World Series Game 5 keys
For Detroit, it's do or die. Starting pitcher Justin Verlander has to find a way to not only hold the Cardinals offense in check, but shut it down. Detroit's bats showed some signs of life last night in Game 4, but the Tigers need to get some clutch hits with runners in scoring position, something the Cardinals have been doing considerably better for the entire Series. Second baseman Placido Polanco is still without a hit in the World Series. He's back in the lineup again tonight, hitting seventh.
For St. Louis, it's a matter of maintaining momentum. Jeff Weaver pitched well in Game 2, but took the Cardinals' only loss of the Series when he was outpitched by Kenny Rogers. Cards Manager Tony La Russa has changed his lineup slightly from last night's, putting So Taguchi in left field and reinstating Ronnie Belliard at second base. If David Eckstein can provide a spark at the top of the lineup like he did last night, the Cardinals will be hard to beat.
Friday, October 27, 2006
Thursday, October 26, 2006
Red Wings take bite out of Sharks
Red Wings forward Jason Williams, left, skates around Sharks defenseman Christian Ehrhoff.
DETROIT (AP) — The Detroit Red Wings are still waiting for their offense to get going.
Robert Lang's third-period goal broke a tie and lifted the Red Wings to a 2-1 win over the San Jose Sharks on Wednesday night.
GAME REPORT: Red Wings 2, Sharks 1
Detroit (4-4-1), which ended a three-game losing streak, also got a goal and an assist from Mathieu Schneider. Dominik Hasek made 22 saves, including a tip attempt and rebound by Steve Bernier with 37 seconds left and a backhander by Milan Michalek from in close with 30.2 seconds left.
The Red Wings had only scored three goals in the three losses.
"When you start to press, it's not easy," said Detroit coach Mike Babcock. "It was nice to see the
guys have some success."Bernier scored the lone goal for San Jose (7-3-0).
Lang broke a 1-1 tie with 8:58 remaining by tipping in a shot from the right point by Schneider for his third goal of the season. Schneider one-timed a pass from the left point by Lebda and Lang, left all alone in front of the net, tipped it in.
"It was just one of those things where he (Schneider) made a really good play at the right time," said Lang.
Schneider's power-play goal 38 seconds into the third period tied the game at 1. Schneider beat Evgeni Nabokov, who was being screened by Tomas Holmstrom, with a one-time slap shot from the top of the right circle that was a knuckleball.
"(The puck) just went end over end off the top of the toe of the blade of my stick," said Schneider. "One of those flukey goals, but I'll take it."
Detroit has also struggled on the power play this season. The Red Wings have had one of the game's most potent power plays in recent years, but came into the game ranked 29th out of the 30 NHL teams with a 4-for-46 (8.7) percent. They were 1-for-4 on Wednesday night.
The Sharks, who came in with the NHL's top power play, beat the Red Wings 5-1 last Thursday night with five power-play goals.
Nabokov finished with 21 saves.
The Red Wings had a 39-23 shots advantage for the game.
"We didn't work. Our forwards looked like they were auditioning for the Ice Capades," said San Jose coach Ron Wilson. "A bunch of guys looked like they were just waiting for a power play. "
Despite being outshot 14-4, San Jose led 1-0 after one period.
The Sharks took advantage of Johan Franzen's interference penalty late in the first period with Bernier's power-play goal with 2:50 left in the opening period. He beat Hasek with a one-timer from the bottom of the left circle off a pass from Milan Michalek. It was Bernier's third goal.
"If we would have maybe matched their intensity," said San Jose's Patrick Marleau. "There would have been a different outcome."
Stackhouse sharp in Mavs' win over Cavs
The Dallas Morning News
PITTSBURGH – Jerry Stackhouse showed Wednesday that he hasn't been lounging around during the preseason.
Looking fresh in his first action of the exhibition season, the Mavericks' sixth man had 12 points in slightly less than 19 minutes of the 83-81 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers at Mellon Arena.
"I've been feeling well and obviously my conditioning is good because that's all I've been doing," Stackhouse said. "I've been off for a while, and it's always exciting being back doing what I love to do."
Mavs 83, Cavs 81
Stackhouse missed the first six preseason games as a safeguard for his right knee, which cost him the first 26 games last season.
"Jerry looked pretty good," Mavericks coach Avery Johnson said. "He had a few shots go in and had a few go out. But I liked his aggressiveness."
As dress rehearsals go, this one left plenty to be desired. The Cavaliers rested one of their top players, Larry Hughes. Josh Howard (left thigh) and Erick Dampier (hip and hamstring) were out for the Mavericks.
Jason Terry had his first action of the preseason, and he will need some time to get in the flow.
"I'm glad his first action wasn't in the first regular-season game," Johnson said.
Terry hit just one of six shots in 17 minutes.
"It's always good to knock the rust off," Terry said.
DeSagana Diop and Austin Croshere each made a free throw in the final minute for the margin of victory and Diop picked off an offensive rebound in traffic to clinch the win, which moved the Mavs' preseason record to 3-4.
Former UT standout Daniel Gibson played most of the fourth quarter for the Cavs.
Honored again: For the third year in a row and the fourth time in five years, Del Harris was picked by NBA general managers as the best assistant coach in the league.
The Mavericks' top aide nosed out Phoenix's Mark Iavaroni and Utah's Phil Johnson.
Dirk Nowitzki was easily voted the best international player by the GMs.
Taking the show on the road: Avery Johnson came up with a novel idea when asked about
playing in non-NBA cities like Pittsburgh.
"I'd like to, maybe, have training camp in Africa one day in DeSagana Diop's hometown," Johnson said. "Let's go to Senegal."
The NBA sent four teams to Europe for camp this year and it's likely that the league will branch out in coming years.
Meanwhile, owner Mark Cuban, who helped bring Wednesday's game to Mellon Arena in his hometown, said he's ramping up efforts for what he hopes will be some unique events.
First, he would like to bring an NBA All-Star Game to the new Cowboys' stadium in Arlington.
"We've had some preliminary conversations at the board of governors meeting [Monday and Tuesday]," Cuban said.
Cuban also said he's considering playing an outdoor preseason game. marshall
Looking fresh in his first action of the exhibition season, the Mavericks' sixth man had 12 points in slightly less than 19 minutes of the 83-81 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers at Mellon Arena.
"I've been feeling well and obviously my conditioning is good because that's all I've been doing," Stackhouse said. "I've been off for a while, and it's always exciting being back doing what I love to do."
Mavs 83, Cavs 81
Stackhouse missed the first six preseason games as a safeguard for his right knee, which cost him the first 26 games last season.
"Jerry looked pretty good," Mavericks coach Avery Johnson said. "He had a few shots go in and had a few go out. But I liked his aggressiveness."
As dress rehearsals go, this one left plenty to be desired. The Cavaliers rested one of their top players, Larry Hughes. Josh Howard (left thigh) and Erick Dampier (hip and hamstring) were out for the Mavericks.
Jason Terry had his first action of the preseason, and he will need some time to get in the flow.
"I'm glad his first action wasn't in the first regular-season game," Johnson said.
Terry hit just one of six shots in 17 minutes.
"It's always good to knock the rust off," Terry said.
DeSagana Diop and Austin Croshere each made a free throw in the final minute for the margin of victory and Diop picked off an offensive rebound in traffic to clinch the win, which moved the Mavs' preseason record to 3-4.
Former UT standout Daniel Gibson played most of the fourth quarter for the Cavs.
Honored again: For the third year in a row and the fourth time in five years, Del Harris was picked by NBA general managers as the best assistant coach in the league.
The Mavericks' top aide nosed out Phoenix's Mark Iavaroni and Utah's Phil Johnson.
Dirk Nowitzki was easily voted the best international player by the GMs.
Taking the show on the road: Avery Johnson came up with a novel idea when asked about
playing in non-NBA cities like Pittsburgh."I'd like to, maybe, have training camp in Africa one day in DeSagana Diop's hometown," Johnson said. "Let's go to Senegal."
The NBA sent four teams to Europe for camp this year and it's likely that the league will branch out in coming years.
Meanwhile, owner Mark Cuban, who helped bring Wednesday's game to Mellon Arena in his hometown, said he's ramping up efforts for what he hopes will be some unique events.
First, he would like to bring an NBA All-Star Game to the new Cowboys' stadium in Arlington.
"We've had some preliminary conversations at the board of governors meeting [Monday and Tuesday]," Cuban said.
Cuban also said he's considering playing an outdoor preseason game. marshall
"To play a preseason game outside in front of 100,000 people would be a blast," he said.
Route for 2007 Tour De France Unveiled
PARIS - Without last year's winner Floyd Landis in attendance, the 2007 Tour de France route was unveiled Thursday with a start in London on the second anniversary of terrorist bombings
.
The start of the race near Trafalgar Square will show the city is united, Mayor Ken Livingstone said.
Most reigning champions are invited for the route's yearly unveiling, but Tour organizers say they no longer considers Landis the winner because of a positive test for elevated testosterone.
The presentation, a traditional eight-minute film, ended with Landis on the winner's podium.
"Doping is the No.
1 problem in sport," Tour director Christian Prudhomme said. "We got hit over the back of the head by what happened."
Landis, who denies doping and vows to clear his name, is appealing.
The route for July 7-29 race features six mountain stages and 21 tough climbs over 2,120 miles. It's the first start in England and third time the race has passed through since stages in 1974 and 1994.
The event begins with a 5-mile prologue near Trafalgar Square.
Riders then head to Canterbury in the leafy countryside of Kent, before crossing the channel by ferry for the second stage, which begins in Dunkerque.
"Canterbury, with its prestigious cathedral and its magnificent countryside, is an ideal location," Prudhomme said. "We needed a city to the east of London and close to the channel."
Prudhomme hopes Livingstone will visit France during one of the stages before the race ends with its traditional eight laps around the Champs-Elysees.
The terrorist bombings in London killed 52 people on July 7, 2005.
.The start of the race near Trafalgar Square will show the city is united, Mayor Ken Livingstone said.
Most reigning champions are invited for the route's yearly unveiling, but Tour organizers say they no longer considers Landis the winner because of a positive test for elevated testosterone.
The presentation, a traditional eight-minute film, ended with Landis on the winner's podium.
"Doping is the No.
1 problem in sport," Tour director Christian Prudhomme said. "We got hit over the back of the head by what happened."Landis, who denies doping and vows to clear his name, is appealing.
The route for July 7-29 race features six mountain stages and 21 tough climbs over 2,120 miles. It's the first start in England and third time the race has passed through since stages in 1974 and 1994.
The event begins with a 5-mile prologue near Trafalgar Square.
Riders then head to Canterbury in the leafy countryside of Kent, before crossing the channel by ferry for the second stage, which begins in Dunkerque.
"Canterbury, with its prestigious cathedral and its magnificent countryside, is an ideal location," Prudhomme said. "We needed a city to the east of London and close to the channel."
Prudhomme hopes Livingstone will visit France during one of the stages before the race ends with its traditional eight laps around the Champs-Elysees.
The terrorist bombings in London killed 52 people on July 7, 2005.
Detroit Tigers pitcher Joel Zumaya walks to the dugout after being relieved in the bottom of the seventh inning against the St. Louis Cardinals during Game 3 of the World Series on Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2006 in St. Louis. Zumaya's throwing error on a ground ball by Cardinals' Albert Pujols allowed two runs to score in the inning.
TORRANCE, CA - OCTOBER 25: Los Angeles Lakers' Sasha Vujacic helps out during a basketball skills clinic as part of a surprise visit by the Lakers to kick off the 2006-07 "NBA Cares" season on October 25, 2006 at Carr Elementary School in Torrance, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2006 NBAE
Seattle SuperSonics' Robert Swift holds his knee after going down early in a basketball game against the Sacramento Kings in Seattle, Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2006. Swift, who is supposed to be the Seattle SuperSonics' starting center next Wednesday night in their regular season opener, finished his team's final preseason home game on crutches with a sprained right knee.
Game 4 of the world series canceled because of rain
October 25, 2006
ST. LOUIS (AP) -- Pitchers dominated the first three games of the World Series, then rain took over.
Game 4 was postponed Wednesday night because of showers and will be made up Thursday at 8:27 p.m. EDT, potentially sending the World Series into scheduling chaos. More rain was expected the next two days, and nobody was certain when the Detroit Tigers and St. Louis Cardinals would play again.
"They're going to be dicey," said Jimmie Lee Solomon, executive vice president of baseball operations in the commissioner's office. "There is about a 70 percent chance of rain tomorrow. It's going to be light rain. We don't know whether or not that rain will linger, like it did tonight."
Game 5 at Busch Stadium was pushed back to Friday night, which was supposed to be a day off in the Series. And it doesn't look much better this weekend in Detroit, with a forecast of rain and cold.
The Cardinals lead the best-of-seven Series 2-1 after a 5-0 victory behind ace Chris Carpenter on Tuesday night. A silver tarp covered the infield all evening, players didn't come out to warm up and Game 4 never got started.
"This wouldn't have been a baseball game, it would have been survival," St. Louis manager Tony La Russa said. "I'm actually pleased for both teams that we're not playing. Fans, that wouldn't have been too much fun, either."
But Jeremy Bonderman, slated to start for Detroit against St. Louis' Jeff Suppan, was eager to pitch in the light drizzle early Wednesday night.
"We aren't sugar. We ain't going to melt," Bonderman said.
Tigers first baseman Sean Casey, however, thought Major League Baseball made the right call.
"Guys getting hurt, having a five-inning World Series game, nobody wants that," Casey said.
A sparse crowd at Busch Stadium was informed of the rain out about three minutes after baseball made the announcement. Fans covered in plastic, many who stayed for hours hoping the rain would stop, quickly filed toward the exits.
Some had waited out the delay in the stands. Others packed the gift shop and lined up at concession stands.
Standing beneath an umbrella in the upper deck, Victoria Atkinson was disappointed. She came all the way from Montreal to watch.
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October 25, 2006
ST. LOUIS (AP) -- Pitchers dominated the first three games of the World Series, then rain took over.
Game 4 was postponed Wednesday night because of showers and will be made up Thursday at 8:27 p.m. EDT, potentially sending the World Series into scheduling chaos. More rain was expected the next two days, and nobody was certain when the Detroit Tigers and St. Louis Cardinals would play again.
"They're going to be dicey," said Jimmie Lee Solomon, executive vice president of baseball operations in the commissioner's office. "There is about a 70 percent chance of rain tomorrow. It's going to be light rain. We don't know whether or not that rain will linger, like it did tonight."
Game 5 at Busch Stadium was pushed back to Friday night, which was supposed to be a day off in the Series. And it doesn't look much better this weekend in Detroit, with a forecast of rain and cold.
The Cardinals lead the best-of-seven Series 2-1 after a 5-0 victory behind ace Chris Carpenter on Tuesday night. A silver tarp covered the infield all evening, players didn't come out to warm up and Game 4 never got started.
"This wouldn't have been a baseball game, it would have been survival," St. Louis manager Tony La Russa said. "I'm actually pleased for both teams that we're not playing. Fans, that wouldn't have been too much fun, either."
But Jeremy Bonderman, slated to start for Detroit against St. Louis' Jeff Suppan, was eager to pitch in the light drizzle early Wednesday night.
"We aren't sugar. We ain't going to melt," Bonderman said.
Tigers first baseman Sean Casey, however, thought Major League Baseball made the right call.
"Guys getting hurt, having a five-inning World Series game, nobody wants that," Casey said.
A sparse crowd at Busch Stadium was informed of the rain out about three minutes after baseball made the announcement. Fans covered in plastic, many who stayed for hours hoping the rain would stop, quickly filed toward the exits.
Some had waited out the delay in the stands. Others packed the gift shop and lined up at concession stands.
Standing beneath an umbrella in the upper deck, Victoria Atkinson was disappointed. She came all the way from Montreal to watch.
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Wednesday, October 25, 2006
NBA Approves Sale of Sonics to Bennett
NEW YORK (Oct. 24) - The NBA Board of Governors approved the sale of the Seattle SuperSonics and WNBA Storm to the Professional Basketball Club LLC on Tuesday, led by Oklahoma City businessman Clay Bennett.
The sale required a 75 percent majority vote among the league's owners. Bennett's group bought the team from the Basketball Club of Seattle, led by Starbucks chairman Howard Schultz, on July 18 for $350 million.
Bennett's group will take control of the Sonics on Oct. 31 when the transaction is completed.
"We appreciate the support of the Board of Governors and we are honored to become a member of the NBA," Bennett said in a news release. "We are excited about owning one of the outstanding franchises in sports in one of America's greatest cities."
When Bennett bought the team he said that whether the Sonics remain in Seattle would depend on whether the team can agree with the city to renovate KeyArena, or replace it with another arena in the region.
While his group is not ruling out a possible remodel of KeyArena, Bennett has made clear he'd rather put together a "world-class" sports and entertainment complex on a yet to be determined site in the Seattle area.
KeyArena was remodeled in 1994-95 and the Sonics have a lease until 2010 with the city. The team and NBA commissioner David Stern both have said that lease is the league's most unfavorable to a team and must be changed - or better yet, a new place must be built with a new lease - for the teams to prosper in the region.
"The Board of Governors felt overwhelmingly that Clay is the right person to lead these extraordinary franchises into the future," Stern said. "I fully recognize Clay's commitment to keeping the Sonics and Storm in Seattle and we will do everything we can to support those efforts."
Four more Oklahoma City businessmen recently joined the ownership group.
The new members are William M. Cameron, president and CEO of Oklahoma City-based American Fidelity Assurance Co.; Bob Howard, president of Mercedes Benz of Oklahoma City; Everett Dobson, executive chairman of Oklahoma City-based Dobson Communications Corp.; and Jay Scaramucci, president of Oklahoma City-based Balon Corp.
NEW YORK (Oct. 24) - The NBA Board of Governors approved the sale of the Seattle SuperSonics and WNBA Storm to the Professional Basketball Club LLC on Tuesday, led by Oklahoma City businessman Clay Bennett.
The sale required a 75 percent majority vote among the league's owners. Bennett's group bought the team from the Basketball Club of Seattle, led by Starbucks chairman Howard Schultz, on July 18 for $350 million.
Bennett's group will take control of the Sonics on Oct. 31 when the transaction is completed.
"We appreciate the support of the Board of Governors and we are honored to become a member of the NBA," Bennett said in a news release. "We are excited about owning one of the outstanding franchises in sports in one of America's greatest cities."
When Bennett bought the team he said that whether the Sonics remain in Seattle would depend on whether the team can agree with the city to renovate KeyArena, or replace it with another arena in the region.
While his group is not ruling out a possible remodel of KeyArena, Bennett has made clear he'd rather put together a "world-class" sports and entertainment complex on a yet to be determined site in the Seattle area.
KeyArena was remodeled in 1994-95 and the Sonics have a lease until 2010 with the city. The team and NBA commissioner David Stern both have said that lease is the league's most unfavorable to a team and must be changed - or better yet, a new place must be built with a new lease - for the teams to prosper in the region.
"The Board of Governors felt overwhelmingly that Clay is the right person to lead these extraordinary franchises into the future," Stern said. "I fully recognize Clay's commitment to keeping the Sonics and Storm in Seattle and we will do everything we can to support those efforts."
Four more Oklahoma City businessmen recently joined the ownership group.
The new members are William M. Cameron, president and CEO of Oklahoma City-based American Fidelity Assurance Co.; Bob Howard, president of Mercedes Benz of Oklahoma City; Everett Dobson, executive chairman of Oklahoma City-based Dobson Communications Corp.; and Jay Scaramucci, president of Oklahoma City-based Balon Corp.
Detroit Tigers vs. St. Lousis Cardinals'
The St. Louis Cardinals' pitching staff has been dominant through the first three games of the World Series. The scary part for the Detroit Tigers is that St. Louis has yet to send its most dominant postseason pitcher to the mound.
Jeff Suppan looks for another brilliant playoff performance in a bid to help the Cardinals take a commanding lead in the World Series on Wednesday night when they play Game 4 against the Tigers at Busch Stadium.
Chris Carpenter and Braden Looper combined on a three-hitter Tuesday night as St. Louis won 5-0 to take a 2-1 series lead. After batting .297 and averaging 5.5 runs to win seven of eight American League playoff games, the Tigers have managed just five runs in three games versus the Cardinals.
Detroit is batting only .185 in the World Series, including .154 (2-for-13) with runners in scoring position. The Tigers advanced only one runner past first base Tuesday -- Brandon Inge reached third base in the third inning -- but center fielder Curtis Granderson grounded out to end the threat.
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"If we don't swing the bats better they'll go up 3-1," Detroit manager Jim Leyland said. "That's as simple as it is. But at the same time when I say that, I think we'll swing the bats better. We're certainly not conceding anything."
Now, the Cardinals give Suppan the ball for the fourth time this postseason. The right-hander dominated the New York Mets in two NL championship series starts, giving up only one run and five hits over 15 innings to earn NLCS MVP honors.
He did not factor in the decision in Game 7 at New York last Thursday, but limited the Mets to one run and two hits in seven innings to make a 3-1 St. Louis victory possible.
"This guy has been nails for us," Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said.
"He's come through so big. But I've got people that I know in the Cardinal organization that have been around 30, 40 years, that compare that performance in Game 7 with what any Cardinal pitcher has ever done. I don't think you can give him enough credit."
Suppan, who pitched for the AL Central rival Kansas City Royals from 1998-2002, is a familiar face to the Tigers. The right-hander is 8-6 with a 4.63 ERA in 20 career starts against them -- his most starts against any opponent.
A couple of key Detroit hitters have had success against Suppan. Magglio Ordonez is 17-for-43 (.395) with two homers and two doubles versus the right-hander, while Ivan Rodriguez is 6-for-12 with two doubles and a triple.
Second baseman Placido Polanco, though, is just 1-for-13 (.077) versus Suppan. He also is 0-for-10 in the first three games of the World Series after batting .471 through the first two rounds of the playoffs.
While the Tigers have had plenty of experience against Suppan, the Cardinals have faced Detroit starter Jeremy Bonderman only once, on June 25 at Comerica Park. Bonderman pitched well against St. Louis, allowing one run and seven hits over seven innings, but did not receive a decision in a 4-1 Tigers victory.
The Tigers' 23-year-old right-hander claims not to be fazed by a Cardinals lineup which includes such marquee sluggers as Albert Pujols, Scott Rolen and Jim Edmonds.
"I don't really try to overanalyze these guys, because they're all human," Bonderman said. "They all make outs. You've just got to go out and attack them, try to put them on the defense."
Bonderman, who will be pitching on 10 days' rest, certainly did not succumb to the pressure of the first two rounds of the playoffs. He is 1-0 with five runs allowed in 15 innings over two postseason starts.
Like Suppan, Bonderman did not earn a decision but put his team in position to win its league championship series clincher. The right-hander allowed three runs in 6 2-3 innings of Game 4 of the ALCS against Oakland on Oct. 14, which the Tigers went on to win 6-3, completing a sweep.
If Detroit loses Wednesday, it will need to take the same path it took to defeat the Cardinals in the 1968 World Series, when the Tigers fell behind three-games-to-one before rallying to win the series in seven games.
Of the 39 teams to take 3-1 leads in the World Series, 34 have gone on to win the title. The last team to squander such an advantage was the 1985 Cardinals, who lost in seven games to Kansas City.
Edmonds, who struggled with post-concussion syndrome this season and is still dealing with foot and shoulder injuries, has reached base safely in 13 of 14 games this postseason and has at least one hit and one RBI in each game of the World Series. The center fielder's two-run double in the fourth inning gave the Cardinals the lead in Game 3.
"He's got that quality where the bigger the moment, the more likely he's going to concentrate, not get distracted, and produce," La Russa said. "He really is a primetime guy."
The St. Louis Cardinals' pitching staff has been dominant through the first three games of the World Series. The scary part for the Detroit Tigers is that St. Louis has yet to send its most dominant postseason pitcher to the mound.
Jeff Suppan looks for another brilliant playoff performance in a bid to help the Cardinals take a commanding lead in the World Series on Wednesday night when they play Game 4 against the Tigers at Busch Stadium.
Chris Carpenter and Braden Looper combined on a three-hitter Tuesday night as St. Louis won 5-0 to take a 2-1 series lead. After batting .297 and averaging 5.5 runs to win seven of eight American League playoff games, the Tigers have managed just five runs in three games versus the Cardinals.
Detroit is batting only .185 in the World Series, including .154 (2-for-13) with runners in scoring position. The Tigers advanced only one runner past first base Tuesday -- Brandon Inge reached third base in the third inning -- but center fielder Curtis Granderson grounded out to end the threat.
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"If we don't swing the bats better they'll go up 3-1," Detroit manager Jim Leyland said. "That's as simple as it is. But at the same time when I say that, I think we'll swing the bats better. We're certainly not conceding anything."
Now, the Cardinals give Suppan the ball for the fourth time this postseason. The right-hander dominated the New York Mets in two NL championship series starts, giving up only one run and five hits over 15 innings to earn NLCS MVP honors.
He did not factor in the decision in Game 7 at New York last Thursday, but limited the Mets to one run and two hits in seven innings to make a 3-1 St. Louis victory possible.
"This guy has been nails for us," Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said.
"He's come through so big. But I've got people that I know in the Cardinal organization that have been around 30, 40 years, that compare that performance in Game 7 with what any Cardinal pitcher has ever done. I don't think you can give him enough credit."
Suppan, who pitched for the AL Central rival Kansas City Royals from 1998-2002, is a familiar face to the Tigers. The right-hander is 8-6 with a 4.63 ERA in 20 career starts against them -- his most starts against any opponent.
A couple of key Detroit hitters have had success against Suppan. Magglio Ordonez is 17-for-43 (.395) with two homers and two doubles versus the right-hander, while Ivan Rodriguez is 6-for-12 with two doubles and a triple.
Second baseman Placido Polanco, though, is just 1-for-13 (.077) versus Suppan. He also is 0-for-10 in the first three games of the World Series after batting .471 through the first two rounds of the playoffs.
While the Tigers have had plenty of experience against Suppan, the Cardinals have faced Detroit starter Jeremy Bonderman only once, on June 25 at Comerica Park. Bonderman pitched well against St. Louis, allowing one run and seven hits over seven innings, but did not receive a decision in a 4-1 Tigers victory.
The Tigers' 23-year-old right-hander claims not to be fazed by a Cardinals lineup which includes such marquee sluggers as Albert Pujols, Scott Rolen and Jim Edmonds.
"I don't really try to overanalyze these guys, because they're all human," Bonderman said. "They all make outs. You've just got to go out and attack them, try to put them on the defense."
Bonderman, who will be pitching on 10 days' rest, certainly did not succumb to the pressure of the first two rounds of the playoffs. He is 1-0 with five runs allowed in 15 innings over two postseason starts.
Like Suppan, Bonderman did not earn a decision but put his team in position to win its league championship series clincher. The right-hander allowed three runs in 6 2-3 innings of Game 4 of the ALCS against Oakland on Oct. 14, which the Tigers went on to win 6-3, completing a sweep.
If Detroit loses Wednesday, it will need to take the same path it took to defeat the Cardinals in the 1968 World Series, when the Tigers fell behind three-games-to-one before rallying to win the series in seven games.
Of the 39 teams to take 3-1 leads in the World Series, 34 have gone on to win the title. The last team to squander such an advantage was the 1985 Cardinals, who lost in seven games to Kansas City.
Edmonds, who struggled with post-concussion syndrome this season and is still dealing with foot and shoulder injuries, has reached base safely in 13 of 14 games this postseason and has at least one hit and one RBI in each game of the World Series. The center fielder's two-run double in the fourth inning gave the Cardinals the lead in Game 3.
"He's got that quality where the bigger the moment, the more likely he's going to concentrate, not get distracted, and produce," La Russa said. "He really is a primetime guy."
NBA
Pistons whip Wizards but can’t compete with Tigers
Detroit’s Tayshaun Prince, who scored 10 points, drives on Washington’s Etan Thomas in the first quarter of a preseason game Tuesday in Auburn Hills, Mich.
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – Jason Maxiell scored 20 points and Carlos Delfino added 13 points and 12 rebounds as the Detroit Pistons defeated the Washington Wizards 101-94 Tuesday in a preseason game.
The game was moved up by 30 minutes to avoid overlapping with the Detroit Tigers in Game 3 of the World Series, but it still was played in front of a tiny crowd at the Palace of Auburn Hills.
Neither team was at full strength, but the Wizards were closer than Detroit, which gave Chauncey Billups, Richard Hamilton and Rasheed Wallace the night off. Washington’s Antawn Jamison started the game, but played only 6 minutes before leaving with a sore shoulder that was not considered serious.
The Wizards led 48-44 at the half, but Detroit took control in the third, outscoring the Wizards’ reserves 28-16 to take a 72-64 lead.
Detroit cruised in the fourth, posting a comfortable victory even though Tayshaun Prince had joined his celebrated running mates on the bench after playing only 21 minutes.
Flip Murray added 14 points, and Prince and Lindsey Hunter had 10 each, for Detroit.
Roger Mason led the Wizards with 22, while Caron Butler added 16. Gilbert Arenas scored nine in the first period, and finished with 12 in 14 minutes.
BOBCATS 101, PACERS 89: Jermaine O’Neal had 15 points and 11 rebounds in his hometown arena, but it wasn’t enough as fellow South Carolina native Raymond Felton and Charlotte got its first preseason win in Columbia, S.C.
O’Neal, who grew up in Columbia and starred at Eau Claire High before jumping directly to the NBA in 1996, played for the first time after missing the past two games with a sore left hamstring.
He was cheered by the crowd at the Colonial Center when he was introduced and any time he touched the ball. O’Neal spent the day touring his old high school and former neighborhood. He rushed out after the game to have a bite with his family before the Pacers left town.
“I would have liked to play a little bit more,” he said. “But, obviously, the regular season is the one that counts.”
Felton, who played at Latta High about two hours northeast of Columbia, did not have a strong game, going 3 of 14 from the field with six turnovers. Still, the Bobcats won for the first time in six preseason games.
Sean May had 20 points, Adam Morrison had 16 and Emeka Okafor added 15 points and seven rebounds for the Bobcats.
Danny Granger led Indiana with 16 points, while Stephen Jackson had 14. The Pacers fell to 3-4.
The teams open the regular season against each other on Nov. 1 at Charlotte.
Pistons whip Wizards but can’t compete with Tigers
Detroit’s Tayshaun Prince, who scored 10 points, drives on Washington’s Etan Thomas in the first quarter of a preseason game Tuesday in Auburn Hills, Mich.
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – Jason Maxiell scored 20 points and Carlos Delfino added 13 points and 12 rebounds as the Detroit Pistons defeated the Washington Wizards 101-94 Tuesday in a preseason game.
The game was moved up by 30 minutes to avoid overlapping with the Detroit Tigers in Game 3 of the World Series, but it still was played in front of a tiny crowd at the Palace of Auburn Hills.
Neither team was at full strength, but the Wizards were closer than Detroit, which gave Chauncey Billups, Richard Hamilton and Rasheed Wallace the night off. Washington’s Antawn Jamison started the game, but played only 6 minutes before leaving with a sore shoulder that was not considered serious.
The Wizards led 48-44 at the half, but Detroit took control in the third, outscoring the Wizards’ reserves 28-16 to take a 72-64 lead.
Detroit cruised in the fourth, posting a comfortable victory even though Tayshaun Prince had joined his celebrated running mates on the bench after playing only 21 minutes.
Flip Murray added 14 points, and Prince and Lindsey Hunter had 10 each, for Detroit.
Roger Mason led the Wizards with 22, while Caron Butler added 16. Gilbert Arenas scored nine in the first period, and finished with 12 in 14 minutes.
BOBCATS 101, PACERS 89: Jermaine O’Neal had 15 points and 11 rebounds in his hometown arena, but it wasn’t enough as fellow South Carolina native Raymond Felton and Charlotte got its first preseason win in Columbia, S.C.
O’Neal, who grew up in Columbia and starred at Eau Claire High before jumping directly to the NBA in 1996, played for the first time after missing the past two games with a sore left hamstring.
He was cheered by the crowd at the Colonial Center when he was introduced and any time he touched the ball. O’Neal spent the day touring his old high school and former neighborhood. He rushed out after the game to have a bite with his family before the Pacers left town.
“I would have liked to play a little bit more,” he said. “But, obviously, the regular season is the one that counts.”
Felton, who played at Latta High about two hours northeast of Columbia, did not have a strong game, going 3 of 14 from the field with six turnovers. Still, the Bobcats won for the first time in six preseason games.
Sean May had 20 points, Adam Morrison had 16 and Emeka Okafor added 15 points and seven rebounds for the Bobcats.
Danny Granger led Indiana with 16 points, while Stephen Jackson had 14. The Pacers fell to 3-4.
The teams open the regular season against each other on Nov. 1 at Charlotte.
Detroit Tigers Magglio Ordonez has champagne poured over his head after the Tigers won the American League Champioship in Game 4 of the American League Championship Series in Detroit, Saturday, Oct. 14, 2006. Ordonez hit a three run home run in the ninth inning to help defeat the Oakland Athletics 6-3 and win the championship in a four game sweep. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)
Detroit Tigers Franchise's long wait is over
Magglio Ordonez
The Detroit Tigers manager possible starting pitchers and closer are shown in these 2006 file photos. They are: manager Jim Leyland, Jeremy Bonderman, closer Todd Jones, Nate Robertson, Kenny Rogers and Justin Verlander. The Tigers take on the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 1 of the Worlds Series on Saturday, Oct. 21, 2006 in Detroit.
Jim Leyland's lineup hunches paid off as Detroit won seven straight playoff games to reach the World Series. By wrapping up so quickly, the Tigers got a full week to rest.
Detroit lost its postseason opener to the heavily favored Yankees, then got on a roll. Its last six wins have all been by at least three runs. The Tigers swept Oakland in the AL Championship Series, finishing it off in style — Magglio Ordonez hit a bottom-of-the-ninth homer that sent Comerica Park into a frenzy.
Leyland ended a six-year retirement to take over as manager. From the first day of spring training, he demanded that his players expect to win, and they responded. The Tigers started out 5-0, had the best record in the majors for most of the year and earned their first postseason spot since 1987.
Detroit topped the majors in earned-run average (3.84) with a staff that brings the heat. Rookies Justin Verlander and Joel Zumaya regularly hit 100 mph on the radar gun. Kenny Rogers emerged as an October star, pitching 15 scoreless innings against the Yankees and A's and allowing only seven hits. Before this year, he was 0-3 with an 8.85 ERA in nine postseason games.
The week off has helped first baseman/designated hitter Sean Casey (calf) and Zumaya (wrist) recover from injuries that hampered them in the ALCS.
WORLD SERIES NOTES
ST. LOUIS - With several key hitters slumping in the World Series, Detroit Tigers manager Jim Leyland is considering lineup changes for Game 4.
"I'm going to sleep on it," Leyland said Tuesday night after a 5-0 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals left Detroit down 2-1 in the Series. "I'm not sure who's going to play (today). I don't know what it's going to look like, and I'm certainly not going to talk about that."
Some of the players struggling at the plate are among the most experienced hitters in Detroit's lineup.
"I would obviously talk to a player before I would ever maybe play someone else or give somebody a rest or try something else," Leyland said. "So obviously I wouldn't give that information out tonight, but it's a possibility."
Cleanup bust
Juan Encarnacion was the Cardinals' top free agent pickup, signing a three-year, $15 million contract. He's been the primary cleanup hitter in the postseason and has five RBIs, but his .186 average, including 0 for 7 in the World Series, landed him on the bench for Game 3.
St. Louis manager Tony La Russa opted for So Taguchi, who came in 5 for 8 in the postseason with two crucial hits in the NLCS, in right field.
The other two outfield spots were no-brainers, center fielder Jim Edmonds and left fielder Preston Wilson, who entered 5 for 5 with two homers against Tigers starter Nate Robertson.
"You've got to get what you earn," La Russa said. "Part of it is Juan is struggling. It's not like he's the only guy that's struggling, and I don't like to point fingers, but he's talking about not feeling right."
Encarnacion's slump is reminiscent of April, when he totaled seven RBIs and batted .222.
"I'm not saying they're pitching me tough," Encarnacion said. "I'm not doing enough. They're pitching me the same as they've been pitching me."
Taguchi went 0 for 3 with a walk and scored. Wilson was 1 for 3 with a single against Robertson and walked twice against relievers.
Long-range view
Joe Garagiola has seen plenty of questionable pitches during a decades-long stint as a player and broadcaster. On the eve of Game 3, with the controversy over the smudge on Tigers pitcher Kenny Rogers' hand still percolating, he recalled a few.
Garagiola said he labeled a pitch a spitball on a telecast a few years back, and a producer nearly yanked him off the air on the spot, demanding how he could be so sure.
"I told him, 'Because you can still see the rainbow over home plate,' " Garagiola said.
During his time with the Cardinals, several ballplayers were upset after facing pitcher Preacher Roe, convinced he was loading up the ball. But Garagiola remembered how Stan Musial, a St. Louis teammate and one of the best hitters in baseball history, silenced the griping by saying, "What the hell are you worried about? Just hit the dry side."
"Of course," Garagiola added, "it was easy for him to say."
Another of Garagiola's favorite episodes involved pitcher Red Munger, a teammate with the Cardinals.
Seems Munger wanted to learn how to throw a spitball in the middle of the game, "So he spit in his glove and when the ball was thrown back, he kept patting it in the webbing."
"It looked," Garagiola chuckled at the memory, "like he was breading a pork chop."
"I'm going to sleep on it," Leyland said Tuesday night after a 5-0 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals left Detroit down 2-1 in the Series. "I'm not sure who's going to play (today). I don't know what it's going to look like, and I'm certainly not going to talk about that."
Some of the players struggling at the plate are among the most experienced hitters in Detroit's lineup.
"I would obviously talk to a player before I would ever maybe play someone else or give somebody a rest or try something else," Leyland said. "So obviously I wouldn't give that information out tonight, but it's a possibility."
Cleanup bust
Juan Encarnacion was the Cardinals' top free agent pickup, signing a three-year, $15 million contract. He's been the primary cleanup hitter in the postseason and has five RBIs, but his .186 average, including 0 for 7 in the World Series, landed him on the bench for Game 3.
St. Louis manager Tony La Russa opted for So Taguchi, who came in 5 for 8 in the postseason with two crucial hits in the NLCS, in right field.
The other two outfield spots were no-brainers, center fielder Jim Edmonds and left fielder Preston Wilson, who entered 5 for 5 with two homers against Tigers starter Nate Robertson.
"You've got to get what you earn," La Russa said. "Part of it is Juan is struggling. It's not like he's the only guy that's struggling, and I don't like to point fingers, but he's talking about not feeling right."
Encarnacion's slump is reminiscent of April, when he totaled seven RBIs and batted .222.
"I'm not saying they're pitching me tough," Encarnacion said. "I'm not doing enough. They're pitching me the same as they've been pitching me."
Taguchi went 0 for 3 with a walk and scored. Wilson was 1 for 3 with a single against Robertson and walked twice against relievers.
Long-range view
Joe Garagiola has seen plenty of questionable pitches during a decades-long stint as a player and broadcaster. On the eve of Game 3, with the controversy over the smudge on Tigers pitcher Kenny Rogers' hand still percolating, he recalled a few.
Garagiola said he labeled a pitch a spitball on a telecast a few years back, and a producer nearly yanked him off the air on the spot, demanding how he could be so sure.
"I told him, 'Because you can still see the rainbow over home plate,' " Garagiola said.
During his time with the Cardinals, several ballplayers were upset after facing pitcher Preacher Roe, convinced he was loading up the ball. But Garagiola remembered how Stan Musial, a St. Louis teammate and one of the best hitters in baseball history, silenced the griping by saying, "What the hell are you worried about? Just hit the dry side."
"Of course," Garagiola added, "it was easy for him to say."
Another of Garagiola's favorite episodes involved pitcher Red Munger, a teammate with the Cardinals.
Seems Munger wanted to learn how to throw a spitball in the middle of the game, "So he spit in his glove and when the ball was thrown back, he kept patting it in the webbing."
"It looked," Garagiola chuckled at the memory, "like he was breading a pork chop."
Top-25 Big 12 tussle in Columbia
The 23rd-ranked Missouri Tigers try to stretch their home winning streak to nine games this Saturday, when they welcome the 19th-ranked Oklahoma Sooners to Columbia for a Big 12 showdown. The Tigers enter the contest on a high note, as they posted a 41-21 victory over Kansas State last weekend to extend their home winning streak to eight games. It was a solid rebound for Missouri, which is off to its first 7-1 start since the 1969 season. More importantly, the victory improved the Tigers to 3-1 in conference play and that has them in a tie for the North Division lead with Nebraska. With just four games left in the regular season, Missouri has a legitimate shot to win its first conference title of any kind in football since the 1969 club earned a share of the Big East championship. As for Oklahoma, it was also in action last weekend, when it concluded a two-game homestand with a 24-3 triumph over Colorado. It was the second straight win and the third in three games by the Sooners, who ran their overall mark to 5-2 and their league record to 2-1. The team however, now takes to the road, where it has gone 0-2, including neutral site affairs, this season. Saturday's game will mark the 88th meeting between Oklahoma and Missouri, with the Sooners holding a commanding 61-21-5 advantage in the series. The Sooners have won each of the past three meetings and also own a 30-14 mark at Columbia.,The Sooners haven't had much of a problem putting points on the board this season, as they enter the contest averaging a hardy 31.6 ppg behind 378.6 total ypg. The offense has done a majority of its damage on the ground, where it has rushed for 170.9 ypg and 13 touchdowns. However, with Heisman hopeful Adrian Peterson now sidelined for the remainder of the season with a broken collarbone, Oklahoma may see a significant drop in its ground attack. In last weekend's win over Colorado though, that wasn't the case, as the Sooners rushed for 166 yards and threw for only 105 in their first full game without Peterson. Allen Patrick showed that he could carry the load with Peterson sidelined, as he rushed for 110 yards and a score on 35 carries. It was a solid showing by Patrick, who had rushed for just 72 yards before making his first start of the season last weekend. Quarterback Paul Thompson is another player that will need to step up his play to help compensate for the big loss in the backfield. Last weekend, Thompson connected on 17-of-26 pass attempts for 105 yards and a score. On the year, Thompson has done a solid job converting 61.2 percent of his throws for 1,439 yards with 11 touchdowns and five interceptions. His main target is Malcolm Kelly, who leads the club with 30 catches, 524 receiving yards and six touchdowns. Defensively, the Sooners have played really well of late and are now holding their opponents to just 15.9 ppg and only 266.7 total ypg. The unit has done a solid job against both the run (115.1 ypg) and the pass (151.6 ypg), and has also created 15 turnovers. Last weekend, Oklahoma put forth a simply tremendous effort, limiting Colorado to a mere 113 yards of total offense and just one field goal in a winning cause. The unit gave up only five first downs in the game, in addition to forcing a pair of turnovers. Rufus Alexander paced the defense with 11 stops, while Zach Latimer added six tackles and his second interception of the season. Alexander currently leads the club with 59 stops and two forced fumbles, and he also has six TFLs to his name. Missouri possesses many weapons on the offensive side of the ball and it shows in its averages of 33.1 ppg and 419.5 total ypg. The offense has had a good amount of success on the ground (164.9 ypg) and through the air (254.6 ypg), and has also converted an impressive 51.0 percent of its third down attempts. Last weekend, The Tigers made good on 9-of-14 third down attempts, in addition to rolling up 433 yards (171 rushing) of total offense in an easy win over Kansas State. Quarterback Chase Daniel led the way, throwing for 262 yards and four scores on 24-of-31 pass attempts. It was yet another strong showing by Daniel, who has emerged as one of the premier quarterbacks in the Big 12, completing 66.8 percent of this throws for 2,003 yards with 19 touchdowns and only five interceptions. Daniel is also a threat to run the ball, as he ranks second on the team with 247 yards and three touchdowns. William Franklin has provided Daniel with an open target each week, and he leads the team with 38 catches, 690 yards and six scores. Last weekend, Franklin pulled in five balls that went for a team-high 87 yards and a score. As for the ground game, it is paced by Tony Temple, who has rushed for 662 yards behind a solid 5.3 ypc average this season. On the defensive side of the ball, the Tigers have more than held their own this season, limiting their opponents to 14.6 ppg and 282.2 total ypg. The unit, which is allowing just 109.8 ypg on the ground, has thrived in making big plays, recording 19 turnovers and 29 sacks thus far. In the team's last game, however, Missouri was torched for 262 yards on the ground by Kansas State, although the defense gave up just 63 yards through the air. The defense also posted four sacks and the same amount of turnovers, including a 41-yard fumble return for a touchdown by David Overstreet. The hard hitting safety ended up with a team-high nine stops in the win, while Marcus Bacon added eight tackles and two sacks. Bacon leads the club on the year with 75 stops to go along with three sacks and five forced fumbles. This should be one of the more entertaining games this weekend, as both schools are ranked and each is playing at a high level. Missouri however, has more to prove and behind its home crowd support it should be able to outlast an Oklahoma club that will surely miss the presence of Peterson in a big game like this. Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Missouri 31, Oklahoma 21
The 23rd-ranked Missouri Tigers try to stretch their home winning streak to nine games this Saturday, when they welcome the 19th-ranked Oklahoma Sooners to Columbia for a Big 12 showdown. The Tigers enter the contest on a high note, as they posted a 41-21 victory over Kansas State last weekend to extend their home winning streak to eight games. It was a solid rebound for Missouri, which is off to its first 7-1 start since the 1969 season. More importantly, the victory improved the Tigers to 3-1 in conference play and that has them in a tie for the North Division lead with Nebraska. With just four games left in the regular season, Missouri has a legitimate shot to win its first conference title of any kind in football since the 1969 club earned a share of the Big East championship. As for Oklahoma, it was also in action last weekend, when it concluded a two-game homestand with a 24-3 triumph over Colorado. It was the second straight win and the third in three games by the Sooners, who ran their overall mark to 5-2 and their league record to 2-1. The team however, now takes to the road, where it has gone 0-2, including neutral site affairs, this season. Saturday's game will mark the 88th meeting between Oklahoma and Missouri, with the Sooners holding a commanding 61-21-5 advantage in the series. The Sooners have won each of the past three meetings and also own a 30-14 mark at Columbia.,The Sooners haven't had much of a problem putting points on the board this season, as they enter the contest averaging a hardy 31.6 ppg behind 378.6 total ypg. The offense has done a majority of its damage on the ground, where it has rushed for 170.9 ypg and 13 touchdowns. However, with Heisman hopeful Adrian Peterson now sidelined for the remainder of the season with a broken collarbone, Oklahoma may see a significant drop in its ground attack. In last weekend's win over Colorado though, that wasn't the case, as the Sooners rushed for 166 yards and threw for only 105 in their first full game without Peterson. Allen Patrick showed that he could carry the load with Peterson sidelined, as he rushed for 110 yards and a score on 35 carries. It was a solid showing by Patrick, who had rushed for just 72 yards before making his first start of the season last weekend. Quarterback Paul Thompson is another player that will need to step up his play to help compensate for the big loss in the backfield. Last weekend, Thompson connected on 17-of-26 pass attempts for 105 yards and a score. On the year, Thompson has done a solid job converting 61.2 percent of his throws for 1,439 yards with 11 touchdowns and five interceptions. His main target is Malcolm Kelly, who leads the club with 30 catches, 524 receiving yards and six touchdowns. Defensively, the Sooners have played really well of late and are now holding their opponents to just 15.9 ppg and only 266.7 total ypg. The unit has done a solid job against both the run (115.1 ypg) and the pass (151.6 ypg), and has also created 15 turnovers. Last weekend, Oklahoma put forth a simply tremendous effort, limiting Colorado to a mere 113 yards of total offense and just one field goal in a winning cause. The unit gave up only five first downs in the game, in addition to forcing a pair of turnovers. Rufus Alexander paced the defense with 11 stops, while Zach Latimer added six tackles and his second interception of the season. Alexander currently leads the club with 59 stops and two forced fumbles, and he also has six TFLs to his name. Missouri possesses many weapons on the offensive side of the ball and it shows in its averages of 33.1 ppg and 419.5 total ypg. The offense has had a good amount of success on the ground (164.9 ypg) and through the air (254.6 ypg), and has also converted an impressive 51.0 percent of its third down attempts. Last weekend, The Tigers made good on 9-of-14 third down attempts, in addition to rolling up 433 yards (171 rushing) of total offense in an easy win over Kansas State. Quarterback Chase Daniel led the way, throwing for 262 yards and four scores on 24-of-31 pass attempts. It was yet another strong showing by Daniel, who has emerged as one of the premier quarterbacks in the Big 12, completing 66.8 percent of this throws for 2,003 yards with 19 touchdowns and only five interceptions. Daniel is also a threat to run the ball, as he ranks second on the team with 247 yards and three touchdowns. William Franklin has provided Daniel with an open target each week, and he leads the team with 38 catches, 690 yards and six scores. Last weekend, Franklin pulled in five balls that went for a team-high 87 yards and a score. As for the ground game, it is paced by Tony Temple, who has rushed for 662 yards behind a solid 5.3 ypc average this season. On the defensive side of the ball, the Tigers have more than held their own this season, limiting their opponents to 14.6 ppg and 282.2 total ypg. The unit, which is allowing just 109.8 ypg on the ground, has thrived in making big plays, recording 19 turnovers and 29 sacks thus far. In the team's last game, however, Missouri was torched for 262 yards on the ground by Kansas State, although the defense gave up just 63 yards through the air. The defense also posted four sacks and the same amount of turnovers, including a 41-yard fumble return for a touchdown by David Overstreet. The hard hitting safety ended up with a team-high nine stops in the win, while Marcus Bacon added eight tackles and two sacks. Bacon leads the club on the year with 75 stops to go along with three sacks and five forced fumbles. This should be one of the more entertaining games this weekend, as both schools are ranked and each is playing at a high level. Missouri however, has more to prove and behind its home crowd support it should be able to outlast an Oklahoma club that will surely miss the presence of Peterson in a big game like this. Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Missouri 31, Oklahoma 21
Will NBA Crown a New Champ in 2007?
NEW YORK, Oct. 24 /PRNewswire/ - The NBA regular season tips off in
seven days and odds makers at Sportsbook.com are already looking ahead to a
season that they believe will end with a new champion being crowned. The
early lines list the Dallas Mavericks as favorites at 7-2 to pry away the
title they coughed up to the Miami Heat last season. The defending champs
are a 4-1 bet to retain the championship.
San Antonio will be looking for redemption after a tough loss to Dallas
in the Western Conference finals last year. Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili
have had a quiet off season and should be ready to bump against Dirk
Nowitzki's Mavericks and Steve Nash's Phoneix Suns. The Spurs' odds are 9-2
followed by the Suns at 5-1and the Chicago Bulls at 7-1 to round out the
top five contenders.
Sportsbook.com has also posted odds on total wins for each team in the
league. The Dallas Mavericks and San Antonio Spurs both post the largest
over/under total for wins at 56.5. Odds makers have Miami listed at
over/under 51 wins this season, tops in the Eastern Conference.
For complete NBA odds please visit Sportsbook.com, where everybody bets.
2006/07 Regular Season wins - Team Must Play 82 Games
Team Over /Under
San Antonio Spurs 56.5
Dallas Mavericks 56.5
Phoenix Suns 55.5
Miami Heat 51
Detroit Pistons 50
Cleveland Cavaliers 49.5
Chicago Bulls 48.5
New Jersey Nets 47
Los Angeles Clippers 46.5
Houston Rockets 46
Indiana Pacers 44
Los Angeles Lakers 43.5
Denver Nuggets 43.5
Sacramento Kings 43.5
Milwaukee Bucks 40.5
Utah Jazz 40
New Orleans Hornets 40
Washington Wizards 39.5
Memphis Grizzlies 39.5
Orlando Magic 38.5
Minnesota Timberwolves 36.5
Boston Celtics 36.5
Seattle SuperSonics 35
Golden State Warriors 35.5
Toronto Raptors 34.5
Philadelphia 76'ers 34
Charlotte BobCats 32.5
New York Knicks 31
Atlanta Hawks 28.5
Portland Trailblazers 24.5
2006/07 NBA Championship odds to win
Team Odds
Dallas Mavericks 7-2
Miami Heat 4-1
San Antonio Spurs 9-2
Phoenix Suns 5-1
Chicago Bulls 7-1
Detroit Pistons 10-1
New Jersey Nets 12-1
Cleveland Cavaliers 12-1
Los Angeles Lakers 20-1
Los Angeles Clippers 25-1
Houston Rockets 30-1
Indiana Pacers 30-1
Sacramento Kings 40-1
Denver Nuggets 45-1
Memphis Grizzlies 50-1
Orlando Magic 50-1
Utah Jazz 60-1
Boston Celtics 60-1
Minnesota Timberwolves 80-1
Philadelphia 76'ers 80-1
Toronto Raptors 80-1
New York Knicks 100-1
Washington Wizards 125-1
New Orleans Hornets 125-1
Milwaukee Bucks 125-1
Seattle SuperSonics 125-1
Golden State Warriors 125-1
Portland Trailblazers 200-1
Atlanta Hawks 250-1
Charlotte Bobcats 250-1
2006/07 NBA Eastern Conference Winner Odds
Team Odds
Miami Heat 9-5
Chicago Bulls 3-1
Detroit Pistons 4-1
New Jersey Nets 5-1
Cleveland Cavaliers 5-1
Indiana Pacers 12-1
Orlando Magic 20-1
Toronto Raptors 25-1
Boston Celtics 30-1
Washington Wizards 35-1
New York Knicks 40-1
Milwaukee Bucks 45-1
Philadelphia 76'ers 45-1
Charlotte Bobcats 60-1
Atlanta Hawks 55-1
2006/07 NBA Western Conference Winner Odds
Team Odds
San Antonio Spurs 2-1
Phoenix Suns 5-2
Dallas Mavericks 5-2
Houston Rockets 7-1
Los Angeles Lakers 8-1
Los Angeles Clippers 15-1
Denver Nuggets 18-1
Sacramento Kings 20-1
Minnesota Timberwolves 25-1
Memphis Grizzlies 30-1
Utah Jazz 40-1
Seattle SuperSonics 40-1
Golden State Warriors 50-1
New Orleans Hornets 60-1
Portland Trailblazers 100-1
About Sportsbook.com:
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NEW YORK, Oct. 24 /PRNewswire/ - The NBA regular season tips off in
seven days and odds makers at Sportsbook.com are already looking ahead to a
season that they believe will end with a new champion being crowned. The
early lines list the Dallas Mavericks as favorites at 7-2 to pry away the
title they coughed up to the Miami Heat last season. The defending champs
are a 4-1 bet to retain the championship.
San Antonio will be looking for redemption after a tough loss to Dallas
in the Western Conference finals last year. Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili
have had a quiet off season and should be ready to bump against Dirk
Nowitzki's Mavericks and Steve Nash's Phoneix Suns. The Spurs' odds are 9-2
followed by the Suns at 5-1and the Chicago Bulls at 7-1 to round out the
top five contenders.
Sportsbook.com has also posted odds on total wins for each team in the
league. The Dallas Mavericks and San Antonio Spurs both post the largest
over/under total for wins at 56.5. Odds makers have Miami listed at
over/under 51 wins this season, tops in the Eastern Conference.
For complete NBA odds please visit Sportsbook.com, where everybody bets.
2006/07 Regular Season wins - Team Must Play 82 Games
Team Over /Under
San Antonio Spurs 56.5
Dallas Mavericks 56.5
Phoenix Suns 55.5
Miami Heat 51
Detroit Pistons 50
Cleveland Cavaliers 49.5
Chicago Bulls 48.5
New Jersey Nets 47
Los Angeles Clippers 46.5
Houston Rockets 46
Indiana Pacers 44
Los Angeles Lakers 43.5
Denver Nuggets 43.5
Sacramento Kings 43.5
Milwaukee Bucks 40.5
Utah Jazz 40
New Orleans Hornets 40
Washington Wizards 39.5
Memphis Grizzlies 39.5
Orlando Magic 38.5
Minnesota Timberwolves 36.5
Boston Celtics 36.5
Seattle SuperSonics 35
Golden State Warriors 35.5
Toronto Raptors 34.5
Philadelphia 76'ers 34
Charlotte BobCats 32.5
New York Knicks 31
Atlanta Hawks 28.5
Portland Trailblazers 24.5
2006/07 NBA Championship odds to win
Team Odds
Dallas Mavericks 7-2
Miami Heat 4-1
San Antonio Spurs 9-2
Phoenix Suns 5-1
Chicago Bulls 7-1
Detroit Pistons 10-1
New Jersey Nets 12-1
Cleveland Cavaliers 12-1
Los Angeles Lakers 20-1
Los Angeles Clippers 25-1
Houston Rockets 30-1
Indiana Pacers 30-1
Sacramento Kings 40-1
Denver Nuggets 45-1
Memphis Grizzlies 50-1
Orlando Magic 50-1
Utah Jazz 60-1
Boston Celtics 60-1
Minnesota Timberwolves 80-1
Philadelphia 76'ers 80-1
Toronto Raptors 80-1
New York Knicks 100-1
Washington Wizards 125-1
New Orleans Hornets 125-1
Milwaukee Bucks 125-1
Seattle SuperSonics 125-1
Golden State Warriors 125-1
Portland Trailblazers 200-1
Atlanta Hawks 250-1
Charlotte Bobcats 250-1
2006/07 NBA Eastern Conference Winner Odds
Team Odds
Miami Heat 9-5
Chicago Bulls 3-1
Detroit Pistons 4-1
New Jersey Nets 5-1
Cleveland Cavaliers 5-1
Indiana Pacers 12-1
Orlando Magic 20-1
Toronto Raptors 25-1
Boston Celtics 30-1
Washington Wizards 35-1
New York Knicks 40-1
Milwaukee Bucks 45-1
Philadelphia 76'ers 45-1
Charlotte Bobcats 60-1
Atlanta Hawks 55-1
2006/07 NBA Western Conference Winner Odds
Team Odds
San Antonio Spurs 2-1
Phoenix Suns 5-2
Dallas Mavericks 5-2
Houston Rockets 7-1
Los Angeles Lakers 8-1
Los Angeles Clippers 15-1
Denver Nuggets 18-1
Sacramento Kings 20-1
Minnesota Timberwolves 25-1
Memphis Grizzlies 30-1
Utah Jazz 40-1
Seattle SuperSonics 40-1
Golden State Warriors 50-1
New Orleans Hornets 60-1
Portland Trailblazers 100-1
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Pistons cruise past Wolves, again
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) - Nazr Mohammed isn't putting any pressure on himself to fill the shoes of former Detroit Pistons star Ben Wallace.
But the eight-year NBA veteran, who signed as a free agent with Detroit during the offseason after Wallace left for a bigger payday with the Chicago Bulls, hopes to play a key role in the Pistons' bid for an NBA championship.
Mohammed scored 20 points and had six rebounds and Tayshaun Prince added 16 points and seven boards to help the Pistons (4-1) beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 112-103 on Wednesday night.
It was Mohammed's highest point total of the preseason. He was 7-of-12 from the floor and 6-of-6 at the free-throw line - where Wallace usually struggled.
"I'm just happy to be here. The guys have helped me out a lot," Mohammed said. "I'm not here to replace Ben. I'm here to help us in any way I can."
Pistons coach Flip Saunders said he was pleased with Mohammed.
"He's doing what we thought he could do," Saunders said. "He's been very consistent. He's blending in well with our other four starters."
Mike James led the Timberwolves (2-2) with 15 points, while Kevin Garnett had 14 points and 10 rebounds.
Minnesota coach Dwane Casey used Garnett, a starter in the last nine NBA All-Star games, for 28 minutes.
"He's going to have his best year," Casey predicted. "He still has his juices flowing. I don't see where his skills have diminished at all. We have a hard time getting him out of a practice session."
Prince scored nine points in the first quarter, when the Pistons opened up a 31-23 lead.
Reserve Jason Maxiell, who finished with 14 points, scored 10 in the second quarter to help put the Pistons ahead 64-48 at halftime.
Detroit was 23-of-39 (59 percent) from the floor in the first half, while the Timberwolves were 19-of-42. Detroit stretched its lead to an many as 22 points early in the third quarter, when a layup by Richard Hamilton made in 72-50.
"I think we can contend for the title," Mohammed said. "Except for Ben, we basically have most of the team returning from last year."
The Pistons were 39-of-76 from the floor for the game, while Minnesota was 37-of-74. Minnesota had a 46-39 rebounding edge. Notes: Wednesday's game at Van Andel Arena was a sellout with an attendance of 10,851. ... Detroit is 2-0 against Minnesota in the preseason. The Pistons beat the Timberwolves 101-96 on Friday in Omaha, Neb. ... Saunders, in his second year with the Pistons, coached the Timberwolves from 1995 to 2005.
Five Tiny Tidbits On: The Detroit Pistons
It's hard to believe, but the NBA season is just around the corner. Let us celebrate with five tiny tidbits on each team. Today we continue with the Central Division, so do us a favor and send us your tips at tips@deadspin.com.
• 1. The Pistons Are to Blame For Dickie V, Apparently. After Dick Vitale guided the University of Detroit Titans to the NCAA Tournament in 1977 (where they lost in the Sweet 16 to then No. 1 Michigan, which wouldn't schedule the Titans), he was hired to try and turn around the struggling Pistons. Vitale guided Detroit to a 30-52 record in 1978-79 and then to a 4-8 start in the following season, when he was canned. This prompted him to become the color analyst on ESPN's first college basketball broadcast on December 5, 1979. -- (Thanks to Craig D. Barker).
• 2. Miami Vice. Dale Davis is believed to be the only current Pistons player to have been tasered by police. In August 2006, Davis was shocked with a stun gun as Miami Beach police arresting him for assaulting a police officer, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. He also co-owns a NASCAR Cup Series team.
• 3. He Could Have Been "Pommel Horse Murray". Rip Hamilton got his nickname from his dad, who earned it as a child because he ripped his diapers. The younger Rip now has his own clothing line called Rip City. Meanwhile, Flip Murray got his nickname due to a love of gymnastics as a child.
• 4. Count That Baby And A Foul! Pistons fans maintain that they have one of the best announcers in the business. No, not the polarizing PA voice of John Mason, but George Blaha on radio and television. A Notre Dame alum (with an MBA from Michigan) who also serves as the radio voice of Michigan State football, Blaha is known for an amazing lexicon of "Blaha-isms," such as: "He lays it up, and lays it in!"; "He fills it up!", "Off the high glass!"; "Rainbows, and it goes!"; "He triples from way downtown!"; "Down the lane, scoops, scores!"; "X and XX to go" (so if there 9:45 left, it would be "nine and forty-five to go.") He is also not this guy. -- (Thanks to Craig D. Barker).
• 5. We Have The Sheed For Speed. Rasheed Wallace, the "Walking Technical Foul," led the league ion technicals In 2005-06 with 16. His rap sheet also includes marijuana possession, use of abusive language, and driving without a driver's license. He was also suspended for seven games for threatening an official on an arena loading dock after a (Portland) home game. It was the league's longest suspension for something that didn't involve physical contact or substance abuse. Also: He's Rasheed Wallace.
• 1. The Pistons Are to Blame For Dickie V, Apparently. After Dick Vitale guided the University of Detroit Titans to the NCAA Tournament in 1977 (where they lost in the Sweet 16 to then No. 1 Michigan, which wouldn't schedule the Titans), he was hired to try and turn around the struggling Pistons. Vitale guided Detroit to a 30-52 record in 1978-79 and then to a 4-8 start in the following season, when he was canned. This prompted him to become the color analyst on ESPN's first college basketball broadcast on December 5, 1979. -- (Thanks to Craig D. Barker).
• 2. Miami Vice. Dale Davis is believed to be the only current Pistons player to have been tasered by police. In August 2006, Davis was shocked with a stun gun as Miami Beach police arresting him for assaulting a police officer, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. He also co-owns a NASCAR Cup Series team.
• 3. He Could Have Been "Pommel Horse Murray". Rip Hamilton got his nickname from his dad, who earned it as a child because he ripped his diapers. The younger Rip now has his own clothing line called Rip City. Meanwhile, Flip Murray got his nickname due to a love of gymnastics as a child.
• 4. Count That Baby And A Foul! Pistons fans maintain that they have one of the best announcers in the business. No, not the polarizing PA voice of John Mason, but George Blaha on radio and television. A Notre Dame alum (with an MBA from Michigan) who also serves as the radio voice of Michigan State football, Blaha is known for an amazing lexicon of "Blaha-isms," such as: "He lays it up, and lays it in!"; "He fills it up!", "Off the high glass!"; "Rainbows, and it goes!"; "He triples from way downtown!"; "Down the lane, scoops, scores!"; "X and XX to go" (so if there 9:45 left, it would be "nine and forty-five to go.") He is also not this guy. -- (Thanks to Craig D. Barker).
• 5. We Have The Sheed For Speed. Rasheed Wallace, the "Walking Technical Foul," led the league ion technicals In 2005-06 with 16. His rap sheet also includes marijuana possession, use of abusive language, and driving without a driver's license. He was also suspended for seven games for threatening an official on an arena loading dock after a (Portland) home game. It was the league's longest suspension for something that didn't involve physical contact or substance abuse. Also: He's Rasheed Wallace.
If Granderson is not hitting, the Tigers will not be winning
Burning questions after the Tigers' bats froze up against Cardinals starter Chris Carpenter on the way to a 4-0 St. Louis victory in Game 3 of the World Series at Busch Stadium
Q . What are the chances the Tigers' bats will heat up against Jeff Suppan tonight after Chris Carpenter and his Cardinals cohorts shut out Detroit in Game 3 of the World Series?
A . The Tigers haven't swung the bat with a lick of punch in three games against the Cardinals. Pudge Rodriguez's ugly slump isn't helping, but the key is Curtis Granderson. When he was hitting against the Yankees and A's, the Tigers were scoring runs early and taking leads they held. Now he's back to August-September form and the Tigers can't get any early fires lit.
Q . Wasn't defense Detroit's biggest problem Tuesday? Brandon Inge passed up a double-play ball for a force-out at home plate in the Cardinals' two-run fourth, and Joel Zumaya made an unforgivable gaffe in throwing to third on a double-play ball in the seventh.
A . Inge's decision made sense. Carpenter early on showed he was going to be so tough that even conceding a single run to the Cardinals was poison. Zumaya simply made a Little League error in trying to start a double play at third off a comeback grounder to the mound in the seventh. Between his wildness (two lethal walks to begin the seventh) and his absent-minded throw to third, Zumaya's next World Series appearance will be an automatic improvement, no matter what he does.
Q . What will Tigers manager Jim Leyland do ahead of tonight's game when the Tigers can hardly afford to fall behind three games to one?
A . He might change the batting order. Placido Polanco needs to return to the No. 2 spot, particularly against a right-hander. Leyland will have a serious skull session with his players about playing World Series-grade baseball and maintaining their focus. Defensive slip-ups in the first and third games have been out of character.
Q . How will Jeremy Bonderman handle a Tigers mini-crisis tonight?
A . That's the question. Bonderman needs to have his slider going at maximum nastiness. It's asking a lot on a cold evening at Busch Stadium. Again, Bonderman still relies on two pitches: a 94-95-mph fastball that the Cardinals hitters can handle, and a slider that must -- must -- leave the middle of the lineup waving at two-strike pitches. The feeling here is that the Tigers will need to score runs in excess tonight, or this World Series could easily wrap up Thursday in St. Louis.
Q . Why doesn't Leyland go with Marcus Thames when the batting order needs a shakeup?
A . If tonight's game were in Detroit, Leyland very well might. The loss of the designated hitter at a National League park (the idea two leagues have a different rule on the DH is as wacko as it gets in baseball) could keep Thames -- and Omar Infante -- on the bench. Craig Monroe has too many game-breaking hits to drop him from the lineup and he plays better defense than Thames. Infante has played so little the Tigers might as well have been operating with a 24-man roster.
Q . Would Leyland ever give Vance Wilson a shot at catcher when Rodriguez is in such a serious funk?
A . Short of a crippling injury, there is zero chance Leyland will drop a Hall of Fame-bound catcher and one of his team leaders from a World Series lineup.
Q . What are the chances the Tigers' bats will heat up against Jeff Suppan tonight after Chris Carpenter and his Cardinals cohorts shut out Detroit in Game 3 of the World Series?
A . The Tigers haven't swung the bat with a lick of punch in three games against the Cardinals. Pudge Rodriguez's ugly slump isn't helping, but the key is Curtis Granderson. When he was hitting against the Yankees and A's, the Tigers were scoring runs early and taking leads they held. Now he's back to August-September form and the Tigers can't get any early fires lit.
Q . Wasn't defense Detroit's biggest problem Tuesday? Brandon Inge passed up a double-play ball for a force-out at home plate in the Cardinals' two-run fourth, and Joel Zumaya made an unforgivable gaffe in throwing to third on a double-play ball in the seventh.
A . Inge's decision made sense. Carpenter early on showed he was going to be so tough that even conceding a single run to the Cardinals was poison. Zumaya simply made a Little League error in trying to start a double play at third off a comeback grounder to the mound in the seventh. Between his wildness (two lethal walks to begin the seventh) and his absent-minded throw to third, Zumaya's next World Series appearance will be an automatic improvement, no matter what he does.
Q . What will Tigers manager Jim Leyland do ahead of tonight's game when the Tigers can hardly afford to fall behind three games to one?
A . He might change the batting order. Placido Polanco needs to return to the No. 2 spot, particularly against a right-hander. Leyland will have a serious skull session with his players about playing World Series-grade baseball and maintaining their focus. Defensive slip-ups in the first and third games have been out of character.
Q . How will Jeremy Bonderman handle a Tigers mini-crisis tonight?
A . That's the question. Bonderman needs to have his slider going at maximum nastiness. It's asking a lot on a cold evening at Busch Stadium. Again, Bonderman still relies on two pitches: a 94-95-mph fastball that the Cardinals hitters can handle, and a slider that must -- must -- leave the middle of the lineup waving at two-strike pitches. The feeling here is that the Tigers will need to score runs in excess tonight, or this World Series could easily wrap up Thursday in St. Louis.
Q . Why doesn't Leyland go with Marcus Thames when the batting order needs a shakeup?
A . If tonight's game were in Detroit, Leyland very well might. The loss of the designated hitter at a National League park (the idea two leagues have a different rule on the DH is as wacko as it gets in baseball) could keep Thames -- and Omar Infante -- on the bench. Craig Monroe has too many game-breaking hits to drop him from the lineup and he plays better defense than Thames. Infante has played so little the Tigers might as well have been operating with a 24-man roster.
Q . Would Leyland ever give Vance Wilson a shot at catcher when Rodriguez is in such a serious funk?
A . Short of a crippling injury, there is zero chance Leyland will drop a Hall of Fame-bound catcher and one of his team leaders from a World Series lineup.
Detroit Pistons 2006-07 Season PreviewBy Warren Blatt, NBA Editor
(Sports Network) - Detroit will attempt to bounce back from a tough loss in the Eastern Conference finals. For the first time in three years the Pistons will not enter a new campaign as the defending conference champions. They were ousted in the postseason in six games by the Miami Heat.
The Pistons won a franchise-best 64 games during the 2005-06 regular season and were the top-seeded team in the East during the postseason. However, the home-court advantage was not enough to get them back to the championship round for a third straight year. Detroit defeated the Lakers in five games in the 2004 NBA Finals and lost to San Antonio in seven during the 2005 finals.
Detroit will have a different look when the season gets started. All-Star Ben Wallace won't be in the middle for the Pistons, as the center signed a lucrative, multi-year contract with Central Division-rival Chicago. Wallace had spent the past six seasons with Detroit. He won the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year four times and was a four-time All-Star during his tenure with the Pistons. Last season, Wallace averaged 7.3 points, 11.3 rebounds and 2.21 blocks.
Losing Wallace will hurt, but the Pistons are still one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference. They signed veteran center Nazr Mohammed and guard Ronald Murray to multi-year contracts during the offseason.The 29-year-old Mohammed, who won a championship as a member of the 2005 San Antonio Spurs, registered 6.2 points and 5.2 rebounds in 80 contests for the Spurs last season. He has played in 38 postseason games during his eight-year career.
Murray, 27, averaged 11.2 points and 2.6 assists in 76 games for Seattle and Cleveland last season. The 6-3 Murray can play both guard spots and adds athleticism to the Pistons.
All-Stars Chauncey Billups, Richard Hamilton, Rasheed Wallace and unsung hero Tayshaun Prince are still in the fold and make Detroit a very dangerous squad. Billups averaged 18.5 points and a team-best 8.6 assists in 2005-06, while Hamilton led the Pistons in scoring (20.1 ppg).
Rasheed Wallace and Prince are both excellent all-around players. They can score and are not afraid to get their hands dirty on the defensive end of the court. Rasheed's role will be larger with the loss of Ben Wallace, while Prince's value to the team will become even more noticeable.
Veterans Antonio McDyess and Lindsey Hunter, who re-signed with the team in the offseason, give the Pistons depth and leadership. The 32-year-old McDyess averaged 7.8 points and 5.3 boards in 82 contests last season, while the 35- year-old Hunter played just 30 games because of injuries and should be able to be more productive this season.
Head coach Flip Saunders enters his second season at the helm. He has give the Pistons more freedom on offense. However, this squad has always won with its defense and will get back to that theme when the season tips off.
Billups, Hamilton, Prince and Rasheed Wallace are the leaders of the team. They will be the one's who make sure the Pistons continue to strive for excellence on the court. They have the skill and the experience that is needed to win the big games.
Even though they are not the defending conference champions, the Pistons may still be the team to beat in the East.
BACKCOURT
Billups and Hamilton are arguably the best backcourt in the NBA. They are true professionals and continue to shine for the Pistons. Both are solid defenders and can burn their opponents on the offensive end of the court as well. Detroit's starting backcourt is not afraid to take the big shot in crunch time, and they are also able to make the big stop when their opponent has a chance to take a lead or to even win the game.
Murray and Hunter give Detroit to very capable backup guards. Both are versatile as they can play either spot in the backcourt. The Pistons backcourt is in excellent shape.
FRONTCOURT
Prince and Rasheed Wallace are the anchors of the frontcourt. Rasheed averaged 15.1 points and 6.8 rebounds in 80 outings last season, while Prince posted 14.1 points and 4.2 boards in 82 contests. They will team up with Mohammed to give the Pistons a formidable starting front line.
McDyess will be the first forward off the bench. He can be a threat on the offensive end of the court, but is not the greatest defender. The 6-9 McDyess will play with Rasheed, who will log minutes at center and power forward and Mohammed.
Detroit will miss Ben Wallace's intimidating presence down low, but Rasheed and Prince will rise to the challenge and will pick up the slack if needed. Mohammed will give the Pistons some more scoring around the basket and should fit right in with his new squad.
OUTLOOK
The Pistons have some tough competition in the Central Division. Chicago and Cleveland will battle with them in the regular season for the division crown, but in the end Detroit should prevail.
Billups, Hamilton, Prince and Rasheed Wallace will at least get the Pistons to their fourth straight Eastern Conference finals. And a trip to the NBA Finals for the third time in the last four years is a strong possibility as well.
The Pistons won a franchise-best 64 games during the 2005-06 regular season and were the top-seeded team in the East during the postseason. However, the home-court advantage was not enough to get them back to the championship round for a third straight year. Detroit defeated the Lakers in five games in the 2004 NBA Finals and lost to San Antonio in seven during the 2005 finals.
Detroit will have a different look when the season gets started. All-Star Ben Wallace won't be in the middle for the Pistons, as the center signed a lucrative, multi-year contract with Central Division-rival Chicago. Wallace had spent the past six seasons with Detroit. He won the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year four times and was a four-time All-Star during his tenure with the Pistons. Last season, Wallace averaged 7.3 points, 11.3 rebounds and 2.21 blocks.
Losing Wallace will hurt, but the Pistons are still one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference. They signed veteran center Nazr Mohammed and guard Ronald Murray to multi-year contracts during the offseason.The 29-year-old Mohammed, who won a championship as a member of the 2005 San Antonio Spurs, registered 6.2 points and 5.2 rebounds in 80 contests for the Spurs last season. He has played in 38 postseason games during his eight-year career.
Murray, 27, averaged 11.2 points and 2.6 assists in 76 games for Seattle and Cleveland last season. The 6-3 Murray can play both guard spots and adds athleticism to the Pistons.
All-Stars Chauncey Billups, Richard Hamilton, Rasheed Wallace and unsung hero Tayshaun Prince are still in the fold and make Detroit a very dangerous squad. Billups averaged 18.5 points and a team-best 8.6 assists in 2005-06, while Hamilton led the Pistons in scoring (20.1 ppg).
Rasheed Wallace and Prince are both excellent all-around players. They can score and are not afraid to get their hands dirty on the defensive end of the court. Rasheed's role will be larger with the loss of Ben Wallace, while Prince's value to the team will become even more noticeable.
Veterans Antonio McDyess and Lindsey Hunter, who re-signed with the team in the offseason, give the Pistons depth and leadership. The 32-year-old McDyess averaged 7.8 points and 5.3 boards in 82 contests last season, while the 35- year-old Hunter played just 30 games because of injuries and should be able to be more productive this season.
Head coach Flip Saunders enters his second season at the helm. He has give the Pistons more freedom on offense. However, this squad has always won with its defense and will get back to that theme when the season tips off.
Billups, Hamilton, Prince and Rasheed Wallace are the leaders of the team. They will be the one's who make sure the Pistons continue to strive for excellence on the court. They have the skill and the experience that is needed to win the big games.
Even though they are not the defending conference champions, the Pistons may still be the team to beat in the East.
BACKCOURT
Billups and Hamilton are arguably the best backcourt in the NBA. They are true professionals and continue to shine for the Pistons. Both are solid defenders and can burn their opponents on the offensive end of the court as well. Detroit's starting backcourt is not afraid to take the big shot in crunch time, and they are also able to make the big stop when their opponent has a chance to take a lead or to even win the game.
Murray and Hunter give Detroit to very capable backup guards. Both are versatile as they can play either spot in the backcourt. The Pistons backcourt is in excellent shape.
FRONTCOURT
Prince and Rasheed Wallace are the anchors of the frontcourt. Rasheed averaged 15.1 points and 6.8 rebounds in 80 outings last season, while Prince posted 14.1 points and 4.2 boards in 82 contests. They will team up with Mohammed to give the Pistons a formidable starting front line.
McDyess will be the first forward off the bench. He can be a threat on the offensive end of the court, but is not the greatest defender. The 6-9 McDyess will play with Rasheed, who will log minutes at center and power forward and Mohammed.
Detroit will miss Ben Wallace's intimidating presence down low, but Rasheed and Prince will rise to the challenge and will pick up the slack if needed. Mohammed will give the Pistons some more scoring around the basket and should fit right in with his new squad.
OUTLOOK
The Pistons have some tough competition in the Central Division. Chicago and Cleveland will battle with them in the regular season for the division crown, but in the end Detroit should prevail.
Billups, Hamilton, Prince and Rasheed Wallace will at least get the Pistons to their fourth straight Eastern Conference finals. And a trip to the NBA Finals for the third time in the last four years is a strong possibility as well.
Game film doesn't lie after Pistons preseason lossTuesday, October 24, 2006
AUBURN HILLS -- Detroit Pistons coach Flip Saunders is certainly not a movie critic, ala Ebert & Roeper. But he knows a big-screen stinker when he sees one.
It's even easier for him to spot when it stars his players, which was the case when Saunders and the Pistons reviewed the game film from Sunday night's 124-105 preseason loss to the Denver Nuggets.
"The film doesn't lie," Saunders said. "It shows what you're not executing. It shows you what you're doing right. It's called a truth machine."
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And the truth is, the Pistons have already accomplished their primary preseason goal, which has been to develop a bench with the ability to impact games.
"We know we got some good firepower on that bench," said Pistons forward Rasheed Wallace.
Detroit's reserves will get another opportunity to play big minutes tonight against Washington, with Saunders likely to keep several starters on the bench.
"Maybe three or four of them," said Saunders, who indicated he had yet to decide which players would not play.
Affording the reserves an opportunity to play more is one of the positives that will come from tonight's game. Saunders also wants to make sure he doesn't wear down his starters between now and the regular season, which begins next week.
Saunders said his decision to bench some starters tonight, and possibly others in Wednesday's final preseason game against Memphis, doesn't mean there's little left for his team to accomplish before next week.
"We'll get something out of both days," he said. "It's just a matter of who's playing in those days."
Saunders would like to see a little more of how a "small" lineup with Chauncey Billups, Ronald "Flip" Murray, Richard Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince and Wallace, plays together.
Saunders is optimistic that lineup can be good, with Murray being a key.
"Flip brings a different dimension where you can play small, you can do some different things," Saunders said. "That's the nice thing about his addition to the team."
Center Dale Davis, who has been limited because of a left hamstring injury, re-aggravated it on Monday and is questionable for tonight's game. Also, forward Antonio McDyess has a sore groin, and his status for tonight's game is unclear.
There is, however, some good news on the injury front. Wallace, who played only eight minutes on Sunday after getting a knee to the groin area, is healthy enough to play.
"I'm all right, I'm all right," said Wallace, who is one of the players Saunders is considering holding out tonight. "Just took a shot below the belt. The ref should have taken a point from that."
A. Sherrod Blakely can be reached at sherrodb@aol.com or mlive.com/forums/pistons.
It's even easier for him to spot when it stars his players, which was the case when Saunders and the Pistons reviewed the game film from Sunday night's 124-105 preseason loss to the Denver Nuggets.
"The film doesn't lie," Saunders said. "It shows what you're not executing. It shows you what you're doing right. It's called a truth machine."
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}
-->
And the truth is, the Pistons have already accomplished their primary preseason goal, which has been to develop a bench with the ability to impact games.
"We know we got some good firepower on that bench," said Pistons forward Rasheed Wallace.
Detroit's reserves will get another opportunity to play big minutes tonight against Washington, with Saunders likely to keep several starters on the bench.
"Maybe three or four of them," said Saunders, who indicated he had yet to decide which players would not play.
Affording the reserves an opportunity to play more is one of the positives that will come from tonight's game. Saunders also wants to make sure he doesn't wear down his starters between now and the regular season, which begins next week.
Saunders said his decision to bench some starters tonight, and possibly others in Wednesday's final preseason game against Memphis, doesn't mean there's little left for his team to accomplish before next week.
"We'll get something out of both days," he said. "It's just a matter of who's playing in those days."
Saunders would like to see a little more of how a "small" lineup with Chauncey Billups, Ronald "Flip" Murray, Richard Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince and Wallace, plays together.
Saunders is optimistic that lineup can be good, with Murray being a key.
"Flip brings a different dimension where you can play small, you can do some different things," Saunders said. "That's the nice thing about his addition to the team."
Center Dale Davis, who has been limited because of a left hamstring injury, re-aggravated it on Monday and is questionable for tonight's game. Also, forward Antonio McDyess has a sore groin, and his status for tonight's game is unclear.
There is, however, some good news on the injury front. Wallace, who played only eight minutes on Sunday after getting a knee to the groin area, is healthy enough to play.
"I'm all right, I'm all right," said Wallace, who is one of the players Saunders is considering holding out tonight. "Just took a shot below the belt. The ref should have taken a point from that."
A. Sherrod Blakely can be reached at sherrodb@aol.com or mlive.com/forums/pistons.
Insider’s view of the World Series
Local man pitched for both Cardinals, Tigers
Local man pitched for both Cardinals, Tigers
Former Major League Baseball pitcher Matt Kinzer signs autographs for children.
While sitting in a restaurant Saturday night watching the World Series, Matt Kinzer was asked which team he favored.
“Who’s winning?” he asked, and then was told the Cardinals.
“Then I guess I’m rooting for the Cardinals,” he said.
Kinzer has an interesting perspective as he pitched for both the Cardinals and Tigers during his brief Major League Baseball career.
A Norwell High School graduate and Markle native, Kinzer, 43, was a second-round pick of the Cardinals in the 1984 draft and fought his way up the minors to pitch eight games for St. Louis in 1989. The Cardinals traded him to the Tigers on Dec. 6, 1989, and he pitched one game for Detroit in 1990. A sore arm ended his career that same season.
“I played a lot of years with the Cardinals, and there’s something to be said for bleeding Cardinal red,” Kinzer said. “It’s a close-knit family. I probably have more allegiance to the Cardinals for all the years I spent with them, but the Tigers have a brick in front of their stadium entrance with my name on it. Every time we go there, the kids go running around looking for it.”
Matt and Julie Kinzer have been married since Dec. 29, 1984, and have three sons – Taylor, 18, Derek, 16, and Jordan, 14.
After he retired as a player, Kinzer started coaching. He coached IPFW for two years, sold advertising for the Fort Wayne Fury and then scouted for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays from 1995 to 2000. When the Devil Rays wanted him to take an expanded role that would include more travel, Kinzer turned them down in 2000 and went to work as the director of recruiting for Reynolds Sports Management of Riverside, Calif. Larry Reynolds was Kinzer’s agent.
“I told them that my wife and my boys needed me a lot more than the Devil Rays,” he said.
So instead of traveling 25 days a month, he’s on the road for about 10. The company’s clients include Major League Baseball players LaTroy Hawkins, B.J. Upton, Ryan Sweeney, Matt Diaz, Ryan Howard and Torii Hunter.
During his travels, Kinzer frequently runs into former teammates, including Cardinals bench coach Joe Pettini and bullpen coach Marty Mason. Kinzer said about 15 people have asked him for World Series tickets, but he has no inclination to go to a game himself.
“I choose to watch the games at home with my boys and try to watch it as a family,” he said. “My No. 1 priority is my family, and my second is all the other children I represent.”
That includes Julie, who may know more about baseball than anyone else in the family, her husband said.
Like many fans in this area, the Kinzer family is leaning toward the Tigers in the series.
“In my opinion it’s been a really good playoffs so far,” Kinzer said. “There’s been some great pitching, timely hitting and some great defense. It’s been what baseball’s supposed to be.”
While sitting in a restaurant Saturday night watching the World Series, Matt Kinzer was asked which team he favored.
“Who’s winning?” he asked, and then was told the Cardinals.
“Then I guess I’m rooting for the Cardinals,” he said.
Kinzer has an interesting perspective as he pitched for both the Cardinals and Tigers during his brief Major League Baseball career.
A Norwell High School graduate and Markle native, Kinzer, 43, was a second-round pick of the Cardinals in the 1984 draft and fought his way up the minors to pitch eight games for St. Louis in 1989. The Cardinals traded him to the Tigers on Dec. 6, 1989, and he pitched one game for Detroit in 1990. A sore arm ended his career that same season.
“I played a lot of years with the Cardinals, and there’s something to be said for bleeding Cardinal red,” Kinzer said. “It’s a close-knit family. I probably have more allegiance to the Cardinals for all the years I spent with them, but the Tigers have a brick in front of their stadium entrance with my name on it. Every time we go there, the kids go running around looking for it.”
Matt and Julie Kinzer have been married since Dec. 29, 1984, and have three sons – Taylor, 18, Derek, 16, and Jordan, 14.
After he retired as a player, Kinzer started coaching. He coached IPFW for two years, sold advertising for the Fort Wayne Fury and then scouted for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays from 1995 to 2000. When the Devil Rays wanted him to take an expanded role that would include more travel, Kinzer turned them down in 2000 and went to work as the director of recruiting for Reynolds Sports Management of Riverside, Calif. Larry Reynolds was Kinzer’s agent.
“I told them that my wife and my boys needed me a lot more than the Devil Rays,” he said.
So instead of traveling 25 days a month, he’s on the road for about 10. The company’s clients include Major League Baseball players LaTroy Hawkins, B.J. Upton, Ryan Sweeney, Matt Diaz, Ryan Howard and Torii Hunter.
During his travels, Kinzer frequently runs into former teammates, including Cardinals bench coach Joe Pettini and bullpen coach Marty Mason. Kinzer said about 15 people have asked him for World Series tickets, but he has no inclination to go to a game himself.
“I choose to watch the games at home with my boys and try to watch it as a family,” he said. “My No. 1 priority is my family, and my second is all the other children I represent.”
That includes Julie, who may know more about baseball than anyone else in the family, her husband said.
Like many fans in this area, the Kinzer family is leaning toward the Tigers in the series.
“In my opinion it’s been a really good playoffs so far,” Kinzer said. “There’s been some great pitching, timely hitting and some great defense. It’s been what baseball’s supposed to be.”
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