How a few shots can make you win by 30.

[MannyIsGod]

Easy to spot that reason. He's about 6'7, 240 and has a huge afro. I can understand your confusion because he didn't make the trip to SA for games 1 & 2. Someone showed up wearing his jersey but it wasn't him. Absent Ben Wallace the pistons are a lost and very beatable team.

He showed up at the palace and all indications are he'll be around for the duration of the series. The spurs have no answer for his rebounds, steals, disruptive defense and the energy & inspiration he brings to his teammates.

SA is in deep trouble and if you aren't fearing the fro already, you should be.

Your right, I missed the record setting pace the Pistons went on this year. Must be because they don't broadcast many Piston games this year. But I do know that if it hadn't been for a Dwayne Wade injury, that fro would be parked infront of a plasma TV watching it form home.

But you know, Superman stayed behind on the first trip down here, maybe he'll do the same? Or maybe there's a reason that Duncan has a couple of MVPs and a couple of rings and maybe that reason will come out in game 5.

But I digress, a couple of impressive wins and if Lindsey Hunter is still possesed by Jordan in the next game, you'll probably win. A whole of a lot that has to do with Wallace though.

[geerussell]

Your right, I missed the record setting pace the Pistons went on this year. Must be because they don't broadcast many Piston games this year. But I do know that if it hadn't been for a Dwayne Wade injury, that fro would be parked infront of a plasma TV watching it form home.

We can play the what-if game all day and it still won't matter. I know that if the spurs hadn't choked last year they might be playing for a threepeat now. See how easy that is?

But you know, Superman stayed behind on the first trip down here, maybe he'll do the same? Or maybe there's a reason that Duncan has a couple of MVPs and a couple of rings and maybe that reason will come out in game 5.

Maybe. The reason was con uously absent in game 3. There was no shortage of people here declaring he always bounces back for a good game after a bad one but "the reason" didn't come out in game 4 either. The "reason" will be down to "wait til next year" pretty soon.

But I digress, a couple of impressive wins and if Lindsey Hunter is still possesed by Jordan in the next game, you'll probably win. A whole of a lot that has to do with Wallace though.

Hunter was his usual defense-only self in game 3. If he reverts back to that form for game 5 then maybe the blowout will only be half as bad. Something for you to look forward to, I suppose. Either way, his points aren't the difference in the piston wins.

Ben Wallace has a whole of a lot to do with that.

[JamStone]

First off, even as a Piston fan myself, I was COMPLETELY SHOCKED to read a Piston fan write that Ben Wallace can shoot a jumpshot as good as Tim Duncan!!! WHAT?!?!?! Let's not get all crazy here, Piston fanatics. Let me clarify what I think he/she meant by saying that. Ben Wallace actually has proper form on his jumpshot, nice rotation, good follow through. BUT, that doesn't mean he's a good jumpshooter. In games, he generally bricks those attempts. When he's confident and focused like last night, he is however capable of hitting those shots from time to time. But, I'd NEVER say he's as good a jumpshooting big man as Tim Duncan.


MannyIsGod,

Your posts are sometimes insightful, yet there are little things that just make you seem nonsensical at times. Why would you even mention Dwyane Wade's injury in the Detroit-Miami series?? Why discredit the Pistons like that when they just beat your team twice by a 48 point margin?? You don't here too many people talk about Rashard Lewis, Vladimir Radmonovic, and Ray Allen being injured in the Seattle-San Antonio series, do you??? Their three leading scorers ... Or Joe Johnson not playing in the first few Phoenix losses to the Spurs. But, you as a Spurs fan want to bring up Dwyane Wade's injury. That's too bad ...

[cherylsteele]

Our guy is boring as all , but your guy is ob b b b b b noxious. Only in Detroit would stuttering be considerd awesome.

Yeah....he ripped off from George Thorougood no less.....
B b b b bbbbaaad To The Bone.

Plus he can't even say Beno's and Rasho's name even remotely correctly.

[cherylsteele]

Knew right away it wasn't going to be our night......Manu gets called for that Ticky-tack call on the jump ball.....and Timmy gets smacked in the elbow and they said it was all ball.... any higher on the smack he would have had a shiner.......

I don't usually hark on the refs but it seemed to me that the Pistons got away with murder at the most inopportune times.....while if we just sneezed on them they would have considered it a flagrant or something....I am not saying we need startknocking people down....it should be a foul.....it is a rule.....they are allowing the Pistons to play like an Arena Football team, not a basketball team. Knocking people down just to prove a point is not basketball.....it is about position and skill....not just brute strength.

All ask is it be called consistently on both teams for the same fouls.

Also...is it just me or does it look like Billups uses his off arm all the time when dribbling up court against a defender?

[geerussell]

I don't usually hark on the refs but it seemed to me that the Pistons got away with murder at the most inopportune times.....while if we just sneezed on them they would have considered it a flagrant or something.

Just curious... what did you think of the refereeing in games 1 and 2?

[cherylsteele]

Just curious... what did you think of the refereeing in games 1 and 2?

Same kinda thing....the total fouls called were close but the refs seemed to change their minds often on what was a foul or wasn't a foul.

All I ask is for CONSISTENCY.....is that too much to ask from refs who have been doing this as a full time job for 10-20 yrs or more?

The other problem we had is that Ben hit shots from 10-15 that he NEVER takes or even makes for that matter.....nothing went right.....I guess the only thing I see good out of it was that no one seemed to get hurt.

[MannyIsGod]

MannyIsGod,

Your posts are sometimes insightful, yet there are little things that just make you seem nonsensical at times. Why would you even mention Dwyane Wade's injury in the Detroit-Miami series?? Why discredit the Pistons like that when they just beat your team twice by a 48 point margin?? You don't here too many people talk about Rashard Lewis, Vladimir Radmonovic, and Ray Allen being injured in the Seattle-San Antonio series, do you??? Their three leading scorers ... Or Joe Johnson not playing in the first few Phoenix losses to the Spurs. But, you as a Spurs fan want to bring up Dwyane Wade's injury. That's too bad ...

The point was simply to illustrate that while some people here are proclaiming Ben Wallace to be the greatest thing since sliced bread, it took an injury to a player that was torching the team to get you into the Finals. But as I stated in the first post of this thread, there needs to be an amount of luck in any run for a le and that includes the Spurs run.

I think Ben Wallace is a of a player. But to say that he's the entire reason this has turned around is simply ignoring that everything has gone well for the Pistons over past 2 games. Is that any different from everything going well for the Spurs in the first 2 games? Probably not.

Ben has played much better in the 2 games in Detroit, but the bench production and the ability to hit clutch shots when the Spurs start a run is what has proppelled the Pistons. It's very difficult to comeback on a team when they simply can't be stopped.

Last night in the 3rd quater the Spurs played probably their best ball of the game, and it was utterly and completely negated by the play of Lindsey Hunter. He saved the game for you by hitting shot after shot after shot.

But I must warn Detroit fans before they get too y. Against Seattle, Luke Ridnour did the exact same thing, and Seattle did the exact same thing Detroit has done. We all know how that series ended.

This series is far from over, and it's foolish for a fan of either team to feel that way.

[DarkReign]

....I don't usually hark on the refs but it seemed to me that the Pistons got away with murder at the most inopportune times.....while if we just sneezed on them they would have considered it a flagrant or something....I am not saying we need startknocking people down....it should be a foul.....it is a rule.....they are allowing the Pistons to play like an Arena Football team, not a basketball team. Knocking people down just to prove a point is not basketball.....it is about position and skill....not just brute strength.

All ask is it be called consistently on both teams for the same fouls.

Also...is it just me or does it look like Billups uses his off arm all the time when dribbling up court against a defender?

You see, right there is the difference between the Western Conference and the East.

The West, in my opinion, has always been soft. Half the teams that made the West playoffs dont even feign interest in defense.

Then when you see a physical, in your face opponent, you can only discredit their style.

Sorry Spurs fans, but all of your opponents up until this point have been very one dimensional. Denver?! Please. Seattle?! Oh NOES! All I have to do is defend one player and guard the perimeter! Fake-friggin-Phoenix?! That team was due for exposure. Phoenix would have lost to a broken, injured Indiana in 5 too.

Now...the Spurs are an awesome team. Neither team has won ANYTHING yet. But I will not stand idly by watching you rip the 'Stones because you dont like their physical play. The Stones approach every series like a fight, and if the opponent doesnt enter with the same mentality, then they will get beat up. Period.

Spurs are still in control right now. No one has won anything yet. Remember that.

But I must warn Detroit fans before they get too y. Against Seattle, Luke Ridnour did the exact same thing, and Seattle did the exact same thing Detroit has done. We all know how that series ended.

Dont even compare the Stones to the friggin weak-ass Sonics. What have the Sonics won? Thats right...nothing.

[MannyIsGod]

For the record, I love the way the Pistons play and the fact that they employ a team concept. I just think - or maybe hope - the Spurs are better at that.

[beer_is_proof]

Well, can we all agree that the ref's have a bigger influence on these games then they should have?

As long as the ref's allow our Pistons to play physical, bruising basketball, we will win, and there is nothing the Spurs can do about it.

If the ref's go back to calling ticky tack fouls, then that evens the playing field and allows the Spurs back into the series.

No Blood, No foul!

[samikeyp]

Well, can we all agree that the ref's have a bigger influence on these games then they should have?

I would.

I have no problem with physical play but its the definition of physical play that people will debate. Like Billups foul on Parker...I thought it was a good hard foul. He was going for the ball and had no intent of injury. Karl Malone's idea of "physical play" was leading with his knees and hacking so hard on people he broke thumbs. I am not comparing Ben Wallace to Karl Malone but some will. Of those 5 steals in the 1Q...I thought three were legit, one I didn't see the replay on and one (the one that caused Pop to get the tech) was a serious foul and the replay proved me right. But still....that was one of four and hey, if they are not going to call it, keep doing it. Just like the moving screens the Spurs were accused of in games 1 and 2. I agree also that it should not be ticky tack. All I ask is for consistency.

[cherylsteele]

You see, right there is the difference between the Western Conference and the East.

The West, in my opinion, has always been soft. Half the teams that made the West playoffs dont even feign interest in defense.

Then when you see a physical, in your face opponent, you can only discredit their style.



.

But that isn't what basketball was meant to be.....you don't change the basic nature of the game just to win.....like I said, this supposed to be basketball. not rugby, or lacrosse...that is why there are rules....of course the refs won't see everything....but consistency is all I ask....sometimes it seems they are making up rules as they go.

The west has always been soft? hmm.....a 3-peat by the Lakers was soft.....that is just a stupid statment you make and it really confirms the point I am making.

Physical is one thing....but one can go too far.

[exstatic]

Teams will find ways to make fortunate shots against a Prevent defense.

The Spurs made them way too comfortable out there. They need to be more physical and create a lot more havoc. If that means gambling a bit more, so be it... at least give them something to think about when they're telegraphing passes to each other.

I agree with the concept, but not your solution. Gambling isn't going to get them anywhere. They need to take a few HARD fouls early, and engage the refs both ways with a tightly called game. Have Nazr chop down on someone in the lane. , he always gets two fouls called in Detroit in the first 3 minutes anyway. Might as well have them accomplish something.

Want to see Tim get off? Pray for a tightly called game.

[cherylsteele]

As long as the ref's allow our Pistons to play physical, bruising basketball, we will win, and there is nothing the Spurs can do about it.

"as long as the refs allow it"....very telling statement.....this implies that the Pistons are doing something that shouldn't be happening.

If they actually called fairly/consistantly, it may have been more competetive.

Well, can we all agree that the ref's have a bigger influence on these games then they should have?

That is the biggest problem....they are the bigger influence and not the players...which is a travesty....and the biggest part is the consistancy of the interpretatioon of the rules of the game.


All also hate it when I hear that the playoffs are called differently........many times it seems to be correct. I understand each ref has their own POV of the rules and such....but all too often the desparity between refs is way too much.

[May_The_Best_Team_Win]

You guys are funny. You probably don't know because you don't watch many Pistons games, but even though Ben is not known for his offensive ability he does have the occasional game where he can score at will. He had one game in the playoffs where he scored 23 and another where he scored 19.

I agree Lindsay may not have another game like that but to say that Ben can't is wrong.

He surely can. As far as Diceman not having another good game that would be a foolish statement as well. That's like saying Tim Duncan can't have two bad games back to back. Or Ginobli having two bad games back to back. While the fans keep making these predictions the Pistons will continue to prove them wrong.

Bottom line is i don't think the Spurs can hang with the agressive/physical nature of the Pistons game. I predict another route in game 5(for the Pistons of course) and the Pistons winning a game 7 in San Antonio

Then maybe just maybe Detroit will finally earn some respect.

[violentkitten]

bump

[MannyIsGod]

They were ing DUE.