The Jordan Rules became The Kobe Rules in the Finals last year. They'll become the Flash Rules this season. With Shaq not at 100% - gotta go with the Champs in 6.
Maybe you'll get your revenge next year, big man.
"The way I feel right now, I'd trade my mother if the right deal came along." -- Isiah Thomas.
Hey, no hating on Duane Reade. That's a damn good pharmacy.
Anyhow, it'll be interesting to see if Stan Van Gundy can do what Phil Jackson failed to do in the Finals last year: make some key adjustments knowing the Pistons are targetting Shaq's little buddy.
"The way I feel right now, I'd trade my mother if the right deal came along." -- Isiah Thomas.
Nice adjustment by the Heat to not have Wade isolated on the wing and managed to beat a game Pistons team down the stretch where they got locked down on Monday.
I'm now curious to see what adjustment Detroit makes to Miami's adjustment. That's what playoff basketball is all about and both teams have shown that so far.
"Did you get your Journalism degree from a box of Cocoa Puffs?"
Really it's hard not to be a little optimistic about the Pistons' chances right now as they very nearly stole one in a must-win situation for Miami. Shaq doesn't look anywhere near 100% and Miami's bench (with the notable exception of Mourning) is not very good.
Rasheed Roscoe Wallace ain't nuthin' to F with either. I've never seen a guy close out a gap to make a shot block on the wing any faster than he does it. Plus he'd get 25-30 easy points a night on a bad team.
The benches are about equal. Dooling=Arroyo, Mourning=McDyess, Butler=Hunter and Laettner/Doleac=Campbell. They've played much better during the season then they've shown in this series, but it's because Detroit has not been doubling Shaq and guarding the outside shooters that they get rendered less effective. Which is good game-planning. Plus Miami's still getting outrebounded something fierce.
Like I said, this isn't going to be easy for either team. Wasn't Miami's best game by any means, but for now at least the season is saved and Shaq gets a few days' rest for his leg.
(edited by Blanket Jackson on 26.5.05 0921) "Did you get your Journalism degree from a box of Cocoa Puffs?"
The first 2.5 quarters sucked for Detroit, and Miami was putting up some good plays. Of course Dwayne Wade was spectacular, you knew he would (have to)be.
You're right, this series will be an all-out war, and I'd be surprised if we got to game 4 without there being some fights on the court. I hope there won't be, but I can see Zo/Ben, Zo/Sheed going at it after a few pushes, hard fouls, elbows, screens gone bad. It sucked for Detroit because they got the foul, but I smiled when Ben Wallace ran over Alonzo Mourning in the 4th last night.
Speaking of which, Ben has yet to wake up and be a factor in this series and perhaps he will be the catalyst for Detroit's domination. Or perhaps not. The teams are so even, it's going to be tough and I forsee a full 7 game series that could go either way.
Dwyane Wade is so frickin' good, it's almost embarassing. Big stars make big plays and he made 3 or 4 at the end of the game (the alleyoop dunk, the block from behind, that running layup that ran up the rim and in...).
The biggest difference I noticed in this game was the guards' ability to drive inside. In game 1, it seems they were getting swatted or called for fouls every time whereas last night they were faster to the bucket almost every time.
I honestly think the crowd has a bigger impact in basketball than any other sport. You could just see Wade and Zo reacting and stepping up their intensity as the crowd rallied.
Speaking of which, Detroit crowds usually thrive on finding someone to hate on the opposing team (e.g. Jordan, Claude Lemieux, Favre, etc.). Up until now with Miami there was not really anyone to hate (Wade's just awesome and everyone hates Kobe, not Shaq). But NOWWWWWW, watch how loudly the crowd boos Zo on his trip up here. For a guy who garnered a lot of support after his health problems, he sure has managed to piss off quite a few people with his off- and on-court antics. I just hope when Ben dunks on him Sunday that he is ALL up in Zo's grill....
That was one of those games tonight where it's draining just to watch it. Miami got a huge win, recovering from Detroit making a run at the end of the 3rd/start of the 4th and doing it with Wade on the bench with five fouls. Eddie Jones stepped up and The Big Bruise hit all but one of his FTs(!) down the stretch to get the win.
This ain't over yet by a longshot, though. I fully expect Detroit to come out with their best effort in Game 4, especially after the meltdown they had in the last 5 minutes.
"Did you get your Journalism degree from a box of Cocoa Puffs?"
Well, damn. This was a game I certainly wasn't expecting. Detroit was in it until about 5 minutes to go but made to many mental mistakes down the stretch. And giving up 113 is quite inexcusable if you're a defense-first team.
I'll just say a few other things: Rip Hamilton is Reggie Miller w/o the 3; Dwyane Wade IS a monster; Eddie Jones still seems to have something left in the tank. And this guy nearly hung it up earlier this season.
I think this one could be going 7. Both of these teams are too good to bow out so easily.
(edited by Kawshen on 30.5.05 1014)
"The way I feel right now, I'd trade my mother if the right deal came along." -- Isiah Thomas.
ESPN:[pp] "We have two sources saying he's taking the Cavs President job"
Larry Brown: “Why should I ever be thinking about that? I want to coach here. I want to coach. This is what I’ve done my whole life. I love this team. I think I’ve said that 100 times. No one wants to write that.”
Cavs Owner Dan Gilbert: “We will know more this week,”
Me: "Yay Piston distractions!!"
(edited by Blanket Jackson on 31.5.05 1355) "Did you get your Journalism degree from a box of Cocoa Puffs?"
Worth noting, it's been hours since this story has been printed in which Larry Brown explicitly said he's not thinking about the Cavs job and ESPN hasn't reported it at all. They're very persistant about sticking to this story of Brown taking off and that's got to be frustrating to the Pistons fans who look at this as nothing but a distraction.
All I can say is that Detroit played one hell of a game tonight on both ends and deserved to win. Miami's foul issues didn't help, but in the end, Detroit warded off every run Miami made and played a damn near perfect first half to boot.
In the end, Miami got the split and the homecourt back. So they're in OK shape. Just going to have to win this in Miami is all. Nobody, least of all me, said this was gonna be easy.
(edited by Blanket Jackson on 31.5.05 2322) "Did you get your Journalism degree from a box of Cocoa Puffs?"
So the Heat is a win away from dethroning the Champs and a date with San Antonio. But let's not forget Detroit was down 3-2 in Round 2 last year to NJ and won that series.
I really REALLY don't see Detroit getting bounced at home. This thing is going 7.
"The way I feel right now, I'd trade my mother if the right deal came along." -- Isiah Thomas.
Big win, and a big night for The Other Guys, but it did come at a price.
Now Miami's two best players aren't 100% (Wade plays I think, prolly with a QB jacket, a trainer 10 feet away and some type of unpredictable balm). They're really going to have to play like hell to take it on Detroit's floor. It can be done and they can do it, but this Pistons team is going to come roaring back.
If it wasn't for Wade and his pulled rib muscle (preliminary diagnosis), it would have been a suspenseless 4th quarter.
(edited by Blanket Jackson on 2.6.05 2321) "Did you get your Journalism degree from a box of Cocoa Puffs?"
I would personally like to thank Elden Campbell for opening his big yapper before Game 5 and saying that he intentionally tries to foul Shaq on every play. Gee, think your 4 fouls in 8 minutes had anything to do with that, big guy?
Talk about lethargic. Despite (IMO) the refs seemingly making about 40 home calls per game, the Pistons didn't seem like they wanted this game. I'm predicting Detroit blows out Miami next game, followed by the Heat blowing Detroit out in game 7. Either way, it should be exciting to see the 13,791 free throws both teams will obviously get in the next two games.
The officials have made this series a total joke. But besides this the Pistons need to realise that they have to actually show up for the games. Rasheed two point on 1-3 shooting? There's no excuse for that, poor officiating or not.
I think it will go 7 but why even bother, which ever team comes out of this mess will be slaughtered by San Antonio.
I like that idea...I really do, but where in Canada would the NBA go to? By exxpanding to Vancouver and Toronto, the NBA hit the two largest cities and populations in Canada. I know for certain that Calgary wouldn't be able to sustain an NBA team.