During the 2nd half of Wings' game last night, they played like reigning Stanley Cup finalists. Unfortunately, during the 1st half, they were the '09 Detroit Red Wings.
With dreadful defense and even worse goaltending, the Wings allowed Edmonton to jump out to a 4-0 lead. Edmonton needed just 42 seconds to open the scoring. The Wings had 4 straight minutes of power play to try to equalize, but they could hardly earn a scoring chance. They did get one goal back to end the first period, but Edmonton came out in the 2nd and scored to take a commanding 5-1 lead.
Jimmy Howard did not look strong in net. In fact, he played like perhaps the worst starting goalie in the NHL. He's shown flashes of aptitude, but more often than not he's underperformed. A few more shaky starts like this, and the Wings should waive him. I can't totally blame the defense because Edmonton only managed 29 shots. Most teams would give average about 2-3 goals against on 29 shots. Not 5. Yet, that's what the Red Wings are right now - a very porous team.
To their credit, they battled back. In impressive fashion they erased the four-goal deficit. New signing Patrick Eaves scored the tying goal with about 7 minutes left. At times, they looked like a dominant, elite team. But it wasn't enough. They're just not good enough to battle back from four goals down - not many teams can.
With such a dramatic comeback, this game felt much like a win. Yet, it's difficult to pin this team down. Eleven games into the season, they've only won four. That's not the Red Wings standard. I was hoping this squad would compete for the Cup for one more season. Then Lidstrom can retire and the rebuilding can begin. It may still happen, but they've got to shore up the goaltending. And right quick.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Memphis Beatdown
It was the dream start for Joe D. In the 2nd quarter, with both Ben Gordon and Rip on the court, the Piston guards lit up the scoresheet going a combined 9-12, including Little Ben's long-range prayer that rattled in off the backboard as the shot clock expired. That shot (a 4pt play) signaled to Memphis that it might not be their night.
I could tell early on that this Piston team was vastly different than the '08-'09 version. The team came out of the gate with a defensive intensity not seen since Big Ben left. Folks, his impact on the game can't be overstated. George Blaha noted that his defensive play is infectious. In the 1st quarter, Memphis tried unsuccessfully to push the tempo and struggled in every possession. The Piston offense also struggled out of the gate, but, due to their aggressive play, they finished the quarter up four.
Then Little Ben and Rip took over in the 2nd. I could tell the game was close to turning into a rout, though the Memphis core of Rudy Gay and OJ Mayo hit some big threes to stay in shouting distance. As the Pistons left the court at halftime, leading by 12, I scanned the team to see if there were any smiles. Not a one. A few high fives (after Rip's buzzer beating jump shot), but otherwise they were all business.
Memphis lost a little ground in the 3rd quarter, and then Little Ben opened the 4th quarter with back-to-back threes. That was it for the Grizz. It was a night when everything seemed to work for the Pistons. Even Charlie V, who struggled early, found his stroke in the 2nd half. He missed most of training camp and was clearly not quite comfortable with his new teammates. But Rip and Stuckey kept feeding him the ball until he eventually hit a rhythm, finishing with 7pts. It was vintage LB-era Piston win, swarming defense and a controlled offense. Despite all the new faces, the Pistons had a shockingly low 2 turnovers in the 1st half. They had only 4 mid-way in the final quarter.
After such a dreary, no-fun season, it was truly refreshing to watch a blowout win. To be fair, Memphis is a bad team. They will not likely make the playoffs. They've got some young talent in Gay, Mayo, and Marc Gasol. And they've got Zach Randolph who's always good for 20pts. But they have no winning culture. So the win must be recognized in context. The old sports cliche "You're never as good as you think you are after a win" is likely true. The Pistons are not elite, but they showed their potential last night. That's a start. Keep up the defensive intensity and limit the turnovers and good things will happen.
I could tell early on that this Piston team was vastly different than the '08-'09 version. The team came out of the gate with a defensive intensity not seen since Big Ben left. Folks, his impact on the game can't be overstated. George Blaha noted that his defensive play is infectious. In the 1st quarter, Memphis tried unsuccessfully to push the tempo and struggled in every possession. The Piston offense also struggled out of the gate, but, due to their aggressive play, they finished the quarter up four.
Then Little Ben and Rip took over in the 2nd. I could tell the game was close to turning into a rout, though the Memphis core of Rudy Gay and OJ Mayo hit some big threes to stay in shouting distance. As the Pistons left the court at halftime, leading by 12, I scanned the team to see if there were any smiles. Not a one. A few high fives (after Rip's buzzer beating jump shot), but otherwise they were all business.
Memphis lost a little ground in the 3rd quarter, and then Little Ben opened the 4th quarter with back-to-back threes. That was it for the Grizz. It was a night when everything seemed to work for the Pistons. Even Charlie V, who struggled early, found his stroke in the 2nd half. He missed most of training camp and was clearly not quite comfortable with his new teammates. But Rip and Stuckey kept feeding him the ball until he eventually hit a rhythm, finishing with 7pts. It was vintage LB-era Piston win, swarming defense and a controlled offense. Despite all the new faces, the Pistons had a shockingly low 2 turnovers in the 1st half. They had only 4 mid-way in the final quarter.
After such a dreary, no-fun season, it was truly refreshing to watch a blowout win. To be fair, Memphis is a bad team. They will not likely make the playoffs. They've got some young talent in Gay, Mayo, and Marc Gasol. And they've got Zach Randolph who's always good for 20pts. But they have no winning culture. So the win must be recognized in context. The old sports cliche "You're never as good as you think you are after a win" is likely true. The Pistons are not elite, but they showed their potential last night. That's a start. Keep up the defensive intensity and limit the turnovers and good things will happen.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Shots
For a few moments, I found myself making excuses for the Red Wings last night - "They try hard, but simply don't have the talent." That was after Ozzie got pulled for letting in a very weak 2nd goal in 4 shots.
Then I realized... this team was one win from the Stanley Cup just a few months ago. This team has the talent. They're just not putting together a full 60 minutes. The next thing I knew, the Wings scored a terrific goal to pull within 1. Datsyuk to Zetterberg to Homer for an easy tap in. The Wings kept pressuring and soon had a commanding 22-11 advantage in shots on goal.
The long-running Red Wing gameplan is to control the puck, pepper shots on goal, and maintain pressure in the offensive zone. More shots should equal more goals in the long run, but that hasn't been the case lately. Whether it's hot goaltenders, poor shooting, or simply bad luck, the Wings' strategy resulted in 3 straight losses and a dreadful 3-4-2 start to the season.
But last night, the dam finally broke. After scoring just 1 goal on 28 shots through the first two periods, the Wings netted four in the 3rd. It was just enough, as Vancouver also scored twice in 3rd, both on the powerplay. Jimmy Howard did well in relief of Osgood, stopping 20 shots and keeping the game within reach.
This win does not signal the turning of the corner of course. It just shows that the strategy sometimes works. Vancouver is a talented team with perhaps the best goalie in the league, and the Wings scored on him five times. Perhaps the only good news this season is that the Wings' four wins are against top-tier teams, but they have to find some consistency. The tough road trip continues against Edmonton and Calgary - extremely difficult places to get wins even during the best of times. If the defense (especially Ozzie) does not allow cheap goals, the team might just return home at .500.
Then I realized... this team was one win from the Stanley Cup just a few months ago. This team has the talent. They're just not putting together a full 60 minutes. The next thing I knew, the Wings scored a terrific goal to pull within 1. Datsyuk to Zetterberg to Homer for an easy tap in. The Wings kept pressuring and soon had a commanding 22-11 advantage in shots on goal.
The long-running Red Wing gameplan is to control the puck, pepper shots on goal, and maintain pressure in the offensive zone. More shots should equal more goals in the long run, but that hasn't been the case lately. Whether it's hot goaltenders, poor shooting, or simply bad luck, the Wings' strategy resulted in 3 straight losses and a dreadful 3-4-2 start to the season.
But last night, the dam finally broke. After scoring just 1 goal on 28 shots through the first two periods, the Wings netted four in the 3rd. It was just enough, as Vancouver also scored twice in 3rd, both on the powerplay. Jimmy Howard did well in relief of Osgood, stopping 20 shots and keeping the game within reach.
This win does not signal the turning of the corner of course. It just shows that the strategy sometimes works. Vancouver is a talented team with perhaps the best goalie in the league, and the Wings scored on him five times. Perhaps the only good news this season is that the Wings' four wins are against top-tier teams, but they have to find some consistency. The tough road trip continues against Edmonton and Calgary - extremely difficult places to get wins even during the best of times. If the defense (especially Ozzie) does not allow cheap goals, the team might just return home at .500.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Chemistry
We all know it's not about the names, the All-stars, or the talent. It's about chemistry - the elusive intangible. The Carlisle/LB-era Pistons had it, as did every Red Wing team this decade. Then it vanished. Why?
Team chemistry is like a chili recipe - the ingredients need to be in the right proportions, else it turns bitter. Two key ingredients are personality and leadership. The Pistons abandoned the leadership ingredient in three stages - the firing of Larry Brown, losing Big Ben to Chicago, and the Chauncey trade. It's difficult to fault the Pistons for the first two, but that trade turned into a disaster. Last year's team turned off many fans, and they may not return until the team lands another Grant Hill. Joe D addressed on-court issues, such as scoring, in the offseason, and he was wise to court Ben Wallace. After the bitter parting in '06, both Ben and Joe D put ego aside to resume a partnership. So far, it seems mutually beneficial. Ben's presence stabilized the leadership void. Ben also backs Coach Kuester, which lends the coach more credibility than Curry. Yet, the team remains in flux. Ben Gordon is a powerful personality, and it remains to be seen how he will fit with the old guard or Hamilton, Prince, and Stuckey.
After the eight preseason games, one thing is clear - this team has little margin for error. When Prince or Wallace was out of the lineup, the opposing teams crushed them. Surprisingly, Coach Kuester may have unearthed a decent big man pairing with Big Ben and Kwame Brown. Kwame is eager to learn, and Ben is eager to teach. With Big Ben wrestling the starting PF spot from Charlie V, folks around the NBA are chuckling that Joe D blew his cap-space on two bench players. Piston fans know better. It's not about stars or egos. It's about wins. And the wins will come from chemistry.
This current incarnation will not challenge for any title, but they may lay the groundwork for something special down the road. Joe D locked up a solid 3-guard rotation for years to come (I still don't believe Rip is in the long-term plans). He drafted two serviceable small forwards with an upside, and he signed a high-scoring 4. It's a relatively young team that will hopefully learn how to win from the few remaining veterans. Is it the right mix? We really won't know for 82 games.
Team chemistry is like a chili recipe - the ingredients need to be in the right proportions, else it turns bitter. Two key ingredients are personality and leadership. The Pistons abandoned the leadership ingredient in three stages - the firing of Larry Brown, losing Big Ben to Chicago, and the Chauncey trade. It's difficult to fault the Pistons for the first two, but that trade turned into a disaster. Last year's team turned off many fans, and they may not return until the team lands another Grant Hill. Joe D addressed on-court issues, such as scoring, in the offseason, and he was wise to court Ben Wallace. After the bitter parting in '06, both Ben and Joe D put ego aside to resume a partnership. So far, it seems mutually beneficial. Ben's presence stabilized the leadership void. Ben also backs Coach Kuester, which lends the coach more credibility than Curry. Yet, the team remains in flux. Ben Gordon is a powerful personality, and it remains to be seen how he will fit with the old guard or Hamilton, Prince, and Stuckey.
After the eight preseason games, one thing is clear - this team has little margin for error. When Prince or Wallace was out of the lineup, the opposing teams crushed them. Surprisingly, Coach Kuester may have unearthed a decent big man pairing with Big Ben and Kwame Brown. Kwame is eager to learn, and Ben is eager to teach. With Big Ben wrestling the starting PF spot from Charlie V, folks around the NBA are chuckling that Joe D blew his cap-space on two bench players. Piston fans know better. It's not about stars or egos. It's about wins. And the wins will come from chemistry.
This current incarnation will not challenge for any title, but they may lay the groundwork for something special down the road. Joe D locked up a solid 3-guard rotation for years to come (I still don't believe Rip is in the long-term plans). He drafted two serviceable small forwards with an upside, and he signed a high-scoring 4. It's a relatively young team that will hopefully learn how to win from the few remaining veterans. Is it the right mix? We really won't know for 82 games.
Friday, October 23, 2009
Hawai'i
Howdy, folks. Sorry for the long layoff. Mrs. Thatballdontlie and I are actually on vacation in Hawai'i. I suppose I should've said "Aloha" instead of "Howdy," but I gotta keep some semblance of self-identity.
In the meantime, I noticed that the Red Wings slide continues, as does the Pistons lack of defense. So, I haven't missed much. For your viewing pleasure (or dis-pleasure), check out the above picture of me and a mysterious Sea Monster who terrorized Lanikai beach while we were there. He (or she) kept popping up for air and then swimming away, only to return about every ten minutes. The crazed Sea Monster apparently had no idea that that little stretch of ocean was mine! You should be able to click on the pic for a larger image of the aforementioned monster.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Wing Troubles Continue
The Wings allowed zero goals through two periods, and then BOOM - three goals in the 3rd. That's troubling. How could the defense fail so badly in crunch time? The Avs are not the Blackhawks; they're not even the Capitals. Yet, they had enough to punch three into the net and skate away with a shootout victory.
According to mLive, the Red Wings lead the league in turnovers (95). Chatting briefly with John last night, he said that the transition game is killing the Wings (interestingly, that's the same thing killing the Pistons, but that's another story). We've seen it develop over the past 12 months. Other teams have figured out how to prevent the quick-strike outlet passes from the Red Wing defensemen. They jump on the outlet passes and keep the puck in the Red Wing zone. Against Colorado, I watched a frustrated Red Wing defense ice the puck three times in the 1st period. It was bizarre.
They did manage to control the game in the 2nd period, playing the dominant style we're used to seeing. It was the most dominant I had seen them play all season. Yet, it all crumbled in the 3rd. All season, Babcock has preached defense (also same with Kuester), but they remain 22nd in the league in goals-against (3.4/game). And they haven't had the offense to match (3.1/game). So, what's a coach to do?
My guess is that only part of the problem is strategy. Babcock will need to devise a game-plan to exploit the opposition's constant forechecking. If the Avs, Blues, and Blackhawks want to commit so many players to the forecheck, that should open up the ice in the neutral zone. I'm no coach, but that seems like common sense. Nevertheless, I think the main issue is focus and desire. The players that went through the grueling playoffs last year are just not clicking. It's got to be tough motivating for these early season games, while still emotionally spent from last June.
That's why it should be no surprise that folks like Bertuzzi, Williams, and Brad May are playing with a bit more drive. They've got something to prove. But Zetterberg? He seems a bit worn out. Same with Stuart, Kronwall, Rafalski, and Nick.
75 games left, so there's no reason to panic. The rest of the NHL is ready for them to falter, but Babcock won't let that happen. I expect a different Red Wing team to come back from the upcoming West Coast trip. Even during the best of times, they struggle out West. This current trip could force the team to gel and focus. They may not have a great record, but tough games in Calgary and Edmonton will get the blood flowing.
According to mLive, the Red Wings lead the league in turnovers (95). Chatting briefly with John last night, he said that the transition game is killing the Wings (interestingly, that's the same thing killing the Pistons, but that's another story). We've seen it develop over the past 12 months. Other teams have figured out how to prevent the quick-strike outlet passes from the Red Wing defensemen. They jump on the outlet passes and keep the puck in the Red Wing zone. Against Colorado, I watched a frustrated Red Wing defense ice the puck three times in the 1st period. It was bizarre.
They did manage to control the game in the 2nd period, playing the dominant style we're used to seeing. It was the most dominant I had seen them play all season. Yet, it all crumbled in the 3rd. All season, Babcock has preached defense (also same with Kuester), but they remain 22nd in the league in goals-against (3.4/game). And they haven't had the offense to match (3.1/game). So, what's a coach to do?
My guess is that only part of the problem is strategy. Babcock will need to devise a game-plan to exploit the opposition's constant forechecking. If the Avs, Blues, and Blackhawks want to commit so many players to the forecheck, that should open up the ice in the neutral zone. I'm no coach, but that seems like common sense. Nevertheless, I think the main issue is focus and desire. The players that went through the grueling playoffs last year are just not clicking. It's got to be tough motivating for these early season games, while still emotionally spent from last June.
That's why it should be no surprise that folks like Bertuzzi, Williams, and Brad May are playing with a bit more drive. They've got something to prove. But Zetterberg? He seems a bit worn out. Same with Stuart, Kronwall, Rafalski, and Nick.
75 games left, so there's no reason to panic. The rest of the NHL is ready for them to falter, but Babcock won't let that happen. I expect a different Red Wing team to come back from the upcoming West Coast trip. Even during the best of times, they struggle out West. This current trip could force the team to gel and focus. They may not have a great record, but tough games in Calgary and Edmonton will get the blood flowing.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Down to Earth
No Tayshaun, no Charlie V, no Ben Wallace. That equaled no defense. The Mavericks clobbered the Pistons last night - 113-88. While the Pistons were missing three potential starters, the Mavs as well played without Shawn Marion and Josh Howard. So, it's a pretty dreadful loss all-around.
If I take the preseason wins with a grain of salt, I should do the same with the losses, right? I'll try. The Pistons actually started quite well, but the Mav veterans of Kidd, Jason Terry, Dirk, and Drew Gooden took control in the 2nd quarter. The Pistons, as usual, turned it over a ton, and that played right into Kidd's hands (literally). The Mavs shot 55% from the field, with Terry an astouding 8/10 (all long-range).
Not too many bright spots for the Pistons this time around, though I did see Austin Daye hit a few long-range 3s. The kid could prove to be a serviceable backtup to Prince. Wilcox had a few impressive put-back dunks, and Stuckey scored a ton early. Otherwise, there was little flow and shoddy defending. Way too many fouls as well. For both sides. These replacement refs are no fun at all. I watched at least 13 straight possessions with whistles - in a preseason game!
Bottom line is the Pistons have their work cut out for them. Charlie V will return this weekend from his hamstring injury. That should give the Pistons another offensive option.
In happier news, the Red Wings beat the Kings 5-2. The scoreline is a bit misleading. The Kings outplayed the Wings in the 1st period and much of the 3rd, but Osgood kept the Wings afloat. The Wings still had trouble stringing together passes and clearing their own zone (I know... I'm a broken record). YET, they did pressure the Kings in the decisive 2nd period, scoring twice. Ville Leino and Bertuzzi skated with a purpose. While neither scored, they were significantly more aggressive. The penalty kill was perfect, so there are signs of improvement.
If I take the preseason wins with a grain of salt, I should do the same with the losses, right? I'll try. The Pistons actually started quite well, but the Mav veterans of Kidd, Jason Terry, Dirk, and Drew Gooden took control in the 2nd quarter. The Pistons, as usual, turned it over a ton, and that played right into Kidd's hands (literally). The Mavs shot 55% from the field, with Terry an astouding 8/10 (all long-range).
Not too many bright spots for the Pistons this time around, though I did see Austin Daye hit a few long-range 3s. The kid could prove to be a serviceable backtup to Prince. Wilcox had a few impressive put-back dunks, and Stuckey scored a ton early. Otherwise, there was little flow and shoddy defending. Way too many fouls as well. For both sides. These replacement refs are no fun at all. I watched at least 13 straight possessions with whistles - in a preseason game!
Bottom line is the Pistons have their work cut out for them. Charlie V will return this weekend from his hamstring injury. That should give the Pistons another offensive option.
In happier news, the Red Wings beat the Kings 5-2. The scoreline is a bit misleading. The Kings outplayed the Wings in the 1st period and much of the 3rd, but Osgood kept the Wings afloat. The Wings still had trouble stringing together passes and clearing their own zone (I know... I'm a broken record). YET, they did pressure the Kings in the decisive 2nd period, scoring twice. Ville Leino and Bertuzzi skated with a purpose. While neither scored, they were significantly more aggressive. The penalty kill was perfect, so there are signs of improvement.
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