Pistons Acquire Arroyo

It's official! The Pistons have acquired Carlos Arroyo from the Utah Jazz. Utah will receive a future first round draft pick, and Elden Campbell.

Arroyo is averaging 8.2 points per game this season and has been in the dog house with Jerry Sloan for weeks. Arroyo had a break out season last year with the Jazz, and could return to the same form under new leadership.

Elden Campbell is expected to be waived, and could end up back with the Pistons once he clears waivers. Campbell's only major role this season has been against Shaq.

The Pistons had openly been looking for another guard to add to Lindsey Hunter. Last year's Hunter and James combination proved vital in Detroit's Championship run.

"We're excited to add him to our team, because we think Carlos adds great flexibility to our backcourt," Dumars said.

Look for Arroyo to join the Pistons very soon.

Delfino Heads Home

Carlos Delfino has gone home to Argentina for a second opinion on his knee. While he was there they did a quick exploration inside the knee, and found no damage to the ligaments or cartilage.

The next stop for Delfino will be back in Detroit where he will resume his rehab. Delfino had the same procedure here in the states, but being in a new country, he felt more at peace with another opinion from his hometown doctor.

Delfino was averaging 5.2 points per game in the 13 games he played in. He will be evaluated when he returns, and hopes to be practicing soon. Delfino is an important part of the bench. At 6-6, Delfino gives the Pistons a backup at SG and an option at the Forward position.

NHL Talks Not Helping

I’m going to perfectly clear on my position. I do not believe the 2004-2005 NHL season will be saved.

Philosophical differences still remain between the players and the owners. The main difference is the salary cap. The players believe that a 24 percent role back on salaries is the answer, and the owners see it only as a short term fix. They’ve tried to find a middle ground the past two days, but aren’t making much progress.

There were early reports out of Winnipeg that said a proposed six year deal was on the table. The first three years would be under the players’ system, and if that didn’t work, the final three years would have a salary cap added to it. This seemed like the start of a settlement. Unfortunately, that’s as far as it got.

Ted Saskin, senior director of the NHLPA, said that there are still many differences between the two sides. He also stated that there are enough areas of disagreement that won’t allow much progress to be made.

The positive side to this entire fiasco is that there is finally some talking going on. For weeks, and in some instances months, Gary Bettman and Bob Goodenow made no attempts to talk. Both are egomaniacs and neither have much negotiation skill. These talks have been viewed more positive without them, and some productivity was accomplished.

The talks haven’t done enough to save the season and time is running out. The window of opportunity to get in a 30-40 game season is quickly closing. With no more meetings schedule, chances of salvaging a season don’t look good.

None of the four major sports has ever lost a season and the NHL cannot afford to be the first ones to accomplish this. They already struggle with TV ratings and revenue is only $2 billion per year. It could also be viewed as criminal not to hand out the Stanley Cup this season. It is by far the most prestigious trophy is all of sports and to see it sit in storage would be a tragedy.

Trade Watch: Arroyo Talks Heat Up

Reports out of New York have Carlos Arroyo coming to Detroit in favor of Elden Campbell and a future First Round Pick.

Arroyo, unhappy with his playing time lately, is averaging 8.2 points per game and 5.1 assists. Given that this trade loses virtually nothing for the Pistons, it look as if Utah is happy to honor is trade requests.

Arroyo could give Hunter that needed second guard off the bench. With Delfino out for a little while longer, the Pistons need help.

Look for a trade as soon as today.

Big House Gettin' Fixed Up

Michigan stadium is looking at a massive renovation.

Officials are looking at adding suites, widening seats and isles, and building a new press box. The renovations would be completed by the 2008 season.

Massive renovations for Michigan Stadium Proposed

Hockey officials on both sides of the table said they are still a ways apart, but are continuing to talk.

"There was some good dialogue," said Ted Saskin, senior director of the NHL Players' Association. "We clearly have some serious differences of opinion but we continue to try and find ways to bridge the gap."

The central issue is the salary cap. The rumor has it that there would be a six year plan that would give three years with the players' plan, and then the final three years under a salary cap if the owners didn't see it working.

TSN.ca: Second day of labour meetings end

Wolverine Woes

The Michigan Wolverines traveled to Indiana to take on the Hoosiers last night. Things started out good in the first half, and then fell apart in the second half. As a result, Indiana beat Michigan 62-53.

Poor second half shooting and 20 turnovers were the story of this game. The Wolverines made just 7 of 28 shots in the second half. Brent Petway came off the bench with a team-leading 12 points. Graham Brown led the team with 12 rebounds. Dion Harris and Daniel Horton continued to struggle from the field. Horton was 2-9 with 11 points and Harris was 4-12 with 11 points.

Coming off an NIT Championship, the expectations for this season remain high. Michigan has failed to gain a ranking and has been plagued by injuries. They are expected to win against teams such as Indiana, but aren’t getting the job done. Poor shooting and sloppy ball handling have been the main problem. Turnovers, missed free throws, and missed key shots have caused Michigan to narrowly escape some games and lose others.

Indiana has won six of their last seven games. There has been speculation that Coach Mike Davis could be fired if the team doesn’t start winning. The news appears to have motivated the team. The Hoosiers shot 35 percent from the field and missed nine free throws. The Wolverines had every opportunity to win this game, but could not get it done.

The Wolverines miss the leadership of Lester Abram. Abram is a leader both on and off the court. He adds energy to the team. He is arguably the most important piece of the Wolverines. He can shoot, run the ball, and rebounds well for a Guard. He’s tall, and can play good defense.

If the Wolverines can find consistency in their game, and learn to break through strong defense, they can develop a better inside game. Handling defensive pressure will also help their ball movement. If they just calm down and be patient with the ball, they should find better passing, and smoother transition.

All is not lost for the Wolverines. They are 12-6 overall, and 3-1 in the Big Ten. The season is young, and they still have the team capable of finishing strong enough too earn a spot in the NCAA Tournament. When they start making tournament appearances, they will have a better chance at landing better recruits. With their core group of players returning next year, they’re on the right path. Better future recruits will only strengthen them and help bring them back to the top of the standings.

Around the Horn: Middle infielders

Jason Beck of MLB.com wrote a good article on Guillen and Infante today. Check it out.

Around the Horn: Middle infielders

Tigers Invite Palmer, Others

One year after announcing his retirement, the Detroit Tigers have invited Dean Palmer to spring training. Palmer manned third base for the Tigers until neck and shoulder injuries forced him into retirement.

Palmer was a power hitter that played the field well. He was missed immensely when he was hurt and has tried several times to make a come back. He was never successful. Will this season be any different? It is Doubtful.

Among the other invites were Nelson Cruz, Craig Dingman, Seach Douglass, John Ennis, Andrew Good, Matt Roney, Mike Bynum, Doug Creek, Brandon Harper, Sandy Martinez, Mike Rabelo, Michael Rivera, Maxim St. Pierre, Tony Giarratano, Jack Hannahan, Mike Hessman, Kevin Hooper, Alexis Gomez.

Nelson Cruz was with the Tigers in 2000. He had a 3.07 ERA with a 5-2 record. I remember him as a good pitcher with speed and movement on his pitches. Michael Rivera was cut from the team in favor of Brandon Inge a couple years ago. I wouldn't expect to see Rivera make the team and Cruz, who saw only one good season, is doubtful at best.

Spring Training starts February 17 for pitchers and catchers, and February 21 for everyone else. The Tigers open their season against the Royals on April 4.

Darko’s Future Is In His Control

Dark Milicic, Pistons Center and currently 12th man on the bench, is going to take time. Unlike others coming from the European game, Darko was much younger, and not quite ready to step into an NBA role. Although Darko was a second overall pick, and has all the hype behind him to be a star in the league. Patience and hard work are going to be factors in his development.

It wasn’t long ago that Rasheed Wallace played along side of another highly anticipated youngster. Sitting four years on the bench with him in Portland, Jermaine O’Neal – who entered the NBA right after high school – put his time in patiently, worked on his game, and is now among the elite and in the Indiana Pacers’ starting lineup.

O’Neal can be an inspiration to Darko.

The best thing for Darko at this stage in his career would be hard work. Putting patience aside for a moment, he could harness impatience to the point where he’s using it as a tool to motivate himself. The coaching staff loves him in practice, crediting him with doing everything they ask very well, but when it comes to game time, Darko puts little effort in, even when given a little bit more time than normal. He’s not taking his opportunities to prove why he shouldn’t be on the bench.

Back in November when Ben Wallace was on suspension, Darko saw more playing time. The roster was thin and they needed him to fill a role. Darko played well at times and showed that he was progressing, even though he was still top heavy on fouls. So why is it that he didn’t keep some of those minutes? Simple, he’s just not ready to take minutes away from the likes of Rasheed Wallace, Ben Wallace, Antonio McDyess, and, in situational match-ups, Elden Campbell.

Lately Darko has been unhappy with his (lack of) playing time. He’s asked for more minutes, and if he’s not going to get them, has asked them to think about trading him. He’s ambitious, but doesn’t necessarily see the whole picture. He wants to be outside, but Larry Brown wants him to be inside. When given a chance to be outside, he’s often come up empty on shots, not giving much reason to put him back in that position.

So where does Darko fit in with the future of the Pistons? It’s hard to tell at this point, but I would imagine as a backup Center first and maybe later a starting Center. That is, if Darko can learn to take what he does in practice, and is able to transfer it onto the court during games. If he can find patience, he will find himself in a better mental makeup, and could learn to excel in the little time he’s given during games.

Darko’s best shot at a future in the NBA is here in Detroit. He has the best teachers, the best conditioners, the best role models, and the most people that still believe in his future. He has people around him that know how to win and what it takes to make it from a rookie at the end of the bench to a regular contributor.

Darko also has the athleticism, the know-how, the raw fundamental talent, and a decent shot. He’s strengthened up over the last year and a half, and has started get tougher under the boards. He can pass well, he can dribble, and he can run. He has the design, and if he can learn to embrace patience, he could turn out to be a very good player. If not, he’ll ride out his contract, go on waivers, and may never have another shot like this again.

Glimmer Of Hope

It looks like the NHLPA and the NHL have decided the same thing most of us already knew. Gary Bettman and Bob Goodenow aren’t capable of negotiating a new CBA.

Officials from both sides will meet at a secret location Wednesday to try and salvage a season. Whether or not they can work out their differences is another story. The players still insist they won’t accept a cap and the owners won’t unlock their doors without one.

Regardless of what the circumstances are, little hope remains to salvage the 2004-2005 NHL season. The owners have been reported to have some scenarios worked out for a shortened season, including a 36 game season that would start the first week of February.

All this is a moot until some sort of agreement is ratified. Both sides have rejected numerous offers in the last few months, and are hoping that new representatives can create the spark they need to get a deal done.

While this meeting gives us some hope for the season, please beware. If a deal is struck, Goodenow and Bettman would then get involved. At that time they could approval the deal, or try and change it around -- a move that would most likely kill it.

The NHL is in a crucial time period. If something isn't ratified by the end of the month, there really is no chance at a season. There is less optimism coming from the players, coaches, and owners.

The time to act is now.

Hockey is already a niche sport. It caters to a unique group of people and generates only about $2 billion per year. Each day takes away from that number, threatening to hurt the league for many years. The longer the hold out, the less the league can offer the players.

Let’s hope this meeting works.

Munson Heads North

Former third baseman Eric Munson has signed with the Minnesota Twins. With the loss of Corey Koskie, Munson will have a chance to compete for the starting third base job.

My initial reaction to this was positive. Then I started thinking -- Why are teams still trying to make Munson a third baseman? He has trouble fielding the ball, and now they want to put him on carpet where it’s even more difficult to stop the ball. Sure he has a lot of power at the plate, but with a .212 average it doesn’t really matter. He was a future first baseman who has since been taken out of his element, and his game has suffered as a result.

Munson will have to play well in spring training to make it to the regular season. He needs to work on his reaction time, speed, and his throwing. Behind the plate he needs to get away from always looking for the long ball, work on consistency, and work his on base percentage up. He was once a bright spot in the Tigers’ future. If he can regain his poise, he could be a good asset for the Twins.

Pistons Win

The Detroit Pistons extended their winning streak to six games, beating the Phoenix Suns 94-80.

Tayshaun Prince led all scoring wtih 26 points, and Ben Wallace added 15 rebounds. Detroit didn't shot particularly well, but kept to their defensive game and shut down the high scoring power of the Suns.

Nash was also out of the game, which didn't help things for the Suns. Nash, averaging 11 assists per game, sat out with a bruised thigh. The Suns shot 35% from the field, and 17% from the three point line. They took care of their free throws, but it wasn't enough.

Detroit took care of things under the boards. They dominated with second chance points, and converted many points of fast breaks and rebounds.

The Pistons are really heating up. They're finding ways to win, and are starting to hold most of their late-game leads. They're rumored to be working on trades that would solve their bench problems. If that happens, and they get the right fit, they would continue to dominate the Eastern Conference, and make a return to the NBA finals.

Pistons Honor MLK

Once again Martin Luther King day in Detroit means a good healthy dose of afternoon Pistons’ basketball. This year’s opponent – the Phoenix Suns.

Phoenix enters the game as the leagues most explosive offensive. Averaging 109.1 points per game, the Suns have used their shooting power to get off to a 31-7 start. Amare Stoudemire leads all scoring with 26.0 points per game, backed up by Steve Nash’s 10.9 assists per game.

So how does a team like Detroit stand a chance at beating a team like this? They’re only scoring 90.6 points per game, and have struggled late in games recently. They have been good with free throws, but drawing enough fouls to make a difference might be tough against a team like Phoenix.

It’s all going to have to come down to defense, consistency, and remembering how this team wins games.

The Pistons don’t need 110 points to win this game. They don’t even need 100. In fact, against defense-oriented teams, the Suns are averaging 90 points per game. To show you an even bigger impact, in these three games, their opponents have given up an average of 104 points per game, compared to their season average of 99.4 points per game – which, incidentally, is the highest in the West.

Take the Suns out of their high scoring element, and you have a very beatable team.

One of the keys to containing this offense is to shut down the passing of Steve Nash. Nash came to the Suns in off-season, and has made an immediately impact. His ball movement, key to their success, has given the Suns the final piece to their puzzle, and has helped launch them to a league best 31-7 start. Shutting down Nash will throw off their plans, and keep their scoring down to a reasonable level.

Let’s also not forget that the Pistons have a habit of taking a small vacation from the basket late in games. Friday night the Pistons led by as much as 16, and led by 10 after the third quarter. Detroit stopped scoring, and Philly took advantage, and almost won the game. The Pistons, down by four with less than two minutes to go, got help from Tayshaun Prince. After tying it back up, Prince hit key free throws, and a key shot to give the Pistons their final lead, and won the game 99-95.

If the Pistons repeat Friday’s performance today, they won’t get the chance to come back and win. Phoenix is too powerful of a scoring team to shut down for minutes at a time, and the Pistons are too weak of a scoring team to catch up in situations that require 65% shooting.

They must stick to their game with Defense, and consistent scoring. Not by running up the score, and not by matching the Suns running game. They must take care of business on the defensive end, work the ball inside, and setup plays from the corners and perimeters. Chauncey needs to take advantage of Nash’s weaker defense, and get some early three pointers.

Another part of making all this happen will rest on the shoulders of the bench. Antonio McDyess has been great backing up Wallace and Wallace. Lindsey Hunter seems to have regained his form lately, scoring 11 points on Friday with two steals and three assists. Unfortunately, that’s as deep as they’re getting right now. Delfino is out injured, and no one else is stepping up to help the Pistons out.

So let’s go back and make a list of things for the Pistons to watch out for, and take care of on the court.

Nash. Stop Nash from making a difference. Don’t let him feed guys the ball. Pressure him and force tough shots.

Defense. Remember who you are, what your team is all about. Remember what fuels wins for your team. Take care of the boards, defend the perimeter, and stop the run.

Chauncey. Take advantage of your match-up. Nash isn’t strong on defense, and you can excel tonight from the three point line and other perimeter shots. Try and work your way around him, and get some easy buckets.

Bench. McDyess, Hunter, I know your jobs have been tough this season. You are the only two regular rotation guys, and its taking toll on Hunter. Someone else may need to step up from the bench today. Dupree, Campbell, Goldwire?

Consistency. Absolutely no scoring droughts. If you want to beat a team like Phoenix, you cannot afford to stop your scoring for minutes at a time. Value each possession, and remain patient with each play. If the one set of plays isn’t working, adjust to a new set. Take advantage of the perimeter, work the boards inside, and generate second chance shots.

Five simple rules to beat Phoenix. They’re nothing new, or outrageous. In fact, they are the rules that brought the Championship back to Detroit last year, and the rules that will need to be followed if they want to beat the Suns, or defend their title again this year.