Pistons, Magic, Game 2

I’m at the game for FanHouse — leave your thoughts in the comments.

253 Responses to “Pistons, Magic, Game 2”


  1. 1 Diablo

    Does anyone have a site where I can watch the game?

  2. 2 yak

    Keep the foot on their throats!!!

  3. 3 DetUMICH

    Check this out, if you have sopcast software the links here should work.

    http://www2.myp2p.eu/broadcast.php?matchid=11816&part=sports

  4. 4 Dash

    anyone have a sopcast channel # that is working?

  5. 5 Jez
  6. 6 tbranch

    StoogeTV.com is working great

  7. 7 Keegan

    Way to allow that Evans dunk, Dyess! And now send Nelson to the line for the and-1! Good job!

  8. 8 tbranch

    TNT announcer refused to say that ‘House of Payne’ was the funniest show on television!!!!

    The revolution of Truth has begun!!

  9. 9 Forty

    Yeah that was a bad blown rotation. The Nelson and 1 annoyed me — two times Tay went in with contact and didn’t get that same call…

    I think we look great though…we could easily have a nice lead right now.

  10. 10 Dash Rick

    Thanks Jez for the mogulus link! Working great!

  11. 11 Prophecy_Projectz

    Just joinned midway through. A big lead should not have slipped away like that.Wheres the D? Also has Maxiell entered yet? Ive only just started watching now…

  12. 12 tbranch

    Keegan was sure that Dyess would hold the Magic to zero points… maybe next game.

  13. 13 Diablo

    Thank you, to all who came to my rescue.

    Stuckey is awesome btw.

  14. 14 tbranch

    two missed free throws on the dyess blocking foul. Ball don’t lie

  15. 15 Prophecy_Projectz

    Thats the Rodney Stuckey I know and love

  16. 16 tbranch

    Max playing short rotations to conserve energy for his big 4thQ

  17. 17 Prophecy_Projectz

    ….aaand theres the Rodney Stuckey I know and hate :(

  18. 18 Dash Rick

    Tay cleaning up the mess…

  19. 19 Diablo

    Stuckey seems like he misses the easiest lay-ups but makes the almost impossible ones.

  20. 20 tbranch

    Prince cleaning up the glass. Nice hustle Tay.

  21. 21 Forty

    The Magic have some stunningly bad role players. Foyle is horrid. Evans should be an 8th man at best on a playoff team. Nelson should only be a back up pg for a playoff team. You can’t play guys like this and win unless you have LeBron.

  22. 22 Other Matt

    I love that we just went to the zone. We’re forcing SVG to play Howard. Essentially Howard leaves, we go to a zone, and then go on a run, then they have to put Howard back in. I like it.

    Also, I missed a chunk of the first quarter, are the officials calling this game tight? It seems like it so far.

  23. 23 Dash Rick

    I missed it when I came in late, what did Dwight get a tech for?

  24. 24 Prophecy_Projectz

    Im kinda suprised for a team that shoots the 3 well (supposedly) the Magic struggle against the zone. Hope it stays that way.

  25. 25 Diablo

    Mcdyess makes Howard travel and fall, beautiful.

  26. 26 tbranch

    Haven’t seen any real tic-tac fouls… two blocking fouls though… and howard got an early tech.

  27. 27 Prophecy_Projectz

    Got Poster Tay!!!!???!!!!!!

  28. 28 Prophecy_Projectz

    Damn another timeout? lol

  29. 29 Laughton

    What a dunk! I love the play. Magic look frustrated.

  30. 30 tbranch

    Tay! Nice hangtime on that dunk.

  31. 31 Dash Rick

    Tay’s dunk was a beauty!

  32. 32 Diablo

    “howard got an early tech”

    I wonder if Rasheed taught him that… :D

  33. 33 Birdman

    Great dunk by Tay! And nice shot by Afflalo.

  34. 34 Prophecy_Projectz

    lol@ FLip telling the crowd to get hype. Who saw that? lol

  35. 35 Didn't watch the game

    Gotta like seeing Dwight Howard just crumple into a ball. What the hell was that?

  36. 36 tbranch

    Howard is fumbling a lot of balls… get your mind outa the gutter!

  37. 37 Birdman

    A couple ticky tack fouls there on Dwight & Max.

  38. 38 Prophecy_Projectz

    Damn let em play lol

  39. 39 tbranch

    Afflallo is so good on ‘D’ that they just hand him the ball now.

  40. 40 Dash Rick

    SHEEEEEEEEEED!

  41. 41 Forty

    I think the Dwight screen was a retaliation for Afflalo hitting his hand. He needs to talk to KG re: “how to emphatically settle a disagreement with an illegal screen”

  42. 42 Brad

    I love Stuckey, but why does he overreact to very typical NBA jostling?

  43. 43 Forty

    You know there’s a talent discrepancy when a team runs post up isos for its backup pg on your starting pg

  44. 44 Matt Watson

    Some halftime/commercial reading for you guys.

  45. 45 Keegan

    Who is Jameer Nelson?

  46. 46 Keegan

    And maybe Dyess could not allow 5 points in two consecutive possessions. Some people might like that, though, I could see where that would be a good thing.

  47. 47 tbranch

    Not a good thing but still… just a thing.

  48. 48 Laughton

    HEEEEEERRRRRRMMMMMAAAAAANNNNNN! sighting

  49. 49 Dash Rick

    Walter’s in the game…

  50. 50 Keegan

    Flip is rubbing it in. Herrmann in the first half? It’s like he’s waving his hand within inches of Van Gundy’s face, saying “I’m not touching you, I’m not touching you.”

  51. 51 tbranch

    Herman and Rattler on the floor together… hmmm….

  52. 52 Keegan

    Now that’s a good thing.

  53. 53 tbranch

    Didn’t Herrmann make a first half appearance in game one?

  54. 54 Dash Rick

    Was THAT the play Flip drew up? Doubt it…

  55. 55 Dash Rick

    “Not foul trouble; those were earned fouls” -Rasheed

  56. 56 Prophecy_Projectz

    Horrible final 2 minutes to end an otherwise great quarter.

  57. 57 tbranch

    Sheed telling it like it is.

  58. 58 Forty

    After shooting 1-7 and having a game low -15, maybe Rashard would be better served to play closer to just 5 minutes in game 3 so he’ll have more energy?

  59. 59 Didn't watch the game

    “It’s not foul trouble, it’s fouls EARNED”

    Best quote ever.

  60. 60 Phil Saunders

    Hows Flip look tonight…im stuck in Nicaragua and dont know if ill be able to get to a bar in time to see the game…sounds like his switch to the zone gave the Maginas some fits….stay strong Flip, im with you in spirit.

  61. 61 Other Matt

    I absolutely love Charles Barkley. I do not turn away when he speaks because there’s a 99.3% chance I’m going to laugh out loud.

  62. 62 piñon lopez

    i do like flip going to the bench - they are stepping up - and it makes a great synergy to keep things hot and rest the starters - apparent mistakes in the early games with philly-though that may really be the starter’s issues more than anyone else.

    needless to say, if amir was in we’d be winning. fire flip.

    LETS GO STONES!

  63. 63 tbranch

    I wouldn’t put Dwayne Wade in “my five” either.

  64. 64 yak

    Sir Charles could read the phone book, and get his own sitcom/reality show.

  65. 65 Other Matt

    tbranch, you spelled it wrong.

  66. 66 Diablo

    hmmm…not like this run they have made.

  67. 67 Forty

    shrug, the three point giveth, the three point taketh away

  68. 68 Diablo

    *don’t like this run they have made.

  69. 69 tbranch

    Dewayne?

  70. 70 Prophecy_Projectz

    Get it together boys….

  71. 71 tbranch

    D’waine?

  72. 72 LawyerBoy

    tbranch: Dwyane, I dunno why the y is before the a either.

  73. 73 tbranch

    need to go to prince now while he’s hot.

  74. 74 Dash Rick

    Sheed’s pass to Max was beautiful…

    These 3s are annoying…

  75. 75 Prophecy_Projectz

    Damn they found there stroke….

  76. 76 Forty

    what a ludicrous noncall

  77. 77 tbranch

    Maybe he spells it wrong… not me. lol

  78. 78 Diablo

    So when are we going to guard the perimeter?

  79. 79 Prophecy_Projectz

    Dont think we can win this…?

  80. 80 Prophecy_Projectz

    Dammitt….

  81. 81 tedwick

    wow. not catching any breaks. they can’t go 100% on 3s the rest of the game, right?

  82. 82 Prophecy_Projectz

    We’re done.

  83. 83 tbranch

    Just gotta play through this crazy 3 point shooting spurt. Can’t last forever.

  84. 84 Dash Rick

    I hate it when Rip tries to go coast to coast. It makes me cringe every time.

  85. 85 Diablo

    I think Maxiell got a piece of that ball.

  86. 86 LawyerBoy

    Howard would be having a fantastic game if his turnovers counted as rebounds.

  87. 87 Forty

    that little stare down by mo at our bench was comical…he’s such a freaking scrub. what a marginal player.

  88. 88 Dash Rick

    7 for 7… 8 for 8… that can’t last. Can it? Even if for a game, not for a series.

    I like way the boys keep executing. No need to get rattled. They know this too shall pass.

  89. 89 Prophecy_Projectz

    F that, why dont they trap zone like in the 2nd?

  90. 90 Forty

    lol to “we’re done” after a team goes 7-7 from beyond the arc — i’d be willing to wager on a little regression to the mean

  91. 91 Prophecy_Projectz

    I can see this Magic team hitting these all day. They gotta do something.

  92. 92 Sauce1977

    Detroit slacked off on the perimeter, and bingo, 3-city. Then Orlando started making 3s they shouldn’t.

    I heard some TNT announcer say “go back to the zone.” Really? Isn’t Detroit’s defense late in getting to the perimeter? Wouldn’t a zone just open up more outside shots for Orlando? Or am I wrong?

  93. 93 Other Matt

    Ladies and gentlemen, I give you progression towards the mean.

  94. 94 b23

    Did Bob Seger just have a little bump of coke?

    That was Seger, right?

  95. 95 Other Matt

    I think the officials can’t decide whether to call this thing tight, or call it like it’s a playoff game. Really inconsistent on the whistle tonight.

  96. 96 Forty

    rashard traveled there

  97. 97 Prophecy_Projectz

    ugh….at this pussification

  98. 98 LawyerBoy

    Probably the right call by the ref, but Ratliff looked like a volleyball player on that swat.

  99. 99 tbranch

    progression toward the mean… math spoils the day again.

  100. 100 Dash Rick

    When Sheed got fouled there, you could see him say, “bout time”… Its getting bumpy in the paint.

  101. 101 Forty

    suck it lando

  102. 102 Other Matt

    Rasheed turning the clock back with the oop!

  103. 103 Diablo

    RASHEED!

    Nice pass Prince.

  104. 104 b23

    beautiful block + alley oop.

  105. 105 Dash Rick

    Thing of beauty! Tay to Roscoe!

  106. 106 b23

    one-handed, no less.

  107. 107 Forty

    SHIT SHIT SHIT we better not lose this three

  108. 108 Diablo

    CHAUNCEY for Three!

  109. 109 Other Matt

    I don’t think that 3 is going to count. I was thinking “way too much time has gone by here”.

  110. 110 Forty

    boy imagine if this was end of fourth quarter…wow, what a screw up by the palace

  111. 111 Diablo

    man they are going to take away the three.

  112. 112 LawyerBoy

    Fratello just counted the seconds aloud when the tape was being shown in slow motion. That qualifies for me as unintentional comedy.

  113. 113 Other Matt

    How hard is this? Get out a stop watch, watch the feed, figure it out.

  114. 114 Dash Rick

    So what do you think? Yes or no? I say: yes it was good.

  115. 115 Other Matt

    Man, I dunno, upon further review, that’s awful close.

  116. 116 b23

    aren’t we owed a shot clock gift?

  117. 117 Forty

    i say not that close, and it was late…we just got a break

  118. 118 Dash Rick

    I was right!

  119. 119 Other Matt

    If we win, I hope it’s by more than 2. That could cause a little ugliness.

  120. 120 Forty

    svg should throw the challenge flag

  121. 121 Diablo

    Thank you they counted the three. Pistons up two.

  122. 122 LawyerBoy

    Not going to matter when we win by more than 3.

  123. 123 Laughton

    Ooooh, controversy!

  124. 124 Prophecy_Projectz

    Allowing 36 points is inexcusable….turriable quarter!

  125. 125 Other Matt

    Does anybody else find that song from the Sprite commercial to be catchy?

  126. 126 Garrett

    My wife is watching Jon and Kate Plus Eight. Ugh.

  127. 127 Dash Rick

    Anyone have a pick tonight for the Spurs Hornets? I got the Hornets in a close one.

  128. 128 Prophecy_Projectz

    No not really

  129. 129 Didn't watch the game

    “The shot clock operator is from Minnesota”

    My diabolical plan has succeeded!!!!!!

  130. 130 Garrett

    Wow, I hate to say it, but Dwight just ate a baby.

  131. 131 Other Matt

    I hate that we have to buy about 4 minutes here with the Rattler on the floor. Not that I don’t like him, but I find some discomfort with him on the floor in the 4th quarter of a close game.

  132. 132 Prophecy_Projectz

    Pistons playing tight on offense

  133. 133 Dash Rick

    Maxy’s jumper is spot on!

  134. 134 LawyerBoy

    Maxiell did not have that jumper when he came here. Bless him for adding to his game; bless that Baby Eater.

  135. 135 Garrett

    Maxiell has a nice little jumper! The babies of Orlando can sleep a bit easier knowing he might not be so ferocious around the rim all the time.

  136. 136 Diablo

    Prince with the Swat!

  137. 137 Forty

    it’d be ok if rip wanted to show up today

  138. 138 Prophecy_Projectz

    Stop giving it to Rip put Sheed and Chauncey in the game

  139. 139 Dash Rick

    I don’t like this.

  140. 140 Other Matt

    Yeah, it’s time to go with the A team here. We might have tried to hang on one possession too long there with Stuckey and Theo on the floor. Time to bring Sheed back.

  141. 141 Sauce1977

    Detroit’s getting bum rushed on missed shots. It doesn’t matter what defensive set they run, Orlando’s getting it down there the whole 2nd half faster than Detroit can recover. On top of that, Detroit’s offense has slowed to an utter crawl, and nobody’s moving anymore because they’re winded racing after Orlando on their manic breaks.

  142. 142 E-Double

    Offensively we are playing very tight. When you think that a 36 point quater equates to a 144 pt game, it gives you a perspective of how HORRIBLE our defense was in that third quater. Come on boys. Lets go.

  143. 143 Didn't watch the game

    So much for the game plan. Defend nobody, pass nowhere. This is great.

  144. 144 Prophecy_Projectz

    Im just worried now about when we head to Orlando, cause you expect the Magic to play better at home. And this is not like Philly where you can just turn the switch on. This team is tough…..I really wanted us to win this game to go with a 2-0 lead. Its not looking like thats gonna happen.

  145. 145 Dash Rick

    Sheeeeeeeed

  146. 146 Forty

    dumb reach in sheed

  147. 147 Other Matt

    Is this an f-ing playoff game or not? COME ON!

  148. 148 Dash Rick

    Ouch five fouls

  149. 149 Forty

    OH WOW. now that is not a playoff foul.

  150. 150 Other Matt

    Orlando is FREAKING getting away with murder on their offensive end. Swallow the freaking whistle guys.

  151. 151 Prophecy_Projectz

    Fuck these refs….

    I mean thanks for the first half. But F them now.

  152. 152 tbranch

    Hamilton wakes up.

  153. 153 Laughton

    Close it out now

  154. 154 E-Double

    if they keep calling all these touchy fouls when we defend howard, we’re in trouble. we need someone to get hot, like quick to combat the refs kissing howard’s ass man.

  155. 155 Dash Rick

    Deeeee-Troooooooit Basketball!

  156. 156 Forty

    didn’t chaunce slap him first?

  157. 157 Other Matt

    The officiating is a complete joke tonight. I hate that call. Similar call goes in favor of Orlando earlier. Unbelievable.

  158. 158 Forty

    hmm, never a doubt, eh dwight?

  159. 159 LawyerBoy

    THEOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!

  160. 160 Forty

    OH CHRIST. this could be our season if he’s hurt.

  161. 161 Dash Rick

    That was a hard fall. Can’t blame BC for stayin’ down on that one.

  162. 162 Dash Rick

    CB not BC

  163. 163 tbranch

    maybe Rip just woke up to take a piss then went back to sleep.

  164. 164 E-Double

    Dick Stockton said the block and rebound was Ratliff instead of Maximus. I could go for that mistake if Ratliff was in the game, but he’s on the bench. Dick needs his geretal man.

  165. 165 tbranch

    CBill got up from that and nailed em both. Tough guy indeed.

  166. 166 Laughton

    This is where our experience and poise down the stretch will show.

  167. 167 LawyerBoy

    Sorry E-Double, let me change my THEOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!! to Baby Eater!!!!! I’m kinda listening to Stockton without watching terribly intently.

  168. 168 LawyerBoy

    Mason borders on crazy.

  169. 169 Jim

    We need to get Tay involved on offense…he’s shot well all game and Turkoglu has 5 fouls

  170. 170 Other Matt

    Wow… I thought for sure they were going to call traveling on Rip there.

  171. 171 Prophecy_Projectz

    I would have loved for that to count

  172. 172 Forty

    damnit jameer

  173. 173 Laughton

    Lewis with the CHOKE

  174. 174 Forty

    smart foul by nelson there

  175. 175 Laughton

    Well, that takes care of nelson

  176. 176 Other Matt

    I hate that call against Nelson. Are we really calling fouls away from the play on crucial players here down the stretch of a playoff game. Let them play!

  177. 177 Forty

    do we go hack a dwight here?

  178. 178 Other Matt

    Except, you know, a question mark where it belongs in there.

  179. 179 Forty

    (obviously only if he touches it)

  180. 180 Dash Rick

    I wish he would made both of those…

  181. 181 Prophecy_Projectz

    GOd Dammitt!!

  182. 182 Garrett

    Dwight is a man on the glass. He gets EVERYTHING.

  183. 183 Dash Rick

    Ouch Maxy!!

  184. 184 Sauce1977

    Orlando came to play the 2nd half.

  185. 185 Other Matt

    EWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWw

  186. 186 LawyerBoy

    Ill-advised, Hedo.

  187. 187 Dash Rick

    Execution?

  188. 188 Sauce1977

    Way to hold onto it, Pistons.

  189. 189 LawyerBoy

    Ill-advised, Chauncey.

  190. 190 Laughton

    Poor decision by Billups, he shoulda taken the shot.

  191. 191 Prophecy_Projectz

    Morons, complete morons

  192. 192 Dash Rick

    This could hurt… bad…

  193. 193 Prophecy_Projectz

    Idiot boy was obviously trying to draw the foul and then when he didnt hear the whistle he threw to Tay who wasnt expecting it.

  194. 194 Diablo

    Play defense please!!!

  195. 195 LawyerBoy

    Lock-down Rashard and Hedo, and if Dwight sees the ball, foul him.

  196. 196 Other Matt

    YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!

    (That ball totally went off us!)

  197. 197 Diablo

    Deeeetroit Basketballll!

  198. 198 g

    My world is upside down. Flip Saunders has turned into a competent playoff coach.

    Boney, however, is still wrong.

  199. 199 Prophecy_Projectz

    I would literally hold onto the ball even if it meant crouching in a fetal position and hold onto it.

  200. 200 Other Matt

    Hamilton totally Ginobli’d. Well done, Rip.

  201. 201 Laughton

    Orlando = Dumb down the stretch

  202. 202 tbranch

    looked like it came off magic hands and rolled between piston legs

  203. 203 Prophecy_Projectz

    ooooh lol

  204. 204 Sauce1977

    Huge sigh of relief.

    Man, Orlando’s WAAAAAAAY different with Stan Van Gundy helming ‘em.

  205. 205 Prophecy_Projectz

    Obviously lol. This is gonna be a series as expected

  206. 206 Sauce1977

    Great, thanks TNT, you just showed a time-count of 5.2 seconds for that 4.8 left at the end of the 3rd when Billups hit that 3. We won’t hear the end of it.

    Orlando the next two games is going to be frigging ugly.

  207. 207 Other Matt

    Stan Van Gundy may be a fantastic basketball coach, but awful at dressing himself. Has to be in the top 5 worst dressed people in America.

  208. 208 Laughton

    Orlando will probably appeal that 3 at the end of the third. According to TNT it was 5.2 sec elapsed when Billups let go.

  209. 209 Prophecy_Projectz

    There gonna whine in the press tommorrow about that 3 by Chaunce at the end of the 3rd arent they? I mean I couldnt it with 1 sec still on the clock.

  210. 210 Laughton

    It dont matter though, because even if it was waved off Orlando still would have choked.

  211. 211 g

    More lip reading fun:

    “F–king Bul–hit!”

    – SVG aka the gnome, walking off the court, end of game 2

  212. 212 Garrett

    lollersk8z Stern <3 drama

  213. 213 Sauce1977

    If they appeal it, it does nothing. The flow of the game would have been changed, but the W doesn’t change if they lop off 3 points. Unless David Stern wants to be a real jackass and replay the game starting from the 4th, we got that lucky break.

  214. 214 Prophecy_Projectz

    Nice win, but like I said its a series still to me. Orlando might have found its stroke and thats crucial at home.

    Lets get ready! Good Night all!

  215. 215 Sauce1977

    Why does Detroit give all these teams a generous helping of confidence?

  216. 216 Sauce1977

    You know what?? FUCK IT. Good win, Pistons. Go fuck yourselves, Orlando!

  217. 217 Prophecy_Projectz

    This aint really about them slacking but more of the Magic stepping up. They were gonna hit those 3s eventually.

  218. 218 Forty

    You know Magic fans are going to flip out over the clock thing. Come on, it’s an unreviewable play. What do you want the officials to do? They were off by a tenth of a second and made a judgment call. Should we go back and look at whether they let too much time run off the clock on the play before the inbounds? What if they had started the clock, but just two tenths of a second late? Then they review it and count it. It sucks, but it’s not the refs’ fault. Maybe you think the competition committee should look at making something like that reviewable, but it’s hardly “bad officiating.”

  219. 219 LawyerBoy

    g: Agreed on the Flip Saunders is a competent coach, though I’ve been asserting that contention for quite some time now. As for Boney being wrong about Rip, consider me the standard flag bearer for that campaign. As much as I like Monta Ellis (as suggested as a reasonable trade value for Rip), he ain’t going 89.7% from the FT line through 8 playoff games, though Kevin Martin might, I suppose.

  220. 220 Slappy

    This was the game for Orlando to steal. They may have blown their wad. I could easily see them dropping Game 3.

  221. 221 Laughton

    Don’t forget Orlando was lights out from 3 in the 3rd, that kept them in it. Our perimeter D was average and not up to scratch. If we can take the 3 away again next game, then they will hopefully struggle.

    I still like the way this series feels.

  222. 222 Forty

    I’d take Kevin Martin over Rip in a heartbeat. I think Sacto doesn’t do that trade though…

    Also, re: Orlando appealing to the league. It seems counterintuitive to me that they would make something unreviewable in game and then review it post-game AND do a replay.

  223. 223 Didn't watch the game

    They can whine all they like. The most the NBA could do is detract three from the final score. If they try to take away the basket, the Pistons can justifiably say that they were only reading the clock.

    Look, other than a ridiculous outburst by the Magic (odds of them replicating their absurd shooting spell in the 3rd are .07 percent) we had them destroyed.

    Pistons in 2…

  224. 224 Michael

    I’m shocked that Orlando couldn’t pull that out with everything they had going for them. They had better use the trip home to get their act together or this will be a short series.

    Chauncey’s three might not be fair, but it wouldn’t have been fair to take it away either considering that the Pistons had nothing to go by but what the clock said. No win situation for the refs.

  225. 225 LawyerBoy

    Forty: And people think Rip is bad at protecting the ball? You’d want nothing to do with the new K-Mart if you were at all concerned about protecting the rock (not suggesting you are or ever said so). My reason in pointing this out (I think I did this a long time ago in some other thread based on a question posed by Mike Payne) is that Rip, Monta and Kevin Martin are all generally comparable players with different strengths and weaknesses and none as a player on the whole is significantly better than the other. Long story short, Rip is great, and all haters can go to the left, to the left.

  226. 226 Jim

    Orlando definitely got the short end of the stick at the end of the 3rd, but when Chauncey and Stuckey had the ball they look up at the clock and still see 4.8 left…if the clock was running they would have played it out differently.

  227. 227 Forty

    @ Didn’t watch the game: great point. Who’s to say Stuckey didn’t glance at the clock and then decide to pass? This isn’t a “you said Shaq had 6 fouls when he didn’t have 6 fouls” situation. It’s impossible to say how that play would have gone, had the clock been started on time.

  228. 228 Rob G

    I got a lot of sympathy for the refs on that one, because if they took it away based on time, one could easily make the argument that Stuckey might have taken that shot (he was up before the TV crew clock). In a way, it seems to be Orlando’s luck - first Chauncey squirts by with a travel in a regular season game, now this. But, as my wife said, the Magic made enough bonehead plays down the stretch that they really didn’t deserve that game, regardless.

    Jason Maxiell has to be the MVP so far. Every good play the Stones do, it seems that he is in there in some way. Great, great defense, man-size rebounding, and a damn impressive little jump shot. Wow.

  229. 229 Jim

    Well ESPN’s headline is “Bad Judgement?”…then it says “Just how long does dribbling, two passes and a three-point shot take? That was the question looming over Detroit’s 100-93 win in Game 2,
    as shot-clock error left Orlando disputing its latest loss”…so we won’t here the end of this for a while. Hopefully it helps motivate Detroit since I’m sure they’ll get sick of all the questions related to the clock malfunction.

  230. 230 Forty

    LB, Kevin Martin’s PER is 21st in the NBA. Hamilton’s is 51st. Martin is 5 years younger. I would argue they are not that close in value…

    Ellis is 39th, also higher than Rip, though closer. But he’s just 22. For that reason alone, I think it’s clear that G.S. doesn’t do Monta for Rip. I’d also add in Monta’s case that he’d be a nice penetrator, which this team lacks (other than Stuckers).

    I’m not suggesting the NBA assign contracts solely by Hollinger’ rankings. But even if you think their performance is similar, the massive difference in age for these guys makes it a no brainer, right?

    But I’m not sure why we’re having this debate, since as you point out, I never said trade Rip…for whom I don’t think we would get nearly as much as people think we would…

  231. 231 Forty

    lol at the AP story. is this a sentence that belongs in a news story (as opposed to an op/ed column)?

    Orlando quickly got back into the game in the third quarter, only to be demoralized by the timer’s slow trigger finger and the questionable decision by the officiating crew.

  232. 232 Sauce1977

    Actually, Jim, you hit it on the head. Detroit wouldn’t have drawn out the possession that long. It’s amazing that Billups even knew the time, with reference to some instinctual sense . . . he pushed that thing like there was 4.8 left, got it up within .4 of the actual time with no clock running. Good stuff.

  233. 233 kevin s.

    I think it’s kinda funny that Howard responded with a 22-18 game. That said, it took a nightmare evening from Hamilton for the Magic to be in this.

    We got cocky letting the Magic shoot wide-open threes in the second quarter, and they made us pay in the third. Let’s just stay with the game plan.

  234. 234 Sauce1977

    I’ll skip the Rip talk, since you guys never want to put a finger on McDyess, so whatever.

    How about great nights . . . Prince had a hell of a game. He had 10 rebounds, 17 points, and he hasn’t let Turkoglu get the best of him yet. Hedo hasn’t had much success yet, and he had some last year against Detroit in that 4-0 opening series.

    Billups had a nice game, but you can tell Orlando game-planned Detroit well by taking the Pistons guards out of rhythm with tighter defense. You can see it in little things, like Billups’s 4 assists, Rip’s terrible shooting night, and other things like Jameer Nelson being incapable of defending tight, thus fouling out like McDyess. Bogans also had 5 fouls. They did exactly what Detroit did to Howard and the Orlando bigs, well, if you call Rashard a ‘big.’

    Detroit’s going to have to figure out something better than Rasheed chasing Rashard Lewis. They’re running two wings out there with Turkoglus as the ‘true’ 3, Lewis as the 4 / pseudo-3, and Howard as the PF/C. Howard also went crazy in the 2nd because the refs ate that whistle, letting the big guy push off and grab the Pistons a hell of a lot more than he ever should have been allowed.

  235. 235 LawyerBoy

    Forty: I don’t particularly disagree with anything you said (Though, Hollinger’s PER has and always will mean absolutely nothing to me. If a guy is as horrible as Hollinger is at predicting actual results, I’m not going to give his stats any credence), but the point of the original discussion is that Boney keeps dissing Rip without a particularly good reason (or more). Most level-headed cats around these parts know that in spite of their own idiosyncracies, every starter (counting McDyess AND Maxiell) brings something that this team benefits from. We’re better as a team with every last one of ‘em than without one or more. I think we can agree on that. Rip haters, I believe what I said was, to the left, to the left!

  236. 236 Rob G

    “Detroit’s going to have to figure out something better than Rasheed chasing Rashard Lewis.” Agreed. I thought Max did admirably well, and it seems as though we might need a little Herrmann, as well (I’d say Jarvis, but his D is a bit foul-happy). I still think we were effective on Howard tonight, despite his typical 20-15, but the balance between attacking him and defending the 3 got a bit out of whack. Can we expect another 7 for 7 3 ball quarter out of Orlando? I don’t think so. But we have to guard ‘em out there…

  237. 237 Sauce1977

    Rob G, they were getting up the court on Detroit after a missed shot, racing up there just like Philly was doing, just like Chicago did to us last year, out-gunning us on transition, like Detroit does to many teams. Detroit couldn’t get back in time. That’s absolutely a part of how they got so open in the 3rd, nailing those 36 points . . . they did have some amazing luck, like you said, that won’t happen again, not all in one quarter.

  238. 238 Forty

    I’m just so happy Jarvis is out of the rotation. I’d go three guards with Afflalo any day of the week over Hayes.

  239. 239 Sauce1977

    Here’s another sign of our own defensive strategy on their bigs, and how it worked: Rashard had 6 turnovers, Turkoglu had 6, and Howard had 5. That’s a hell of a lot of mistakes on offense. We paid for it dearly in the 2nd half with fouls, but they paid for it just a little more.

  240. 240 Boney

    4-18.

  241. 241 piñon lopez

    i don’t give a rat’s dropping about the 3 pointer and the clock not working. Who cares if they whine whine whine - not me - we won - and even without that probably would have - the loss is a loss and the only people who should bother being upset about it is orlando fans - cause its a loss for orlando and the team may as well focus on game 3 and not complain about that one issue.

    secondly, i am glad I read the comments after the game - what is up with people saying “we’re done” in the middle of the 3rd quarter? were we down by 25? wtf. if you’re a detroit fan get some cajones and post after the game if they blew it. none the less, i thank everyone for the great drama, believing one minute and doubting the next.

  242. 242 kevin s.

    Exactly. If we’re going to whine, how about noting the fact that there seems to be nothing the Pistons can do to earn a charge? Nelson and Dooling have free reign to simply throw themselves into the lane, whether or not we see it coming and establish position.

  243. 243 Slappy

    So how do you take your NBA Finals, Mr. Stern? Lakers vs. Celtics, or Kobe vs. Lebron? Spurs haven’t looked this bad since ‘02 vs. the Lakers, pre-Ginobili. No way Hornets (provided no miracles by Spurs) get past Lakers and no way do we see an ‘04 rematch! San Antonio was the one team to take out the Lakers, so consider it a pre-emptive strike.

  244. 244 IsraeliPiston

    Tayshun is playing way to many minutes - we need to find a way to let him rest - I say bring in Afflalo

  245. 245 LawyerBoy

    Boney: Wow, Rip shot 4-18 tonight. BFD. Get a hobby outside of incessant Rip bashing, and please don’t bring your rancor where it does not belong. Tim Duncan went 1-9 and came up with 5 points in Game 1 against New Orleans. You’re going to tell me Tim Duncan’s 19 and 11 per this season is voided by one crap performance? You have no argument and you’re just trying to incite a reaction (which fortunately for you, is a trick that still works on me). Obviously a complete truth alludes you for some obsession with wasting our time by littering DBB with your minutia. Seriously dude, Matt ought to ban you for all this incendiary crap you’re spewing. If I were running the place I would. Take your vendetta somewhere morons might listen. Try perkisabeast.com, I hear they welcome absurd opinions there based solely in fantasy. If Matt ever commissions another piece of tripe like that authored by a jerk with an outlandish agenda who won’t shut up even after the community as a whole calls for it, I for one, will go elsewhere.

  246. 246 Josh

    If the TNT clock is truly tied into the game clock, consider the following…

    After the Prince to Wallace alley-oop, the clock stopped at 20.1 and then suddenly jumped to 19.9. That’s .2 of a second. The clock showed 5.1 seconds before the Pistons in-bound, add the lost time and it seems we’d still be okay.

    Therefore… screw it. In the words of Ron Jermemy, oops Stan Van Gundy, this whole clock stuff is “F*cking Bullsh*t.” It’s not our fault Minnesota sent us Spartan Bob.

  247. 247 Sauce1977

    lol Spartan Bob.

  248. 248 JackDutch

    when i saw the headline about it being a questionable clock call, i thought it happened in the last couple minutes of the game. at the end of the 3rd is a controversy? puh-lease. the game could have gone 1000 different ways from there. there’s somebody on that fanhouse link of matt’s DEMANDING that the game be friggin’ replayed! how far from reality do you find yourself where replaying the game is a reasonable course of action from a 3rd quarter clock malfunction? good lord.

    i figured we lose one game to them based on insane 3 point shooting. and then i figured we’d lose one based on dwight howard going superman on us. well both kind of happened at the same time (33 of their 36 in the 3rd were from 3 and howard almost ended up with a 20-20), and we held on for the win. it’ll be interesting to see if this game boosted or drained orlando’s confidence.

    jason maxiell picked a great time of year to play the best basketball of his career.

  249. 249 D_town_fan_in_chi_town

    Prophecy you should change your name to Wrong. Sixers in Six? twice! This game over? Seriously, there’s nothing wrong with guessing wrong, just don’t call yourself Prophecy.

  250. 250 Toledo Joe

    To their credit, Van Gundy and the Magic players *didn’t* whine about the 3-point shot/clock issue after the game.

    Tayshaun is playing a lot of minutes. I’ve been saying for literally years (since Corliss left) that Detroit really needed a decent backup SF. It appears that Flip has lost confidence in Hayes. Sure, Hayes’s performance in his limited minutes in the Philly series was pretty mediocre. But now we have a problem.

    We can’t have Tay play 42+ minutes a game and expect him to do well down the line in the playoffs, assuming Detroit advances. Do we want to play Herrmann significant minutes in tight games? He really doesn’t have much experience playing with our other main-rotation guys, and we still don’t really know what he has. The other option seems to be Afflalo in various three-guard permutations. I love Aaron, but he’s at a height disadvantage against most other SFs, and Detroit needs more offense off its bench.

  251. 251 Prophecy_Projectz

    D_town_fan_in_chi_town
    May 6th, 2008 at 9:49 am
    Prophecy you should change your name to Wrong. Sixers in Six? twice! This game over? Seriously, there’s nothing wrong with guessing wrong, just don’t call yourself Prophecy.

    I love being wrong in these situations, I am the eternal pessimist. But allow me to stay on course and say I am very worried about Games 3 and 4…

  252. 252 ohad

    I agree wih LB. I could use a little less Rip (and Flip) bashing until the end of the series…

  253. 253 LawyerBoy

    Thank you Ohad. I’d hate to think what some fans would’ve been saying during the Patriots’ first 18 games this past season were they fans of New England. I find Prophecy’s pessimism adorable in a little kid-like way (not actually trying to call Prophecy a little kid) and there’s nothing wrong with worrying about the Pistons. That’s Prophecy’s style and he owns up to it. Going after a player just to incite reaction from others (as Boney has done) is not a tolerable style for DBB.

    Flip and Rip (in spite of his 4-18 performance yesterday) are doing nothing short of a fantastic job, as is every member of the Pistons squad. Tay averaging over 60% from the field in eight playoff games? Outrageous! The boys are playing inspired ball right now and absolutely look every bit the part of NBA Champions. I have had a tendency in the past to come down hard on Chauncey because I think he has an inflated ego and I always resented the “savior”, “Mr. Big Shot” adulation he received from the fan base and at times the media. He’s slipped up in these games, but so has everyone else from Rip to Flip to even the superbly-playing Tayshaun. Every guy on this squad, when called upon, has been getting the job done on the whole. Every guy is proving his worth and bashing anyone at this point is just based on sheer dislike of particular guy, not his actual output.

    Boney’s crusade against Rip has been turned up a few notches the past few days (not like Boney hating Rip is suddenly news), and it’s inappropriate for DBB. His reasons for not liking the guy seem to have little to nothing to do with Rip’s actual production. Worse, it seems like Boney derives pleasure from Rip’s struggles. You can dislike a guy’s game or ‘tude all you want (see: aforementioned displeasure I voiced about Chauncey) and argue that point logically (or emotionally in a reasonable manner) here, but celebrating and/or flaunting the failures of one of the Pistons is absolutely over the line and has no place here. What makes DBB great is not just the diversity of opinion available (where this whole Rip bashing thing started out), but the tendency for the community to be generally respectful and promote intelligent debate regarding our beloved Pistons (and other matters).

    We should keep it that way.

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