An epic battle of Good vs. Evil

http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/sp/v/nba/teams/1/80x60/det_3.gif vs. http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/sp/v/nba/teams/1/80x60/mia.gif


http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/sp/v/nba/teams/1/80x60/det_3.gifhttp://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/sp/v/nba/players/2005/3174.jpghttp://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/sp/v/nba/players/2005/3330.jpghttp://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/sp/v/nba/players/2005/3621.jpghttp://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/sp/v/nba/players/2005/3006.jpghttp://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/sp/v/nba/players/2005/3149.jpg
We have the talent, chemisty, heart....

http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/sp/v/nba/teams/1/80x60/mia.gifhttp://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/sp/v/nba/players/2005/3250.jpghttp://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/sp/v/nba/players/2005/3708.jpghttp://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/sp/v/nba/players/2005/3112.jpghttp://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/sp/v/nba/players/2005/3765.jpghttp://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/sp/v/nba/players/2005/847.jpg
They have the....... food.... and star treatment.


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




This will be a dogfight, but we all know our 'Stones can handle it.

All we need now is a classic "Gutz Presents: 'Fuck the Heat' Montage."

An epic battle of Good vs. Evil
ROFLMAO!!




funny because it's true.

I just saved a bunch of money on car insurance with Geiko!!!

http://www.geocities.com/yoink_4/act_alonzo_mourning.jpg

http://images.usatoday.com/sports/nba/_photos/2003-03-26-inside-mourning.jpg

http://i.cnn.net/si/2003/basketball/nba/12/18/mourning.kidney.ap/p1_zo_ap.jpg

Fuck a Geico. That shit doesn't work.

My AAA's cheaper. Fucking lies man.

Fuck Zo too. He ain't shit.

one thing to note, in the Chicago and New Jersey series, i think i've seen more offensive foul calls on Shrek than i've seen in his whole career. that definitely bodes well for us. anyone else notice this?

one thing to note, in the Chicago and New Jersey series, i think i've seen more offensive foul calls on Shrek than i've seen in his whole career. that definitely bodes well for us. anyone else notice this?
yep. watch them change the calls back in his favor to keep the series close.

one would think (hope) that if jason collins and mike sweetney can get the respect of some Snaq-off-arm-calls, DPOY Ben Wallace can get a few.


i hope.

"We have to get back to having more fun on the basketball floor," he said after the Pistons' short film session Wednesday. "A lot of times when we're great on that floor, we're out there smiling and we're out there laughing and we are all out there having a good time.
"Right now, it's not like that. It's like, 'Aw man, we're fighting for everything.' "



"We do have to get back to having fun," Saunders said. "We do have to get back to playing the way we've played all year, as far as moving the ball, being more aggressive offensively and making basketball plays.
"We haven't made good basketball plays. It's almost like we're thinking too much, trying to overthink the game instead of reacting to what is given you."

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060525/SPORTS0102/605250305/1127

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/basketball/heat/sfl-heatnotes26may26,0,3917598.story?coll=sfla-sports-heat


Wade hands Pistons a backhanded compliment

By Ethan J. Skolnick
South Florida Sun-Sentinel

May 26, 2006

AUBURN HILLS · Dwyane Wade took 20 shots in Game 1, making 11, for 32 points.

Then the Heat guard took a pair of pointed shots at the Pistons during his postgame news conference.

Asked what had contributed to his nine turnovers, Wade admitted that a couple were simply rushed passes.

"They did a good job with pressure," Wade said. "I'm not like them. I'm gonna give them credit."

So Wade doesn't think the Pistons give the Heat any credit?

"No," he said softly.

Pause.

"They was tired," Wade said, referring to comments the Pistons actually made after Game 1, in explaining their defeat. "That's what y'all said. That's why we won the first game."

Wade then was asked whether the Pistons changed their approach to him by becoming more aggressive. In only one way, he said.

"When you're coming up the court and Rip [Hamilton] is doing that bumping stuff, that's the only thing I've seen," Wade said. "Maybe I'll try it and see if I can get away with it."

Wade added that he "still got some shots I wanted." After missing all three in the first quarter and scoring only two points, he began driving to the basket and scored 14 in the second.

Forwards off the mark
The Heat's primary forwards took a step back.

They had more fouls (eight) than points (two) in the first half. They made only 6 of 21 field goals overall and attempted only four free throws. They were outscored by the Pistons' three primary forwards 43-19 and outrebounded 19-12.

Udonis Haslem endured an extension of his Game 1 struggle, when he missed all seven shots. In Game 2, he missed his first two before making a jump shot early in the third quarter. He played only 14 minutes, none late.

Antoine Walker was coming off his first solid performance in five appearances against the Pistons this season but made only 3 of 12 Thursday. "I had some good looks on 3s, and missed them," Walker said.

James Posey committed three fouls in his first four minutes, which compelled Pat Riley to sub in Shandon Anderson, before trying a three-guard lineup of Wade, Jason Williams and Gary Payton. That worked briefly, but the size deficiency was apparent on a putback by Pistons small forward Tayshaun Prince. Posey did have an impact defensively, drawing a charge and forcing an eight-second violation.

Riley even used a new forward: Alonzo Mourning. The coach inserted the backup center to play with Shaquille O'Neal for four minutes late in the third quarter. Pistons power forward Rasheed Wallace promptly made a long jump shot, then a 3-pointer, over Mourning.

"When he's making them from 27 feet or 28 feet, that's a long way to close out," Riley said of Wallace.

That wasn't Riley's only wrinkle. He went to a defensive zone for several minutes in the first half, with mixed results.

Remember Mourning?
Now that Mourning is almost recovered from his calf injury, Riley suggested he could get more offensive opportunities.

"I sort of forget about that because for eight years, I always threw him the ball all the time, and he still has the capabilities of doing that," Riley said. "He is a viable option for us to post-up when Shaq is out of the game against certain matchups."

Wade is nothing but a bitchmade asshole.

http://wtfdetroit.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5957

"They did a good job with pressure," Wade said. "I'm not like them. I'm gonna give them credit."[/B]

So Wade doesn't think the Pistons give the Heat any credit?

"No," he said softly.

Pause.

"They was tired," Wade said, referring to comments the Pistons actually made after Game 1, in explaining their defeat. "That's what y'all said. That's why we won the first game."

Aren't you entitled to be both emotionally and physically tired if you've come off one day of rest after a grueling 7 game series to play a team that's been resting for a week after a cakewalk series?

Funny, when we lose because we're "tired" in game 1 of this year's ECF, its so much more disrespectful than last year's game 1 of the ECF, in which THEY lost because, in THEIR OWN words, they were "rusty"?

I always find it funny when a guy is not a self motivator, like Wade.

He actually needs to fabricate shit in his own mind to grow a chip on his shoulder. He needs to find something stupid to be upset about, so he can turn up the intensity for the next game.


Wade then was asked whether the Pistons changed their approach to him by becoming more aggressive. In only one way, he said.

"When you're coming up the court and Rip [Hamilton] is doing that bumping stuff, that's the only thing I've seen," Wade said. "Maybe I'll try it and see if I can get away with it."

How can someone who is in the NBA official witness protection program, who can play an entire game of hacking, pushing, shoving, and not getting called for anything, complain? That's like winning the powerball, seeing a guy who found a dollar on the street, pushing him down and calling him a "lucky bastard".

Nice DwYAne!

I only half watched the game last night because my sister visted (thanks for picking that night) and I watched while talking to her. But, when I saw the ESPN highlights the next day I noticed a half dozen hacks just in the highllights that they never called. It was rediculous. Was the whole game like that?

I only half watched the game last night because my sister visted (thanks for picking that night) and I watched while talking to her. But, when I saw the ESPN highlights the next day I noticed a half dozen hacks just in the highllights that they never called. It was rediculous. Was the whole game like that?
somewhat. they were inconsistent for the most part. but for the final 2 minutes of the game it was exactly like that.

Hollibitch, from the Dime.

Pointing out things that most of us have seen all year.


Day 15, and still no end in sight for the Pistons' offensive funk.
After ranking third in the NBA in Offensive Efficiency in the regular season and scoring at least 97 points in their first six playoff games, the Pistons have topped 86 only once in eight games since. Saturday's 98-83 loss to Miami in Game 3 was more of the same, with Detroit producing only three double-figure scorers while falling behind in the series 2-1.

Unfortunately for the Pistons, this trend shows no sign of abating. Starting with their 86-77 loss to Cleveland on May 13, Detroit has shot 40.8 percent from the field, 31.0 percent on 3-pointer and 69.4 percent from the line -- all well below the team's regular-season marks.

The malaise has been more baffling because the Pistons' normal weakness, an inability to get to the line, hasn't been a problem. Because of their guard-oriented offense, the Pistons averaged only .297 free throws per field-goal attempt this season, well below the league average of .333. But in this eight-game stretch, the Pistons have made a steady march to the charity stripe, upping the rate to .362. While free throws have been up in the playoffs as a whole, Detroit's increase has been far greater than that of most other teams.

Unfortunately, when the Pistons aren't getting the whistles, their shots just won't drop.

Especially notable has been their inability to convert field goals near the basket, and Game 3 was a perfect example. With Miami's tactic of fronting post players driving the Pistons to distraction, and Ben Wallace repeatedly passing up chances near the rim, Detroit took only 19 shots from 10 feet or closer. Worse yet, they made only six.

Thus, the story for Detroit in Game 4 will be whether they can find a way to get more opportunities near the rim and convert a higher percentage of them. Hubie Brown pointed out one obvious solution on ESPN -- the Pistons have to make better entry passes to Rasheed Wallace and Antonio McDyess in the post.

But it will take more than that for the Pistons to regain their regular-season stride. Ben Wallace needs to be more willing to pull the trigger near the basket -- and to make a foul shot occasionally. Flip Saunders needs to give Chauncey Billups more chances to use his size to overwhelm Jason Williams on the blocks. And Tayshaun Prince needs to regain the bounce in his step after a tired-looking three-point, four-turnover night in Game 3.

Detroit has played phenomenally well with its backs against the wall the past three years, including pulling out two elimination games against the Cavs last week. But even in the must-win games against Cleveland, the offense didn't wake up -- it was the defense that rose to the occasion.

Facing a must-win road game against an opponent that's peaking at the right time, that won't be good enough in Game 4. If Detroit's offensive slump doesn't end in the next 48 hours, its season is as good as over.

-- John Hollinger

http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/5645296


Pistons playing like imposters

Charley Rosen / Special to FOXSports.com
Posted: 2 hours ago

Who were those imposters wearing Pistons uniforms?

They couldn't have been the team that prides itself on smooth, unselfish offense and belligerent defense. The impersonators who lost Game 3 in Miami 98-83 were strictly second-raters.

On offense, the ersatz Pistons were stagnant. Except when Rasheed Wallace was stationed a step above the 3-point arc in the middle of the court, the Pistons seldom reversed the ball. But even when they did, Detroit gained no real advantages because when the ball moved, the players didn't. And vice versa.

Also, for the past several seasons, their money play has been some variation of Rip Hamilton cutting or curling off a perpetual sequence of screens — yet this series was employed only eight times in the first half. The yield was five points and two turnovers. In the second half, Hamilton's pet sets were not attempted at all.

The Heat totally foiled the several attempts by the Pistons to establish a post-up game by simply using a fronting defender. Detroit's putative feeders helped this tactic succeed by trying to make the entry pass from on (or near) the baseline — thereby creating a disadvantageous angle.

Here's how to overcome a fronted pivot: The passer should be positioned so that he, the pivot man, and the basket are all in a straight line. The weak side should then be totally cleared out. Most passers make the error of trying to flip the ball just over the head of the fronter. Instead, the ball should be tossed to the nearest corner of the backboard so as to lead the pivot man to the hoop. If vacating the weak side fails to establish the required spacing, the posted player has to seal off his defender while another big cuts to the foul line, and a shooter cuts to the weak side corner. Once the ball is delivered to the big at the stripe, either he, the pivot man, or the corner shooter is bound to be open.

The Pistons, however, tried none of these remedies and, more often than not, the original passer either got stuck with the ball in the corner or made a useless pass out to the perimeter.

Back to the drawing board.

Rather than their habitual ball- and player-movement generating good looks in their half-court sets, too many of Detroit's points were the result of Chauncey Billups isolating his defender of the moment — Dwyane Wade, Gary Payton and especially Jason Williams. In all, Billups scored 22 of his 31 points on isos, plus another digit when Miami was whistled for illegal defense, and he bagged the resulting free throw.

Hamilton likewise resorted to one-on-one play, tallying six of his 20 points in this manner. Tayshaun Prince was 0-3 in isos and was only responsible for four total points on 1-of-7 shooting.

All of these point-making strategies were very uncharacteristic.

Moreover, the Heat had their bigs show aggressively on all screen/rolls, then when the ball-handler was forced to back up, the bigs retreated into the paint. Occasionally, Billups was able to clear the traffic and keep his dribble alive long enough to launch a trey (he was 4-of-5 from downtown). Otherwise, the Pistons' S/R attack was nullified.

The only Piston who was true to form was R. Wallace — and only because he reverted to his psycho-mode. He was so upset about not getting sufficient post-up opportunities that during a second-quarter timeout, he sat on the scorer's table while, 30-feet away, the rest of his teammates gathered around Flip Saunders. Shortly thereafter, when Rasheed was summoned to the bench after picking up his second foul, he angrily waved off his coach's proffered hand. When he finally took his seat, Wallace complained to a teammate about the injustice of being yanked so early with so few fouls. Then, just before the second half commenced, Rasheed loudly cursed the referees.

No surprise, then, that Rasheed was mostly interested in hoisting 3-pointers (1-for-5), was disinterested in playing defense, and was a total non-factor. The dude wearing Antonio McDyess' uniform passed when he should have shot, and vice versa. And Lindsey Hunter's double had a game full of mistakes.

Meanwhile, Miami also had their way on offense. Shaq was either played one-on-one by Ben Wallace, or else doubled too late when he'd already brought the ball into the middle of the lane. Maybe that's why Shaq looked so young and sprightly — 11-15, 12 rebounds, and 27 points.

In Game 1, Detroit had more than a modicum of success when they doubled Shaq on the catch and forced him to be a passer — which is a highly overrated aspect of his game.

Back to the drawing board.

The vaunted Pistons' defense was nowhere to be seen. Antoine Walker got into the lane at will — 5-of-11, four assists, 11 points. But it was D-Wade who almost single-handedly dismantled the shreds of Detroit's defense.

For sure, the Pistons big men were reluctant to help on Wade's penetrations, lest Shaq be left unguarded and an easy target for lob passes. (Which he was, to the tune of at least five dramatic dunkers.) Even so, there's no excuse for the fact that Wade tallied 24 of his 35 points on one-on-one ventures into the paint. (To say nothing of the two assists he also accumulated in so doing.) Hamilton was Wade's primary patsy on these maneuvers, but Billups and Tony Delk were also victimized.

The Pistons' front court must provide meaningful aid to keep Wade away from the ring. The nearest big has to step into Wade's path, while his partner has to race to the rim and either challenge the inevitable pass into Shaq, or else foul the Big Fellow.

Perhaps Wade has to be two-timed as soon as he crosses the 3-point line, or aggressively doubled whenever he approaches a screen. (In truth, Wade favors brush-screens; and his technique is to fake using them, then shifting his line of attack to the paint.)

In all, the masquerade was in effect for 43 minutes. It was only at the start of the third quarter that the real Pistons deigned to make an appearance — for the next five minutes they went on an 11-0 tear, before reverting to their presto-chango vanishing act. (Some genuine comedy relief, however, was provided by a bevy of jesters going through short-lived Hack-A-Shaq and Bop-A-Ben routines.)

Hey, you guys! You phony Pistons dressed in motley. Is it rough enough yet? Or will it take a 3-1 deficit to finally get it right?

hmmm i'm getting really superstitious. did tayshaun have his worst game before or after your shrine was put togethe?r. :confused:

Whichever commentator it was that said before the series that it would go seven games, with a major momentum switch after each game, and with the media and fans rollercoastering from game to game to game to game to game, overreacting each time the rollercoaster went up or down, was dead on.

Miami wins game 1 and its like the Pistons are done.

The Pistons win game 2 and its like Miami's done.

Miami wins game 3 and its like the Pistons are done.

So, when the Pistons win game 4 and take back home court advantage, I expect all of us to proclaim the Heat dead - - - right before they beat us at home and take a 3-2 lead, at which point people will say the Pistons are dead, until the Pistons take game 6 and everyone proclaims the Heat dead (which they will be, of course, in game 7 in Detroit).

Whichever commentator it was that said before the series that it would go seven games, with a major momentum switch after each game, and with the media and fans rollercoastering from game to game to game to game to game, overreacting each time the rollercoaster went up or down, was dead on.

Miami wins game 1 and its like the Pistons are done.

The Pistons win game 2 and its like Miami's done.

Miami wins game 3 and its like the Pistons are done.

So, when the Pistons win game 4 and take back home court advantage, I expect all of us to proclaim the Heat dead - - - right before they beat us at home and take a 3-2 lead, at which point people will say the Pistons are dead, until the Pistons take game 6 and everyone proclaims the Heat dead (which they will be, of course, in game 7 in Detroit).

I think it was better said by Stephen A Smith when he said that he is still picking the Pistons in 7 but you cannot ignore the fact that unlike past years something very real and disturbing is happening with the loss of trust in Flip. In the past the Pistons may of loss respect but never the trust in their coach. I am not sure there is a discernable difference but I think I know what he was saying.

No game 4 OGT?

I guess this thread will have to do.

Game 4 is pretty much do or die for our guys.

I got news for you fellas, if we go down 3-1, we ain't coming back.

Let's take our HCA back today.

I was gonna say that this game means more to us than it does to the Heat. But if Miami loses that means they must win a game at the Palace deep in the ECF. No small order. And if we lose, we have to win 3 straight, two at home. Tough, but do-able. (SA almost did it against Dallas)

I'll be relieved when this series is over, however it ends.

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060530/SPORTS08/605300394/1127


Parker: Pistons quickly need to rise from 'Bottomsville'

This was not what we were expecting

MIAMI -- Never in a million years could you have expected this.

No way. No how.

But the Pistons are at Bottomsville.

It doesn't get any lower than that in the NBA postseason. There isn't enough space here to list the reasons they are here and who is to blame.

On Monday night at the American Airlines Arena, it was do-or-die time in yet another postseason series.

And for a minute, it looked as if the Pistons were going to pull out another gutty victory.

It didn't happen. This Pistons team is now in its biggest hole.

Somehow, they are now one game away from elimination in a season that started as one to remember. This current team doesn't resemble the one we saw during the regular season.

The Miami Heat scored an 89-78 victory over the Pistons in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals.

Miami has a 3-1 lead in this best-of-seven series.

And for the first time in three years, the Pistons find themselves in a spot no one thought they would be.

Three years ago, the Pistons were down 3-1 to the Orlando Magic. But that was in the first round when this group was just starting to take form.

This is different. This is a team that has done it all over the years so that they would never be put in such a situation again.

In the past, no matter the hole, you always got the sense that the Pistons could come back against any challenge.

But this isn't the same team we watched all season long, sharing the basketball, playing defense and winning games like they were going out of style.

That team had the best record in the league and was guaranteed the home-court advantage throughout the postseason.

This trip to the NBA Finals was set up to be easier than the previous two. Now, talk of going to the Finals three straight years seems almost silly.

"We have a lot of fight left in us," Chauncey Billups said. "We have been down 3-1 before, not against a team as good as the Heat, though.

"They're playing great, man. You've got to give it to them. They're playing great ball. They're great players, playing phenomenal."

The Pistons will have to fight like they have never fought before to keep this championship run going.

The Pistons have no one to blame but themselves for what has happened.

Blaming coach Flip Saunders is too easy.

The Pistons have played terrible basketball the last two rounds of the playoffs.

"We have to stay positive," Dale Davis said.

That's almost impossible. In the biggest game of the season, the Pistons shot 39 percent from the floor, 33 percent in the fourth quarter.

They committed 11 turnovers and missed 10 free throws.

"You have to exert so much energy sometimes and you just don't have enough to finish up," said Saunders, whose team trailed, 62-60 to start the fourth. "That's what hurts us sometimes.

"We've fallen behind in games, fought back, taken leads, but all of a sudden there's no energy to finish off."

Instead of being able to make that run in the fourth, they faded. The Pistons have responded in so many games before, you honestly had to believe they would fight, if not win, this pivotal Game 4.

The Pistons' season is now just one game, Wednesday night at The Palace.

"We can't even think about Friday right now," Billups said about Game 6 in Miami.

"We have to think about Wednesday. Because if we don't put everything that we have into Wednesday, it won't be a Friday. Our whole focus is to worry about Wednesday's game."

Who would have thought that?

No one.

Even Ethan J. Skolnick knows we're done.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/sfl-skolnick30.1may30,0,3988511.column?coll=sfla-sports-front


SKOLNICK: Forget the Pistons - they're done

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/media/thumbnails/columnist/2005-01/5558930.jpg
Ethan J. Skolnick
Sports columnist

May 30, 2006

MIAMI -- They're not fine.

Let's say that now, and clearly, before Chauncey Billups argues otherwise.

The Pistons are a four-letter word for sure, but fine isn't the first, second, or 40th that comes to mind.

Try this one: Done.

Done in this Eastern Conference finals. Done as a force to be feared. Done as a dynasty, if that's what some considered them to be. Done as we knew them.

When did it end for the Detroit Pistons?

There's always a defining moment, isn't there? It happens in most every relationship, doesn't it? When you know everything is changed.

Sometimes, it's subtle, as it was Monday.

It was 17-12, first quarter. There was still time to set a tone. Dwyane Wade had the ball. He was shooting nearly 70 percent in the series, getting whatever he wants.

Knocked down seven, get up eight?

The Bad Boy Pistons of the late 1980s would have tested that advertising slogan.

The champion Pistons of 2003-04, too.

Wade dribbled right around Richard Hamilton.

Too quick.

Still, nearly 170 inches and 500 pounds of menacing Wallaces, Ben and Rasheed, waited near the rim. Neither man even jumped, let alone shoved.

They had each been tougher on their coach during the previous day's media availability than they were on that play.

Wade dunked. Too easy.

So, yes, the Pistons hung around. They even pulled ahead, by as much as 57-53 on Rasheed Wallace's three, after he chose to show something more than a scowl after halftime.

But the Heat put them down without too much difficulty.

Now the Heat figures to do the same in this series, if not Wednesday, then Friday.

Thus, those of us who have consistently picked the Pistons to represent the East in the Finals will be absolutely wrong. We certainly underrated the Heat. We badly overrated these Pistons.

Some insist on continuing to do it, almost irrationally. Everyone talking endlessly about the Pistons' resilience has refused to realize these aren't the same Pistons they're talking about, even while staring at six losses in the past nine games.

"I'll take these five over any five in the world," Rasheed Wallace said of his lineup.

Those five starters have been the same for Detroit's past 64 playoff contests, but their collective demeanor isn't. Their passion isn't. Their cohesiveness isn't.

They spent their postgame interview period whining about the officiating. That's what losers do. The free-throw disparity was 47-22. The foul difference was 30-19.

"You know that's some B.S.," Rasheed Wallace said.

"I thought it hurt us a lot," Billups said.

"Breathe on him, it's a foul," Antonio McDyess said of Wade. "Get away from him, he'll make the shot."

But the Pistons made it easier on the officials than they did on themselves.

They committed thoughtless fouls. Rasheed Wallace reaching in near half-court with 6:11 left in the second quarter, for his third foul. Billups touching Wade on a turnaround, fallaway jump shot from the corner with 1.5 seconds left in the third quarter, allowing the Heat to enter the fourth with a lead.

"You can't really play physical," McDyess said.

It's not easy in the modern NBA.

Maybe if the Pistons weren't simply shooting jumpers they would have more foul shots.

Maybe if the Pistons used one of their 30 fouls to truly give Wade pause, it would stop his procession to the stripe.

Another of Billups' sayings: "If it ain't rough, it ain't right."

Monday, the Pistons weren't rough in the right way.

So, now, they're not fine.

An epic battle of Good vs. Evil

http://espn-i.starwave.com/media/apphoto/e2170435-f9a5-441a-89ed-24f525e66b2e.jpg

http://espn-i.starwave.com/media/apphoto/2ed0d742-ff8e-40bc-a32d-1531acbcc7fa.jpg

http://www.nba.com/media/BW_OH_SN_600_060531.jpg

It's tempting to say that the Pistons got back to playing their brand of basketball on Wednesday, and that's what allowed them to handily win Game 5.
Tempting, but wrong. The Pistons won by 13, but they weren't 13 points better, if you get my drift. Detroit's victory margin resulted almost entirely from the glaring disparity in free-throw accuracy between the two clubs.

Miami shot a wretched 6-for-20 from the stripe, with Jason Williams the lone Heat player to convert more than half his foul shots. Had the Heat converted at their regular-season rate of 69.9 percent, they would have made 14 of those 20 foul shots and finished with 86 points.

Meanwhile, the Pistons were a scintillating 23-for-26 at the line. Even Ben Wallace got in on the act, hitting two of his four tries after going 5-for-33 in the preceding seven games. The other Detroit players were an eye-popping 21-for-22, including 2-for-2 when Pat Riley went to the desperation "Hack-a-Dice" and sent Antonio McDyess to the stripe (Ben Wallace having already been removed).

Had Detroit made its regular-season rate of 72.7 percent, the Pistons would have made only 19 of those 26 free throws, and would have ended up with 87 points. Thus, once we account for the uncharacteristic free-throw performances by both sides, what was a comfortable Detroit win becomes an 87-86 Pistons squeaker.

Obviously, that bodes poorly for Detroit in Game 6. Yes, they're still alive, and that was the objective tonight. But it's hard to argue that the Pistons' recent offensive woes are solved when their three key players (Chauncey Billups, Richard Hamilton and Rasheed Wallace) shot 13-for-44. Plus, the team once again limped home with an 18-point fourth quarter -- six of which came on intentional fouls by the trailing Heat.

So despite the victory, the Pistons haven't solved any of the problem areas in their puzzling spring slumber. They've just given themselves 48 more hours to find some answers.

-- John Hollinger

And of course, had we both been shooting our regular-season % in three pointers, it'd have been a wide open game again. <yawn>

Hollinger has interesting points, but if we shoot our normal FT% in a few Cleveland games the ECF would probably have been over by now.

Fuck, if Ben shoots his "normal" 42% (ugh) throughout the playoffs, this would've been over.

A whole lotta IFs go into this game

we got a chance....

if Sheed's play matches his mouth

if Tay brings his game 5 attack

if Rip shoots the ball instead of looking for a foul..(oh and make the shot)

if "Mr. Big Shot" pays off his gambling debts before the game (the only the only thing I can think of to explain his play as of late)

if Ben wants to make money next year

if Flip throws out Tommy Amaker's playbook

should be a great one
(the work on my desk is not getting done today)

watching a team absolutely crumble from regular season dominance to post season embarassment, was unbelieveable.

WTF just happened?

to add insult to injury.....it's 3:30AM and i'm flipping through the TV to, hopefully, take my mind off of things....and ESPN is replaying the game :(

I can't decide if Miami deserves all the credit for shooting like 1,000% and holding the Pistons to like .00001% throughout the series, or if its more Detroit's fault for not guarding anyone and not hitting wide open shots.

What I mean is, throughout the six games, its clear that Detroit did not even attempt to defend Miami the way they should have. The Heat players had a free ride through the lane for the entire series. On the other hand, the Pistons had open looks throughout the entire series, and just couldn't hit wide open jumpers or even layups to save their lives.

So, if Detroit doesn't guard Miami well, and Miami shoots great, and Miami doesn't guard Detroit well, but Detroit misses all its wide open shots, who gets the credit/blame?

I don't want to say Detroit "beat themselves" and take credit away from Miami, but when you shoot 30% and there's no defender anywhere near you, how can you call that great defense?

http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/5662958


How the Heat cooked the Pistons

Charley Rosen / Special to FOXSports.com

Miami's closeout 95-78 win turned Mo-Town into no-mo' town.

In Game 5, Detroit had stifled Dwyane Wade's penetrations by doubling him whenever he received the ball along the baseline, and also jamming the middle whenever he tried attacking the lane from up-top and straightaway. This identical strategy, combined with Wade's weakened condition, worked to a T in the first half of Game 6. Except for his splitting a loose double and banking home a layup early in the second quarter, Wade passed and shot as though the ball weighed 10 pounds.

However, after lingering in the locker room to get hydrated during the intermission, Wade began to rain jumpers and was a key component in the liquidation of the Pistons' season. His bout with the flu limited Wade to 37 minutes and 6-15 shooting (for "only" 14 points), but his 10 assists demonstrated his resourcefulness, his unselfishness, and his maturity.

In Game 5, Detroit also limited Shaq's effectiveness by sandwiching him between two defenders — usually Ben Wallace in front, and Rasheed behind. This tactic succeeded because, except when he catches the ball directly in front of the rim, Shaq needs to put the ball on the floor at least once to set his feet and gather his massive body to unleash layups, hooks, bankers, or the stiff-wristed flippers that constitute his version of jump shots. Wedged between the two Wallaces, Shaq had insufficient space and time to prepare himself to shoot. In addition, big men are usually uncomfortable trying to catch lob passes when they know that there's a defender lurking behind them and out of sight.

On Friday, though, the Pistons had to abandon their surround-Shaq defense in a hurry after the Big Fellow managed to turn two lob passes into two dunkers, and was fouled on a third (making both of his subsequent free throws).

What was the difference? The absence of the surprise element was the biggest. It's remarkable what a veteran coach and veteran players can accomplish during an off-day practice session. Once Shaq could identify who was where, and what were the available spaces in which he could maneuver, the Pistons would have needed a third Wallace to contain him.

Moreover, when a defense takes something away from an offense, they must necessarily create alternative scoring opportunities for their opponents. So, with Shaq circumscribed, Udonis Haslem was ceded open jumpers in Game 5 — and couldn't shoot himself in the foot. Come Game 6, however, Haslem shot well enough (4-9 for 8 points, with several of his misses coming late in the game) to take advantage of Detroit's anti-Shaq schemes.

For most teams, developing an all-inclusive offensive rhythm can take several minutes. That's why coaches like to have a starter who can unilaterally ring up points right out of the gate while everybody else is getting comfortable and coordinated. That's exactly what Jason Williams did — and more. Popping jumpers, blowing by Chauncey Billups to either score layups or toss dunk-me passes to Shaq. Williams' astounding 10-12 shooting and 21 points easily compensated for Wade's being hampered by a flu bug.

Antoine Walker hit a bunch of treys (3-5, scoring 11 points), was mostly under control, and managed to stay out of his teammates' way.

Gary Payton made no great plays, and no foolish ones either. Credit him with 2-5, one steal, and 6 points.

Alonzo Mourning huffed, puffed, blocked a shot, scored a point, and stayed out of trouble.

James Posey played suffocating defense on Tayshaun Prince and cleaned the glass — 11 rebounds in 24 minutes.

But the Heat's biggest hero — both literally and figuratively — was the Shaqster. He played hard, lively, and young-legged. His numbers were impressive — 12-14, 16 rebounds, 5 assists, and 28 colossal points — but give no true indication of how thoroughly he dominated the lane.

The rumor is that the subterranean levels of the American Arena contain both the remains of Jimmy Hoffa and the Fountain of Youth.

Are there any kind words to say about the Pistons' lame game?

Hamilton was 12-28 and accumulated 33 points, but Detroit only ran his previously unstoppable cut-and-screen patterns a total of four times (he scored two baskets in so doing).

For the most part, what there was of Detroit's offense consisted of isos. In the earlier games, the Pistons' most effective ploy was having Billups go one-on-one against Williams.

Here are the unsatisfactory results of this same tactic in Game 6:
Billups hit 2-of-6 shots.
Made an assist-pass.
Was fouled 3 times, and shot 2-2 from the stripe.
And committed a turnover that directly led to a layup at the other end.

Overall, Billups made three little shots (3-14), and no biggies. Prince was likewise a non-factor — 3-9, 10 points. His dangerous right-box post-ups were nullified by quick double-teams, and he was therefore almost totally uninvolved.

Rasheed was 4-12, with 8 rebounds, and 10 points — although a meaningless last-minute three-ball moved his scoring total into double-digits. Yeah, his ankle hurts. But at this stage of the season, everybody is hurting somewhere. And a bad ankle is no excuse for his embarrassing performance in the low-post — 1-3, including an air-ball and a cockeyed jumper that hit the side of the backboard.

Except for his abbreviated stint with the championship Pistons two years back, the bad Rasheed has always trumped the good Rasheed. One wonders exactly how many other Rasheeds there are.

Ben played hard, but to little avail — 2-5, only 7 rebounds, zero blocked shots, and 7 points. But that's what an aroused Shaq can do to mere mortals.

While the Pistons were awful, it wasn't because they didn't have good looks at the basket. Credit the Heat's relentless defense for Detroit's dismal .333 shooting percentage, but the Pistons also missed numerous open shots.

Why, then, does a championship-caliber team miss so many gimmes in such a critical game? Because, deep down in the secret chambers of their respective hearts, and despite their public blustering about playing best with their backs to the wall, the team no longer believed in themselves, and didn't believe in their coach.

They refused to pay the price of greatness by cruising through most of the regular season instead of working hard every minute in every game. Their flaws were laziness, and hubris. And when they began to reap the rotten crops they had been sowing since last November, rather than hold themselves responsible, they blamed Flip Saunders.

What happens next?

The Pistons' players must take some hard looks in the mirror. Saunders must take screaming-meemie lessons. And Joe Dumars must decide how drastically his roster must be renovated.

Meanwhile, perhaps the Big Revenger just might send a get-well card to Doctor Buss.