Fast-forward eighteen months. Thanks to our inclusion in the TrueHoop Network, the recent addition of Patrick Hayes to our writing staff, and general practice at this stuff, we have more readers than ever before. Good readers who often challenge what we write and participate in (mostly) thoughtful discussion. And the comments are a mess.

Make no mistake, it’s our mess. In all this time, we’ve strived to constantly improve the blog, both with more in-depth coverage and new features. But for technical reasons, the comments have lagged behind. After a couple levels of replies, it becomes necessary to practically climb into the screen to follow along.

We’re currently in the middle of a major design overhaul that will soon solve these problems, but it’s not yet ready for prime-time. In the interim, to improve general readability, we’ve decided to disable nested comments. You’ll still be able to weigh in on all the action here at PistonPowered, just not directly reply to other comments.

I hope this temporary inconvenience won’t deter you from sharing your thoughts with us. We really do appreciate your participation here on the site. After all, it was nothing other than a comment that prompted us to make this change.

As always, if you have any suggestions on how to improve PistonPowered please contact us.

For starters, we’ve scrapped the left sidebar completely and added a new menu bar at the top of the site. The right sidebar has gotten a little bigger, and there’s more room for the main content which should allow us to put up better charts, pictures, etc.

Things have been moved around a bit, so here’s a complete rundown of what’s different:

Menu Bar

Many of the items that used to be found in the left sidebar have moved to the top of the page, and we’ve added a few new pages as well.

• Login/Logout: This contains all account links, including registration, login, logout, and your profile page.
• Schedule/Results: A work in progress, this currently takes you to a list of all Game Previews and Reviews. We’re still figuring out the best way to display this information, so stay tuned for the final version.
• Roster: This is a new page consisting of all current and former Detroit Pistons that we’ve covered on the blog, including coaches. Each link will take you to that player’s Player Profile if they have one, and gives a list of recent posts tagged with that player’s name. The dropdown menu for Roster will list all current players and the head coach for easy access to their info. We almost forgot to include Kwame Brown in the list though. Close call.
• Salary Chart: Here you’ll be able to find a rundown of the Pistons’ salary obligations for the next few years, including player and team options. I have a feeling this might come in handy when the league is working on a new CBA in the near future.
• Archives: This is where you can find every post we’ve ever written. Scary, right? They’re broken up by both date and category, and you can always search to help you find exactly what you’re looking for.
• More PistonPowered: Can’t get enough? Here you’ll find links to our Facebook page, Twitter accounts, and RSS Feeds.
• About: This has some general information on PistonPowered, and a page for each of the blog’s authors where you can see recent posts, and all kinds of juicy personal details. Enter at your own risk.

Sidebar

• Other info from the now-defunct left sidebar has made the jump across the page to the other side. The site search, links to other sources for Pistons coverage, Feldman’s recent articles (even more recent than before!), and The Glove Compartment have all survived in tact.
• We’ve gotten some questions lately about where we get our data, so we’ve also added a few of our favorite NBA resources, including Basketball-Reference, Hoopdata, and BasketballValue. Hopefully some of you will find them at least a little bit useful.

Feedback

Feel free to poke around the site to get acquainted with the new layout. We’d love to hear any of your questions, concerns, or feedback, so go ahead and shoot us an email (pistonpowered[at]gmail[dot]com). All suggestions are welcome.

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – The Detroit Pistons announced today that season ticket prices for the 2010-11 NBA season have been reduced between 10 and 50 percent in all price categories.  Also, for the first time ever, the team will offer a lowest-price guarantee to its season ticket holders.

“As an organization, we understand how fortunate we are to have such a loyal season ticket holder base,” said Alan Ostfield, President and CEO of Palace Sports and Entertainment and the Pistons.  “The economic situation here in Michigan continues to be a difficult one and we want to continue doing our part to respond to the stresses that have been placed on everyone in this region.”

The across-the-board price reductions for Pistons’ tickets are the largest rollbacks in team history, in response to the economic climate in the area. Additionally, the Pistons’ lowest-price guarantee insures season ticket holders that the team will not sell individual game tickets at a lower price.

For the 2010-11 season, the Pistons will increase the number of 100-Level season tickets available for less than $1,000. This popular season ticket offering sold out this past season.

“The Pistons’ experience will be enhanced for the season ticket holder next year by adding many new benefits,” said Shawn Kuzmin, Pistons’ Senior Vice President of Sales and Service. “These include a Loyalty benefits program, as well as a season ticket holder exchange program for unused tickets and access to ticket upgrades at all Pistons’ home games. The new Loyalty benefits program will reward ticket holders on their tenure with the Pistons by offering Palace cards, suites and concert tickets.”   

Current Pistons season ticket holders will begin receiving their renewal packets the week of April 12.   For information on purchasing season tickets or renewals, contact the Pistons ticket sales and services department at 248-377-0100 or log on to www.pistons.com.  Also, the entire Pistons’ season ticket sales program can be accessed at www.palacenet.com/renew/2010/booklet/.     

PNC, one of the nation’s largest financial holding companies, is the presenting sponsor for the Detroit Pistons.  For more information about PNC, please visit www.pncbank.com.

Date: March 10, 2010

Time: 7:30 p.m.

Television: Fox Sports Detroit

Records

Detroit: 22-41

Utah: 41-22

Probable starters

Detroit:

PG	SG	SF	PF	C
Will Bynum	Richard Hamilton	Tayshaun Prince	Jonas Jerebko	Jason Maxiell

Utah:

PG	SG	SF	PF	C
Deron Williams	Wesley Matthews	Andrei Kirilenko	Carlos Boozer	Mehmet Okur

Las Vegas projection

Spread: Detroit +6

Over/under: 202

Score: Utah wins, 104-98

Statistical projection

Detroit offensive rating: 104.0 (24th)

Detroit defensive rating: 109.1 (20th)

Detroit pace: 88.9 (29th)

Utah offensive rating: 110.4 (6th)

Utah defensive rating: 104.6 (8th)

Utah pace: 93.1 (12th)

Score: Utah wins, 100-95

Outlook

• Rodney Stuckey will not play tonight, according to the AP. No surprise there.
• Will Bynum and Jason Maxiell are both coming off great games against Houston. If the Pistons can get something close to repeat performances out of them, the team may have be able to keep it close against this very good Utah squad.
• Check out another preview of tonight’s game at Salt City Hoops.

Date: March 3, 2010

Time: 7:30 p.m.

Television: Fox Sports Detroit

Records

Detroit: 21-39

New York: 20-39

Probable starters

Detroit:

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

New York:

PG	SG	SF	PF	C
Sergio Rodriguez	Tracy McGrady	Danilo Gallinari	Al Harrington	David Lee

Las Vegas projection

Spread: Detroit +4

Over/under: 205

Score: New York wins, 105-101

Statistical projection

Detroit offensive rating: 103.8 (26th)

Detroit defensive rating: 108.7 (20th)

Detroit pace: 88.7 (29th)

New York offensive rating: 106.1 (18th)

New York defensive rating: 109.9 (25th)

New York pace: 94.1 (7th)

Score: New York wins, 98-97

Outlook

Though they stayed in the game with the Celtics in last night’s 105-100 loss, the Pistons have now lost four straight. Again. Detroit won’t make the playoffs. New York won’t either. You probably don’t want to watch this game alone, so head over to Daily Dime Live tonight for at least some form of guaranteed entertainment. (Did we mention how awesome it is?)

Date: Feb. 23, 2010

Time: 10:00 p.m.

Television: Fox Sports Detroit

Records

Detroit: 20-35

Sacramento: 18-38

Probable starters

Detroit:

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

Sacramento:

PG	SG	SF	PF	C
Tyreke Evans	Donte Greene	Omri Casspi	Carl Landry	Jason Thompson

Las Vegas projection

Spread: Detroit +2.5

Over/under: 196

Score: Sacramento wins, 99-97

Statistical projection

Detroit offensive rating: 103.7 (24th)

Detroit defensive rating: 108.8 (21st)

Detroit pace: 88.4 (29th)

Sacramento offensive rating: 105.7 (20th)

Sacramento defensive rating: 110.5 (28th)

Sacramento pace: 94.7 (6th)

Score: Tie, 98-98

Outlook

• Detroit follows up its Sunday win against the Spurs with a West-coast road trip. This four-game stint includes games against three of the four worst teams in the West, beginning tonight against a struggling Sacramento squad.
• The Kings are still working on getting acclimated to their current roster. Last week’s trade gave them 16 players and they’ve been battling recent injuries as well, which doesn’t help the team’s stability. Sacramento has put a different group of starters on the court in each of the last three games. None of those groupings have resulted in wins.
• Dan’s still out of town, but if you’re lucky you might be able to catch him at Daily Dime Live. He might show up during the second half of tonight’s contest, but no guarantees.

Date: Feb. 19, 2010

Time: 8:00 p.m.

Television: Fox Sports Detroit

Records

Detroit: 19-34

Milwaukee: 24-28

Probable starters

Detroit:

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

Milwaukee:

PG	SG	SF	PF	C
Brandon Jennings	Charlie Bell	Carlos Delfino	Luc Richard Mbah a Moute	Andrew Bogut

Las Vegas projection

Spread: Detroit +1

Over/under: 189

Score: Milwaukee wins, 95-94

Statistical projection

Detroit offensive rating: 103.6 (25th)

Detroit defensive rating: 109.0 (21st)

Detroit pace: 88.5 (29th)

Milwaukee offensive rating: 104.0 (23rd)

Milwaukee defensive rating: 104.3 (9th)

Milwaukee pace: 93.0 (14th)

Score: Milwaukee wins, 97-94

Outlook

• The trade deadline has come and gone without Detroit making any moves to shake this team up. While this may help everyone in the clubhouse to breathe a little easier, it also means that any potential trade auditions are over (see: Tayshaun Prince). Hopefully those players most considered tradable assets will keep up their improved level of play tonight, not to mention down the stretch. We need guys who want to be Pistons.
• Yesterday, the Bucks acquired SG John Salmons from the Chicago Bulls. Bucksketball’s Jeremy Schmidt has some longer-term analysis of the trade (SPOILER: he likes it), but I’m not so sure very much of that is relevant tonight. Charlie Bell will still more than likely make the start, and Salmons’ playing time will probably be limited while he adjusts to his new team.
• Even though Dan is on vacation, I’ll be doing my best to cover for him over at Daily Dime Live to chat about the game.

Date: Feb. 17, 2010

Time: 7:00 p.m.

Television: Fox Sports Detroit

Records

Detroit: 19-33

Orlando: 36-18

Probable starters

Detroit:

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

Orlando:

PG	SG	SF	PF	C
Jameer Nelson	Vince Carter	Matt Barnes	Rashard Lewis	Dwight Howard

Las Vegas projection

Spread: Detroit +11

Over/under: 191

Score: Orlando wins, 101-90

Statistical projection

Detroit offensive rating: 103.7 (25th)

Detroit defensive rating: 108.7 (21st)

Detroit pace: 88.4 (29th)

Orlando offensive rating: 108.6 (11th)

Orlando defensive rating: 103.0 (4th)

Orlando pace: 93.0 (14th)

Score: Orlando wins, 99-94

Outlook

• The Magic ended the first half of their season winning an impressive 10-of-13. Let’s hope the All-Star Break cooled them off a bit.
• As reluctant as I am to call winning 4-of-6 a hot streak, that’s exactly the kind of season Detroit’s having this year. The Pistons won their first game back from the break yesterday, and hopefully they can keep it going tonight.
• If it seems like Detroit always does well when facing the Magic, there’s a good reason. Amazingly, since the Pistons won the Larry O’Brien Trophy in 2004 they are 22-7 against Orlando, including an 8-1 playoff record. Unfortunately though, these Pistons aren’t quite the same as those that came before them.
• Orlando Magic Daily has a Magic-centric preview of tonight’s game. Philip doesn’t overlook Jonas Jerebko, but Rashard Lewis gets the edge in his head-to-head matchup. Mistake?
• Make sure to visit Daily Dime Live to chat during tonight’s game.

Date: Feb. 9, 2010

Time: 8:00 p.m.

Television: Fox Sports Detroit

Records

Detroit: 17-32

Milwaukee: 23-26

Probable starters

Detroit:

Milwaukee:

Las Vegas projection

Spread: Detroit +8

Over/under: 190

Score: Milwaukee wins, 99-91

Statistical projection

Detroit offensive rating: 103.2 (25th)

Detroit defensive rating: 109.2 (22nd)

Detroit pace: 88.3 (29th)

Milwaukee offensive rating: 104.1 (23rd)

Milwaukee defensive rating: 104 (8th)

Milwaukee pace: 93.2 (12th)

Score: Milwaukee wins, 97-94

Outlook

• Both of these teams have just two games remaining until the All-Star break. The Bucks are trying to get back to .500, while the Pistons are doing their best to stay afloat. We’ll see which team has the greater motivation.
• Milwaukee hasn’t lost a game at The Bradley Center in 2010, their home-win streak totaling seven. Detroit, on the other hand, has lost ten of twelve on the road, dating back to mid-December.
• Indiana’s lost on Saturday, coincidentally to the Bucks, has put them tied for last place with the Pistons in their Division. That means a Detroit win coupled with a Pacers’ loss can finally bring Detroit out of the Central’s basement. Something extra, if ultimately meaningless, to root for.
• Once again, Daily Dime Live should be going strong for those of you who’d like to chat during the game.

Date: Feb. 6, 2010

Time: 7:30 p.m.

Television: Fox Sports Detroit

Records

Detroit: 16-32

New Jersey: 4-45

Probable starters

Detroit:

New Jersey:

Las Vegas projection

Spread: Detroit -7

Over/under: 187

Score: Detroit wins, 97-90

Statistical projection

Detroit offensive rating: 102.9 (26th)

Detroit defensive rating: 109.2 (22nd)

Detroit pace: 88.4 (29th)

New Jersey offensive rating: 97.6 (30th)

New Jersey defensive rating: 110.2 (26th)

New Jersey pace: 92.1 (17th)

Score: Detroit wins, 96-93

Outlook

As Dan so eloquently put it last night mid-way through the 3rd quarter of the Pistons’ loss to the Pacers, “this team is full of suck.” Winning this game won’t change that.

These teams are both at the bottom of their respective divisions, and the two worst overall in the Eastern Conference. The Nets have lost five straight and the Pistons have dropped six of their last seven. Neither team is performing well, a fact that was made obvious when they met last week. It was sloppy, uninspired basketball. Tonight, Detroit needs to take advantage of its healthy roster and league-worst opponent and get a convincing win.

This game kicks off a four-game run against mostly underwhelming opponents. Many times this year I’ve been optimistic that a win in a contest like this could be a catalyst for Detroit to make a run. So far I’ve been mostly disappointed. But I haven’t given up.

If the Pistons can start making a consistent effort, there’s still time to turn this thing around. Even if making the playoffs is little more than a pipe dream, at least they can move out of the Eastern Conference basement.

• Check out Daily Dime Live to chat during the game.