Preseason #1 10/5/09: Miami @ Detroit

Game Time: 7:30 P EST

Arena: Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills, MI

TV: Fox Sports Detroit HD

Radio: 97.1 FM The Ticket

Pregame News

MLive.com:

Charlie Villanueva doubtful for preseason opener
By A. Sherrod Blakely
October 04, 2009, 2:16PM

AUBURN HILLS - Detroit Pistons coach John Kuester said Charlie Villanueva, who is nursing a sore hamstring, is unlikely to play against Miami on Monday.

Villanueva has missed a couple of practices this week with the injury. However, he was able to do some light running with the team on Sunday.

MLive.com:

Odds and ends
• Kuester said he had not determined his starters for tonight’s game. Hamilton, Rodney Stuckey and Tayshaun Prince are expected to start, and likely will be joined by Ben Wallace and either Chris Wilcox or Kwame Brown.

• No team captains have been officially chosen, but it’s a “foregone conclusion” that it’ll be Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince and Ben Wallace. “I got three guys, you call them what you want, that will tell me exactly what’s on their mind,” Kuester said. “They’re leaders. That’s all I need.”

From Freep.com:

NOTEBOOK: Kuester said forward Charlie Villanueva's sore hamstring was getting better, but Villanueva participated only in noncontact drills. ...

The team practiced for almost 3 hours. The team scrimmaged, and Kuester was impressed with the play of Wallace, Brown, Wilcox and Jason Maxiell. ...

Former Pistons guard Vinnie Johnson visited practice.

I'm glad to hear that Ben Wallace, Kwame, Wilcox, and Maxiell have been doing well in practice.

I'm looking forward to seeing them in action on Monday.

Who needs anyone other than Hamilton, Prince and Ben Wallace to lead this team?

MLive.com:

Kuester announces starting lineup
By A. Sherrod Blakely
October 05, 2009, 6:20PM

AUBURN HILLS - Detroit Pistons head coach John Kuester announced his starting lineup for tonight's game would be Rodney Stuckey; Richard Hamilton; Tayshaun Prince; Ben Wallace and Kwame Brown.

Detroit forward Charlie Villanueva (sore hamstring) will not play.

Freep.com:

NO PLAN: The Pistons didn't do a lot of planning for tonight's exhibition opener at the Palace against the Heat, as Kuester is focusing more on installing his system.

"We will treat it a little bit differently than a normal game in regards to how we prepare because it's more preparation about what we're about," Kuester said.

He said he hasn't settled on a starting lineup, but it's a safe bet that Stuckey, Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince will be with the first unit. Kuester has said he likes the way they play together.

NBA.com:

New-look Pistons beat Heat, 87-83
Posted Oct 5 2009 10:39PM

Pistons.com Post Game Recap
NBA.com Post Game Recap
Boxscore
Play-by-Play





DaJuan Summers Runs the Floor
Swedish Slam


AUBURN HILLS, Mich.(AP) Will Bynum scored 15 points and the new-look Detroit Pistons got off to a successful start with a 87-83 victory over the Miami Heat on Monday night in the preseason opener for both teams.

Dwyane Wade led Miami with 18 points.

The Pistons led by as many as 17 in the second half, but Miami came back in the fourth quarter. The Heat comeback was helped by a mistake by the replacement officials with 1:21 left. Bynum made two free throws to apparently put Detroit up 87-78, but the Miami players pointed out that Bynum hadn't been fouled on the play.

After a discussion, the points were taken off the board and Maceo Baston was sent to the line, where he missed both shots.

The Pistons' first preseason game has finally come.

Not a bad first time group effort.

The Pistons had all hands on deck minus Charlie Villanueva, while the Heat had a full house.

The game wasn't as close as the score hints.

The Pistons dominated for stretches with a versatile offense in the point and mid and long range along with good pressure defense, holding Miami to 30% shooting.

Unfortunately, the Pistons lapsed a bit in the 4th quarter, allowing Miami to trim a 12 point deficit. But Will Bynum stiffened the Pistons and helped the team hold off the Heat.

The Pistons have to make sure they finish games strong and don't let teams back in the game, but a lot of people performed well from Kwame Brown to Ben Wallace to Chris Wilcox to the rookies. The Pistons were simply much deeper, taller, more athletic, and skilled than Miami. Watching them put it together this season will be awesome.

Unfortunately, Jonas Jerebko got ejected along with Jamaal Magloire, who punched and forearmed him in a tussle for a rebound. The replacement refs blew the call, citing Jerebko for a punching foul (commited after Magloire instigated things) and sent him packing. Hopefully, after video review, the league won't suspend Jerebko along with that cheap shot artist Magloire.

And it's great having the Chicago combo of Big Ben and Little Ben in Detroit.

Good start for a new era tonight.

Go Pistons!!!