Captain Nick

Lidstrom made some interesting comments yesterday:

Things aren’t going to just take care of themselves when we get guys back. It doesn’t guarantee us winning any games. It starts in here with what we have.

I bring this up in light of John's comments a few days ago. John's theory was that Lidstrom's leadership style does not have the same bite as Yzerman's or Shanny's. None of us are in the lockerroom, so we have no idea. Yet, the next few games will be a good test. How will the team respond?

Lidstrom still played it very safe. He didn't call out any teammates or criticize the team sharply. He did, though, express serious concern. We'll see if that's enough. If the team continues to slide (1 win, 6 losses in the last 7 games), it'll be clear that Lidstrom either has zero pull or the team is simply not good enough. Either option is depressing.

Trader Ken
And just to continue my thoughts from yesterday... what should Holland do at the trade deadline? With so many players returning from injuries, my guess is that Holland will do nothing. He'll figure that the team will improve from within, and he may be right. Holmstrom and Franzen will certainly be big upgrades. I still believe, though, that Holland should put forth an offer or two.

Who on this roster is trade-able? I'd say everybody but Zetterberg and Lidstrom. Why Lidstrom? Loyalty, plain and simple. Unless Nick wanted a trade, he's earned the right to finish out his career in Detroit. No need to uproot his family. As for Zetterberg, I still contend he's a top player in the league and provides proof of that every Spring. The announcers always refer to him as "undersized" but I'd never have known that. He certainly doesn't play that way and rarely gets muscled off the puck. Z does everything necessary to win - the perfect leader and future captain.

Everybody else - including Pavel - should be available. It would pain me to see Pavel on another team, but he's a bit older than Z. He also is slightly less effective in the playoffs. Of course, the Wings nosedived when Pavel went down with injuries last year, but my guess is things would've been even worse had Zetterberg gone out. Just my thoughts. Hope they don't trade either, but, if Pavel and Ericsson bring in a Getzlaf, ya gotta pull the trigger. I've been pimping that trade for six months now and I'm sticking to it. It would help both teams. Getzlaf, with his two-way game, would be a perfect fit in Detroit's system. While Pavel would give the Ducks some star-power, and Ericsson could be the heir-apparent for Scott Niedermeyer.

Okay, I'll stop. Sports journalists always make fun of us fans for our outlandish trade proposals, and I can see why.

Future Red Wing?

Pistons Give Great Effort, Lose

In a sign of just how far things have fallen, the Pistons played one of their better games last night. They hustled. They swarmed on defense. They crashed the glass. Yet, they still did just enough to lose to a mediocre team, at home. Yawn.

It was a strange game. The Pistons shot 58% from the field in the first half but somehow found themselves down by six points. The Grizzlies maintained a comfortable 6-10 point cushion throughout most of the second half until Jason Maxiell took over the game. On both ends of the court, Maxiell dominated. Stuckey's 15-ft jumper with 2:56 to go in the game put the Pistons up 93-91, and the Pistons seemed in control. Unfortunately, it was the last points they would score.

The Pistons missed their final eight shots - many uncontested and/or layups. They also missed 4 of their final 6 free throws. Marc Gasol did not miss any free throws, as he scored Memphis final eight points. Just a few years ago, this game would've been a comfortable win by the Stones, even on an off-night. Yet, this incarnation is like Nate Robertson. They try hard, tease you with good innings, then end up blowing it at the worst times. They're GETL - Good Enough To Lose.

Were there bright spots? Sure. Stuckey and Rip both had double-digit assists. Unfortunately, Stuckey still can't finish at the rim. I've rarely seen an NBA guard who has as much trouble putting away layups. I realize he's often off-balance and swarmed by 6'10 behemoths, but Stuckey is supposed to an NBA-calibre scorer. Put the ball in the hoop already. Jason Maxiell and Ben Wallace were pretty awesome, but where was Austin Daye?

Dear Coach Kuester, last I checked your team was 14 games below .500. You're a lottery team. Why not play the rookie? Is Tayshaun Price that insistent on minutes?

The Pistons continue their dreadful home stand against the Heat on Friday. Can't wait.

End of an Era
Coming off one of the worst losses of their season, the Red Wings put up zero fight in a 5-2 loss at Minnesota. The loss knocked the Wings out of the final playoff spot and moved Minnesota within 3 points. The Wings have now lost three in a row, and are 3 games below .500 for the season.

Chris Osgood let three goals in on the first six shots. If he doesn't step it up soon, Holland should consider calling up Daniel Larsson from Grand Rapids. Jimmy Howard is playing well in net, but he can't shoulder the entire burden. The Wings need a backup to spell him on back-to-backs. And that 2nd string goalie should not guarantee a win for the opposition. Is that too much to ask?

Suffice it to say, the Wings are in trouble. Gone are the days of dominant puck possession and beautiful tic-tac-toe goals. No more suffocating defense that limits the opponents to under 20 shots. This is a team fighting for the final spot in the playoffs. They're a middle-of-the-road NHL squad with below average scoring. Folks in town seem to believe their fortunes will turn around when the injured players return. I tend to disagree. The team is what it is. They've been playing poorly all season, regardless of who's on the ice. Hoping for a massive turnaround is akin to hoping Magglio, Guillen, and Robertson will return to form. It's a hope based on no tangible evidence. Their glory days are long gone. The recent evidence reveals a team that can't string together three wins in a row. They're mediocre. A non-threat.

But all is not lost. They have talent in the farm system. 18-year old Thomas Tater gives us hope at Grand Rapids. Click here for an update. The article says Tater is five years away from contributing. What can they do in the meantime? My thinking is that they would benefit greatly from a two-way center. When Filppula returned, the Wings puck possession increased dramatically. Now Filppula is no world-beater, but he sees the ice well and is an above-average puck handler and skater. If the Wings could pick up one more Filppula (or better) talent, I think they'd see a world of difference in their ability to control the game.

Those that saw my recent +/- stats may have noticed that the top line players (Datsyuk and Zetterberg) despite their sub-par seasons still have the best ratings. The 4th liners (Abdelkader, Leino) have the worst. One key acquisition could change all that. But, how could they attain one more player? I say they consider trading Jonathan Ericsson or Brad Stuart. Both players will be in high demand come the trade deadline. Most playoff teams want to shore up their defense with rugged blue-liners who can contribute on the power play. Nobody is going to want Meech or Lebda. But they will want Ericsson or Stuart. My guess is that a team like Colorado or Chicago would be willing to part with a young center (like Ryan O'Reilly).

The Red Wings' system is predicated on puck control, as the Versus announcers repeated ad nauseum on Monday. As a result, they're more reliant upon centerman than defensemen - unlike, say, Anaheim or New Jersey. The Wings do have a wealth of talent on the blue-line, even with the potential departure of Nick Lidstrom in a few years (gulp). A core of Kronwall, Rafalski, and one of Ericsson/Stuart should suffice, if they have defensive-minded forwards. I imagine most fans would gasp at the prospect of trading away Ericsson, but he's the exact chip piece that could lead to a true talent. The Wings are built from the forwards on down, while most teams are built from the goalie on up. Shop Ericsson and see who bites. And if Anaheim will consider parting with Getzlaf, throw in Datsyuk for good measure.

Red Wings Suck

It's like the Red Wings are trying to erase all the goodwill and happy memories they've provided over the years with this one craptastic season to forget.

Once again blowing a late two goal lead, the Red Wings lost in overtime to the Phoenix Coyotes. The loss gave the rival Coyotes two massive points and further distanced themselves from the Wings.

When the Wings miss the playoffs - it's time to accept the inevitable - they can point to this key stretch in the season. It's a sequence of 4 straight games that the Red Wings squandered third period leads, often squandering two goal leads.

Who to blame? Where to focus the anger?
Osgood? He's always the best place to start, but he was on the bench. Howard? He was relatively helpless and actually did a good job stalling the attack as long as he did. Lidstrom? Nah, the dude had two goals! Stuart? Perhaps. He failed to clear the puck late. Ericsson? Maybe. Another game of turnovers. Rafalski? 3 turnovers from him alone. All told, the Wings turned it over 19 times versus 5 for Phoenix. A complete mental breakdown and, to be fair, some old fashioned bad luck.

Of course, when it happens four straight games, it's no longer bad luck. It's just a bad hockey team.

Injuries

How much do injuries matter?

On the surface, quite a bit. What would the Celtics look like without Kevin Garnett? Or the Devils without Martin Brodeur? Or the Colts without Peyton Manning? These are franchise players who can singlehandedly lift a team.

For our winter Detroit teams, only the Red Wings have franchise-level talent with Zetterberg and Datsyuk, and neither player has been out for any significant length of time. With that said, neither has actually performed to their franchise-level ability either, but that's another story. So, as the injured Pistons and Red Wings slowly regain their health, will they actually start winning some games?

In the Pistons case, probably not. If Tayshaun taught me anything, it's that chemistry matters more than talent. Tayshaun is superior to Jonas Jerebko in every NBA-skill category except perhaps haircut. Yet, the team is infinitely better with Jerebko on the court. Part of the problem may be Tayshaun's rust. Last year, coming off his Olympic summer, Tayshaun was riding high and seemed to raise his game with the arrival of Allen Iverson (the only Piston who benefitted from that trade). As the losses piled up, though, Tayshaun's numbers dipped, and he never recovered. With Tayshaun out with the low-back injury, Jerebko picked up his minutes and made a mark with his athleticism and energy. The team rarely wins, but it's not due to poor play from Jerebko.

Now, Jerebko may not be a big drop-off from Prince, but what about Chucky Atkins? He's stepped in for Will Bynum. And is there any replacement for Ben Gordon? My guess is that Gordon and Bynum have been out so long that they'll have a difficult time re-integrating into the team. Kuester, already overwhelmed with the low attendance and extended losing streaks, will have to balance minutes for everybody. Both Bynum and Gordon have the potential to dominate on the offensive end. When hot, they can be a formidable back-court. But, man, this team is so guard-heavy. Will Bynum and Gordon's play be that much better than what Stuckey and Rip are currently providing? I doubt it. This team really needs help in the front-court. Barring some massive trade (like Stoudemire), I don't see any relief coming any time soon.

As for the Wings, my prediction is that they'll improve dramatically when Homer and Franzen return. I say this due to their impact on the powerplay. Now, the Wings only played three games with both Homer and Franzen on the ice, but the power play converted 26.7% of the time. Since those three games, the power play percentage dropped to 16.6%. That's significant. Those two guys could bring the Wings an extra goal per game, something they desperately need.

So, injuries... how much have they hurt? They've hurt the Wings significantly because nobody can fill the role that Homer and Franzen provide. As for the Pistons, the impact is less tangible. They just rearranged their guard merry-go-round

0-for-the-weekend

The Pistons went 0-2, the Wings went 0-1, and Curtis Granderson had a tear in his eye as he said farewell. Folks, check out this video below and try to convince yourself that the trade was a good idea. Curtis showed he was much more than a ballplayer, and individuals like that come around once a lifetime. That's all I'll say.



The winter of our discontent continues...

With the way the Pistons have played this year, I'm not terribly surprised. Even though they were embarrassed by the Pacers on Friday, they've rarely rebounded well from bad losses. They tend to stay stuck in the mire. To their credit, they rallied from a massive first half deficit (yet again) and actually kept it close in the 2nd half. Unfortunately, Portland's superior talent and coaching triumphed. It was another game where the opposition had little difficulty shooting over 50%. There's little doubt the key to success for this squad is in improving defense. Interestingly, the Pistons were linked this morning with one of the worst defensive players in the league - Amare Stoudamire.

Despite Amare's defensive deficiencies, I'd hope the Pistons mortgage the future to acquire this dude. He's had major injury problems throughout his young career, but that doesn't change the fact that he's a massive talent. And a player like Stoudamire is the exact complement that Stuckey needs to shine. He's got no big man to augment the inside-outside game. Stuckey is no Steve Nash, but he'll at least have a competent big man to dish to, as he drives the lane.

Unfortunately, the Pistons do not have much to offer. Phoenix may be interested in Tayshaun Prince and his expiring contract, but it's doubtful they'll be interested in anything else, other than Stuckey. Joe D would likely part with a draft pick before he'd part with Stuckey, so the best the Pistons could offer would be something like Tayshaun, Kwame, and a first round pick (likely #5 or #6). Kwame would be the throw-in to make the salaries work.

My guess is that Phoenix will find a much more attractive offer elsewhere. Memphis, for instance, may offer up Rudy Gay and Zach Randolph. Randolph has a dreadful contract, but it comes off the books in two seasons. Gay is a borderline All-star that might flourish in Phoenix. With that said, Prince may be more appealing. It wasn't long ago that he was an Olympian. Phoenix, for all their success, might covet a "glue" role-player like Tayshaun. And he's cheaper. We shall see.

Red Wings
There are still over 30 games to go, but we might need to accept that the Wings are just not good this season. For the third time in four games, the Wings lost their 3rd period lead by giving up two late goals. That's not the mark of a championship, let alone playoff team.

It's very depressing. It's still too early to panic, but it's not too early to worry.

Rebound

That's what I get. My reward for praising the Pistons was a blowout loss to the 15-28 Indiana Pacers... at home. Just how dreadful was this loss?

• The Pacers had only 4 wins on the road all season (4-18)
• Rodney Stuckey, who Fox Sports Detroit mentioned as a potential All-star (ha!), put up a -22 rating
• Pacer Center Roy Hibbert was a +29

The previous game Hibbert was a -22. Yet, against the Pistons vaunted front line, Hibbert dominates. The Pistons took an early 8-4 lead, then watched Indiana (15-28 Indiana, mind you) go on a 23-5 run. The Pistons did respond, however, with a small run of their own in the 2nd, cutting the lead to 4. Two straight three-pointers by Brandon Rush and Danny Granger pushed the Indiana lead back to 8 by the half. Things were still looking somewhat within reach for the Pistons, but Kuester must've spiked their Gatorade with Valium at the half. Indiana scored the first 11 points of the 3rd quarter and the rout was on... or, rather, confirmed.

So, just when you feel the Pistons have turned a corner, they lay an egg and stake their claim as the worst team in the NBA. I should note that Tayshaun played this time. Tayshaun scored 7 on 3-12 shooting, with 6 rebounds. He was certainly not to blame for the loss, but, as Mrs. Nofrownmotown noted, "When Tayshaun plays, they lose."

It's certainly a bizarre phenomenon. The dude just does not fit in the current scheme. Not only do the Pistons lose, but they get demolished. Folks, Tayshaun's only featured in one win - the first game of the friggin' season! I wish I had answers, but I can't see any rhyme or reason for this. Maybe Jerebko and Daye do make a big difference. Whatever it is... Kuester needs to address it, because the team is drawing fewer and fewer people.

And if I never see Chris Wilcox again, it'll be too soon.

OT
In happier news, the Red Wings actually won a game in a shootout last night. They didn't make it easy. The shootout went eight rounds. When Drew Miller scored the clinching shootout goal, Mike Babcock was lacing up his skates. There were smiles all around, but the fact is that the Red Wings - for the 2nd game in a row - gave up two goals late in the 3rd period. This time, they had a two goal cushion and won it in OT, but this is a disturbing trend.

With the lack of firepower, the Red Wings turned their focus to suffocating defense. They need to get back to that philosophy. I fear that part of the problem is Jonathan Ericsson, who's just returned from injury. It's hard to believe, but he's still just a rookie. He's turned the puck over a ton since his return, but they still need to work him into the lineup.

With the win, the Red Wings are now tied for the final playoff spot in the West. Hey, it's a start.

Back in the Sad-dle

Hey, y'all, I'm back from my little brother's movie shoot. Major props to John for holding down the fort in my absence. I noticed that the Pistons decided to go on a 3-game winning streak. It was almost as if they were waiting for me to leave before they decided to turn it on! But they rewarded me with one of their best wins of the season last night.

Likely you've already heard, but, in case you haven't, the Stones beat up on a true contender - the Celtics (27-13). It was Sheed's first return to the Palace since he signed with Boston. The Palace crowd was sparse, and their response lukewarm:


I understand that I'm a bigger Sheed fan than most, but Piston fans should realize that the dude gave us five years of great and maddening entertainment. His personality will never be replaced.

As for the game, it didn't start out very promising. Rip Hamilton and Big Ben must've been amped up beyond recognition, as they were passing the ball around like hyper 4th graders. Rondo feasted on their errant passes, slicing through the defense for easy layups. In the first quarter alone, the Stones turned it over 10 times (Rip finished with seven for the game!). Though they settled down after that. Only five more turns the rest of the way.

Thanks to Stuckey, the Pistons stayed within shouting distance in the first half. Stuckey scored 11 of the Pistons first 13 points. His impact was palpable. When Kuester sat him in the 2nd quarter due to foul trouble, the Celtics went on a run and pushed their lead to double digits. None other than Austin Daye ran the point. He had difficulty beating Rondo's trap, but, for his first time ever as an NBA point guard, Daye fared well. Daye even nailed a killer 3-pointer at the buzzer, to get the Pistons within 8 at the half.

The momentum carried through to the 2nd half. The Celtics, who shot 58% through 2, only scored 30 points the rest of the way. Normal defensive pansies like Villanueva and Daye stepped up their intensity to match the great defensive performances by Big Ben, Stuckey, and often-forgotten Jason Maxiell. In a key moment in the 3rd, Maxiell came out of nowhere to reject Rasheed Wallace as he attempted a thunder dunk. It brought the house down. Check it out here (at around 1:10 into the clip - they also show Austin Daye's killer 3):

The key to the second half, though, was Stuckey. Earlier in the afternoon, I was watching the Pistons vs Wizards game that trophy-wife, Mrs. NoFrownMotown, recorded for me while I was gone. Stuckey's game was just not clicking. While I believe he's an excellent talent, he just has a lot of difficulty finishing at the rim. And the most glaring weakness in his game is passing. He's not a horrible passer, but he never - repeat never - dishes off to the open player while driving to the hoop. My hope is that he soon adds that dimension to his game, as it will increase his effectiveness dramatically.

Stuckey's weaknesses aside, he was THE MAN last night. He finished with 27 points, 11 boards, 6 assists, and an impressive +14 rating. He hit a number of key hoops in crunch time, along with Charlie Villanueva. Stuckey ultimately outperformed Rondo as they were at each other's throats all game. Inconsistency still plagues the 3rd year guard, but he's exhibited the brief flashes of elite-level ability that hint at greatness. Whether he reaches that level remains to be seen, but it's clear today that Stuckey is the best player on the team. It's sort of a non-story at this point, but the Stones were without Prince, Gordon, and Bynum. Didn't matter. When Stuckey and Big Ben perform at that level last night, they can compete with anyone. Of course, as the 13 game losing streak proved, those two guys can't consistently play at that level. Players like Rip and Charlie V need to chip in. If they find their groove, the Stones may just dig themselves out of the NBA basement.

Captain America, part deux

Landon Donovan has now played two matches for Everton in the English Premier League. The talented American has been known overseas as much for his divorce from his actress ex-wife and his failure to make a name for himself outside of Major League Soccer, as he has for being the leading goal scorer in US National Team history.

He played well in his first match, an impressive 2-2 draw away at Arsenal, but only managed 75 minutes on the pitch -- reportedly due to cramping. The fact that he was able to hold his own on the road at a storied, albeit distasteful (solely my opinion -- but probably fact), London stadium speaks to his growth as a professional.

Landon's "home" debut came on Saturday against Manchester City. Not a bad baptism to the league, playing one of the storied Top 4 in game one and then the richest club on the planet in game two. Against Manchester City, Donovan again started on the right wing and didn't take long to announce his presence to the home supporters. He worked increasingly well with the international strikeforce of Louis Saha (France), Diniyar Bilyaletdinov (Russia) and Tim Cahill (Australia). He played well on the ground, nearly scoring during the opening 20 minutes, and was not afriad to let loose with shots from distance. However, what I found most compelling was his service from the right wing and on corners -- from both sides. He's stepped into the Toffee line-up and has immediately begun taking corners, one wonders if set pieces are far behind. His crosses were on mark and well-paced. It's curious where that particular skill was developed, as he is so often placed as a withdrawn striker, or central midfielder, on American soil.

His performance was not lost on the British television crew who were not shy in displaying both their surprise at his performance, as well as their respect for the quality of play that the American was finally displaying in a foreign league.

Let's hope that Landon's play continues to improve while on loan to Everton and that it translates to a positive run during this summer's venture in South Africa.

A sign of the times?

I was asked to sit-in for our master blogger and post a couple times this weekend. This would normally not be a big issue. However, I've had a lot going on in my life which has prevented me from actively following Detroit sports. In fact, for the past couple months, all of my contact with the world of the Wings, Pistons, Tigers and that football team, has been through nofrownmotown.com.

That said, I turned on my television this morning and saw that my beloved Red Wings were going to be on national TV (in HD no less). This was too much of a coincidence -- I had to watch -- and post.

They opened the telecast showing how the Wings were screwed out of a shoot out win against the Stars on Saturday. I wasn't terribly surprised, as I don't think the Wings have more than one OT win this season. Regardless, the NBC crew was very busy talking up the young, talented, and first place Blackhawks. I was a little shocked though (especially since Darren Pang was not part of the telecast), that they also were very sympathetic to the plight of the Red Wings, who, it was pointed out several times, would not make the playoffs if they were to start today.

Not having watched many Red Wing games since the Stanley Cup finals (the last time they were regularly televised in Denver), I didn't know what to expect. I was very disappointed with what I saw as the Blackhawks jumped to an early 2-0 lead. The Wings looked slow, disenchanted, and completely lacking of a defense or goalie.

Then they woke up. The turning point was highlighted by an impressive fight between Eaves and Versteeg. Eaves got popped good early, but was able to stay on his feet and land several solid blows. Kid won some fight cred. After that it was the same Red Wing team that we have known and loved for the past decade. They were all over the ice, completely outshooting the Blackhawks -- but regularly frustrated by the opposition's goalie -- and the goal posts.

When the game opened with the details about the shoot out loss to Dallas, I was miffed that the Wings had to play again today -- and early even. It turns out that Chicago was playing back-to-back as well, but those 19 year olds have to rebound faster... I tried to tell myself that the Wings didn't stand a chance with the back-to-back games, and against a team playing as well as the Blackhawks. I was really trying to not get too worked up. It didn't really work.

It had to be NBC's dream that this game go to OT -- more air time to showcase the Norris division's new guard as they fought the only team with players that still remember that there used to be a Norris Division? Too good to pass up. Shockingly NBC got what they wanted. The game was 2-1 Hawks after 1, and 3-2 after 2. The Red Wings dominated most of the 3rd period but the game ended 3-3. The ice remained tilted in the Wings favor during the OT period, but as destiny would dictate, the Wings got to show off their skills in yet another shoot out. I'm still pretty ticked about it, just suffice to say that the Blackhawks made more than the home team.

After the game ended I sat down to write this posting and figured I should check out what the 'Stones have been up to since Steve's last post. It turns out that the Pistons have been going to work. Three straight wins?! I'll have to do some more research to see what the change has been (might have something to do with playing the Knicks), but I did see a blerb that in beating New Orleans on Friday, Jonas was running the point (matched up with CPaul?!) at one point. Gotta give Kuester a little credit. Not certain he'll have his job next year, but innovative line-ups are at least a sign of effort.

The Search is Over

It took a month and an opposing team in even more disarray, but, last night, the Pistons finally halted the losing streak.

Unfortunately, I can't offer my usual amateur analysis, as I was unable to watch the game last night due to impending fatherhood responsibilities (will watch on DVR tonight). Yet, I have no doubt the Pistons were all singing this song aboard the team plane last night:



Tomorrow morning, I'll be heading out to Los Angeles for a video shoot and will likely be out of contact. Please don't fret. Perhaps we can convince sometime-blogger, JoKo, to hold down the fort.

13 and counting

It seems like years ago that I said the Pistons hit rock bottom. Little did I know it would get this bad. They lost by 35 points to a 15-20 team. Like most games, the Pistons didn't manage to even win a quarter. They were outplayed in every facet of the game and seemed to not care.

This free-fall is such a head-scratcher based on their performance early in the year. Kuester had the team swarming the ball and aggressively attacking the basket for both shots and rebounds. It was an energy Pistons fans hadn't since Carlisle's first season. Yet, the team that took the court against the Bulls was the exact opposite. They had no sense of desperation, no drive.

They're going to get Kuester fired... and maybe Joe D as well. And I wouldn't complain.

Soon, the Palace won't be able to give tickets away. The product on the floor is a harsh, painful reminder of how far they've fallen. When attendance dips to record lows, heads will roll.

So, how do they fix it? It's truly a mystery. Kuester has tried shifting the lineup, but no matchup works. My line of thinking is that he should focus solely on defense. Every team is gouging the defense. The Bulls shot 57%. Same with the 76ers. The Spurs shot 58%! These are not offensive juggernauts, but, every time the Pistons take the court, they make average players look like All-stars (David Lee! Luol Deng! Samuel Dalembert! Joakim Noah!). With a full commitment to defense, the games should at least be more competitive. The Stones will still have difficulty scoring since they've got no chemistry, but that's no surprise. The team is made up of five shooting guards, four small forwards, and five power forwards. Zero balance. That's on Joe, but the lack of D is on Kuester.

Have a little heart, Pistons. The product on the court is flat-out disgusting. It's exactly like watching the Lions, and there's only room for one pathetic organization in this town.

Ford, Ford, Ford!
It wasn't all sad news in Detroit yesterday. The auto show, often maligned and justifiably so, showed the world that the "Big 2" will not go away quietly. The Ford Fusion Hybrid won car of the year. GMC, long a brand for truckers and Toby Keith, unveiled the Granite - a small roadster that could compete with Civics and Camrys. Now don't spit out your coffee, but GMC actually produced a car that exceeds 12 miles per gallon! The Granite is rated at 27 city/33 highway.

Luminaries from Washington DC attended the event for the first time in years, and I can't help but think "too little too late" for both automakers and lawmakers. No doubt the lawmakers like Nancy Pelosi flew in to check in how GM is faring post-Government bailout. Yet, where was this government pressure ten years ago? Twenty? Where was the Ford and GM innovation when Honda and Toyota were taking over the market? The Fusion and Granite are great cars, but did it really need to take the crumbling of the American economy to produce change?

Perhaps it'll be a lesson for future generations. Don't wait to innovate.

For some overdue American innovation, check this out:

The Anti-Wings

I'm still trying to wrap my head around the Wings. This is a team that was outshot 52 to 24 and somehow managed to win... they waltzed into San Jose and won 4-1... the goaltender is the best player on the team... and yet they're not even a top 8 team in the West. It's the exact opposite of what we've come to expect from this storied franchise.

The Wings finished their West coast trip with a 3-1 record, proving they're capable of beating any team in any venue. Yet, they still can't consistently put the puck in the net. When they scored 4 goals in San Jose, it was their first 4 goal game (not including an empty-netter) since November 30th. During the same stretch last year, they scored four goals or more TEN times, including six games where they netted six. But the lack of goal-scoring was expected with the loss of talent. The Wings have stayed competitive thanks to two developments - Jimmy Howard and defensive discipline. Since the beginning of the year, the defense has improved greatly in reducing turnovers. They don't press, which means fewer offensive opportunities (notable in Lidstrom's goal-scoring drought), but they also don't give up many odd-man rushes. And Jimmy Howard has simply been a Godsend. True, both the Kings and Sharks missed glorious opportunities to light up the scoreboard, but we must credit Howard for blocking everything that came his way. He gave up zero soft goals on the road trip, and singlehandedly frustrated the super-talented Sharks and the somewhat-talented Kings.

As of today, the Wings are one point shy of the 8th playoff spot. I believe it's crucial for the Wings to move up to a comfortable playoff position so they don't wear themselves out. Under normal circumstances, the team would be in fine shape, since key players (Zetterberg, Franzen, Cleary, Kronwall, Filppula) already took extended mid-season vacations. Yet, this is an Olympic year. Zetterberg and Lidstrom will have to log long hours for Team Sweden. Rafalski will be the key defensemen for Team USA. Only the Canadians will get a vacation (Bertuzzi, Cleary, Helm, Drapes, etc).

If the Wings manage to move up to the 4th or 5th spot, they can take their foot off the gas a bit and start to finalize their personnel. Key contributors like Patrick Eaves, Drew Miller, and Abdelkader may find their roles greatly diminished once the injured players return. One player who cemented his spot on this team is Darren Helm. The young center almost singlehandedly won the games in LA and San Jose. In the waning moments of a 1-1 game in LA, Helm sped past the Kings' defense to win a puck deep in the LA zone. He fought off two defenders and rushed toward the goal. His "shot" ricocheted off the goalie's stick and slipped between his legs into the net. Extremely lucky, but Helm's hustle earned the luck. Against the Sharks, with the Sharks pressing deep in the Red Wings zone, Helm - without his stick - somehow stole the puck from a Shark defensemen, and sent it out of the zone. Instead of going to the bench for a stick, Helm raced after the puck, beat the defensemen once again, and threw the puck deep into the Sharks' zone, while sliding on this stomach! A few minutes later, Helm's line iced the puck twice and thus were forced to stay on the ice for an extended shift. He won the faceoff and cleared the puck out of the zone. But Helm and Patrick Eaves didn't leave the ice. They continued to forecheck. Eaves's tenacity forced a turnover, and Helm picked off the pass, raced toward the net and scored. Beautiful, aggressive play. Helm is already a fan favorite. With more plays like that, he'll soon enter Darren McCarty-level popularity.

Pistoned
I'm not sure if the Piston's season has actually started yet because the game last Saturday was some sort of exhibition. It was nice of the Piston organization to let the Boulan Park Middle School hoops team wear their uniforms and take on the Sixers. It must've been quite a thrill for those youngsters to actually play against a real NBA team!

Tigers trying to inch back to respectability

According to Yahoo Sports Tim Brown, the Tigers made an offer to Houston closer, Jose Valverde.

Valverde is a former all-star who saved 47 and 44 games during the '07 and '08 seasons, respectively. Last year, the save total dropped to 25. Even during his all-star year of '07, Valverde's save percentage was only 87%. For comparison sake:

Rodney - 97%
Rivera - 96%
Papelbon - 93%
Soria - 91%
Nathan - 90%
Wood - 77%

Valverde's stats puts him roughly in the middle of the pack. I like his ERA - 2.3 (career 3.17), and his WHIP is solid - 1.1. I'm in favor of this signing, as it gives the Tigers a respectable major league closer. Hopefully, it'll get done.

Then they can focus on signing an outfield, because currently they have only one position filled - Ordonez at right field. He's not what I would call a defensive stopper, so let's get the guy some friggin' help.

Howard
Slowly but surely, young Jimmy Howard has improved his game this year. Last night, the young man stopped an astonishing 51 shots from the Kings. He allowed just 1 goal in the 2-1 win. With Osgood sucking majorly earlier in the year, the Wings had no choice but to throw Howard the keys to the car. Howard was inconsistent at first - in fact I wanted to ship him away early on. But he's since played like a friggin' all-star. Major kudos to Jimmy Howard for persevering and proving us all wrong!

Best/Worst of '09, Part 2

The Pistons and Wings both blew chunks last night. After praising the Wings effort a few days ago, they go out and turn the puck over countless times, allowing easy goals for a struggling Duck team. Shows what I know. To make matter worse, the Pistons' Chris Wilcox exploded in the first half last night, with something like 4 straight dunks. The Pistons still lost, of course, but Wilcox was impressive. It's the reverse of the NoFrownMotown curse. Pistons face San Antonio tonight. Losing streak will surely hit 11.



Now, on to more pressing matters... reliving the worst sports moments of 2009!!!



Top 7 Worst Moments of 2009
7. Losing Hossa/Kopecky/Hudler/Samuelsson/Conklin
Nobody expected the Wings to keep everybody. The major contracts due Zetterberg and Franzen prevented it. Yet, who foresaw this massive exodus? In one short week, the Wings' reputation took a major hit. The rest of the NHL was hoping the Wings would fall from their pedestal, but, as a fan, with players like Z and Pavel still in their prime, we thought they'd have a few more stellar years. Without those solid role players and the star talent of Hossa, the Wings came crashing down to Earth.

6. Cabrera's Night Out
Man, this one sucked. On the eve of the biggest game of the year, Cabrera parties with the opponent, gets completely trashed, goes home at 6am, hits his wife, and ends up in jail. Helluva way to prepare. The Tigers, of course, lose. Cabrera is a young player who was on his way to becoming a massive star in Detroit. This one event likely sullied his reputation beyond repair. Detroit fans can forgive losing, but they don't forgive wasted talent (and I do mean "wasted").

5. Granderson/Jackson Trade
There's no better way to kill optimism than to trade away the team's most popular player. Despite just falling short of the playoffs, Dombrowski completely pulled the plug on the immediate future by shipping off Granderson and the #2 pitcher, Edwin Jackson. If the prospects fulfill their potential, they'll likely be no better than Granderson and Jackson, so, at best, this trade is a net-zero. So why do it? Cuz it saves the team millions of dollars. Fans won't care. They want wins, or at least a plan for the future. The Tigers will be a hard sell on both accounts next season.

4. The Tigers Final Month
Impending sense of dread. We all felt it. Despite leading the division all season, we all knew the Tigers would find a way to blow it. And blow it they did... in record fashion. The Twins caught fire and finished the year 17-4. The Tigers received absolutely no help from the Twins' opposition (specifically the Royals) who offered zero resistance. In fact, the only team to challenge the Twins in that stretch was the Tigers, accounting for 3 of the Twins' 4 losses. The Tigers played roughly .500 ball in the final month, but it was just enough to force a playoff. The Tigers had an early lead (teasing) before the Twins tied it late. Then the Tigers took a lead in extra innings (teasing) before the Twins tied it again. Then the Tigers put a runner on third with 1 out (teasing) but they couldn't sacrifice him home and the Twins won it easily the next time at bat. In hindsight, it was the least enjoyable winning season I've ever experienced, capped off by a truly historic choke. Ah, memories. What could possibly be worse than this one?

3. Iverson
It's truly difficult not to blame Iverson for the complete dismantling of a dynasty. Prior to his arrival, the Pistons went to five straight Eastern Conference Finals. After his arrival, team chemistry plummeted, and they slid below .500. Dumars blew up the roster in the offseason, and the Pistons now find themselves as the worst team in the NBA. In hindsight, the Iverson trade ruined both the Pistons franchise and AI's career. He was doing well in Denver, scoring 20+/game. Now, his confidence is shot, and he's lucky to be collecting a paycheck. With all that said, it's not AI who destroyed the Pistons. It's poor planning by Dumars and sheer bad luck. But AI - and to some extent Darko - serve as the face of the downfall.

2. Game 7
Everybody knows that the home team wins Game 7. Everybody also knows that teams never come back from 2 games down in a Best-of-Seven series. Well, apparently the Penguins didn't know it. They flew into Detroit and completely shut down the high-flying and confident Wings, depriving Detroit fans of their one remaining source of pride. Overhyped Sidney Crosby fared poorly in the series and fared even worse by not shaking Lidstrom's hand afterward. It was just more salt in the wound. It's difficult to know the long-term effect of the Game 7 loss, but the Wings have struggled ever since. They were just one game from being Stanley Cup Champions, and yet now - a mere 6 months later - they find themselves OUT of the playoffs. It was a brutal blow to come so close only to lose, but at least it was better than...

1. 0-16
Embarrassment on a national scale. Most Lion fans spent the '08-'09 in a daze. Some actually cheered for the 16th loss just to prove the Lions could accomplish something. And probably the worst thing to happen to Detroit sports since Bird stealing the ball. The Lions' infamy will last a lifetime and beyond. They'll forever be the team that went 0-16. It will follow them around like a fart that never fades. It was such a bad season, that it was beyond laughable. It became surreal. It was perfection... perfection in reverse.

Best/Worst of '09

Mrs. Nofrownmotown suggested that I put together a list of the best and worst moments in Detroit sports from the previous year. Thinking back on 2009, the year skewed toward the negative. In fact, it could be the worst year in Detroit sports in my lifetime. It was quite difficult coming up with five "best" moments, but the "worst" moments came back as vivid as a solar eclipse. Detroit fans suffered every conceivable level of disappointment - from the heartache of just falling one game short of a title to the embarrassment of a historic winless season. The Detroit sporting landscape looks much different now than twelve months ago, and most of the changes are in the wrong direction.

Let's start with the positives.

Top 3 Best Moments from 2009
3. Big Ben's return.
Few people felt Big Ben had much in the tank when Joe D signed him. Yet, something in the water must work for the big guy, as he's a borderline All-star once again. He's pulling down close to 10 boards/game in fewer minutes, and - at least for a few games - instilled a renewed commitment to Defense. The recent 9-game skid sullies the Ben signing, but it still stands as a great moment for a franchise in need of an identity.

2. Huff's HR.
On September 14th, the Tigers still had a commanding lead in the Central, but the team was struggling. They lost three straight to the Royals and then two more to the Blue Jays. This night, the Tigers once again faced the Blue Jays, but Verlander was on the mound. Verlander was strong most of the night, but he struggled in the 6th, giving up 5. In the bottom of the 9th, the Tigers were down 5-2. Things looked dire. The first batter was Granderson. He hit a slow grounder to the SS. Dang. Wait - the SS botched it, and Granderson was safe on the error! Next up was Avila, pinch hitting for Laird. Avila hit a sharp single. That brought the tying run to the plate. Leyland decided to use Huff, pinch hitting for Ramon Santiago. Huff did not disappoint. He sent a towering shot to right field, tying the game. The Tigers went on to win in the bottom of the 10th. The Tigers had many dramatic walk-off wins this year, but the Huff HR stands out to me as one of the most memorable.

1. Firing Rod Marinelli.
This "great moment" is unfortunately only great because the Lions were so dreadful. Nevertheless, I believe it qualifies since it shows rare good judgment by the Lions owner and ringleader, William Clay Ford. It would seem like an afterthought that the coach of the first-ever 0-16 deserves to be fired, but this is the Lions we're talking about - the worst franchise in the history of sports. This is the team that employed Wayne Fontes for nine seasons. This is the team that drafted Mike Williams, Charles Rogers, and Joey Harrington. This is the team that gave Matt Millen a contract extension despite a 10-37 record as a GM! Evidently, the first-ever 0-16 season was enough to convince WCF that Rod Marinelli was not a good coach. After the final game, Rod got the boot, and the Lions hired a guy who could at least string together a coherent sentence. Folks, that's our happiest moment of the year.

(Coming tomorrow: Top 7 Worst Moments)

Not much cheer over the Holidays

As I watched the Red Wings methodically dismantle the surging Phoenix Coyotes Saturday night, I couldn't help but savor the moment. Both the NHL and NBA seasons are roughly halfway over, and the Detroit teams have struggled. If the seasons ended today, neither the Wings nor the Pistons would make the playoffs. Imagine that... spring is in the air and the only Detroit sports news is Tiger spring training and the Lions draft. It would be enough to make me a golf fan.

Yet, the victory over the Coyotes was reason for optimism. It was the first time this season that the Red Wings looked like their old selves. The Coyotes are currently the 3rd best team in the West, and they had not lost in regulation at home since mid-November. The game was very even at the outset. The Coyotes earned a number of fine scoring opportunities but surprisingly steady Jimmy Howard thwarted every attempt. The Wings were the first to break through late in the 1st. With the top players on the ice (Datsyuk, Bertuzzi, Holmstrom, Lidstrom, Rafalski), the Wings controlled the puck in the Coyotes zone. They cycled the puck around and eventually earned an open shot for Lidstrom. Now, Lidstrom hasn't scored since the Reagan Administration. He has ONE goal on the year! To say he's a bit overdue is like saying China has a bit of a population problem. But Lidstrom still confidently whipped the puck at the net, and Homer redirected it home.

In the 2nd period, the Coyotes equalized thanks to a 2-man advantage. The refs awarded the 2nd penalty after Darren Helm retaliated after a hard check into the boards. Helm took a swing at the player and promptly got whistled. I understand refereeing an NHL game is a difficult job, but I've seen players retaliate millions of times without getting whistled. Why would Helm get a penalty in that situation with his team already down a man? It's like gifting the opposition a goal. We're five years into the "New NHL" and the league still doesn't know what it wants to be. I digress.

With less than a minute to go in the 2nd period, the Wings top line scored again, in similar fashion. Lidstrom send a low, hard shot toward net and Homer redirected it past the goalie. The goal was fine consolation for a hard-working period. Phoenix took a ton of shots, but the scoring chances were starting to pile up in Detroit's favor.

In the 3rd, the Wings took control. The passes were tape-to-tape, and the defense did not take a foolish penalty. A power play afforded the Wings the crucial insurance goal. Bertuzzi - playing better than he has in years - calmly worked the puck around ice. His big body and skilled hands make it extremely tough to push him off the puck. He received a pass from Rafalski and then found an open Datsyuk on the other side of the net. Datsyuk's one-timer beat the goalie for the commanding 3-1 lead. Helm scored an empty-netter for the 4-1 win.

It was truly like old times, and it was hard to believe the Wings played so well with all the injuries. This game was the first of a long road trip, so tougher games loom ahead, but it was an impressive start.

Cold Stones Creamery
Not so impressive was the pathetic Holiday display by the men on the hardcourt. On December 12th, the Pistons beat Golden State at home. Let's take a look at some of the numbers since that win:

Piston's Record: 0-9
Opponent's Win Percentage: 52%
Average margin of loss: 14 points
Average half-time deficit: 9 points
Charlie V's ppg: 8.7
Charlie V's ppg in previous five (all wins): 18
Charlie V's FG%: 31.5
Rip's FG%: 30
Kwame Brown's average minutes: 6
Kwame's average in the previous five games: 14.5

A few days ago, I postulated that the slide was due to fatigue by Stuckey and Big Ben. After watching the debacle against the Bulls - in which both Stuckey and Ben suffered painful ankle sprains - I now believe the problem is much deeper. Both Ben and Stuckey aren't at full strength, and they can't carry the team. Yet, looking at their numbers, they're actually playing at an impressive clip. Defensively, they've dropped off, but, otherwise, Stuckey and Big Ben are part of the solution. It's everyone else that needs to raise their play.

Patrick Hayes postulated two days ago that the Pistons are getting killed by "hustle guys" like David Lee and Joakim Noah. That's a clear indication that the aggressiveness from earlier in the season is no longer there. The Pistons began the year as an exciting, mistake-prone team. They could compete with anybody and played with heart and determination. Big Ben was in line for another All-star game. Somewhere along the way, the team lost heart. They regularly get beat up on the boards and lose loose balls. They're lazy on defense, so they pick up a ton of fouls, and can't consistently run any offensive set. Kuester seemed like a savvy tactician but now his decisions and personnel choices seem odd. Chris Wilcox plays while Kwame sits? Wilcox brings energy, yes, but only on the offensive end. Kwame at least rebounds well and showed solid chemistry with Big Ben.

The team is finally healthy, and they need to right the ship. Tanking the season for a high lottery pick is not the answer.