Sprocket says…

The Pistons seven game winning streak ends tonight at the hands of the Spurs. For the past several games superior Piston execution on both the offensive and defensive end of the floor made them look as if they were playing at a different speed than the opposition. Tonight the Spurs took advantage of cold Pistons shooting and out-executed them when it mattered to gain the nine point win that was only close in the first and last five minutes of the game.

The Pistons start the first quarter cold missing two close in shots in the first two minutes. A couple of Pistons turnovers on top of five missed shots by Rasheed, including two threes, puts the Spurs up by six. The Spurs have already subbed for Barry and Duncan by the time the first Pistons reserves enter the game. With Duncan on the bench from around the three minute mark of the first until he returns at about the eight minutes mark of the second the Spurs continue the pace, outscoring the Pistons by six more to make a twelve point lead. The Pistons get scrappy near the end of the first, but still lose another five points to the Spurs and the half ends with San Antonio up seventeen. Duncan in, Duncan out, makes no difference to the pace of the Spurs scoring.

San Antonio looks too quick for the Pistons in the first half, outscoring them on the break eleven to two in the first quarter. In a blow for South American basketball fans everywhere, the first quarter ends with three Argentines in the game. All told the Spurs shoot 56% in the first half to the Pistons 32%.

The third quarter begins in a seesaw fashion with the Spurs adding one point to the lead by the seven minute mark. The Pistons try to zone (first time in the game?) on consecutive possessions leading to two stops. At a timeout around the three minute mark Pop jumps all over Tony Parker despite Parker’s line of six for ten from the field with seven assists and two steals. It works though as the Spurs suddenly solve the Piston’s zone with quick cuts to the middle. Elson for San Antonio has 12 points and 15 boards by the end of the third, including two layups against the zone.

The Pistons finally begin to play with a bit of desperation in the fourth led by Carlos Delfino with a block, a steal, a couple of rebounds, and a coast to coast drive for two. The lead is cut to twelve at the six minute mark when Delfino goes to the bench for good. Lindsey Hunter, perhaps having followed the PF thread about how poorly he is shooting, goes three for three from three, including one in the run. But, the Pistons miss two more close in shots, and Duncan makes an all-star move against Sheed for a basket while Parker drives for a very tough layup. The Pistons continue to push but can get no closer than seven as the Spurs shoot eleven for twelve (13-14?) from the stripe in the fourth.

Detroit pulls its final shooting percentage up to 41% for the game, but the Spurs shoot well enough in the second half to end at 50%. The Pistons are outrebounded by 10 and end up four down in the assist column. Prince and Dice have particularly unmemorable games shooting one for eleven combined with only five rebounds. Delfino and Wallace also shoot poorly, 1-5 and 5-15 respectively. Without these four the remaining Pistons shoot 25 for 47, better than the Spurs.

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"But first, are you experienced? Or have you you ever been experienced? Well, I have."
Jimi