Detroit 94
Atlanta 88
Pistons.com RecapBoxscoreAs good as his word, Kuester put out a starting lineup based on effort in practice and matchups: Stuckey/Atkins/Jerebko/Maxiell/Wallace.
And it worked.
Kuester is the Pistons' Rick Adelman.
He'll cobble a lineup out of spare parts, get the best from it, and compete.
The Pistons played their second complete game of the season (but without Hamilton, Prince, and Gordon). The Pistons had been in all their games during their 7 game skid, should've pulled out a few, and this time did it with their rookies and third string players.
Against one of the East's best teams this year: the now 12-5 Atlanta Hawks. An outstanding, talented, athletic, and well-coached team at full strength this day.
The Pistons took to heart the lessons of the loss to the Clippers and were the aggressors throughout this game. They outhustled the Hawks, outrebounding them 53-27 and outscoring them in the paint 60-38.
Ben Wallace was the difference again with 10 points and 18 rebounds (11 offensive). Jerebko had a double-double, too with 10 points and 11 rebounds. Maxiell contributed with 7 points, 6 boards, 2 assists, and tremendous defense and hustle.
Stuckey got 23 points (10 for 23 shooting), 8 assists, and 2 rebounds. The Hawks didn't have an answer for him.
Chucky Atkins was a steady presence who kept the offense going. Bynum rebounded to play through his gimpy ankle and toes for 19 points and 4 assists. Kwame Brown surprised the Hawks with 8 points and 5 boards in 15 minutes.
And Villanueva took to his bench role with 13 points and 6 rebounds in 18 minutes. When he got fouled in the fourth quarter by Pachulia on a drive to the basket, he was knocked into Wallace's hip and broke his nose. But with padding in his nose to stop the bleeding for the moment, he knocked down both free throws to keep the Pistons ahead.
He'll have surgery on Monday and be evaluated for his availability against Chicago on Wednesday. When he does come back, I expect he'll be wearing a mask a la Hamilton's and join the mask club with Laimbeer and McDyess.
The Hawks made several runs to get back into the game, but the Pistons made several counter runs to keep control.
It's really fun watching this new team learn how to win. I look for them to get better and tougher as the season winds on and the injured return to the fold.
Go Pistons.
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( 5 - 11 ) VS 
( 12 - 4 )
Richard Hamilton 25ppg
Will Bynum 4.4apg
