I couldn't watch this game, but from your description, this is everything I love about basketball. Hopefully, the Brahma is for real, and I get to watch him for many years to come.

Show some love.

We all know that we still have arguably the top starters, but the bench is starting to like like an elite one as well. Once Blalock gets more experience this bench will be really good. Dice starts slow, I'm being patient with him. If Delfino gets hot in his jumper that's only a plus. He does everything else and it makes a huge impact. Our rotation now looks like it may be solid 10 man rotation. Once Lindsey gets back it will be 11. Dupree could do things for this team too, he played yesterday and did well.

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"That's the end, man." Rasheed Wallace

Good recap Mr. Slip.

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

Thank you for another great season!

Good game. Best part was that I'm starting to feel good about this team going into the playoffs.

Best starting 4 in the NBA. Blaylock can run the point. Murray getting his minutes cut. Delfino looking comfortable on the court, and JMax being JMax.

JMax and Delfino could be a great bench, as they can shift from the 2 to the 5, giving everyone a break but CB. Throw in DD and Blaylock/LH, and we're solid.

People criticise Delfino's shot, but he's not reallly in the offense, when he gets a shot, it's usually a bad look with the shot clock running down. What he does well doesnt show up in the stats. He moves, unlike Evans, forcing his man to move, and not be able to double. He doesn't force shots. He passes well. He can run the break. And his D is good. Great stuff on Lebron, but like Slip noted, Lebron got the superstar call.

And JMax finally made a true believer out of me when I saw him cover Z, and force Z to make a bad shot over JMax's long arms. I'm calling him Inspector gadget now, instead of Brahma. Those arms are freaky.

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I was going to jokingly add that Maxiell needs to learn to do the "intangibles" better but really, the guy needs to learn how to pass the ball. IMO he tarnished a golden performance with some crappy FT shooting and by not being able to pass the ball in a meaningful way.

I was hoping for dupree to come in earlier. The team was up by 17 with 5 minutes to go. I think he would have done well as the Cav's looked slow.

Delf NEEDS to hit that shot. everyone gives him an open look cuz they don't think he can hit that. He needs to be a threat so defenders don't sag. He's much more valuable with the drive but he won't get much opportunities with that errant jumper.

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Pistons 87, Cavaliers 71 (F)

Video Highlights (mostly LeBron)

Steve Kerr made that exact point when Rip pulled that maneuver to get to the line at the beginning of the game. I said "Steve Kerr is right" just as a certain forum leader who shall remain nameless popped open a can of hateration on Kerr.

He does need to improve in those categories, but he brings so much energy and toughness to the table that I don't mind cutting him slack for now in other areas.

Linwood, believe it, man. This guy is the truth!

That's good news, since I am the Vice Admiral of his fan club.

I've been waiting patiently for the former Bearcat to break out, so now I will sit back and enjoy.

(I won't parade around here trying to rub in my superior scouting on anyone! )

Flip Murray is quite simply playing for his next pay day. I think Dupree in what little we saw of him was trying to force his shot, and get his own. Performances like that are not going to earn more playing time.

I think all of the "Flip is a bad coach" club (including myself) need to recognize that he has really made massive and impressive changes with the rotation.

I remember the night we drafted Maxiell and Acker. I was at the Yahoo draft site, and they had 3 minute videos of their college highlights. There is no way you can watch Max in that video and think he wouldn't be a player in this league.

Amazingly, he's bringing so much more POWER to the table. I think he was lighter and player a little more on the perimeter in college. In the NBA, he's been the answer to all of our "points in the paint" issues.

Blalock could be a gem. It's unlikely he'll be a superstar, but we have him playing at the cheapest possible value and he's contributing solid minutes. 60th pick, last man in the draft. Joe is going to need low priced talent like this to continue building the team.

Nazr is a strange player. For 5 minutes, he can have you WHOOPing and pumping your fist in the air. Then you spend the next time he's on the court clawing your eyes out and moaning like a wounded animal.

Delfino has really impressed me of late. What better kind of guy to replace Tayshaun on the floor at times? Glue for glue. Plenty of intangibles. My only concern is that he still isn't contributing regularly as a scorer and at one point, that will catch up to him.

Nice to see Dice finally get some rhythm on offense in the 4th. He was at the top of my trade list coming into this game.

Always good to beat up the Cavs. I dislike Lebron. He's lacking any charisma, competitive fire or character. Gooden is a beggar's Carlos Boozer, Ilgauskas is soft as all get out and Varejao should put on a pink tutu before he enters the game so everyone knows he is a princess.

The only Cavs I like are Larry Hughes and Eric Snow.

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

Thank you for another great season!