DETROIT PISTONS BASKETBALL

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AP PhotoAllen Iverson is playing fewer minutes and shooting a lower percentage since joining the Pistons.

AUBURN HILLS -- Of all the shocking statistics in Detroit's 96-85 loss at home to Portland on Sunday, one number stands out more than the others. Ten. That's how many points Trail Blazers point guard Steve Blake had, and he still outscored Allen Iverson.

Sure, everyone expected Iverson to struggle a little as he adapted to the Pistons.

But scoring?

"My rhythm is not there," Iverson said after finishing with nine points on 2-for-9 shooting against Portland.

AUBURN HILLS -- Just so there's no confusion, Detroit Pistons coach Michael Curry wanted to clarify that Tayshaun Prince not playing in the fourth quarter of Sunday's 96-85 loss to Portland had nothing to do with Prince specifically, and everything to do with the ineffective play of Detroit's starters.

None of the starters played well in that game, which was why Curry tried several different combinations in hopes of finding one that would work.

The Pistons have been hot and cold under first year head coach Michael Curry, and that hasn't changed much with the addition of Allen Iverson to the roster. Pistons insider A. Sharrod Blakely speaks with Bill Simonson on The Huge Show, about how the Pistons are going through a transition year, but, unlike many teams in the NBA, the expectations haven't changed.

"Transition years are kind of like playoff success, it's a little different in Detroit than it is elsewhere," Blakely said. "Even though this is a transition year where you're trying to get a lot of young guys into the mix and then you add Allen Iverson. .. this team is still, by (Pistons team president) Joe (Dumars') standards, expected to go deep into the playoffs."

AP PhotoPortland Trail Blazers guard Steve Blake (2) shoots over Detroit Pistons guard Rodney Stuckey (3) in the first half.

AUBURN HILLS -- Note to the Detroit Pistons schedule makers for next season: avoid scheduling Sunday games.

Four of Detroit's six losses this season have happened on that day of the week, which includes Sunday's 96-85 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers.

After an Allen Iverson jumper cut Portland's lead to 80-79 in the fourth quarter, the Trail Blazers closed out the game with a 16-6 run for their first win at The Palace of Auburn Hills since Dec. 18, 2004.

Players have tried to downplay their struggles on Sundays, but Pistons coach Michael Curry acknowledged prior to the game that it's a problem he and his staff have tried to address.

AUBURN HILLS -- Tayshaun Prince's play has a way of sticking out, but this is not what the 6-foot-9 forward had in mind.

Although all of the Pistons' starters struggled in their 96-85 loss to Portland on Sunday, Prince seemed to get the brunt of coach Michael Curry's dissatisfaction.

Prince, who came into the game averaging 35.6 minutes per game, was limited to just 22.

AP PhotoDetroit's Rodney Stuckey looks for a open teammate against Milwaukee on Friday.

AUBURN HILLS -- The Detroit Pistons' second unit has helped the team string together a pair of impressive victories.

It's not a coincidence that in those games, Rodney Stuckey's play has stood out.

"He realized he has to lead within that second group," Detroit coach Michael Curry said. "He's going to be a big part of what we do this year."

AP PhotoDetroit's Allen Iverson drives against Milwaukee's Tyronn Lue on Friday night. Iverson didn't start, but led the Pistons with 17 points.

AUBURN HILLS -- It doesn't matter if Allen Iverson is starting, coming off the bench or blowing off practice.

Everything he does seems to take on a larger-than-life existence.

"With him, anything that he does is going to be big," Pistons coach Michael Curry said prior to Friday's game against Milwaukee. "He's an icon in this game. So the things that he does (are) going to get a lot of coverage. When he does things good, he gets a lot of coverage as well. That's just part of it."

AUBURN HILLS -- The Detroit Pistons have been one of the NBA's best teams for years, partly because the players make up a tightly knit group, on and off the court.

Allen Iverson is an outsider trying to blend in. His decision to blow off the team's Thanksgiving practice didn't help matters.

"I don't have no excuses," Iverson said Friday morning after the team's morning shootaround. "I apologized to my teammates, first and foremost, coaching staff, the organization and definitely our fans. It's something that shouldn't have happened. And it won't happen again."

Nobody wants to work on Thanksgiving, including most players on the Pistons. But Allen Iverson was the only player to skip the mandatory practice, and his decision may have a residual affect on the team, according to Pistons insider A. Sherrod Blakely, who joined Ryan Terpstra on Sports Radio 1370 Grand Haven.

"They're going to move on obviously from this, said Blakely. "But because of his past track record, that's a lot easier said than done,"

Coach Michael Curry scheduled the practice to keep up the team's conditioning, but Iverson, arguably the player who needed it the most, skipped.

AUBURN HILLS -- When coach Michael Curry opted to have the Detroit Pistons practice on Thanksgiving, just about every player grumbled about it.

Still, all but one player showed up for Thursday morning's one-hour practice. The one no-show? You guessed it, Allen Iverson.

Curry made it clear that Iverson's absence would not go unpunished.