2007–08 Detroit Pistons season

All you want to know about 2007–08 Detroit Pistons season

2007–08 Detroit Pistons season
Head coach Flip Saunders
Arena The Palace of Auburn Hills
Results
Record 59–23
(.720)
Place Division: 1st (Central)
Conference: 2nd (Eastern)
Playoff finish East Finals
(eliminated 4–2)
Stats @ Basketball-Reference.com
Detroit Pistons seasons
< 2006–07 2008–09 >

The 2007-08 Detroit Pistons season was their 67th season, 60th in the National Basketball Association. The Central Division Pistons finished the regular season with a 59–23 record, 14 games ahead of the second place Cavaliers. Their 59 wins were the 3rd most in franchise history. #2 seeded Detroit lost to the eventual champion Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals four games to two. Detroit defeated #7 Philadelphia and #3 Orlando in the first and second rounds of the NBA Playoffs.

Following the season, Flip Saunders was fired as head coach.[1]

Detroit played its home games at The Palace of Auburn Hills in Auburn Hills, Michigan, which was sold out for each of the 41 regular season home games and all nine playoff games. The Pistons wore the #50 on the upper left side of their jerseys in honor of the 50th anniversary of them playing in Detroit.

Contents

Offseason

In the offseason, the Pistons re-signed guard Chauncey Billups and forward Amir Johnson. They also signed forward Antonio McDyess to a 2-year contract extension and center Cheick Samb.

Draft picks

Detroit's selections from the 2007 NBA Draft in New York.

Round Pick Player Position Nationality School/Club Team
1 15 Rodney Stuckey Point/Shooting Guard  United States Eastern Washington
1 27 Arron Afflalo Shooting Guard  United States UCLA
2 57 Sammy Mejia Point Guard  United States DePaul

Roster

Detroit Pistons roster
Players Coaches
Pos. # Nat. Name Ht. Wt. From
SG 28 Flag of the United States Afflalo, Arron 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 215 lb (98 kg) UCLA
PG 1 Flag of the United States Billups, Chauncey (C) 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 202 lb (92 kg) Colorado
C 7 Flag of Slovenia Brezec, Primož 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) 252 lb (114 kg) Slovenia
SG 8 Flag of the United States Dixon, Juan 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 164 lb (74 kg) Maryland
SF 12 Flag of the United States Dupree, Ronald 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 209 lb (95 kg) Louisiana State
SG 32 Flag of the United States Hamilton, Richard 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 193 lb (88 kg) Connecticut
G/F 9 Flag of the United States Hayes, Jarvis 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 228 lb (103 kg) Georgia
F 5 Flag of Argentina Herrmann, Wálter 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 225 lb (102 kg) Argentina
G 10 Flag of the United States Hunter, Lindsey 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Jackson State
F 25 Flag of the United States Johnson, Amir 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Westchester HS (CA)
PF 54 Flag of the United States Maxiell, Jason 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 260 lb (118 kg) Cincinnati
PF 24 Flag of the United States McDyess, Antonio 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 245 lb (111 kg) Alabama
C 13 Flag of the United States Mohammed, Nazr 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 250 lb (113 kg) Kentucky
G 6 Flag of the United States Murray, Ronald 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 197 lb (89 kg) Shaw
SF 22 Flag of the United States Prince, Tayshaun 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Kentucky
C 42 Flag of the United States Ratliff, Theo 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 235 lb (107 kg) Wyoming
C 35 Flag of Senegal Samb, Cheikh 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Senegal
G 3 Flag of the United States Stuckey, Rodney 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Eastern Washington
F/C 36 Flag of the United States Wallace, Rasheed 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 230 lb (104 kg) North Carolina
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain

Standings

Central Division W L PCT Home Road GB
Detroit Pistons 59 23 .720 33–7 25–16 –
Cleveland Cavaliers 45 37 .549 27–14 17–23 14
Indiana Pacers 36 46 .439 21–20 15–25 23
Chicago Bulls 33 49 .402 20–21 12–28 26
Milwaukee Bucks 26 56 .317 19–21 7–34 33

Regular season

Schedule

2007–08 Game Log
November
Game Date Opponent Score High points High rebounds High assists Attendance Record
1 November 1 @ Miami W 91–80 Prince (34) Prince (12) Billups (11) American Airlines Arena
19,600		 1–0
2 November 2 @ Orlando W 116–92 Murray (19) McDyess, Wallace (7) Billups (7) Amway Arena
17,519		 2–0
3 November 4 Atlanta W 92–91 Billups (22) McDyess (9) Billups, Hamilton, Wallace (5) The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076		 3–0
4 November 8 @ Chicago L 97–93 Wallace (36) McDyess, Wallace (9) Billups, Hamilton (6) United Center
21,797		 3–1
5 November 9 LA Clippers W 103–79 Billups (23) Maxiell (8) Hamilton (10) The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076		 4–1
6 November 11 @ Seattle W 107–103 Hamilton (32) McDyess (15) Billups, Prince (6) KeyArena
16,379		 5–1
7 November 13 @ Portland L 102–94 Prince (20) Hamilton (7) Billups (9) Rose Garden
19,980		 5–2
8 November 14 @ Golden State W 111–104 Hamilton, Prince, Wallace (22) Maxiell (14) Murray (12) Oracle Arena
18,923		 6–2
9 November 16 @ LA Lakers L 103–91 Hamilton, Prince (16) Prince (9) Murray (6) Staples Center
18,997		 6–3
10 November 18 @ Sacramento L 105–95 Prince (19) Wallace (12) Billups (9) ARCO Arena
12,978		 6–4
11 November 21 New York W 98–86 Billups (25) McDyess, Mohammed (6) Billups (15) The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076		 7–4
12 November 23 Philadelphia W 83–78 Prince (15) Mohammed (9) Billups (9) The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076		 8–4
13 November 25 Utah L 103–93 McDyess (19) Mohammed (14) Hamilton (7) The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076		 8–5
14 November 28 Cleveland W 109–74 Hamilton (18) Maxiell (10) Hamilton (6) The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076		 9–5
December
Game Date Opponent Score High points High rebounds High assists Attendance Record
15 December 1 @ Milwaukee W 117–91 Wallace (20) Wallace (10) Billups (9) Bradley Center
17,326		 10–5
16 December 2 New Jersey W 118–95 Hamilton (19) Maxiell (11) Billups (9) The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076		 11–5
17 December 4 @ Atlanta W 106–95 Prince (23) Maxiell (9) Billups (10) Philips Arena
12,754		 12–5
18 December 5 @ New Orleans W 91–76 Hamilton (21) Wallace (10) Billups (7) New Orleans Arena
10,312		 13–5
19 December 7 Chicago L 98–91 Billups (27) Prince (8) Billups (7) The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076		 13–6
20 December 9 Charlotte W 104–85 Billups (20) McDyess (9) Billups (6) The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076		 14–6
21 December 11 @ Memphis W 113–103 Billups (28) Prince (7) Billups (14) FedExForum
11,962		 15–6
22 December 12 @ Houston L 80–77 Wallace (21) Maxiell (13) Billups (7) Toyota Center
17,453		 15–7
23 December 14 Atlanta W 91–81 Billups (23) McDyess (14) Prince (5) The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076		 16–7
24 December 16 Golden State W 109–87 Prince (23) McDyess (11) Hamilton (6) The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076		 17–7
25 December 19 @ Boston W 87–85 Billups (28) Wallace (13) Billups (8) TD Banknorth Garden
18,624		 18–7
26 December 21 Memphis W 94–67 Prince (16) McDyess (11) Billups (7) The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076		 19–7
27 December 23 Houston W 94–82 Hamilton (17) McDyess (11) Billups (8) The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076		 20–7
28 December 26 @ New Jersey W 101–83 Hamilton (22) McDyess (9) Billups (10) Izod Center
18,055		 21–7
29 December 28 Indiana W 114–101 Hamilton (23) Johnson (9) Hamilton (9) The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076		 22–7
30 December 29 @ Indiana W 98–92 Hamilton (24) Wallace (10) Billups (7) Conseco Fieldhouse
14,960		 23–7
31 December 31 Milwaukee W 114–69 Hamilton (20) McDyess (10) Billups (12) The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076		 24–7
January
Game Date Opponent Score High points High rebounds High assists Attendance Record
32 January 2 @ Washington W 106–93 Hamilton (20) McDyess, Wallace (8) Hamilton (9) Verizon Center
15,763		 25–7
33 January 4 @ Toronto W 101–85 Hamilton (22) McDyess (12) Billups (9) Air Canada Centre
19,800		 26–7
34 January 5 Boston L 92–85 Hamilton (18) Wallace (8) Hamilton (8) The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076		 26–8
35 January 9 @ Dallas L 102–86 Hamilton (18) Wallace (11) Herrmann (4) American Airlines Center
20,362		 26–9
36 January 10 @ San Antonio W 90–80 Wallace (23) Wallace (15) Billups (6) AT&T Center
18,797		 27–9
37 January 12 @ Charlotte W 103–100 (OT) Billups (27) McDyess (11) Hamilton (8) Charlotte Bobcats Arena
19,091		 28–9
38 January 13 @ New York L 89–65 McDyess (15) McDyess (13) Billups (4) Madison Square Garden
17,620		 28–10
39 January 15 Toronto W 103–89 Hamilton (39) McDyess (13) Hamilton (6) The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076		 29–10
40 January 18 Sacramento L 100–93 Billups (28) McDyess (11) Billups (10) The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076		 29–11
41 January 19 @ Chicago L 97–81 Billups (27) McDyess (12) Billups (5) United Center
22,657		 29–12
42 January 21 @ Orlando L 102–100 Hamilton (21) Wallace (15) Billups (5) Amway Arena
17,519		 29–13
43 January 23 @ Philadelphia W 86–78 Hamilton (21) McDyess (8) Wallace (6) Wachovia Center
13,878		 30–13
44 January 25 Orlando W 101–93 Hamilton (32) McDyess (13) Hamilton, Prince (8) The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076		 31–13
45 January 29 @ Indiana W 110–104 Wallace (24) McDyess (13) Billups (8) Conseco Fieldhouse
12,572		 32–13
46 January 31 LA Lakers W 90–89 Prince (22) McDyess (12) Billups (7) The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076		 33–13
February
Game Date Opponent Score High points High rebounds High assists Attendance Record
47 February 3 Dallas W 90–67 Wallace (21) McDyess (11) Hamilton (7) The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076		 34–13
48 February 6 Miami W 100–95 Wallace (26) McDyess (13) Billups (10) The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076		 35–13
49 February 8 Portland W 91–82 Billups (17) Johnson, Prince, Wallace (6) Billups (5) The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076		 36–13
50 February 10 Charlotte W 113–87 Prince (21) McDyess (12) Billups (7) The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076		 37–13
51 February 12 @ Atlanta W 94–90 Wallace (21) McDyess (6) Billups (8) Philips Arena
18,227		 38–13
52 February 13 Indiana W 96–80 Billups, Hamilton, Prince (14) Maxiell (14) Billups (6) The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076		 39–13
53 February 19 Orlando L 103–85 Stuckey (16) McDyess (14) Billups (5) The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076		 39–14
54 February 20 @ Milwaukee L 103–98 Billups (34) McDyess (14) Billups, Prince (6) Bradley Center
14,211		 39–15
55 February 22 Milwaukee W 127–100 Billups (21) McDyess (7) Billups (12) The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076		 40–15
56 February 24 @ Phoenix W 116–86 Wallace (22) McDyess (13) Billups (11) US Airways Center
18,422		 41–15
57 February 25 @ Denver W 98–93 Billups, Hamilton, Prince (20) McDyess (13) Prince (9) Pepsi Center
17,901		 42–15
58 February 27 @ Utah L 103–95 Hamilton (22) McDyess (10) Billups, Prince (4) EnergySolutions Arena
19,911		 42–16
March
Game Date Opponent Score High points High rebounds High assists Attendance Record
59 March 1 @ LA Clippers W 103–73 Prince (22) Maxiell (8) Prince (10) Staples Center
19,271		 43–16
60 March 4 Seattle W 100–97 Prince (24) Maxiell (9) Billups (9) The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076		 44–16
61 March 5 @ Boston L 90–78 Billups, Wallace (23) Prince (10) Billups (7) TD Banknorth Garden
18,624		 44–17
62 March 7 @ New York W 101–97 Prince (28) Prince (7) Billups (5) Madison Square Garden
19,763		 45–17
63 March 9 Chicago W 116–109 Billups (34) McDyess (10) Hamilton (7) The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076		 46–17
64 March 12 Philadelphia L 83–82 Wallace (17) McDyess (11) Hamilton (4) The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076		 46–18
65 March 14 San Antonio W 84–80 Hamilton (25) McDyess (17) Billups (8) The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076		 47–18
66 March 16 New Orleans W 105–84 Hayes (29) McDyess (11) Hamilton (6) The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076		 48–18
67 March 18 Denver W 136–120 Hamilton (24) Maxiell, McDyess (7) Billups (10) The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076		 49–18
68 March 19 @ Cleveland L 89–73 Wallace (16) McDyess (11) Hamilton (7) Quicken Loans Arena
20,562		 49–19
69 March 23 @ Washington L 95–83 Hamilton (19) McDyess (14) Billups (11) Verizon Center
20,173		 49–20
70 March 24 Phoenix W 110–105 Billups (32) Wallace (9) Billups (6) The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076		 50–20
71 March 26 @ Toronto L 89–82 Billups (24) Prince (8) Billups (9) Air Canada Centre
19,800		 50–21
72 March 27 Miami W 85–69 Afflalo, Maxiell (15) Prince (8) Billups (11) The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076		 51–21
73 March 29 Cleveland W 85–71 Hamilton (14) McDyess (10) Prince (5) The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076		 52–21
April
Game Date Opponent Score High points High rebounds High assists Attendance Record
74 April 1 @ Minnesota W 94–90 Stuckey (27) McDyess (10) Prince (6) Target Center
15,119		 53–21
75 April 4 New Jersey W 106–87 McDyess (19) Wallace (8) Stuckey (9) The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076		 54–21
76 April 6 @ Miami W 91–75 Stuckey (19) Johnson, Maxiell (7) Billups (6) American Airlines Arena
19,141		 55–21
77 April 8 New York L 98–94 Johnson (14) Maxiell (10) Billups, Stuckey (3) The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076		 55–22
78 April 9 @ Philadelphia L 101–94 Billups (18) Johnson (7) Stuckey (6) Wachovia Center
18,945		 55–23
79 April 11 Washington W 102–74 Maxiell (28) Wallace (9) Hamilton (10) The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076		 56–23
80 April 13 Toronto W 91–84 Stuckey (18) McDyess (9) Billups (4) The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076		 57–23
81 April 15 Minnesota W 115–103 Hayes (20) Prince (7) Billups (6) The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076		 58–23
82 April 16 @ Cleveland W 84–74 Afflalo (15) Afflalo, Johnson (8) Dixon (9) Quicken Loans Arena
20,562		 59–23

Playoffs

Schedule

2008 playoff game log
First round
Game Date Opponent Score High points High rebounds High assists Location/Attendance Series
1 April 20 Philadelphia L 90–86 Wallace (24) Maxiell (11) Billups, Hamilton (4) The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076		 0–1
2 April 23 Philadelphia W 105–88 Hamilton (20) McDyess (12) Hamilton (7) The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076		 1–1
3 April 25 @ Philadelphia L 95–75 Hamilton (23) Hamilton (6) Stuckey (5) Wachovia Center
18,805		 1–2
4 April 27 @ Philadelphia W 93–84 Prince (23) Wallace (10) Billups, Hamilton (7) Wachovia Center
18,347		 2–2
5 April 29 Philadelphia W 98–81 Billups (21) Maxiell (11) Billups (12) The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076		 3–2
6 May 1 @ Philadelphia W 100–77 Hamilton (24) Billups (7) Prince (7) Wachovia Center
14,130		 4–2
Conference semifinals
Game Date Opponent Score High points High rebounds High assists Location/Attendance Series
1 May 3 Orlando W 91–72 Billups (19) Maxiell (9) Billups (7) The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076		 1–0
2 May 5 Orlando W 100–93 Billups (28) Prince (10) Prince (5) The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076		 2–0
3 May 7 @ Orlando L 111–86 Hamilton (24) Prince (7) Hamilton, Prince (3) Amway Arena
17,519		 2–1
4 May 10 @ Orlando W 90–89 Hamilton (32) McDyess (14) Prince (5) Amway Arena
17,519		 3–1
5 May 13 Orlando W 91–86 Hamilton (31) McDyess (11) Stuckey (6) The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076		 4–1
Conference Finals
Game Date Opponent Score High points High rebounds High assists Location/Attendance Series
1 May 20 @ Boston L 88–79 Prince (16) McDyess (11) Wallace (4) TD Banknorth Garden
18,624		 0–1
2 May 22 @ Boston W 103–97 Hamilton (25) Wallace (10) Billups (7) TD Banknorth Garden
18,624		 1–1
3 May 24 Boston L 94–80 Hamilton (26) McDyess, Wallace (8) Billups, Stuckey (4) The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076		 1–2
4 May 26 Boston W 94–75 McDyess (21) McDyess (17) Hamilton (7) The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076		 2–2
5 May 28 @ Boston L 106–102 Billups (26) Billups, McDyess (5) Billups, Hamilton (6) TD Banknorth Garden
18,624		 2–3
6 May 30 Boston L 89–81 Billups (29) Wallace (10) Billups (6) The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076		 2–4
2008 playoff schedule

Awards and records

Awards

Chauncey Billups was awarded the John Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award for taking much part in NBA Cares and other charity foundations.

Records

On May 13, 2008, Richard Hamilton surpassed Isiah Thomas as the all-time Piston leading scorer in the playoffs. Hamilton broke Thomas' record of 2,261 points and did it in 110 games — one fewer than Thomas needed to set the mark. [2]

Milestones

Chauncey Billups recorded his 10,000th career point November 14, 2007 against the Portland Trail Blazers.

Player stats

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game