One man’s journal from game seven of the Eastern Conference semis between Cleveland and Detroit.
3:30: My worst fear turns out to be unsubstantiated.Since I woke up in the morning, nursing a pretty nasty hangover (Sabres playoff win celebration) I dreaded the possibility of tuning into ABC and having to deal with Bill Walton for the better part of three hours.Turns out Hubie Brown and Mike Breem are calling the game.Whew.
3:33: It’s only two minutes into the contest and it’s already 7-0 Pistons. Has a game ever had the makings of a blowout so quickly?
3:39: Cavs couldn’t have gotten off to a worst start.Half a quarter down and they’re already trailing by ten.Flip Murray is in the lineup right now again because? Cleveland is 2-for-10 from the field.
3:42: If I was a betting man I would’ve lost my shirt.I was ready to wager my mortgage that during the first ABC commercial break, there would've been at least one promo for the finale of “Desperate Housewives”
A year ago you couldn’t sit through a pair of Tony Parker free throws without hearing about Eva Longoria and her ‘desperate’ cast mates.12 months later I’ve forgotten the show is still on the air.
(For those who care, tonight’s Desperate Housewives is a two-hour season finale in which a series of flashbacks take us back to moving-in day on Wisteria Lane for Bree, Susan, Gaby and Lynette, and to how Mary Alice Young brought them all together. Meanwhile Bree gets some frightening news, Susan moves into a trailer, Lynette discovers Tom's secret and all is not well in the house of Solis.)
3:43: Lebron scores his first bucket of the game.Over the next four possessions he also scores his second third and fourth buckets.The Lebron’s vs. Detroit Pistons showdown is officially on. 21-13 Detroit.
3:55: Cavs end the first quarter on a 9-2 run to pull within six at 21-15.To their credit, they looked like they were going to be run off the floor in the first six minutes.Coincidentally, Cleveland center is the only one other than Lebron to score in the first quarter.
3:56: The Giants play in less than 10 minutes.My question isn’t when will Barry Bonds hit No. 715 and pass Ruth, but what in the world will Pedro Gomez do when this happens?He could go one of two ways.ESPN can either send Gomez to stalk Cardinals slugger Albert Pujos for the next 7-8 years while he goes after the home record.Or perhaps they can simply freeze him in a cryogenic storage tank for the next 20 years and then thaw him out when someone from the future reaches 650 home runs.
4:03: Damon Jones clanks another three pointer. This guy would make John Starks’ gave seven against Houston look Larry Bird’ish the way he’s shooting this series.By the way, the Pistons suddenly look very lethargic and before I can finish my sentence Rashad Wallace drains a 17-footer.27-21 Detroit.
4:11: Lebron is getting very Jordanesque this game.After taking a pass from Eric Snow and slamming it home the Cavs are tied at 29.I’m starting to think this Lebron James guy is a pretty decent basketball player.
4:18: Damon Jones has his shot blocked and then on defense gets a jumper drained in his face by Chauncey Billups. Rotten rotten rotten.
4:21: Lebron has 18 points while the rest of his team combined has 13.He also has five rebounds and is 9-for-13 from the field.Think he wants to win this game?The rest of the team is 5-for-24 and the entire backcourt has combined for three points.
4:23: There it is! The first Desperate Housewives season finale promo.Wow, Longoria is really hot.What did Parker ever do to deserve that?
4:28: Rasheed Wallace is the ugliest player in the NBA.No punch line here, just wanted to throw that out.
4:33: The NBA draft lottery is being held on Tuesday.I don’t know what I’ll do myself when I tune in and realize that Elgin Baylor won’t be sitting in his usual Clippers chair.Baylor and his presence at the lottery has become as reliable as a Courtney Love drug bust. If you’re reading this Courtney, I think you were the victim of a setup.
There are three things in life I thought were certain; death, taxes and Elgin Baylor representing the Los Angeles Clippers at the NBA draft lottery.
4:38: Lebron drives to the basket and is fouled in the final seconds of the half.He hits one of two free throws to finish the first half with 21 points on 10-of-15 shooting to go with five rebound and two assists.For the first time, I’m really seeing the Michael Jordan comparisons though when I look at him I see a Magic Johnson who scores more points than I see Jordan.Detroit leads at the half, 40-38.Rip Hamilton leads Detroit with 9 points. It should be noted that the Pistons missed 10 free throws.That may come back to haunt them. If I’m being honest, I’m a little shocked.I thought for sure this game would be over by halftime.
4:51: Elliott Yamin being booted from American Idol while Katherine McPhee gets into the final two (with Taylor Hicks) symbolizes exactly what is wrong with America. This kid came from nowhere and was one of the best singers every week.After seeing his story and return home FINALLY get told, the producers missed an opportunity to have an all-time television moment next week should he have went on to win the whole thing. Instead, the producers (I have never believed the vote process is legit) decide that the silver spoon girl deserves to be in the finale. Her singing talent can’t come close to matching her looks. Let me let you in on secret, Kat.Carrie Underwood or Kelly Clarkson you are not.
(For those who don’t know, Yamin never performed in his life other than karaoke.He is a pharmacy clerk who has diabetes and a 90% hearing loss in his right ear. He became known as the emotional “good guy” on the show.)
5:06: Both teams start the third by buildings houses with all the bricks being thrown up.46-43 Detroit, and I’ll bet you Shaq is watching the game at home with a Cavs jersey on.
5:08: Pressure looks like its starting to get to the Detroit fans.For now on, we shouldn’t’ refer to a team favored to win and losing as a choke job.From this point forth, we’ll say they Peyton Manning’d.
5:09: Through four innings, Bonds has a single and a walk.Pedro’s job is still safe for now.
5:14: Under four minutes left in the third and neither team is at 50 points. Detroit is winning the quarter, 8-7.I’ve seen more action at an Ashlee Simpson concert.Detroit looks more committed to doubling James and its working.Last five Cav possessions have seen missed shots by players other than James.Flip Murray’s jumper is about as dependable as President Logan on "24"
5:17: Does anyone in NBA history run without the ball more than Rip? I’m not sure Bruce Jenner in his prime had the stamina to keep up with him.
5:18: Cavs turn the ball over for third time in last four possessions.This team is BRUTAL when Lebron isn’t taking the shots or setting up the plays (yes, he’s still in the game.)The combo of Jones, Murray and Larry Hughes are starting to look like the modern version of the Three Stooges. These guys can’t make a jumper to save their life. Combined they’re 3-for-13.
5:23: Pistons starting to open it up.A Ben Wallace wide-open lay up has Detroit up by nine points, 55-46.Cavs has hit only 2 of their last 12 shots.
5:26: Ben Wallace tips in a rebound, the Cavs are flustered and Detroit finishes the third quarter up by 10, the largest margin of the game.Lebron is held to only one point in the quarter and nobody on the Cavs has done anything in the second half. I predicted earlier Detroit would win by at least 15.At this rate, maybe I was being charitable to Cleveland.
Hubie Brown just threw out a convincing stat.Lebron is 10-for-18.The rest of the team is 7-for-34 (21%)
5:32: Hughes hits a wide open three.In other breaking news, hell has officially frozen over.
(I shouldn’t be hard on Hughes.I can’t imagine even being able to play if I was Hughes and just lost my brother and best friend.But this is game seven of a playoff series and if your head isn’t totally into the game, you shouldn’t be out there.)
5:35: Every championship team has that consummate role player who does a little bit of everything better than the role player for the opposition.Tayshaun Prince is that guy for Detroit.He tips home his own miss and Detroit is up by a dozen with 8:23 left to play.To this point, he’s played every minute, leads the Pistons with 18 points and has six rebounds.I can already see it now; he’s going to give Antoine Walker fits.
5:36: During a Cavs timeout, I realize that James has either run out of gas or he’s FINALLY feeling the pressure of what playoff game seven basketball is all about.He hasn’t made a field goal this half and has only attempted three shots.Again, it doesn’t help that not a single teammate has stepped up.Cleveland has scored 13 points in 16 minutes in the second half, and are 3-for17 from the floor.
5:44: James misses a jumper and is 0-for-6 in the second half. Hamilton hits an open jumper and Detroit is up, 67-52.
5:44: It’s official; Cleveland is just happy to have made it this far.4-for-21 as a team in the second half is Exhibit A and Damon Jones is still on the floor (Exhibit B)
5:45: I’m really looking forward to the Miami/Detroit series next round.The Pistons have the better record and will have home court advantage.They also bounced Miami from the playoffs last year.But this series has much more intrigue than last year.Pat Riley is now on the Heat sideline.Antoine Walker, Gary Payton and Jason Williams will present serious match up problems.Dwayne Wade has the potential to hurt Detroit as much as James did through six and a half games, and of course there is the Shaq factor.
How much did Cleveland take out of Detroit and to what extent did they expose some Pistons weaknesses?Without this turning into my official Eastern Finals preview, I think Detroit is in some serious trouble.
5:54: Albert Pujos homers for the third straight game and already has 22 on the season.Are you listening Pedro Gomez?
5:55: There’s only two more episodes left of the Sopranos this season and I’m sickened at the lack of blood shed.Nobody of importance has been wacked and I’m growing increasingly impatient.
I think big Vito is going to get what’s coming to him tonight.The scene with him thinking out loud about lunch time while trying to do actual work was priceless.The only question is will he be done in by Tony Soprano’s crew or Phil Leotardo?
How will Paulie Walnuts deal with cancer?Do you sense a heel turn on Christopher by Tony that would rival when Roddy Piper turned on Jimmy Snuka?What will happen with Johnny Sack? I have a feeling tonight’s episode will finally be a memorable one.
6:02: I’m shocked.Nearly three hours and only two ‘Housewives’ promos.
6:03: Lebron comes out with 58 seconds left.27 points and 8 rebounds.He has nothing to be ashamed of.His team let him down.He lived up the hype in his first year of the playoffs and then some.
6:05:Detroit advances after a 79-61 win.The 23 points scored by Cleveland in the second half matches the NBA record for futility.Cavs only get 16 points from starters not named Lebron.Prince leads Detroit with 20 points while Rip adds 15.Cleveland had opportunities to win this game. They didn’t know how to take advantage. The stooges combined to go 3-for-15 paced by Jones, who went 0-for-5.
6:06: I’m pretty good.I picked Detroit to win by 15.I was off by three (thanks Norcal for pointing this out and making me look less intelligent than I thought).
6:06: I like Miami in six (I just gave a future column away)
Dude, very nice post, so you sit at the CPU and watch the game. Lebron should be ashamed. He missed a ton of shots in the second half that had nothing to do with defense. It like that stupid Wojechowski who writes for Espn saying Kobe should take notes from Lebron. Last time I checked, Kobe has taken over games in the FINALS (ask Reggie Miller) and won three titles. (sorry to bring him up but I had to) LeBron better be up at six tomorrow working on his game as I am sure Kobe is. Nice Diary though. Check my take. It is what you saw but a little diffrent. You said Pistons by 15 huh? I really thought Lebron was Magic Johnson for a minute though, ...Remember him? I thought he might be able to demoralize the Pistons by himself in game 6 -especially- but even game seven, but the Pistons proved to have the heart that I thought they had, but I also thought Lebron might really be there too, but not quite...good Effort-
Also, you need to watch the great Pujols as I will be on Wednesday @ SF, first row by the Cardinal Bullpen! #5 should be all you dream about in Baseball and Football!
Also, that was not meant to sound like Lebron Bashing, I think he is the Best Player overall. But the Kobe Bashers are so out in full force I had to throw that in like I did. All players, if you watch enough games, don't always take "care of business".
Watching this game I really think it was MUCH more of a case of nobody on else for Cleveland showing up than Lebron not playign well. He carried the team on his back in the first half.
In the second half, Detroit took his scoring away and nobody could hit an open look. Damon Jones, Hughes and Murray were HORRIBLE. This is the NBA, you have to be able to hit an open jump shot.
And as for Pujos, I look forward to watching him play every game. A-Rod no more, Pujos is the best player in baseball.
I wrote that I "like" Miami in six. That is my prediction. No inside information there, it's what I think is going to happen. Is predicting a series forbidden these days?
I think Detroit spent a lot more energy than they wanted too against the Cavs, they only have a one day break before Miami, and I think Wade will continue to raise his game.
Unlike Lebron, Wade has an excellent cast around him.
I hear you about the Kobe thing.. I didnt take it as Lebron bashing either. He simply had NOBODY around him today.
I know Kobe has went through the same thing. Give him a little more help next year and I'll guarentee you the Cavs go further next year. In fact, I think they'll be one of the teams to beat. Lebron is very much for real.
And I also agree, he reminds me a lot more of Magic than he does Michael.
I humble myself before your greatness. This is an example of what I meant by great blogging versus just writing something. I'm an OK writer, you're a great blogger. Good luck with the contest.
LOL, you are correct about the final two points, which in turn makes my prediction off by three, which in turn makes me go from looking REALLY smart to merely "semi-intelligent" (or lucky)..
Taylor is a lot better than Kat, though that isn't saying much. Gimme a Chris and Elliott finale and I'd be TIVO'ing a playoff game on Tuesday and watching that live (May do that still anyway but don't tell anyone)
Last edited by patmoran2006 on May 21st at 6:53 PM.
Pat, funny stuff... the "Roddy Piper turned on Jimmy Snuka" reference is classic. I sometimes get the feeling Cuban (what a nimcumput) watched a lot of pro wrestling growing up, as he favors show over substance... i agree with your pick in Detroit series... Miami in 6. My Spurs take care of business Mon, then Clippers pull the upset when Duncan-jr. has a monster game. Spurs TCOB in 6 vs. Clips, and I finally have an excuse to go back to South Florida to watch: Spurs take it to the Heat.
The Piper coconot to the head of Snuka to this day is my single-favorite wrestling moment in history. Snuka had a rough couple of months, as he soon was the victim of a piledriver to the concrete by Ray "The Crippler" Stevens.
Goes to show you what happens when you mess with Captain Lou Albano.. Or make a video that features him (Lauper)
Great running blog. I've done a few of these and I'm always a bit worried its more fun for me than any of the readers (chirp, chirp) but this was enjoyable. If you ever have such worries, let them be vanquished!
As for the Sopranos, an evening with Carmela in Paris crying at every new statue was not my idea o####ood episode.
Hi.. As someone who reads all your posts, thanks for the compliment..
I was worried about the same thing, but then I said what the hell. I figured the game would be covered 10,000 different ways regardless, so hopefully I could add a little enjoyment to a dreary game (for a Cavs fan). To use my one-millionth "Idol" analagy, at this stage of the game it's all about song (blog) selection.
And yes, the Sopranos dragged.. again.. Every minute I was on the edge of my seat, just waiting.. But nada. I mean the Vito thing was pretty cool, not unexpected though. Looks like we're waiting til the final 8 episodes next year for any real excitement.
I stick by my Tony is going to turn heel on Christopher statement. Just dont know if it will happen in two weeks (why do we have to wait two weeks anyway?)
reading hiplains comment i understand where he's coming from when he's talking about worrying about the commentary and he's absolutely right about you not having to worry -- first of all let me say that I didn't get a chance to watch the game and you gave me that experience and made it better than if I'd watched the real thing -
dude the desperate housewives stuff --I'm laughing at that because we're about to watch it my girlfriend and I and now that i know what to sort of expect from what you've told me I have to say I'm excited -- i used to get excited watching the show for reasons other than plot --
Gomez will have the same problem as Sal Palantonio, who will forever be attached to T.O. They aren't bad reporters, but man, when you see their faces, you know what your gonna hear.
Gomez: Bonds is facing ___________ and is _______ over his career
Palantonio: T.O. is asking for ___________ a year and refuses to talk to ___________ until it is resolved
B.) Katherine is more attractive and has a much better voice than any girl ever in the competition. However, Taylor Hicks is the reincarnation of Rod Stewart. How can we possibly decide?
If you can't decide simply go read my "The Nowitzki Code."
Hey patmoran,
This was a great read.... very entertaining, and a nice mix of not just sports, but all types of pop culture. I was happy to see a 24 reference in there as well. I'm fired up for the 2 hour finale tonight. Look forward to reading your stuff in the future.... take care - KP
Another good peice Pat. First Alba, and now Longoria. I like it!! I don't watch "idol", but i wouldn't feel too sorry for this Yamin fella. Fame and success are just around the corner if he's as likeable and talented as you say he is, surely any idol finalist could sell 5mil based on the shows viewers alone...
Who knows.. I"m a little pissed, but failure builds character.
There are 8 or 9 REALLY strong bloggers in the finals, 3-4 decent ones who work hard.. And as for the remaining few, they must be related to soemone at Fox, that's the only logic I can come up with.
Pat - Well, 7 on my list made it. I really never expected them to take TSI, born, Ultra, sleep or capital plus Dan & TT were ineligible. Therefore, you were one of 14 who I was particularly disappointed for.
Life goes on. I don't necessarily agree with them taking 3 former finalists out of 5 that threw their hat in either. Whatever. Use your blog for yourself as a platform to display work. Then show it to people who might employ you, that's about the best I can offer you.
Great post. Love the bit about Pedro Gomez and cryogenics!
While I guess I sort of feel bad for Pedro, I also realize he sold his soul to do the Bonds watch and the fact that he'll never be able to escape that is just part of the price.
Looking forward to that future column. I hope to see Miami in six. Pistons out of the East for three straight years is utterly boring for anyone outside of Detroit.
Really liked this piece, and ditto your feelings about "Desperate Housewives." I think the show is getting old very quick. But I still love that pic of Eva you included.
Thanks for swinging by to read my first assignment. I found the open-endedness of the subject matter very challenging, but had a fun time researching and learning more about Bargnani and am very pleased that others appreciated the piece as well. Thanks again.
3:42
3:56
4:33
4:51
5:18
5:55
