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Eastern Conference Finals

Series tied 0-0

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VS
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Round 3 Schedule



Game 1: at DET Tue, May 23 - 8:00 pm EDT TV: ESPN
Game 2: at DET Thu, May 25 - 8:00 pm EDT TV: ESPN
Game 3: at MIA Sat, May 27 - 8:00 pm EDT TV: ESPN
Game 4: at MIA Mon, May 29 - 8:00 pm EDT TV: ABC
*Game 5: at DET Wed, May 31 - 8:00 pm EDT TV: ESPN
*Game 6: at MIA Fri, Jun 2 - 8:00 pm EDT TV: ESPN
*Game 7: at DET Sun, Jun 4 - 8:00 pm EDT TV: ABC

* - If necessary

added a poll

i'm am SO pumped for this game. unfortunately, i'll be at work, but at least i can watch it on TV.

the rest that Miami got can only help them. i have to think that they will be ready to exact revenge on the Pistons. especially with Shaq recently talking about being injured during last ECF's. i'm sure they (along w/ their fans) feel that they could/should have been in the Finals last season.

as of late, many are claiming that the Heat are finally hitting their stride and playing cohesively. good news for them, but i'll believe it when i see it. fact remains, they were atrocious against the top teams during the regular season. they did play well enough to beat a gritty Bulls team and the talented trio of the Nets.

I can't imagine this series going any less than 7 game. i want to believe that the Heat are pretenders, but you don't make it to back to back ECF's by being pretenders.

we need to come out with great energy in this Game 1 and hit 'em hard with our defense. force turnovers, hit the offensive boards, and limit our turnovers. let's take care of home court and then steal one in Miami.

<obligatory "will flip play delfino on wade?" comment>

<obligatory "will flip play delfino on wade?" comment>
you knew Flip had to throw that out there just to fuck with FP22. i doubt it pretty much. unless he eats evans alive in ways that shouldnt be seen. we wont get to see carlos.

EDIT: nevermind, that wont even get carlos on the court. he'd just as soon run Rip more minutes instead.

Wait... the team that has Shaq, which went against only teams with NOTHING in the middle in the first two rounds of the playoffs, and still did not in any way breeze its way through the first two rounds, is "hitting its stride"?

I thought they were simply exposing mismatches and winning the series they were supposed to win - - - and just like the Pistons, taking longer than it should have to do so (see the Chicago series).

Fuck the Heat. I'm sick of the revisionist history with that team and the news media.

I call bullshit.

Miami ain't hitting no stride. They're struggling to beat teams they should destroy. Shaq vs. New Jersey WITHOUT 85 year old small forward turned center Cliff Robinson? Even with old Cliffy New Jersey is probably the weakest team in the league in the middle - with the exception of Miami's first round opponent. Mike Sweetney? Darius Songaila?

I read somewhere that Wade is going to watch the Cleveland/Detroit game film, and try to expose some of the same mismatches LeBron did.

So, does that mean Wade is going to shove with his off arm each time he touches the ball and the defender will be called for it?

Unleash the Lathampacas!!

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060523/SPORTS03/605230389/1048/SPORTS


The matchup everyone expected becomes a reality

BY KRISTA LATHAM
FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER

May 23, 2006


"Oh, I definitely wanted this series."
CHAUNCEY BILLUPS, Pistons point guard, on getting a rematch of last year's Eastern Conference finals.

Re-Heated Rivalry
DWYANE WADE

"This is a completely different team. That is why the rivalry is not there like it could be. But it's still the Miami Heat and the Detroit Pistons."

SHAQUILLE O'NEAL

"We want to win the whole thing and whoever is in our way, that is who we want to try to beat. So it's not really revenge."

PAT RILEY

"(Shaq) wants to win a championship. Dwyane's healthy and in shape -- we're all healthy and in shape. Let's go for it."

So many times, preseason predictions turn out to be bunk. So many times, reality is far different from what everyone expects to happen.

Not this time.

All season, the Pistons and the Miami Heat seemed destined for a rematch in the Eastern Conference finals. And starting with Game 1 tonight at the Palace, destiny is now reality, and it's something the players admit they'd hoped for all along.

"Oh, I definitely wanted this series," point guard Chauncey Billups said. "I think they're the other best team in the Eastern Conference. And when you're the best, you want to play against the other teams that are supposed to be the best. That's what the playoffs are all about."

Last season, the Pistons and the Heat forced a winner-take-all Game 7 in Miami. And for much of that game, the Heat led. But in the final quarter, Rasheed Wallace made big plays and Billups hit four free throws late in the game, icing an 88-82 win that ended the Heat's NBA Finals bid.

Since then, the only real constants in South Beach have been superstars Dwyane Wade and Shaquille O'Neal. Stan Van Gundy is gone as head coach, replaced in December by president Pat Riley, who spent the summer upending his roster despite its relative success.

He brought in Antoine Walker and Gary Payton. He courted Michael Finley, only to see the veteran guard go to San Antonio. And he parted ways with key players Eddie Jones and Damon Jones.

Now, the Heat is the same team wearing a different costume. The same two dominant players, Wade and O'Neal, run the show. But the supporting cast and the director have changed.

The Pistons assume that shakedown came with them in mind. "I was a little surprised that they changed up most of their roster and key parts of their team," Billups said, "especially with them being so close to getting to the Finals. They made their adjustments to make sure they'd beat us."

But the Heat says this year's series is not about getting revenge for last season.

"They beat us last year," O'Neal said, "but we are not worried about just beating the people that beat us. We want to win the whole thing and whoever is in our way, that is who we want to try to beat. So it's not really revenge. We know we have to go through them and they have to go through us."

The Pistons agree; while they wanted to play Miami, they aren't reminiscing about last season.

"That's over," Rasheed Wallace said. "That's a year ago. I ain't worried about that."

The Heat has spent the last six days resting in Miami after dispatching the New Jersey Nets in five games. The Pistons, meanwhile, needed seven games and what coach Flip Saunders called an "extraordinary" defensive effort to finally send LeBron James out of his first playoffs.

The Pistons struggled against the Cavaliers, shooting just 42.5% from the field while averaging 87 points.

But Saunders gave a succinct "no" when asked if he was worried about his team's offense. With the Cleveland defense out of the picture and a more traditional opponent headed their way, the Pistons expect to get back to their comfort zones.

"They have a different style," said Richard Hamilton, who will likely have to guard Wade for much of this series. "They played totally different than Cleveland. It's a totally different series."

If anything, the Pistons, in the Eastern Conference finals for the fourth straight season, just want to build on the positive parts of the Cleveland series: The long stretches when their defense dominated. The shorter stretches when their offense clicked.

"I think there were times, against Cleveland, that we played well," Saunders said. "We played well offensively in spurts. But we never could put together any runs. The one thing we have to do is play with more consistency."

Contact KRISTA LATHAM at 313-223-4493 or

klatham@freepress.com.

So, does that mean Wade is going to shove with his off arm each time he touches the ball and the defender will be called for it?
[smilie=rip.gif] [smilie=goodnews.gi: [smilie=oobir.gif] [smilie=heat.gif]

with plenty of this w/o dribbling the b-ball
[smilie=running.gif]

So, does that mean Wade is going to shove with his off arm each time he touches the ball and the defender will be called for it?
[smilie=rip.gif] [smilie=goodnews.gi: [smilie=oobir.gif] [smilie=heat.gif]

with plenty of this w/o dribbling the b-ball
[smilie=running.gif]

Its never a good sign when Gutz and I agree with each other.

PS: I'm diggin the retro Gutz screenname.

It looks like scouts inc. on ESPN.com has already selected the Heat to win in 7...



Good.

I love our matchups against the Heat. Our X-factors as I see them (Chauncey, Tay and Sheed) all have weak defenders on them. The Pistons have always coasted when they took their opponent for granted, but I just can't see this happening this series. The Cavs woke them up from their playoff nap, and they should be ready, even with the extra rest (rust) of the Heat.

I'm expecting this to be a low scoring series.

I love our matchups against the Heat. Our X-factors as I see them (Chauncey, Tay and Sheed) all have weak defenders on them. The Pistons have always coasted when they took their opponent for granted, but I just can't see this happening this series. The Cavs woke them up from their playoff nap, and they should be ready, even with the extra rest (rust) of the Heat.

i don't think you're allowed to assign 60% of our starting lineup as 'x-factors' :P

[smilie=heat.gif] [smilie=heatsmiley2: [smilie=heat.gif] [smilie=heatsmiley2: [smilie=heat.gif] [smilie=heatsmiley2: [smilie=heat.gif] [smilie=heatsmiley2: [smilie=heat.gif] [smilie=heatsmiley2: [smilie=heat.gif] [smilie=heatsmiley2: [smilie=heat.gif] [smilie=heatsmiley2: [smilie=heat.gif] [smilie=heatsmiley2: [smilie=heat.gif] [smilie=heatsmiley2: [smilie=heat.gif] [smilie=heatsmiley2: [smilie=heat.gif] [smilie=heatsmiley2: [smilie=heat.gif] [smilie=heatsmiley2: [smilie=heat.gif] [smilie=heatsmiley2: [smilie=heat.gif] [smilie=heatsmiley2: [smilie=heat.gif] [smilie=heatsmiley2: [smilie=heat.gif] [smilie=heatsmiley2: [smilie=heat.gif] [smilie=heatsmiley2: [smilie=heat.gif] [smilie=heatsmiley2: [smilie=heat.gif] [smilie=heatsmiley2: [smilie=heat.gif] [smilie=heatsmiley2: [smilie=heat.gif] [smilie=heatsmiley2: [smilie=heat.gif] [smilie=heatsmiley2: [smilie=heat.gif] [smilie=heatsmiley2: [smilie=heat.gif] [smilie=heatsmiley2: [smilie=heat.gif] [smilie=heatsmiley2: [smilie=heat.gif] [smilie=heatsmiley2: [smilie=heat.gif] [smilie=heatsmiley2: [smilie=heat.gif] [smilie=heatsmiley2: [smilie=heat.gif] [smilie=heatsmiley2: [smilie=heat.gif] [smilie=heatsmiley2: [smilie=heat.gif] [smilie=heatsmiley2: [smilie=heat.gif] [smilie=heatsmiley2: [smilie=heat.gif] [smilie=heatsmiley2: [smilie=heat.gif] [smilie=heatsmiley2: [smilie=heat.gif] [smilie=heatsmiley2: [smilie=heat.gif] [smilie=heatsmiley2: [smilie=heat.gif] [smilie=heatsmiley2: [smilie=heat.gif] [smilie=heatsmiley2: [smilie=heat.gif] [smilie=heatsmiley2: [smilie=heat.gif] [smilie=heatsmiley2: [smilie=heat.gif] [smilie=heatsmiley2: [smilie=heat.gif] [smilie=heatsmiley2: [smilie=heat.gif] [smilie=heatsmiley2: [smilie=heat.gif] [smilie=heatsmiley2: [smilie=heat.gif] [smilie=heatsmiley2: [smilie=heat.gif] [smilie=heatsmiley2: [smilie=heat.gif] [smilie=heatsmiley2: [smilie=heat.gif] [smilie=heatsmiley2: [smilie=heat.gif] [smilie=heatsmiley2: [smilie=heat.gif] [smilie=heatsmiley2: [smilie=heat.gif] [smilie=heatsmiley2: [smilie=heat.gif] [smilie=heatsmiley2: [smilie=heat.gif] [smilie=heatsmiley2: [smilie=heat.gif] [smilie=heatsmiley2: [smilie=heat.gif] [smilie=heatsmiley2: [smilie=heat.gif] [smilie=heatsmiley2: [smilie=heat.gif] [smilie=heatsmiley2: [smilie=heat.gif] [smilie=heatsmiley2: [smilie=heat.gif] [smilie=heatsmiley2: [smilie=heat.gif] [smilie=heatsmiley2: [smilie=heat.gif] [smilie=heatsmiley2: [smilie=heat.gif] [smilie=heatsmiley2: [smilie=heat.gif] [smilie=heatsmiley2: [smilie=heat.gif] [smilie=heatsmiley2: [smilie=heat.gif] [smilie=heatsmiley2: [smilie=heat.gif] [smilie=heatsmiley2: [smilie=heat.gif] [smilie=heatsmiley2: [smilie=heat.gif] [smilie=heatsmiley2: [smilie=heat.gif] [smilie=heatsmiley2: [smilie=heat.gif] [smilie=heatsmiley2: [smilie=heat.gif] [smilie=heatsmiley2: [smilie=heat.gif] [smilie=heatsmiley2: [smilie=heat.gif] [smilie=heatsmiley2: [smilie=heat.gif] [smilie=heatsmiley2: [smilie=heat.gif] [smilie=heatsmiley2: [smilie=heat.gif] [smilie=heatsmiley2:

I'll be at the game. Miami's scared. Let's go.

I want to see Heat players blood on the court.

Fuck these fools.


Pistons win the first one by 18. Miami gets held to 87 points.

Billups is going to go off on these fucks.

I love our matchups against the Heat. Our X-factors as I see them (Chauncey, Tay and Sheed) all have weak defenders on them. The Pistons have always coasted when they took their opponent for granted, but I just can't see this happening this series. The Cavs woke them up from their playoff nap, and they should be ready, even with the extra rest (rust) of the Heat.

i don't think you're allowed to assign 60% of our starting lineup as 'x-factors' :P

Oops, I forgot our other X-factors, Ben, Rip, Lindsey, Dice and Mo.

we should rename our team, the Detroit X-Factors.

Glenn has lobbied for the "Max Factors" in the past.

http://my.opera.com/jshuer/homes/albums/3660/Max%20Factor05%E7%A7%8B%E5%86%AC%E7%8F%8D%E7%8F%A0 %E5%BD%A9%E5%85%89.jpg

I'm not really sure why the name didn't catch on.

We need our bench to step up and give us a lift. LH or Dice are/is my X factor.

Not saying the starters can't win it, but the bench holding a friggin lead would be nice.


edit...Our bench vs their bench? anyone?

Sportsnation poll: http://sports.espn.go.com/chat/sportsnation/polling?event_id=2187

Question 8 is interesting.

Sportsnation poll: http://sports.espn.go.com/chat/sportsnation/polling?event_id=2187

Question 8 is interesting.
Question 8: Does Shaq wear a thong?

WTF?:confused: :confused:

I honestly think that we are going to win 105-87 tonight.

I can just feel it.

I had some gas last night. Maybe it was that 105 87 feeling too?

Sportsnation poll: http://sports.espn.go.com/chat/sportsnation/polling?event_id=2187

Question 8 is interesting.
Question 8: Does Shaq wear a thong?

WTF?:confused: :confused:
http://img104.imageshack.us/img104/6623/shaqthong2cs.jpg

Alright, here are the things the Pistons MUST do tonight to ensure victory.

1.) Guard the 3 point line. REPEAT, GUARD THE freakin' 3 point line. The Heat are loaded with 3 point shooters...should I mention Jason Williams, Antoine Walker, James Posey, Gary Payton, Derek Anderson, and quite recently Dwayne Wade himself, the bastard?

2.) Limit points in the M$#%f&*@in paint and free throws! FYI, Dwayne Wade was one of the top 3 scorers in the paint as well as one of the top 3 who shot the most free throws. I think he was only behind Allen Iverson.

3.) Sheed and company need to stay out of foul trouble, especially if Riley decides to let O'Neal and Mourning play at the same time.

4.) Pistons MUST MAKE AT LEAST 80% OF THEIR FREE THROWS.

5.) Force the Heat into taking C-O-N-T-E-S-T-E-D jump shots...after all, they are not the Phoenix Suns. Their jump shooting abilities suck for the most part. The reason they had such a high FG% average during the regular season is that most of their points came from uncontested 3 pointers, points in the paint, and free throws. (I am f$%#in sick of those lane violation calls in Shaq's favor!!!!!!!!!!! Damn bastard!)

6.) The Pistons must not settle for perimeter shots. Although I like what I am seeing from Tayshaun Prince, I have noticed how during some fast breaks he has settled for 18 foot shots instead of driving into the lane for an easy basket. (Unless stupid f%$#ing Haslem or Posey flop like blubber seals for the charge called by bribed referees.)

7.) LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, I remember hearing a comentator say the following about Lebron's fall to the Pistons: "A great player will always fall to a great team." This should apply to the Heat. How about we change this statement, keeping in mind O'Neal and Wade, to: "Two great players will always fall to a great team." The Pistons should not let anyone else but O'Neal and Wade get past 13 points. If you noticed in MIA-NJ series, Antoine Walker and Udonis Haslem at one point scored around 20 points in the same game. We can't let these f%$@ers score like they are in their own momma's house. We need to show these people that in Motown, none of their shit will be tolerated.

Alright, here are the things the Pistons MUST do tonight to ensure victory.

1.) Guard the 3 point line. REPEAT, GUARD THE freakin' 3 point line. The Heat are loaded with 3 point shooters...should I mention Jason Williams, Antoine Walker, James Posey, Gary Payton, Derek Anderson, and quite recently Dwayne Wade himself, the bastard?
LMFAO@Their "shooters" since they can't actually shoot.


2.) Limit points in the M$#%f&*@in paint and free throws! FYI, Dwayne Wade was one of the top 3 scorers in the paint as well as one of the top 3 who shot the most free throws. I think he was only behind Allen Iverson.

3.) Sheed and company need to stay out of foul trouble, especially if Riley decides to let O'Neal and Mourning play at the same time.
Nothing we can do about FT's with these fools.
It's going to sound like a fucking Sea World sideshow with all the whistles
going off...coincidentally Shaqmu is going to get alot of calls too.
As far as the points in the paint, we'll get beat there, but that's expected.
They have Shaqmu and we shoot jumpers. No biggie.



4.) Pistons MUST MAKE AT LEAST 80% OF THEIR FREE THROWS.
That's been hell for these guys. They won't but that's a good goal.
We need help there. NO excuses for Rip and Chauncey. 90% there
TP and Sheed need to hit 70% or so
Ben needs to hit 55%

It can happen


5.) Force the Heat into taking C-O-N-T-E-S-T-E-D jump shots...after all, they are not the Phoenix Suns. Their jump shooting abilities suck for the most part. The reason they had such a high FG% average during the regular season is that most of their points came from uncontested 3 pointers, points in the paint, and free throws. (I am f$%#in sick of those lane violation calls in Shaq's favor!!!!!!!!!!! Damn bastard!)
Totally agree here. They can't shoot.


6.) The Pistons must not settle for perimeter shots. Although I like what I am seeing from Tayshaun Prince, I have noticed how during some fast breaks he has settled for 18 foot shots instead of driving into the lane for an easy basket. (Unless stupid f%$#ing Haslem or Posey flop like blubber seals for the charge called by bribed referees.)[franklin gothic medium"]Rip does that far more than TP, but I understand.[/font]


7.) LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, I remember hearing a comentator say the following about Lebron's fall to the Pistons: "A great player will always fall to a great team." This should apply to the Heat. How about we change this statement, keeping in mind O'Neal and Wade, to: "Two great players will always fall to a great team." The Pistons should not let anyone else but O'Neal and Wade get past 13 points. If you noticed in MIA-NJ series, Antoine Walker and Udonis Haslem at one point scored around 20 points in the same game. We can't let these f%$@ers score like they are in their own momma's house. We need to show these people that in Motown, none of their shit will be tolerated.Totally agree here. We've done it before. Shaq+Kobe, Shaq+Wade and so forth. Let's go.

Alright, here are the things the Pistons MUST do tonight to ensure victory.

1.) Guard the 3 point line. REPEAT, GUARD THE freakin' 3 point line. The Heat are loaded with 3 point shooters...should I mention Jason Williams, Antoine Walker, James Posey, Gary Payton, Derek Anderson, and quite recently Dwayne Wade himself, the bastard?
LMFAO@Their "shooters" since they can't actually shoot.


2.) Limit points in the M$#%f&*@in paint and free throws! FYI, Dwayne Wade was one of the top 3 scorers in the paint as well as one of the top 3 who shot the most free throws. I think he was only behind Allen Iverson.

3.) Sheed and company need to stay out of foul trouble, especially if Riley decides to let O'Neal and Mourning play at the same time.
Nothing we can do about FT's with these fools.
It's going to sound like a fucking Sea World sideshow with all the whistles
going off...Shaqmu is going to get alot of calls too.
As far as the points in the paint, we'll get beat there, but that's expected.
They have Shaqmu and we shoot jumpers. No biggie.



4.) Pistons MUST MAKE AT LEAST 80% OF THEIR FREE THROWS.
That's been hell for these guys. They won't but that's a good goal.
We need help there. NO excuses for Rip and Chauncey. 90% there
TP and Sheed need to hit 70% or so
Ben needs to hit 55%

It can happen


5.) Force the Heat into taking C-O-N-T-E-S-T-E-D jump shots...after all, they are not the Phoenix Suns. Their jump shooting abilities suck for the most part. The reason they had such a high FG% average during the regular season is that most of their points came from uncontested 3 pointers, points in the paint, and free throws. (I am f$%#in sick of those lane violation calls in Shaq's favor!!!!!!!!!!! Damn bastard!)
Totally agree here. They can't shoot.


6.) The Pistons must not settle for perimeter shots. Although I like what I am seeing from Tayshaun Prince, I have noticed how during some fast breaks he has settled for 18 foot shots instead of driving into the lane for an easy basket. (Unless stupid f%$#ing Haslem or Posey flop like blubber seals for the charge called by bribed referees.)Rip does that far more than TP, but I understand.


7.) LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, I remember hearing a comentator say the following about Lebron's fall to the Pistons: "A great player will always fall to a great team." This should apply to the Heat. How about we change this statement, keeping in mind O'Neal and Wade, to: "Two great players will always fall to a great team." The Pistons should not let anyone else but O'Neal and Wade get past 13 points. If you noticed in MIA-NJ series, Antoine Walker and Udonis Haslem at one point scored around 20 points in the same game. We can't let these f%$@ers score like they are in their own momma's house. We need to show these people that in Motown, none of their shit will be tolerated.Totally agree here. We've done it before. Shaq+Kobe, Shaq+Wade and so forth. Let's go.

i can't wait for the pistons to whoop this team at 'full strength'. i'm so tired to hearing the wade excuse.

i also hope flexo's brain explodes the next time he flexes his biceps

Bad coaching. bad execution. All around stinkage. We are pussies to wait until Riley does the cowardly hack-a-Ben to get amped. weak shit on our part. I'm pretty disgusted.

being better than the heat doesnt mean you take them lightly. you know Zo's gonna sit dead under that rim for 40 seconds waiting to block a shot. you know walker is gonna make the 3's if you dont put as hand in his face and the same for payton. the coaching was pretty average to shitty at times. why you dont go at haslem with sheed to death is beyond me.

I'm fustrated but i expect nothing else from this team this year. they dont want to be as good as they are unless they get beat up first.:mad:

I don't really blame the coaching for this loss (that coming from a certified Flip hater).

We had wide open looks but we just couldn't knock'em dow. Rasheed and Rip were pitiful today.

Everyone in this organization should be ashamed.

hunters 'offense' killed us, thats my final take. 1-7 and 0-3 from 3. i could deal if they were good shots but none of them were. and sheed was a no-show on people who cant guard him. we straight up lost this game. i am not happy with anyone on the planet right now. i kicked my cat straight to the basement for no reason because it felt good, and if she comes back up here ill kick her some more.

So wierd how this seasons run is so similiar to 2004.

First round win in 5 (except this time lost game 3 instead of 2).

Second roound Pistons win first two, drop next three, win last two.

Third round starts off with loss (except this time at home).

Lets hope the similarties remain in wins and losses the rest of the way (or atleast the outcomes).

Ugh. This is my last Pistons-related activity until Thursday...

Game is DVR'd. Should I bother watching it?

This team can be so goddamn frustrating to watch.

I hate to even think about where we would be if Tayshaun hadn't become all-world all of a sudden.

What happened to the basket cuts, the ball movement? All we have right now is a bunch of tired-ass chuckers standing around and jacking up shots with 2 seconds left on the shot clock.

All we have right now is a bunch of tired-ass chuckers standing around and jacking up shots with 2 seconds left on the shot clock.

I don't understand the "tired" angle. I mean I do... but I don't.

Don't they have things like caffeine, ginseng, energy drinks, and even freaking red bull?

If this was one of the most important games of their lives, I would like to think they could shake off the tired legs and compete. Either I'm wrong and its not that easy, or they just didn't want it enough.

All I know is I'm sick of wanting it more than the team I follow, especially when they get paid to do this shit and I pay to watch them.

Also, the only person who should ever touch the ball on offense besides Tayshaun is.......... Ben Wallace? I believe he shot 3-3 while Chauncey, Rip, and Rasheed each shot under 30%.

I'm so sick of Chauncey missing jumpshots instead of taking it to the rack.

And I'm even sicker of Rasheed only showing up once per seven game series. Get your bitch ass in the post, fucker!

I think Flip's reluctance to use the bench more this season in a quest to grab every regular season win is what is leading to the "tired" perception.

It's like last year all over again.

And when you have dead legs, your jumpers start falling short, which about 15% of ours did last night. And when your jumpers are falling short, and you have no post scoring, you shoot 38% and lose.

I actually had to flip over to the Tigers game during the 4th quarter because it was so apparent the Pistons were gonna play like hammered dog shit the rest of the fucking way. The only thing I can attribute this abomination to is tired legs, but if that's the case, we're fucked.

The worst thing that happened to the Pistons last night: Shaq and Wade got into foul trouble. I couldn't fucking believe my eyes, but we were being schooled by 67 year old Gary Payton and Fatoine Walker. When they sat and Shaq and Wade came in, we'd widdle the lead away and do well. I can't explain it, and I would never believe it if you told me, but I witnessed it with my own fucking eyes. Payton and Walker were too much for us to handle. Un. Fucking. Believable.

Shaq is done. He'll get his early points and then fade away. After the first quarter, he's a liability to his team. He's breathing through his mouth, and doesn't have the energy to challenge a double-team, so he kicks it out.

Wade. Well, Wade's a really fucking good basketball player. After watching Offarm James for 7 games, I really appreciate how good Wade is. Wade doesn't have to use his off-arm to get to the rack, and can hit from anywhere. He's also relatively quiet, for the most part. I guess watching him on a network not named TNT helped me finally see how great a player Wade really is. Offarm should take lessons from WYA.

Pistons rebound from this loss. They handled Shaq well in game 1, and Wade got his. But he's only one player. It's obvious we never game planned for the Heat reserves, but we'll now realize it's a completely different, more high-paced game when Shaq sits, and we'll prepare appropriately.

Pistons in 5.

Pistons in 5.

You're high.

Pistons in 5.

You're high.

Why?

The Pistons played like shit last night, and were in the game almost the whole way. They get their legs back, they'll make more of those open looks. Do you honestly expect them to shoot 38% the whole series? Did Shaq dominate us? Who did, other than Wade?

Payton.

Do you see Payton playing all-world every game this series? Fatoine? Do you think we'll not be able to come up with a gameplan to stop them?

Have some faith.

Some interesting and telling stats:

FGA
Det- 82
Mia- 64

FG%
Det- 38%
Mia- 56%

3FGA
Det- 21
Mia- 14

FTA
Det- 22
Mia- 21

REB
Det- 33
Mia- 43

TO
Det- 6
Mia- 15

BLK
Det- 1
Mia- 6


They out shot us, out rebounded us, had more blocks.

If it wasn't for the turnover disparity, we might have lost by 20+, AT HOME!!

How embarrassing!!

I wish we had some trolls right about now.

Pistons in 5.

You're high.

Why?

The Pistons played like shit last night, and were in the game almost the whole way. They get their legs back, they'll make more of those open looks. Do you honestly expect them to shoot 38% the whole series? Did Shaq dominate us? Who did, other than Wade?

Payton.

Do you see Payton playing all-world every game this series? Fatoine? Do you think we'll not be able to come up with a gameplan to stop them?

Have some faith.

Our legs aren't going to "refresh themselves" suddenly playing every other day.

Yes, the Pistons played like shit, just like they have since the 2nd half of game 2 vs. Cleveland for the most part.

And as far as Shaq/Wade, when they are plastered to the bench with foul trouble and you still can't beat this team, at home, then calling for a clean sweep of the next four games qualifies you for a substance abuse program.

I could go along with Pistons in 7, maaaaaybe even 6, but in 5?

Our legs aren't going to "refresh themselves" suddenly playing every other day.

Yes, the Pistons played like shit, just like they have since the 2nd half of game 2 vs. Cleveland for the most part.

And as far as Shaq/Wade, when they are plastered to the bench with foul trouble and you still can't beat this team, at home, then calling for a clean sweep of the next four games qualifies you for a substance abuse program.

I could go along with Pistons in 7, maaaaaybe even 6, but in 5?

I'm really hoping our legs do "refresh themselves", simply because if they don't, we'll have 3 more games just like the one we saw last night. I'm hoping for a second wind.

I really think Shaq's a liabilty now. He gets his in the early part of the game, then gasses out. But when he's in there, they can't ignore him on offense, so they usually run the offense through him, which slows the game waaaaay down and results in a lot of one shot trips.

Maybe we'll see more Mourning in the future, but Riley really seems to like to ride the big fella as long as he can if he's not in foul trouble.

Okay, I'll relent. Pistons in 6.

I don't really blame the coaching for this loss (that coming from a certified Flip hater).

We had wide open looks but we just couldn't knock'em dow. Rasheed and Rip were pitiful today.
Rip was definately. but why on earth do you not go at haslem just as hard as they go at ben with shaq? so you'll ISO sheed all game on big Z, donyell, and drew gooden. but not on antoine walker and udonis haslem aka two of the most unlikely guys on earth to bother his shot? i just dont feel the strategy that much. but fair enough.

Flip is a shitty playoff coach. Heat in 6.

I'm going with the tired legs excuse for the 1st game. All the jumpers were short. Dyess was the only one who even provided a post up game.

Its pretty simple with this teams new offense. If the jumpers dont fall, we dont win. They played great D for the most part, just couldnt get the shots to fall. We can beat this team no problem. Its just up to the jumpers.

The problem with the tired legs excuse is that I would have to assume that tomorrow night, our legs will STILL be more tired than the Heat players' legs.

Both teams will be playing after a one day layoff, but the Pistons had so many games in the days before that. And the Heat's best players got to sit with foul trouble and rest most of the game.

Eh, I'm not all that worried.

If I see Lindsey on the court again I think I'll be done with Flip.

If I see Lindsey on the court again I think I'll be done with Flip.
yea. Hunter cost us the game getting wade put on the bench like that on two 2 fouls caused by his defense. i'd be done with Flip too if he was smart enough to care about the defensive work hunter put in more than the misses he had. who cares if everyone else was shooting shitty too. Hunter should never see the court. we dont need defense. we need wade and jason williams blowing by us like we're not there. thats what we need and if hunter hadn't of fucked that up, we woulda blew the heat out.:mad:

I had a lil too much caffiene in my sarcasm coffee:p

If I see Lindsey on the court again I think I'll be done with Flip.


Gotta stick up for the geriatric crowd. I give LH much of the credit for our G7 win vs the Cavs.

He did have a dumbass, backward, over the shoulder shot...I guess you could call it a shot, but he still brought defensive energy.

If he keeps his play between the FT lines, he'll be just fine.

If I see Lindsey on the court again I think I'll be done with Flip.
yea. Hunter cost us the game getting wade put on the bench like that on two 2 fouls caused by his defense. i'd be done with Flip too if he was smart enough to care about the defensive work hunter put in more than the misses he had. who cares if everyone else was shooting shitty too. Hunter should never see the court. we dont need defense. we need wade and jason williams blowing by us like we're not there. thats what we need and if hunter hadn't of fucked that up, we woulda blew the heat out.:mad:

Wade would be blowing by us regardless of whether Lindsey is on the court or not. He drew an offensive foul. Wow. Amazing.


He kept jacking up dump shot after dumb shot, but that's all fine and dandy because he drew an offensive foul.

I've been trying to tell some of you guys for months that Lindsey is a defensive specialist, a gimmick player, and nothing more.

If he just comes in and Ds up and moves the ball on offense without shooting, he's fine.

When he starts thinking that he's an all star and starts trying to take over offensively it's bad news. He can't finish a layup for the life of him, especially a contested layup.

FYI, Lindsey had a positive +/- on the court. The same cannot be said for any starter. Delk's the wrong guy on Wade (WTF doesn't Flip play Delfino here), but other than that our bench did a good job. This rests on the starters, who let Miami's bench beat them.

The tired legs thing is only a part of a larger issue.

Surprised to see many missing seeing the forest for the trees on what's going on. Too many debating small minor issues when there is just a couple of real issues at play here.

The tired legs thing is only a part of a larger issue.

Surprised to see many missing seeing the forest for the trees on what's going on. Too many debating small minor issues when there is just a couple of real issues at play here.

Iranian Nazis, right?

The tired legs thing is only a part of a larger issue.

Surprised to see many missing seeing the forest for the trees on what's going on. Too many debating small minor issues when there is just a couple of real issues at play here.

Iranian Nazis, right?

Your adorable.

And you wonder I questioned your age a few weeks back. precious.

Periods are not adorable.

http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/5633824


Pistons fall apart against rested Heat

Charley Rosen / Special to FOXSports.com
Posted: 4 hours ago

In Detroit, this one goes down as the Disgrace in the Palace. Even great teams lose playoff games at home, but the Pistons' 91-86 loss to Miami in Game 1 was downright embarrassing.

The Pistons' handiest excuse is that rust overcame rest. They'd played umpteen games in umpteen days, and were simply too tired to put up much resistance.

Too tired to do what? Rotate on defense? Set sturdy screens? Make decisive cuts? Hustle in transition? Knock down a reasonable percentage of wide-open gimme jumpers?

Bah!

This was the opener of the third-round of the money tournament, and there's plenty of time to catch up on missed zzzzs in July and August.

The Pistons were nearly awakened from their slumbers late in the third quarter when Alonzo Mourning fouled Tayshaun Prince a mite too hard and seemed to rouse the home team. But no. The Pistons barked a while, then continued their somnambulant play. Later on, a flagrant foul by James Posey also produced more woofing, but little else.

Rasheed Wallace was one of the worst offenders, sashaying through the action with total nonchalance, and not scoring a point until 8:23 of the third quarter. He finished with a not-so grand total of 7 points (on 3-10 shooting), and 3 measly rebounds.

Chancey Billups, like the rest of his mates, missed numerous short- and mid-range jumpers. His totals — 6-19, 7 assists, and 19 points — were padded by some late game isos and postups he ran against the non-existent defense of Jason Williams.

The Pistons only ran a handful of Rip Hamilton's trademark curls and pops, and he finished 9-22 from the floor and 22 points. Hamilton also missed a puzzling number of easy shots.

Prince played hard, and had a decent game — 5-13, 6 rebounds, and 16 points. But Prince has limited offensive skills and is supposed to be only an auxilliary point-maker.

Ben Wallace worked for everything he produced — 3-3, 14 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, 6 points. But he, too, is strictly a complimentary player. And with all of the pregame yapping about how Ben can (or cannot) contain Shaq with one-on-one defense, here's what happened when Wallace did exactly that: Shaq made 5-of-8 shots, was fouled three times (only one resulted in free throws, and he made 1-2), and had the ball poked away twice by Wallace. That's 11 points in 13 possessions — certainly a winning total for the Pistons.

When Shaq was doubled (mostly when Antonio McDyess was guarding him), he was 1-1, was fouled once (1-2), committed a turnover, and his out-passes resulted in his teammates shooting 0-4. That's 3 points in 6 possessions.

So, Ben did his job admirably, and Shaq wasn't much of a force.

McDyess was active off the bench, but couldn't drop the ball through the ring with sufficient regularity — 3-7, 10 points. Lindsey Hunter was pesky on defense — snatching a pair of steals and even drawing a charge on Dwyane Wade. But Hunter also tossed up three horrific shots that helped prevent the Pistons from generating any kind of continuity on offense.

If Detroit's offense was moribund (37.8 percent from the field), their defense was DOA (Dead On Arrival). Gary Payton (6-8, 14 points), Antoine Walker (6-12, 17 points), and Jason Williams (5-7, 10 points) had free passes to penetrate the lane and waltz to the basket. And so did Wade — 9-11 for 25 points in only 27 foul-ridden minutes. (He also loosened three jumpers from beyond the foul line and hit only one. Is this a clue as to how Wade should be defended?)

And here we all thought that the Pistons took pride in their interior defense. More the fools, us.

Sure, the Heat were revved up and raring to go as soon as the lights were switched on. They led 9-0 before the Pistons could break a sweat. And the Pistons did rouse themselves sufficiently to get back into the game, but didn't turn on the after-burners until there were two minutes left and the game was already lost.

On offense, Miami simply took the ball to the hole. On defense, they showed hard on screen/rolls, and tried to pressure Detroit's perimeter shooters. Even so, the Pistons had open shots galore.

What worked for Detroit? A couple of S/Rs involving McDyess. A screen/fade for McDyess. Some one-on-one heroics by Prince. And that's about it.

Plenty of teams have lost opening games at home and come back to win a playoff series. It's not the fact of the Pistons' loss that's so disturbing, it's the hows and whys of the loss.

Tired, guys? Hey, little Stevie Nash gets tired, not big bad Rasheed, big shot Billups, and the Ripper.

Well, here's a bulletin: All the games in the remainder of the series will be played on alternate days. Leaving hardly any time to sleep late.

Game 2 will, therefore, be a supreme test of the Pistons' pride and resiliency. Yet come what may (and with apologies to T.S. Eliot), Game 1 will be remembered as an occasion when the Pistons went down "not with a bang, but with a whimper."

Wade would be blowing by us regardless of whether Lindsey is on the court or not. He drew an offensive foul. Wow. Amazing.


He kept jacking up dump shot after dumb shot, but that's all fine and dandy because he drew an offensive foul.
hmmm i didnt use the word "just". It seems if i dont say everything else he did positive on the court you wont acknowledge its existence. :rolleyes: Outside of 2 shots he didnt look like he was "jacking up" dumb shot after dumb shot. but 2 shots he took were not smart and out of those 2 one was the type of shot billups and hamilton both took needlessly at some point during this game(the early contested 3 pointer). unlike billups he held his own on the defensive end and Wade nor williams were blowing by him him like he wasnt there. But you remember the game differently, so theres no point in explaining this to you because as far as you want to remember, hunter screwed us somehow. you dont even acknowledge that he fustrated Wade into 2 fouls, not just one. Hunter being on the court is not a big problem at all and isnt worth arguing about. so agree to disagree Archie and have a nice day. ;) [smilie=zzz.gif]

The tired legs thing is only a part of a larger issue.

Surprised to see many missing seeing the forest for the trees on what's going on. Too many debating small minor issues when there is just a couple of real issues at play here.

Iranian Nazis, right?

Your adorable.

And you wonder I questioned your age a few weeks back. precious.
can we be nice to each other. save all the fights for the offseason when its more fun.:p

What would Chuck Nevitt do?

somnambulant
Ok, look. Internet sports writers, you are INTERNET SPORTS WRITERS. We know that you chose this profession because you are ex-jocks that somehow happened to be semi-decent in that one lit class you followed that cute chick into while you partied your way through college. STOP FUCKING PRETENDING YOU HAVE A VAST VOCABULARY. It's obvious that you are just combing your thesaurus for shit to stick in. I suppose it's nice that the fat slobs who read your shit catch on to a few new words and then overuse them in every sports discussion (like "histrionics" and "diatribe") but too often you simply go over the fucking line.

Somnambulant? Come on, the only people who know and actually use that word are overly emotional highschool goths who've found what they consider the perfect word to describe the absolute drab that is their lives.

Somn-fucking-ambulant?

I hate you.

somnambulant
Ok, look. Internet sports writers, you are INTERNET SPORTS WRITERS. We know that you chose this profession because you are ex-jocks that somehow happened to be semi-decent in that one lit class you followed that cute chick into while you partied your way through college. STOP FUCKING PRETENDING YOU HAVE A VAST VOCABULARY. It's obvious that you are just combing your thesaurus for shit to stick in. I suppose it's nice that the fat slobs who read your shit catch on to a few new words and then overuse them in every sports discussion (like "histrionics" and "diatribe") but too often you simply go over the fucking line.
Come on, the only people know and actually use that word are overly emotional highschool goths who've found what they consider the perfect word to describe the absolute drab that is their lives.

Somn-fucking-ambulant?

I hate you.

BRAVO.

FUCKING BRAVO.

[smilie=boxing.gif]

I betcha Rosen picked that word up from Bill Walton.

According to Elias Sports Bureau:

The Pistons backcourt had a poor shooting night in Tuesday's 91-86 loss to the Heat. Richard Hamilton shot 9-for-22 from the floor, and Chauncey Billups shot 6-for-19. It was the first time in 27 years that both starting guards on one team missed at least 13 field-goal attempts in a conference final or NBA final game. The last time was in 1979, when the Sonics lost to the Suns, 103-97, with Gus Williams shooting 4-for-22 and Dennis Johnson shooting 3-for-17.

The tired legs thing is only a part of a larger issue.

Surprised to see many missing seeing the forest for the trees on what's going on. Too many debating small minor issues when there is just a couple of real issues at play here.

Iranian Nazis, right?

Your adorable.

And you wonder I questioned your age a few weeks back. precious.

Rent a sense of humor. I was just fucking with you.

Good lord.