This Milwaukee Bucks squad might be the worst basketball team I've seen in person.  This was their ninth consecutive loss and it’s not hard to see why.  Brandon Knight looked particularly awful in his new duds, committing six turnovers in just over 20 minutes of action. 

I had always thought Knight was drafted in the Top-10 based almost solely on the fact that he played his one season of college ball at Kentucky.  That has become a literal pathway to the NBA lottery, but in some cases, said player isn’t near-talented enough to merit such a selection.  Put it this way; if he showed up at the Maple-Drake JCC on a Sunday morning ready to roll, he’d probably be the 6th or 7th guy picked.  And that’s only because he’s the one that brought the ball.

What’s gotten into Charlie Villanueva? 

He’s looked like a semi-productive individual over the last two games: popping in threes, making hustle plays, dunking the ball in transition.  If you didn’t know any better, you would say this guy looks like one of the best bench players in the league.  But we do know better, and history tells us this honeymoon won’t last much longer. 

Villanueva looks out of shape, as per usual, and his defense is still among the league’s worst.  But if Maurice Cheeks can handle his minutes the way he’s been doing (right around 10-15), there’s a small chance Charlie could wind up helping this team win a few ballgames.  Obviously, there’s a greater chance that these two games were an aberration and that he’ll be back taking naps during fourth quarters in the near future.  But after two straight wins, it’s good to look at the glass as half full.

VIP Parking

It’s time that the Pistons acknowledge the less-than-stellar crowds of the last few years and reign it in with the VIP parking spaces. It’s laughable. 

You park your car a quarter-mile from the arena, you zip up and brave the biting cold as you make the trek, and as you get closer, you start walking through rows and rows of completely unclaimed parking spaces. This is the designated VIP section, with premium spots just a few steps from the arena. 

Just one problem; there aren’t any cars there.  Whereas this blocked-off area might have once been appropriate for the number of season ticket holders and important people coming to the games, times have changed in PistonLand over the last few years and that number has been reduced significantly.  You’d expect some type of adjustment by now. 

The spaces allotted for the VIP could be sliced in half and they’d still have more than enough to go around.  In turn, they’d be making thousands of other fans happier, especially as temperatures continue to dip into December and January.  Of course, everyone hopes the team returns to prominence and its place among the NBA’s elite, but for the time being, let’s call a spade a spade and stop acting like this arena is any more than a third full on most nights.    

Hard-Working Greg Monroe 

You’d be hard-pressed to find a player in the league this year playing harder than Greg Monroe.  The Moose will become a restricted free agent after the season, and it shows in his effort.  Monroe is quietly averaging over 15 points a game and has logged more court time than any other Piston. 

His one-on-one game in the post has improved.  Earlier in his career, you could really shade him to the right side, knowing he was uncomfortable doing anything without his left hand.  Now he’s become fairly adept with either, beating Kevin Garnett on Sunday with a gorgeous right-handed baby hook on the baseline.  You could see Garnett thinking to himself after the play, “Where did that come from?”  The Pistons added much flash and dash in the off-season with Josh Smith and Brandon Jennings, but it’s been the rock-steady Moose that has looked irreplaceable thus far.

The Kiss Cam

As is tradition at sporting events nowadays, the loudest audience reaction was reserved for the Kiss Cam segment. It focused on one couple for 30 uncomfortable seconds, neither willing to give in despite the crowd’s vociferous urging.  Finally, a gentleman seated one row back climbed over and gave a polite cheek peck to the woman. 

The Palace erupted.  A fan in my row enjoyed the whole spectacle so much she practically fell out of her chair.  People get distracted during games, they pull out their cell phones when they get bored . . . but somehow, the Kiss Cam always gets full attention.

I think there is some larger point at play here about our collective intelligence as a nation regressing, but for now, let’s just call it what it is; a harmless escape for a minute and a half where those around you laugh much harder than is appropriate.

Brandon Jennings' Real Talent

Brandon Jennings picked up 13 assists in the blowout win over his former team, making it the third straight game of at least 10+ dimes.  This is a major accomplishment for Jennings, often considered to be a shoot-first point guard.  As talented as Jennings is with the ball in his hands, it’s clear the Pistons become much more dangerous when he is creating for others instead of for himself. 

Jennings is quick and creative enough to get his own shot anytime he wants it, but it’s when he breaks defenders down and then kicks it out or finds a big man underneath that the offense really hums.  If he can find a way to take 10 great shots every game instead of 20+ mediocre ones, the Pistons immediately become significantly better. 

"Tees for Threes"

I’m all for trying to make fans happy and giving them a reason to get excited, but this “Tees for Threes” business isn’t working for me.  If you haven’t been to The Palace for a game this year, it goes like this.  A Piston player connects on a three-pointer, then the scoreboard lights up, displaying “TEES FOR THREES!!”

in giant letters, John Mason starts screaming incoherently over the PA system, and the cheerleaders start firing T-shirts into the crowd.  Keep in mind, the game is STILL GOING ON.  And this isn’t done on the 10th triple of the night, or when a certain player knocks down two in a row -- it’s done on every three-pointer. 

It’s an extremely strange sight to see fans jumping out of their seats and begging for a free shirt when the game isn’t in a timeout.  That has typically been the designated time for such shenanigans. 

It takes away from the natural excitement that that would ordinarily follow a big shot from the home team.  A made three, along with a slam dunk, are usually the plays that get the crowd most fired up during a game.

Now they’ve created this scenario when the play that just took place is almost immediately forgotten; the sole focus becomes that rolled up extra-large tee careening toward your section.  Call me old-fashioned, but when the ball is live, I prefer that the crowd actually watch instead of fighting over cheap garments.

Trust Me on This

Long story short: Avoid the black bean burger at The Palace.  You’ve been warned.