What do the Cavs plaster on the outside of their arena? Not “Go Cavs” or “Let’s Go Cleveland” or even “OMG, LeBron! We luv you!!!” Nope. Just “Beat Detroit.” Yeah, I think the Pistons were in their head before this series even began.
With Larry Hughes out, rookie Daniel Gibson should be Cleveland’s starting point guard tonight. “Bold” prediction of the night: forget what you’ve seen from Gibson in spot duty so far this series, Chauncey Billups can and will exploit the rookie to make everyone forget about his first three games.
If Detroit wins, they’re up 3-1 on the verge of the NBA Finals. If the Cavs win, they even the series and keep the media talking about King James’ destiny. Like you needed me to tell you that. Here’s to hoping the Boys in Blue take care of business. Leave your thoughts in the comments.
I found it funny, but totally understand where Cleveland is coming from with the “Beat Detroit” theme. I noticed lots of t-shirts with the slogan in the stands. (assume they were free at the door) The part I understand is that Cleveland views Detroit as a dynasty of sorts. The same way fans here in Portland view the Lakers. Even though the Lake Show is a shadow of where it once was, the fans here ALWAYS come out with the “Beat L.A.” chant when they play.
I don’t remember what coverage I was watching, but there was discussion with a question along the lines of “Is Detroit a dynasty?” I think the conclusion was it is a “baby” dynasty, as they were comparing the current squad with the 90s Bulls, 60s Celtics and 80s Lakers. I’d say getting to the conference finals 5 years in a row and winning one title is on the right path to claiming a dynasty, but as we see the players play out this series, I just have to imagine that they don’t give a damn at all about any labels.
I’m hoping that the funk the boys are in ends tonight. Incredibly bad shooting, horrible assist to turnover ratio and some funky substitution patterns from Flip. I consider us damn lucky to be up 2-1, but I have the faith, no doubts about it!
signs it might be an interesting game:
when you turn on the tv, you see anderson varejao, moptop in effect, driving to the lane…only to throw up a granny-esque, 2-handed reverse lay-up– over rasheed; and that shit drops off the glass and into the bucket.
jason maxiell likes to block things that might be on the way down when there’s a foul… maybe something he needs to work on.
why is gooden and gibson beating us?
Come on detroit.
We need to come out with more intensity for the second half. With so many people guarding Lebron, we keep leaving to many of their other guys open. Plus the lightweight Gibson gets fouled to easy. Well it does seem like the CAVS are getting the foul calls a lot easier than us.
I want to see Maxiel and Webber under the basket ready for a dunk. I want some one else to take the ball down the court to free up Billups. I’d to see him ease up on the 3’s too. I think we need to take it to the basket more to draw some fouls and get the higher percentage shot.
Good lord. This is frustrating. Webber has been near impotent this series.
Is there a player in the league less deserving of however much money he makes than Damon Jones?
LeTravel is getting away with murder.
Drive down the line handband pops off…foul
Drive down the line out of control…tripping foul
The refs sure are playing some cutch basketball for the Cavis.
Was that a three Bron just hit? Because his foot was on the line… did they call that a three or a two?
Okay, so maybe Lebron isn’t “lucky.” I don’t think Gibson and Gooden will be as fearless on the road.
I like the Flip is realizing that Webber needs to sit and Maxiell needs to take his minutes.
Also, like bringing in Lindsay.
What scares me is that the Pistons didn’t play all that bad.
tripping foul on James, but no call. I hate refs. I honestly do.
If they called that foul, we would have had a shot.
What’s up with Chauncey? Why? Why?
No doubt the refs won the this game for the Cavs. Down by 4 without that many bs calls, we would of won.
Terrible game. What’s going on? What about the Cavs brings out the worst in the Pistons? I don’t think it’s lack of effort or focus anymore. We just seem to be terrible whenever we play against them, and of course the terrible refs don’t help.
Back home for Game 5, think we will pull it out.
That was some horrible basketball. Chauncey looks like shit. If it weren’t for McDyess in the 2nd half, we would have been blown out.
I am sick of it, really. Wake the F up Pistons!
What I want to know is (and I know this is grasping at straws) how on earth was that long rebound not a back court violation? I replayed it on my TiVo a hundred times and no Piston ever touched that ball. In fact, Snow was the last person to touch it going over the line and it wasn’t even really close, he threw it over the line. That was a ridiculous no-call. I don’t know if I fully understand the rule, but I’m pretty sure if a guy from the offensive team grabs the ball falling over half-court, throws it past the half-court line, and the ball is immediately touched by a member of the offensive team, it’s a back-court violation. AAAAAAARGH.
Also, sometimes I really hate to watch this team. They are taking years off my life this postseason.
Still, we’re only 2 wins away from the Finals. Yeah, we stink, but we’re still only 2 wins away. Look at the bright side.
Did you see Sheed take off & throw his jersey of the wall & hit the guy in the face? Poor guy
Apparently that rookie is for real.
Again - why, Chauncey? Why? Are you looking to get hired in Cleveland this summer?
Can Lebron even get a charge called on him going to the basket? Even if he knocks you over on the drive to the basket, he gets the 2 free shots . Same goes for Gibson, if you breathe on him you already committed the foul.
I think it was all the bs calls that frustrated the pistons in 4th. Sheed was ready to blow. The slightest contact with Lebron and Gibson = a foul, If we drive to the basket we get hacked with no call or get an offensive foul.
What the pistons have to do is pretend its the third in the first. I dont understand why the pistons fall down in the 1st and then go awesome in the 3rd. In both situations the cavs starting lineup is in. Come out to play from the get go and we can hold off the cavs from there.
Oh and put in Amir. Bench Cwebb and put in Amir. Amir can’t do any worse then what Cwebb is doing.
Bonzi: I did see that and cracked up — in fact, I watched it at least five times on my DVR.
Matt G: I agree about Amir. Why not at least have him active instead of Nazr Mohammed? I can’t think of one good reason.
Ahem.
What was the point of playing the first 3 quarters if the refs are just going to pull that bs.
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. How can it go from 1 extreme to the other? This team sometimes amazes me.
Am I the only one waiting for a GuaranShee before game 5?
I don’t think the Pistons did that bad. What worries me are all the bonehead plays down the stretch… especially from Mr. Clutch himself. Why, Chauncey? Why foul Gooden with a minute to go?
And why are we playing one on one ball most of the game?
Good point Rob G. Maybe Flip’s offensive mind (isnt that why he got the job?) will figure a way to get some more assists.
Maybe the Cleveland defense is bothering them. It’s just a thought - I dunno.
The Cavalier - That’s better than just a thought - that’s right on. Cleveland is playing solid D. Can’t argue with that. In fact, both teams are D’ing up pretty well.
Flip Saunders apparently isn’t a genius of the game of basketball. Chris Webber? Please, Cleveland’s interior defense is as shaky as Webber’s defense. As for Detroit’s interior play . . . waiting almost five seconds to make a decision when it’s passed inside . . . that gives plenty of time for Zydrunas to lurch on over to double-team the inside guy. Forget it, Detroit’s a mess on offense, and whatever Flip’s saying and doing isn’t getting through to those players when they hit the floor.
The best thing about Cleveland . . . they played better when Larry Hughes wasn’t available. What a cap noose that guy is.
“beat detroit” thats what im saying…i’ve never seen anything like that from the fans. insecurity shows.
Cleveland fan is not insecure. We are very confident in our abilities and I think EVEN piston fan can agree that their team doesn’t look like world beaters. I mean come off it, Cleveland was in every game at the palace and if Donny “miss the three” marshall makes that bucket at the end of game 2 then you guys are looking up at the cavs down 3-1.
If anything you Piston fans should be proud that we place such significance on the fact that you got to BEAT DA MAN TO BE DA MAN. Detroit Pistons are one of the finest franchises in the last 5-6 years. They have a proven nucleus of players, and have experience, and a good sense of what it takes to win in the playoffs. Cleveland and their fans respect that, and give Detroit all their props for their accomplishments and they are still the favorite to come out of the East. However, it cannot go without saying that the Pistons also look a bit older and slower than the younger, and what seems so far hungrier Cavaliers. The fact that Cleveland continues to own the boards, and plays almost as good team defense as Detroit minus their lack of rotation on weak side cutters. Put them in a good position to continue to win, even in the palace of Auburn.
Make no qualms about it, but this is now a series, and whoever wants it more at the end of the game. Whoever is able to lock down on defense and make either side make difficult shots I feel will ultimately be victorious.
Whether you want to give any props to the Cavs or not, it matters not to me. For I have seen 4 games thus far, and I am not afraid, nor do I feel the Cavs players are afraid of their chances of finally getting over on this older, and just a bit slower Piston team.
-nuff said
One last thing…All of you complaining about the refs and the fouls. Just stop it!! You sound like a bunch of whiny babies. You got your calls at home, and to say that LeBron did not get fouled when he took the last shot in game two would only show how myopic and homerish you fans are.
How does a guy who drives the lane and is a physical player go the whole game without getting a foul call??? Call it what you want, and I am sure most of you would say it is the great defense of the Pistons but the fact is that stars in the NBA regardless of their team get calls when they drive the lane. LeBron got none, but I do not care, nor am I going to blame the refs like a little baby.
Look at the box score and their was no disparity in the amount of calls Cleveland got versus Detroit. It was a pretty evenly called game and what it simply boils down to is that Cleveland made their shots late and the Pistons didn’t.
Quit your crying and face the fact that you were simply outplayed in game 4. No disrespect just simply the facts!
As an impartial observer of this series, I must say that big dogs (the Pistons) are doing a lot more whining and complaining than the underdogs.
Judging from the comments on here, that mentality is seeping into the fans as well. What happened to the really cool “Strap your hard hats on - let’s go to WORK!!” attitude of the 2004 Pistons and their fans?? That’s more disappointing than anything to me…