Five in a row courtesy of The Rockets

The Pistons just keep on playing solid basketball and Sunday's effort against the Rockets was no different. The constant movement of the basketball and the resurgence of Detroit's defense made this one much easier than the last time Detroit faced Houston, though the early departure of McGrady (knee injury) in the third quarter shortly followed by Yao (stitches) didn't hurt either. Add this to the list of Pistons blowouts this season. The final score 94-82.

Key Points:

• Detroit has won five straight and 12 of 14.
• Does Yao ever lose a jump ball? And if he does shouldn't he get fined or something?
  
• The Pistons patience and willingness to get the best shot is what's winning basketball games right now.
• Rasheed and McDyess put up double-doubles.
• Rest for the starters again.
  
• Flip Murray in street clothes makes a lot of Pistons fans happy.
• Rasheed was pumped from start to finish in this one, in fact I am shocked he didn't get called for a tech. His early dominance put The Pistons ahead in the first half, especially after his buzzer beating three to close out the first quarter. Sheed finished with 14 points 0n 5-for-7 shooting with 10 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block and a takeaway. Twelve of this points came in the first quarter.
  

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• Sheed on Bonzi: "We are cool," Wallace said. "That's my man. In the summertime, I go down there to (Wells' hometown in) Indiana and he come up here. That's all gravy. But on that court, there ain't no friends."
• Rebound war won 42-37.
• One of the highlights of the game... Pistons take the ball out from the baseline with 1 second on the shot clock and Maxiell hits a 18 foot jumper.
• NBA.com highlights of the game.
• Hayes scores 9 off the bench on 3-for-7 shooting, but it's his clutch 3 pointers that help the Pistons when they need it.
• Player of the game: Antonio McDyess, who not only put up 12 points with 11 boards, 2 assists and 3 steals, but he really did a number on Yao defensively holding him to just 4-13 shooting on the night. This was Antonio's fourth straight double-double. I am sure most of us will say that Dyess is better as a starter than he is coming off the bench, and that's saying a lot.

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• Technically you can call this one a Guaransheed. "We are going to see those chumps again," Wallace said at the time. "We are going to bust their (bleep) the next time we see them."
• Luis Scola led Houston with 18 points. Is the long hair a European thing?
• The Pistons and The Celtics are the first teams to reach 20 wins on the season.
• Detroit stepped up the D in the third, limiting the Rockets to just 16 points on the quarter.
• Huge Maxiell stuff on McGrady.
• 8 points and 8 assists for Mr. Big Shot.
• No points for Stuckey in 12 minutes on the floor.
• This Sheed reaction was the result of an and 1 for Maxiell... I take offense to the guy right behind Sheed in the red adidas warm up who is sleeping on the press table. Most of us would kill to be where you are dude... WAKE UP! And how in the world do you fall asleep when Sheed is screaming right in front of you?

Courtesy of The Detroit Pistons and FSN Detroit

• An Amirzing block from behind for Johnson.
• Five Pistons in double figures.
• Maxiell continues to do well from the charity stripe.
• Thirteen for Tay with 5 rebounds and 2 assists and a steal
• Rip was hot all night, his Count that Baby and a Foul while falling to the ground has got to be a top play on Sports Center. Rip led the Pistons with 17 and 6 assists. He sure is on top of his game lately.

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• Christmas break....The next one for The Pistons is in New Jersey on the 26th.

Thanks to everyone for their kind words in the comments and through e-mail while I was gone. Your support meant more than you will ever know. Most of all thanks to Steve DiLullo who did such a fantastic job in my absence taking over N4S without hesitation when I wasn't able.