Cavs-Pistons Second Round Playoff Series

[scarletngrey11]

I hope im not setting myself up for disappointment, but I am pretty confident the Cavs can win tonight.

The home court advantage will be unreal, its going to be freaking defeaning...

Until this series we have put Gooden on Rasheed, but Varejo has played him the last 3 games and has been very effective.

Rip Hamilton hasnt been good this series either, other than that one game where he was 1-7 from the field with 18 free throws. He wont get 18 free throws in Cleveland, thats for sure.

Im predicting a big game from Gooden. I think with the crowd this electric he will show up to play and have a good game with offensive rebounding and put backs.

 

[buckeyeboy]

Those short series the NBA used to have were such bullshit. The 7 game series will almost always give a true indicator of the better team. (Fingers crossed that that's not the case this series) .

I agree that a 7 game series gives a better indicator of the better team. However, I still think that the first two rounds should be best of five. A best of five series still gives a good indicator of the better team, and such series also would help to make sure the NBA season isn't 11 months long. Right now, the NBA playoffs are too long--too many teams make it and the opening round series shouldn't be best of seven.

 

[MililaniBuckeye]

Cleveland can't bear to witness another heartbreak



By Chris Sheridan
ESPN Insider

No way is this a "heartkreak" if the Cavs lose the series. We had no business even playing a game 6 against the Pistons, let alone having a chance to win the series in six. We've far exceeded the expecations of the fans, the media, the players, and the organization itself. Everything that happpens from here out is pure gravy...

 

[Brutus1]

I agree that 5 game series for the first round would be sufficient. I remember when they played best of three and that really sucked.

The NBA doesn't help matters with their playoff scheduling. Why the heck
are they waiting until Monday for game seven of the Suns-Clips series ? If they played game 6 on Thursday, then game 7 should be on Saturday.

 

[BuckeyeBiz]

Cavs can not win a possible game 7 in Detroit?

There is no doubt we all want the cavs to close this series out tonight but it is possible that the Cavs could win game 7 in D-town. I have learned to stop doubting the Cavs. I honestly thought they might win 1, maybe 2, but here we are.

Someone made a point about the Piston's starters playing too much and I agree with that statement 100%. It is obvious Flip has no confidence in his bench except for maybe McD. The Cavs bench has played great the last couple of games and outscored D-towns bench by like 100 pts or something ridiculous. It makes perfect sense why the Cavs are closing out the 4th quarters so well. The Cavs have all the momentum. This game is going to be great. I am not from Cleveland but the Cavs is the only OH Bball team and how can you not be a fan of Lebron. As much crap as Cleveland has been through this is just amazing.

 

[Brutus654]

Anderson Varejao is not a little bit crazy

<!-- The following two sections are for a noteworthy plugin currently in alpha. They'll get cleaned up and integrated better --><SMALL class=metadata>Published by Matt Watson on May 15th, 2006 in From the news, 2006 Playoffs.
</SMALL>


This was buried near the bottom in an article on MLive.com today:

McDyess left Saturday's game briefly in the second quarter with what appeared to be some type of left arm injury. On Sunday, McDyess said he was in pain after Varejao apparently bit him.
"He chewed it off or something," McDyess said, jokingly. "I kind of elbowed him, but it caught him in the mouth and — he had a big old bite print on my arm. He's a wild guy. You have to stay away from him, or you'll get hurt."


​

I can't stand Sideshow Varejao, but I think that's the point. The NBA needs more players like him — characters whom opposing fans love to hate, but deep down inside admit that maybe, just maybe they'd appreciate having him on their team. Whether it's getting physical with the other team or just standing there looking silly with all that hair, the game is just that much more interesting when he's on the court.
And, just to balance out our "praise" for the guy with some good ol' fashioned mockery, let me pose the question I first asked last month: In no particular order, one of the pictures below is an NBA player, one is a popular Simpsons character, and another is a former American Idol winner. Can you guess which is which?

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ESPN.com

5/19/06

Cavs guard Hughes to rejoin team for Game 6


CLEVELAND -- Cavaliers guard Larry Hughes will rejoin the team Friday night for Game 6 against Detroit after missing the previous three games because of his brother's death.

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD width=8 rowSpan=2> </TD><TD width=65>

</TD></TR><TR><TD width=65>[SIZE=-2]Hughes[/SIZE]</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Hughes spoke with Cavs coach Mike Brown on Thursday night and told him he was coming to Cleveland.

"We had a good conversation," Brown said following Friday's shootaround. "Obviously, as time goes on, he's a little bit better than the day of the funeral."

Hughes' playing status was still uncertain leading to one of the biggest games in Cavs history. Brown said it was not clear if Hughes would dress for the game or just be on hand to support his teammates.

Brown was certain he would not start Hughes.

"It wouldn't be fair to put him in after missing a week of basketball," Brown said. "We've made some changes in what we're doing offensively and defensively. I don't have any concerns about him dressing or not."

Flip Murray has started the past three games in place of Hughes, who missed 45 games of his first season in Cleveland because of a serious finger injury. Murray has averaged 9.3 points in the three starts.

Hughes played in Games 1 and 2, but left the Cavaliers on May 11 to be with his family following the death of his 20-year-old brother, Justin. The younger Hughes, who was raised by his brother, was born with a heart defect and underwent a heart transplant in 1997.

Following their Game 4 win at home, the Cavaliers flew to St. Louis and attended Justin's funeral before heading to Detroit. They got a chance to visit briefly with Hughes, who wrote: "I am my brother's keeper. My life is his world. His life is my everything," as a tribute to his little brother.

Hughes' story has provided inspiration for the Cavaliers, who dropped the first two games of the series but now have the Pistons, the NBA's best team during the regular season, one loss from elimination.

"Larry's situation I think has helped us through the last three games," forward Donyell Marshall said. "With him being here and able to experience it firsthand would be an emotional lift for us as well as him. Especially if we can win it. He can be here and be a part of it.

"He has always been a part of it spiritually, to be here physically, it would something real nice to be able to give him."

 

[jwinslow]

Boy JWins, I know you're not a Cavs fan, but it seems as though you're going out of your way to not give the Cavs credit for the 3-2 lead. I would agree that the Pistons have looked out of synch, but this is the best the Cavs have played on defense all year long. Surely, substantial credit should be going to the Cavs here.

I still see the Pistons pulling this series out, but I'm convinced the Cavs will be a legit contender next year as they continue to grow as a TEAM.

I agree Cleveland has played excellent D, and been disruptive. That being said, I'm not sure why Billups is regularly throwing outlet passes into row 10, I don't believe that is due to defense other than maybe causing Detroit to play tight. If it's the best defense the cavs have played all year, and the worst D the pistons have shown all year (the O isn't much better)... then that makes me wonder if this trend will continue.

I'm not sure the pistons will come back. I think they're playing uninspired basketball and Cleveland is bringing it on almost every play. Maybe the players don't listen, but I don't understand why Saunders allowed Wallace to constantly drive inside, especially with how dominant Z was at the time, plus the fact that Ben has to be the worst FT shooter I've ever seen.

Tonight will be interesting. Lebron's was pretty rusty last night, with Marshall and others picking up the slack at times. So as much as I think Detroit is greatly underperforming, Lebron is capable of more as well.

If the cavs move on, I will be rooting for them.

 

[aurorabuckeye13]

ESPN.com

5/19/06

This is great news if you're a Cavs fan. Even if Larry doesn't play, he is going to be there, and the Cavs WILL play inspired basketball. There is not any trace of doubt in my mind after this, that the Cavs will be fired up and ready to go, and will play inspired emotional basketball.

I envy anyone going to the Q tonight because it is really going to be special...

 

[jwinslow]

larry as a cheerleader will be big. cbf40 and I were discussing this the other day, would you put Hughes back in the starting lineup? Cleveland's blue-collar lineup is on fire right now and could be affected with the addition of hughes. He clearly is talented, tho his mental readiness is unknown. I'm not sure I would change anything major heading into a closeout game.

 

[scarletngrey11]

larry as a cheerleader will be big. cbf40 and I were discussing this the other day, would you put Hughes back in the starting lineup? Cleveland's blue-collar lineup is on fire right now and could be affected with the addition of hughes. He clearly is talented, tho his mental readiness is unknown. I'm not sure I would change anything major heading into a closeout game.

I wouldnt use Hughes in tonights game unless if there is some serious foul trouble.

 

[aurorabuckeye13]

larry as a cheerleader will be big. cbf40 and I were discussing this the other day, would you put Hughes back in the starting lineup? Cleveland's blue-collar lineup is on fire right now and could be affected with the addition of hughes. He clearly is talented, tho his mental readiness is unknown. I'm not sure I would change anything major heading into a closeout game.

I think that there is no way you could start Larry with him being away for a week... The starting lineup has been working well and one of the keys to this game is going to be a fast start. I don't think theres room for Larry to get his feet wet again, so I like him coming off the bench better for tonight. That being said, I think he gets one of the biggest standing ovations ever when he comes in the game and scores his first points.

 

[scarletngrey11]

According to Bayless we dont have an answer for Rasheed Wallace...

Anderson Varejo maybe? You know...the crazy haired guy that has absolutely owned him this series?

 

[Brutus1]

Hell yea he should play tonight! Not start, but I like him coming off the bench alot more than Jones. DJ is good for a couple of 3's here or there, but Hughes plays much better D, rebounds better and goes to the hole better.

 

[exhawg]

Hell yea he should play tonight! Not start, but I like him coming off the bench alot more than Jones. DJ is good for a couple of 3's here or there, but Hughes plays much better D, rebounds better and goes to the hole better.

Jones isn't a good defender, but his ability to score can't be overlooked. The problem with Hughes right now is that he probably isn't going to score many points for you especially 3-pointers. Snow is probably the guy who could use some extra rest seeing that he is older than the other players, and expends so much energy on defense. Brown already said that if Hughes dresses tonight he won't start, but that gives him a card to play with the fans to instantly get them in the game. Even if Larry doesn't dress he will give a boost to the team tonight.