2008–09 Detroit Pistons season

The 2008–09 Detroit Pistons season was the 68th season of the franchise, the 61st in the National Basketball Association (NBA), and the 52nd in the Detroit area. The season was the first under new head coach Michael Curry, who took over for Flip Saunders who was fired at the conclusion of the 2007–08 season.

2008–09 Detroit Pistons season
Head coach	Michael Curry
General manager	Joe Dumars
Owners	William Davidson Karen Davidson
Arena	The Palace of Auburn Hills
Results
Record	39–43 (.476)
Place	Division: 3rd (Central) Conference: 8th (Eastern)
Playoff finish	First Round (Lost to Cavaliers 0–4)
Stats @ Basketball-Reference.com

In the playoffs, the Pistons were swept by the Cleveland Cavaliers in four games in the First Round.

During the season, the Pistons traded Chauncey Billups, Antonio McDyess and Cheikh Samb to the Denver Nuggets in exchange for Allen Iverson. McDyess was waived by the Nuggets and was re-signed by the Pistons. It was their first losing season since the 2000–01 NBA season, and the first time they didn't reach the Eastern Conference Finals since the 2001–02 NBA season. The 2008–09 season was also the last time the Pistons qualified for the playoffs, until the 2015–16 season. Following the season, Rasheed Wallace signed as a free agent with the Boston Celtics, and Iverson left to sign with the Memphis Grizzlies and Curry was fired.

Draft picks

Main article: 2008 NBA draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	College
1	29	D. J. White (traded to Seattle)	PF	United States	Indiana
2	59	Deron Washington	SG/SF	United States	Virginia Tech

On the day of the draft, the Pistons traded D. J. White to the Seattle SuperSonics in exchange for the rights to Seattle's number 32 and number 46 picks. The picks were used to select Walter Sharpe from Alabama–Birmingham and Trent Plaisted from Brigham Young, respectively.[1]

Roster

Roster listing

Detroit Pistons roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB (YYYY-MM-DD) From G 28 Afflalo, Arron 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 215 lb (98 kg) UCLA F/C 38 Brown, Kwame 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 270 lb (122 kg) Glynn Academy HS (GA) G 12 Bynum, Will 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Georgia Tech G/F 32 Hamilton, Richard 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Connecticut F 5 Herrmann, Walter 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 225 lb (102 kg) Argentina G 1 Iverson, Allen 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 165 lb (75 kg) Georgetown F 25 Johnson, Amir 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Westchester HS (CA) F/C 54 Maxiell, Jason 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 260 lb (118 kg) Cincinnati F/C 24 McDyess, Antonio 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Alabama F 22 Prince, Tayshaun 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Kentucky F 42 Sharpe, Walter 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 245 lb (111 kg) Alabama–Birmingham G 3 Stuckey, Rodney 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Eastern Washington F/C 30 Wallace, Rasheed 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 225 lb (102 kg) North Carolina	Head coach Michael Curry Assistant coach(es) Dave Cowens Harold Ellis Pat Sullivan Darrell Walker Bill Pope (director of scouting) Legend (C) Team captain (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured Roster

Regular season

Standings

Central Division	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Road	Div	GP
z-Cleveland Cavaliers	66	16	.805	—	39–2	27–14	13–3	82
x-Chicago Bulls	41	41	.500	25	28–13	13–28	9–7	82
x-Detroit Pistons	39	43	.476	27	21–20	18–23	7–9	82
Indiana Pacers	36	46	.439	30	25–16	11–30	7–9	82
Milwaukee Bucks	34	48	.415	32	22–19	12–29	4–12	82

#	Eastern Conference
	Team	W	L	PCT	GB
1	z-Cleveland Cavaliers	66	16	.805	—
2	y-Boston Celtics	62	20	.756	4
3	y-Orlando Magic	59	23	.720	7
4	x-Atlanta Hawks	47	35	.573	19
5	x-Miami Heat	43	39	.524	23
6	x-Philadelphia 76ers	41	41	.500	25
7	x-Chicago Bulls	41	41	.500	25
8	x-Detroit Pistons	39	43	.488	26
9	Indiana Pacers	36	46	.439	30
10	Charlotte Bobcats	35	47	.427	31
11	New Jersey Nets	34	48	.415	32
12	Milwaukee Bucks	34	48	.415	32
13	Toronto Raptors	33	49	.402	33
14	New York Knicks	32	50	.390	34
15	Washington Wizards	19	63	.232	47

Game log

2008–09 game log
October: 1–0 (Home: 1–0; Road: 0–0) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 1 October 29 Indiana W 100–94 Tayshaun Prince (19) Rasheed Wallace (7) Chauncey Billups (7) The Palace of Auburn Hills 22,076 1–0
November: 9–6 (Home: 4–3; Road: 5–3) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 2 November 1 Washington W 117–109 Richard Hamilton (24) Rasheed Wallace (12) Chauncey Billups (8) The Palace of Auburn Hills 22,076 2–0 3 November 3 @ Charlotte W 101–83 Richard Hamilton (19) Kwame Brown (9) Richard Hamilton (5) Time Warner Cable Arena 11,023 3–0 4 November 5 @ Toronto W 100–93 Tayshaun Prince (27) Rasheed Wallace (12) Richard Hamilton, Rodney Stuckey (5) Air Canada Centre 18,602 4–0 5 November 7 @ New Jersey L 96–103 Allen Iverson (24) Tayshaun Prince (11) Allen Iverson, Rodney Stuckey (6) Izod Center 17,767 4–1 6 November 9 Boston L 76–88 Tayshaun Prince (23) Rasheed Wallace (11) Allen Iverson (4) The Palace of Auburn Hills 22,076 4–2 7 November 11 @ Sacramento W 100–92 Allen Iverson (30) Tayshaun Prince (11) Allen Iverson (9) ARCO Arena 11,423 5–2 8 November 13 @ Golden State W 107–102 Richard Hamilton (24) Tayshaun Prince (16) Allen Iverson (9) Oracle Arena 18,477 6–2 9 November 14 @ L.A. Lakers W 106–95 Allen Iverson, Rasheed Wallace (25) Rasheed Wallace (13) Tayshaun Prince (6) Staples Center 18,997 7–2 10 November 16 @ Phoenix L 86–104 Richard Hamilton (19) Rasheed Wallace (9) Allen Iverson (7) US Airways Center 18,422 7–3 11 November 19 Cleveland W 96–89 Allen Iverson (23) Rasheed Wallace (15) Richard Hamilton (5) The Palace of Auburn Hills 22,076 8–3 12 November 20 @ Boston L 80–98 Allen Iverson (16) Kwame Brown, Tayshaun Prince (7) Allen Iverson (4) TD Banknorth Garden 18,624 8–4 13 November 23 Minnesota L 80–106 Tayshaun Prince (20) Rasheed Wallace (10) Will Bynum, Richard Hamilton (6) The Palace of Auburn Hills 22,076 8–5 14 November 26 New York W 110–96 Richard Hamilton (17) Amir Johnson (13) Rodney Stuckey (11) The Palace of Auburn Hills 22,076 9–5 15 November 28 Milwaukee W 107–97 Allen Iverson (17) Jason Maxiell (8) Allen Iverson (7) The Palace of Auburn Hills 22,076 10–5 16 November 30 Portland L 85–96 Richard Hamilton (18) Amir Johnson (8) Rodney Stuckey (5) The Palace of Auburn Hills 22,076 10–6
December: 9–5 (Home: 6–2; Road: 3–3) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 17 December 2 @ San Antonio W 89–77 Allen Iverson, Rasheed Wallace (19) Tayshaun Prince (12) Rodney Stuckey (7) AT&T Center 17,582 11–6 18 December 5 Philadelphia L 91–96 Richard Hamilton (19) Rasheed Wallace, Kwame Brown (8) Allen Iverson (7) The Palace of Auburn Hills 22,076 11–7 19 December 7 @ New York L 92–104 Tayshaun Prince (23) Tayshaun Prince (10) Allen Iverson (7) Madison Square Garden 19,763 11–8 20 December 9 @ Washington L 94–107 Richard Hamilton (29) Tayshaun Prince (11) Rodney Stuckey (11) Verizon Center 14,707 11–9 21 December 12 Indiana W 114–110 Richard Hamilton (28) Rasheed Wallace (6) Allen Iverson (12) The Palace of Auburn Hills 22,076 12–9 22 December 13 @ Charlotte W 90–86 Allen Iverson (20) Tayshaun Prince, Antonio McDyess (6) Rodney Stuckey (10) Time Warner Cable Arena 17,373 13–9 23 December 17 Washington W 88–74 Allen Iverson (28) Tayshaun Prince (10) Rodney Stuckey (11) The Palace of Auburn Hills 22,076 14–9 24 December 19 Utah L 114–120 (2OT) Allen Iverson (38) Rasheed Wallace (8) Allen Iverson (7) The Palace of Auburn Hills 22,076 14–10 25 December 21 @ Atlanta L 78–85 Rasheed Wallace, Rodney Stuckey (20) Rodney Stuckey (9) Allen Iverson (6) Philips Arena 15,233 14–11 26 December 23 Chicago W 104–98 Rodney Stuckey (40) Tayshaun Prince, Antonio McDyess (11) Allen Iverson (8) The Palace of Auburn Hills 22,076 15–11 27 December 26 Oklahoma City W 90–88 Allen Iverson (22) Tayshaun Prince (11) Rodney Stuckey, Richard Hamilton (4) The Palace of Auburn Hills 22,076 16–11 28 December 27 @ Milwaukee W 87–76 Tayshaun Prince (19) Rasheed Wallace (12) Rodney Stuckey, Allen Iverson (6) Bradley Center 17,086 17–11 29 December 29 Orlando W 88–82 Rodney Stuckey (19) Antonio McDyess (8) Antonio McDyess (5) The Palace of Auburn Hills 22,076 18–11 30 December 31 New Jersey W 83–75 Allen Iverson (19) Jason Maxiell (9) Tayshaun Prince (5) The Palace of Auburn Hills 22,076 19–11
January: 6–9 (Home: 2–5; Road: 4–4) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 31 January 2 Sacramento W 98–92 Rodney Stuckey (38) Amir Johnson (14) Rodney Stuckey (7) The Palace of Auburn Hills 22,076 20–11 32 January 4 @ L.A. Clippers W 88–87 Rodney Stuckey (24) Antonio McDyess (15) Allen Iverson (10) Staples Center 17,968 21–11 33 January 7 @ Portland L 83–84 Tayshaun Prince (26) Antonio McDyess (13) Allen Iverson, Rodney Stuckey (7) Rose Garden 20,644 21–12 34 January 9 @ Denver W 93–90 Allen Iverson (23) Antonio McDyess (12) Tayshaun Prince (4) Pepsi Center 19,682 22–12 35 January 10 @ Utah L 82–99 Rodney Stuckey (19) Antonio McDyess (9) Allen Iverson (5) EnergySolutions Arena 19,911 22–13 36 January 13 Charlotte L 78–80 Rodney Stuckey (22) Tayshaun Prince, Antonio McDyess (9) Rodney Stuckey, Allen Iverson, Tayshaun Prince (5) The Palace of Auburn Hills 22,076 22–14 37 January 14 @ Indiana L 106–110 (OT) Rodney Stuckey (30) Rasheed Wallace (15) Allen Iverson (7) Conseco Fieldhouse 11,964 22–15 38 January 16 @ Oklahoma City L 79–89 Tayshaun Prince, Richard Hamilton (18) Rasheed Wallace (8) Richard Hamilton (5) Ford Center 19,136 22–16 39 January 17 New Orleans L 85–91 Richard Hamilton (19) Antonio McDyess (12) Rodney Stuckey (6) The Palace of Auburn Hills 22,076 22–17 40 January 19 @ Memphis W 87–79 Allen Iverson (27) Antonio McDyess (16) Richard Hamilton (6) FedExForum 17,483 23–17 41 January 21 Toronto W 95–76 Tayshaun Prince (25) Jason Maxiell (11) Rodney Stuckey (7) The Palace of Auburn Hills 22,076 24–17 42 January 23 Dallas L 91–112 Richard Hamilton (17) Rasheed Wallace (9) Will Bynum (4) The Palace of Auburn Hills 22,076 24–18 43 January 25 Houston L 105–108 Richard Hamilton (27) Rasheed Wallace (11) Rodney Stuckey, Allen Iverson (8) The Palace of Auburn Hills 22,076 24–19 44 January 28 @ Minnesota W 98–89 Rasheed Wallace (25) Rasheed Wallace, Antonio McDyess (10) Rodney Stuckey (6) Target Center 14,232 25–19 45 January 30 Boston L 78–86 Allen Iverson, Rodney Stuckey (19) Antonio McDyess (14) Richard Hamilton (5) The Palace of Auburn Hills 22,076 25–20
February: 3–9 (Home: 1–5; Road: 2–4) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 46 February 1 Cleveland L 80–90 Allen Iverson (22) Amir Johnson (9) Rodney Stuckey (8) The Palace of Auburn Hills 22,076 25–21 47 February 4 Miami W 93–90 Rasheed Wallace, Rodney Stuckey (18) Antonio McDyess (17) Richard Hamilton (7) The Palace of Auburn Hills 21,720 26–21 48 February 7 @ Milwaukee W 126–121 (OT) Richard Hamilton (38) Tayshaun Prince (13) Allen Iverson, Tayshaun Prince (9) Bradley Center 17,297 27–21 49 February 8 Phoenix L 97–107 Richard Hamilton (27) Antonio McDyess (13) Allen Iverson (7) The Palace of Auburn Hills 22,076 27–22 50 February 10 @ Chicago L 102–107 Richard Hamilton (30) Rasheed Wallace (10) Richard Hamilton (8) United Center 21,896 27–23 51 February 11 Atlanta L 95–99 Allen Iverson (28) Antonio McDyess (10) Tayshaun Prince (8) The Palace of Auburn Hills 20,124 27–24 52 February 17 Milwaukee L 86–92 Antonio McDyess (24) Antonio McDyess (14) Allen Iverson, Tayshaun Prince (8) The Palace of Auburn Hills 20,217 27–25 53 February 19 San Antonio L 79–83 Allen Iverson (31) Antonio McDyess (13) Rodney Stuckey (8) The Palace of Auburn Hills 22,076 27–26 54 February 22 @ Cleveland L 78–99 Allen Iverson (14) Jason Maxiell (9) Richard Hamilton (6) Quicken Loans Arena 20,562 27–27 55 February 24 @ Miami L 91–103 Allen Iverson (22) Tayshaun Prince (9) Tayshaun Prince (8) American Airlines Arena 19,600 27–28 56 February 25 @ New Orleans L 87–90 Richard Hamilton (24) Antonio McDyess, Jason Maxiell (9) Richard Hamilton, Will Bynum (6) New Orleans Arena 17,215 27–29 57 February 27 @ Orlando W 93–85 Richard Hamilton (31) Antonio McDyess (13) Richard Hamilton (6) Amway Arena 17,461 28–29
March: 8–9 (Home: 5–4; Road: 3–5) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 58 March 1 @ Boston W 105–95 Richard Hamilton (25) Tayshaun Prince (8) Richard Hamilton (9) TD Banknorth Garden 18,624 29–29 59 March 3 Denver W 100–95 Tayshaun Prince (23) Antonio McDyess (12) Richard Hamilton (7) The Palace of Auburn Hills 22,076 30–29 60 March 6 Golden State W 108–91 Richard Hamilton (22) Jason Maxiell (9) Rodney Stuckey (8) The Palace of Auburn Hills 22,076 31–29 61 March 7 @ Atlanta L 83–87 Richard Hamilton (20) Antonio McDyess (12) Rodney Stuckey (6) Philips Arena 19,101 31–30 62 March 9 Orlando W 98–94 Richard Hamilton (29) Antonio McDyess (18) Richard Hamilton (14) The Palace of Auburn Hills 20,039 32–30 63 March 11 New York L 111–116 (OT) Richard Hamilton (27) Antonio McDyess (22) Rodney Stuckey (8) The Palace of Auburn Hills 20,135 32–31 64 March 13 @ Toronto W 99–95 (OT) Richard Hamilton (24) Antonio McDyess (13) Richard Hamilton (16) Air Canada Centre 19,800 33–31 65 March 15 Memphis L 84–89 Antonio McDyess (19) Kwame Brown (13) Richard Hamilton (12) The Palace of Auburn Hills 22,076 33–32 66 March 17 @ Dallas L 101–103 Tayshaun Prince (28) Antonio McDyess, Jason Maxiell (9) Rodney Stuckey (7) American Airlines Center 20,427 33–33 67 March 18 @ Houston L 101–106 (2OT) Arron Afflalo (24) Antonio McDyess (20) Rodney Stuckey (10) Toyota Center 18,275 33–34 68 March 20 L.A. Clippers W 108–90 Antonio McDyess (24) Antonio McDyess (17) Tayshaun Prince (12) The Palace of Auburn Hills 22,076 34–34 69 March 22 Miami L 96–101 Rodney Stuckey (24) Antonio McDyess (12) Tayshaun Prince (5) The Palace of Auburn Hills 22,076 34–35 70 March 24 @ Chicago L 91–99 Will Bynum, Tayshaun Prince (20) Kwame Brown (11) Will Bynum (9) United Center 20,502 34–36 71 March 26 L.A. Lakers L 77–92 Will Bynum (25) Antonio McDyess (12) Will Bynum (11) The Palace of Auburn Hills 22,076 34–37 72 March 28 @ Washington W 98–96 Richard Hamilton (31) Antonio McDyess, Kwame Brown (11) Rodney Stuckey (6) Verizon Center 20,173 35–37 73 March 29 Philadelphia W 101–97 Tayshaun Prince (21) Antonio McDyess (6) Richard Hamilton (7) The Palace of Auburn Hills 22,076 36–37 74 March 31 @ Cleveland L 73–79 Richard Hamilton (13) Antonio McDyess (10) Will Bynum (3) Quicken Loans Arena 20,562 36–38
April : 3–5 (Home: 2–1; Road: 1–4) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 75 April 1 @ New Jersey L 98–111 Richard Hamilton (29) Rodney Stuckey, Antonio McDyess (7) Rodney Stuckey, Richard Hamilton (6) Izod Center 15,105 36–39 76 April 4 @ Philadelphia L 90–95 Rodney Stuckey (23) Kwame Brown (7) Rodney Stuckey, Richard Hamilton (4) Wachovia Center 19,832 36–40 77 April 5 Charlotte W 104–97 Will Bynum (32) Antonio McDyess, Kwame Brown (9) Will Bynum (7) The Palace of Auburn Hills 22,076 37–40 78 April 8 @ New York W 113–86 Richard Hamilton (22) Antonio McDyess (16) Richard Hamilton, Rodney Stuckey (7) Madison Square Garden 19,763 38–40 79 April 10 New Jersey W 100–93 Will Bynum (20) Kwame Brown (7) Richard Hamilton (9) The Palace of Auburn Hills 22,076 39–40 80 April 11 @ Indiana L 102–106 Richard Hamilton (23) Antonio McDyess (15) Will Bynum (6) Conseco Fieldhouse 17,116 39–41 81 April 13 Chicago L 88–91 Richard Hamilton (25) Antonio McDyess (10) Rodney Stuckey (9) The Palace of Auburn Hills 22,076 39–42 82 April 15 @ Miami L 96–102 (OT) Kwame Brown (17) Kwame Brown (13) Rodney Stuckey (5) American Airlines Arena 19,600 39–43
2015–16 season schedule

Playoffs

Game log

2009 playoff game log
First Round: 0–4 (Home: 0–2; Road: 0–2) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 1 April 18 @ Cleveland L 82–104 Rodney Stuckey (20) Kwame Brown, Rasheed Wallace (9) Richard Hamilton, Rodney Stuckey (4) Quicken Loans Arena 20,562 0–1 2 April 21 @ Cleveland L 82–94 Richard Hamilton (17) Antonio McDyess (11) Rodney Stuckey (6) Quicken Loans Arena 20,562 0–2 3 April 24 Cleveland L 68–79 Richard Hamilton (15) McDyess, Hamilton (8) Richard Hamilton (6) The Palace of Auburn Hills 22,076 0–3 4 April 26 Cleveland L 78–99 Antonio McDyess (26) Antonio McDyess (10) Richard Hamilton (7) The Palace of Auburn Hills 22,076 0–4
2016 playoff schedule

Trades

June 26, 2008	To Detroit Pistons Draft rights to both Trent Plaisted and Walter Sharpe	To Seattle SuperSonics Draft rights to D. J. White
November 3, 2008	To Detroit Pistons Allen Iverson[2]	To Denver Nuggets Chauncey Billups, Antonio McDyess and Cheikh Samb

Free agents

Additions Player Signed Former team Kwame Brown[3] July 28, 2008 Memphis Grizzlies

Subtractions Player Left New team Juan Dixon Washington Wizards Jarvis Hayes New Jersey Nets Lindsey Hunter Chicago Bulls Theo Ratliff Philadelphia 76ers

References

1. Pistons ship 1st-rounder, nab UAB mystery | Freep.com | Detroit Free Press
2. http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3679931
3. CANOE – SLAM! Sports – Basketball – NBA: Pistons sign free agent Kwame Brown

External links

• 2008–09 Detroit Pistons telecast schedule