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**Austin Kent** · 10-18-2006, 11:08 AM

Quote:

One thing was evident in Monday night's preseason win over the Utah Jazz. Carlos Delfino's shot? Not falling, not from outside, anyway.

Five times, the Argentine forward hoisted a shot from beyond the three-point line. All five times, it clanked off the rim. A glance at the box score after the Pistons' 90-85 victory showed a pretty putrid night -- 3-for-11 shooting for six points.

But that's not the whole story.

The Pistons are committed to giving Delfino something like 15 minutes of playing time a game this season, regardless of how his shot is falling on a given night. They want him to play through mistakes, find his rhythm, grow comfortable in his role and be a regular contributor. They believe he will, too.

That's why coach Flip Saunders found reason to be pleased with Delfino on Tuesday.

"Even though he struggled shooting the ball at times," Saunders said, "he made some plays at the end."

That he did. Delfino does his best when he gets to the rim, and he scored three times that way in Monday's fourth quarter, on two lay-ups and a fast-break dunk. He also made a steal when the Jazz had cut the Pistons' lead to three. That play led to a fast-break opportunity for Antonio McDyess.

Free Press

**STUCKEY!** · 10-18-2006, 01:08 PM

Its still the preseason. I wanna see it consistently in the regular season first

Goubot · 10-18-2006, 02:37 PM

From detnews

Quote:

AUBURN HILLS -- Second-year Pistons power forward Jason Maxiell guarantees he won't become a diva, even if he continues to pleasantly exceed expectations in training camp.

He has Rasheed Wallace keeping him honest, critiquing Maxiell's moves with a non-stop stream of good-natured sarcasm during practice.

And Maxiell himself wants to stay humble, as he knows he still has more work to do to improve as a player.

The early results have been promising. Maxiell, noticeably stronger and leaner, has brought a tough rebounding force and contagious energy off the bench.

"I appreciate Rasheed not giving (respect), that's good for me not to get a big head," Maxiell said, smiling. "I'm just going to enjoy the moment and keep doing what I do."

Maxiell's recent slate of strong games is moving him closer to the rotation and also building his mental strength.

"I think any time you do well, it is a confidence-builder," Maxiell said. "But that's what I am expected to do: I was drafted to come in, play hard and rebound. Whenever I am needed to come in and get a big rebound, offensive rebound, I'll play. I don't care about the minutes."

Pistons coach Flip Saunders likes what he sees from Maxiell, especially the consistent, sustained effort.

"He's come to be where he's so productive that he's become a guy we go to sometimes in the fourth quarter," Saunders said.

"He's made big buckets, big free throws down the stretch, so those are the things you like to see from the young guys. Can they do it down the stretch in games? And that's what he's done."

Even though Maxiell is still behind Wallace and Antonio McDyess, Saunders says real playing time is definitely in Maxiell's future if he keeps this up.

"The positive for (bench) guys this year, as opposed to other years in the past, is there isn't a hard line between the bench and starters," Saunders said. "I think they understand they will have opportunities to sometimes be the guys on the floor to finish things."

Time changes

The Pistons have moved up the tip-offs for their three final exhibitions at The Palace, avoiding conflicts with the World Series.

Sunday's game, against the Nuggets, will start at 5 p.m. The Oct. 24 game against the Wizards, and the Oct. 25 game against the Grizzlies will tip off at 7 p.m.

Playoff fever

Changing the times of the games means the Pistons can probably watch a few World Series games, too.

Saunders said the team has taken note of the World Series vibe of Metro Detroit.

"We're kind of caught up into that," Saunders said. "I think when you see in your town the excitement … it gets your juices flowing again. It gets you more motivated, saying 'We want a piece of that too.' "

Slam dunks

Look for more playing time and an earlier entry for new Pistons guard Flip Murray tonight against the Timberwolves in Grand Rapids.

Saunders likes what he sees so far from Murray at shooting and point guard slots.

Maxiell's been impressing me, and it'd be good if he could continue and produce during the regular season, but it's going to be hard to find a lot of minutes for him.

Quote:

AUBURN HILLS -- Jason Maxiell might be causing a little ripple in the Pistons' rotation plans.

"I've been telling people that Maxey is the guy that's going to have a breakout year," Pistons guard Richard Hamilton said. "I tell him every day, 'You've got to go hard. You have to be out there running people over. I don't care if you get six fouls, just make your presence felt.' "

Maxiell, a second-year power forward, has been doing exactly that. The Pistons' leading scorer in the exhibition season, he produced 14 points, seven rebounds and three blocks in the 90-85 victory over the Utah Jazz on Monday night at The Palace.

"I'm just trying to let the coaches know I am ready," said Maxiell, who scored a key basket and blocked two shots late in the fourth to help preserve the victory and make the Pistons 3-1.

Maxiell, undersized at 6-foot-7, continues to attack the basket with a vengeance. He made 4 of 5 shots and 6 of 12 free throws. He made 12 of 16 free throws Saturday in Memphis.

"He's been working hard on his free throws with (assistant) Dave Cowens," Pistons coach Flip Saunders said.

Maxiell said he has developed a trick to help him slow down and focus at the line.

"It's all mental, it's always been mental," he said. "I just say 'Happy Gilmore' and try to go to my happy place. I think of my happy place, picture my girl and shoot."

Hey, whatever works.

"He's reckless in there, man, and you need that," guard Chauncey Billups said. "He can get you into the bonus and, plus, he can play. He can really score the ball He's going to help us out all season."

The plan was for Maxiell to see situational duty as the 10th or 11th man. If he continues at his pace, he could find himself cracking the nine-man rotation.

"Overall, he's been great," Saunders said. "Now it comes down to his ability to continue. In this league, it's not what you do one night, it's what you do every night."

Saunders also wants to see Maxiell more active on the defensive boards. After getting one defensive rebound in the first 10 quarters this preseason, he got six in the second half at Memphis and four against the Jazz.

Pace control

The primary emphasis of camp has been on newcomers Nazr Mohammed and Flip Murray .

Murray came off the bench early Monday and scored a team-high 19 points, with five assists. Mohammed, after a slow start, finished with 12 points, hitting 6 of 9 shots, though he only had three rebounds.

"They continue to impress," Saunders said.

The down side of that from Saunders' perspective, is that the starting unit has basically been on sabbatical.

"What we have to do now is make sure our main guys get with the program a little bit," Saunders said before the game. "They have played good in spurts but they haven't been as consistent as they're going to have to be."

The starters played well early, building a quick 12-point lead, even though Hamilton picked up three quick fouls. Rasheed Wallace was active defensively and on the boards. Billups scored 11 points and got to the line 10 times.

Briefly

Tigers catcher Pudge Rodriguez was at the game, and he might have a sore right hand today. After getting a standing ovation from the crowd, he gave autographs from his seat the entire second half.

Dale Davis (left hamstring) was not in uniform and has yet to play in the exhibition season.

This is a good point. Throughout the preseason, the starters have been pretty much cruising. I'm always a bit uncomfortable when players do this, because it's not a guarantee that you can go from cruising to amping it up when the time comes.