The Pistons are 2-0 Out West after Win in Denver

Detroit's balanced attack and anything goes defense helped The Pistons get past The Nuggets in a very tight game in Denver. The game was up for grabs, but it didn't hurt the Pistons that Chauncey Billups scored nine of his 20 points in the fourth quarter hitting some Big Shots down the stretch in The Pistons 98-93 victory.

Key Points:

• Both Teams Played Hard.
• 20-20-20, points that is from Chauncey, Tayshaun and Rip.
• The way the game started it looked like carryover from Sunday's massacre of The Suns.
• Solid defense by the whole team but holding 'Melo and Iverson to 15-of-39 shooting was key.
• The Denver Post calls this one The Great Escape and I don't really disagree with it. It seems JR Smith was a bit teary eyed after this one, and I don't blame him after missing the free throws that could have tied it up when Chauncey fouled him on a three point try with time running out. Kenyon Martin's possible tip in on his last free throw miss came dangerously close to going in.
• "When I saw him going up, I wasn't thinking about where he was on the court," Billups said. "I knew he's a shot-maker, so I went up and fouled him. I couldn't argue him or nothing. Only thing I was thinking was, 'All right, there's 6.5 seconds. ... We'll make up for it.' " Via The Detroit Free Press.
• Tayshaun Prince was huge with 20 points (video) on 8-for-15 shooting with 9 assists, a takeaway and 6 boards. Solid game all around for Tay, who seems to be out of any kind of funk he was in.

Photo/Getty Images

• Plenty members of Team Need4Sheed in the house in Denver last night (Miguel you have redeemed yourself). I'm glad Pistons fans got treated to a great game.
• I hate to criticize Stuckey again, but his wild antics driving the lane like a madman are starting to get old. Those aren't smart shots even if they do go in and last night they didn't. He did however hit some big shots late in the game finishing with 6 points and 3 assists with 2 turnovers. Please redeem yourself Stuck.
• NBA.com Highlights of The Game.
• Team Need4Sheed member and huge Pistons fan Kevin was at the game last night and was nice enough to inform us that The Pepsi Center went all out with their half time show. "The Pepsi Center dug up the Digital Underground, watching a live performance of the Humpty Dance took me way back to those awkward middle school days." Now that was worth the game's admission right there.
• Rip had a hand in this one along with the rest of the starting five. Hamilton finished with 20 points, 8 boards and 6 assists. Chauncey and Rip were connecting brilliantly all game long.
• When this one went down Pistons fans just knew. Chauncey's Dagger late in the fourth quarter.

Courtesy of The Detroit Pistons and myTV20 Detroit

• Sheed's game wasn't huge (number wise), but he continues to be solid. Ten points, 9 boards, a blocked shot and a steal. It's his anchoring of the defense and his ability to play well with the Zoo Crew that really has put Sheed over the top for Detroit lately.
• Surprisingly the Pistons did better on fast break points with 17 to the Nuggets 10.
• The Pistons biggest lead was 7, while Denver's largest lead was 3 points.
• All Pistons starters in double figures.
• If this stat doesn't tell the story of the game, nothing does. The game had 19 lead changes and was tied 22 times.
  
• The Pistons bench was outscored by Denver's bench 13-26. Consider this though, J.R. Smith took 14 shots on the night, just three less than the whole Zoo Crew.
• For a team that doesn't play much defense, Denver did a great job last night.
• Let's please sing the praises of Antonio McDyess who had another SOLID game adding to his double-double total for the year with 16 points, 13 boards and one HUGE block in the first half on Carmelo.

Photo/Getty Images

• Jarvis Hayes was scoreless, missing all three of the shots he attempted. At least he didn't jack up more right? Walter anyone? That's just horrible of me right, he did put up 18 against The Suns.
  
• Flip Saunders doing his best when the Rooks are out there.
• Pretty solid outing from Maxiell even though he didn't put up big numbers. One big block always puts a little fear into anyone driving the lane as far as I'm concerned.
  
• Get to know Juan Dixon. Thanks to Team Need4Sheed Member Thomas LaCombe.
• A little more time on the floor than usual for the starters, but not as many minutes as Denver's Iverson, Camby, and Anthony.
• How many of you were deflated when Chauncey fouled Smith?
• Utah? Can we actually pull one out on Wednesday night?