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AK-47 · 01-17-2007, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Webber Set to Make Pistons Debut vs. Jazz

For a time, it was hard to imagine Detroit ever welcoming Chris Webber back. But years after a booster scandal made the Motor City native an unpopular figure at the Palace of Auburn Hills, Webber is now receiving a warm welcome.

Webber is expected to play as a reserve Wednesday against the Utah Jazz, although the Pistons (21-15) eventually plan on moving him to the starting lineup.

Webber became a free agent after the Philadelphia 76ers bought out the final 1 1/2 years of his contract, and he will make him $650,000 for the rest of the season with the Pistons. He agreed to give the Sixers $2 million this season and $2 million next season when he was due to make about $43 million over that stretch.

"This is definitely special, I never thought I would be a Detroit Piston," Webber said at a news conference on Tuesday.

The five-time All-Star grew up in Detroit and played at Michigan from 1991-93, but his impressive career with the Wolverines was overshadowed by his involvement in a booster scandal that led to NCAA sanctions for the school's program. Because of that, he regularly received boos from the home crows in his trips to the Palace of Auburn Hills.

Webber said the warm welcome he received from fans while watching his new team play on Monday was a good indicator the city has moved on.

"I think the reaction in the past was different for a lot of reasons, things I've gone through, but yesterday was significant because they welcomed me back home," said Webber, who has averaged 21.4 points and 10.0 rebounds per game over his career. Webber's arrival also coincides with another piece of good news for the Pistons. After being sidelined by a calf injury since Dec. 29, Chauncey Billups resumed practicing on Tuesday, although the team was cautious about saying whether he would be ready to play against the Jazz.

"We'll wait and see how he reacts after a day of practice, but he went through all the drills," Pistons coach Flip Saunders said. "He didn't do anything to make it worse, so we'll see how it is tomorrow."

Billups is averaging 18 points and 8.1 assists in 28 games this season. The Pistons were 3-5 without him in the lineup.

"We could use anything right now," small forward Tayshaun Prince said. "We've been playing so up and down, more down as of late because of Chauncey. When he's not out here, it's a whole different mindset and structure."

Detroit has lost three of its last four, including a 94-90 overtime defeat to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday. Richard Hamilton's 32 points led the Pistons, while Antonio McDyess scored a season-high 16 points and grabbed seven rebounds off the bench.

The Pistons have won 22 of the last 30 meetings against the Jazz (24-14), who visit Detroit in the midst of their longest losing streak of the season. Utah dropped its fourth straight game on Monday, falling 114-111 to the Washington Wizards on a Gilbert Arenas 3-pointer as time expired.

Mehmet Okur led the Jazz with a career-high 38 points, while Carlos Boozer added 27 points and 13 rebounds.

The Jazz have allowed opponents to average 115.8 points during the losing streak - 16.4 points more than their season average.

http://www.nba.com/games/20070117/UTADET/preview.html

Will jazz lose their 5th straight?

**unluckyseventeen** · 01-17-2007, 08:28 PM

To answer your question, No.

Deron Williams needs to be this aggressive EVERY game. He and Boozer are the keys to our offense.

The Jazz really need to work on their defense though. I really enjoy watching the zone defense, and it seems like the Jazz ALWAYS gain ground when the zone is running. Why don't they just run it all the time, or most of the time? It's a defense that recharges the team for the next possession. Strangely enough, after the Jazz started faithfully running the zone, they came back from about 15 down and should have cruised, sans the Pistons' comeback at the end, too.

AK-47 · 01-17-2007, 09:23 PM

Deron Williams first career 30/10 game. More to come soon.

Our big 3 was killer. AK actually had a decent game with no blocks.

HB · 01-17-2007, 09:28 PM

You guys seem to go to a lot of nail biters

AK-47 · 01-17-2007, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HB

You guys seem to go to a lot of nail biters

Yes, and it scares the holy hell out of me!

New Jazzy Nets · 01-18-2007, 07:23 AM

yeah great win for the jazz even though we almost gave it away at the end. But still a win none the less. Sorry I ahven't been around here more its just because this place is so dead. I've been trying to post around here just get nothing in responses really so i've been posting at a more active forum. Not going to say the name but im sure you may know it allready. i just wish this jazz b0oard was as active seeing how the jazz are playing this year i thought it would be more active.

AK-47 · 01-18-2007, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by New Jazzy Nets

yeah great win for the jazz even though we almost gave it away at the end. But still a win none the less. Sorry I ahven't been around here more its just because this place is so dead. I've been trying to post around here just get nothing in responses really so i've been posting at a more active forum. Not going to say the name but im sure you may know it allready. i just wish this jazz b0oard was as active seeing how the jazz are playing this year i thought it would be more active.

There are only 2 active forums for the jazz. It is sad, but when you only have 2 1/2 million people in the state of Utah, there will be nowhere near the fan base as teams like the lakers, knicks, raptors, bulls, etc. I think you went to 1 of those 2, but I know how frustrating it is. I have been posting in BBB.net (now BBF.com) for like over 2 years and jazz fans come and go and it seems to never get active. I have 90-95% of my posts in the Jazz forum.

**unluckyseventeen** · 01-19-2007, 10:33 AM

I don't like the other boards. Occasionally I will stop in and read a few posts, but a lot of people over there really don't understand the game as much as most of the people here, and there is constant flaming/attacking, etc. It's why I eventually left the other board I was posting on - the management sucked and everyone there was either "Jazz suck" or "Jazz are the best". It got really old.

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