DJC Morning Drive – Detroit Sports Links

No Red Wings last night but the Tigers battled the Astros in Houston.  Here are the scores and other interesting web bits about Detroit Sports from around the internet.

Detroit Tigers  4  Houston Astros 3

"The slumping offense for the Detroit Tigers was bailed out by their catcher tonight.  With Don Kelly on first, Alex Avila hit a monster shot to right center field to give the Detroit Tigers a 4-3 lead.  Jose Valverde entered the game and had some trouble locating the strike zone. But great defensive plays by Omar Infante and Don Kelly helped him earn his 3rd save and the Tigers their second straight win.  A win the Tigers struggled to get against a team they should beat."

Detroit Pistons

5 Potential Coaches In Phil Jacksons Rolodex via Bleacher Report

"According to Yahoo! Sports, Phil Jackson has been brought on by his former rivals the Detroit Pistons to aid in their search for a new coach. While some are pleading for Phil to choose himself, I consider it a more likely option that Phil will tap someone he has worked with on one or more of his 11 championship teams. Here are five of Phil’s former players or assistants who I could see landing the Pistons gig."

8 Realistic Free Agent Targets For Pistons

"With upward of $20 million in cap space this summer, the Detroit Pistons will have plenty of flexibility during the NBA‘s free-agency period. And after their fourth-straight season without making the playoffs, they will have plenty of pressure to sign a player (or players) that will immediately improve their roster. The Pistons have their frontcourt of the future set, with Greg Monroe and Andre Drummond forming one of the best young big man duos in the NBA. Where they need to improve is on the wing, where Kyle Singler, Brandon Knight and Rodney Stuckey were miscast in starting roles throughout last season."

Detroit Red Wings

Brian Lashoff to replace Dan Dekeyser via Freep

"Red Wings coach Mike Babcock said Brian Lashoff will take Danny DeKeyser’s spot for Game 3 Saturday night against the Anaheim Ducks. DeKeyser suffered a broken thumb in the Wings’ 5-4 overtime win over the Ducks in Game 2 on Thursday night in Anaheim. Lashoff has never played in the NHL playoffs. “It’s obviously a big loss,” Babcock said of DeKeyser. “It’s hard to believe a kid out of college would be a big loss but he is. He’s played real well for us. We just gotta keep on going. That’s the playoffs.”"