Most everyone complied — except for one fan wearing a Celtics jersey and another who thought ahead and brought a Pistons Snuggie.

Anyone have any leads on this mystery fan? Kudos to him or her.

There is speculation among Pistons officials that Stuckey might have been dehydrated because he had been affected by a dehydration episode earlier this season. But the tests today are basically a repeat of the process in Cleveland to make sure something wasn’t missed.

In the meantime, those who have spoken with Stuckey say he sounds great, but the Pistons are definitely going to practice caution.

I hope that’s all it was. There’s a simple solution for dehydration – drink water. Stuckey would then be back soon.

As Tayshaun Prince has gotten healthy, he’s become a lot more aggressive. He’s seemed to realize with Chauncey Billups, Allen Iverson and Rasheed Wallace not here anymore, he doesn’t have to settle for being just a fourth option. The Pistons need him score more.

Well, he did in last night’s 110-107 win over the Rockets, pouring in a game-high 29 points.

This wasn’t like the Cleveland game Friday, when Prince scored 23 points because his jumper was falling. He made 7-of-7 shots at the rim last night. Those are season highs for makes and attempts from that location and way up from his season average (2-for-3).

That aggressiveness extended to the glass, where Prince grabbed 10 boards. But, and this might be nitpicking after such an awesome game, it didn’t extend to his defense.

Kevin Martin flew past him. Luis Scola posted him up. Those aren’t easy matchups, but Prince didn’t impress in either. He’s not the defender he used to be, and that’s probably just something we’ll just have to accept. But I’d like to see him slow one type of player.

Bulk up and stop the bigs or speed up and stop the wings. Doing neither isn’t enough.

Will Bynum

Will Bynum looked as comfortable as I’ve seen him since before his ankle injuries. He ran the offense with authority and was really the catalyst for Detroit posting a 110 offensive rating.

He knew when to pull up for jumpers, drive to the basket and distribute. He looked like a natural point, which hasn’t always been his forte.

And like before his injuries, his all-around game is really taking off. He finished with 12 points, 11 assists, four rebounds, two steals and just one turnover. And he played 42 minutes, proving he’s healthy again.

Jonas Jerebko is good – and improving

A few times this year, I’ve thought Jonas Jerebko has limited upside. He hustles and makes play because of that, but how effective will he be next year when opponents scout him? I wasn’t sure he had the skills to beat a defense geared to keep him off the glass and limit his scoring.

But his offensive repertoire is really expanding. He made 2-of-4 3-pointers last night, and he’s shown a propensity for quick drives to the basket before defenses set. He finished with 16 points.

He even took a couple hook shots last night. Both missed pretty badly. But I figure he’s made them in practice if he actually took them in a game.

I’m still not completely convinced Jerebko has as much upside as the typical rookie averaging nine points and six rebounds per game. But he’s removing my doubt.

Oh, yeah. He’s still making the hustle plays, too (eight rebounds, three blocks, one steal and a plus-8 last night).

Jason Maxiell becoming a force again

Last season and early this season, Jason Maxiell looked lethargic most of the time. But now that he’s become Detroit’s backup center, he really coming into his own.

I think part of the problem before was that he never had a set role. He’d play most games, but not all. Sometimes, Detroit would want his low post scoring. Other times, defense would be the emphasis.

Now, he’s playing hard all the time. For most of the season, I’d only describe Jonas Jerebko this way, but Maxiell just makes plays. He had 16 rebounds, a steal (probably should’ve gotten credit for a another) and was a team-best plus-11 last night.

I still think he settled for a mid-range jumper too often, though. He shot 2-of-7 from the field. That shot can be a nice weapon for him at times. But it should be secondary to his back-to-the-basket game in the low post.

Austin Daye stuck in foul trouble

Austin Daye had three fouls in eight minutes. It’s not that big of a deal now – when we’re just looking for anything positive from him. (And he provided that, making both his shots, including a nifty drive and pull-up floater).

But if he’s going to become a rotation player some day, how will he defend – without getting in foul trouble – with such a slight frame?

Ben Gordon’s slump that won’t end

Ben Gordon shot just 1-of-7, and it looked like he was slow on a couple defensive rotations.

I think we can just chalk this up as a lost season for him. Gordon has never had injury problems like this before, and his confidence looks shot. His numbers are so far below his previous career lows, which makes me believe something fluky is happening.

I’m concerned. But if he plays like this next season, I’ll really be worried.

Kwame Brown playing

With Ben Wallace out, Kwame Brown has played the last couple games. So, I guess whatever he was doing – or not doing – that him stuck at the end of the bench wasn’t serious enough to preclude him from playing under all circumstance.

Taunting refs is sport for this Wallace, too

An injured Ben Wallace in street clothes picked up a technical foul in the second quarter. When it was announced, it almost look like he was trying to hold in a laugh.

No tanking

I haven’t always been pleased with the Pistons’ effort this season, but they played hard in this game. A win over a quality Rockets team says this team still has some pride and isn’t just playing for a draft pick.

The Pistons ended regulation on 10-2 run and overcame missing three straight free throws in the final 11 seconds of overtime. They gritted out a win, and John Kuester described it as “healthy.”

That’s a word that hasn’t been used about the Pistons much this year, but I completely agree. I want Detroit to build a winning culture, no matter what it means for June 24.

Date: March 7, 2010

Time: 6 p.m.

Television: Fox Sports Detroit

Records

Detroit: 21-41

Houston: 31-30

Probable starters

Detroit:

PG	SG	SF	PF	C
Chucky Atkins	Richard Hamilton	Tayshaun Prince	Jonas Jerebko	Jason Maxiell

Houston:

PG	SG	SF	PF	C
Aaron Brooks	Kevin Martin	Shane Battier	Luis Scola	Chuck Hayes

Las Vegas projection

Spread: Detroit +1.5

Over/under: 197.5

Score: Houston wins, 100-98

Statistical projection

Detroit offensive rating: 103.8 (24th)

Detroit defensive rating: 109.2 (20th)

Detroit pace: 88.8 (29th)

Houston offensive rating: 106.7 (14th)

Houston defensive rating: 106.7 (14th)

Houston pace: 93.7 (8th)

Score: Houston wins, 99-96

Outlook

• I’ve always said if the roles were reversed and Will Bynum was a first-round pick and Rodney Stuckey had been undrafted, Bynum would be starting for this team. Tonight, we’ll probably get to see how Bynum plays with the starters.
• Chuck Hayes must be looking forward to his matchup with Jason Maxiell, given it’s probably the only time he’s not drastically undersized.
• Is Luis Scola still considered underrated? Either way, he’s very good.
• Without Stuckey and Ben Wallace, I don’t think the Pistons have much of a shot.
• UPDATE: Chucky Atkins will start at point guard, according to Chris Iott of MLive. I suspect Bynum will get more minutes than him, though.

Basketball is supposed to be confusing. Isn’t that why we watch?

I was having quite the time trying to figure out why the Pistons were pounding the Cavaliers last night. That led to sub-questions like, why aren’t Richard Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince missing any jumpers? There was plenty happening to capture our attention.

This wasn’t supposed to happen.

We’re not supposed to wonder why Rodney Stuckey was clutching Arnie Kander’s arm, whether Stuckey would be OK, whether his career would be finished. Or worse.

My mind raced – to Len Bias and drugs, to Lyle Alzado and steroids, to Hank Gathers and heart conditions.

I was at a game when Francisco Elson fainted. He was clearly woozy and walking toward the bench when his knees buckled. A couple teammates grabbed him. It was scary.

This looked much worse.

  (Tony Dejak/Associated Press)

I always hated how buddy-buddy players are after the game. Sometimes, it seems like they shake hands with the other team while the final shot is still in the air. Where’s the competition? Where’s the hate?

But last night, this seemed appropriate. More than that, it was great.

I have a lot of respect for the Cavaliers, who all stayed for a post-game prayer on the court. Stuckey is part of the NBA family. But he has another family, too.

(The Seattle Times)

As he was being carted off the court, I thought about Rodney Stuckey the person – how little we know about him.

He’s not outspoken enough that we know a lot about his personality. But he’s not shy enough I’d consider that one of his traits, either. He’s just there.

I know he couldn’t go to a bigger school like Washington because of academics. But I know he got pretty good grades at Eastern Washington.

Yesterday, I learned he liked to read HoopsHype and RealGM. I like those sites, too. So, I guess that made me feel a little more connect to him.

But he’s still so distant.

When the Pistons drafted Stuckey, the media immediately began hyping him. He was almost as fast as Mike Conley, but a lot bigger. By the end of the summer league, word was if the draft was re-done, Stuckey would’ve gone a lot higher. He would be a star.

He was stuck behind Chauncey Billups, which would be good for him. He could learn from one of the league’s premier points guard. Best of all, like Stuckey, Billups seemed more like an off-guard in a point guard’s body when first joined the league.

Stuckey looked good as rookie. After a few more years behind Billups, he would take over in a seamless transition.

Then, all of a sudden, Billups was in Denver. Stuckey was Detroit’s starting point guard. The future was now.

Stuckey did OK, but the Pistons struggled. Some were discouraged by progress, but others, including myself, were happy with how he played last year.

He was only 22. He didn’t have to be a star yet. It would come in due time.

Like last season, this was supposed to be Stuckey’s year.

He wouldn’t be burdened by Michael Curry and Allen Iverson anymore. He knew the starting job was his all off-season.

Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva were supposed to take pressure off him, too. Instead, they’ve added a ton. They’ve struggled in Detroit, and with the Pistons’ many injury problems, Stuckey has been called on to shoulder the load this season.

Until tomorrow, he’ll be the only Piston to play every game this year. His raw numbers are impressive. His percentages are not.

Simply, he’s been asked to do too much.

Now, expectations are gone. If they’re not, they should be. The focus should be on Rodney Stuckey living – not how well he does on a basketball court.

(Patricia Beck/Detroit Free Press) 

That said, if Stuckey returns to basketball – and given he’s already out of the hospital, I think he will – this could be great for him. He’s been challenged, and that hasn’t really happened before.

Until last night, nothing worried me more about Stuckey’s career than that. Not his lack of true point-guard skills. Not his shaky jumper.

He was a high draft pick. He played as a rookie. He was a sacred cow. He was handed a starting job.

Think back to the title-winning Pistons in 2004. That team won because everyone was overlooked at one point. It played with a chip on its shoulder.

How could Stuckey ever do that? I’m not saying he doesn’t work hard, but he’s been handed so much more than those guys on the 2004 team.

But now – a setback.

It could be more powerful than four teams giving up on Chauncey Billups before really giving him a chance, Michael Jordan tormenting Richard Hamilton in Washington, 22 teams passing on Tayshaun Prince in the draft, every team passing on Ben Wallace and anyone who’s ever seen a basketball game labeling Rasheed Wallace a cancer.

This could be the forces of nature telling Stuckey he’s not supposed to be one of the elite basketball players on the planet. If he overcomes that…

(Kirthmon F. Dozier/Detroit Free Press)

… I’ll be smiling that big, too.

And if he can’t come back from this, if something is seriously wrong – then I hope he finds a way to keep that grin.

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – Detroit Pistons guard Rodney Stuckey was released from the Cleveland Clinic this afternoon and will be returning to Detroit today. All medical tests completed at the Cleveland Clinic returned normal.

Stuckey will undergo further tests upon returning to Detroit and will be treated accordingly.

Great news.

UPDATE: Heather Cox reports Stuckey conscious and his vital signs are stable. This is great news, and a lot of the fears I had about the situation just subsided.

From a Nov. 13, 2008 Detroit Free Press article:

SAN FRANCISCO – Wearing a black hat and hoodie, Rodney Stuckey leaned against the wall watching the Pistons go over preparations for tonight’s game against the Golden State Warriors.

He was the picture of health, and you wouldn’t have known that three days before he suffered a sudden dizzy spell that he described as scary.

But after tests, he was cleared by doctors to resume playing, and he plans to return to the court against the Los Angles Lakers on Friday.

But the memory of his problems against the Celtics on Sunday – when he left the game at halftime complaining of dizziness and light-headedness – was fresh in his mind.

“It’s something that just happened – a freak accident, ” Stuckey said. “Anytime something happens like that it’s scary, but we took precautions about this situation and we found out everything came back good news.”

Stuckey scored four points in the Pistons’ 88-76 loss to the Celtics. He finished the first half, then sat slumped in a seat in a hallway as he received treatment from doctors before heading to the locker room.

He didn’t return to the bench.

He remained in Detroit for tests while the team headed West for its four-game, six-day trip. He arrived along with team president Joe Dumars at the Sports Club/LA on Wednesday midway through practice.

He wants to get comfortable and get his legs back, so that’s why he will participate in this morning’s shootaround and not jump right back in the mix with back-to-back games.

He’s been taken to the hospital. Cox said his eyes were closed on the stretch as he was being lifted into the ambulance.

Date: March 5, 2010

Time: 7 p.m.

Television: ESPN

Records

Detroit: 21-39

Cleveland: 48-14

Probable starters

Detroit:

PG	SG	SF	PF	C
Rodney Stuckey	Richard Hamilton	Tayshaun Prince	Jonas Jerebko	Ben Wallace

Cleveland:

PG	SG	SF	PF	C
Mo Williams	Anthony Parker	LeBron James	Antawn Jamison	J.J. Hickson

Las Vegas projection

Spread: Detroit +12

Over/under: 201.5

Score: Cleveland wins, 107-95

Statistical projection

Detroit offensive rating: 103.9 (24th)

Detroit defensive rating: 109.1 (21st)

Detroit pace: 88.8 (29th)

Cleveland offensive rating: 111.9 (2nd)

Cleveland defensive rating: 103.8 (7th)

Cleveland pace: 91.1 (25th)

Score: Cleveland wins, 99-94

Outlook

Pain.

The Pistons didn’t play at the Clippers until after Arnie Kander banned the shoe. So, something is up.

Now, Kevin Durant – who’s sponsored by Nike – defended the shoe in an interview with Chris Sesno of FanHouse.

"Ankle injuries can come from stepping on a guy’s foot or coming down on somebody. Rarely does it happen when you’re just running around on the court," said Durant. "And sometimes it doesn’t matter what shoe you have on, so I don’t think that’s the issue. It just happens when you’re playing."

Yes, some ankle injuries are unavoidable regardless of shoe. But the circumstantial evidence says this shoe makes them more likely.