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.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
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:
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:
Monday, January 11, 2010
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!
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!
Friday, January 8, 2010
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!
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!
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
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.
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.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
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)
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)
Monday, January 4, 2010
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.
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.
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