SB Nation User Blog: Boney

Rasheed Wallace to the Cavs?

Boney — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 17:33:18 -0000

http://www.slamonline.com/online/nba/2009/06/rasheed-to-the-cavs/

Slam online is reporting that the Cavaliers are negotiating a contract with Rasheed Wallace for a 2 year deal for $10m per. As a Piston fan, I welcome this move as it will take Cleveland out of contention for the next 2 season and it's a GROSS attempt at trying to stop Dwight Howard as Rasheed Wallace has been able to contain Howard for the last 3 seasons, but who knows how much longer he'll be able to do so?

You can have the guy. Hopefully his lackadasical play will carry on with another roster.

You stay classy Baltimore

Boney — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 04:46:06 -0000

If you've never been to Oriole Park at Camden Yards, you're missing out. Overall, it's a good park to catch a ballgame in if you're sitting in the right section (Sunday I sat in section 37 which is directly behind homeplate). The fans and the concessions leave a lot to be desired though.

Now I realize that not a lot of people have as much baseball knowledge (general knowledge of the rules of the game OR meaningless trivia) as I do, so imagine how annoyed I got when the a-hole in my section stood up and yelled at the top of his lungs at each pitching change to tell our section who was pitching, as if he was our own personal PA announcer.

Let me set up the rest... I VERY rarely wear any clothing or hats that signify my allegiance one way or another, so as to not get in some kind of confrontation in a stadium where my favorite team is playing a team I despise. Sunday I wore my Tigers hat and a Tigers shirt, don't know why, maybe as some sort of slumpbuster? Detroit had previously lost the last 3 games I had been to. So..

My Dad and I leave the stadium, and as we're leaving these 2 guys walk past my Dad and tell him that "we" got lucky today. My Dad, who doesn't usually say anything, says "yeah, that's why your team is in last place and lost to our AAA lineup today". The kid got in my Dad's face and started blathering about how we should go to Peter Angelos and tell him to spend $250 million on a payroll like Detroit did and maybe the Orioles would win, along with some other choice words. Question... why do assholes do things like this? When I went to Game 3 of the 2006 Cleveland v. Detroit Pistons playoff game in Cleveland, guys were getting in my Dad's face (my Dad wears team tshirts, nothing outlandish) telling us Detroit sucks and blah blah blah...

Why do douchebags feel the need to start some sort of confrontation at the end of a game with fans of the other team? All I said to the guy today was to keep walking and not to be a douche in front of the kids and parents who were around, and he started mumbling to his friend and they shared one of those "I'm an annoying dickhead" chuckles. I've never gotten in the face of a fan of the opposing team and told them they sucked, and would never do that.

Poll

Would you talk trash in the face of a random stranger if you knew your team just beat their favorite team?

HECK YESS, MY TEAM IZ DA BEST EVARRRRRRRR

10 votes

No, I have respect for other people unlike the Orioles fans who cling to Matt Wieters as if he's some sort of savior to their pathetic franchise

80 votes

90 votes | Poll has closed

"Back us into a corner, and we're gonna come out fightin'"

Boney — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 08:25:48 -0000

So here we are. At the beginning of the season did any of us look in the mirror and say "damn, the Pistons are going to only win 39 games this year and finish 27 games back of the Cavaliers"?. I don't think so... I know I didn't say that.

We've had to form our own opinions on the many changes this team has made this season, and I won't re-hash the pain. We've had to sit through one of the roughest seasons in recent memory, a season the teal uniforms would be proud of.

Now... Detroit is limping in to the playoffs as the 8th seed, and they're scheduled to face the Cleveland Cavaliers. I say "limping in" not because of injuries, Detroit is relatively healthy. I say "limping in" because at times this team looked like world beaters, but at other times they looked absolutely horrible and completely undeserving of a playoff spot.

I can't say that I'm 100% positive about this series. As a matter of fact, this is the most unsure I've ever been about this team's chances in the playoffs. You don't even need to look at the 1st round, just look at a potential road the team needs to go through to make it to the Finals. Sure, we watch the boys get up for 4 games and beat the Cavaliers... the best team in the East. Then who do we see? Athletic Hawks team or Dwyane Wade?? Pick your poison right? Let's say you get past DWade or Atlanta, and then you see Boston or Orlando? This playoff run has set itself up to be the most difficult run for Detroit.

But let's look now at the 1st round of the 2009 NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs:

The name of the game with the Cavaliers is the drive and kick. Cleveland is going to spread the floor and create iso for LeBron from the top of the key. They're going to lineup Mo Williams, Delonte and Z out on the perimeter, with only Varejao in the middle which allows LeBron free run of the middle.

We're going to have to get used to something that we haven't seen a lot of this season, and that is the 3-2 zone. Now who knows what Curry does when it comes time to lace it up, but if I was the coach, I'd call out the 3-2 zone and I'd occasionally run a trap at LeBron whenever he catches the pass near the halfcourt timeline.

The most important starters on defense are going to have to be Rasheed and McDyess. Defensive rebounding has always been a weak spot for Detroit when they play Cleveland. These guys are going to have to stay out of unnecessary foul trouble in order for Detroit to have a chance.

On offense, the team is going to have to share the ball. LeBron is going to be matched up on the most dangerous player on the floor, that's a given. At times this season he's guarded Rip, Stuckey, Prince and even McDyess. The ball is going to have to move from one side of the court to the other to find the easy shot. Z is a difficult guy to post with his height, Varejao is difficult to post because of the chance of a flop. The weakness in the Cavs' defense lies in their 2 guards, Delonte West and Mo Williams.

If Detroit is able to move the ball around the perimeter, their backcourt will be able to find success against Williams and West.

Do I see Detroit winning the series? I'm not going to count out my boys. Like the title of the fanpost says, when this team has been backed into a corner they come out fighting. They've done it time and again... and even with their captain playing in Denver, I think the team has enough pieces remaining to put up a fight.

Detroit in 7. A bigger upset than Golden State over Dallas a few years ago... Detroit once again becomes the center of attention during the playoffs, only this time it's for positive reasons.

So... Ray Allen's elbow happened

Boney — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 08:07:52 -0000

I've been a Pistons' fan for as long as I can remember. I've been there since Dennis Rodman/Kevin McHale, Larry Bird/Bill Laimbeer, Isiah/Ainge, Pippen/Rodman, etc. I've seen skirmishes and how they've evolved over the years (the NBA has become soft).

In recent years, Rasheed Wallace has become the butt of all NBA fan jokes for teams that have not been half as successful as the Pistons. In recent years, the NBA has cut down on physical play and asked it's officials to practice a "zero tolerance" policy on technical fouls. In recent years, you can look at any of the 3 referees' heads after a foul call and see at least 1 of them looking at Rasheed for a reaction. Then today, with Boston getting a mudhole stomped in them... Ray Allen pulls a move that no respecting man should ever do. He elbows another man in the crotch.

Whether Varejao deserved it or not, a real man never pulls that move on another man. As Pistons' fans we have seen the battles that Varejao has had with Wallace and McDyess. But also as Pistons' fans we have seen the same battles before with Rodman and Horace Grant, or Rodman and virtually any other team's power forwards. Varejao is not especially gifted at basketball, he's always in the right place whether by choice or not.

Celtics fans cry about how little respect their team gets, but from what I saw, Ray Allen's actions didn't even draw a technical free throw let alone an ejection. KG has taunted players (below his pay grade and skill level I might add) without any fine, suspension, or technical being thrown his way as well. Some Celtics fans have even said Jason Maxiell deserved the headlock throwdown he received from Kendrick Perkins earlier in the season.

Would Richard Hamilton have been ejected for the elbow to Varejao? Would Rasheed Wallace have received technicals for each time he taunted an opposing player? I know the answer, do you?

Poll

Would Richard Hamilton been ejected and would Rasheed Wallace have received technicals for taunting like KG has done?

Rip would've been ejected and Rasheed would have more technicals than he does for taunting.

13 votes

Rip wouldn't have been ejected but Rasheed? Yeah, more techs.

9 votes

Rip would've been ejected but Rasheed? No additional techs for him.

0 votes

Rip wouldn't have been ejected, Rasheed wouldn't have gotten any technicals. I am a Celtics' fan and I approve this message.

3 votes

25 votes | Poll has closed

As if the Yankees weren't big enough d-bags

Boney — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 07:38:06 -0000

I turned on the Yankees v. Cubs game tonight, so I could see how the new Yankee Stadium looked even though it has the same dimensions as the old one and what do I hear???

During a discussion, oh about the 4th inning or so, the Tigers come up. Michael Kay, David Cone, and Paul O'Neill all take shots at the Tigers about the pitching, Detroit's economy, and worst of all... Comerica Park. Paul O'Neill even went so far as to say that the stadium designers made a big mistake in designing Comerica because they did not make it like Tiger Stadium.

They all took their shots saying what we've all heard as Tiger fans all spring... "If Detroit gets off to a slow start, they'll be the first team to have a fire sale. They're a perfect candidate... guys like Cabrera will be gone". Now... I can see Maggs, Guillen, Bondo, Thames all going but I can't see our 24-25 year old centerpiece or Granderson going anywhere.

I also have a major beef with the hating on CoPa. I've been to games every season there, and having also been to Yankee Stadium, I consider CoPa to be one of the best ballparks I've been to. I've been to Camden, Yankee, Fenway, Nationals Stadium and Turner Field including several minor league stadiums... and while CoPa doesn't have the history of Fenway or old Yankee, I consider the CoPa experience to be among the best of any pro sports experience I've been a part of.

Sure, having some pieces of Tiger Stadium or trademarks of old Tiger Stadium be a part of your stadium would be nice... but I think the designers of the stadium did well. It was the first stadium to have open concourses on the main level, it had the largest scoreboard in baseball when it first opened... So another post from me and another poll...

Poll

Do you think Comerica Park is a good ballpark?

Yes, Paul O'Neill can suck it

43 votes

No, I wanted them to build an exact replica of Tiger Stadium

2 votes

45 votes | Poll has closed

Dwight wants Detroit in the playoffs

Boney — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 20:03:58 -0000

link to a website that's linking to ESPN:

http://blog.mlive.com/fullcourtpress/2009/03/dwight_howard_wants_detroit_pi.html

March 29, ESPN: Howard doesn't want to see Chicago, Philadelphia or Miami in the first round of the playoffs. He wants Detroit, which has won eight of nine games in eliminating the Magic from the playoffs the past two years.

"Hopefully, we play Detroit again,'' Howard said earlier this week. "That'll be good for us because we have to get over that mental hump. Those guys have beaten us two years in a row and they've left a bad taste in our mouths. So hopefully this year, it'll be different.''...
"I don't know what it is about the Pistons, but every year they seem to have our number,'' said Howard, who has averaged 22 points and 15 rebounds against Detroit this season. "So to grow mentally, we have to step up to the challenge and beat those guys.''

Jameer Nelson wanted Detroit last season, and Orlando got beat without Chauncey Billups.

I respect Dwight's personality and I respect his game but... when is enough, enough? Detroit is down this season, for sure, but for Howard to say "that'll be good for us because we have to get over that mental hump"? You have to win at least 1 or 2 games, or actually make the 2nd round of the playoffs before you can start declaring that you would get over the mental hump.

Do you think he should have said what he said?

Poll

Should Dwight have potentially put his foot in his mouth, or just let his game do the talking?

Dwight, shut up and play

10 votes

Dwight said exactly what I would say

12 votes

Get out of here Piston troll

5 votes

27 votes | Poll has closed

My All-Time Tigers Team

Boney — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 08:49:52 -0000

Also part of the 30 clubs in 30 days, the guys talked about the All Time Tigers' team and it got me thinking "what is my all time Tigers team?". Keep in mind, these are my choices from guys that I've seen play, so there's not going to be any black and white tv guys or no jersey number guys from the old school before batting helmets. I'm not that old and no offense to the old guys, comparing the old guys to the new guys isn't fair to anyone.

1. Tony Phillips; CF
2. Lou Whitaker; 2B
3. Miguel Cabrera; 1B
4. Cecil Fielder; DH
5. Kirk Gibson; LF (he did play LF before going to LA)
6. Magglio Ordonez; RF
7. Travis Fryman; 3B
8. Alan Trammell; SS
9. Mickey Tettleton; C

RF: Rob Deer
C: Lance Parrish
1B: Tony Clark
3B: Tom Brookens
LF: Larry Herndon
UTIL: Brandon Inge (even if it means a .200 BA because he's catching sometime)

SP: Jack Morris
SP: Justin Verlander
SP: Frank Tanana
SP: Bill Gullickson
SP: Dan Petry
RP: Aurelio Lopez
RP: Willie Hernandez
RP: Mike Henneman
CP: Todd Jones

Biggest Draft Bust: RP: Matt Anderson (Vernon Wells, Lance Berkman, Michael Cuddyer, Jon Garland, Jayson Werth and JD Drew picked after him just in the 1st round).

How many games does this team win? Are we looking at a World Series title with this team?

Tigers 30 clubs in 30 days

Boney — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 08:33:38 -0000

Mitch Williams has Detroit finishing 1st in the Central

Dan Plesac has Detroit finishing 2nd in the Central

Jon Hart has Detroit finishing 5th in the Central

All 3 have different reasons why they've picked the team to finish where they did, with Hart and Williams being the major difference.

Hart says the pitching staff is lacking and will once again be the reason why the Tigers falter while Williams says the pitching staff has too much talent to have another 2008.

I've come around quite a bit since the beginning of Spring Training and am now super positive about the season. I'm not as hyped about the team this year as I was last season, going in to Opening Day but... I think this team can give all the teams in their division a run.

So since it hasn't be raised yet... What do you guys think about the 2009 season? Do you think Verlander, Zumaya and Rodney can regain their 2006 form? Do you think Granderson reaches 30/30 this season? Do you think that Sheffield brings back memories of 2005? or...

Do you think Dontrelle Willis and Nate Robertson continue to channel their inner Mark Wohlers? Do you think that the key guys have been too healthy lately and we see more injuries (Polanco, Inge, Cabrera)? Does Jim Leyland walk out to the mound with a cigarette because he can't handle the stress?

I personally think Detroit wins 85 - 90 games. I think they find a way to win with a weaker bullpen which will only give them more confidence towards the end of the season. I think Porcello steps in and helps out at the first sign of problems with Robertson/Willis/Miner. I think Perry comes in and has a Francisco Rodriguez type end of the season/playoff push. I think Detroit competes for the division and the wild card, but they fall short.

Team MVP - Miguel Cabrera (.320, 42 HR 130 RBI)

Team CY - Justin Verlander (16 - 9, 4.31 ERA)

Team ROY - Ryan Perry

Poll

How many wins for the 2009 Detroit Tigers?

50 - 65

1 votes

66 - 75

1 votes

76 - 85

24 votes

86 - 90

23 votes

91+

18 votes

67 votes | Poll has closed

Outside of the name brand talent... Ryan Raburn is my favorite Tiger

Boney — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 23:02:55 -0000

Raburn has proven in the past to be a steady glove and bat. He's one of those "super utility" guys who can play anywhere in the field, and has done so in Detroit.

I don't understand why this guy doesn't get more burn in Detroit. I understand that he's not a starter ahead of Polanco, Magglio, or Guillen but... I think he could definitely step in for Inge at 3B should Inge continue to not hit.

I don't understand why Leyland is so quick to give Inge back the 3B job after the guy has proven he can only hit in the .240s. I bet Raburn could fill in fulltime for Inge and bat in the .270 - .280 range with a few pops and a solid glove.

If he doesn't make the team out of camp, I'd like to see him get some run on another team to see what he's capable of doing.