gowingsgo

The TO was called after the time had expired to Sheed's credit. Although had another tenth or two been on the clock a T would have had to been called. Bottom line, if Tim Duncan could hit his free throws the game doesnt come down to that situation. But thats basketball and when the big man gets tired late he doesnt use his legs like he would in the first quarter I hope the game is as competitive as the last was.

Bill Simmons is usually a damn good read. Game 6 goes one of two ways. San Antonio blows Detroit out.....not likely...maybe at the end of the 4th. Close game to the wire like Game 5....very likely....watch out for that Dagger wearing #5. Detroit has a lot to hold its head up for after its come from behind wins the past few seasons. This could be the same, but San Antonio is NOT an easy place to go and win a basketball game.

Thought I had made a post about this before. I'm thinking I made this comment to my brother who is a die hard Pistons fan. Detroit, meet the DAGGER, Robert Horry. The man wins at least 1 game for every playoff series he is involved in. I almost want to say he hits more clutch shots than Jordan did, but he isn't the star of his team like 23 was. When he hit the 3 in OT I told my wife the ball almost always goes back to the inbounding player for the shot. Detroit played great ball in games 3 & 4. San Antonio had to answer the call or risk getting the 2-4 sweep again. If memory serves me right San Antonio lost 2 games at home in the regular season, once to Denver in the playoffs and I think once to the Suns as well. The game last night was a good battle but should have never went to overtime if Duncan could hit a free throw. Memo to Tim Duncan, bend your knees and let your LEGS do the shooting for you so we don't have to watch an extra 20 minutes worth of ball. If I'm Pop I'm having Timmy shoot an extra 200 free throws after their shoot-around today and Tuesday.

San Antonio has to muzzle the crowd and keep the Pistons from going on any big runs to win the game. The Spurs should rebound but Detroit isnt going to give them anything

I think Detroit could win 2 in a row vs the Spurs. I doubt they could run 3 in a row and I highly doubt they could take a game in San Antonio. We'll see how the teams regroup for Game 4. San Antonio isnt going to come out and take another 4th quarter drubbing

The Pistons did to the Spurs what the Spurs did to them in San Antonio. They took over with that big run in the 4th and used some home cooking to seal the deal. This makes Game 4 a big one for both teams as whoever wins Game 4 usually wins the series.

The whole referee conspiracy thing is way out there. Compare it to baseball and the different strike zones for umpires. Some have bigger, some have smaller strike zones. The players all played 82 games and all had a chance to see how these refs call games. In fact, the team probably has a report on how each ref calls the games. They know what they can and cant get away with on the floor with the refs out there. The Pistons need to adjust to the way the game is being called and play basketball. The refs arent there to change the outcome of the game. The players do that.

Foul shooting should not always be even. Most if not all the time in an NBA game the team with the most foul shots wins the game. They do so because they get fouled at the end of the game by a team attempting a comeback or because the aggressive team created contact. When a team gets in the penalty during a quarter you become at a major disadvantage because a slasher like Ginobili can drive to the basket and create contact and get 2 free throws just by driving hard. This makes the free throw disparity look worse than it is because an offensive team can use the penalty situation as a major advantage if they have the right coach and can hit free throws. Detroit isnt creating good contact. They are settling for jumpers or floaters in the lane. Rip is coming off of curl screens and avoiding going to the hole hard. For good reason too, he has Tim Duncan patroling the paint waiting to block his shot. Sheed in the high post or baseline isnt going to create calls. The only guy I can think of who is physical is Billups and he is getting to the line because he isn't afraid to drive and create contact. Tim Duncan gets to the line because he is going to take you off the dribble from the high post (elbow) or because he uses his pump fakes to draw his defender in the air down low. Ginobili is a wild MF'r and he is going to create contact, whether that be an offensive or defensive foul. Again, the refs arent taking the ball out of the Pistons hands and handing it to the Spurs. Detroit isn't getting good looks because the Spurs D is rotating aroud and switching on the screens, slipping the weak side defender strong side and rotating the weak side wing defender to weak side post. If the Pistons can rotate the ball up top they will have some good looks but they have been forcing shots on close outs. Sometimes the close out shots are easy, in San Antonio where the shooting backdrop is different than everywhere else in the league, teams shoot a lower FG %. Imagine shooting a jumper where you are wide open but there is a 6' 4" to 7' player running full speed at you with their hands up at your face. Detroit will shoot better at home and thrive off the home crowd energy but they aren't winning 3 games in a row against San Antonio.

Been a Steelers fan for 15 years (we didnt have a pro football team in AZ growing up) Kind of hard to have a home team to root for when your home town doesn't have any teams. Been a Red Wings fan since birth (both parents are from Detroit) I HATE all So Cal pro sport teams. Worst sports fans in the country. I understand you're mad that the Pistons are getting punked at their own game but you're excuses for them have run out. Officials don't miss shots or turn the ball over, the players do. If the Pistons want the same calls then they need to play physical and earn those calls. The Spurs beat the Suns at their game and now they are doing the same to the Pistons. I don't have to be a Spurs fan to enjoy a good game of basketball. For the record I am NOT a San Antonio Spurs fan but I do enjoy watching them play. I am not a bandwagon Spurs fan. You won't see me with a Spurs flag on my car or a Tim Duncan jersey. But you will see me pointing a finger at you for being cocky enough to call me out on a basketball topic when you're obviously lacking game knowledge.

You guys were complaining that the Heat were getting all the calls in the last series. If the Pistons want calls then they need to drive to the basket and create contact. Its as simple as that and that is the style that is getting San Antonio to the line for all of their free throws. Jump shooting teams arent going to get to the free throw line because they are easier to defend than driving and slashing teams. There was only a SIX foul difference in the game. That is by no means a big difference, but when a foul becomes a shooting foul or when a team gets their opponent into the penalty they create more scoring opportunities. The Pistons aren't doing this and settling for jumpers isnt going to land you many free throw attempts. Anyways, the Pistons will get the "home court" calls in the Palace and they'll still get handled by the Spurs. There aren't too many more excuses to pull out of the bag.

Anytime you want to take your foot out of your mouth and give the Spurs their props for beating up the defending champs you can do so. They need to finish the series before anyone crowns them champs but they are well on their way to doing so. Keep on X'ing and O'ing the series for us. I like reading all the commentary on basketball games from a hockey point of view.

Games aren't won in the 1st quarter. Both teams came out tentative and turned the ball over early. The Pistons made their shots in the first quarter but as the game moved on the Spurs were able to adjust and defend what was thrown at them.

32 points in the second half for the Pistons. San Antonio had 29 in the 4th quarter. Both teams shot poorly but the Spurs beat up the Pistons on the boards. The shooting should be better for game 2 for both teams. I like the Spurs to protect home court and go to Detroit with a 2-0 lead.

Career Averages PPG 22.5 PPG 12.2 RPG He went for 18 and 18 v Detroit Both teams shot very poorly in that game. Could be indicative of the defensive prowess of both teams or shooting in San Antonio's GINORMOUS building. The backdrop there isnt an easy one to handle

If you call Duncan v Wallace even you are on the crack pipe. He'll beat you down low and he'll whip you on the high post. Tim Duncan is the best player in basketball bar none right now. There hasn't been a more complete player in the league since 23 was playing in Chicago. The Pistons escaped with a victory in Miami. They won't escape with a win in San Antonio. San Antonio will protect their home court and will win in 5 or 6. Bowen will shut down who ever he guards. See Shawn Marion if you can find him for reference. You will see the dagger in this series come in the form of #5 with a straight away 3 to close you out in Detroit. Can't wait for basketball to end so we can get some FOOTBALL to start watching soon.

Chapmionship teams make good teams play this way Johno. See the San Antonio-Phoenix series for a more blantant example. The Pistons will probably win one more game in the series. I want to see the Diesel v Duncan. Two best big men of our time.

Ya'll thought that just because you beat the Shaq Laker team last year that you had the same advantage. You miscalculated the fact that EGO Bryant isnt on the floor with the Diesel. Wade played like EGO in Game 1 but he has rebounded well. The series is setting up nicely for a battle of the big men Duncan v Shaq. Shaq looks like he is getting healthier and he hit some free throws yesterday. Both not good for the Pistons. Shaq is the most difficult player in league history to officiate. He is so big he could get called for offensive fouls almost every possesion or he could get sent to the free throw line on every possesion.

Shaq will be back and he will be fine. The series probably wont be the most entertaining to watch from a basketball fan point of view. I'm much more pumped about a potential Phoenix-San Antonio series out west. I dont think you can pick against the Champs though. Someone has to beat the champs, they arent going to beat themselves. I like Shaq and the Heat but LB has the Pistons rock'n and roll'n right now.

The Pistons are in some deep doo-doo if they cant pull out a W today. I like how Indy is playing right now. They arent the best offensively though. They are really missing Artest out there even if he has been gone most of the year. I dont see either team beating the Heat right now though. Dwayne Wade is making Kobe Bryant look like a former scrub sidekick. I love the way the Suns play ball. I want the Suns to play the Heat, but I'm convinced San Antonio is going to hand it to the Suns in 5 or 6. Duncan v Shaq for the title might be the best Finals we've seen since the Bulls and Jazz went 6 in 98.

The Pistons got lucky that dude tightened up on the free throw line or they lose that game. I cant tell you how difficult it is to lose sight of the clock, the score, the crowd and the season behind you when you're at that line in the playoffs. I've been there and cashed in and been there and tanked like dude did. His legs locked up on that shot

Depth counts in the postseason. But look at the teams in it, only the Pistons and Spurs can lay claim to titles as a team. The Lakers are out and MJ is long since retired. Shaq and Wade are good, but I dont know that those 2 alone can beat the Pistons when Wade has mad major foul trouble v Detroit. The West is difficult because teams like Phoenix can run you, or get run off the floor. I like the Spurs because they have the experience and the right mix. Now with the injuries they have they need to get their team chemistry back on track and right now thats where Denver looks real strong. I've been a huge Tim Duncan fan since he played at Wake Forest. He is the most fundamentally sound player in the league and he is a major difference maker. He is the difference between the Spurs being a playoff team and a team like the Lakers on the outside looking in. Duncan has all facets of the game, shooting, rebounding, defense and he's not selfish. Only thing questionable is his free throw shooting. The Pistons should be the favorites going into the playoffs IMO. They are the defending champs and my philosophy is that you can win a championship without going through the defending champs first

If Tim Duncan is healthy the Spurs win it all. If not then the Pistons or Heat win it all. Tim Duncan is THE best baller in the NBA. I like the Pistons chances but there is a ton of ball to still be played.