The Detroit Pistons quickly learned to adjust without their big center. The Miami Heat are hoping they've found a way to do so without theirs.

Miami (6-8) and Detroit (9-5) face each other Thursday for the first time since the Eastern Conference Finals as they meet at the Palace of Auburn Hills.

The Heat have played without Shaquille O'Neal for the last eight games and are expected to be without him for the next four to six weeks as he recovers from knee surgery. The 34-year-old center was originally diagnosed with a hyperextended knee, but an MRI revealed more damage than previously thought and he underwent surgery Nov. 19.

Although Miami has won its last two games, the team is 4-6 without O'Neal.

``My brothers are out there struggling right now, and I should be out there with them,'' he said. ``It's very, very difficult to watch.''

The Heat are coming off a 103-91 victory Monday over the Philadelphia 76ers. Dwyane Wade scored 33 points and Udonis Haslem added 18 and 10 rebounds.

Wade has picked up the offensive slack in O'Neal's absence recently, averaging 34.7 points and 13.3 assists his last three games.

Miami also received 30 points from its bench and shot a season-high 58.7 percent from the field, the second straight game it has set a season high in shooting percentage.

``We had contributions from everybody tonight and it enabled us to get the win,'' said Alonzo Mourning, who recorded a season-high seven blocks. ``We have to get back to play well at home again. ... We have to get back to more consistent play.''

This is the first meeting between the teams since the Heat eliminated the Pistons in six games in the Eastern Conference finals en route to their first-ever NBA title. O'Neal averaged 21.7 points and 10.5 rebounds during that series against Detroit, which also struggled at the start of the season.

The Pistons started 3-5, and many attributed the rough start to the loss of center Ben Wallace, who left the team as a free agent over the summer.

I'm so tired of you all talking about Ben,'' forward Antonio McDyess said earlier in the season. ``He's gone, we're not going to get him back. It's about us trying to come together as a team to find our identity now that he's gone.''

Detroit has since recovered to win six straight, including Saturday's 115-111 victory over the Washington Wizards. Chauncey Billups scored 29 points - 18 off free throws - and Tayshaun Prince added 21.

Detroit went 36-of-40 from the free-throw line, getting 17 more attempts than the Wizards did.

The Pistons, who were the NBA's 12th-lowest scoring team last season, have scored at least 100 points in five of the six victories.

``One thing we have learned to do is be able to play different styles. We're able to go small when people go small. We're able to play in a fast-paced game. We're able to play in some grind-it-out games,'' coach Flip Saunders said. ``We're able to do a little bit of everything.''

Saunders said that despite O'Neal's absence and Miami's struggles, he's anticipating a close game between the teams. The last seven regular-season games have been decided by an average of seven points.

``Any time the two teams put on their jerseys, it's just a natural rivalry,'' he said. ``The two teams are going to compete against each other. It's a healthy rivalry and that's what makes good basketball.''

http://www.nba.com/games/20061130/DETMIA/preview.html

fuck.the.heat.

Bet your alpacas on the game here:

Outcome http://wtfdetroit.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7622

Over/Under: http://wtfdetroit.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7623

I don't know what it is, but I think we kill them tonight.

*jinx*

I think we can run, run, run on these old guys.

Thu, Nov 30, 2006 at 1:00 PM
Chris McCosky
Flopping like D-Wade (http://info.detnews.com/pistonsblog/index.cfm)

This is probably something you had to see to fully appreciate, but Rasheed Wallace had everybody laughing at shoot-around this morning, working on his Dwyane Wade flop. He would throw up a shot and then throw himself on the floor -- ala Wade. Then he would get up slowly and limp like Wade does. I think he intends to do it at some point in the game tonight, so look for it.

But all kidding aside, Wade cannot be defended. Referees simply do not let you look at him crossly, let alone touch him. Wade has shot 163 free throws in 14 games, 11.6 per. By contrast, Chauncey Billups has shot 108, by far the most of any Piston. No other Piston has even shot 80 free throws. Wallace was having fun with that, too. "If you just yell, 'Boogety-boogety booh' to him, that's a foul. If you give him a hard look, that's a foul," Wallace said. Very true.

In other news from shoot-around, Lindsey Hunter is going to try and play, but he's still hobbling pretty good on that sore right foot. We were originally told it was an ankle sprain, but Hunter said it was the Achilles tendon that was aching, and that is much more scary. "If that pops, I am done," he said. You don't come back from a torn Achilles at age 35, that's fact.

Still waiting word on Dale Davis' court case down here in Miami. They were supposed to pick the jury. Plan on talking to Dale, or at least getting some word out of the court before the game.
what's the over/under on how many times Wade falls down winces like he just got hit with a bullet?

In other news from shoot-around, Lindsey Hunter is going to try and play, but he's still hobbling pretty good on that sore right foot. We were originally told it was an ankle sprain, but Hunter said it was the Achilles tendon that was aching, and that is much more scary. "If that pops, I am done," he said. You don't come back from a torn Achilles at age 35, that's fact.

What's the deal with this?

As far as Hunter, if it was torn he wouldnt be walking. Ive strained my achilles before and it sucked for a couple weeks, if hes trying thats my guess.


Whats up with Delfino's bedhead?

the Miami Heat's announcer is so nails-on-a-chalkboard annoying.

i can see how Mason's enthusiasm can get under the opponent's skin, but the Heat announcer makes me want to mute the damn TV.

WTF.....Wade clobbered Chauncey's arm on that last three point attempt.

Reggie: "that's a foul!"
it's always weird to get that ex-Pacer lovin'.

Rasheed hit with a Tech right before half-time (arguing the non-call on the Billups 3).

Rasheed hit with a Tech right before half-time (arguing the non-call on the Billups 3).

So after the fact, that Wade shot the T shot at the beginning of the 3rd.

Close this game out, and if not, make wade cry again.

AIR BALL!!!

good ****, nice game team.

Exciting game.

LOL@Rip.

thank god we won. i woulda puked if we lost to the Heat.

screw you, Wade for that bullshit laying on the ground, pretending your hurt preformance. pussy.

good win tonight. love those gutsy, close wins on the road. especially versus the Heat.

Wade can't flop for shit. as a flopping expert he should come to me for lessons. not that he needs them cuz come playoff time that call will be going his way.

fuck that pussy ass son of a bitch flexo mourning and that "I lay on the ground feel bad for me" wade and that annoying announcer who plays to the hometeam all the time. and fuck you idiot heat fans who chant REF YOU SUCK after he wouldnt give haslem a timeout as he is laying out of bounds. Are you pussy ass wade bandwagon bitches equipped with eyes that can see this? Quit talking out of your poopchute and learn how to become an NBA fan.

On a brighter note, good clutch shooting by the pistons.

Shaq's out, Wade's held to 5 of 23 shooting, and we only win this by 2?! Udonis fucking Haslem proves he can keep pace (and then some) with Rasheed?! Even on the road with a few days break, that's too fucking close for comfort... that's all I have to say.

the Miami Heat's announcer is so nails-on-a-chalkboard annoying.

i can see how Mason's enthusiasm can get under the opponent's skin, but the Heat announcer makes me want to mute the damn TV.
Completely agree.

I didn't get to pay complete attention to this game due to family stuff. 2 ways to look at it IMO:

1) We played like shit and still eeked out a win.
2) They played like shit w/o Shaq and we still only eeked out a win.

Gross last shot attempt by Big Shot. Equally sad "I'm too tired to drive" jumper by Wade to lose the game.

Why doesn't anyone coach that when your man is picked up by a teamate on a drive, that your job (as the defender that just got beat but then saved by your teamate) is to box out your teamate's man?

Miami got Kaponowned

Pistons benefit from cold Wade to ice victory over Heat

MIAMI (AP) -- Dwyane Wade endured a bad shooting night, and his last attempt might have been his worst. It was certainly decisive.

With 2 seconds left and his team trailing by a point, Wade tried a 19-foot jumper that barely reached the rim, and the Detroit Pistons held on to beat the Miami Heat 87-85 Thursday.

Detroit won its seventh game in a row. Defending NBA champion Miami fell to 6-9 and begins a four-game trip Saturday in Memphis.

Wade, who had scored at least 33 points in each of the past three games, shot only 5-for-23. Otherwise his line in the box score was solid: eight assists, no turnovers, five rebounds and 21 points.

"I want to hit every one of them, but it's not scripted that way," Wade said. "I was off. I had a lot of good, open pull-ups that I normally knock down. I wasn't able to hit them tonight."

With Miami trailing 86-85, Wade missed from 18 feet with 1:07 left. The score was the same when he missed again on the Heat's final possession, with the ball falling off the lip of the rim.

"I wasn't able to get the ball in my hand the way I wanted to, and I came up short," Wade said.

"That's our girl," teammate James Posey said. "We're behind her regardless."

Richard Hamilton, who guarded Wade much of the night, went 9-for-17 and led Detroit with 24 points.

"When it got close, Rip made a couple of big shots, and he did a great job defensively," Pistons coach Flip Saunders said.

Detroit packed the lane to keep Wade out of the lane for much of the night, and when he drove, he was often forced to throw up harried, errant shots.

"The penetration wasn't there," Hamilton said. "We just wanted to pack everything in. We did a great job of it."

The Heat, who had shot better than 55 percent in the past two games, settled for 41 percent and fell to 3-6 at home. They lost despite 20 points and 10 rebounds from Udonis Haslem.

The Pistons won despite shooting less than 45 percent. Chauncey Billups had only 11 points and five turnovers for them.

"It was probably the worst game we've played in a couple of weeks, but we came out with a win," he said. "It was ugly."

The game, the first this season between the two teams, was a rematch of the Eastern Conference finals the past two seasons. Miami defeated Detroit last spring en route to the NBA title, but the Pistons have won 14 of the past 17 regular-season meetings.

Wade took a nasty spill when fouled on a drive, rose slowly and then sank two free throws to make it 74-all midway through the fourth quarter.

Rasheed Wallace's 3-pointer with 5:40 left put the Pistons ahead to stay, 79-76. Billups' 3-pointer on the next possession increased the margin to six.

The Heat took a 6-0 lead, their best start of the lead. A 25-18 edge gave them an advantage at the end of the first quarter for only the second time in nine home games.

Miami led by up to 11 points early. The Pistons went ahead for the first time with 3:23 left in the third quarter on a jumper by Hamilton, which made it 61-60.

"We fell behind early, and it's like we were swimming upstream for most of the game," Saunders said.

The Heat trailed only 66-64 after three quarters even though Wade was 3-for-16.

"I love him,(and suck his balls every night)" coach Pat Riley said. "Five-for-23 or 10-for-12, it doesn't make any difference."

Game notes
Heat future MVP F Wayne Simien is sidelined indefinitely with a salmonella infection, the same ailment that struck him last summer. He won't accompany the team on its trip. ... Posey returned after missing five games with a calf injury. ... The Pistons came into the game with 171 turnovers, fewest in the NBA. ... Miami lost despite committing only six turnovers.

Either Guts is having some fun, or Posey really is as dumb as his rep says he is.

yeah this was hardly a win that inspires much confidence. but it was a win nonetheless.

should've used the bench more, they are what brought us back in this game! now we have to play the knicks tonight (OK, i know it's only the knicks but still!) after our starters all played near 40 minutes again.

those minutes add up and while i know our guys CAN play those minutes, it's not necessary. and it's not to the longterm benefit of our team.

BTW- i was a huge fan of wade coming out of marquette. i called him an unselfish version of kobe. i loved his talent. but the kid is making it very hard to respect him now.

he dives more than anybody and he does it so convincing the fans are dumb enough to fall for it. there were people who were furious and calling for a flagrant foul when he dove to the floor last night. billups fouled him and then in the continuation sheed came over the make sure he doesn't get the bucket as well.

he literally put ONE HAND across wade's forearm and wade does this piroueting dive to the floor all dramatically, making it look like he was murdered on the play. the announcers were even saying "wow, a hard foul on wade".

NO IT WASN'T!!!!!! it was a weak, clean play on him. he's just a drama queen. he rolled over on the floor and made it seem like he was hacked. then he slowly got up and gives the ref a glare! why don't you give that glare to sheed you punk!? or are you too scared to do that?

punk! it's like he wants to make himself into this glorious hero who overcomes adversity, bla bla bla. these kids have watched too many movies growing up.

JUST PLAY THE DAMN GAME!

OK, sorry for my little rant. :)

more about wade's crybaby tactics. i get that he does attack the basket a lot. but he flops even more times and he is a huge drama queen. i wish he had to face the bad boys. they would''ve put a quick stop to that nonsense with a LEGIT foul, like an elbow to the body or a nice hip check. he'd end up in the 3rd row. :)


http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061201/SPORTS0102/612010419/1004

How does Simien get salmonella twice!? Does he like his chicken medium rare?

That last flop by Wade was really bad, Sheed barely touched his arm. Then again, I wouldnt have to hit a 4-year old girl very hard to make her go flying either.

Riley must've forgotten that the "injured reserve" list is no more, that he doesn't need bullshit excuses to not put someone on the active roster.