Pistons Finally At Full Strength

February 2, 2010 @ 11:19AM

The Pistons are reportedly expecting to have their entire 14-man roster available to them for tonight's game in New Jersey against the Nets. That includes forward Charlie Villanueva, who has been out the last couple of days with back spasms, and guard Will Bynum, who has missed 16 straight games with a sprained left ankle.

The starting lineup is expected to consist of Tayshaun Prince, Jonas Jerebko and Ben Wallace up front with Rip Hamilton and Rodney Stuckey in the backcourt.

Steve St-Pierre
Sports Writer
In Play! Magazine
sstpierre@inplaymagazine.com

Gordon Back In Lineup; Bynum Still Out

February 1, 2010 @ 8:16AM

Despite enduring a current five-game losing streak, the Pistons received some pleasant news in the return of reserve guard Ben Gordon. Unfortunately, the team is still without fellow guard Will Bynum, who has missed the last 16 games with a sprained left ankle.

John Kuester, Pistons Head Coach, continues to search for an answer at the starting power forward position. He's gone back to using rookie Jonas Jerebko, who has started most of the season at small forward before returning to the bench in favor of veteran Tayshaun Prince. It remains to be seen if Detroit can pull off a trade for a veteran big man or if forward Charlie Villanueva will be reinserted into the starting lineup.

Steve St-Pierre
Sports Writer
In Play! Magazine
sstpierre@inplaymagazine.com

DETROIT PISTONS FORWARD JONAS JEREBKO SELECTED FOR 2010 T-MOBILE ROOKIE CHALLENGE & YOUTH JAM

January 27, 2010 @ 11:24AM

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – The National Basketball Association announced today that Detroit Pistons forward Jonas Jerebko has been selected to play in the 2010 T-Mobile Rookie Challenge and Youth Jam at NBA All-Star 2010 in Dallas, Texas. The game will be played on Friday, February 12.
The participants in the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam were selected by the NBA’s assistant coaches, with each team submitting one ballot. Jerebko is the first Pistons rookie to compete in the event since Zelijko Rebraca in 2002. Tayshaun Prince and Rodney Stuckey were members of the Sophomore Team in 2004 and 2009, respectively.

Joining Jerebko on the Rookie Team are Sacramento Kings teammates Omar Casspi and Tyreke Evans, Chicago Bulls forward Taj Gibson, Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, Milwaukee Bucks guard Brandon Jennings, Minnesota Timberwolves guard Jonny Flynn, Oklahoma City Thunder guard James Harden, and San Antonio forward/center DeJuan Blair.

Members of the Sophomore Team are Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose, Miami Heat forward Michael Beasley, Los Angeles Clippers guard Eric Gordon, Minnesota Timberwolves forward/center Kevin Love, New Jersey Nets center Brook Lopez, New York Knicks forward Danilo Gallinari, Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook, and a pair of teammates from the Memphis Grizzlies – center Marc Gasol and guard O.J. Mayo.

The head coaches for the Rookie and Sophomore teams will be the lead assistants from the 2010 NBA All-Star Game coaching staffs, which will be determined by the best record in each conference through games played Jan. 31.

Fans tuning in to TNT will also get a special treat, as NBA All-Star starters Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic and Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat, will join TNT’s broadcast as analysts.

The T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam will be televised live nationally on TNT at 9 p.m. ET and also will be broadcast live on ESPN Radio, while NBA.com will make live audio available to fans in multiple languages.

At halftime of the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam, the Clippers’ Gordon and the Toronto Raptors’ DeMar DeRozan will compete in the first NBA All-Star Slam Dunk-In, a single-round slam dunk competition. Fans will be able to vote via SMS text message and at NBA.com to determine who will advance to the Sprite Slam Dunk the following night.

The T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam began its current format pitting the Rookies against the Sophomores in 2000 and the Sophomores hold an 8-2 advantage over the first-year players. The game will be played in two 20-minute halves. Individual foul totals will be kept, but a player cannot foul out. A team will be in the penalty situation after 10 team fouls or after the second foul in the final two minutes of each half. In the event of a tie game, there will be a two-minute overtime to determine the winner. The clock will stop after each successful field goal in the last minute of each half.

As title partner of the Rookie Challenge and overall NBA Rookie Program, T-Mobile has teamed up with the NBA and NBA Cares to create the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Dallas students to experience NBA All-Star 2010. By successfully completing academic, reading, school attendance, and community service requirements, nearly 4,000 students ages 11-15, from schools within the Dallas and Arlington Independent School Districts will watch the game from the best seats in the house at American Airlines Center.

T-Mobile will provide basketball fans with the opportunity to have their vote count toward selecting the MVP of the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam by voting on NBA.com or via SMS on mobile phones during the second half of the game.

NBA All-Star brings together the top NBA players and performers for a week of competition, community service and world-class entertainment. Among the many other exciting All-Star events are Sprite Slam Dunk, Foot Locker Three-Point Shootout, Taco Bell Skills Challenge, Haier Shooting Stars and NBA All-Star Jam Session presented by adidas.

Building upon its already strong appeal to the nation’s youth and as Official Partner of the NBA, T-Mobile is showcasing the NBA’s youngest players -- the Rookies -- through the T-Mobile Rookie Program. Highlights include the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam, an All-Star competition between NBA rookies and second-year players, and rookie awards presentations including the T-Mobile Rookie of the Month and T-Mobile Rookie of the Year. To learn more about T-Mobile’s partnership with the NBA, visit www.t-mobile.com/nba.

Below are the rosters for the 2010 T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam:

ROOKIE TEAM ROSTER
Player Team Pos. Ht. Wt. School/Country

Omri Casspi Sacramento F 6-9 225 Israel
DeJuan Blair San Antonio F-C 6-7 265 Pittsburgh
Stephen Curry Golden State G 6-3 185 Davidson
Tyreke Evans Sacramento G 6-6 220 Memphis
Jonny Flynn Minnesota G 6-0 185 Syracuse
Taj Gibson Chicago F 6-9 225 USC
James Harden Oklahoma City G 6-5 220 Arizona State
Brandon Jennings Milwaukee G 6-1 169 Lottomatica Virtus Roma (Italy)
Jonas Jerebko Detroit F 6-10 231 Sweden

Head Coach – TBD
Assistant Coach – TBD


SOPHOMORE TEAM ROSTER
Player Team Pos. Ht. Wt. School/Country

Michael Beasley Miami F 6-9 245 Kansas St.
Marc Gasol Memphis C 7-1 265 Spain
Danilo Gallinari New York G-F 6-10 225 Italy
Eric Gordon L.A. Clippers G 6-3 222 Indiana
Brook Lopez New Jersey C 7-0 260 Stanford
Kevin Love Minnesota F-C 6-10 260 UCLA
O.J. Mayo Memphis G 6-4 210 USC
Derrick Rose Chicago G 6-3 190 Memphis
Russell Westbrook Oklahoma City G 6-3 187 UCLA

Head Coach – TBD
Assistant Coach – TBD

PREVIOUS T-MOBILE ROOKIE CHALLENGE RESULTS

1994 - Phenoms 74, Sensations 68
1995 - White 83, Green 79 (OT)
1996 - East 94, West 92
1997 - East 96, West 91
1998 - East 85, West 80
2000 - Rookies 92, Sophomores 81 (OT)
2001 - Sophomores 121, Rookies 113
2002 - Rookies 103, Sophomores 97
2003 - Sophomores 132, Rookies 112
2004 - Sophomores 142, Rookies 118
2005 - Sophomores 133, Rookies 106
2006 - Sophomores 106, Rookies 96
2007 – Sophomores 155, Rookies 114
2008 – Sophomores 136, Rookies 109
2009 – Sophomores 122, Rookies 116

Gordon and Bynum Practice, Might Suit Up

January 26, 2010 @ 7:53AM

Injured reserve guards Ben Gordon and Will Bynum were back at the Pistons' practice yesterday and could play in tomorrow's home game against the Memphis Grizzlies.

Gordon, nursing a slight groin muscle tear, and Bynum, recovering from a sprained left ankle since late December, are both game-time decisions. This is the second injury to keep Gordon out of at least eight consecutive games this season. He sat out Dec. 9-23 with a sprained ankle.

In other Pistons news, the team is preparing for the Feb. 18 NBA Trade Deadline. The latest rumor is that Detroit is interested in acquiring Phoenix Suns big man Amar'e Stoudemire, hoping that a package of forward Tayshaun Prince, center Kwame Brown and draft picks will get it done.

Steve St-Pierre
Sports Writer
In Play! Magazine
sstpierre@inplaymagazine.com

Prince Returns, Has Heated Discussion With Kuester

January 23, 2010 @ 9:43AM

Pistons small forward Tayshaun Prince returned to the team's lineup last night in their home loss to the Indiana Pacers. When John Kuester, Pistons Head Coach, opted to put in his bench towards the end of the game, Prince publicly voiced his displeasures as the two yelled at one another.

It'll be interesting to see how Kuester uses his rotation for tonight's game at the Palace against the Portland Trail Blazers. Chris Wilcox started at power forward last night over Jonas Jerebko, who could wind up starting again at small forward over Prince. Then again, Portland is one team that has publicly expressed interest in the disgruntled Prince, a player the Pistons are expected to look at trading within the next month before the NBA trade deadline.

Steve St-Pierre
Sports Writer
In Play! Magazine
sstpierre@inplaymagazine.com

Pistons Trade Rumors Heating Up

January 15, 2010 @ 6:49AM

Joe Dumars, Pistons President, says he's working the phones in hopes of making another trade as part of his long-term solution to fixing the team's problems. The Pistons just recently endured a 13-game losing streak and have struggled with injuries all season.

Reserve guard Will Bynum has returned to practice but is still out with an injured left ankle. Fellow backup guard Ben Gordon and starting forward Tayshaun Prince are still day-to-day with their injuries.

Detroit's trade rumors are countless, but the one making most headlines has Dumars sending Prince to the Utah Jazz for power forward Carlos Boozer, a player who's been linked to the Pistons since last summer. Boozer himself would likely only be a short-term fix since he becomes a free agent this summer, but the cap space Detroit would gain could be used on another set of available players to develop down the road.

Steve St-Pierre
Sports Writer
In Play! Magazine
sstpierre@inplaymagazine.com

Pistons Hoping To Get Out And Run

January 11, 2010 @ 6:24AM

They've now lost 12 straight games, and the Pistons have vowed to change things up a bit. The slow, half-court offense that starters Rip Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince and Ben Wallace are accustomed to hasn't been working, and now Detroit is looking to speed up its style of play.

An up-tempo offense should better suit point guard Rodney Stuckey, who plans on playing on a swollen right knee. Likewise, reserve guard Ben Gordon (abductor muscle, upper thigh) is listed as probable for tonight's game against the Chicago Bulls, Prince is a game-time decision with an injured left knee, and reserve Will Bynum is still out with two sprained ankles.

Steve St-Pierre
Sports Writer
In Play! Magazine
sstpierre@inplaymagazine.com

Stuckey Injured; Pistons Lose 11th Straight

January 7, 2010 @ 7:06AM

Point guard Rodney Stuckey injured his right knee last night in San Antonio during the Pistons' loss to the Spurs. It was Detroit's 11th straight loss.

Stuckey joins fellow point guard Will Bynum on the injured list. Both players are currently listed as day-to-day. If neither are able to play by the Pistons' next game, veteran Chucky Atkins is expected to start, with reserve Ben Gordon expected to play at both guard spots off the bench.

It's difficult to find any positives during this 11-game losing streak, but there is one. Reserve center Chris Wilcox has worked his way into the rotation, doing a fine job of scoring and rebounding in extended minutes. If Detroit is unable to acquire a big man before next month's NBA trade deadline, the team will need Wilcox to step up if it hopes to make it back to the postseason this year.

Steve St-Pierre
Sports Writer
In Play! Magazine
sstpierre@inplaymagazine.com