Like Simmons said last year though (something to the effect of)

Commissioner Stern all you had to do was let the Mavs and your nemesis Cuban win the title, nobody will ever accuse you of fixing anything ever again.

And his other Gem, "With the 29th pick in the NBA draft the Mavs select Maurice Ager from Michigan State, Stern shakes his hand and notifies Ager he has just been called for a foul on Dwanye Wade."

Right,

we are getting very little from Webber and Dyss. No reason why Webber can't manuever against the Cavs.

I was disappointed in that the Pistons seemed to be unaware of the strengths and weaknesses of the Cavs other than James. You don't let Z go up and under twice. Stay in front. They will post him from time to time. Varejo can't hit a jumper but they will sneek him in for the quick layup, etc. Pavlovik is agressive but stay with him and he will look wild...

They stopped our offense last year. We should have been ready for the assault on Billips. We hit some big shots under pressure but the offense was not in sinc at all.

Hard to draw conclusions from the game. Both teams had positives. The Cavs controlled the game and we won. We have to come out the next game with wreckless abandon.

You are a great man.

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To all of my friends, comrades and companions at PF.com

Thank you for another great season!

lapiston, I disagree. We need to come out with a lot of focus and control. The Cavs are going to come out very aggressive and we need to absorb their blows, push back and topple them.

Practice this week should focus on the art of taking charges.

__________________
To all of my friends, comrades and companions at PF.com

Thank you for another great season!

Maxiell looked like he took that charge on Z nicely. It's not like Z was hanging in the air and Maxiell got to his spot after takeoff.

I can see Z hanging in the air...

re: cwebb's heart, or lack thereof. i don't know, it's admittedly a very subjective impression. but when i watch him, esp in the low post, i feel like he's working hard and not giving up despite the fact that at least some of his misses in the last few games could easily have been makes. of course, working hard isn't the same as working smart. i'll keep watching him to see. i might have also been influence by sheed's post-game comment on webb as having the heart of a fierce competitor (or something like that).

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"Only when the past ceases to trouble and anticipations of the future are not perturbing is a being wholly united with his environment and therefore fully alive."

another piece by Kerr on Yahoo sports
Giving Cavs their best shot - NBA Experts Blog - NBA - Yahoo! Sports

It's not so much the misses and makes as

1. Blocking out
2. Hitting the offensive glass
3. Establishing and not reliquishing position

That Sheed comment bothered me (not very much, this defines nitpicking) because I wish Sheed would have mentioned Dyess when they threw him the softie of asking if he wanted to win a ring for Webber.

I think Chris has a lot of desire, and 'want to' but he just seems to psyche himself out in the big moments/games.

I guess I don't really question his heart it's more his mental toughness and fortitude, what John Thompson used to call 'shrinkage' late in games.

Actually, its a rule. If you foul anyone without the ball in the last two minutes, the other team gets a technical free throw and the ball. Billups did not have the ball.