[外電] Some antifreeze, please
Source: http://www.sacbee.com/sports/story/1513744.html?mi_rss=Sports
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Some antifreeze, please
By Melody Gutierrez Published: Saturday, Jan. 03, 2009
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AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – A short-handed Detroit Pistons squad ran the floor as
if fully loaded, and the Kings left with a 98-92 loss just north of a snowy
Motor City.
The Kings never recovered from their poor shooting, which went cold early.
They finished just 33.7 percent (28 of 83) from the field.
"It was a tough one for us shooting-wise, but we kind of hung in there," said
Kevin Martin, who scored 20 points in his second game since returning from a
left ankle injury.
"We played hard, and that's about it. Sometimes, that doesn't translate into
a win."
The Pistons certainly made it difficult by converting 48.8 percent (40 of 82)
from the field with the help of Rodney Stuckey. The second-year point guard
was two shy of his career high with 38 points on 15-of-29 shooting.
The Pistons played without starters Richard Hamilton (groin) and Rasheed
Wallace (right foot) and top reserve Antonio McDyess (ribs).
"They had great guys out there on the floor playing, so it didn't matter
whether Rasheed was missing or whatever," Kings coach Kenny Natt said. "We
had our opportunities to win this ballgame."
Most noticeably following Bobby Jackson's three-pointer with 2:46 remaining
in the game that closed the Kings' deficit to 89-86.
"After I hit that three, we broke down defensively and gave up easy layups
and easy fouls, so they went back up," Jackson said. "We've got to contain
and make things tougher. You have to buckle down defensively."
Which the Kings did in the second quarter, holding the Pistons to 16 points.
The Kings trailed by just one, 45-44, at halftime.
But 11 second-half turnovers did not help the Kings.
"Those are the things that really make a difference," Natt said. "I thought
our effort was there – we were really hustling – but we made really
careless passes, and they really took advantage of it. Those are the things
we have to keep working to try to eliminate."
Brad Miller recorded his ninth double double of the season with a team-high
25 points and 16 rebounds.
Pistons power forward Amir Johnson, playing in place of Wallace, recorded a
career high with 14 rebounds. Still, Stuckey grabbed the spotlight, as an
enthusiastic announced sellout crowd of 22,076 chanted his name.
"I knew I had an advantage at the point guard situation with Beno (Udrih) and
Bobby Brown and those guys," Stuckey said. "I was just being aggressive.
Sometimes, they were all focused on A.I. (Allen Iverson). … It worked to my
advantage."
Stuckey's hot night had Natt frustrated.
"It was very disappointing when a guy gets an opportunity to go off on you
like that," Natt said. "But he had some help. Those guys were playing really
well together."
Iverson had 23 points, 16 in the second half, while Tayshaun Prince added 23
points and 10 rebounds.
Udrih went 0 of 4 with two points off free throws, three assists and two
turnovers.
"I'm not really happy with my performance, but I want the team to perform
better," Udrih said. "If one player doesn't perform good, you can still win
the game. We were right there."
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Only the strong survive- Iverson ⊕ ═█┘
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● ●︵ ● ●)) 3╯
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/>⊕ >/ ⊕ ╲> >>
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