That, my friends, is why people around these parts say “Jason Maxiell eats babies.”
For the second game in a row, Maxiell was an absolute difference maker. In Game 1, it happened down the stretch in the fourth quarter, doing all of the little things that aren’t always reflected in a box score. In Game 2, though, he entered the game early, taking over for an injured Antonio McDyess midway through the first quarter and announcing his presence with a flurry of vicious dunks. He’s a baaaad man, making King James look all silly and whatnot in that poster-worthy shot above.
During his first 12-minute stint, Maxiell had four dunks among five shots, including one coming on an alley-oop and another on a fast break (which he triggered, by the way, picking LeBron James’ pocket on the other end). All in all, it was a good day to be Jason Maxiell and a bad day to be an infant hailing from Cleveland: he finished the game with 15 points, six boards and two blocks (a would-be third rejection was called goaltending) in just 22 minutes. The only mark on his game was his 1-6 performance at the free-throw line, but seriously, you can live with that on days you get all of the other stuff.
The funny thing is that Maxiell wasn’t even supposed to be in the game: after Rasheed Wallace was tagged with two quick fouls, McDyess entered the game, but he lasted just 90 seconds before taking a Zydrunas Ilgauskas elbow to the jaw, which left him shaken and (if I saw things correctly) bloodied. But even if he wasn’t the first or second option, he ended up being the best one. The Pistons missed his energy after he left the game four minutes into the second quarter, and I don’t think it’s a coincidence that his absence coincided with Cleveland’s storming out to a 12-point lead heading into halftime.
Fortunately, the Pistons dominated the third quarter (yet again), erasing most of Cleveland’s lead while setting the stage to take over the game for good in the fourth. And while much of the post-game conversation will center on whether or not LeBron James was fouled on the final shot of the game, the non-call was consistent with how much of the game was officiated.
Oh sure, there were a couple of bad calls here and there (blocking on Rip? really?), but for the most part the referees were letting the players play — much to the dismay of Anderson Varejao, who marred an otherwise praise-worth performance (14 points, 14 boards) by flopping at the slightest contact. In fact, I’d argue that Varejao’s love affair with gravity may have cost the Cavs down the stretch — it has to be hard for the refs to feel sympathetic to a team that spends much of the time trying to fool them. Rasheed, for one, was not amused:
“All that flopping, they need to make that a technical foul for next year. That’s not defense in the fourth quarter and I’m glad we have veteran officials to see that.”
(Quick side note: is anyone really surprised that Chris Sheridan wasn’t happy with the non-call? I have to wonder how much his past run-ins with the Pistons influenced his over-the-top enthusiasm.)
In any case, at least LeBron took the shot this time. He was more aggressive on the whole than in Game 1, but for a superstar I’m still surprised at how passive he can be for long periods of time. Where was in the third quarter when the Pistons fought their way back into the game? He attempted just a single field goal in that period, and finished the game with just 19 points. More aggression probably could have kept the Pistons at bay, but for whatever reason it’s just not clicking with him this year.
To be fair, we should probably give Tayshaun Prince some of the credit for James’ struggles. Though Prince is struggling hard-core with his offensive game (seriously, even Antonio McDyess is laughing at him right now) (OK, now I feel bad — McDyess is the nicest guy in the world, he probably cries himself to sleep feeling bad for Prince), his defense has been crucial. Despite scoring just one point and going 0-8 from the field, Prince actually led the Pistons with a +14 in the plus/minus column. To be honest, that surprised me, but it’s a testament to him doing more than the box score reveals.
If you saw the game, you already know that the Pistons couldn’t have come close to winning the game without Rasheed, who finished with 16 points, 11 boards, two blocks and two steals. (Quick question: DBB reader Erin pointed out that Rasheed has been wearing a knee brace lately: has anyone heard anything about that? Those aren’t always the result of a specific injury but sometimes used just for support, but maybe I missed something …)
That’s about the gist of it. I’m kind of glossing over some recurring themes (namely, Chauncey’s continued struggles, some uncharacteristic sloppiness from the team as a whole) that were also present in Game 1, but that’s just because I think in time those problems will right themselves. The Cavs have a legitimate defense, but I’m guessing sooner or later everything is going to start clicking for four straight quarters and the Pistons will blow this team out.
Last but not least … did anyone else get sucked into watching Torque on TNT after the game? What an awesomely bad movie — it sucked me right in after the NBA coverage ended, and made for some good conversation with FanHouse colleague PostmanE. We also chatted a bit about the game and the series as a whole, so be sure to check that out when you’re done here, which (I promise) will be soon. How soon? Like now. I’m done.
Pistons 79, Cavs 76 box score [ESPN]
GameFlow [PopcornMachine.net]
Fine-worth rebuke is in order [ESPN]
DBB Preview: Forget “the pass,” now we have “the elbow”
Any PISTONS fans out there who loves DELFINO, please come and post your comments in the following blog
http://argentina-wc2006.blogspot.com/
Best. Photo. Ever.
Great photo. Great recap. I’m still buzzed about that game. I was watching the game with a bunch of people that don’t follow basketball much and after I made one baby-eating joke (which they loved) they ran with it. The man is a Baby Eater and there’s no two ways about it.
I missed the first half while stuck at work, was there lopsided officiating for us while I was gone? I keep reading complaints about all of the supposed touch-fouls thats we received. As an admittedly biased viewer I watched Daniel Gibson repeatedly foul Chauncey Billups to steal the ball and then Rasheed getting the only soft foul of the 4th quarter while playing offense.
Just wanted to see if there was any merit to the pissing contests that they’re attempting to drag me into.
I thought the refs called non fouls and missed obvious contact throughout the game. I thought Rip fouled James on the last play, but the non call was par for the game.
Same here, Pat Hunt. I agree.
Great write-up. Loved the headline and the Dice falling asleep feeling bad for Tay comment. I should add that I sometimes find myself yelling out “Jason Maxiell Eats Babies!!!!” after he makes a big play or throws down a nasty dunk, but I get horrified looks from people who haven’t seen the website before. I really gotta watch where I say that.
Thinking more about the game, I loved the way Sheed controlled himself with the refs. I don’t remember the call, but one time he just ran down the court visibly trying to avoid a tech. That’s the focus we need out of him.
Rasheed’s been wearing that knee brace since the Orlando series. A reporter asked him about it then and he said it was just bumps and bruises, nothing serious.
I covered my two-week-old boy every time Max went up for another dunk. I think Max scared my kid, though, because he was wailing loud as can be throughout the first half.
I’ve come to the conclusion that Varejao might be the most annoying player I’ve ever seen in the NBA. I just want to rip his hair off whenever I see him bouncing all over the place. And come on, his last flying-through-the-air flop was so over-the-top — did Sheed’s right arm turn into a bazooka without anyone realizing it?
Great shot by Sheed to take the lead! It looked to me like he let that thing go from behind the backboard.
And I’m glad Lebron didn’t get a foul call for throwing himself at Rip while driving to the hoop on the final play. For all the people who want Lebron to be Michael Jordan, do you really think that M.J. would just go barreling into the lane like Lebron did when the game is on the line? He’d just make a move and elevate for a shot, which I don’t see Lebron do at crunch time.
matt,
for the past several wins, they (pistons) been playing a sloppy 1st half and turning it around in the 2nd half….my prediction is that they are gonna end up playing the spurs in the finals which is something that i believe that pistons cannot afford…in other words, other than finishing it strong down the stretch (very similar to spurs), don’t you think they should play pistons basketball in the very beginning of the game? thats my biggest worry for the pistons….and i hope they do know that. whats your thoughts on this?
matt or anyone,
for the past several wins, they (pistons) been playing a sloppy 1st half and turning it around in the 2nd half….my prediction is that they are gonna end up playing the spurs in the finals which is something that i believe that pistons cannot afford…in other words, other than finishing it strong down the stretch (very similar to spurs), don’t you think they should play pistons basketball in the very beginning of the game? thats my biggest worry for the pistons….and i hope they do know that. whats your thoughts on this?
Love all of the CAVS whining about the non call! Chauncey and Rip get pumeled in the paint consistanly and its never called. Rip made a good play and the ref’s for once got it right. Maxi was awsome love the energy he brings to the game, he woke the whole team up with his hustle. Webber also played well and while he couldn’t hit the side of a bus, his energy kept us in the 1st half. We must play better on the road and not keep comming out of the gate flat.I expect the Pistons to really bring it on Sunday and more whining from the CAV’s! Why do people like Chris Sheridan want the refs to decide the game? When officials make a call with under 2 minutes left that is them deciding the game esentially making them FIXED! Look at what happened to the Red Wings, they got screwed by the officals in game 5 and it cost them the series. You dont make that call, I dont care who the player is, home or away, unless it is blatent.
They know that, ric.
Many times their postgame comments reflect arrogance, but the Pistons have always indicated that the Spurs are not only a team they respect, but measure themselves against. Plus there’s a sense of unfinished business after the 2005 Finals defeat.
I told someone a few weeks ago that the Pistons’ best chance at the trophy is if the Spurs win the West — because it will get the team focused, and because Sheed will be breathing fire to get that Horry shot off his back.
“for the past several wins, they (pistons) been playing a sloppy 1st half…”
Past several wins? Where have you been the last 3 years?
While I have no doubt that many Cavs fans are upset about the non-call at the end of the game (myself included), I concede that we still have Larry Hughes to blame for his clanking a wide open jump shot. However, to call the Cavs out for complaining is a bit of pot and kettle. The only team that has a bigger problem with every single foul called on them then the Pistons is the Spurs. Maybe it looks different when you’re looking at it in Detroit, but I’ve always felt that since ‘Sheed got to Detroit, the Pistons haven’t made a single conscious foul that they were aware of. After every single timeout it seemed, Rip or Webber were talking to a ref about the previous call. Unfortunately, this is spreading, in my opinion, partly because of those two teams successes and the lack of quality officiating in the league (e.g. of course, last year’s finals).
If there’s one thing that I think both fans can agree on (then again, what do I know), it’s that the officiating has been a total toss up for everyone. While I agree that LeBron shouldn’t get “star” treatment, the fact that he’s a bigger guy playing smaller, he just won’t get the calls like those who can fly a few feet back and hit the ground when they drive like Wade and to a lesser extent Billups.
While I realize that Varejao flops a lot, pretty much every NBA player does nowadays since no one knows when touch fouls will be called. Unlike Sheed, I think it’s way to subjective to make them technicals and it will dramatically change the game flow. Personally, I would like to see hand checking allowed again (the Pistons probably would, as well), but I doubt that will happen.
As I said in the comments of your pre series recap, the one certainty is that the effort will disappoint both teams fans. While the Cavs effort has frustrated me to no end, I don’t think Pistons fans can be overjoyed about the manner in which they’ve played these first two games.
Another amazing Maxiell moment:
http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/sp/getty/69/fullj.getty-74165835cc024_cleveland_cav_9_48_39_pm.jpg
There has [always] been a lot of talk throughout the media about how calling a foul late in a game constitutes “refs deciding the game.” I have always found this to be an obnoxious line of thought.
If the refs consciously overlook a foul at the end of the game, how is that not deciding the game? The players know the rules, and they know what a foul is. It looked to me like Rip hacked Lebron all the way down the lane. If the refs saw the same thing, aren’t they essentially the ones impacting the game when they say “You know, that’s a foul and I would blow the whistle if that happened during the first 47 minutes of the game, but I think I’ll let it pass now”? Isn’t changing the rules on the fly deciding the game for the players in a way?
Remember the game against the T-Wolves a couple years ago where Chauncey hit the game-winner, but it was called off because he pushed off before the shot? It sucked but it was the right call and I think the refs would have essentially decided the outcome on their own by NOT calling it. He committed the foul and should have been penalized as such.
Don’t get me wrong, I am thrilled they swallowed their whistles. Not that it mattered- even if Lebron got to the line, does anyone really believe he would have made both free throws?
I guess the point of my disjointed rambling is that I am wondering if I am the only one who thinks this way, that a foul is a foul, regardless of how much of the game is left to play.
lanierfan,
thanks for that explanation. youre right…they will be more focus since they know that san antonio can deliver…..similar to chicago, when they swept miami…chicago got detroit’s attention and took a commanding 3-0.
I have a few comments on the B.S. that is floating around the net today about the Piston’s that has gotten me steamed beyond control.
Number 1- Chris Sheridan in ESPN’s daily dime … whines like a school girl about how ” Lebron was hacked 4 or 5 times ” That is wrong Chris you damn nerd WRONG!!!! If you watch that play you can see there was no foul whatsoever, just good defense.. something Im glad the refs allowed us to play like back in 04. Also Lebron James when he made that final play, he did not make the play WITH THE INTENTION OF MAKING THE BASKET AND WINNING THE GAME… he drove with THE INTENTION OF GETTING A FOUL. You can not expect the whistle lebron. We know you are pampered but come on.. atleast make a decent move to win the game. ALSO!!! Lebron James drove left then stopped and spun back..and threw up a wild hook,, IT WAS A HORRIBLE SHOT!!! What he should have done is take it right to the rack if he wanted a whistle and not stop and spin and throw up a wild hook.
Number 2- John Hollinger the spreadsheet stat nerd is now writing in his new column how the Pistons are in trouble if they expect to win the title with the way they are playing right now… ALL I GOT TO SAY is when WE WON THE TITLE IN 04… IF YOU LOOK AT THE INDIANA SERIES IT WAS PLAYED JUST LIKE THIS!!!!! Except even UGLIER!!!! This is when we are at our best. Someone needs to send him a tape of the 04 eastern conference finals because this is exactly how we were playin back when we won it all. Just because its not sexy or chic doesnt mean it doesnt work. Dumb John DUMB!!!
Anyway thats all… I know ESPN loves lebron and the cavs but I really had to let off a few thoughts on the 2 nincimpoops over there writing stupid articles.
Whether tight or loose, you want the refs to make consistent calls throughout a game. And the onus is on the players to adjust accordingly. From my vantage point, I thought they let a lot of contact slide. I’m not gonna sit here and say Rip didn’t foul James but in the context of how THIS game was being officiated, the no-call was not surprising. Either way, Hughes missed what amounts to a gimme for an NBA guard.
I agree JustMaz and should have included that in my post as well. They were allowing all kinds of contact all game, if they were calling everything all night long then that would be different but they were not hence the foul not being called.
> Past several wins? Where have you been the last 3 years?
Not in “LA”, Mike.
–
Did anyone catch Charles Barkley with that BS about the West getting Oden/Durant? Something about it being “bad for the NBA” that these supposedly insta-Stars have to play most games at 10:30 ET.
I love the way everyone disses the East when it’s that type of play that consistently wins ’ships. I mean c’mon, this ain’t the WWF. Ask Sheed.
Good Point justmaz… it seems they are forgetting that the east has won 2 of the last 3 championships
All around the usual internet sites (ESPN, SI, FOX, whatever) I keep reading how the Pistons/Spurs are ruining basketball because they play hardcore defense that slows down “great” offensive teams such as the Suns. I get real frustrated with that. It’s simple math - a team is more likely to get a stop than a bucket, because shooting percentages are below 50%. So the team that is more likely to get a stop will get the win. Until, that is, they make the hoop ten feet wide. Until then, the Suns and other offense-oriented teams aren’t going anywhere.
Rant over.
I loved the headline…eating babies in a cavelier way. Great play on words.
They did not call a bunch of fouls both ways so I’d say the refs were consistent (not necessarily in a good way, but consistent).
I almost yelled “JASON MAXIELL EATS BABIES” when he threw one down … then I realized I’d have to explain it to my wife. Maybe I’ll just get her the shirt.
I think he’s undergoing the Tayshaun Transformation, where a little-heralded (outside of his home city) bench player steps onto the big stage and shines.
He’s awesome and to everyone who points at Joe D’s failures in the draft, I would direct them (and their babies) to speak with Prince and Maxiell.
I couldn’t agree more with PAPiston - Varejao (a.k.a. Sideshow Bob) needs to go. This isn’t a pretent sport like South American futbol. Real men don’t flop.
I found an intersting story on ESPN concerning the Pistons and their salary situations.
insider.espn.go.com/nba/insider/columns/story?columnist=weltman_jeff&page=PistonsBlueprint07
Matt… a few comments in reply.
1. Pistons FANS don’t b*@%h & moan when refs swallow their whistle. Pistons FANS know that slow starts, bricked open jumpers and free throws, and turnovers (which the players control) throughout the game do more to decide a game than a non/call at the end of a game. Never rely on the refs to help secure a win. (BTW, how many late Jordan “Ws” came via a foul & FTs? None I can think of; he took and made the shot he wanted.)
2. A number of other pro sports have appropriately made flopping a foul or penalty. See the NHL & FIFA’s policies, though flopping is called in the worst cases.
Also, about the whole end game…. PAPiston is right on. If LeBron attacks the front of the rim or merely jumps straight up (like Kobe or D-Wade would), we would’ve gotten a call. If you’re ‘Bron, backing down Rip (giving up serious height and weight) at the end of a game, you can’t settle for a crappy passive, fade-away jumper. This mentality is the difference in James getting to the proverbial “next level” — “imposing his will on the game.” Hopefully, ‘Bron doesn’t realize this for another couple years.
Mad Max is the best (especially in that pic).
Matt & Ian: You need to find a way to get Maxiell to sport a “Maxiell Eats Babies” t-shirt, and get a photo for the site. It was meant to be.
He ate the last guy to offer him the t-shirt. Since then volunteers have been hard to come by.
“I found an intersting story on ESPN concerning the Pistons and their salary situations.
insider.espn.go.com/nba/insider/columns/story?columnist=weltman_jeff&page=PistonsBlueprint07″
I always wondered who would ever shell-out for ESPN Insider!
Jesus! how much can sheridan talk about that one single event. what did this guy say and the next guy and the next and what would other teams’ coaches/owners would do….
give it a rest…