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T-shirt #228: Detroit Pistons Blue w-Red Ball LogoBasketball season has begun, and my favorite team, the DETROIT PISTONS, are 2-1 on the young season after a nice home victory last night (Sunday, November 3rd) over the Boston Celtics. I watched the whole game, which I rarely do live, during my day of rest and self-care battery re-charge with the puppy (see yesterday's blog).
I would say basketball after Baseball (and not counting Ultimate) is my second favorite sport. I grew up watching a lot of basketball because my father likes it and played it. And, no, I do not deify it with a capital letter as I do with Baseball. AND, of course, I play fantasy basketball. I run two fantasy basketball leagues, and the second of the two had its draft yesterday. I am playing four leagues, which is fewer than usual for me. I played SIX Baseball leagues this year, counting the one in which I was shut out, and I am playing in seven football leagues (though setting lineups once a week is easier than daily). I am relatively happy with my basketball drafts as I drafted all but one team in a live draft. I am not happy with the team I let the Yahoo AI draft. It's terrible.
I am also kicking myself for not taking ANDRE DRUMMOND in any of my fantasy leagues as he is out to a hot start (see picture to the right). I stayed away from him due to his horrid free throw percentage from last year (37.1). It's worse this year, so far (20%). He's going to be a beast this year in all other facets of the game. Through just three games, granted a small sample, he's averaging 13 pts, 12 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks. In tandem with Greg Monroe (18.3 pts and 11.3 rebounds - a nightly double-double), this is one reason to get excited about the new look Pistons.I know it's early in the season. But three games in, the Pistons are 2-1 and second in the Central behind undefeated Indiana. The Pistons almost made it 3-0 with a tough- fought road game against Memphis on Friday, which they lost 111-108 in overtime.
As for the rest of the NBA, Phillie is a surprise 3-0 as is Indiana (no surprise), Minnesota (I am not surprised, though some people are), and Houston. I love that the Miami Heat is already 2-2. Not that this means much.
In the west, watch out for Minnesota (already), Golden State, and Portland. Though Houston is going to be in it as is Oklahoma City. I am hoping that San Antonio buckles and does not make the playoffs. Here's my playoff picks for the West: Minnesota, Golden State, Portland, Houston, OK City, Clippers, Dallas, and the Lakers. In the east, I see Indiana, Miami, Phillie, Toronto, New York, Chicago, DETROIT, and though I am tempted to pick Orlando as a weird dark horse, I am picking Brooklyn.I am excited about the Detroit Pistons this year.
Brandon Jennings looked great in his debut last night. Rodney Stuckey (see picture to the left) is a huge spark off the bench as is Kyle Singler. I like to see the Pistons keeping Jonas Jerebko in the rotation. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope looks good and is getting good minutes. And I love the starting five. Will Bynum has long been under-valued by the league, and he is an incredibly talented utility player. Chauncey Billups is rejuvenated in his return to the Pistons. So far, I have no complaints with the Josh Smith signing and as I mentioned the Monroe-Drummond tandem look great. I like Maurice Cheeks as a coach very much.
The PISTONS are back, baby. Oh yeah.
The Pistons play unbeaten Indiana tomorrow night, who I will unhesitatingly claim is the best team in the Eastern Conference (yes, better than Miami). If the Pistons can beat the Pacers at home (Detroit), it will be a clear signal that the new era of Pistons basketball has dawned.
I hope I have not jinxed them by making such a claim.
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Here's my previous Pistons content:
This one, from July, discussed my growing excitement with the acquisition of Chauncey Billups, the summer draft results, and the addition of Josh Smith.
T-shirt #65: Dead T-shirt #2: Detroit Pistons
This one explained that Joe Dumars is my favorite basketball player of all time.
In this entry, I lamented the end of the 2012-13 regular NBA season and gave a pretty lengthy fan love letter on my beloved Detroit Pistons.
Don't worry. I am not out of Pistons shirts yet. More to come on basketball and the Pistons. Stay Tuned.
Unless you don't like sports and then why are you reading this?
- chris tower - 1311.04 - 9:29
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