Bucking the Pistons - 2/14/05

BrooklynDodger was forced to defer much of the first quarter vs. Milwaukee to Jeopardy. [The jeopardy tournament of champions tonight looked a bit like an old timers game, muffed questions and a no contest final jeoparday round at about $12,000. The winner even missed the final jeopardy question, although the Dodger did as well. However, the Dodger was hitting them better than contestants, especially in the first round.]

As the Pistons pulled even and edged ahead at the start of the second quarter, the Dodger had to make some phone calls. The Pistons were living on 3's. Returning after half time, the Pistons were 17 points ahead, with McDyess ejected.

Sight unseen, a run in the middle of the second quarter is usually a second unit contribution, something lacking early on.

From there on it was a laugher, with most of the drama centering on whether Darko was looking like he was learning to play. Which he was, forcing a walk and then drawing an offensive foul v. Van Horn, and then giving a hard foul [well, a moderate foul] to prevent a dunk. Whether Darko will develop enough to impede Shaq while giving 5 fouls in the playoffs is maybe a key question at this point.

The other story was Arroyo. There wasn't really a game going on for much of the time the Dodger watched, so veering in and out of the lane, spinning and behind the back dribbling showed physical skills rather than game skills. However, he stuck some mid range jumpers which is definitely a game skill for later on.

The Pistons playoff problem is the lack of a fourth big, combined with the potential for McDyess to pick of fouls very fast. On the other hand, Arroyo gives them a very strong four guard rotation, letting Chauncy play the 2, and maybe making the other team's 3 guard Hamilton.

With no Red Wings, we really depend on the Pistons to carry us into May. Otherwise, we have nothing to do but hold the Tigers.