for the first time since 1989 and once again visiting Grand Rapids for the Meijer Basketball Classic gives fans in and around our area the opportunity to experience Detroit Basketball first hand.”

The Pistons will make their eighth consecutive trip to Grand Rapids to play in The Meijer Basketball Classic at Van Andel Arena on Wednesday, October 13 against the Dallas Mavericks (7:00 p.m.).

This year the Pistons will host the Washington Wizards in a second off-site home preseason contest at the Huntington Center in Toledo, OH on Tuesday, October 19 (7:00 p.m.). The game will feature two of the top picks in the 2010 NBA Draft with Washington’s John Wall (selected No. 1 overall) and Detroit’s Greg Monroe (selected No. 7 overall) expected to participate. It also marks the first time in 21 years that the Pistons have hosted a preseason game in Toledo.

“We are excited to host NBA basketball at the Huntington Center,” said Steve Miller, General Manager of the Huntington Center. “It’s been a long time since the NBA has been in Toledo, but we hope all basketball fans will come and welcome the Detroit Pistons back in Toledo on October 19. We are proud to partner with the Detroit Pistons and hope to grow our relationship in the future.”

Television and radio broadcast schedules for all preseason games will be announced at a later date. Following is the Pistons 2010 preseason schedule (all times are Eastern Standard Time):

PISTONS 2010 PRE-SEASON SCHEDULE
DATE OPPONENT LOCATION TIME
October 5 at Miami American Airlines Arena 7:30 p.m.
October 8 Milwaukee The Palace of Auburn Hills 7:30 p.m.
October 11 Atlanta The Palace of Auburn Hills 7:30 p.m.
October 13 Dallas Van Andel Arena, Grand Rapids, MI 7:00 p.m.
October 15 at Minnesota Carrier Dome, Syracuse, NY 7:30 p.m.
October 16 at Charlotte Colonial Life Arena, Columbia, SC 6:30 p.m.
October 19 Washington Huntington Center, Toledo, OH 7:00 p.m.
October 22 Memphis The Palace of Auburn Hills 7:30 p.m.

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PISTONS RE-SIGN CENTER BEN WALLACE

2010-08-04T07:38:00.001-07:00

In Play Magazine

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – Detroit Pistons President of Basketball Operations Joe Dumars announced today that the club has re-signed center Ben Wallace. Per team policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed.

Wallace appeared in 69 games (67 starts) last season averaging 5.5 points, a team-high 8.7 rebounds, 1.3 steals and a team-leading 1.2 blocks in 28.6 minutes per game. The 14-year NBA veteran became the 17th player in NBA history to record 2,000 career blocks [at New Jersey (2/2/10)]. At 6-foot-9, he is the shortest player in league history to reach the 2,000-block plateau. Wallace also recorded his 1,200th career steal [at Phoenix (11/22/09)] to become one of only four players (Hakeem Olajuwon, Robert Parish, David Robinson) in NBA history to record 2,000 career blocks and 1,200 career steals.

Wallace, 35, has NBA career averages of 6.2 points, 10.1 rebounds, 2.1 blocks and 30.7 minutes in 972 games (852 starts) with Washington, Orlando, Detroit, Chicago and Cleveland. During his first stint in Detroit (2000 to 2006) he was named NBA Defensive Player of the Year and an NBA All-Star four times. Wallace was an All-NBA Second Team selection three times (2003, 2004, 2006), All-NBA Third Team selection twice (2002 and 2005) and an NBA All-Defensive First Team selection five times (2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006). The Pistons have made the playoffs in five of the seven years Wallace has played in Detroit, winning Eastern Conference Championships in 2004 and 2005 and the NBA Championship in 2004. Wallace is the franchise’s all-time leader in regular-season and playoff blocks (1,381 and 215, respectively) and ranks first among Pistons’ all-time playoff leaders in rebounds (1,237). He holds franchise single-game records for blocks in a game (10 – twice), defensive rebounds in a quarter (10) and blocks in a quarter (6). During the 2006-07 season, he became just the fifth player in NBA history to record 100 blocks and 100 steals for seven consecutive seasons joining Hakeem Olajuwon (12 times), Julius Erving (seven times), Sam Lacey (seven times) and David Robinson (seven times). Wallace ranks fourth among active players in career blocks with 2,032 and led the NBA in blocks during the 2001-02 season (3.48 bpg).

Originally acquired by the Pistons along with Chucky Atkins in exchange for Grant Hill as part of a sign-and-trade deal with Orlando (8/3/00), Wallace signed with Chicago as a free agent on July 13, 2006. He was traded by Chicago to Cleveland as part of a three-team trade on February 21, 2008.

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Pistons To Re-Sign Bynum

2010-07-28T14:17:00.000-07:00

Steve St-Pierre
Sports Writer
In Play! Magazine
sstpierre@inplaymagazine.com

The Pistons have agreed to terms with restricted free agent guard Will Bynum, who will sign a three-year contract reportedly worth $10.5 million.

Bynum is expected to continue coming off the bench to spell starting point guard Rodney Stuckey. The Pistons also have rookie Terrico White at that position but could opt to either re-sign free agent Chucky Atkins or another veteran.

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GREG MONROE UNDERGOES SUCCESSFUL SURGICAL PROCEDURE

2010-07-22T08:19:00.001-07:00

In Play Magazine

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – The Detroit Pistons announced today that Greg Monroe underwent a successful out-patient surgical procedure on his right foot performed by Dr. Arthur Manoli. The procedure was performed at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Pontiac, MI.

Rehabilitation will begin immediately and he is expected to resume full basketball activities in three to four weeks.

The 6-foot-11 forward/center appeared in five games for the Pistons during the Vegas Summer League and averaged 14.6 points, 8.0 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.8 steals in 30.3 minutes per game. The Georgetown product was drafted by Detroit with the seventh pick in the 2010 NBA Draft.

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Pistons Agree To Terms With Wallace

2010-07-11T15:55:00.000-07:00

Steve St-Pierre
Sports Writer
In Play! Magazine
sstpierre@inplaymagazine.com

The Pistons have agreed to re-sign free agent Ben Wallace to a two-year deal worth approx. $4 million.

Wallace plans to eventually retire in Detroit. He's currently penciled in as the team's starting center, though he could move to the bench in favor of rookie Greg Monroe. It's also likely the Pistons will look to trade for another veteran center during this offseason.

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STATEMENT FROM PISTONS PRESIDENT OF BASKETBALL OPERATIONS JOE DUMARS

2010-07-05T17:57:00.000-07:00

In Play Magazine

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – The following statement was released this evening by President of Basketball Operations Joe Dumars.

“In response to today’s media reports regarding the New Jersey Nets, I can say that I do not have any interest in a basketball operations position with the Nets. My priority is to continue leading the Pistons’ basketball operations efforts and putting together a team that is ready to compete and get back on track next season.”

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PISTONS ANNOUNCE SUMMER LEAGUE ROSTER

2010-06-30T07:57:00.000-07:00

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – The Detroit Pistons announced today their roster for the NBA Summer League presented by EA Sports, Gatorade and T-Mobile in Las Vegas, NV. Detroit will be spearheaded by second-year players Jonas Jerebko, Austin Daye and DaJuan Summers along with 2010 draft picks Greg Monroe (seventh overall) and Terrico White (36th overall). The Pistons will play five games versus L.A. Lakers, Golden State, Sacramento, Miami and New York from July 9 through July 16. All games will be played at Cox Pavilion or the Thomas & Mack Center located on the campus of UNLV.

Following is the Pistons Summer League Roster:
NO PLAYER POS HT WT COLLEGE/COUNTRY D.O.B YEARS PRO NBDL EXP

26 Patrick Christopher G 6-5 220 California 6/3/88 R None

5 Austin Daye F 6-11 190 Gonzaga 6/5/88 1 None

24 Jordan Eglseder C 7-0 280 Northern Iowa 7/27/88 R None

17 Marquez Haynes G 6-3 185 UT Arlington 12/19/86 R None

33 Jonas Jerebko F 6-10 231 Kinna, Sweden 3/2/87 1 None

42 Mac Koshwal F/C 6-10 255 DePaul 10/19/87 R None

18 Elijah Millsap G/F 6-6 215 UAB 8/12/87 R None

10 Greg Monroe F/C 6-11 253 Georgetown 6/4/90 R None

25 Jared Reiner C 6-11 255 Iowa 4/8/82 2 2

8 A.J. Slaughter G 6-3 180 Western Kentucky 8/3/87 R None

35 DaJuan Summers F 6-8 240 Georgetown 1/24/88 1 None

14 Edgar Sosa G 6-1 175 Louisville 1/15/88 R None

23 Terrico White G 6-5 213 Mississippi 3/7/90 R None

COACHES:
Pat Sullivan, North Carolina
Bill Pope, Kansas
Steve Hetzel, Michigan

ATHLETIC TRAINER:
Mike Abdenour, Wayne State

ASSISTANT STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING COACH:
Dave Boyer, Wayne State

Following is the 2010 Pistons’ summer league schedule (Times are PST):
2010 PISTONS SUMMER LEAGUE SCHEDULE
DATE TIME OPPONENT LOCATION

7/9 5:00 PM L.A. LAKERS COX Pavilion
7/10 5:00 PM GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS COX Pavilion
7/12 3:00 PM SACRAMENTO KINGS COX Pavilion
7/14 7:30 PM MIAMI HEAT Thomas & Mack Center
7/16 1:00 PM NEW YORK KNICKS COX Pavilion

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PISTONS NBA SUMMER LEAGUE BROADCAST SCHEDULE ANNOUNCED

2010-06-29T13:58:00.000-07:00

Four Of The Five Pistons Summer League Games To Be Broadcast Live On NBA TV

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – The National Basketball Association announced today the Pistons’ broadcast schedule for the NBA Summer League which is held in Las Vegas, NV. The 23-team league consists of 22 NBA teams, 11 which participated in the 2010 NBA Playoffs, and one team compiled with NBA D-League stars. Games will be played from July 9-18 on the campus of UNLV at both the Thomas & Mack Center and COX Pavilion.

Four of the five Pistons’ summer league games will be broadcast live by NBA TV. Detroit vs. Lakers on July 9 (8:00 p.m. EST), Detroit vs. Golden State on July 10 (8:00 p.m. EST), Detroit vs. Sacramento on July 12 (6:00 p.m. EST) and Detroit vs. New York on July 16 (4:00 p.m. EST) will all be broadcast live on NBA TV. Detroit vs. Miami on July 14 (10:30 p.m. EST) will be shown tape delayed.

NBA TV will air the full NBA Summer League schedule along with offering live daily studio programming with NBA GameTime. Fans will also have the opportunity to watch every game live on NBA.com through the NBA SUMMER LEAGUE BROADBAND.

NBA SUMMER LEAGUE BROADBAND is a subscription service offering fans a full slate of live NBA Summer League game webcasts via NBA.com/summerleaguebroadband. The complete package will be $14.95 for access to all 58 games on a live basis, as well as on a video-on-demand basis for up to one week following the conclusion of the league’s final game. A late season package will also be available beginning July 15, for $9.95.

Throughout NBA Summer League, NBA TV’s NBA GameTime will feature expert analysis from a combination of hosts, including Kyle Montgomery, Vince Cellini and analysts Eric Snow and Chris Webber, who will showcase the players, stories and news that develop this summer. An outstanding roster of NBA TV talent will be calling and reporting the action, including: Matt Winer, Rick Kamla, Joel Myers and Chad Andrus, who will handle play by play duties; analysts Kevin McHale, Brent Barry, Steve Smith, Chris Webber, Mike Fratello, and Dennis Scott and reporters David Aldridge and Kyle Montgomery. On-demand video clips of the studio programming will be available on NBA.com.

Following is the Pistons’ broadcast schedule for summer league:
DATE GAME TIME _TV
July 9 Detroit vs. L.A. Lakers 8:00 p.m. EST NBA TV
July 10 Detroit vs. Golden State 8:00 p.m. EST NBA TV
July 12 Detroit vs. Sacramento 6:00 p.m. EST NBA TV
July 14 Detroit vs. Miami 10:30 p.m. EST NBA TV*
July 16 Detroit vs. New York 4:00 p.m. EST NBA TV

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Pistons Introduce 2010 Draft Picks

2010-06-26T10:48:00.000-07:00

Steve St-Pierre
Sports Writer
In Play! Magazine
sstpierre@inplaymagazine.com

Members of the media gathered at the Pistons' practice facility in Auburn Hills Saturday afternoon as Joe Dumars, Pistons President, introduced draft picks Greg Monroe and Terrico White.

Photo by Brian St-Pierre / In Play! Magazine

As reported Thursday night, both rookies are expected to start for Detroit's Summer League team in Las Vegas next month alongside second-year veterans Austin Daye, Jonas Jerebko and DaJuan Summers.

Additionally, the Pistons' Vegas squad will also consist of undrafted players who are now free agents and able to sign with the NBA franchise of their choice. Detroit is expected to announce its complete Summer League roster shortly.

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Pistons Select Monroe, White

2010-06-24T20:21:00.000-07:00

Steve St-Pierre
Sports Writer
In Play! Magazine
sstpierre@inplaymagazine.com

The Pistons were targeting three players with the No. 7 pick in the 2010 NBA Draft and were able to grab the one they knew they'd have the best chance of selecting in 6'11" Georgetown big man Greg Monroe. Known for his passing ability and overall upside, Monroe can play either power forward or center and is likely to be slated as Detroit's current starting center heading into next season.

With the No. 36 pick in the second round of the draft, the Pistons nabbed 6'5" combo guard Terrico White of Mississippi. White's an athletic swingman who will have to battle for a roster spot next season.

Both players are expected to join Pistons veterans Austin Daye, Jonas Jerebko and DaJuan Summers next month in Las Vegas for the team's summer league play. In fact, it's extremely likely that all five players could start, with White playing point guard, Daye being used as a long two-guard alongside Jerebko, Summers and Monroe in the frontcourt.

Joe Dumars, Pistons President, spoke with the media shortly after selecting Monroe, saying that he believes Monroe is exactly what the organization needs - a big man who can step in and contribute immediately. The jury's out on how effective Monroe will be early on, but it appears Detroit has made the best of its No. 7 selection.

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Automotion Dance Team To Hold Auditions Including New Live Event for Finals

2010-06-22T15:17:00.000-07:00

In Play Magazine

DANCE FOR THE DETROIT PISTONS IN 2010-11

Automotion Dance Team To Hold Auditions On Monday, July 26

New LIVE Performance Element Added To Audition Process

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – The Detroit Pistons dance team Automotion will be hosting auditions for team members for the 2010-11 season on Monday, July 26th beginning promptly at 3:00 p.m. at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Finalists will be announced at the end of the night and callbacks will take place July 27-29.

New to this year’s audition process will be the addition of a LIVE performance held on July 29th at the Crowfoot Ballroom located in downtown Pontiac, sponsored by WRIF radio. All finalists are required to participate in rehearsals and perform in the live Automotion audition finals show in order to be considered for the team. The announcement of the final team will take place LIVE at the end of the show. Friends and family are welcomed and encouraged to be a part of the audience. The live Automotion audition finals will be open to the public and additional details will be released at a later date.

To audition, female candidates must be 19 or older by October 1, 2010 and are required to show proof of ID along with their registration. There is a $25.00 registration fee. The fee includes the auditions and a ticket to a select Pistons game during the 2010-11 season. Candidates are required to bring a recent photo and are encouraged to bring a business/entertainment resume. Aspiring Automotion dancers should have a strong work ethic and strong business and communication skills as a complement to their dancing abilities.

Choreography will be provided by the audition staff and dancers are encouraged to wear dance tops, shorts and tights – dressed to impress with performance-ready hair and makeup.

Automotion members will serve as ambassadors of the Detroit Pistons and will represent the organization both on and off the court for the 2010-11 season. Automotion team members are required to dance during every Pistons home game and to represent the organization throughout the year at various team and charity functions. A flexible schedule is a must for selected dancers.

For more information regarding Automotion tryouts call (248) 377-0100 or log onto www.nba.com/pistons/dance/automotion.html for all the pre-audition details and to register for the auditions.

Metro PCS is the official sponsor of Automotion and PNC, one of the nation’s largest financial holding companies, is the presenting sponsor for the Detroit Pistons.

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Summer League Schedule Announced

2010-06-15T14:26:00.000-07:00

Steve St-Pierre
Sports Writer
In Play! Magazine
sstpierre@inplaymagazine.com

The Pistons have announced their schedule for the NBA Summer League held next month in Las Vegas. Games will be played on the campus of UNLV at the Thomas & Mack Center as well as COX Pavilion.

Here's the complete Pistons schedule with Eastern tipoff times:

Friday, July 9 – Pistons vs. LA Lakers, 8 p.m.
Saturday, July 10 – Pistons vs. Golden State, 8 p.m.
Monday, July 12 – Pistons vs. Sacramento, 6 p.m.
Wednesday, July 14 – Pistons vs. Miami, 10:30 p.m.
Friday, July 16 – Pistons vs. New York, 4 p.m.

The complete broadcast schedule will be released at a later date. Pistons forwards Austin Daye, Jonas Jerebko and DaJuan Summers are scheduled to participate with the team, as they did a season ago as rookies.

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Broker Hired To Sell Pistons

2010-06-02T15:00:00.000-07:00

Steve St-Pierre
Sports Writer
In Play! Magazine
sstpierre@inplaymagazine.com

The Pistons have hired a Citigroup subsidiary to broker the sale of the franchise as well as Palace Sports & Entertainment. Karen Davidson, current Pistons Owner, announced last month that the team was officially for sale.

According to reports, there are several interested parties and the NBA is keeping tabs on the situation.

In other Pistons news, forward Chris Wilcox has exercised his $3 million player option to remain with Detroit for the upcoming 2010-11 NBA season. With the team expected to select a power forward or center in this month's 2010 NBA Draft, it's quite possible Wilcox will be shopped on the trading block if he were included in a potential package with other veteran players as the Pistons look to continue their youth movement.

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Pistons Keep Pick No. 7

2010-05-18T17:44:00.000-07:00

Steve St-Pierre
Sports Writer
In Play! Magazine
sstpierre@inplaymagazine.com

The Pistons missed out on a top three selection during the NBA's 2010 Draft Lottery, so Detroit maintains its position with the No. 7 pick in next month's 2010 NBA Draft.

The bad news is that the team would've won the No. 2 overall draft pick had it won its tiebreaker with the Philadelphia 76ers, who had just as much of a chance as the Pistons to win a spot in the top three. Instead, it's the Sixers who will have the second selection in the draft.

In all likelihood, the Pistons will look to select a big man. With the seventh pick, the team's most likely going to be able to choose between Cole Aldrich of Kansas, Ed Davis of North Carolina and Greg Monroe of Georgetown.

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NBA Draft Lottery Tonight

2010-05-18T09:06:00.001-07:00

Steve St-Pierre
Sports Writer
In Play! Magazine
sstpierre@inplaymagazine.com

This year's NBA Draft Lottery is being held tonight and will be televised live on ESPN. The lottery show will begin at 7 p.m. followed by the drawing itself starting around 8.

The Pistons have an 18.3 percent chance of landing a top-three draft pick. Detroit is currently slated at the seventh pick, which they would keep if they don't earn a top-three selection unless a team below them moves up.

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Prince Added To U.S. National Team

2010-05-05T09:30:00.000-07:00

Steve St-Pierre
Sports Writer
In Play! Magazine
sstpierre@inplaymagazine.com

Pistons forward Tayshaun Prince is rejoining USA Basketball. He was one of four players added to the U.S. national team, who will hold its training camp in Las Vegas July 19-23.

Prince was a reserve on the 2008 squad that took gold in Beijing. Despite experienced an injury plagued 2009-10 season with the Pistons, Prince remains valuable to Team USA for his defense and leadership.

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JONAS JEREBKO NAMED TO NBA’S ALL-ROOKIE TEAM

2010-04-30T11:45:00.000-07:00

In Play Magazine

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – The National Basketball Association announced today that forward Jonas Jerebko was named to the NBA’s All-Rookie Second Team. He is the first Pistons’ rookie since Rodney Stuckey to be tabbed as a second team selection (2008) and the 16th player in franchise history to receive all-rookie team honors.

The T-Mobile NBA All-Rookie Second Team also includes New Orleans’ Marcus Thornton, San Antonio’s DeJuan Blair, Oklahoma City’s James Harden and Minnesota’s Jonny Flynn.

“We are pleased that Jonas Jerebko has been recognized as a member of the NBA’s All-Rookie Team,” said Joe Dumars, President of Basketball Operations for the Pistons. “Jonas did some great things for our team both on and off the court this season and he has a bright future ahead of him.”

Photo by Brian St-Pierre/In Play! Magazine

Jerebko appeared in 80 games (73 starts) averaging 9.3 points (.481 FG, .313 3FG), 6.0 rebounds, 0.7 assists and 0.99 steals in 27.9 minutes per game. Among NBA rookie leaders he ranked third in rebounds (6.0 rpg), fourth in blocks (0.36 bpg), fifth in minutes (27.9 mpg), eighth in steals (0.99 spg) 10th in scoring (9.3 ppg) and T18th in assists (0.7 apg). Jerebko’s 73 games as a starter ranked second in franchise history behind Kelly Tripucka and he became the fifth rookie in franchise history to win the Rookie of the Month award (Isiah Thomas, Kelly Tripucka, Grant Hill, Zeljko Rebraca). The 6-foot-10 product from Sweden was named Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for February averaging 10.2 points (.564 FG), 6.0 rebounds and 1.0 steals in 13 games.

The voting panel consisted of the NBA’s 30 head coaches, who were asked to select five players for the first team and five players for the second team, regardless of position. Coaches were not permitted to vote for players on their own team. Two points were awarded for first team votes and one for second team votes.

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Pistons Already Active This Off-Season

2010-04-30T09:06:00.000-07:00

Steve St-Pierre
Sports Writer
In Play! Magazine
sstpierre@inplaymagazine.com

As they begin a crucial off-season, the Pistons already appear to be making some changes.

According to reports, Tony Ronzone, Pistons Director of Basketball Operations, will be hired next month as Assistant GM for the Minnesota Timberwolves.

In other Pistons news, it was announced on the team's official website that Detroit has relinquished the rights to 2008 second-round draft pick Trent Plaisted. The No. 46 pick that year, Plaisted spent last season playing in Croatia and hopes to catch on with another team's Summer League roster this July.

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BEN GORDON UNDERGOES SUCCESSFUL SURGICAL PROCEDURE

2010-04-28T07:38:00.001-07:00

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – The Detroit Pistons announced today that guard Ben Gordon underwent a successful surgical procedure performed by Dr. Art Manoli to remove bone spurs and loose bodies from his left ankle. The procedure was performed at St. Joseph’s Mercy Hospital in Pontiac, MI.

Gordon’s left ankle will be placed in a cast for three weeks and rehabilitation will begin immediately following removal of the cast. He is expected to make a full recovery prior to the start of training camp in October.

The 6-foot-3 guard appeared in 62 games (17 starts) for the Pistons last season averaging 13.8 points, 2.7 assists and 1.9 rebounds in 27.9 minutes per game.

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Pistons Lose Tiebreaker With Sixers

2010-04-16T14:26:00.000-07:00

Steve St-Pierre
Sports Writer
In Play! Magazine
sstpierre@inplaymagazine.com

The Pistons lost their tiebreaker drawing with the Philadelphia 76ers Friday afternoon. As a result, the Sixers will have the sixth overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft, with the Pistons selecting after them with the No. 7 pick, should neither team win one of the top three choices during the NBA Draft Lottery, held May 18. For the second round, the Pistons will have the 36th pick, with Philly going next at 37.

As previously stated, both Detroit and Philadelphia will have a 5.3 percent chance at winning the No. 1 pick, a 6.0 percent chance at No. 2 and a 7.0 percent chance at No. 3.

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Pistons Tie For Sixth-Worst Record

2010-04-15T14:25:00.000-07:00

Steve St-Pierre
Sports Writer
In Play! Magazine
sstpierre@inplaymagazine.com

The Pistons finished the 2009-10 NBA season with a record of 27-55, tied for sixth-worst in the NBA with the Philadelphia 76ers. As a result, the league will conduct a drawing tomorrow to determine which team would pick first in the 2010 NBA Draft should neither win a top-three pick in the May 18 NBA Draft Lottery.

Both Detroit and Philadelphia will have a 5.3 percent chance at winning the No. 1 pick, a 6.0 percent chance at No. 2 and a 7.0 percent chance at No. 3.

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PISTONS LOWER SEASON TICKET PRICES FOR 2010-11 SEASON

2010-04-12T09:10:00.000-07:00

by Steve St-Pierre
Pistons Sports Writer
Email
In Play Magazine

Team to Offer Lowest-Price Guarantee to Season Ticket Holders

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – The Detroit Pistons announced today that season ticket prices for the 2010-11 NBA season have been reduced between 10 and 50 percent in all price categories. Also, for the first time ever, the team will offer a lowest-price guarantee to its season ticket holders.

“As an organization, we understand how fortunate we are to have such a loyal season ticket holder base,” said Alan Ostfield, President and CEO of Palace Sports and Entertainment and the Pistons. “The economic situation here in Michigan continues to be a difficult one and we want to continue doing our part to respond to the stresses that have been placed on everyone in this region.”

The across-the-board price reductions for Pistons’ tickets are the largest rollbacks in team history, in response to the economic climate in the area. Additionally, the Pistons’ lowest-price guarantee insures season ticket holders that the team will not sell individual game tickets at a lower price.

For the 2010-11 season, the Pistons will increase the number of 100-Level season tickets available for less than $1,000. This popular season ticket offering sold out this past season.

“The Pistons’ experience will be enhanced for the season ticket holder next year by adding many new benefits,” said Shawn Kuzmin, Pistons’ Senior Vice President of Sales and Service. “These include a Loyalty benefits program, as well as a season ticket holder exchange program for unused tickets and access to ticket upgrades at all Pistons’ home games. The new Loyalty benefits program will reward ticket holders on their tenure with the Pistons by offering Palace cards, suites and concert tickets.”

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Pistons Keep Winning

2010-04-10T05:58:00.000-07:00

It might be coming at the worst time, but the Pistons are on their first three-game winning streak in quite some time. Though it's decreasing their chances of winning the NBA Lottery next month, the team is coming on strong to close the season.

Detroit is still shorthanded. The team continues to play without shooting guard Rip Hamilton, and though forward Jason Maxiell returned to action last night, the Pistons were without point guard Rodney Stuckey, who sat out with sore ribs.

The one good thing about this run is that the Pistons are finally getting stellar play out of their big free-agent pickups from last summer, guard Ben Gordon and forward Charlie Villanueva. Their development in Detroit is going to be crucial to any future success of the franchise.

Steve St-Pierre
Sports Writer
In Play! Magazine
sstpierre@inplaymagazine.com

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Shorthanded Pistons Win Second Straight

2010-04-08T09:38:00.000-07:00

Despite returning home on a back-to-back and playing without several key players, the Pistons managed to beat the playoff-bound Atlanta Hawks to win their second straight game.

Playing without guard Rip Hamilton (ankle), forward Jason Maxiell (back strain), forward Chris Wilcox (hamstring) and forward Tayshaun Prince (personal reasons), the Pistons lost guard Rodney Stuckey to an injured rib just eight minutes into the game. Most of Detroit's other players, most notably center Ben Wallace, is playing hurt, and they've recently dealt with off-the-court issues from forwards Charlie Villanueva and Austin Daye.

Yet, the Pistons have found a way to pick up a couple wins in an attempt to end a sour season on a much brighter note. Even Villanueva and Daye, to their credit, have managed to move past their recent troubles to perform at a surprisingly high level.

Steve St-Pierre
Sports Writer
In Play! Magazine
sstpierre@inplaymagazine.com

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Pistons Tweet About Mysterious Practice

2010-04-06T06:01:00.000-07:00

Pistons forwards Charlie Villanueva and Austin Daye have posted messages via their Twitter accounts regarding an unspecified incident that took place during the team's practice yesterday.

Both players expressed extreme frustration, citing yesterday's practice as well as the disappointing season in general. It remains to be seen whether or not details will surface or if any disciplinary action will take place as a result.

On the bright side, injured guard Rip Hamilton practiced yesterday and will be a game-time decision tonight for Detroit's road game against the Philadelphia 76ers.

Steve St-Pierre
Sports Writer
In Play! Magazine
sstpierre@inplaymagazine.com

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Pistons Gain Wallace, Lose Maxiell

2010-04-01T06:08:00.000-07:00

It just keeps happening. The Pistons continue to lose players due to injury. This time it's Jason Maxiell, who had been starting in place of Ben Wallace at center.

During last night's loss to the Miami Heat, the Pistons surprisingly activated Wallace to come off the bench. Ironically, Maxiell hurt his back just minutes into the game and did not return. X-rays were negative, and he remains day-to-day heading into tomorrow's game at The Palace against the Phoenix Suns.

To make matters worse, starting shooting guard Rip Hamilton (ankle) is also day-to-day, and reserve forward Charlie Villanueva did not play due to coach's decision. The struggling Villanueva sat out the entire game despite Detroit's extremely thin frontcourt: no Maxiell, no Chris Wilcox and a still-recovering Wallace.

This season just can't end soon enough for the Pistons, who have now lost nine straight.

Steve St-Pierre
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sstpierre@inplaymagazine.com

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Hamilton Questionable; Wallace, Wilcox Doubtful

2010-03-31T05:23:00.000-07:00

Surprise, surprise...more Pistons injuries. Starting shooting guard Rip Hamilton is questionable for tonight's home game against the Miami Heat with an injured right ankle. Starting center Ben Wallace (knees) and reserve forward Chris Wilcox (back) are doubtful.

Hamilton's injury is to the same ankle that forced him to miss over 20 games this season, though this recent injury is unrelated to the one earlier in the year. Starting point guard Rodney Stuckey also rolled his ankle but is expected to play tonight.

Don't be surprised to see Wallace shut it down for the season. In fact, now's the best time for the Pistons to play their rookies as many minutes as they can handle during these last nine games of the season, so having the injured veterans sit makes the most sense.

Steve St-Pierre
Sports Writer
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Missing Wallace No Excuse For Struggling Pistons

2010-03-29T09:19:00.000-07:00

Ben Wallace has been a pleasant surprise for the Pistons this season. Normally the team's starting center, Wallace is currently nursing sore knees and could miss the rest of the season. Detroit has surely missed his defensive presence, but that's no excuse for the team's lackluster play this season.

The Pistons have complained that the reason they're missing the NBA Playoffs is due to their numerous injuries. While that's certainly true, it doesn't excuse the awful performances of the players suiting up, specifically guard Ben Gordon and forward Charlie Villanueva. Both players were signed last summer to be the faces of the Pistons' transition to a new era, but neither of them have panned out. They've had plenty of setbacks between the two of them in terms of injuries, but they're both healthy now yet contributing next to nothing.

Now, Joe Dumars, Pistons President, has to figure out what he's going to do. He used up his cap space acquired from the Chauncey Billups trade to sign Gordon and Villanueva. Seemingly, the only possible way to improve this franchise is going to be through the draft. The team could be picking in the top five and will have their choice of quality centers to choose from. Other than that and the possibility of trading the expiring contract of forward Tayshaun Prince, the Pistons appear stuck with these players they've invested in.

If Dumars fails to bring in substantial talent this summer, it's going to be awfully difficult to continue selling this product to a passionate fanbase in a struggling economy.

Steve St-Pierre
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sstpierre@inplaymagazine.com

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Wallace Still Out; Bynum Day-To-Day

2010-03-24T05:49:00.000-07:00

The injury bug continues to stick with the Pistons. Since returning for one game, center Ben Wallace has continued to sit with sore knees. Little-used reserve Chris Wilcox has also been out, and now guard Will Bynum is day-to-day with a back contusion.

Last night during Detroit's home loss to the Indiana Pacers, Bynum hurt his back during the first half after falling hard to the ground. He told reporters he was having trouble breathing but that he was OK.

With the playoffs now out of the picture, it wouldn't be a surprise to see Wallace just shut it down for the season as he'll be a free agent this summer and would like to re-sign for one last season with the Pistons.

Steve St-Pierre
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sstpierre@inplaymagazine.com

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Stuckey, Wallace Return; Wilcox Out

2010-03-19T02:22:00.000-07:00

The Pistons expect injured starters Rodney Stuckey and Ben Wallace to return to the team's lineup tonight when the team takes on the Pacers in Indiana. Both players practiced yesterday, leaving backup forward Chris Wilcox as Detroit's only injured player.

Wilcox has missed the last 12 games with a sore back. Stuckey, who collapsed during a game against the Cavaliers in Cleveland, has been given complete medical clearance to return. Wallace has missed time with a sore right knee but says he's feeling fine.

Both Stuckey and Wallace are expected to come off the bench for the time being.

Steve St-Pierre
Sports Writer
In Play! Magazine
sstpierre@inplaymagazine.com

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Prince Plays Through Injury

2010-03-17T18:17:00.000-07:00

The Pistons lost again last night at home to the Cleveland Cavaliers, but in a surprising twist, small forward Tayshaun Prince actually played. He took a tough hit to the back the night before and looked as though he wouldn't be playing for a while. In fact, he played 44 minutes, scoring 15 points to go with seven rebounds, eight assists and a steal.

It's still likely the Pistons will look to begin resting their veterans now that the team is no longer competing for the playoffs.

Steve St-Pierre
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sstpierre@inplaymagazine.com

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Prince Injures Back Again

2010-03-16T02:45:00.000-07:00

Pistons small forward Tayshaun Prince reinjured his back last night in the team's loss in Boston against the Celtics. He collided with teammate, forward Jason Maxiell, whose knee hit the center of Prince's back.

Nothing further has been reported regarding the injury, but Prince was in extreme pain. Speculation is that he could miss a considerable amount of time, perhaps the rest of the season. Detroit is already without point guard Rodney Stuckey and center Ben Wallace, both of whom are hoping to return before the end of the season.

The only bright spot for the Pistons is that Prince's injury opens up additional playing time for the team's three rookie forwards: Austin Daye, DaJuan Summers and starter Jonas Jerebko.

Steve St-Pierre
Sports Writer
In Play! Magazine
sstpierre@inplaymagazine.com

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Bynum Flourishing At Point

2010-03-13T05:26:00.000-08:00

Pistons guard Will Bynum is now the team's starter at the point indefinitely in place of the injured Rodney Stuckey. Bynum has excelled at running the team's offense and setting up his teammates, never more apparent than last night's win against the Washington Wizards when he recorded a career-high 20 assists.

It was the first time a Piston dished out 20 assists since Isiah Thomas had 21 on April 12, 1985. Bynum had eight assists in the first quarter and 10 before even taking his first shot. In fact, he told reporters in a highly-spirited post-game chat that he wanted to chase the franchise record of 25 but that he didn't want to force the issue.

It'll be interesting to see how the Pistons will respond with their backcourt rotations once Stuckey returns. It may or may not be this season, but John Kuester, Pistons Head Coach, will have some major decisions to make. The knock on Stuckey all year is that, while a scoring-machine, he has lacked the ability to truly conquer the point guard position.

Bynum is a restricted free agent this summer. It's not likely Detroit will let him get away, and the team will have to consider using Bynum as the primary point guard if he continues to demonstrate this kind of playmaking ability.

Steve St-Pierre
Sports Writer
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sstpierre@inplaymagazine.com

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MEDICAL STATEMENT REGARDING RODNEY STUCKEY

2010-03-10T09:12:00.001-08:00

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AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – Rodney Stuckey underwent a completely negative cardiac evaluation under the direction of University of Michigan’s (Fred Morady, M.D.), Cleveland Clinic’s (Thomas Dresing, M.D.) and the Detroit Medical Center’s (Luis Alfonso, M.D.).

The combined opinion is that Rodney may return to a progressive exercise program.

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This Day in NBA History

2010-03-08T08:15:00.001-08:00

March 8, 1971
The Milwaukee Bucks defeated Seattle 104-99 to run their winning streak to 20 straight games, the second-longest winning streak in NBA history, behind the 33 consecutive games won by the Los Angeles Lakers during the 1971-72 season. Milwaukee finished the 1970-71 season with a 66-16 record and went on to capture the NBA Championship.

March 8, 1994
Chicago’s Scottie Pippen and Pete Myers became the first set of teammates in NBA history to convert four-point plays (three-point field goal and free throw) in the same game, with both turning the trick in the fourth quarter of the Bulls’ 116-95 win over visiting Atlanta.

March 8, 1996
Utah coach Jerry Sloan won his 500th career NBA game after the Jazz defeated visiting Houston 109-89.

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Stuckey Hospitalized After Collapse

2010-03-06T09:40:00.000-08:00

Pistons point guard Rodney Stuckey collapsed on the team's bench at the 2:30 mark of the third quarter of Detroit's loss last night in Cleveland to the Cavaliers. He was carried out on a stretcher with an oxygen mask and transported to Cleveland Clinic.

Tests came back negative, and the team says Stuckey should return to Detroit today. The 23-year-old guard experienced similar dizziness last season and wound up missing two games. He's started every game for the Pistons this season, but should he have to miss time, veterans Will Bynum, Ben Gordon and Chucky Atkins would likely split the minutes at point guard.

It was an emotional scene following the game when both teams huddled and prayed for Stuckey and his family. Members of both teams admitted to be shaken by the incident and remained adamant that his health was more important than the game itself.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Steve St-Pierre
Sports Writer
In Play! Magazine
sstpierre@inplaymagazine.com

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Wallace Day-To-Day With Sore Knee

2010-03-04T10:43:00.001-08:00

Pistons center Ben Wallace is day-to-day with a sore right knee. The team is hopeful that he'll return tomorrow night in Cleveland against the Cavaliers.

Either way, Detroit is going to need more from its bench if it even wants to compete against the Cavs or anybody else this season. Key reserves Ben Gordon, Charlie Villanueva and Will Bynum are now healthy, and they need to step it up. Sure their minutes have been inconsistent, but it's been because of their ineffectiveness in those minutes.

Steve St-Pierre
Sports Writer
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sstpierre@inplaymagazine.com

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DETROIT’S JONAS JEREBKO AND NEW ORLEANS’ DARREN COLLISON NAMED T-MOBILE ROOKIES OF THE MONTH

2010-03-01T12:46:00.001-08:00

NEW YORK, Mar. 1, 2010 – The Detroit Pistons’ Jonas Jerebko and New Orleans Hornets’ Darren Collison today were named the Eastern and Western Conference T-Mobile Rookies of the Month, respectively, for games played in February.

Jerebko ranks first among Eastern Conference rookies in field goal percentage (.564) and second in scoring, (10.2 ppg) rebounds, (6.0 rpg) steals (1.0 spg) and blocks (0.54). On Feb. 16, Jerebko scored a team-high 21 points in 21 minutes, in a 108-85 win over Minnesota.

Among all rookies, Collison ranked first in scoring (21.6 ppg), assists (8.3 apg), steals (1.8 spg) and minutes (41.7 mpg) in February. He also finished his first month as an NBA starter by scoring 35 points in the Hornets' 108-100 loss at Dallas. Only one other rookie in the last 25 years had scoring and assist averages that high in the same month with a minimum of three games played: Allen Iverson (April 1997 -- 33.6 ppg, 8.7 apg).

Jerebko in pre-game warm up. Photo by Brian St-Pierre

Here is a recap of the month for both Jerebko and Collison:
Jonas Jerebko, Detroit Pistons
Feb. 6 vs New Jersey Registered 20 points, seven rebounds and shot 9-9 field goals in a 99-92 win over the Nets.
Feb. 10 vs Sacramento: Scored 11 points and grabbed seven rebounds in a 88-95 loss to the Kings.
Feb. 16 vs. Minnesota: Notched 21 points and two rebounds in a 108-85 win over the Timberwolves.
Feb. 17 @ Orlando: Posted 13 points, three rebounds and two steals in a 91-116 loss to the Magic.

Darren Collison, New Orleans Hornets
Feb. 10 vs. Boston: Scored 25 points and dished nine assists to go with four steals and three rebounds in a 93-85 win over the Celtics.
Feb. 19 vs. Indiana: Finished with 18 points and a career-high 13 rebounds, adding 12 assists and three steals in a 107-101 victory over the Pacers.
Feb. 21 vs. Houston: Posted 26 points, nine rebounds, four assists and four steals in a 102-94 win over the Rockets.
Feb. 28 @ Dallas: Recorded a career-high 35 points to go with three rebounds and three assists in 100-108 loss to the Mavericks.

Other nominees for the Eastern and Western Conference T-Mobile Rookies of the Month were Golden State’s Stephen Curry, Milwaukee’s Brandon Jennings, Minnesota’s Jonny Flynn, New Orleans’ Marcus Thornton and Sacramento’s Tyreke Evans.

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Villanueva Must Utilize Size

2010-02-27T05:12:00.001-08:00

One goal the Pistons should set for their final stretch of the season should be revitalizing forward Charlie Villanueva, who's been extremely inconsistent of late. At 6'11", he has both the size and ball-handling to be a legitimate scoring option near the basket, something the team is in dire need of.

Lately, Villanueva has struggled with multiple injuries. Because of this, he appears hesitant to take the ball into the defense. Instead, he's been drifting around the perimeter seemingly on both ends of the court. If he's not healthy, Detroit should sit him down and use other big men like Kwame Brown or Chris Wilcox.

If his injuries are indeed behind him and he's healthy enough to play, Villanueva needs to start playing with a higher degree of physicality. He should get down low on offense, particularly if he's playing on the second unit against backup players. Villanueva has the ability to post-up inside - he was doing that at the start of the season before his injuries started - and can do so either with his back to the basket or facing his opponent and driving the lane.

At this point, the Pistons are still trying to guage the talent on this current roster. They signed Villanueva last summer to a hefty contract on the first day of free agency, so they obviously have enough confidence in his game. They did not sign him, however, to simply drift around the perimeter. They had that the last few years with Rasheed Wallace, and it proved to be ineffective offense.

The time is now for Detroit to imply an offense that allows Villanueva to get closer to the basket for scoring attempts. Above all, it would allow him to take and possibly make easier shots, gain some confidence and enable him to step outside after establishing a rhythm. This creates better scoring opportunities not only for Villanueva but for his teammates as well, and the Pistons will take any points they can get.

Steve St-Pierre
Sports Writer
In Play! Magazine
sstpierre@inplaymagazine.com

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Rip Hamilton Drops 30 on Kings. Pistons 101-89

2010-02-23T22:21:00.000-08:00

<a href="http://video.msn.com/?mkt=en-us&from=customplayer_en-us_entertainment_tvhub&fg=MsnEntertainment_entertainment2_tvhub&vid=bdbd7d87-f4c3-4a1e-a9cd-4437b802adbf" target="_new" title="Pistons pummel Kings">Video: Pistons pummel Kings</a>

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Pistons Stand Pat At Trade Deadline

2010-02-18T13:24:00.001-08:00

Joe Dumars, Pistons President, has decided not to make a trade. It was rumored that the team was contemplating a trade involving veterans Rip Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince and/or Kwame Brown, who has an expiring contract and will become a free agent at the end of the season.

It's clear that the Pistons will focus on developing their younger players the rest of the season and preparing for the future, including the 2010 NBA Draft this June.

Steve St-Pierre
Sports Writer
In Play! Magazine
sstpierre@inplaymagazine.com

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DETROIT PISTONS PRESIDENT TOM WILSON RESIGNS IMMEDIATELY

2010-02-17T09:31:00.000-08:00

AUBURN HILLS, Feb. 17 - - Tom Wilson is resigning his position as president and chief executive officer of Palace Sports & Entertainment, Inc. and the Detroit Pistons Basketball Company. Immediately assuming Mr. Wilson’s executive roles is Alan Ostfield, currently chief operating officer of the Palace and Pistons.

“I have had the honor to be a part of the Pistons family for the last 32 years, 31 of them working along side Bill Davidson,” said Mr. Wilson. “He was a dear friend and partner. I believe that, with Mr. Davidson’s unfortunate passing, however, the time is now right for me and my family to explore many exciting opportunities that have come my way recently. With Alan, I leave the Pistons and Palace in very good hands.”

“Mr. Davidson and I built an organization of talented people and planned for an orderly leadership transition. Alan Ostfield, has been involved in every aspect of our business and helped to make every important decision we’ve made over the last 10 years. Alan has outstanding experience in all areas of sports franchise management and operations, including strategic planning. Now, Alan is ready to help guide the Pistons’ and Palace’s future.”

During his 32 year tenure, Wilson was lauded as a visionary in the sports and entertainment industry. Under his and Mr. Davidson’s leadership, The Palace earned Arena of the Year honors nine times, DTE Energy Music Theatre was the nation’s top-attended outdoor venue 19 consecutive years and the Pistons is heralded as one of the best marketed and most highly valued teams in the NBA. The extraordinary staff that Wilson and Davidson built remains intact.

Alan Ostfield joined the Pistons and Palace in 2000 as senior vice president for legal affairs and assumed his current title as chief operating officer of Palace Sports & Entertainment and the Detroit Pistons and as assistant general manager of the Detroit Pistons in 2002. Previously, he was senior vice president and general counsel for the San Diego Padres major league baseball club. A resident of Beverly Hills, Michigan, Mr. Ostfield earned his undergraduate degree in economics from the University of Pennsylvania and his MBA and JD degrees from Boston University.

“I have the deepest respect for Tom Wilson and the culture of excellence he and Mr. Davidson developed here,” said Mr. Ostfield. “Working with Tom has been an extraordinary professional and personal experience, and I am confident the management team we have in place can build on his achievements and momentum. I appreciate Mr. Davidson’s confidence in me as well as ownership’s trust and support as I assume these new responsibilities.”

“Alan Ostfield and Tom have functioned as an outstanding senior management team in anticipation of a seamless transition,” said Jonathan Aaron, co-personal representative of Mr. Davidson’s estate. “Tom has left his indelible mark on our organization and we want to thank him for his years of exemplary leadership.”

“I would like to wish all the best to Tom Wilson,” said Karen Davidson, wife of the late Bill Davidson. “He was close to Bill personally and professionally and was instrumental to this organization’s growth, reputation and success.”

“Our organization is like an extended family, and Tom has been a valued member of that family for years,” said Ethan Davidson, Bill Davidson’s son. “While change always brings challenges, we are very confident in the future success of the Palace and Pistons.”

Update:
NBA Commissioner Stern released the following statement.

"Tom is one of the most innovative and respected leaders in the NBA. He revolutionized the sports and entertainment business and his vision propelled The Palace and the Pistons to the forefront of the industry. I have great admiration for Tom’s accomplishments and wish him all the very best in the future.”

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Jerebko Scores Six, Helps Rookies Upset Sophomores

2010-02-13T08:33:00.000-08:00

He only scored six points in just 15 minutes of playing time, but the Pistons' Jonas Jerebko was extremely active and had two big steals to help the Rookie Team upset the Sophomore Team in last night's 2010 T-Mobile Rookie Challenge at NBA All-Star Weekend, 140-128.

Most of the players focused primarily on scoring, but Jerebko - who came off the bench - made a fairly instant impact, displaying his usual scrappy play, getting several deflections that led to fastbreaks for the rookies. All in all, it was a solid performance for the Swedish forward.

Steve St-Pierre
Sports Writer
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sstpierre@inplaymagazine.com

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Jerebko Could Start In Rookie Challenge

2010-02-11T12:09:00.000-08:00

Pistons forward Jonas Jerebko is representing Detroit this weekend at American Airlines Center in Dallas for Friday's T-Mobile Rookie Challenge at All-Star Weekend. Jerebko is one of only four frontcourt players on the Rookie Team, and that includes injured forward Taj Gibson of the Chicago Bulls, who will be limited in terms of minutes.

In all likelihood, Brandon Jennings of the Milwaukee Bucks and Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors will start at the guard spots, with the Sacramento Kings' Tyreke Evans playing small forward. DeJuan Blair of the San Antonio Spurs is the only player listed as a center on the squad's roster, so he'll probably start at that position.

That leaves power forward up for grabs between Jerebko, Gibson and the Kings' Omri Casspi. It's possible Casspi could get the start as he's been the best scorer of the three this season, but he's more of a perimeter player. Jerebko has demonstrated the most versatility of the three and would have a better chance of defending the bigger players on the Sophomore Team.

The decision's not going to be a deciding factor as the Sophomores will likely dominate the much-smaller Rookie Team, but Pistons fans would get a nice treat to see Jerebko earn a starting nod. Be sure to watch tomorrow night at 9 p.m. on TNT.

Steve St-Pierre
Sports Writer
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sstpierre@inplaymagazine.com

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Pistons Finally At Full Strength

2010-02-02T10:19:00.000-08:00

The Pistons are reportedly expecting to have their entire 14-man roster available to them for tonight's game in New Jersey against the Nets. That includes forward Charlie Villanueva, who has been out the last couple of days with back spasms, and guard Will Bynum, who has missed 16 straight games with a sprained left ankle.

The starting lineup is expected to consist of Tayshaun Prince, Jonas Jerebko and Ben Wallace up front with Rip Hamilton and Rodney Stuckey in the backcourt.

Steve St-Pierre
Sports Writer
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sstpierre@inplaymagazine.com

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