Daniel Gibson: 12/12 from the line; 21 points overall; and some big-time plays to get his team motivated.
Coupla nights ago, even I would've asked "WHO? Debbie Gibson? She plays for the Cavs..?"
Now I've downloaded his picture...he's going on my "Dirty Bee-Yatches" memo board, along with Flash Wade and a few select others. Within the confines of the Bat cave, it's just me and them--MWA-HA-HA-HA-HAAAA...
But, seriously; where do I even begin after having sat and studied my Pistons as they, for lack of a better term, "melted down?"
I'm going to point at what I've been saying all along was the one mistake Dumars made while tweaking my Pistons after Larry Brown: Flip Saunders.
I can live with, and even understand, the whole C Webb thing. But Flip Saunders coaching MY Pistons..?
Uh-uh--don't get it.
I mean I understand that the entire purpose of his hiring was to kind of re-cook the Piston's offense ala Timberwolves. But is it even possible to integrate such an offense into a core that was specifically put together for, and higly successful at, defense?
In my opinion the answer is simple: NO.
This beast was bred to protect it's own basket, against all agressors, to the death. And, by getting stop after stop, to eventually wear down it's agressor, therefore getting to their basket as many times as necessary to win.
Which is why me, the analysts, even Stevie Wonder see that this is the reason why my Pistons sometimes (more like always) play with no sense of urgency. They always tell themselves "This is just another war of attrition--and we always win these..."
But they're wrong.
Offensively Big Ben was about as handy as a pair of cement tennis shoes. But he wasn't there for offense. He was there to slap peoples' stuff into the fifth row and gobble up the scraps comin' off the boards--on both ends of the floor. That left the other four free to roam around the court, making offensive plays--Hamilton curling off a screen anyone..? I think I'll have one.
With him gone, not only has Flip had to re-cook the offense, he's had to throw the defense into the microwave too and get it up to "game time" temperature. (And we all remember that WICKED Timberwolves defense don't we?)
When Marshall out powers anybody under the rim, your defensive mentality is faultering. He looks as if he doesn't even know where the Cav's weightroom IS, much less like he uses it! I've got all the respect for the world for any pro athlete; but Marshall should've been on his back looking up into the eyes of the beast with a little humiliation and a lot of respect, not standing at the line completing a three-point play.
I'm not counting my Pistons out yet, though.
I'm hoping they can learn to do something they, themselves, say they never ever do; play with a sense of urgency...play like they don't want to go home.
But even if they regroup and win this series.
Even if they come back strong and smash the Spurs.
I won't enjoy any of it as much as I could...
Because I'm already wondering what my Pistons are going to look like next season. Joe Dumars is no sucker---
I know he sees the same things I do. And he gonna fix 'em!
As a Pistons fan I'm ashamed to admit this; but, I didn't watch the game and didn't even set my digital recorder to record it---thought it might jinx 'em. OOOPS!
(I was supposed to spend Memorial Day here, in H-town but, after I was assured that it would be raining all weekend, I let my cousin Javi (Javier) talk me into dusting off the old "CUP OF BEER FOR TATAS" sign and joining him on the beach at Padre Island. Where it rained all weekend...but cleared up on Memorial Day. So, we've got plenty of great pictures fo my cousin Ricardo and his buddies in Iraq.)
Lisa4usc seems to think LeBron is going to carry the Cavs to the promised land this year.
I disagree, of course; but she makes some pretty good arguements. Okay, so she doesn't really make any sensible arguement to support her prediction...but she's very pretty--and in South Texas that's good enough for us!
I want to focus on the Pistons, here.
If the Pistons let the Cavs take them 7, then they will have already lost the prize which they are ultimately seeking; the championship.
The Spurs are pretty much just choosing which Jazz player they want to abuse on any given night and doing it...
vanGundy and the guys are talking about "tough physical play..."
I've always appreciated the Spurs. I knew from the moment they signed Duncan and stood him next to Robinson they would eventually win a ring... And knowing the Spurs so well, I know better than to call it "tough physical play," I call it what it is (and all Spurs fans should know this) I call it an invitation to the Jazz, to any team, to play THEIR game.
And, apparently the Jazz think that "tough and physical" is their game too, cause they accepted the invitation...and now each Jazz player, in turn, has had his #### handed to him by the Spurs.
I absolutely love what the Warriors did this season and post season--they are the feel good story of the year...
But if the Jazz still think they can beat the Spurs by trying to beat them up they way they beat up those little guys from Californy...they're crazy.
Now, all that said--
The Pistons have got to put the Cavs away ASAP if they want a fair chance at beating the Spurs. It is an ABSOLUTE NECESSITY that they put them away as quickly as possible.
I love DEEETROIT and hope they win another ring.
But dementia is not one of my psychological problems; if they go into the Championship Series all tired and bruised because they had to win the East in 7, then the will have already lost. Simple as that.
The Pistons will need every iota of energy and strength to beat the Spurs, of that I am sure.
I say let the King be the King...but take away his army! For a King is merely a common man when he has no army at his command.
I never wish players physical harm but, truth is, Larry Hughes is hurt---he's no longer a threat; I'll take it. All the Pistons have to do now is play DEETROIT! basketball and shut down every single player LeBron passes to. And, every-once-in-a-while slap him upside the head (King James) as he slashes to the basket...just to rattle him.
DEEETROIT! vs. San Antonio may not be as sexy as Sugar Ray vs. Hagglar (Personally I think it's more Ali vs. Foreman) but I want that match up, I want that Championship series.
I want to be able to tell my kids: "They beat one of the best teams there ever was..." when I talk about these har PISTONS!!!
Another hard-fought victory but, a victory none-the-less.
Anybody else notice the difference in King James during the first half of Game Two? Kenny, Charles and Magic all alluded to it At halftime during the game.
I wrote about it earlier in the day and I'll just "touch" on it quickly: King James has to be King James if the Cavs want a real chance at winning this series. Am I the only one that noticed the way he was getting those dunks early on--a 180 dunk at "game" speed against the Pistons..? Get the F' outta here! THAT'S what the Cavs need...but for 48 minutes, not just 24.
That was a good game. Loved it. Jumped up outta my chair, had the air guitar wailing and the KISS tongue wiggling at top speed, when 'SHEED layed it in OLD-SCHOOL style on LeBron after his run out.
And just so everybody knows: I may be a Pistons fan but, I ain't no Pistons fool...they have their work cut out for them! The Cavs are one epiphany away from blowing this thing open. I have no doubts in my mind about that.
I didn't like when Steve Kerr called the game "Sloppy on both ends by both teams" in the fourth.
Sloppy???
Try full of intensity! Glued-to-yer-hip, in-yo-face, slap-yo-mama intensity! This is a dog fight and both dogs are starving. The Pistons have tasted the Ultimate Win and want more; and the Cavs are tired of watching, with their tongues hanging all out of their faces, as everybody else gets to taste the sweetness of the Championship.
Damn I love this game!
Whoever wins this series is gonna have a hell-of-a time with San Antonio in the Finals, too.
Steve Kerr called that one perfectly when he said San Antonio is playing "seemless" basketball. How many different Spurs threaded the needle with perfect bounce passes, catching the cutter a he charged the hole??? Manu giving facials again???
The Spurs are definately peaking...
I gotta go clean up my livingroom---it got kind of krunk in there during the game.
But how can you not get excited when the playoffs are this damn HOT!?
I was moseying along (we like to mosey down in Texas...) and I happend upon a blog submission that said something to the effect of: "LeBron James did the right thing by passing the ball off during the last play at the end of Game One against them thar Mighty Pistons."
I laughed so hard coffee shot right out of my nose!
Whatever you say Mr./Mrs. Cavs fan, or LeBron fan--whatever the case may be.
Basketball fans know--we saw--that LeBron was already at the cup when he passed off. He HAD the lay-up. He HAD the duece, the two points that would have sent the game to overtime--barring a spectacular play by them thar Pistons.
He didn't take it...
Pistons win...
I love King James. I love what he does for the sport that I love to watch and play.
But the facts are the facts, Pardner: King James is the leader of the Cavs. Plain and simple. No two ways about it. And sure, political correctness and politeness is good; but, have one of the other Cavs players get out there and do what King James does. Have one of them get out on that court and DEMAND the complete, undivided attention of the opposition's defense.
Exactly...
Ain't gonna happen.
Not a one of 'em can do it.
I got all the respect in the world for your abilities and accomplishments, King James.
But you just keep right on passing the ball and let them awnry Pistons back into the NBA finals...
A Pistons fan down here, in Texas, would be much obliged to ya.
