I’ll post my thoughts later this evening, but feel free to get the discussion started now. Cavs fans, try to stay civil.
Detroit Bad Boys T-Shirts
Latest Comments
- JackDutch on the post Tuesday’s Layup Drill
- Christon Ingram on the post Some day Walter Sharpe will watch this and laugh
- Mike Payne on the post Tuesday’s Layup Drill
- Boney on the post Tuesday’s Layup Drill
- Garrett on the post Tuesday’s Layup Drill
- Forty on the post Tuesday’s Layup Drill
- Mike Payne on the post Tuesday’s Layup Drill
GREAT.
Now is the time to press the panic button. They’re down by 2 freakin games. I know it’s not like it hasn’t happened before, but with their play lately, it’s not looking good…
I’m going to remain optimistic and keep thinking about the second round series against New Jersey in 2004. It’s time for the Pistons to stop the whining during the game, focus on getting their acts together, and start playing like the champions they can be.
I’m going to bed grumpy tonight.
Pistons didn’t get ‘moving’ until mid third quarter and into most of the fourth. For most of the first half they played with a forced emphasis that was a bit more intense than the prior two games but basically was the same. I was happy to see Antonio get warmed up and probably a huge shot of personal confidence even though the pistons lost. He was looking sharp out there.
The onus has been on the pistons to come through and there it remains. Cavs are playing their BEST pistons are playing in a range of poor-fair-good. Have to congradulate the cavs for playing well. I still root for the pistons and hope for ‘my team’ to come back and wallop the Cavs. In my biased opinion I say, they WILL win the next game. When it seemed like Detroit was going to eek out a victory my thoughts went to this board’s exchanges with cavs fans and what came to mind was: be humble.
-my 2cents
If the Knicks do fire Brown, can we have him back? Flip’s less than impressive playoff record is starting to pop up in the back of my head after the team failed to show up tonight. Hopefully tonight’s game 5 will turn out to have the same events unfold like after game 5 of the 2004 New Jersey series. Why did it seem like our offense was a first time playoff team too anytime there was a pressure situation (the 7+ times we could have taken the lead). Too many turnovers for the defending eastern conference champs.
Absolutely stunning.
Stunning.
How did this happen? How did we go from “Cav’s so desparate they’re intentionally fouling Ben Wallace in the first half” in game 2, to Cavs 3, Pistons 2.
I am now officially panicking. The Pistons have pulled it through in this situation before, but will they this time? I don’t know, and don’t have any confidence they will.
Just stunning.
And please Ben, make a free throw!!! It was such a sick feeling when he went to the line, knowing he had to make one for us to have the lead.
I’m done panicking. I’m into the acceptance stage. Cavs/Heat Eastern Conference finals. Congrats to the Witnesses. Your boys came through. Gutsy, tough win. Pistons fans can cite the Nets series. We can reference any series we want. But that’s the past, and it has nothing to do with the product being put on the floor. I would say the order of business is now to LOUDLY place blame on someone for this debacle. And I’ve got more than a few opinions regarding that.
After Game 4, I mentioned that the Pistons were in a must-win situation for Game 5 and had to wake up. Well, Chauncey and Antonio McDyess were the only guys to awaken for Detroit, and they weren’t enough. Obviously there are no excuses for losing three straight games, and the blame for tonight’s loss could be put on a few different people.
If the Pistons have learned anything from consecutive trips to the NBA Finals, it’s how to win in these situations. Sometimes it seems like their backs have to be against the wall before they bring their A-game.
There’s no sort of logic to this, but I feel better about this series right now than I did on Monday. The pressure is on Cleveland- they’ve won three straight and they get a shot to eliminate the Pistons at home. A few things go right for Detroit and suddenly they’re heading back to the Palace for Game 7. They play best with their backs against the wall, and the Cavaliers don’t seem like the kind of team which can defeat that beast. But the rest of the team has to wake up…
I am wondering if Flip Saunders ought to retool some matchups even as we go into a win or go home situation. I mean, Brown put in some 3-point shooters and Cleveland shot five treys compared to the Pistons two and that’s crucial in tight games. Charles Barkely commented that the Pistons are not playing as hard defensively - ala fewer offensive rebounds than the Cavs, I tuned in at the end of the third quarter and didn’t see most of the game so I would be interested in what other fans thought.
Flip Saunders is showing his true colors in the playoffs. I miss larry brown right now, never thought id say that.
The Lakers went up 3-1 on the Suns in the first-round, and I just saw Kobe sitting in on the half-time show. Stranger things have happened. If you can follow my logic, I’d say the Cavs going up 3-2 on Detroit in the first place is a bit stranger than Detroit winning two in a row to escape this jam.
FLIP SAUNDERS SUCKS. Can Mike Brown outcoach him anymore? Flip can’t make adjustments has no clue how to manage a line-up…I never thought I’d say this, but I miss Larry Brown.
Pistons are full of crap. We talk so much sh** this year saying we’re bored and giving out guarantees and all that crap. Put up or shut the f**k up, Pistons. It’s time to play basketball. I’m mad as hell.
And by the way our crowd usto be able to win us games , not anymore like mentioned earlier its far too white collar in the playoffs. We lost our LOUD AS HELL blue collar crowd. The palace is no longer the loudest arena in teh NBA.
Detroit is in a bad situation. This has the potential to be the most disappointing season for the pistons, given that people were predicting them to win 70 games this season. My prediction for next game: Detroit 77 Cleveland 85. They just seem hungrier right now.
“the Cavaliers don’t seem like the kind of team which can defeat that beast. But the rest of the team has to wake up…”
In my opinion it’s comments like this that best exemplify what’s happening in this series. Even though you are a fan making these comments, the Pistons and their coaching staff are clearly thinking the same thing, and the result is a 3-2 deficit.
How else can you explain the complete lack of intensity in the last three games? Reggie Miller said a lot of things tonight, but the thing that stuck out the most was his remark on the Pistons’ lackluster first quarter (20-20 tie).
They seem to be in another world when it comes to playing the Cavs; they see LeBron, recognize him for the beast that he is, but then they refuse to accept that there are four other players on the court with him. The Cavs struggled against the Pistons in the regular season, and I think the Pistons just assumed that trend would continue, rather than looking at the Washington series film and seeing how much the Cavs had improved.
Now they find themselves in quite a pickle, don’t they?
WE NEED TO STOP FOCUSING ALL THE ATTENTION ON LEBRON WITH 2 AND 3 DEFENDERS. ITS NOT WORKING HES TOO GOOD HES KILLING US BY GETTING ALL THESE OTHER SCRUBS GOOD GAMES. WE GOT BEAT TODAY BY DREW FUCKING GOODEN BECAUSE OF THAT CRAP. WE NEED TO SINGLE COVERAGE LEBRON LIKE A NORMAL PLAYER AND SHUT DOWN EVERY OTHER SCRUB ON THAT TEAM. BECAUSE IT DOESNT MATTER IF LEBRON DROPS 50 THEY WILL LOSE CAUSE NO ONE ELSE WILL DO SHIT. WE ARE GETTING BEAT BY THERE FUCKING ROLE PLAYERS. DROP THE FUCKING GAMEPLAN FLIP SAUNDERS U RETARD.
For all those who said the Pistons were out to prove they could win an NBA championship without Larry Brown, it seems they were correct. Unfortunately, it seems they are trying to prove they can win it without a coach. I have to admit I was one of the first to jump on the ol’ Flip bandwagon after seeing the new and “improved” Detroit offense.
However, this playoffs has shed new light on Flip. I’m not sure he had called a set play for the last 1.9 seconds. And if they did, let’s be honest here… Rip has not been one to perform in the clutch. Is this a Flip shortcoming or the Pistons with something to prove? As much as LB may have driven us crazy at times, his set plays always found a way to jumpstart the Pistons’ offense and he effectively used timeouts to stop an opponent’s run (much like Mike Brown did tonight, does it run in the name?).
Since I’ve already started with the Flip bashing… why does he insist on following Mike Brown’s lead? Cleveland lost both bigs for the last minute. Go huge! It’s not like Detroit’s big guys aren’t mobile. That is one of their strengths. With the game on the line, and missing your ball handler, it’s probably your best option anyway. Did anyone seem to notice that once a bench guy was allowed the time to establish a rythym, albeit Flip was forced to play him, he began knocking down shots? The bench can be effective once allowed to play.
Yes, LBJ has played pretty incredible (though I still can’t get over the off-arm thing). But Mike Brown has completely out-coached Flip in the last three games. That has been the difference.
Unfortunately, judging by the little I heard of the press conference, it seems the Pistons don’t realize how desperate they really are.
I am stunned as well. The Caveliers are playing great basketball. They are agressive, confident and playing loose. The Pistons seem tentative, uncertain and they are pressing? The swagger is gone. They are in deep trouble. Two things have caused this monumental swing in momentum. One, is over confidence by the Pistons. They went up 2-0 with ease and seemed to get bored with their opponent and lost their edge. Offensively, they went into autopilot. There is very little ball movement and guys are pressing to make passes and shots. 17 turnovers in game 5 and only 16 assists? I think defensively they seem a step behind and are not hustling. The enegy is gone because the confidence is shaken. The dominance is gone. The second reason I believe there has been a shift in momentum is that Cleveland rallied together when Rasheed dismissed publically stating that game 4 was a “lock”. Rasheed hurt his team with his comments. You should always respect you opponent and never give them a rallying point. That simply gives extra motivation. Oh Rasheed, “pride goeth before the fall”. If the Pisotns win this series they will really have to make a statement in game six or it is fishing time.
I am not sure why, but Detroit has gone away from spreading the floor and moving the ball and gone almost completely to isolation plays. Also, Rip is having a hard time getting open off screens. He looks tired, like he did at the end of that fateful Game 7 against the Spurs last year.
I have a hard time putting that on Flip, unless he is, in fact, coaching them to run iso plays over and over, which I doubt. Flip is big on imaginative offense, but you don’t really see the Pistons guards doing anything particularly creative. The past two games have ended with Detroit simply have player after player try to drive and get to the rim. Instead of kicking it out to an open permiter player, they are taking on 2, 3, even 4 defenders.
The other thing you can’t put on Flip is the turnovers. Over and over again they have been careless with the ball. Seventeen TOs? By the Pistons? Had Detroit simply been more careful with the ball the past two games - a Pistons trademark - this series would be over right now.
The good news for Detroit is that their defense has been solid. They’ve held Cleveland to just a shade over 84 points a game. I think if they move the ball more on offense and cut down on turnovers, they are still the better team. I don’t think LeBron is going to go off at this point either - that won’t happen against Detroit in a must-win game. Their defense is still that good.
What worries me is that containing LeBron is taking a lot out of them, and that is why they are turning the ball over and failing to get into a rhythm offensively. You have to give the Cavs credit - this is no fluke any more. Games 4 and 5 have showed this team is for real and may have joined the ranks of those teams that, as ‘Sheed put it, Detroit can’t afford to make mistakes against.
Flip Saunders is a f#$king idiot. He has no championships to speak of; he’s a career under achiever that has sapped the life out of the Pistons lineup; and he has been out coached throughout the series by Mike Brown.
Damn, why did we let go Larry Brown for an underachiever like Flip Saunders? Oh, by the way what the f$$%^#k is Tony Delk doing on the roster? Note to Joe D, we need a true point guard to back up Chauncey. Oh shit we let Carlos Arroyals go for a bunch of bench warmers. Dumb move dude.
Without wanting to get overly melodramatic I think there are a number of factors at play here.
1. Injuries are taking their toll. The series of the “bum ankles” may prove to haunt us all.
2. Ben Wallace and the free throw chasm. This typifies why playoff basketball has to be played with a greater purpose and desire than that of the regular season. This is especially so with free throws and the “intangibles”
3. Intensity shall be thy salvation. I have noticed this particularly in messers Wallace and Wallace. The pistons have done a great job surviving on an economy of movement in the way they play, but that is not enough in this series. The Cavs have lifted as a whole and its time for this team to play like something is about to be taken from them rather than a team that thinks it will be holding a championship by divine right.
4. Caught between a flip and a brown place. What is this teams identity exactly? Defence first? Shoot? Run? You can’t be all things in this day and age.
Overall an intriguing series as we continue the debate over “champion team” Vs “team with the champion”
Riveting and just a little scary. Just the way the playoffs should always be.
I agree with Matt that stranger things have happened.
It was much more unlikely for the Cavs to make it 3-2 then it would be for us to come back and win 2 in a row.
The Pistons CAN still do it, there’s no doubt.
But will they? I have no confidence, one way or another.
Wow. Now maybe the Cavs can get some respect from the national media & Piston fans.
Detroit fans have watched their team roll over everyone all year without a challenge, now that they have one, it seems as though they are a little unsure as to what to do.
I’ll admit, Detroit is the better ‘Team’ but in a close game, I’d rather take the best player on the court.
You Piston fans got your fouls tonight with Z and Anderson fouling out… I don’t want to hear any complaints there.
I know you guys don’t know a lot of these Cavs players and they haven’t played as a team as long as your Pistons, but they have played hard like this all year.
‘Sheed wins a Community Award? Interesting. If I was on his team I’d be pissed that he keeps talking wether its a garun-sheed or a T at a turning point in a game.
The Q will be rockin’ Friday with 20,000+ tasting an Eastern Conf. Final birth.
WE ARE ALL WITNESSES.
Chauncey’s game was way off, typified by two horribly overthrown fast break passes. He finished with 5 assists and 6 turnovers. Rasheed’s injury excuses his shot being off, but not his uncontrolled temper. Flip should have sat him earlier. It was the 4th quarter before I saw Rip outrun a defender, get free, get a pass, and pop a shot. Instead of his trademark move, he kept trying to fill Sheed’s roll and follow a drive with a fade-away. It’s just not his game.
What a night for Tayshaun Prince. The skill, the fluid mastery of the game - he’s such a beautiful human being. If Tayshaun Prince could grow a beard like Zydrunas Ilgauskas, he would be the greatest player in the history of Western Civilization.
If anyone can tell me what Flips game plan was, I’m all ears. Here are some things I miss:
1. Guarding everyone straight up. Remember when we used to guard everyone man to man and make the lone player (LeBron) beat us. By double teaming him we are playing into their hands.
2. Pick and Roll defense. See #1.
3. Ball movement. We are making Cleveland look like a great defensive team because we are playing isolation basketball. When was the last time anyone saw the pistons move the ball from side to side? I can hear LB screaming right now.
4. Post play. I know he’s hurting… but name one guy that can stop him on the block. It’s such a crazy mismatch to ignore.
5. Moving without the ball. I can’t remember the last time Rip came off a screen for a midrange shot. He just stands around or tries to take people off the dribble.
6. Substitutions that make sense. Why are we being so reactive with our subs. Flip always talks about aggression on the basketball court… how about some aggressive subbing and/or coaching.
7. In game adjustments. Flip makes poor in-game adjustments. It’s like he needs to see the film and crunch the numbers before he can make a decision. Remember when D. Wade went off for a million points in the forth against the stones earlier in the season? Remember losing to Utah because Flip couldn’t hang with Sloan.
I love the Pistons. I’m a true fan. Win or lose I’ll stand by them…. Even if they are in teal! I don’t mind if the Pistons lose this or any other series if we go down playing how we are capable of playing. I’m fine with that. The problem; I’m still waiting for them to show up.
If I were a Pistons fan i would go find Rasheed and Ben and make sure there f*cked up… how do u get a tech in a close game like that? and how can u go 0 from 7 from the FT line… 0 FOR 7 IF YOUR GETTING PAYED OVER A MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR TO PLAY A F*CKING GAME LEARN THE BASICS…. ’nuff said
I like Dan’s analysis. Flip is not the problem. Players play the game. I would have loved to see the mood in the locker room and see how they are responding to this jolt. Will this team find itself in time?
Has anyone noticed the look in Chauncy’s eyes and his body language? I am sensing a lack of confidence? It’s perplexing to me? He is the quarterback and he has to regain his moxy.
I have not lost hope. I think they can do it but they must get out ontop of Cleveland quickly in the first quarter and take the crowd out of the game. I think we will know the outcome early in next game. If it is close Detroit looses. We need a big first half. Lets see if they come out with the tenacity that is their trademark.
side notes,
was it awkward as hell at the half between barkley and kobe? Couldn’t they save that drama for, not TV? hah.
Secondly, Rip, he gets points, doesn’t turn over much, is reliable–however–it seems like he flips and wiggles all over the floor–a real actor. It gets tiresome. Anyone else agree or is he really getting throttled so much?
Saunders is like a great offensive coordinator or defensive coordinator, who is brilliant at one thing. If you want a defensive or offensive scheme, you’ve got your man. But not every good OC or DC is a good head coach. And that’s what we’ve got. We’ve got Norv Turner. There is some brilliant coaching going on in these playoffs, and a large part of how you get Ws and earn a rep as a great coach is to adjust game-to-game, half-to-half, quarter-to-quarter. And everytime I’ve turned on the post-game PC, it’s like a broken record: “I don’t know why, but we’re getting away from what we do.” Well, figure it out! That’s your JOB. You have to adapt, because there’s no more room to wait and see if they flip the switch by themselves.
All these guys, Chauncey, Sheed, Rip, all of them, have spent the season rejoicing in their new freedom under Saunders. How wonderful and refreshing it’s been. Well, maybe it’s time to take the car keys away from the kids and sit ‘em in the corner for a while. Larry Brown, for all of his faults, would never ever ever never ever ever wait for his postgame comments to say, “We’re just not doing what we normally do.” He would have torn someone a new one in the first five minutes. And he would have adjusted. And he would have figured things out. And I guaran-sheed (for whatever that’s worth) if LB was manning the ship, we wouldn’t be in a 3-2 hole heading back to Cleveland.
is miss the old fella right now. LB come back!!! lol
To quoth the poetry of Poison: you don’t what you’ve got until it’s gone, Robbie.
I posted this at YaySports so it is tailored to Cavs fans, but I feel that it sums up a lot of what us Pistons fans are feeling right now. I just copy pasted it here, so it might seem weird to read on a Pistons site, but I just really needed to get this stuff out after watching the last 3 games…
“As a Pistons fan I can honestly say this. We too are extremely sick of all this talking bullshit, esspecially when it comes completely devoid of any results. It was all cute and fun when Sheed’ trash talked and we went out and won. Now though, the excuses, the garuntees, the bitching at the refs, its like you want to go out there and tell them that just because they almost won 70 games this year that doesnt mean there is a fucking invitation to the finals waiting for them, and yes, the Cavs do deserve the time of day, they ARE a good team, speccialy with Bron’ acting like hes looking for his 8th straight ring (playoff rookies arent supposed to do this…kid is sick). If the Pistons win this series (which is getting slimmer in my mind each time I see another iso play) it will be because they get back to ball movement on offense (a switch on a pick-and-roll doesnt automaticly call for taking the big man off the dribble, that is STILL and iso play, and thats not what good teams run all night), single teaming on defense (give Bron 50 pts, just dont give Varejon 18 and Marshall 25), less than 5 TOs per game (we USED to be the best in the NBA..dont know where that went), and if the curse of Flip’s playoff record didn’t follow him to the D (maybe its just that he doesnt want to call a play and offend the “championship calibre” team that he was given when he came in… comeon man, coach a little). Its not good times for a Piston fan , its frustrating and maddening, and just, well no fun, the passion that has been here for 4-5 years suddenly seems to have been sucked away. If the Cavs win, I will be extremely dissapointed, but at the same time be very excited to watch what James can do against Miami. He might use his off hand to create space enough to drive opposing fans insane, but I cant possibly name a more exciting player to lead the NBA, and its batch of young stars, into the future. Win or loose at least its a good time to be a basketball fan, even if your favorite team is down in a series that was supposed to be over by now.”
Some interesting takes on the game.
Instead of blaming your coach who isn’t playing, I’m not sure why you guys don’t realize that you are being out played and out hustled.
Detroit hasn’t had to play hard all year, now that they are in a battle, the Cavs are making them look silly.
Detroit looks confused and frustrated.
Role players and scrubs aren’t quite the correct terms for the rest of the team either. Do you think Lebron won 50 by himself??
Someone said single cover Lebron, good luck with that. The reason the games are so close are because Detroit is double and triple teaming him.
For those who continue to complain about his off arm during his drives: FIND A NEW EXCUSE.
Time to wake up Detroit fans, the Cavs are good, they’ve been good all year.
Cleveland knew how tough Detroit would be.
Detroit had NO CLUE the fight they were in for.
What’s that?
Nothing to say Rasheed?
to witness: your cavs are playing decent basketball. but they aren’t playing well enough to make sense of a 3-2 lead.
i honestly believe rasheed psyched out his team, including his coach. coach cardboard.
and ’sheeds only redemption comes with walk-the-walk games fri. and sun.
In the same way that I knew after Game 4 that the Pistons would be down 3-2, I also got the vibe that they’re coming back. I saw enough in Game 5 to convince me that the Pistons will be back to take the final two games in the series. When all the Pistons fans I know were laughing off the idea that Detroit would drop a game at home, I quietly said that the Cavs would win- not becuase I like Cleveland but because I felt it. Now my instinct is that the Pistons are going to come roaring back.
They’ll take over Game 6 and win by 10-12 points.
Game 7 will be close, but in the fourth quarter they’ll pull away and send LeBron packing.
I’m sorry, Cavs fans, but my predictions are as good as it gets. Deep inside I know you feel this coming, too.
I am in Miami right now for a work thing, and I am telling you guys, it doesn’t get any worse than watching your team collapse while the whole city of Miami is rejoicing for clinching the first finals spot.
I still believe we can win this. I am not taking away the victories from the Cavs, they won it, they deserve it. I thought it would be impossible for the Cavs to win at the Palace, our notoriety for taking over games is legendary. And we all know that Cleveland has been trying to emulate the Palace for a while now. But then again, you can never disregard a team like Detroit. It ain’t over til it’s over!
Unfortunately, I will still be here until game 7. But I will be representing our hometown well. I’m wearing my proud Pistons red blue and white tomorrow…GO PISTONS!!!!
It’s more of an “It’s not you, it’s us” for the Pistons. Sorry Cavs. But that’s the truth. Shooting a horrendous 33%? Not moving the ball well?
Regardless, no excuses here. They need to seriously align their mindset and focus on the goal at hand. By the way, in their own little, f’d up, masochistic kind of way, this is really backs against the wall - win or go home situation.
Now, witness this people.
(Game 6 has to be nothing but a blowout. Crush them cats hopes)
Witness-
I don’t blame LeTravel for using his off arm. As long as the officials allow to get away with it (and pick up defensive fouls when he does it), I would encourage him to still do it if I were Mike Brown. Funny thing is, you probably used to complain when Jordan would use his off arm or Reggie Miller would push off of defenders.
Secondly, you are wrong about the only reason games are close is because we are double and triple teaming LeTravel statement. I realize that you may not have watched much of the playoffs the last few years (you were too busy watching LeTravel’s rookie year highlights), but the Pistons have been very successful with single coverage on superstars (see Kobe, Shaq, Iverson). Have you seen Ilgauskas make a contested jumper yet? He can only work from within four feet of the hoop, where he would never be without his man shading toward James. Eric Snow struggles to his open jumpers, let alone contested jump shots.
Example- Take a look at LBJ’s statline from Saturday night: 21 points, 10 assists. Him being double teamed created at least 20 points for his teammates. Do you honestly believe that Lebron can make up those 20 points for his teammates? Not to mention all the second chance shots the Cav bigs have gotten off his misses with no Piston underneath to rebound.
Luckily for you, it doesn’t look like the Pistons will prove me right on Friday. Flip (and the team) have failed to make any defensive adjustments throughout the series (see Sideshow Bob having his way in the paint).
I have to agree with witness here…..we got outplayed…..we had chances upon chances to just take a 1 point lead! and we couldnt even do that..stop putting all the blame on flip, after all he’s not the one playing and throwing away fast break passes (cough) chauncey. Lets just face it, the pistons play better when no one gives them RESPECT.
Spurs and Pistons will force game 7s.
On a side note… does anyone know what the Pistons record is in playoff games the past three years with Dan Crawford officiating? I know it was bad before, tonight didn’t help.
No..I don’t know nor do I care.
Instead, I want all the players to show up.
Don’t blame the refs or the coaches. Next game, just lay it on the line. Best team wins.
& per coaches:
Listening to the discussion about Phil Saunders is like listening to the Maloofs vs. Rick Adelman.
Does the coach make the free-throws?
was the coach Mc Dyess tonight?
(O.K…, I like havin’ a playa{ ‘n’ coach!}in the clutch,…but…still..not enuff..{you all know it’s synchronicity baby!):
Rip & Chauncey need to step up with ‘Sheed hurt. Bottom line…….No excuses, in terms of offense……
In terms of ‘D’….
QUE`!!??!!…T…..F!!
C’MON~!!>>>….??)(*&*%@#QAAZXdgfhjk.!!
(Otherwise , we are ‘whiners’, not the way I want to go out as a Piston’s fan.
Puh-leeeze?…………………………
….Don’t we have more heart than that?!
{God, I hope so….not to get all “witnessy”….};
but I want to “witness” my Pistons winning another ring.
(maybe selfish compared to you Cavs fans, but that’s how I feel);
keepin’ it real….Witnessin’ 4 my Pistons…’n'……
that all is possible, including another NBA ring.So there.
Right on, Rhondda.
Recipe for success: close mouth, step up, buckle down.
I feel sick to my stomach.
Ummm isn’t Tayshaun Prince any good for Lebron? Stop the excuses all Detroit fans and get your team to start playing basketball or a postseason holiday is coming earlier than expected.
Just to clarify a pt. that seems to be getting misconstrued here. When he drives to the hoop, Lebron does lead with his off arm but it is not illegal because he doesn’t push off with it. Extending the off arm is a common tactic used by all players to shield their dribble and protect the ball. It’s just not common for a player to extend the arm when they drive. But while it looks suspect, it is only a foul when the player uses that arm to push off and create space. Otherwise, the off arm is just part of a player’s space moving forward.
Magic Johnson did it his whole career.
I’m glad people have finally opened up the Flip Saunders bashing. It’s more than noticeable. Why just last series I was making fun of Mike Brown and how he coached with a look of bewilderment on his face. Little did I realize the “coaching” issues were in our corner. I wasn’t ready to condem Flip, because everything was pleasant. However, you can see the adjustments that Brown has made and yet there’s been nothing from FLip. His line-ups down the stretch and lack of set plays is killing the Pistons. Say what you will about Larry, but he made this team believe it was going to win in the clutch. Flip just twitches in the huddle and allows the players to freelance.
One thing I do know…is that Cavs fans need not celebrate just yet. If the “REAL” Pistons show up for Game 6, this all could be just a big tease for you.
I’ve got many questions and thoughts about this whole debacle.
1. This is the EXACT opposite of they’ve always been successful against teams with a superstar or 2. Typically, they have let the superstar get his points, while shutting down the rest of the team (Lakers ‘04, Heat ‘05, 76ers every year). The soft zones and extra attention to LeBron is killing the team’s aggressiveness (possibly on both ends). If LeBron scores 40 and has less than 5 assists, the Pistons will probably.
2. Where is Tony Delk? Why isn’t he allowed to play? He’s exactly the type of sparkplug that they could have used in the 2nd quarter last night to snap them out of their funk?
3. Along the lines of my 2nd point, Flip needs to go to his bench more. When 4 of the starters are playing 40 minutes, you’ll either have a tired bunch at the end of the game, or your stars foul out and Lindsey Hunter will be taking the most important shots of the game.
4. When is this team going to start running the offense that we saw ALL YEAR LONG?? Where’s the Chauncey-Rasheed pick-and-pop? Where are Rip and Tayshaun coming off screens for 17 footers? Why aren’t they running the plays that got them there? All of these isolations are for Stephen Jackson and the Pacers. Let’s get some ball movement, fellas!
I could give you more, but I need to get some work done today. As disappointing as this week has been, I would not be surprised if they won Game 6 by 25 points. I also wouldn’t be surprised if they got smoked. This season has taken a turn for the weird.
I am ASOLUTELY MISERABLE, Detroit.
Detroit really needs to play harder. I dont know if it’s a coach team, or a player thing or that years of post season play has finally taken it’s toll. But they look slow and sluggish. They’re letting Lebron do whatever he wants.
They need to pound the kid. When he comes into the paint, make him pay, put him on the floor. Make sure he thinks twice before making the drive.
Tony Delk is the only Piston to have had a 50 point game in his career (I think), surely he was specifically brought in to provide points from the bench, yet he didn’t play a second. Does Flip have any idea what the purpose of his bench is for, it seems like he’s trying to hammer a nail in with a screwdriver. I admire Mo’s hustle and energy, but the obviously more talented Delfino still gets ignored despite the bench contributing virtually nothing in the first half. If the Pistons have it in them to perform as most expected, you would have thought they’d have been woken up by now, either this is going to be another great comeback or we are all watching the REAL Pistons now.
Well all i know is that i cant handle another game like that. I didnt go to bed till 3 then had 2 wake up 6. I was that upset…
I think all the bashing about the coach and the other bashing needs to stop…
We all know how terrible it was in the stupid set offense that LB had in place the last 2 seasons. Detroit would go through long stretches during halves where they would not score a bucket and their defense kept them in the game. They won games then, they can win the games now.
This series is not over folks, as much as Nike and David Stern and everyone on ESPN would like you to believe. Doubters have doubted the Pistons before…Doubters have been proven wrong too…
This series is not over. A win on Cleveland’s floor would absolutely stun them and possibly have an effect on Game 7. Cleveland hasn’t had to play a “must win” playoff game yet. Their backs haven’t really been against the wall yet, and to tie the series up 3-3 and take it back to the Palace would put more pressure on the Cavs than on Detroit.
C’mon Pistons fans…pick your chins up. This is ridiculous, you’re letting the Witness’ bandwagoners take over this board. The Cavs fans that have said that cleveland has thoroughly dominated Detroit obviously haven’t been watching the same last 2 games as I have…Winning by 1 or 2, although winning, is not dominating. Cleveland is playing out of their minds right now…Detroit needs to put a foot on their necks and put them out of their misery..starting tomorrow night.
Cleveland. What is with your man-child? He can’t even extend a congrats to his opponent? He just walked off the court like a pounting baby? Grow up Lebron.