AUBURN HILLS, Mich. - The Palace's "No Fly Zone" has been lifted. Taking
advantage of Ben Wallace's departure, Michael Redd scored 37 points and the
Milwaukee Bucks attacked the Detroit Pistons for a slew of easy baskets in a
105-97 win Wednesday night.
Ben's been the Defensive Player of the Year for what, four years? That says
it better than anything else," Charlie Villanueva said after his 16-point,
12-rebound debut with Milwaukee. "They are a different team without him."
Wallace, who used to wear wristbands with "No Fly Zone" printed on them,
signed a four-year contract with the Chicago Bulls in the offseason for $60
million, leaving a team he helped win an NBA title in 2004 and advance to
the previous four Eastern Conference finals.
It took one possession to see how much Detroit missed Wallace. It was
frequently obvious over the next 47-plus minutes.
Andrew Bogut scored the opening basket after Milwaukee grabbed rebounds off
three missed shots. Bogut scored on an easy layup on the Bucks' next
possession and Milwaukee continued to score uncontested baskets near the
basket, where Wallace patrolled from 2000-06.
"I'm so tired of you all talking Ben," said Detroit power forward Antonio
McDyess, who is not easily irritated. "He's gone, we're not going to get him
back. It's about us trying to come together as a team to find our identity
now that he's gone."
The Pistons will quickly have to figure out how to prevent teams from
scoring with ease near the basket after giving up 70 points in the paint
against Milwaukee.
"Is that a record? I've never seen that in my life," McDyess said.
Actually, the Pistons fell 14 points short of the record for points in the
paint allowed, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, but that's not much
consolation.
Detroit also hurt its chances by making 22 turnovers.
"That was an embarrassing situation," Pistons coach Flip Saunders said.
The Pistons signed center Nazr Mohammed a day after losing Wallace in July,
and the lumbering center had a decent Detroit debut with eight points, 12
rebounds and a block before fouling out.
"My days of worrying about numbers are long gone," said Mohammed, starting
his ninth season.
Richard Hamilton and Chauncey Billups each scored 25 points and Tayshaun
Prince added 16 for the Pistons, who lost All-Star forward Rasheed Wallace
midway through the third quarter. Wallace was ejected for a second technical
for bickering with officials, who taught him an early lesson that the NBA is
serious about its new point of emphasis.
Wallace, who was scoreless on 0-for-3 shooting and had three rebounds, was
outplayed by Villanueva and Bogut before being tossed. Bogut scored 16
points and grabbed nine rebounds, a strong showing after the No. 1 pick from
the 2005 NBA draft missed the preseason with a left leg injury.
The Bucks traded point guard T.J. Ford to Toronto for Villanueva because
they wanted the young power forward and were confident in Mo Williams, who
had 14 points, four assists and no turnovers against the Pistons.
Milwaukee newcomers Ruben Patterson, Brian Skinner and Steve Blake, acquired
in two trades during the offseason, also helped knock off the defending
Central Division champions.
The Bucks lost in the first round last year in the playoffs against
top-seeded Detroit, which won a franchise-record 64 games.
Milwaukee was in control from start to finish in a game it never trailed.
The Bucks led by 12 points in both the first and second quarters, built a
13-point cushion in the third before going ahead by 14 in the fourth and
coasting in the final minutes.
"When we come into The Palace, where we were something like 0-5 last year,
and play like this," Milwaukee coach Terry Stotts said, "it is going to
build a lot of confidence for a young team."
Notes:@ Like Wallace, Patterson was called for a technical for bickering
with officials. "On me?" Patterson asked. "Yes, on you!" official Ken Mauer
replied. ... Miami was the last team to match the NBA record for points in
the paint, a stat that has been kept since the 1996-97 season, scoring 84 in
a game last season against Seattle. ... Reserve guard Flip Murray, signed
along with Mohammed as a free agent, had 10 points in his Detroit debut.
--
My only concern is should I hide my true identity? A costume maybe?
http://www.myspace.com/84384847
FAQ
Search
Profile
Private Messages
Log in
