By Kevin Sawyer
I had to Tivo the game, so it was fun watching the amateur general managing from the peanut gallery in the last one. So what happened? We won. Why? Here goes.
For all the talk of this team being hot and cold, this was an outstanding defensive effort from start to finish. Having a bunch of nobodies drain 20 footers to close the shot clock is not a sustainable offensive scheme, so a better second half was inevitable. Under ordinary circumstances, the Pistons are up 39-37, and just waiting for their patented third quarter push.
We finally looked for the outside shot. Philly had been packing it in (intentionally or no), and we finally saw the great perimeter passing that allows us to exploit matchups against cobbled-together squads like this. Twice, we saw that little pass around the world until Prince buries an open shot in the corner that invariable makes announcers compliment our unselfish play.
Help defense! We were able to disrupt Philly’s dribble penetration by having a backcourt help defender deflect the ball as ball-handler turned the corner. This was a great move, which the Pistons employed to disrupt Duncan’s to-the-basket game in the ’05 Finals. And, um, Willie Green is no Tim Duncan.
Chauncey played the point. He didn’t shoot well, of course, but he finally became more aggressive about setting up the half court sets. As a result, Hamilton was finally able to play off screens and do all those other things that make Rip good. If you want to know if Billups had a good night, add Free Throw Attempts to Assists, and divide by Rip Hamilton’s turnovers.
Tayshaun Prince has been ridiculous. The Sixers don’t have answers for long, athletic players. If only the Pistons had another long, athletic player on their squad. One who could alter shots, grab offensive rebounds, and exploit the defense’s myopic focus on our backcourt players? Sigh, maybe the Pistons should look to the draft. We have a second round pick this year, right?
We finally stopped treating Andre Iguodala like LeBron James. Perhaps the team is still smarting from the slaying at the hands of the LeBrons last year, but the goal isn’t simply to stop one player from hanging 40 on you. The Pistons have been effective to a fault against Iguodala, allowing role players to post big nights. Tonight, they finally let Andre play a bit. In an ideal world, Iggy shoots 11-28, and notches 27 points with 4 assists. If that happens, we win.
We beat them at their own game. Controlling the tempo is something that announcers talk about. It’s gobbledygook. Passing up solid looks because it might allow Philly to run is a stupid idea. Want to keep Philly from running? Knock down your shots and get back on defense. The Pistons play at the slowest pace in the NBA. They don’t need to make a conscious effort to do so.
So to the heart thing. In the first half, I didn’t see a team without heart. I saw a team overthinking and overplaying every single half-court set. Unforced turnovers are the product of nerves, not ennui (ever seen a player dribble off his foot during shootarounds). The Pistons have a nasty habit of getting very tense at inopportune times, which has killed them as much as anything these last few seasons.
So here’s hoping the Pistons get back to their mad defense, three-point shooting, 42 mpg playing selves. This team can win a championship. There is too much talent here for pedantic psycho-analyzing. If the Pistons want to phone in game 5, they may do so, and might even be right to do so… So long as their dialing the right numbers.
I’m ashamed to say that I haven’t seen a second of any of the first 4 games (not even highlights).
But, I did have an epiphany as I anxiously awaited the internet to display the final score of Game 4:
At least I’m not a Mavs or Suns fan.
Darshan, don’t feel too ashamed, as this is some of the worst Detroit ball I’ve seen in years. If anything, every Pistons fan should feel some shame- but for different reasons. One of MANY, include us getting our asses handed to us by a fucking barely 500 ball team.
Is the series 2-2? Yes. That means we’re tied, right? We’re tied, until Detroit pulls another “not a necessary win, let’s force a Game 7″ deal. They’re too old to be getting away with this shit.
I was wearing my red Piston #1 B-B-B-Billups Jersey on Friday night as my girlfriend and I went to a sports bar to watch the game and get some drinks. Needless to say, I felt like a complete jerk-off by the end of the night. The bartender had a bad boys era jersey on, which he PROMPTLY flipped inside out as soon as he realized how “bad the new bad boys” were playing. I of course still wore my jersey proud (sort of), as not to appear like a fair weather fan. An ass whooping, of mad proportions - from the FUCKING STAR-LESS 76ers?!
Say it isn’t so Detroit, say you’re not pulling a Dallas on us. All these fucking years, waiting in anticipation - for what? To open up to a long series with a sub-par team? It’s like the die-hard fans of Detroit have been getting jerked off consistently for 4 years, only to have a cork shoved up our pee holes upon climax EACH TIME.
Yeah yeah, we won game 4. Big freakin’ deal. Play with this type of inconsistency against the Celtics and see what happens. They’re going to eat us alive. If it’s “time to go to work”, then this team is about as useful to Detroit as the U.A.W.
I agree w/ you regarding the statement about heart. We came out driving inside which made me happy, it was too bad that we couldn’t get anything to go though. Disagree totally w/ ‘phoning in game 5′. They need to press onward and give 150%. Don’t let Philly get back into the swing of things. They have a headache this morning knowing they were clearly in the drivers seat going into the half yesterday and we need to continue to hit hard so that the confidence they’ve been playing w/ doesn’t become as big a factor as its been.
So glad we’re coming home.
kevin,
thank you for your rational and cogent evaluation of last night’s game. i think we all as fans have a personal stake in the success of our team. when confronted with the fear of our team losing, some leap to catastrophizing, or blaming the coach, or bashing the players. all of which i have been guilty of in the past.
but i would rather be patient and hopeful instead of negative and fearful. i would rather see this team for who they are. every person on the pistons organization is a professional who wants to win. so, maybe i should give them the benefit of the doubt, including flip.
it makes so much sense that they were playing poorly cuz they were tight and afraid of making a mistake, not because they didn’t care about winning. in retrospect, i am now appreciative of flip’s decision to get his players to loosen up and have fun.
I dont know if anyone read Chris Sheridan’s article on ESPN after Game 4. Not only was it bizzarre because it had Chris actually praising the Pistons for once, but he claims that Flip had actually grown a spine and called out all the players for there poor effort in the locker room at halftime saying that Dyess was the only one playing well and he had surgery the night before.
Was that a one time thing or a sign of things to come?
good article.
i would love to see your predictions come true.
however, i´m a bit more concerned… this is just a perfect double from last years effort against chicago in round two.
well, maybe the last couple of games of that series. detroit was up big time (3-0 ??) and they let the bulls crawl back in it, because … hell, no one knows why…
this year we STARTED the playoffs with that kind of mentality (or whatever it is)
The Pistons looked focused in the second half and I’m greatful they won last night. Hopefully, last night’s game will wake this team up and finish off the 76ers once and for all.
A totally unimpressive win last night against a below .500 team (40-42). The year is 82 games not 41.
Why unimpressive. Flip played a 7 man rotation.
A team that has to play a 7 man rotation in the first round in order to win is doomed in the playoffs.
There has never been a team in modern NBA history that has played a 7 man rotation in the first round and won the Title much less the Conference Finals
An uptight coach that created an uptight team. As Amir Johnson stated when asked about his lack of playing time in the playoffs.
I just have be ready if called on and if called on remember not to make any mistakes.
People who think in terms of making mistakes rather than succeeding do not succeed. Flip has instilled though his own paranoia a mentality of fear of failure in the Pistons.
Flip must go if the Pistons ever expect to win a Title.
Well said Mike. Amen brother. I agree with everybody here but I am still taking the Pistons all the way. Die Hard!
IF the Pistons escape this series, and its a big IF, (I can totally see them laying an egg in game 5, then it’s right back to where we started yesterday,) you are absolutely right about the lack of a bench. It looks like Orlando would be the next opponent, and while Howard is a man child at center, defensively they are not as athletic at the other positions as Philadelphia, so Detroit shouldn’t have as much trouble executing their offense. But, it could be a longer series especially if this current one goes 7 games. Then you’re looking at Boston or Cleveland in the ECF, two teams that have superior depth. Detroit has Maxiell off the bench, and that’s about it. Stuckey is a solid player, but I don’t think he’s confident enough in himself right now to actually contribute offensively. That’s why I would look at playing Juan Dixon more, a veteran who is still young enough to provide some scoring and youth off the bench. Maybe start Maxiell and bring McDyess in off the bench, so you get the energy in the starting 5, and you can get scoring off the bench. I think Ratliff has played well in spurts, I’d like to see him a little more. Either way, this team that many thought was amongst the deepest in the league, doesn’t look very deep right now.
The Pistons won because of one simple pure reason. Joe D was not in the visitor box but rather he was on the floor when there was a camera pointing at him. Joe D should really consider coaching for at least one year if he wants this core 5 returning. Kick Flip to the curb because there is no reason to bring him back for whatever logic.
The bench issue to me remains the question mark at backup SF. Hayes has been basically invisible this series. Tayshaun can’t be superman every game, every series.
Flip is the only reason this team is still in this series. Thats a scientific fact and if you doubt it your knowledge of the game is suspect. Watch the tapes, and watch them again. We did.
…says flip’s dad.
and i like kevin acting as if he’s above the “peanut gallery” gm-ing. should i find about 80 “kevin s.” posts that suggest otherwise?