March Awards
Player of the Month: Matt Bailey, Los Angeles Lakers – 29.4 points, 12.8 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.3 steals and 4.1 blocks per game.
Rookie of the Month: Ramon Johnson, Phoenix Suns – 7.2 points, 11.1 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 0.6 steals and 4.4 blocks per game.
We are on the home stretch with only six games to go in the regular season so hopefully we can sew up that second seed early.
The run home starts with a 118-95 beatdown of San Antonio as Tiago Splitter, Kevin King and Tyreke Evans all score over 23 points while Nick Babul gets close to a triple double with 12 points, 10 assists and 7 rebounds. Ex-Piston Evan Turner had a decent game with 21 points and 5 assists but shot 8/22 from the field.
Detroit Pistons 58-19
Utah still hasn’t got to 10 wins yet, and we keep it that way with a 116-87 humiliation on their home court with Tiago Splitter winning player of the game again with 22 points and 6 rebounds. The Jazz are horrible beyond compare and yet they have traded away their first round pick for Oti Brown who played all of 17 minutes in this game.
Detroit Pistons 59-19
After a six day break Seattle come to town and we take them down 94-83 as Tyreke Evans has a great all around game with 20 points, 5 assists, 5 rebounds and 5 steals but only one block. The Sonics had five players in double figures but no-one over 15 points.
Detroit Pistons 60-19
With three games to go we have secured the second seed so coach Woodson rolls out a line-up of this –
PG – George Hill
SG – Dwayne Wade
SF – Donte Hampton
PF – Ekpe Udoh
C – Yao Ming
And of course we got smashed, 105-89 to Orlando. Yao Ming was our best with 15 points and 12 rebounds while Dwayne Wade scored 19 points and Arron Afflalo hit 17 points off the bench. Blake Griffin took Ekpe Udoh to town with 19 points and 9 rebounds but all in all we didn’t embarrass ourselves.
Detroit Pistons 60-20
We lose again, this time to Phoenix 89-84 as it was the battle of the centres as rookie Ramon Johnson had 6 points, 17 rebounds and 11 blocks (yes and double double the hard way) while Yao Ming put up 6 points and 19 rebounds with George Hill pacing us with 21 points.
Detroit Pistons 60-21
Another close game, this time we go down to Philadelphia 90-86 as Yao Ming is really turning back the clock with 16 points and 14 rebounds. The best for the 76ers was Luol Deng who scored 17 points and grabbed 7 rebounds.
Detroit Pistons 60-22
That ends the regular season so here is the final standings.
Eastern Conference:
1st – Toronto Raptors – 69-13 (.841)
2nd – Detroit Pistons – 60-22 (.732)
3rd – Orlando Magic – 57-25 (.695)
4th – New York Knicks – 54-28 (.659)
5th – Philadelphia 76ers – 53-29 (.646)
6th – Memphis Grizzlies – 46-36 (.561)
7th – Boston Celtics – 46-36 (.561)
8th – New Jersey Nets – 45-37 (.549)
Last – Chicago Bulls – 9-73 (.110)
Western Conference:
1st – Denver Nuggets – 57-25 (.695)
2nd – Los Angeles Lakers – 56-26 (.683)
3rd – Sacramento Kings – 55-27 (.671)
4th – Milwaukee Bucks – 53-29 (.646)
5th – Portland Trailblazers – 51-31 (.622)
6th – Oklahoma City Thunder – 45-37 (.549)
7th – Houston Rockets – 41-41 (.500)
8th – Dallas Mavericks – 40-42 (.488)
Last – Utah Jazz – 13-69 (.159)
Detroit Top Points
Kevin King – 22.0
Tyreke Evans – 21.2
Nick Babul – 17.8
Detroit Top Rebounds
Chris Reese – 9.2
Tiago Splitter – 7.1
Donte Hampton – 6.2
Detroit Top Assists
Nick Babul – 7.1
Kevin King – 4.1
Tyreke Evans – 4.0
League Top Points
Matt Bailey (LAL) – 23.7
Monta Ellis (GSW) – 23.6
Lebron James (DAL) – 23.0
League Top Rebounds
Matt Bailey (LAL) – 11.9
Joakim Noah (CHI) – 11.3
Dwight Howard (TOR) – 11.3
League Top Assists
Rajon Rondo (TOR) – 11.1
Chris Paul (PHI) – 10.3
Russell Westbrook (OKC) – 10.0
League Top Blocks
Justin Cabrera (MIA) – 4.5
Mike Ohnstad (SDR) – 4.1
Travis Randolph (TOR) – 3.8
League Top Steals
Sam Dye (DEN) – 2.5
Ron Nelson (SAS) – 2.3
Vlasi Kazapov (SDR) – 2.2
Rookie Top Points
Chris Reese (DET) – 11.2
Dan Besecker (IND) – 7.1
Elton Bass (NEV) – 6.8
Rookie Top Rebounds
Chris Reese (DET) – 9.2
Ramon Johnson (PHO) – 9.1
Julius Meeking (HOU) – 4.4
Rookie Top Assists
Dan Besecker (IND) – 4.3
Travis Williams (MIA) – 3.4
Rickie Seegars (HON) – 2.8