Heat vs Pistons Game 2

[Pistons < Spurs]

Glad to see the effort tonight from my boys. The offense that disappeared for the last 6 games seems to have arrived aswell!!!!

[Pistons < Spurs]

DETROIT BASKETBALL

[ABDENOUR POWER]

I love beating Snaq. :)

[Pistons < Spurs]

So do I...So do I :lol

[Pistons < Spurs]

70-56 at the end of the 3rd. Just keep it up guys!

[Pistons < Spurs]

gotta score now....

[PaceMonster]

Heat are making a run!! I dont think it will be enough though

[1Parker1]

GO PISTONS GO! :elephant

:oops

[Pistons < Spurs]

mental mistakes....and a more energetic Maimi team......better lock this down fellas...

[Pistons < Spurs]

Shaq goes down.

he better not be seriously hurt...last thing I want to hear if we beat them is that "if we weren't injured....."

[1Parker1]

What the hell is the matter with the Pistons lately?? They're blowing leads left and right. :pctoss

Come on boys. I can't take another disapointment. I will ban the NBA next season if it comes down to the Mavs vs Heat in the Finals :depressed

[1Parker1]

Shaq goes down.

he better not be seriously hurt...last thing I want to hear if we beat them is that "if we weren't injured....."


Fat glop.

[Pistons < Spurs]

I will ban the NBA next season if it comes down to the Mavs vs Heat in the Finals :depressed


I honestly question whether or not I'd actually watch the Finals if it came down to those 2 teams.

[DisgruntledLionFan#54,927]

The officials don't want this game to end...

[Pistons < Spurs]

OMG Dick Beveta......

[ABDENOUR POWER]

Omg These Refs Are Unbelievable

[DisgruntledLionFan#54,927]

Told ya. The officiating in hte last minute has been ALL, ALL Miami...

[Pistons < Spurs]

Good win. Got a little sloppy at the end....on our part and by the refs.

[FromWayDowntown]

Told ya. The officiating in hte last minute has been ALL, ALL Miami...

Given the way Bavetta called Game 4 of Spurs/Mavericks, you'd have thought the Heat would have had several players ejected for the contact on the last two inbounds plays.

Of course, that's probably because Dirk Nowitzki wasn't shooting jump shots under 10 seconds -- or because Bavetta is ridiculously inconsistent. Whatever.

Good win for the Pistons.

[FromWayDowntown]

Apologies for the bitterness.

[1Parker1]

Apologies for the bitterness.

Understood. :depressed

[DisgruntledLionFan#54,927]

The best part is that Chauncey and Rasheed both had clean blocks in which the Heat went to the line. Apparently it's OK to knock CB twice and not give the TO to Tay.

Pretty fucking ridiculous, but par for the course...

[T.F. Storm]

Bavetta's parents sure picked the right name for that guy.

[freedom&justice]

I know I disagreed with someone about Dick Bavetta's refereeing abilities, and I take it back. Dick Bavetta is one of the worst refs ever! He blatantly tried to sabotage us at the end of that game! :flipoff

[FromWayDowntown]

I know I disagreed with someone about Dick Bavetta's refereeing abilities, and I take it back. Dick Bavetta is one of the worst refs ever! He blatantly tried to sabotage us at the end of that game! :flipoff

If you didn't know it before, you do now -- Bavetta doesn't really fix games so much, but I'm convinced that he manipulates games to try to manufacture endings. I'm convinced that he does that with selective use of his whistle -- there are more curious calls and no-calls with Bavetta on the floor than with any other official. It's not incompetence; it's manipulation.

[PaceMonster]

good game....i was jumping around like a monkey wen Wade hit dat 3....but wen Chauncey got that ball i knew it was over

[bdubya]

Tayshaun says Bavetta said "something" to him...great. A ref smack-talking one of the most polite players in the league. :rolleyes


But Lindsey's steal to end it...damn, that was elegant. Classic Lindsey.

[DisgruntledLionFan#54,927]

I was jumping around like a monkey on the way Wade got the opportunity to shoot that 3...

[freedom&justice]

Dick Bavetta was awful in this game. Miami didn't come back by themselves, the refs helped A LOT.
And I know I disagreed with someone here about Bavetta's refereeing..I take it back. Either he's completely biased or ridiculously inconsistent, and he blatantly tried to sabotage the pistons and give this game to the heat. my goodness, 2 questionable blocking fouls, one getting Sheed fouled out, the non-call on Payton steamrolling Chauncey, plus that five-second call! :madrun

[Pistonsfan01]

good win by the pistons but they have got to lock a team down when they are up by 10 with like a minute to go,that is not what LB taught us :madrun

[Dunc]

Dick Bavetta was awful in this game. Miami didn't come back by themselves, the refs helped A LOT.
And I know I disagreed with someone here about Bavetta's refereeing..I take it back. Either he's completely biased or ridiculously inconsistent, and he blatantly tried to sabotage the pistons and give this game to the heat. my goodness, 2 questionable blocking fouls, one getting Sheed fouled out, the non-call on Payton steamrolling Chauncey, plus that five-second call! :madrun

Funny you said that, because I didn't think he was as bad as alot of the Spurs fans think he is. I'm glad I never put that into words, because I would be ashamed of them. Absolutely ridiculous showing from him. And I really want to know what he said to Prince. Big time.

[Dunc]

good game....i was jumping around like a monkey wen Wade hit dat 3....but wen Chauncey got that ball i knew it was over

No kidding... that was a hell of a shot. Made a few of those in my day......































on NBA 2K6 :lol

[bdubya]

I was jumping around like a monkey on the way Wade got the opportunity to shoot that 3...

I was ready to throw my beer at the TV when the Pistons let the Heat run the full length of the floor TWICE IN A ROW; no trap, no full-court D, just a red carpet. :cuss

[Dunc]

We were lucky to get out of this one, boys.

[Pistons < Spurs]

I think/hope that the way the game ended will push us a little bit for the next game in Miami.

[Dunc]

I think/hope that the way the game ended will push us a little bit for the next game in Miami.

Man, I hope so. But I've been hoping that for like the last 6-7 games. They'll step it up on the road though, I expect. I think if we split in Miami, we'll take the series. But they'll have to step it up to do that.

[bdubya]

Miami's 3rd-through-10th options probably won't be ice-cold when they're back at home. Pistons'll need to bring it for a full 48 to get one on the road.

[Vizzini]

Rasheed needs to show up in Miami for sure, and in the first half too.

[Dunc]

Rasheed needs to show up in Miami for sure, and in the first half too.

And if Chauncey could have fewer than 6 TOs to go with 5-13 shooting again, that might help. Thank God for Tayshaun and Rip tonight.

[Vinnie_Johnson]

Josh darn not one to bitch much about bad calls but come on. Billups got the crap knocked out of him and Wade STFU you jersey holding little bitch.

[Bob Lanier]

http://espn-i.starwave.com/media/apphoto/17241a0d-7501-46e4-8edc-49ade8faf0e5.jpg

[FreshPrince22]

Pistons in 7 over the Miami Bevettas.

That was the most attrocious 90 seconds of reffing I have ever witnessed in the history of organized sports. I have never in my life seen such a short period of time stacked with that many one-sided calls (and no-calls) for the blatant purpose of getting a team back in the game.

[The Genius]

Pistons in 7 over the Miami Bevettas.

That was the most attrocious 90 seconds of reffing I have ever witnessed in the history of organized sports. I have never in my life seen such a short period of time stacked with that many one-sided calls (and no-calls) for the blatant purpose of getting a team back in the game.

Bevetta responds, "You kids don't know the meaning of basketball! Where's my viagra!"

[jochhejaam]

I was ready to throw my beer at the TV when the Pistons let the Heat run the full length of the floor TWICE IN A ROW; no trap, no full-court D, just a red carpet. :cuss

I would never do it but the thought crossed my mind about throwing my 24 oz drinking glass through our 52" tv screen if the Pistons lost. :lol

[jochhejaam]

I think/hope that the way the game ended will push us a little bit for the next game in Miami.
It's sort of weird but the home-court advantage actually puts pressure on the home team to hold that advantage, I think we can take at least one of the two.

[DarkReign]

Where is Sheed? Anyone know a cat named Sheed?

Anyway, Playoffs Team MVP = Tayshaun Prince. Absolutely fabulous game last night and he made it look easy, nothing flashy.

Keep feeding Ben the ball early in the game. Get him involved. Its sooooo obvious teams are not used to actually playing defense on him that when they have to, the Pistons abuse them.

Prince = Savior. That is all.

[MadDog73]

Well, a win is a win, but I couldn't believe that 5 second call.

Props to Detroit for playing through that Bullshit.

[Crookshanks]

I watched the game off and on and thought, wow, what a lop-sided game. When the Pistons were up by 12 with about 1:46 to go, I thought, good Pistons win.

Then I turned it back to see the last few seconds and saw that the Pistons were only up by 6 and I thought what happened! Then I heard what happened and I said, aha, now you guys will understand how us Spurs Fans felt. I told you the NBA doesn't want to have defense-oriented teams in the finals. Bavetta did everything he could to give that game to Miami!

Props to Detroit for hanging tough and not letting the win get away from you!

[jochhejaam]

Welcome to the W.W.W. (Whining Wade's World).

Wojo: Pistons will shine if Wade whines


Heat guard Dwyane Wade has been able to slither his way to two dominating performances against the Pistons. But Antonio McDyess, Lindsey Hunter and the Pistons will be in good shape if they can harass Wade and prevent him from taking over the game. See full image
Dwyane Wade doesn't sound happy. I'd even suggest he sounds whiny. For diva watchers, that's called a snit. For the Pistons, that's called a good sign, because one truth already has emerged in the Eastern Conference finals.

If control of the series rests in one man's hands, those hands are the finely manicured set owned by Wade.

Wade is another of the NBA's Poster Kids, a fancy package of goodness in search of validating greatness. And the Pistons again are charged with the nastiest job imaginable, one they love, one they must do better than ever to win this series.

The Pistons must sully yet another young superstar, and I'd advise they handle it more efficiently and ruthlessly than they handled LeBron James. We already know Wade and the Miami Heat will be much tougher than LeBron was, and we know how tough that was.

LeBron had some Brazilian guy with the NBA's biggest hair to help him.

Wade has some Shaq guy with the NBA's biggest butt to help him.

I'm convinced Shaquille O'Neal is no longer capable of single-handedly beating the Pistons. I'm convinced Wade can, if the Pistons aren't careful.

That's why, continuing in Game 3 tonight in Miami, the Pistons have to bang and harass and agitate Wade, do anything to get his little black tights in a bunch. If they can tie his shoelaces together when the NBA's occasionally clueless refs aren't watching, they should do it.

The Pistons are fond of saying, "If it ain't rough, it ain't right."

Here's the new motto: If Wade ain't cryin', the Pistons ain't tryin'.

"I'm not like them, I'm going to give them credit," Wade sniffed after the Pistons' Game 2 victory Thursday. "We don't get credit. They was tired, that's what ya'll said. That's why we won the first game."

Wade was miffed many pegged the Pistons' Game 1 loss on fatigue. He also was miffed Richard Hamilton had the gall to chase him up and down the court. He probably also was miffed he committed nine turnovers.

But here's the scary thing. If Wade can score 32 points while committing nine turnovers and also taking the time to be personally offended, yikes.

Wade on Hamilton: "When we come up the court and Rip's doing that bumping stuff, that's the only thing I saw. Maybe I'll try it and see if I can get away with it."

Hamilton on Wade: "We just try to contain him early. He will score. You know they're going to keep going to him until he makes some baskets. You try to switch it up on him."

Swat team

So it might be Hamilton, or Lindsey Hunter, or Tayshaun Prince or even Carlos Delfino swatting at Wade. After the first quarter of Game 2, Wade had two points, but reached 32 while making 11 of 20 shots. In Game 1, the Pistons had the audacity to draw charging fouls, although he still scored 25, making 9 of 11 shots.

The Pistons beat the Heat three of four times in the regular season, and the only loss -- 100-98 on Feb. 12 in Miami -- came when they let Wade loose. He scored 37, including Miami's final 17, to pull it out. Wade doesn't have LeBron's power, but he has more quickness and better shot selection. The man is the best slitherer in the NBA, capable of twisting through bodies for layups or dunks. I don't mind admitting, he can be a joy to watch.

The Pistons don't have that luxury. And they do have a conundrum. They'd love to keep Wade outside, force him to shoot jumpers. When he drives, he's far more dangerous. But the fact is, when Wade drives, he's far more susceptible to getting hit and falling down and slowly, slowly, painfully, dramatically rising. (Is there any young NBA star who doesn't mimic the theatrics of Michael Jordan?)

Since Wade suddenly is interested in proper credit distribution, surely he recalls what happened in last year's Eastern Conference finals. To most citizens of South Florida, and most members of the Heat, Wade's rib injury was the only reason the Heat lost that series. I assume that means having a healthy Wade is the only way the Heat can win this series.

No time to mess around

That's why the Pistons have to keep messing with him, because they can't afford to mess around. Rasheed Wallace looks bothered by his sore right ankle, and that might not change. Chauncey Billups looks bothered by something, and that has to change.

The Pistons are fortunate to be 1-1 with diminished production from two key components. Prince has become their most indispensable player, by far.

The Pistons' strange letdown at the end of Game 2, when the Heat scored 17 points in the final 1:46, shows how slender their edge has become. Billups called the progress "baby steps," acknowledging they are getting better, back to what they know.

At their best, the Pistons are classic shot-disturbers. If they're doing their jobs, you'll see it on one man's face, and hear it in his voice. Updated motto: If Wade ain't whining, the Pistons ain't winning

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060527/SPORTS08/605270335/1127/SPORTS0102