Preason #3 10-11-09: Atlanta @ Detroit

Friday, October 9, 2009
Hamstring to idle Pistons' Charlie Villanueva third straight game
Ted Kulfan / The Detroit News

Auburn Hills -- After spending considerable time working with strength and conditioning coach Arnie Kander, Pistons forward Charlie Villanueva is looking forward to playing.

But it won't happen soon. At least not Sunday, when Villanueva is expected to miss his third consecutive exhibition game due to a hamstring injury.

"I'm so anxious to get back onto the court. I want to help the team out any way possible," said Villanueva, who has not played this preseason. "Being on the sideline healing -- it's no fun watching the team."

"It's a little different," said Villanueva, who has been doing marital arts moves under Kander's watchful eye to stay in shape.

Villanueva said the hamstring was feeling better Friday but he still didn't take part in any of the contact part of the workout.

"I doubt very seriously he plays (Sunday)," coach John Kuester said. "He's not ready and we're not rushing it. It's going to take him some time (to catch up physically) but we're fortunate we have depth. That's the good news."

•Villanueva says he’s getting closer to returning, but Kuester all but ruled out his participation in Sunday’s 6 p.m. Palace tipoff with Atlanta.
“I actually tried to come back for (Wednesday’s) Milwaukee game, but it wasn’t there,” Villanueva said. “I’m going to be ready in the next couple of days, hopefully.”

Villanueva spends his time during practices working with strength coach Arnie Kander and laughed at the nature of the workouts.

“Arnie’s doing a tremendous job,” he said. “It’s a little different. He has me doing martial arts moves. It makes a lot of sense. He’s one of those guys who knows what he’s talking about.”

Gordon, Stuckey help Pistons over Hawks
Posted Oct 11 2009 8:55PM

Box Score
Post Game Quotes
Pistons.com Recap
NBA.com Recap
1st Half Highlights
3 Piston Buzzer Beaters
Gordon from Half-Court
Wilcox Throwdown

AUBURN HILLS, Mich.(AP) Ben Gordon scored 22 points and Rodney Stuckey added 20 as the new-look Detroit Pistons remained undefeated in the preseason with a 100-91 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday night.

The Pistons are now 3-0 even though Charlie Villanueva (hamstring) has yet to play. Richard Hamilton and Will Bynum combined for 26 more points, helping Detroit overcome just eight points from its starting frontcourt.

Marvin Williams led the Hawks (1-1) with 19 points, while Othello Hunter had 14 and rookie Jeff Teague scored 12.

The Pistons used Stuckey's buzzer-beating jumper to take a 49-46 lead at the half, and then moved their advantage to 75-66 on Gordon's 30-footer at the end of the third period.

The teams combined to commit 57 fouls, leading to 59 free throws.

Sunday, October 11, 2009
Pistons 100, Hawks 91: Ben Gordon scored 22 off bench and Detroit stays unbeaten
Ted Kulfan / The Detroit News

Auburn Hills -- Fans got a taste for what Ben Gordon can do for the Pistons on Sunday.

Gordon had 22 points off the bench as the Pistons stayed unbeaten (3-0) in the exhibition season with a 100-91 victory over Atlanta.

Gordon was 6-of-12 from the floor, including 3-of-6 from 3-point range, and the Pistons pulled away in the second half.

Rodney Stuckey had 20 points and Richard Hamilton 15 for the Pistons. Will Bynum scored 11 as the backcourt combined for 68 points.

Marvin Williams had 19 points for the Hawks.

The Pistons play the Washington Wizards Tuesday in Grand Rapids.

Posted: 5:59 p.m. Oct. 11, 2009 | Updated: 9:47 p.m. today
Gordon, Stuckey help Pistons to win

Ben Gordon scored 22 points and Rodney Stuckey added 20 as the new-look Detroit Pistons remained undefeated in the preseason with a 100-91 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday night.

The Pistons are now 3-0 even though Charlie Villanueva (hamstring) has yet to play. Richard Hamilton and Will Bynum combined for 26 more points, helping Detroit overcome just eight points from its starting frontcourt.

Marvin Williams led the Hawks (1-1) with 19 points, while Othello Hunter had 14 and rookie Jeff Teague scored 12.

The Pistons used Stuckey’s buzzer-beating jumper to take a 49-46 lead at the half, and then moved their advantage to 75-66 on Gordon’s 30-footer at the end of the third period.

The teams combined to commit 57 fouls, leading to 59 free throws.

Other quick observations from Sunday’s win:

•Hamilton was deliberately deferential in the first two preseason games, but showed glimpses of his more typical self Sunday. He took five first-quarter shots and made four of them, including a buzzer-beater with Mario West hanging on him and both of his 3-point attempts.

“My whole thing with preseason, I’m trying to feel my teammates out,” he said. “I don’t like to come in and be overaggressive and try to score a whole lot of points. You really don’t get anything out of it – for me, I don’t. I try to get the guys involved, see who can bring what to the table, because once the regular season starts, there’s no more trying. It’s all about going out and playing hard and trying to win.”

•Kuester gushed about the contributions of rookie Jonas Jerebko, who played the most of the four rookies.

“Joe Dumars said it best: Statistically, you can’t look at what he did in regard to six points, six rebounds in 17 minutes and understand the impact he had on the little things,” Kuester said. “Whether it be shows in the pick and rolls, his second and third energy efforts going after the boards, whether he got it or didn’t get it, for other people. I was very proud of him and I’ve seen that in him.”