Cavs-Pistons Second Round Playoff Series

[crazybuckfan40]

Ok guys, step back from the ledge. It is not over yet. I would of loved to have that game tonite, we had the home crowd behind, and we had the momentum, but our backs werent necessairly against the walls knowing that there was still another game. I think that showed at crucial times tonite. We started the game off great running the shit out of the ball up and down the court, I could of swore I saw Steve Nash and the suns out there for a while.

Why did we got away from it I don't know. In the end I think both teams made the plays needed to win the game, but we just couldnt get a bounce on one of those rebounds. It wasnt necessairly bad positioning or lack of box out, it was a couple of bad bounces, missed timed jumps and the fact that the Pistons really wanted the ball.

I have a problem a small problem with the offense, not b/c it was LBJ alot, b/c that is how it has been in every close game in the series, I just have a problem with the turnovers. I think Detroit took us out of our comfort zone that we had been in the last 3 games, and we took it too lightly, but we were still there at the end.

Well Game 6 is over we goto tsun to try and close it out. It is 3-3 it is for all the marbles and a chance to move on.

My take on the game.

Exhawg has been hitting this point all series, but I am going to still it now. The Pistons are more of an older team, and have shown at times to be physically worn down in the series. IMHO Flip has used in bench in a very bad way. They basically play their starting 5 all game. I don't think Delk saw the court tonite and Hunter and Mcdyess were not out there for long.

That has basically been the way it has been all series, and people at times have been questioning that. The Pistons had to give just about everything they had tonite to be able to get that win tonite, while we were playing with all we had tonite as well, we had more guys out there. DJ, Donyell, Andy, were all playing crucial minutes. Sunday will be the fifth game in 8 days. Are the Pistons starting 5 have what it takes to take a younger more rested team, and withstand another close game. Rasheed played great tonite, but he went the whole way on a bummed ankle and he was basically coming off two games where he had been sitting on the bench, so he is going to have to turn around in a 1.5 days and go at it again, going at two guys, who have played half as much and are half as young. Same with Billups and Rip, they have been going at Flip and Snow and DJ. 2 vs. 3 and Tayshaun is the youngest on the team and he has been seeing the court the whole series too.

The Pistons are the more experienced team when it comes to situations like this, but we have the King on our side and anyone that has ever thought about doubting him, is probably very close to saying they will never do that again. Never tell this kid he can't do something, b/c he will come out and overexceed your expectations. You know the media is going to be all over Detroit's jock again saying how they are the experienced team and basically back to where they were until we took 3 in a row. The pressure is all in Detroit's court again, b/c they are expected to win, and will have the media filling their heads again. They have always been the team that likes to play in that underdog role, as they have been the past two seasons, but this time around they are the favorites and we will see how it plays out.

I can promise you this, we are all going to be witnesses to a great game 7 and it is something that this league needed to get some people back interested in what was an all but dead league a couple years ago.

Go Cavs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

One for all all for one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We believe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[scarletngrey11]

I shouldve known better than to get my hopes up.

This is Cleveland, its a fiting way to lose a huge game. We were down by 2 and the last 1:15 of the game Detroit had the ball thanks to offensive rebounds.

What more could I expect. This city is cursed when it comes to sports teams.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ABJ

5/20/06

Pistons execute, tie series

By Brian Windhorst

Beacon Journal sportswriter

<!-- begin body-content -->CLEVELAND - To beat the champs, you have to knock them out.
The Cavaliers had Friday's Game 6 right where they wanted it -- close at the end and on their home floor. By executing in those spots, they had carried themselves to the brink of a franchise-defining moment. By not executing with this precious opportunity, they're now, instead, on the brink of elimination.
The Detroit Pistons, certified experts at winning elimination games -- be it with their own necks or someone else's on the line -- weren't going down without a fight. They played that way in the final stretch of a game that was within a basket or two for 48 minutes.
The Cavaliers couldn't match them.
Suffering a series of breakdowns in the final 60 seconds, the Cavs allowed the Pistons to slip out of Quicken Loans Arena with an 84-82 win. It evened the series at 3-3 and sent the momentum back with the Pistons to The Palace of Auburn Hills for Sunday's Game 7.
The Cavs had won an amazing string of tight contests.
They had gone 6-0 in the playoffs in games decided by two points or less. This time, a series of misjudgments shook their usual firm grip and steady air.
The most glaring was a string of offensive rebounds they gave up in the final minute, four to be exact. It's usually one of the Cavs' strongest facets. They were one of the NBA leaders in limiting offensive rebounds during the regular season and were controlling the glass most of the night Friday.
Ahead by two points, Detroit got three chances to ice the game. The Pistons missed jumpers or free throws to allow the Cavs another chance to drive in a last-second dagger to win or to force overtime. In fact, the Pistons shot just 33 percent in the fourth quarter, hardly a clutch-shooting masterpiece.
But Richard Hamilton, Ben Wallace and Tayshaun Prince got their fingertips on loose balls, keeping what had to seem like the longest opponent's possession in Cavs' history alive and eating away at the clock.
``There's a fine line between winning and losing,'' Cavs coach Mike Brown said. ``The team that makes the most mistakes down the stretch is going to lose.''
The Cavs finally got a rebound when they were down three points and, again, were unable to execute. LeBron James, who had a game-high 32 points, didn't hear Brown demand a timeout and ran up the floor. James was trying to get the ball to a 3-point shooter for a tie, but the heady Pistons fouled him with a second to play.
He was left to split free throws and hope for a miracle tip-in that didn't take place. The building drained of sound and the Cavs slowly marched off the floor, knowing they had squandered in the last minute, a slice of time they had owned for as long as they could remember.
``The game is won and lost on simple plays,'' James said. ``You have to make simple plays.''
There was nothing really simple about the 2 ½-hour struggle, with both teams scrapping for every basket and throwing complex schemes at one another. The Pistons probably won the game on this level, making some offensive decisions that were the most prudent since the first half of Game 2.
They fed the post all night, taking advantage of mismatches Prince and Rasheed Wallace created. The Cavs, determined to kill the Pistons' long-range shooting, had lived with this situation for three games as they switched on pick-and-rolls to avoid allowing open jumpers. In Game 6, desperate Detroit made them pay.
Rasheed Wallace scored 24 points and virtually fouled out key reserve Anderson Varejao in 23 minutes because he could manage him in the post. Wallace made numerous tough shots -- ones he had missed for a week. Prince also was strong in the post, scoring 15 points. That opened some outside shots, and the Pistons nailed 6-of-14 3-pointers
Defensively, the Pistons repeatedly changed looks on James. In the fourth quarter, they allowed him to drive, then swarmed him when he got into the lane. It resulted not only in fouls -- James was 15-of-18 at the line -- but also in seven turnovers, four in the fourth quarter.
Unlike when the Cavs have been at their best in the clutch, there was no honest help.
``I know the only cat that wanted to shoot was LeBron,'' Rasheed Wallace said. ``They're trying to go down a road we've been down before, back and down again.''
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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ABJ

5/20/06

Young team loses poise for first time

By Tom Reed

<!-- begin body-content -->CLEVELAND - Cavaliers fans never have to ask if they can get a witness for their Nike-clad superstar, LeBron James.
At the maddening conclusion of Friday night's 84-82 loss to the Detroit Pistons, a more pressing question arose: Can they get a rebound?
Three times in the final 48 seconds of Game 6, the Cavs had a chance to tie the score if only they could secure a defensive rebound. Three times, the Pistons extended possessions by getting the ball instead.
Perhaps a minute from completing an astonishing upset and advancing to the Eastern Conference finals, the Cavs came unhinged. They allowed the Pistons second chances. They failed to call a timeout in the final, frantic nine seconds. James drove inside the 3-point arc to try to create a play, trailing 84-81, and was alertly fouled by the Pistons.
After demonstrating such poise throughout their playoff run, the Cavs lost it and a possible close-out victory in the process at a sold-out Quicken Loans Arena.
They made mental miscues, committed five fourth-quarter turnovers and gave new life to a proud champion.
A week ago, the Cavaliers would have welcomed a chance to play a Game 7 in Detroit on Sunday. This morning? Not so much.
A huge opportunity has morphed into an even larger disappointment.
``Down the stretch, (the Pistons) found a way to win the ballgame,'' Cavs coach Mike Brown said. ``We made little mistakes here and there.''
That's all the two-time defending conference champions required.
The resilient and playoff-tested Pistons deserve full marks. They won a Game 6 for the fourth time in a row since 2003 when facing a 3-2 series deficit.
Chief protagonist and prognosticator Rasheed Wallace, battling a sprained ankle, had a monster game with 24 points, including 16 in the second half.
Although Wallace is the best-known player in the series for making prophesies, the one volunteered by Cavs forward Donyell Marshall might prove most prophetic. Marshall said after Game 1 that the Pistons' experience could trump the Cavs' youth.
Wallace said he saw some reluctant Cavs trigger fingers in the fourth quarter, perhaps the sign of a young team uncertain how to finish off the old gunslingers. James and Ilgauskas were the only players to attempt at least two shots. James went to the line 12 times in the fourth quarter, converting 10 free throws.
``I don't know if they were playing tight or not, but the only cat who wanted to shoot was LeBron,'' Wallace said. ``You can take that for what it's worth.''
No postseason participant has been playing better than the Cavs in tight games. They had won 17 of their previous 19 games decided by four or fewer points.
For the first time in this fascinating series, however, the Cavs also were a team with something to lose.
This was the chance to vanquish Detroit on the Cavs' home court. The chance to bury the team with the league's best record and reach the NBA version of the Final Four.
``There is a fine line between winning and losing the basketball game, and the team that makes the most mistakes down the stretch is going to lose when both teams fight like they did tonight,'' Brown said.
James, who finished with 32 points and 11 rebounds, said he didn't think a lack of poise was the problem. What would you expect him to say?
He scored 12 of his 32 points in the fourth quarter. James was up for taking the game into his hands, as the stars almost always do. He committed four fourth-quarter turnovers, though. He twice had the ball stripped driving into the lane.
The game was decided, however, by the Cavs' inability to keep the Pistons off the offensive glass: Detroit had four offensive boards in the last 1:40 and three crucial ones in the final minute.
A veteran team exhibited its hunger, and an inexperienced one demonstrated its lack of focus. The final mental mistake was the dagger. The Cavs left a timeout in the holster as James dribbled down court with 8.8 seconds left.
Brown said he had difficulty communicating his desire because of the crowd noise.
``I don't know why we didn't call timeout,'' James said.
The Cavs still have a shot to pull the upset Sunday. Home-court advantage is lost for good, but right now, what they must regain is their poise.
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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ABJ

5/20/06

One last shot

By Terry Pluto


CLEVELAND - One more game. One more day of waiting. One more night of wondering.
Once more, Cavaliers fans have to worry about the Detroit Pistons.
Game 7.
Only this time, it will be at the Palace of Auburn Hills on Sunday afternoon.
That's what Detroit's 84-82 victory in Game 6 at Quicken Loans Arena meant Friday night.
Not the end of the Cavaliers' playoff dreams. Not some more gloom and a sense of impending doom.
Nothing but one more game, the last game for one of these teams, which have played themselves utterly even in the first six games.
``Many people thought we were dead,'' said Detroit coach Flip Saunders. ``Now, we go home breathing.''
Barely.
But that's enough.
Just as the Cavaliers have life, too. Remember the Cavs won two road games in Washington. They won Game 5 in Detroit. They have No. 23, and any team with a great player like LeBron James is capable of winning a Game 7 anywhere, anytime.
It will be one more game, one more chance for the Cavaliers to do something nearly historic: win a Game 7 on the Pistons' home court, where they are 42-5 this season.
So order up some extra Tums, because you're going to need them.
Consider the Cavaliers won Game 4 at home by two points.
They won Game 5 in Detroit by two points.
The Pistons won Game 6 in Cleveland by two points.
No one knows who will win, but you probably can count on this much: It will be gut-churning, palms-sweating, heart-pounding, 48 minutes of memorable basketball.
You may love it. You may hate it because the pressure is getting to you. But if you love the game, you won't want to miss it.
Analyzing, agonizing
You can spend a lot of time analyzing what happened in Game 6. You can agonize over missed chances and do a little second-guessing.
Yes, coach Mike Brown should have called a timeout to set up a 3-point shot because the Cavs were behind 84-81 with 10 seconds left.
Instead, Brown decided to let James make a play, create something, which often is a good idea. Had it worked, everyone would have agreed.
James drove to the basket and was fouled as he delivered a pass to Flip Murray on the 3-point line. James went to the foul line with 1.4 seconds left.
He had two free throws; the Cavs needed three points. He made the first and intentionally missed the second shot, but the Cavs couldn't tip it in.
Ballgame.
The Cavs actually lost this game in the final minute when Detroit came up with not ONE, not TWO, but FOUR offensive rebounds.
Detroit made big plays. The Cavs did not in those final, frustrating 60 seconds.
Gap has closed
So take a deep breath, Cavs fans.
Yes, your team is facing the defending Eastern Conference champions, a team that won an NBA-best 64 regular-season games this season.
And yes, your Cavaliers won only 50, have a superstar who would be a junior in college, a rookie head coach and absolutely, positively no recent playoff experience.
And yes, the Pistons dominated the Cavs in the regular season, and in the first seven quarters of the playoffs.
But the gap has closed. The Cavs are aging fast (in a good way), and the Pistons have had moments when they have been feeling their age (the wrong way).
Despite the outcome of this game, understand that the Cavaliers have silenced the Pistons' swagger, shut most of their mouths and have the Pistons very, very concerned.
James has called Sunday the ``greatest challenge'' of his three-year pro career. The Pistons know it will be a day where they have to avoid disaster. Losing to the Cavs at home will lead to a long summer of anguish and discontent.
The pressure remains on Detroit.
Consider that Detroit is a great team, but with no one like James who can take over a game.
The Cavs are now a good team with a great player.
When those two teams meet in a Game 7, there is nothing you can count on except this: You'll be watching until the final seconds.
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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

5/20/06

Hughes returns to Cavs with pair of tear tattoos

Saturday, May 20, 2006

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CLEVELAND (AP) — With two fresh tear-drop tattoos falling from his left eye, Larry Hughes honored his dead brother the way he always has: through basketball.

Hughes rejoined the Cleveland Cavaliers last night in time for Game 6 against the Detroit Pistons after missing the previous three games because of the death of his brother Justin, 20.

After speaking with his mother Thursday night, Hughes decided to return to Cleveland and be with his teammates.

"She wanted me to do what my brother would have wanted," Hughes said. "Throughout his life, whenever I had something to do, he wanted me to do it. It’s kind of keeping on."

Cavs coach Mike Brown said he and Hughes decided that it was best for him not to play, though he was activated and dressed."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 averaged 9.3 points in three starts in place of Hughes, who played in Games 1 and 2 but left the Cavaliers on May 11 to be with his family after the death of his brother, whom he helped raise. Justin Hughes was born with a heart defect and underwent a heart transplant in 1997.

Larry Hughes has "I Am My Brother’s Keeper" tattooed on his neck, and after Justin’s death, he had the tears inked on his face.
"I have a lot of them and I express myself different from other people," Hughes said. "It means a lot to me."

 

[Brutus1]

'Sheed played a great game. Even when we had defenders on him, he hit the shots.

I'm not going to blame the refs. They didn't give up the offensive rebounds, they didn't stand around when LeBron had the ball in his hands(Actually, they did), and they didn't take any questionable shots.

Murray's shooting from the field continued to be garbage.

Overall, they played a very good game and were with the Pistons the whole game. They're showing they're not a fluke but a pretty good team that, after the first 6 quarters of this series, are showing that they belong on the same court as the Pistons.

It's going to be a tough game Sunday, but I think at this point, everyone on that team believes they can win. They'll need to play better, cut down on the turnovers and play aggresive defense for 4 quarters.


Edit: Flip Murray's jump shooting this series: 4-30 !! If you can't dunk or layup, then pass the damn ball.

 

[OSUScoonie12]

I see it very hard for Cleveland to win at Detroit in game 7. Detroit is one of the hardest places to play in the NBA and they know how to play under pressure, just look at last night's game. I hate to say it but i see Detoit winning this series.

 

[scarletngrey11]

I see it very hard for Cleveland to win at Detroit in game 7. Detroit is one of the hardest places to play in the NBA and they know how to play under pressure, just look at last night's game. I hate to say it but i see Detoit winning this series.

I agree.

Ill be happy if we dont get blown out. Lebron still hasnt had a typical "Lebron" game this series.

Our back court is freaking Eric Snow and Flip Murray.

 

[unionfutura]

I agree.

Ill be happy if we dont get blown out. Lebron still hasnt had a typical "Lebron" game this series.

Our back court is freaking Eric Snow and Flip Murray.

Hey now Snow has been great on Billiups. Billiups got lucky with his and 1's yesterday, I wouldn't blame snow for that.

Prince's game is developing nicely and Rasheed had a big game, without him the Pistons would be planning their tee times. It's hard being a Pistons fan man, seems like we've been through a ton of game 7's.

I can't wait for Game 7 at the palace. I'll be sitting in my normal seat with my well worn out buckeye hat cheering like a animal. Great series hope we get a great game 7. Good Luck!

 

[OH10]

'Sheed played a great game. Even when we had defenders on him, he hit the shots.

Yeah, but he's still a whiny bitch.

 

[WoodyWorshiper]

25 years from now, there is only going to be one player who steps foot onto the Palace floor tomorrow that anybody is going to remember.

This is LeBron's day to shine, and to place himself with the all-time greats of the game at the tender age of 21. Much like MJ did to us with "The Shot" on our home floor, I look for LeBron to take this game over and basically win it by himself, and hitting a game winning shot in the closing seconds. LeBron's normal game is not going to be enough, he must be extraordinarily selfish for them to win. Which they will.

CAVS- 83
Piss-Tons-81

Lebron: 47 Points 13 Rebounds 6 Assists 2 Turnovers

 

[jwinslow]

Lebron's series average: 26.5
Lebron's season avg vs Det: 25 ppg (4 games)

Color me skeptical that he will nearly double his season average. If I must give Cleveland credit for Detroit's offensive woes, then Detroit is also responsible for giving LBJ fits. He will get his points, no doubt, tho I doubt he will get more than 35 tops.

I missed the first 2.5 quarters of game 6, so my perspective may be limited.

The end of game six finally looked like Piston basketball. There was teamwork and execution on offense, and great effort on defense (finally). Sheed was unbelievable (sheed's owner apparently took the night off), and billups was finally showing up.

Yet despite this, the cavs stayed with the Pistons step for step. For Game 7 to be a classic, Lebron has to play at the top of his game.

Can't wait to see how this one will unfold.

 

[crazybuckfan40]

Lebron's series average: 26.5
Lebron's season avg vs Det: 25 ppg (4 games)

Color me skeptical that he will nearly double his season average. If I must give Cleveland credit for Detroit's offensive woes, then Detroit is also responsible for giving LBJ fits. He will get his points, no doubt, tho I doubt he will get more than 35 tops.

I missed the first 2.5 quarters of game 6, so my perspective may be limited.

The end of game six finally looked like Piston basketball. There was teamwork and execution on offense, and great effort on defense (finally). Sheed was unbelievable (sheed's owner apparently took the night off), and billups was finally showing up.

Yet despite this, the cavs stayed with the Pistons step for step. For Game 7 to be a classic, Lebron has to play at the top of his game.

Can't wait to see how this one will unfold.

Couldn't of said it any better myself. The Pistons played tough down the stretch got a few bounces, and made some very tough contested shots, but the Cavs were there, and had a chance to win. I think all the pressure is back on Detroit, so we will see if Lebron has a small miracle up his sleve for this one.

 

[Captain Hindsight]

My prediction is that the Cavs will lose this game. However, I will most certainly not write them off. Before the series even started, I realistically expected them to win two games at the most. What the Cavs have done this series by making it into a competitive series is beyond remarkable and very impressive. Even if they don't win tomorrow night in Detroit, the fact that they played them very well (WITHOUT LARRY HUGHES for the majority of the series) will help them next year, when it comes to playoff experience, confidence, and help the development of the leadership of LeBron James.

The way I see it, this is obviously the biggest game of all of these young Cavalier players' careers, and especially for LeBron. A win in Detroit (which yes, is possible, as proved in Game 5) would be sensational, and would shut up all the doubters of LeBron James, temporarily.

If the Cavs keep up the great defensive intensity that they have demonstrated for the majority of this series, rebound effectively, and don't turn the ball over, they have a decent shot of winning this game.

However, the problem is that they are going against one of the most experienced, team-oriented teams of the modern NBA era, and this is certainly a challenge and game that none of us want to afford to miss.