Thursday 5/24
Cleveland v Detroit (Pistons up 2-0) – Detroit somehow managed to hold serve at home in two of the downright ugliest games I’ve seen this post season. Game 2 really took the cake as the Pistons committed 7 turnovers in the 4th quarter and the Cavaliers 6. 13 combined miscues and 32 total points in the 4th quarter of a Conference Final? Brutal. Detroit is usually one of the best clubs in the entire NBA at closing out games, but they have stunk so far in this series. A big reason for that is the play of Chauncey Billups. Through two games “Mr. Big Shot” is averaging 13 points, 6 turnovers and 5.5 assists and has been unable to crack Cleveland’s defensive scheme against him. So how are the Pistons doing it? Well Rasheed Wallace (60.87% shooting, 15.5 points, 11.5 rebounds & 4.5 blocks) has really saved Detroit’s bacon with his clutch shot making and presence as their last line of defense.
The Cavs have obviously been very shaky down the stretch, but I’m not about to pin all the blame on LeBron James. I’m not getting into whether or not he was fouled at the end of Game 2 (although Dwyane Wade gets that call in the Finals last year), but James definitely made the right play at the end of Game 1 by passing to a WIDE OPEN Donyell Marshall for the potential game winning three. Even though his growing pains are painful to watch live, you can literally see LeBron figuring out how to finish games right before your eyes. Nothing teaches a competitor like failure. Anyway, Larry Hughes has been just plain awful thus far shooting 27.27% (6-22) while putting up 8.5 points a night. Now that’s the kind of production you’d expect for $15.3 million! I’ve been saying it all playoffs long, but it’s time play rookie Daniel Gibson. “Boobie” is a much better shooter and playmaker already than Hughes will ever be.
The Pistons keep pointing to their lack of “energy” every time they perform poorly. I for one am no longer buying it. Detroit is an old and tired squad that is barely hanging on against a far less experienced opponent. Being that Cleveland could have easily won both games, I’m interested to see how they respond Sunday in front of their home crowd. Since the Cavs don’t seem like a bunch that gets down on themselves, I think they are going to use their anger as motivation. Call it a hunch (lock alert!), but I sense a blowout of the Pistons coming in Game 3.
The Cavs have obviously been very shaky down the stretch, but I’m not about to pin all the blame on LeBron James. I’m not getting into whether or not he was fouled at the end of Game 2 (although Dwyane Wade gets that call in the Finals last year), but James definitely made the right play at the end of Game 1 by passing to a WIDE OPEN Donyell Marshall for the potential game winning three. Even though his growing pains are painful to watch live, you can literally see LeBron figuring out how to finish games right before your eyes. Nothing teaches a competitor like failure. Anyway, Larry Hughes has been just plain awful thus far shooting 27.27% (6-22) while putting up 8.5 points a night. Now that’s the kind of production you’d expect for $15.3 million! I’ve been saying it all playoffs long, but it’s time play rookie Daniel Gibson. “Boobie” is a much better shooter and playmaker already than Hughes will ever be.
The Pistons keep pointing to their lack of “energy” every time they perform poorly. I for one am no longer buying it. Detroit is an old and tired squad that is barely hanging on against a far less experienced opponent. Being that Cleveland could have easily won both games, I’m interested to see how they respond Sunday in front of their home crowd. Since the Cavs don’t seem like a bunch that gets down on themselves, I think they are going to use their anger as motivation. Call it a hunch (lock alert!), but I sense a blowout of the Pistons coming in Game 3.
posted by D$ at 9:38 AM
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