View Full Version : Pistons vs. Suns, 3/24/08, 7:30pm, MY20
MoTown 03-24-2008, 02:45 PM http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/sp/v/nba/teams/20080123/80x60/det.gif -vs- http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/sp/v/nba/teams/20080123/80x60/pho.gif
Detroit (49-20) -vs- Phoenix (47-22)
Palace of Auburn Hills
7:30pm
My time @ my place, My TV 20.[smilie=groove.gif]
No HD. Sorry Glenn.
DrRay11 03-24-2008, 02:55 PM Specifically, last time I big league chew'd was a mouthful before Magg's homer to send us to the WS. Wow, I felt special.
gusman 03-24-2008, 03:02 PM look for a pistons win by 5-7 points
Glenn 03-24-2008, 03:28 PM Should I care about this game if the Pistons don't?
Atticus771 03-24-2008, 03:36 PM Should I care about this game if the Pistons don't?
For some reason, I bet they'll care tonight and win by 20. Just a hunch. So yes, Glenn, please care.
Glenn 03-24-2008, 04:40 PM Thanks Atticus, you convinced me.
Go Pistons.
*firecracker*
Wilfredo Ledezma 03-24-2008, 04:44 PM Gordan Giricek- Questionable...
Now the Suns fans will have an excuse if they get their asses kicked again...
b-diddy 03-24-2008, 05:55 PM i think pistons jump all over these guys. phx would want to play boston in the finals.
Zekyl 03-24-2008, 06:20 PM I miss Big League Chew. I always ended up chewing too much at one time. It was terrible. But the chew was delicious!! Best gum ever, in my opinion.
Tahoe 03-24-2008, 06:27 PM I've never had blc.
Timone 03-24-2008, 06:28 PM Me neither.
Now THIS is how you do a poll. Watch the Pistons win big.
Ledezma, take notes.
Zekyl 03-24-2008, 06:29 PM You should try it, its just shredded bubble gum, but its got so much flavor!
Timone 03-24-2008, 06:30 PM I don't like gum.
You're really pissing me off!
Tahoe 03-24-2008, 06:30 PM Gum is bad ... for your gums
Zekyl 03-24-2008, 06:31 PM That was a comment for Tahoe. Make sure to inform Ledezma multiple times while the Pistons are winning that its his fault for the last few games.
Timone 03-24-2008, 06:33 PM Coward.
What makes you think you can take Tahoe, but not me?
Zekyl 03-24-2008, 06:37 PM I wasn't trying to fight anyone. I was just telling him that its good gum because he said he hadn't tried it.
Timone 03-24-2008, 06:38 PM Whenever you want it, buddy.
Zekyl 03-24-2008, 06:49 PM Will we be boxing old-english style?
Tahoe 03-24-2008, 06:49 PM So was your B-day wishes true Zek? Or do you want to fight me?
I thought you were being serious when you wished me well on my special day.
Zekyl 03-24-2008, 06:51 PM I'm not trying to fight you at all. Wherever did you get that impression. I was simply supplying my recommendation for choice of bubble gum. Had I known you were not a fan of gum because it rots your gums, I'd have made a suggestion on a replacement product that was more health concious.
Timone 03-24-2008, 06:51 PM Will we be boxing old-english style?
I will be beating your ass Kimbo Slice style.
Tahoe 03-24-2008, 07:02 PM Ok, then i still apreciate your birthday greetings. I've had a good one so far.
When is your birthday?
Zekyl 03-24-2008, 07:20 PM April 9th, coming up fast actually. I didn't realize how close it is.
Tahoe 03-24-2008, 07:26 PM Off to my Bday dinner than home for the 2nd half and a pIstons victory.
Timone 03-24-2008, 07:31 PM HAPPY BIRTHDAY TAHOE!!!!!!!!!!
Timone 03-24-2008, 07:31 PM "Welcome to another exciting night of NBA basketball!"
Blahahahaha says this every night and it doesn't make ME excited.
Timone 03-24-2008, 07:38 PM No Rip, Afflalo to start.
Timone 03-24-2008, 07:44 PM All this hugging before games is totally gay.
Let's go back to the days where players are threatening to rape each other's mom or their wife/girlfriend before the tip.
Timone 03-24-2008, 07:48 PM I believe only one shot hasn't been a jumper so far (and Afflalo had it blocked).
Kstat 03-24-2008, 07:54 PM if the other team plays a 2-3 zone, you kinda have to shoot jumpers.
I don't care if we had wilt down low. 2-3 is a freakin highschool defense. If you can't hit jumpers against that, you shouldn't be in the NBA.
Timone 03-24-2008, 08:01 PM Sheed on fiya. 4 3s in the 1st quarter.
Zekyl 03-24-2008, 08:07 PM All this hugging before games is totally gay.
Let's go back to the days where players are threatening to rape each other's mom or their wife/girlfriend before the tip.
:cogent: :sirdouche:
Timone 03-24-2008, 08:07 PM Dantoni mad at the refs. Nothing new there.
Timone 03-24-2008, 08:09 PM lol @ Nash's flopping ass.
Timone 03-24-2008, 08:16 PM Holy shit, the Suns have just become the Hunted.
Kstat 03-24-2008, 08:20 PM All this hugging before games is totally gay.
Let's go back to the days where players are threatening to rape each other's mom or their wife/girlfriend before the tip.
...you prefer this?
http://nbadraft.net/profiles/largepics/thomasmagic.jpg
Timone 03-24-2008, 08:23 PM Well, Magic got the HIV and I always thought Isiah was gay.
Kstat 03-24-2008, 08:26 PM Stuckey just became the first nba player ever to get brutally rejected by gordon giricek. congratulations.
Black Dynamite 03-24-2008, 08:32 PM Stuckey gotta learn to pull up in the paint. He's too good at it to not do it.
What affalo does on defense and in the break is more valuable than anything Dixon does on offense imo.
Black Dynamite 03-24-2008, 08:32 PM Well, Magic got the HIV and I always thought Isiah was gay.
Zeke is not gay, he has the sexual harassment papers to prove it.
Black Dynamite 03-24-2008, 08:44 PM I like Grant Hill's game and I got nothing but good things to say about him from the few times he came into my job when i was young. Really was a cool cat. And I think he loves basketball and has the drive to keep loving it.
But I do think he's lost the heart to be a superstar. Just seeing him on the court i can see that when he wants to he can still do what he wants out there. But doesnt seem to really want to "takeover". JMHO and nothing to be said as a complete negative towards him.
Timone 03-24-2008, 08:47 PM Zeke is not gay, he has the sexual harassment papers to prove it.
Could be a beard.
Higherwarrior 03-24-2008, 08:49 PM can't see the game tonight. what happened to rip.....?
Higherwarrior 03-24-2008, 08:50 PM OK just saw it on mlive. hurt his hip? when exactly.....?
Tahoe 03-24-2008, 09:13 PM I see Stuck in there again. Great move by joed/flip whomever.
Kstat 03-24-2008, 09:15 PM It would be really nice if stuckey could convert on at least one layup attempt.
Tahoe 03-24-2008, 09:21 PM Great decision making by Stuckey and a hoop.
Wisdom beyond his years. Prolly better decision making than rip, but thats not saying much.
Kstat 03-24-2008, 09:21 PM stuckey is 0/5 on drives to the hole but 3/3 on jumpers. whatever works, I suppose.
Black Dynamite 03-24-2008, 09:30 PM I like the Hunter/Stuckey combo by far more than the Stuckey/Dixon combo. Much more energy with Stuckey and Hunter jumping the passing lanes.
Timone 03-24-2008, 09:30 PM Good to see Hunter can beat down Juan Dixon AND still hit a 3 every once in a while.
Black Dynamite 03-24-2008, 09:36 PM Good to know anyone can beat down Juan Dixon AND still hit a 3 every once in a while.
Fixed.
Joe Asberry 03-24-2008, 09:36 PM Stuckey for president! if we fail to reach the finals again, trade RIP and give the minutes to AA and Stuckey ;)
Black Dynamite 03-24-2008, 09:36 PM Errr fuck that. But I do think he'll be a piston for a long time.
Cross 03-24-2008, 09:44 PM hopefully stuckey breaks his career high of 13 tonight. He's hit 13 so many times this season.
And obviously fouling Amare isnt gonna change anything....hes 13-14 tonight and was 20/20 from the line 2 nights ago or something
Black Dynamite 03-24-2008, 09:46 PM Yea, you foul shaq. :)
Seriously I expected issues w/o Rip on the court. Billups trying a lil' too hard to take over. Kinda too bad we arent full strength(good that dixon is out though).
Joe Asberry 03-24-2008, 09:46 PM down 5, crap - cant get a stop without fouling and aint knocking down shots, damnit!
Timone 03-24-2008, 09:48 PM I can't wait for the arguing to begin.
Joe Asberry 03-24-2008, 09:50 PM what a great game, now i want to see a great finish!
Timone 03-24-2008, 09:51 PM Amare should change his name to Amare Wallace, because Sheed just sonned him.
Cross 03-24-2008, 09:52 PM sheeeeeeeeeeeeeed
Black Dynamite 03-24-2008, 09:56 PM Gutsy rebound by stuckey and jump ball tip.
Atticus771 03-24-2008, 09:56 PM Queer refs. Stuckey called timeout after getting the board, bet they made him win the jumpball to keep position. They should know Stuckey can't stopped. The jumpball was just a waste of time.
Black Dynamite 03-24-2008, 09:57 PM Amare should change his name to Amare Wallace, because Sheed just sonned him.
Amare keeps screaming in his ear everytime he leaps like "woooooo, i just fucking jumped, you lucky i got fouled). Im sure it got annoying.
Cross 03-24-2008, 09:58 PM fck!!
Black Dynamite 03-24-2008, 09:58 PM Queer refs. Stuckey called timeout after getting the board, bet they made him win the jumpball to keep position. They should know Stuckey can't stopped. The jumpball was just a waste of time.
Ok the refs have sucked, but i gotta say they made the right call. impossible to see him calling timeout from that position.
Timone 03-24-2008, 09:59 PM It seems like the Pistons haven't had a GW shot in forever, so I expected this to go to OT.
Black Dynamite 03-24-2008, 10:00 PM Stuckey differed to Tay, when he should've set up for the last shot.
Atticus771 03-24-2008, 10:02 PM I think I saw Stuckey calling for the timeout, thus my anger.
Cross 03-24-2008, 10:03 PM Someone stop Amare:(
Cross 03-24-2008, 10:06 PM whew....
Cross 03-24-2008, 10:07 PM Saunders jst stfu fuck last thing we need is a tech
Timone 03-24-2008, 10:08 PM lol @ Nash's flop not working again.
DrRay11 03-24-2008, 10:09 PM Shaq = ghey!
lol I am listening to Phoenix feed, they are bitching at the refs acting like they are the worst evar
"That's just a terrible call"
"It doesn't hurt them to make that call"
Can't see the game, so this is what I settle for...
Cross 03-24-2008, 10:09 PM Billups goooooooooood shit!!!!
I don't even know whos commentating but these bitches sure don't want to see the Pistons win.
Joe Asberry 03-24-2008, 10:12 PM best game of the season?
Cross 03-24-2008, 10:12 PM Sheed is a beast. best player in the league:cornbread:
Black Dynamite 03-24-2008, 10:13 PM Can't see the game, so this is what I settle for...
http://myp2p.eu/index.php?part=home
Kstat 03-24-2008, 10:16 PM Wow, you mean the entire NBA HASN'T figured out how to shut Chauncey down?
Wow, I never would have considered that...
DrRay11 03-24-2008, 10:16 PM A little late, but thanks. :)
Kstat 03-24-2008, 10:17 PM ....and that would be win #50.
Black Dynamite 03-24-2008, 10:19 PM A little late, but thanks. :)
For future reference only was the intent.
Black Dynamite 03-24-2008, 10:20 PM Leave Juan Dixon off the Playoff roster please.
Kstat 03-24-2008, 10:23 PM I'll vote for that only if Afflalo promises not to take any more threes.
Black Dynamite 03-24-2008, 10:26 PM Affalo's missed 3's>>>> Dixon's bad defense, bad shot selection, and lack of penetration.
I'll live with his 3 pointer issues as long as he doesnt completely settle for it, which he doesnt.
On another note its always fun to make Stoudemire get sour in the face over the loss and getting his shit stuffed by sheed.
Kstat 03-24-2008, 10:33 PM BTW, we're now 20-8 against the western conference, and our only 2 games remaining are against Minnesota.
Black Dynamite 03-24-2008, 10:36 PM Isnt Boston even better with a texas sweep too? I guess the battle lines are set.
Kstat 03-24-2008, 10:43 PM Boston has lost 2 in a row since their texas sweep.
With the suns coming in to sweep them on wednesday, it could be a 3-game losing streak.
To be fair, they are 23-5 vs the west, which is remarkable. But they also are not invincible.
Wilfredo Ledezma 03-24-2008, 10:45 PM Phoenix is a piece of shit. They'll be very fortunate to make it out of the first round in my opinion.
Anybody else hate that scowl Amare Stoudemire makes everytime he A) makes a freethrow or B) draws a foul
God, I'd like to punch him in the face.
Kstat 03-24-2008, 10:46 PM I think we're the only team in the NBA that phoenix hasn't beaten over the last 2 years.
Billups is the anti-Nash. Always has been. We're 6-1 in games they have started against each other since Nash signed with the suns. The only win they got was off a double-digit comeback.
Higherwarrior 03-24-2008, 10:50 PM by my count our magic number is now 2 to clinch the division. but that's just a matter of time anyway.
Black Dynamite 03-24-2008, 10:52 PM Phoenix is a piece of shit. They'll be very fortunate to make it out of the first round in my opinion.
I think we're the only team in the NBA that phoenix hasn't beaten over the last 2 years.
I wouldnt be so quick to judge phoenix on how they play us. Amare may be a cunt, but he is one of the best PF's in the NBA and a force now with shaq in the middle. They'll be relevant to the west title matchups.
Kstat 03-24-2008, 10:52 PM yeah, it's 2.
Kstat 03-24-2008, 10:53 PM Phoenix isn't a bad team. We're just a little better.
A lot better, matchups-wise. We can guard them and they have trouble guarding us.
Timone 03-24-2008, 10:55 PM PHX beat us last season at The Palace.
Kstat 03-24-2008, 10:56 PM PHX beat us last season at The Palace.
Flip Murray was our starting PG that game. Billups was inactive.
I remember because that was the only time I've seen nash at the Palace not looking scared shitless.
Timone 03-24-2008, 10:58 PM Yeah.
That was the game Flip got the shit swatted out of him by Amare after trying to dunk on him late in the game.
Higherwarrior 03-24-2008, 11:02 PM flip murray never played for detroit. that was just a bad nightmare some of you had.
Atticus771 03-24-2008, 11:02 PM Anyone find it funny that Phoenix felt so jobbed by the officials when they gave up a 5 point lead with 2 minutes to go? Hard for the refs to make a 5 point shift out there in that time, especially when Donaghy isn't out there. :)
Kstat 03-24-2008, 11:05 PM the charge/block call on that billups drive was huge.
Big Swami 03-24-2008, 11:10 PM Stuckey had a great game. Hmm. Apparently anyone can drive to the basket when they're being guarded by Steve "No-Fucking-Defense-Whatsoever" Nash.
Timone 03-24-2008, 11:11 PM Yeah, if nobody is giving him calls on his flops.
Kstat 03-24-2008, 11:12 PM stuckey let too many jumpshooters have clean looks at the basket, and didn't finish a single drive to the hoop.
His jumper was smooth and his off-ball defense was terriffic, but there was definite room for improvement.
Oh yeah, and take the last damn shot when you have it.
Wilfredo Ledezma 03-24-2008, 11:21 PM stuckey let too many jumpshooters have clean looks at the basket, and didn't finish a single drive to the hoop.
His jumper was smooth and his off-ball defense was terriffic, but there was definite room for improvement.
Oh yeah, and take the last damn shot when you have it.
I agree, I was waiting for Stuckey to drive or shoot a mid range when Tay punched it out to him, but he got timid...
I won't blame him for that, because I thought it was really nice to see him play well today. +6 shows he's being really efficient and defensive minded on the floor...good stuff.
Atticus771 03-24-2008, 11:33 PM Don't know why there's so much hate for Stuckey. He's not missing wide open finishes. Most of the time he's taking contact and the ball is going in and out. I'm fine with his play tonight. If he can play that well for us in the playoffs, we'll win the championship.
Kstat 03-24-2008, 11:43 PM chauncey wasn't getting wide open shots at the rim either. nobody was.
THis is the NBA. professional slashers are supposed to finish shots.
Stuckey wasn't getting hammered. He needs to put those down.
Zekyl 03-24-2008, 11:49 PM Wish I'd been able to see the game. Stuckey will get when to pull up and when to drive with more time. Agreed on Afflalo's shooting, Kstat. If he keeps those three's to a minimum he's much better off. That's one of those things that can be fixed in the offseason, if the player has the drive to work on it, and AA seems like the kind of guy that will work hard to correct his flaws. I expect to see that 3pt% slowly climb to respectable as his career goes on. In the meantime, keep playing terrific defense and hustling.
Timone 03-24-2008, 11:58 PM :emo kid:
Phoenix was unhappy with the officiating all night - Amare Stoudemire picked up a technical in the first quarter - but it was especially disappointed in some late calls.
First, a foul on Nash resulted in Billups' three-point play that gave the Pistons a 107-105 lead with 1:01 left in overtime.
"I think he panicked," Nash said of the official. "He kind of stuttered and then he said: 'You were underneath him.' It's tough to take when you feel like you played well enough to win, but you feel like the win was taken away from you."
After Nash missed a shot, Shaquille O'Neal fouled Antonio McDyess on the rebound and McDyess hit both free throws to give the Pistons a four-point advantage.
"I would have liked to see some consistency in the calls," O'Neal said. "They (the Pistons) had help, there's no two ways about it."
Fuck a Nash. At least the officiating wasn't as bad as the GS/LA game tonight...
First Pistons game I went to since forever, I'm glad I went. Someone blow me now.
Cross 03-25-2008, 02:10 AM Ask Nash, he's been blowing Billups the whole damn game
Glenn 03-25-2008, 08:15 AM That was a great, great game.
Is it so much to ask that they play with that kind of effort?
flip murray never played for detroit. that was just a twisted dream Glenn had.
Fixed.
Glenn 03-25-2008, 08:56 AM Someday you guys will figure out that I really don't give a rat's ass about Flip Murray, I just find it hilarious that all of you hate the guy when he's just doing what he do.
Someday you guys will figure out that I really don't give a rat's ass about Flip Murray, I just find it hilarious that all of you hate the guy when he's just doing what he do. None of this is true. I love Flip Murray, always have, and always will.
[smilie=reporter.gi:
Glenn 03-25-2008, 11:21 AM What hurt more?
After the game, Grant Hill was sitting in front of his locker with his right hand bandaged up with ice.
It's the hand that he previously sprained and the pain has lingered to some degree, especially when he falls and braces himself. In Monday's game, he aggravated it taking a charge. It was a good one too, getting in front of Rodney Stuckey in the second quarter to get the charge.
"So was Steve's," Hill said. "I think Steve's was better."
There were a bunch of calls the Suns were upset about after Monday's loss in Detroit. But the Nash blocking call on Chauncey Billups' overtime 3-point play and a no-call on Shaquille O'Neal's miss late in regulation were at the top of the list.
O'Neal's no-call was obviously blown. He was clearly hit across the face by Antonio McDyess, who even said he was trying to foul him, and Stuckey got O'Neal across his left arm simultaneously. But the reality is who knows if that gets Phoenix a point or two. O'Neal is a 50-50 proposition at the free throw line, even if he always makes the assertion that he makes them when they count. Heck, Hill even missed both free throws on a trip. So it's hard to say if that call would've changed the outcome, although O'Neal did end up committing a foul at the other end on Billups, allowing Detroit to tie the game with 1:31 to go.
The Nash call was more critical. The Suns saw many plenty of views and rewinds of the call for their assertion that Nash deserved a charging call on Billups on the play. At the least, he clearly was outside the circle. Whether he moved under Billups too late could be for some debate.
The game was probably over when the last debated call came up. Phoenix was down four when it decided to get a stop rather than foul. Billups missed a driving layup with and Amare Stoudemire had the rebound with about 15 seconds to go when Bell and McDyess got tangled up and went down. Instead of Phoenix going for a quick score and a foul, Bell was called for a loose ball foul that disqualified him.
"A loss like that, we were pretty PO'd," said Bell, who made sure to say something to the officials after the game before leaving the court. "We were pretty upset to lose like that."
In hindsight, use of a small lineup without Steve Nash did not help the cause. The Suns opened the fourth quarter with Leandro Barbosa, Gordan Giricek, O'Neal, Bell and Hill. The fourth quarter already had ended poorly when Phoenix opened the fourth quarter by going 1 for 5 with three turnovers before Nash and Stoudemire returned.
Mike D'Antoni went away from Boris Diaw in the second half, bringing him in later than usual in the third quarter and not playing him at all in the fourth. D'Antoni got visibly upset with Diaw again in the game over a switch he did not call out on defense. Diaw responded, just as he did the last time D'Antoni chewed him out, with a hustle play. Diaw was 1 of 7 from the field for a line of two points, two rebounds and five assists in 18:27.
Each of the Suns' reserves had a negative plus-minus rating Monday, when Flip Saunders went 11 deep despite Richard Hamilton and Juan Dixon being out for the game. He even dusted off Lindsey Hunter, who had not played since Jan. 10. Hunter hit the 3-pointer that put Detroit ahead 83-75 in the fourth. Detroit's bench: 12 of 26 from the field. Phoenix's bench: 8 of 20. The Pistons started a player, Arron Afflalo, picked after the Suns took Alando Tucker. Afflalo was not a star by any means but he defended Nash well early. He drew comparisons to Bell in the draft but seemed peeved by the idea back then, saying he wasn't like anyone else in the league.
Here's one forgotten play that was a pivotal one. And you really can't be that mad at it as a Suns fan. Phoenix was leading 103-102 when it got a shot clock violation with 1:53 to go because Stoudemire made an extra pass to O'Neal. You'd like to see Stoudemire have the clock awareness but the unselfish play was nearly his fifth assist. From the point Phoenix led 103-100, the Suns did not make another field goal and did not get one stop. Officiating played some factor but probably not as much as that 12-2 run Detroit had in the middle of the second half, the failures at the end of the overtime or the key second-chance points.
This is a brutal trip and a good chance at a win just slipped away. Now, they head off to Boston to face the team with the league's best record and a chip on its shoulder about blowing a game Monday night as well. Lose there and you're looking at trying to break even in the final two games, a back-to-back set against a Philadelphia team that's still hot and a New Jersey team that is fighting to get the East's final playoff spot.
http://www.azcentral.com/members/Blog/PaulCoro/20009
Black Dynamite 03-25-2008, 11:49 AM Whether he moved under Billups too late could be for some debate.
Actualy its not up for debate. Billups left his feet well before Nash got there. IMO that should be a blocking call every time. I think the refs got it right and need to get it right on those calls more often. When amare leaves his feet no matter where you are the foul is on you if you get there late.
Tahoe 03-25-2008, 01:17 PM That was a great block by sheed at the end of hte game.
WTFchris 03-25-2008, 01:57 PM Someday you guys will figure out that I really don't give a rat's ass about Flip Murray, I just find it hilarious that all of you hate the guy when he's just doing what he do.
I don't hate him. I said long ago he's fine as an injury fill in scorer, that's it. He's not a PG and shouldn't be part of a normal rotation on a good team.
Glenn 03-25-2008, 02:00 PM http://msn.foxsports.com/id/8833183_6_1.jpg
Billups, Wallace out-play Nash, Shaq in the clutch
by Charley Rosen
Updated: March 24, 2008, 11:54 PM EST
GAME TIME: Pistons 110, Suns 105 (OT)
Two streaks came to an end here: The Suns seven-game run through the league, as well as two consecutive half-hearted efforts that saw the Pistons being humiliated by Cleveland and then Washington.
The Pistons OT win was a thriller all the way, with both teams bringing their A-games.
Why Detroit won
Phoenix played nearly the entire first quarter in a 3-2 zone that was briefly reprised at the start of the 3rd quarter. But the Pistons shot over, dribbled into and snuck behind the zone to shoot 12-19. Also, four of their anti-zone hoops were triples, and their drives netted four free throws. That's a grand total of 20 points in 21 possessions.
Rasheed Wallace was the early hero — with a barrage of five 3-balls among his 23 points — and also one of the Pistons' late heroes. After nailing a pull-up in the lane against Amare Stoudemire in the waning moments of regulation, Rasheed said this to his opponent: "You can't stop me! You can't stop me!" Wallace then proceeded to miss his next three shots and was unable to receive an entry pass early in overtime when Stoudemire played excellent fronting-defense. But then Rasheed bagged a critical 20-footer under pressure late in the extra period.
Chauncey Billups was unafraid of challenging Shaq — five times he took his dribble into Shaq's kitchen, producing one miss, two layups and four successful free throws.
And it was Mister Big Shot who simply took over the game in OT. Repeatedly escaping Raja Bell's defense for layups, and short jumpers. Overall, Billups was 8-18 from the field, 15-16 from the stripe, and totaled 32 points.
For a change, Tayshaun Prince was totally involved in the offense — 5-12, 3 assists, 11 points.
Rodney Stuckey showed why the Pistons hold him in such high esteem — 6-12, 13 points. Yes, the rookie was often out of control (four assists, and two forced shots), but his quickness (especially with his left-to-right crossover) and his ability to knock down mid-range jumpers gave Detroit a huge boost.
Jason Maxiell, Theo Ratliff and even Lindsey Hunter also put in valuable minutes off the bench. The Flipster's new-found belief in his second unit certainly paid dividends tonight.
Detroit moved the ball in a timely fashion — both in-and-out, and side-to-side.
The Pistons also came up with huge defensive plays — as when Rasheed blocked Stoudemire's floater in the lane with less than a minute remaining in OT.
In other words, Detroit played Detroit basketball.
Why Phoenix lost
Only Stoudemire, Steve Nash and Grant Hill had top-notch performances.
Stoudemire was a mere 3-7 on his mid-range jumpers, but he was devastating on screen/rolls and in his speedy drives to the hoop — 9-18, 15-16, 33 points — but he came up with only four rebounds.
Nash was left uncovered on several S/Rs and took more shots than he wanted to — 9-14, nine assists, for 23 points. Also, his single turnover was extremely damaging, coming as it did in a critical point in OT. Nash also badly missed the one shot he had to make — a wide-open 17-footer with the Suns trailing by two late in OT.
Hill was outstanding from baseline to baseline — 7-12, nine rebounds, 15 points. His defensive rotations were superb and his block of a late-game shot by Wallace could easily have been a game-changer.
Shaq had decent numbers — 5-11, 10 rebounds, 12 points — set some wide-bodied screens, altered two shots (but blocked none), and occupied much space in the lane. But each of his misses was a gimme, he showed no mobility on defense, and failed to come up with two entry passes that hit him in the hands. These fumbles were particularly noteworthy because Shaq used to be regarded as one of the best pass-catchers of all-time.
And what about the much-ballyhooed outlet passes that Shaq was supposed to throw that would ignite the Suns fast breaks? He threw only one and it was intercepted.
Shaq looked like a rather ordinary, slow-footed, slow-jumping big man. Not nearly as good offensively as, say, Zydrunas Illgauskas — and not nearly as good defensively as, say, DeSagana Diop.
The Pistons played zone on two occasions — in the second quarter and then in overtime. The results were a missed jumper, and a shot-clock violation — the latter coming late in OT with the Suns up by a single point.
Various shooters were open whenever they curled off weak-side screens. But, for some reason, this strategy was seldom used.
Given the woeful results, the Suns stayed with their zone defense much too long.
They didn't get enough pop from their bench. Leandro Barbosa — 4-9, two assists, three turnovers, nine points — was outplayed by a surprise appearance by Hunter. Boris Diaw — 1-7 — did nothing. Gordan Giricek shot well — 3-4, 6 points — but was still minus-10 during his 19 minutes.
The game came down to these factors: Billups took over in the clutch while Nash did not. And Rasheed's contributions at the center spot far exceeded Shaq's.
In any case, the unlikely possibility of a championship series between these two teams would be totally fascinating.
The rest of the article (lots more from ROSEN): http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/7949738/Billups,-Wallace-out-play-Nash,-Shaq-in-the-clutch-#
Glenn 03-25-2008, 02:07 PM Holy shit, you gotta read this (from the ROSEN article above):
TRAVELS WITH CHARLEY
Coaching in the CBA had its good aspects: I learned the game from the inside out. I leaned how to evaluate players not only on the basis of what they did, but also on what they were supposed to do. I met scores of interesting, knowledgeable, well-connected people, both good guys and lunatics. And stuff like that.
On the flip side, the special pressures that came with the job brought out both the best and the worst in me. The foremost characteristic in the latter category was a tendency to erupt in sudden rages — usually instigated by an unjust call by a referee.
The worst example of this was evidenced after the Rockford Lightning lost a home game to the Rapid City Thrillers, who were coached by Eric Musselman.
I was in a bad mood even before the game began, primarily because of an article in one of the Chicago papers that claimed I was a cinch to replace the recently fired Johnny Bach as a Bulls assistant coach. I knew the story was erroneous, but the public mention of just the possibility filled me with a resentment born of frustrated ambition.
Anyway, we lost the game on a last-second bogus call by some ref or another, so I felt doubly cheated as Eric and I chanced to meet in an otherwise deserted passageway under the stands.
My opening remarks set the tone of our dialogue: "You didn't deserve to win the game."
Eric vehemently disagreed and our conversation quickly became combative. So much so that I grabbed him by his neck and lifted him off the floor (I'm about a foot taller than he is), spewing curses at him all the while. Whereupon I squeezed his throat for a few seconds until I let him fall.
It was really a shameful performance on my part. My anger had exploded for no real reason. Eric was an innocent victim and I was the foul-mouthed bully.
Later, upon sad reflection, I was filled with remorse.
That night I got a call from Eric's dad, Bill. Before I had a chance to apologize, this is what Bill said: "Both Eric and I admire what you did, Charley. It proved to us that you're a true competitor and that you want to win at any cost."
"Umm, thanks, Bill."
Even though Bill had taken me off the hook, I suddenly knew I was in the wrong business. Unfortunately, I never did learn when to "fold 'em". So I hung on for another three seasons — one more in Rockford, then in Oklahoma City, and in Albany.
Lost seasons. For me, for my marriage and for my teams.
Black Dynamite 03-25-2008, 03:38 PM Eric didnt live up to his last name.
Tahoe 03-25-2008, 03:57 PM Hopefully we get a retort from Eric.
I don't know enough about these guys to say too much, but its kind of funny for a guy to tell you how he worked this guy.
POIDH
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