Pooh
05-23-2004, 07:20 PM
By Johnnie Clay - Pacers Insider.
May 23, 2004 - 4:30 PM.
"I just need half a second of daylight." - Reggie Miller.
And mere "half a second of daylight" was the difference that pushed the Indiana Pacers past the Detroit Pistons Saturday night.
In a tightly contested battle, the two teams slugged it out for 47 and a half minutes.
Then...it was "Miller Time."
Miller's three-point dagger with 31.7 seconds left propelled the the Indiana Pacers to a thrilling 78-75 victory over the Detroit Pistons, giving them a 1-0 lead in the Eastern Conference Finals at Conseco Fieldhouse.
The game went back and forth. Each team taking a small lead, only to see the other come right back and snatch it away.
“It was the type of game everyone expected, hard-fought and intense. We are fortunate to come out with the win." Pacers Coach Rick Carlisle said afterwards.
The Pacers quickly jumped out to an early lead, only to see the Pistons (led by Chauncey Billups' 17 first half points) take the lead away from them. It was during the first quarter that Carlisle made his first critical move...by inserting his bench players.
Al Harington and Jonathan Bender sparked a Pacers rally, as they clawed their way back into the game trailing only by four points, 26-22 at the end of the first quarter.
Harrington scored most of his 14 points during a furious second quarter, as the Pacers re-took the lead and held onto it for the rest of the first half. The Pacers however had no answer to stopping Billiups and the very dangerous Richard Hamilton. Hamilton was guarded by Reggie Miller instead of Defensive Player of the Year Ron Artest, not only did Hamilton get good looks, he was hitting as well, scoring 23 points to lead all scorers.
"It was mini-me. He has mind-eye and he’s jedi-tricky." Reggie Miller said about guarding Hamilton. "I have to honor what he does and try and pick off of the screens and have to keep honest on him."
The Pacers went into halftime ahead 48-41, looking like they were about to pull away. However, the person responsible for that momentium wasn't on the floor much during the second half.
Al Harrington suffered a bruised sternum after catching an elbow in the chest. He was unable to catch his breath and was given an injection in the locker room. However, Harrington was still having difficulty breathing, not to mention Harrington also rolled his left ankle and was used sparingly in the second half.
The second half began with the Pacers clinging to a small lead while the Pistons started to heat up. The Pacers poor shooting (34%) reared its' ugly head and allowed the Pistons to climb back into the game. The two teams combined for only 30 points in the third quarter, but it was the Pistons who had the upper hand, going on a 5-0 run to close the deficit down to just three points, 61-58 at the beginning of the final quarter.
Richard Hamilton and Rasheed Wallace continued the Pistons' comeback in the fourth quarter, to finally seize the lead away from the Pacers 64-61. The Pacers shooting which was horrendous during the third quarter, continued early on in the fourth. Shots that fell in the first half, were not in the second. It wasn't until a Jamaal Tinsley floater midway through the quarter that finally got the Pacers going. Tinsley then buried a three-pointer to get the sell-out crowd on its' feet as the Pacers re-took the lead, 72-68 with over five minutes remaining to play.
Once again, both teams went cold from the floor. only six points were scored during a four minute stretch, however...it was the Pistons who were doing the scoring as Tayshaun Prince hit a three-pointer with 1:40 left, giving the Pistons a 74-72 lead. It appeared as if the Pacers, who were still struggling from the floor, were not going to comeback this time.
Just as it looked like it was "doom and gloom", along stepped Jeff Foster.
Foster had been held scoreless throughout the game, his job of containing 'X' factor Rasheed Wallace had worked, holding him to just four points...now it was his turn.
With 1:23 remaining, Foster broke free from Wallace's stranglehold and drove past him for a layup, tying the game up at 74-74, setting the stage for Miller's heroics.
"The series could hinge on the little things," Foster said. "Rick talked to us about that - rebounding, getting on the floor for loose balls. Stuff like that is what is going to win games."
Foster had one more thing to do before the Pacers could finally take the lead away from the Pistons. With under 40 seconds left, it was Foster reached up after a missed Jermaine O'Neal jump shot, swatting back in O'Neal's direction, giving the Pacers one last try...and that was all they needed.
Miller finally broke free from Richard Hamilton, (thanks to a screen by Jeff Foster) and the rest was vintage Reggie.
"He was due to knock one down. As I saw the play develop, Tinsley saw him coming off the screen and Foster did a great job of setting a great screen." Rick Carlisle said. "It seems the tighter it gets in the ballgame, the later it gets, the more he focuses in. No matter whether he’s making shots or missing them, his approach never changes. It was his time. All year Reggie has had a sense for when to step forward. We were fortunate on that play to get the ball back. Our guys just know when to look for Reggie. It was hard for him to get space. Detroit defended him well. They made it tough for him to get his shot."
With 31 seconds left, the game was still not over. Richard Hamilton's three-pointer rolled halfway in, then rolled out. The Pistons then fouled Jermaine O'Neal. It looked like O'Neal would finally put the nail in the Pistons' coffin, but after going a perfect 7-7 from the line, O'Neal missed both free throws, giving the Pistons still another chance.
Chauncey Billups' three-point attempt fell short as Reggie Miller was fouled, sending him to the line. Miller missed his first free-throw attempt since the first round, but calmly made the second, giving the Pacers a 78-74 lead. Rasheed Wallace's desperation three-pointer was wide as the Pacers hung on for a thrilling victory.
"This was big win. We now must focus on game two and keep it together." Jamaal Tinsley said afterwards. "They’re tough, they’re not going anywhere, and it will take our best effort, but we will be up to the task."
However it was Rasheed Wallace, whose already set the tone for game two.
"They will NOT win game two. You can quote me on the front page, on the back page, anywhere you want. They will NOT win game two." Wallace said.
Turnovers was a big difference in the contest. The Pistons turned the ball over 17 times to the Pacers' 10.
Jermaine O'Neal led the Pacers with 21 points and 14 rebounds. Ron Artest had 17 points while pulling down 7 rebounds. Artest said afterwards that he wants to cover Detroit's Richard Hamilton for game two, only time will tell about that. Jamaal Tinsley rounded out the double-scoring by the starting five, scoring 13 points, 5 assists and 4 steals.
Both teams have Sunday off before resuming on Monday night. There are a lot of questions that will be asked during that time. Can the Pacers go up 2-0 and put the Pistons on the ropes? Will Richard Hamilton still have the hot hand shooting, or will it be cooled off if he's guarded by Ron Artest? Will both Chauncey Billups and Al Harrington lift up their teams' for four FULL quarters? And the big question...what will Rasheed Wallace's brash prediction be a blessing or an omen to his team?
We'll find out on Monday night.
Game time is at 8pm (EDT).
May 23, 2004 - 4:30 PM.
"I just need half a second of daylight." - Reggie Miller.
And mere "half a second of daylight" was the difference that pushed the Indiana Pacers past the Detroit Pistons Saturday night.
In a tightly contested battle, the two teams slugged it out for 47 and a half minutes.
Then...it was "Miller Time."
Miller's three-point dagger with 31.7 seconds left propelled the the Indiana Pacers to a thrilling 78-75 victory over the Detroit Pistons, giving them a 1-0 lead in the Eastern Conference Finals at Conseco Fieldhouse.
The game went back and forth. Each team taking a small lead, only to see the other come right back and snatch it away.
“It was the type of game everyone expected, hard-fought and intense. We are fortunate to come out with the win." Pacers Coach Rick Carlisle said afterwards.
The Pacers quickly jumped out to an early lead, only to see the Pistons (led by Chauncey Billups' 17 first half points) take the lead away from them. It was during the first quarter that Carlisle made his first critical move...by inserting his bench players.
Al Harington and Jonathan Bender sparked a Pacers rally, as they clawed their way back into the game trailing only by four points, 26-22 at the end of the first quarter.
Harrington scored most of his 14 points during a furious second quarter, as the Pacers re-took the lead and held onto it for the rest of the first half. The Pacers however had no answer to stopping Billiups and the very dangerous Richard Hamilton. Hamilton was guarded by Reggie Miller instead of Defensive Player of the Year Ron Artest, not only did Hamilton get good looks, he was hitting as well, scoring 23 points to lead all scorers.
"It was mini-me. He has mind-eye and he’s jedi-tricky." Reggie Miller said about guarding Hamilton. "I have to honor what he does and try and pick off of the screens and have to keep honest on him."
The Pacers went into halftime ahead 48-41, looking like they were about to pull away. However, the person responsible for that momentium wasn't on the floor much during the second half.
Al Harrington suffered a bruised sternum after catching an elbow in the chest. He was unable to catch his breath and was given an injection in the locker room. However, Harrington was still having difficulty breathing, not to mention Harrington also rolled his left ankle and was used sparingly in the second half.
The second half began with the Pacers clinging to a small lead while the Pistons started to heat up. The Pacers poor shooting (34%) reared its' ugly head and allowed the Pistons to climb back into the game. The two teams combined for only 30 points in the third quarter, but it was the Pistons who had the upper hand, going on a 5-0 run to close the deficit down to just three points, 61-58 at the beginning of the final quarter.
Richard Hamilton and Rasheed Wallace continued the Pistons' comeback in the fourth quarter, to finally seize the lead away from the Pacers 64-61. The Pacers shooting which was horrendous during the third quarter, continued early on in the fourth. Shots that fell in the first half, were not in the second. It wasn't until a Jamaal Tinsley floater midway through the quarter that finally got the Pacers going. Tinsley then buried a three-pointer to get the sell-out crowd on its' feet as the Pacers re-took the lead, 72-68 with over five minutes remaining to play.
Once again, both teams went cold from the floor. only six points were scored during a four minute stretch, however...it was the Pistons who were doing the scoring as Tayshaun Prince hit a three-pointer with 1:40 left, giving the Pistons a 74-72 lead. It appeared as if the Pacers, who were still struggling from the floor, were not going to comeback this time.
Just as it looked like it was "doom and gloom", along stepped Jeff Foster.
Foster had been held scoreless throughout the game, his job of containing 'X' factor Rasheed Wallace had worked, holding him to just four points...now it was his turn.
With 1:23 remaining, Foster broke free from Wallace's stranglehold and drove past him for a layup, tying the game up at 74-74, setting the stage for Miller's heroics.
"The series could hinge on the little things," Foster said. "Rick talked to us about that - rebounding, getting on the floor for loose balls. Stuff like that is what is going to win games."
Foster had one more thing to do before the Pacers could finally take the lead away from the Pistons. With under 40 seconds left, it was Foster reached up after a missed Jermaine O'Neal jump shot, swatting back in O'Neal's direction, giving the Pacers one last try...and that was all they needed.
Miller finally broke free from Richard Hamilton, (thanks to a screen by Jeff Foster) and the rest was vintage Reggie.
"He was due to knock one down. As I saw the play develop, Tinsley saw him coming off the screen and Foster did a great job of setting a great screen." Rick Carlisle said. "It seems the tighter it gets in the ballgame, the later it gets, the more he focuses in. No matter whether he’s making shots or missing them, his approach never changes. It was his time. All year Reggie has had a sense for when to step forward. We were fortunate on that play to get the ball back. Our guys just know when to look for Reggie. It was hard for him to get space. Detroit defended him well. They made it tough for him to get his shot."
With 31 seconds left, the game was still not over. Richard Hamilton's three-pointer rolled halfway in, then rolled out. The Pistons then fouled Jermaine O'Neal. It looked like O'Neal would finally put the nail in the Pistons' coffin, but after going a perfect 7-7 from the line, O'Neal missed both free throws, giving the Pistons still another chance.
Chauncey Billups' three-point attempt fell short as Reggie Miller was fouled, sending him to the line. Miller missed his first free-throw attempt since the first round, but calmly made the second, giving the Pacers a 78-74 lead. Rasheed Wallace's desperation three-pointer was wide as the Pacers hung on for a thrilling victory.
"This was big win. We now must focus on game two and keep it together." Jamaal Tinsley said afterwards. "They’re tough, they’re not going anywhere, and it will take our best effort, but we will be up to the task."
However it was Rasheed Wallace, whose already set the tone for game two.
"They will NOT win game two. You can quote me on the front page, on the back page, anywhere you want. They will NOT win game two." Wallace said.
Turnovers was a big difference in the contest. The Pistons turned the ball over 17 times to the Pacers' 10.
Jermaine O'Neal led the Pacers with 21 points and 14 rebounds. Ron Artest had 17 points while pulling down 7 rebounds. Artest said afterwards that he wants to cover Detroit's Richard Hamilton for game two, only time will tell about that. Jamaal Tinsley rounded out the double-scoring by the starting five, scoring 13 points, 5 assists and 4 steals.
Both teams have Sunday off before resuming on Monday night. There are a lot of questions that will be asked during that time. Can the Pacers go up 2-0 and put the Pistons on the ropes? Will Richard Hamilton still have the hot hand shooting, or will it be cooled off if he's guarded by Ron Artest? Will both Chauncey Billups and Al Harrington lift up their teams' for four FULL quarters? And the big question...what will Rasheed Wallace's brash prediction be a blessing or an omen to his team?
We'll find out on Monday night.
Game time is at 8pm (EDT).