Detroit Pistons

Pau Gasol had 21 points and 19 rebounds to lead five players in double figures, and the Lakers beat the Spurs without injured Kobe Bryant and Andrew Bynum.

Pistons reserve center Kwame Brown rolled his head back in laughter inside the Pistons dressing room.

A game like Saturday's victory over New Jersey could go a long way toward solving the power forward riddle for coach John Kuester.

When the Detroit Pistons drafted Austin Daye with the 15th pick in the first round of last year's NBA draft, they described him as a multidimensional player who would one day be able to stretch defenses with his shooting -- similar to Orlando's Rashard Lewis.

Another Piston besides rookie forward Jonas Jerebko will be in Dallas for the All-Star break this weekend. Backup power forward Jason Maxiell is headed there -- not to participate in the festivities, but as the player representative to the NBA Players Association annual union meeting.

NEW YORK -- Los Angeles Clippers center Chris Kaman (Central Michigan) has been named by NBA commissioner David Stern to replace guard Brandon Roy (hamstring) in Sunday's NBA All-Star Game in Dallas.

Pistons.com's Keith Langlois answers your questions about the Pistons.

The Pistons knocked down better than half their shots for the first time in 25 games and notched 20 assists in the first half alone and the result was a 99-92 win over New Jersey. Jonas Jerebko was a perfect 9 of 9 but couldnt get on the floor in the fou

Pistons vs. Nets

I almost made this a FanShot instead of an actual post so it didn't get blown out of proportion, but the more I think about it, the more worthy of discussion I think this is. Kwame Brown, penciled in as a starter before the start of the season, has essentially fallen out of the rotation. What's the secret to his getting more PT? Playing better defense, says John Kuester. From the Detroit News:

"Our biggest concern and I have discussed it with him is defense," Kuester said. "We have to make sure he continually plays the consistent defense that I want to in the scheme. That is pick-and-roll, high pick-and-roll. Just making sure he knows."

If Brown didn't know, he knows now. That is why he laughed when Kuester's words were relayed to him.

"Listen, man, I don't want something to be flared up on what I say," Brown said. "I will do what the coach says in order to get better, although that is a first because there is one thing I do bring to the table and that is defense. That's the first time I heard that. It's the first time a coach said I don't play defense. But like I said, I will learn to play the defense he wants me to play."

Given the recent suggestions that the Pistons are already starting to tune Kuester out, the fact Brown laughed off Kuester's feedback (even while promising to take it seriously) was a little disconcerting -- although, to be honest, not more so than the fact Brown was so nonchalant about his lack of PT (during a contract year, no less) in the first place. Ben Wallace seemed to call Brown out on that last point:

Some of his teammates said they don't understand why Brown sits. But Wallace said Brown needs more hunger.

"Without a doubt he can contribute," Wallace said. "But he got to want it. He's got to be hungry, man. For me to say you got to do this and do, that's pointless. You got to want it. Look, man, when you go out there, you got to do what you got to do. If you go out there and are making the same mistakes the starters are making, then you don't need to be out there."

I like Brown -- he's affable in the locker room, useful on occasion on the court -- but I'll be damned if Wallace didn't just sum up his entire career.

Sometimes injuries to players selected to the All-star game can be a blessing.  The league can remedy an oversight by sending someone who should have been selected by the fans or coaches.  Or maybe it can find room for a player representing a team that doesn't have an all-star.  

As the injuries pile up, the qualifications narrow. Maybe a long-time fringe candidate finally gets the honor, or an old fan favorite gets one last shot to be a hero.  If worse comes to worse, the league can send a second player from a championship contender. 

Or... It can send Chris Kaman. 

The case for Kaman as an all-star can be summarized as follows.  He averages 20 ppg. Oh, and he, averages... Oh, wait, I already said the points thing, didn't I?

His inclusion almost certainly owes to the perception that he is a great rebounder.  My guess is that David Stern sort of Frankensteined Kaman's past rebounding numbers into this season.  But Kaman's rebounding rate isn't even in the top 20 at his own position.

He also isn't a noted defender, and is one of the worst play makers in all of basketball.   Oh, and he's not exactly brimming with intangibles.  He's a surly guy who like to shoot fish, when not playing for Donald Sterling's Clippers.

Sadly, this is as good as Kaman gets, meaning this pick will look especially strange years down the road, especially since guys like Carlos Boozer, Marc Gasol and Carl Landry were left off the squad.  If only the Rockets would let Landry stay on the extra court and put up crappy numbers for nine extra minutes, they'd have themselves an all-star.

This is the case of the league listening to sportswriters, rather than using their heads.  Kaman is surprisingly leading the Clippers in scoring, and that has given writers something to write about, which also translated into a late campaign for Kaman's selection. 

In doing so, the league squandered an opportunity to take the best player available (Kevin Love), or honor the best team (the Rockets) not represented with an all-star.  They could have built the brand by selecting the likely rookie of the year (Tyreke Evans), or a flashy first-timer (Corey Maggette), or a flashy veteran (Manu Ginobili).  The list goes on.  

Instead, we will all have to be patient and wait for Chris Kaman to get his obligatory five touches during the game.  Nothing like an all-star game featuring a guy who likes to put in reverse layups underneath the basket.

The NBA, where arbitrary and annoying happens.

Add today's game face to the collage of Manning Face, but will Peyton add a second Super Bowl to his resume? All the 'experts' seem to think it's the Colts' game to lose.  

If you are feeling chatty during tonight's Super Bowl, there's a plethora of open threads.  

SB Nation is holding the grand open thread for all -- here.  

If that is too crowded for you, then you have other options: 

• The Colts blogger here at SB Nation, BigBlueShoe, is credentialed and at the game.  If you feel like mingling with the Colts fans you can go to Stampede Blue.
• The Saints blogger, Dave, is also in Miami.  If you're pulling for the Saints and want to discuss along with their fans, you can join the chatter at Canal Street Chronicles.  
• Of course, you can always stay here and use this as your open thread for the game (or anything you'd like really -- Robocop, Puppy Bowl, Erin Brockovich, etc).  The choice is yours.   
  
  I'm going Saints, who do you got? 

I LOVE Pistons’ basketball, have ever since I was young.  I’d consider myself as die-hard.  Being a die-hard I can say I legitimately hate certain rival opponents, and I get a sense of great satisfaction when the Pistons beat these teams on the court.  But, I, like the majority of fans, know the difference between [...]

NJN 92 / DET 99 First let me give credit where credit is due; the “Naturally Swedened” came from @russbengtson via Twitter.  If you’re a fan of the NBA Russ is a good one to follow. Readers might recall me suggesting that we shift our attention from the Pistons as a whole to the evolution of a [...]

My rooting interests no longer have to end after All-Star Friday Night’s Rookie Challenge. Now I’ll have a Mr. Big Shot to pull for in the 3-Point Shootout. Hopefully CB does better than he did in ‘06 where he didn’t get out of the first round.

A report out of Arizona suggests the Pistons could deal Ben Gordon in a three-team trade that would bring Amar'e Stoudemire to Detroit.

Ben Wallace is still fighting the stereotype that he's only a defensive player.

Since things to talk about this season are running dry, we'll start taking periodic looks back at great moments in Pistons history, starting with a dominant February by a championship team.