Kori Ellis
06-22-2005, 02:22 AM
Pistons notebook: Sight of champagne motivates Pistons
Web Posted: 06/22/2005 12:56 AM CDT
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA062205.4S.BKNpistons.notebook.327de23d.html
San Antonio Express-News
Detroit coaches had scribbled a cryptic notation about a victory parade scheduled for San Antonio fans if the Spurs had won Tuesday night.
Pistons forward Antonio McDyess said that motivational ploy on the locker-room blackboard didn't work as well as an earlier delivery he saw as he walked into the SBC Center.
"I didn't know about their schedule for a parade," McDyess said. "But we did see them bringing the champagne into their locker room. That motivated us when we needed it."
Popping from outside: After struggling during most of the series, the Pistons' perimeter game was a key offensive weapon in Detroit's triumph.
Coming into Tuesday's game, the Pistons had hit eight 3-pointers and were making 18.2percent from behind the arc in the first five games.
Detroit hit three in the first quarter and finished by hitting 8 of 17 shots (47.1 percent).
Unmasked: Early in the fourth quarter, Pistons guard Richard Hamilton's facemask was ripped off after strong defense from Bruce Bowen.
"I told the ref I'm going to take a cheap shot," Hamilton said. "Ya'll just were allowing him to hit me wherever. One time you got to make a call because you make a call one time, it doesn't allow the player to do that."
Clutch performers: Detroit's victory marked its third this season in a game in which it was facing elimination. The Pistons battled back from a 3-2 deficit to beat Miami in the Eastern Conference finals.
"You just can't explain this team," McDyess said. "Everybody has been counting us out, but we respond so well. We just do what we can."
Guard Lindsey Hunter, who said he was playing at about 70percent because of ankle injury, said his team thrives when others are counting it out.
"It's hard to describe this team in a word or two," Hunter said. "We're happy to be in this situation and we're not scared to play in these kinds of games."
Vocal support: Despite missing much of the fourth quarter with five fouls, forward Rasheed Wallace remained an integral part of his team even from the bench.
"'Sheed was loud on the bench," McDyess said. "He was yelling, telling us where the picks were coming from. We could hear his voice over the crowd."
Hamilton moves up: Hamilton scored 23 points Tuesday night to pass Bill Laimbeer and Vinnie Johnson to move into third place on Detroit's career postseason scoring list.
Hamilton finished Game 6 with 1,373 points, with teammate Chauncey Billups still in sixth place at 1,074.
The top four in Detroit history had been Isiah Thomas (2,261), Joe Dumars (1,752), Johnson (1,360) and Laimbeer (1,354).
History on his side: Pistons coach Larry Brown entered Tuesday's game knowing that if he got a chance to coach in Game 7 on Thursday, he had the track record to win it. Brown is one of only two coaches in NBA history to have won a Game 7 on the road twice in his career.
His Indiana Pacers went on the road to win Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the New York Knicks in 1995, and his Pistons won at Miami in Game 7 of this year's Eastern Conference finals.
Football fan: Wallace has worn throwback jerseys during the Finals that represented both sides of college football's fabled "Red River Rivalry."
On Tuesday, he arrived at the SBC Center for Game 6 wearing an Earl Campbell No. 34 Houston Oilers jersey. Earlier in the series, he sported a Detroit Lions No. 20 Billy Sims jersey.
Campbell won the Heisman Trophy in 1977 while playing for Texas. Sims claimed the award the next year with Oklahoma.
Tim Griffin, Mike Finger, Tom Orsborn
Web Posted: 06/22/2005 12:56 AM CDT
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA062205.4S.BKNpistons.notebook.327de23d.html
San Antonio Express-News
Detroit coaches had scribbled a cryptic notation about a victory parade scheduled for San Antonio fans if the Spurs had won Tuesday night.
Pistons forward Antonio McDyess said that motivational ploy on the locker-room blackboard didn't work as well as an earlier delivery he saw as he walked into the SBC Center.
"I didn't know about their schedule for a parade," McDyess said. "But we did see them bringing the champagne into their locker room. That motivated us when we needed it."
Popping from outside: After struggling during most of the series, the Pistons' perimeter game was a key offensive weapon in Detroit's triumph.
Coming into Tuesday's game, the Pistons had hit eight 3-pointers and were making 18.2percent from behind the arc in the first five games.
Detroit hit three in the first quarter and finished by hitting 8 of 17 shots (47.1 percent).
Unmasked: Early in the fourth quarter, Pistons guard Richard Hamilton's facemask was ripped off after strong defense from Bruce Bowen.
"I told the ref I'm going to take a cheap shot," Hamilton said. "Ya'll just were allowing him to hit me wherever. One time you got to make a call because you make a call one time, it doesn't allow the player to do that."
Clutch performers: Detroit's victory marked its third this season in a game in which it was facing elimination. The Pistons battled back from a 3-2 deficit to beat Miami in the Eastern Conference finals.
"You just can't explain this team," McDyess said. "Everybody has been counting us out, but we respond so well. We just do what we can."
Guard Lindsey Hunter, who said he was playing at about 70percent because of ankle injury, said his team thrives when others are counting it out.
"It's hard to describe this team in a word or two," Hunter said. "We're happy to be in this situation and we're not scared to play in these kinds of games."
Vocal support: Despite missing much of the fourth quarter with five fouls, forward Rasheed Wallace remained an integral part of his team even from the bench.
"'Sheed was loud on the bench," McDyess said. "He was yelling, telling us where the picks were coming from. We could hear his voice over the crowd."
Hamilton moves up: Hamilton scored 23 points Tuesday night to pass Bill Laimbeer and Vinnie Johnson to move into third place on Detroit's career postseason scoring list.
Hamilton finished Game 6 with 1,373 points, with teammate Chauncey Billups still in sixth place at 1,074.
The top four in Detroit history had been Isiah Thomas (2,261), Joe Dumars (1,752), Johnson (1,360) and Laimbeer (1,354).
History on his side: Pistons coach Larry Brown entered Tuesday's game knowing that if he got a chance to coach in Game 7 on Thursday, he had the track record to win it. Brown is one of only two coaches in NBA history to have won a Game 7 on the road twice in his career.
His Indiana Pacers went on the road to win Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the New York Knicks in 1995, and his Pistons won at Miami in Game 7 of this year's Eastern Conference finals.
Football fan: Wallace has worn throwback jerseys during the Finals that represented both sides of college football's fabled "Red River Rivalry."
On Tuesday, he arrived at the SBC Center for Game 6 wearing an Earl Campbell No. 34 Houston Oilers jersey. Earlier in the series, he sported a Detroit Lions No. 20 Billy Sims jersey.
Campbell won the Heisman Trophy in 1977 while playing for Texas. Sims claimed the award the next year with Oklahoma.
Tim Griffin, Mike Finger, Tom Orsborn