The Pistons are terrified

You could feel the tension in Detroit last night from all the way here in Los Angeles. Could the Pistons possibly succeed in their quest to send Milwaukee home?




Pistons Wins , RH Joins Bing And Co

Detroit122 Milwaukee 93

The Pistons put Milwaukee out of its misery by ending their series early . The Bucks were totally outclassed . You wonder if the good Senator , who owns the team , is wondering what happened to his investments. At the start of the season , everyone picked the Bucks as one of the fav to rule the East. They barely made the playoff and now this.




The climax nears

The 122-93 Game Five elimination of Milwaukee was our last TV 20 game of the year. It’s feels a little strange because our role in the excitement ends just as the playoff energy gets a big boost with round two right around the corner.

Milwaukee wasn’t likely to win the series under any scenario, but it was still the fourth quarter of Game Four that changed the dynamic. Milwaukee had blown out the Pistons in Game Three and had made up a 15-point deficit to tie Game Four at 80-all. The Pistons led, 87-86, with 4:19 left, when Chauncey Billups hit a three-pointer. Next time down the court the Pistons moved the ball brilliantly and Billups found Rip Hamilton alone in the left corner. Rip was just 2-12 on the night, missing from everywhere. But he drilled the three-pointer to make it 93-86 and they never looked back. Billups went 8-8 from the line in the final minutes and the series was over except for the inevitable Game Five victory.

ESPN: Sidney Lowe to N.C. State

We heard the rumors earlier this week, and now it's starting to look official:
Pistons assistant coach Sidney Lowe has agreed in principle to take the head coaching job at North Carolina State, replacing Herb Sendek.
Multiple sources told ESPN.com that Lowe informed Pistons GM Joe Dumars and coach Flip Saunders of his decision Thursday morning.
North Carolina [...]




Sidney Lowe to Raleigh...

While Pistons assistant Sidney Lowe's decision to become the head coach at his alma mater (N C State) might have...

[Detroit News]

Pistons are not ready to celebrate
"We haven't done nothing, man," Lindsey Hunter said. "There's nothing to celebrate. We know what our goal is."

The goal wasn't to beat the Bucks in the first round. That was just the first step. "We just took care of our business, and now we move on," Ben Wallace said. "We are playing for a bigger prize than that."

[Booth Newspapers]

Pistons wait to see who's next
AUBURN HILLS -- The Detroit Pistons have taken on a Secretariat-like approach to games, paying as little attention as possible to what's going on around them while focusing on the finish line, which for them is winning a second NBA title in three seasons.

However, by sending the Milwaukee Bucks home for the summer with a series-clinching 122-93 beating on Wednesday, the Pistons now must sit, wait and, for a change, watch teams play for the right to face them.

A. SHERROD BLAKELY: Lowe to Raleigh ...
While Pistons assistant Sidney Lowe's decision to become the head coach at his alma mater (N C State) might have made some shake their heads in disbelief, his decision made a lot of sense.

[Need4Sheed.com]

Very Superstitious
Many fans including myself have certain rituals or superstitions that they do when watching their favorite team play. I have even posted all the Sheedisms that I had noticed while watching Pistons games. Well the Pistons themselves have many rituals they do before games and WB20 put together a must see Pistons pre game video about the many superstitions that the Pistons players have.

[ESPN.com]

Daily Dime
John Hollinger: As a result of Rip's return to health and the Pistons' general sharpness, the Eastern Conference playoffs are nothing more than the Detroit Invitational. It's tough to come up with a single team in the East you would put money on to have a competitive series against the Pistons right now, much less beat them.

Just look at their so-called competition. New Jersey is barely squeezing past an Indiana team that has half its roster in casts; the Heat have their hands full with a feisty but modestly talented Chicago club; and the Cavs are a one-man band that can't possibly cope with Detroit's multitudinous maestros.

Marc Stein: I'm told the Pistons' starters simply believe that their greatest strength is their collective willpower. What they treasure most -- more than their defense or their unselfishness or having two Wallaces and Chauncey Billups in the clutch -- is the belief that they can overcome any outside force. Injury included.

[This page also contains one of the priceless Sheed pix. Just call him Ol' Dirty and be done with it.]

[Yahoo! Sports]

Pistons add hunger to an improved team
Richard Hamilton said the Pistons also are hungrier after coming within a quarter of repeating as NBA champions last June in Game 7 at San Antonio.

"We're definitely on a mission, and that's a lot different than last year," Hamilton said after scoring a playoff career-high 40 points Wednesday to help Detroit eliminate Milwaukee with a 122-93 victory in Game 5. "We have something to prove. We want to go out and get something, and the guys are focused to go out there and get it."

Pistons rest, play waiting game
by KRISTA LATHAM

The Pistons didn't practice Thursday, and even with that day of rest, they'll still have at least two full days to prepare for their next opponent.

And although there's the old debate about whether too much rest is a good thing or a sure path to rustiness, the Pistons see only the positives.


Reports: Assistant to coach alma mater
by KRISTA LATHAM

Pistons assistant Sidney Lowe will be named men's basketball coach at North Carolina State, where he won an NCAA title in 1983, by this weekend, according to various reports.

Lowe wasn't available for comment on the Pistons' off-day Thursday.


NBA ticker

Know your foe

As much as we'd love to see LeBron-mania in the next round against the Pistons, let's think about what we'd miss out on.



If NBA Playoff Teams Were 80s Sitcoms…

Detroit Pistons:
Cheers ...

Pistons savor solid offense vs. Bucks
By DANA GAURUDER
Of The Oakland Press

AUBURN HILLS - When Richard Hamilton fired in a 3-pointer from the top of the key Wednesday night, he was the proud owner of a 40-point game, and the Pistons had 97 points on the scoreboard.

[Detroit News]

Pistons are focused on themselves
Since wrapping up their first-round series against Milwaukee on Wednesday, the Pistons have taken it somewhat easy. They had Thursday off and then had a light practice -- Prince called it "short and sweet" -- Friday and will practice again today.

[Detroit Free Press]

NEXT? Pistons watch playoffs with great interest
A group of players planned an outing Friday night at Lucky's in Novi, where they could play video games and watch the Cavaliers vs. the Wizards in Game 6. The Pistons will play the Cavs, who won the series, four games to two. The second-round series starts Sunday.

Pistons Corner: Lowe can't contain NC State excitement
Sidney Lowe can't really talk about his new job as head coach at North Carolina State, not until the news becomes official at a 5:30 p.m. news conference today.

But using a lot of qualifiers like, "if it happens," the Pistons' lead assistant shared his excitement Friday, saying the job falls into the can't-turn-it-down, "once-in-a-lifetime" category.

[Booth Newspapers]

Pistons expect to lose asst. coach to NCSU
When the Wolfpack's interest became sincere, Lowe discussed the matter with Pistons officials and head coach Flip Saunders.

"They (Pistons officials) basically told me, in a situation like that, your alma mater ... it's a once -in-a-lifetime deal. You have to accept it if it's right," Lowe recalled. "We talked about it, and felt that if they do offer me the job, it would be a good move on my part."

JUSTIN ROGERS: Full-Court Press
ESPN's humor columnist Bill Simmons says in his latest column that the only way the Pistons don't reach the NBA Finals is if catastrophe strikes; a recent article on VIBE magazine's website claims the Pistons are carrying the flag for hip hop culture in the NBA.

[Detroit Bad Boys]

SUNDAY, SUNDAY, SUNDAY!
Make no mistake, the Pistons will have to play better than they did against Milwaukee in order to take the series. King James and the Bronettes have really stepped up their game since the playoffs began, dispatching of the high-scoring, "defense optional" Wizz kidzz in 6. But given the joy the Pistons seemed to take in shutting down the Cavs in 3 of their 4 regular season contests, I doubt motivation will be much of a factor for this one. Just in case we need a little push though, Varejao anyone?

Bench proving it isn't a liability during playoffs
By DANA GAURUDER
Of The Oakland Press

AUBURN HILLS - When opponents probe for weaknesses on the Pistons, their bench becomes a convenient target. The Pistons starting lineup is so formidable, it's logical to deduce that the time to make a run on them is when Flip Saunders dips into his reserve corps. In the first round of the playoffs, Detroit's bench did everything possible to debunk that theory.

Vibe: the Pistons are "Hip Hop's team"

Have the Pistons become Hip Hop's team? If so, it's news to me, but that's the title of a new article in Vibe Magazine: "The Detroit Pistons: Hip Hop's Team Speaks Up"
"If you look at our team, we?re more like the real. The grind," said Shooting Guard Hamilton. "When you look at us, our braids, [...]


Second Round Pistons vs. Cavaliers

Sheed Must Bleed video, great stuff





Detroit Versus Cleveland Preview

Cleveland can win if…

Detroit will win because…

Other things to consider:




Loads of good stuff today from Justin Rogers

Flip Saunders a traitor?

More proof the Bulls are using the Pistons blueprint

Salguero: Shaq makes Heat better than Pistons

Beacon Journal: Cavs should be satisfied

National analysts predict Pistons/Cavs series

Maurice Evans takes a shot at the Cavs




Page 2: Stock Up the First Round
by Bill "Celtic Freak" Simmons




Playoff Capsules

Let's lead off with the one that puts it best:

[YAY! Sports]

Pistons versus Cavaliers and the NBA Playoffs
The popular opinions seem to be "LeBron is good for one" and "Hey, this is just like Michael Jordan and his Pistons".

We're sure Detroit is thrilled that they're no longer on a title run, but are merely here to teach LeBron. Y'know, for the good of the world. If they were struggling for motivation, there it is.

[Need4Sheed.com]

The Cleveland Cavaliers Want to Be the Detroit Pistons
The Cavs website is set up almost exactly like the Pistons.
The Cavs PA announcer is a Mason Wannabe, pay attention during the games.
They had a Break the World Record for Wig-Wearing day, just like the Pistons.
They have a Drum Squad just like the Pistons Drumline.
The Cavs had a Kid announce the starting lineups, just like the Pistons.
The Cavs have this Guy and his hair but the Pistons have this one.
The Cavs have this Kid and the Pistons have this one (video).

[Akron Beacon Journal]

Suite series ahead for Cavs' Gilbert
Gilbert's business savvy and work ethic have put him in a unique position for the Eastern Conference semifinal between the Cavs and Pistons. He owns one franchise, and his subsidiary company, Rock Financial, is the presenting sponsor for the other.

How many owners boast luxury suites in both arenas where a series will be contested?

[Associated Press]

Pistons Stand in LeBron James' Way
"Detroit will be a team that, in order to get to the promised land, we'll have to beat because they're going to be around a long time, especially for the first part of my career," James said Saturday.

[Channel 3000.com]

NBA Playoff Preview - Detroit vs. Cleveland
PREDICTION: The Cavaliers took a big step when they advanced past the first round, but their run in the postseason ends here. The Pistons are on a mission, and they are just the team to show James that he is going to have to pay a huge price if he wants to go deep into the postseason. Detroit is just too strong for James and the Cavs.

[ESPN.com]

Conference semifinals: Cavs vs. Pistons
Ben Wallace plays with an energy matched by few players in the league and uses his strength to keep bigger players away from the hoop and his quickness to stay in front of smaller players. Wallace is the best offensive rebounder in the NBA and looks to outlet to start the fastbreak. Offensively, he is horrible. He is limited to putbacks and finishing in transition. Let him shoot if you can. The Bucks showed some success with aggressive play in the paint but Zydrunas Ilgauskas does not set up as deep in the paint as the Bucks' big men, which should make Wallace's job easier.

[CBS Sportsline]

Series: Pistons vs. Cavaliers
After graduating his first playoff exam, LeBron James' and the Cavs' next task is one killer mid-term. The defending conference champs, a team they made mad during the regular season due to physical play and an awful lot of jawing. Detroit is licking its chops over exerting revenge for what it perceives as insolence from an inferior, inexperienced rival. This one is juicy. Things that are personal always are.

[NBA.com]

Detroit Pistons vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
Having enjoyed a short recess after dispatching the Bucks in five games, the Detroit Pistons continue their journey for a third straight Finals appearance. Standing in their way is LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers, who used six games to send the Wizards on summer vacation. The Pistons claimed three of the four regular season meetings between the clubs. Game 1 is Sunday on ABC.

[Detroit News]

James is center of Pistons' defensive focus
It is not lost on the Pistons that James is the new face of the NBA. It is James -- more so now than Kobe Bryant or Shaquille O'Neal or Tim Duncan and for sure more than the Detroit Pistons -- who is driving the league's marketing bus.

And don't think for a minute that doesn't get that chip on the Pistons' shoulders throbbing intensely.

"We know it's LeBron's showcase," Chauncey Billups said. "We are coming off a series where we played three games on NBA-TV and now we're on ABC. That's not because of us. We're going to be ready for that. We've been looking forward to it."

Pistons focus on 'LeBron Rules'
AUBURN HILLS -- The Pistons are trying to prepare themselves mentally for something they have no control over -- how the referees officiate LeBron James. To say he has been afforded superstar status with the officials would be an understatement -- just ask the Washington Wizards.

"You try to prepare for that, but you can do all the preparing you want, but once you get to that point and the reality hits -- it's different," Chauncey Billups said. "We have an emotional team and we will voice that when we feel it's necessary. That's not going to change. We just have to play our game and let everything else take care of itself."

Jones still smiling over game-winning shot
"He's a very likable dude," Pistons point guard Chauncey Billups said. "He competes, but he has fun and doesn't take nothing too serious. I pull for him and want him to do good, unless he's playing us. When he hit that shot, I was happy for him especially because he didn't get a chance to play much in that series.

"I pull for him, and I think a lot of people do. He's flashy and flamboyant, and I like that."

Lowe takes over as N.C. State coach
RALEIGH, N.C. -- North Carolina State hired Detroit Pistons assistant Sidney Lowe as its head basketball coach Saturday, bringing the former Wolfpack player back to the school he led to a national championship under Jim Valvano.

[Detroit Free Press]

Pistons vs. LeBron
"We know that LeBron, it's his showcase, pretty much," Pistons point guard Chauncey Billups said. "We come off playing three games on NBA-TV, now we're on ABC. It isn't because of us. So we're going to be ready for that. We've been looking forward to it."

The Pistons will try and ignore the James circus. Or better yet, they'll use it as motivation. That ball started rolling in Round 1, when, as Billups pointed out, James regularly pushed the Pistons onto NBA-TV so the bigger networks could air Cavaliers games.

Pistons-Cavaliers Scouting Report
The Pistons have home-court advantage, a big edge in playoff experience, more veteran leaders and a more balanced attack. They also know how to play defense. Ask a lot of people, and they'll say the Cavaliers have the officials on their side. What ref wants to makes the call against James that sends him out of the playoffs? Edge: Pistons

Pistons Corner: Cavaliers' Jones comes through in crunch time
"I had some other guys, coaches here watching the game with me, and I said as soon as they put him on the court, 'He's gonna hit the game-winner right here,' " Saunders said. "He has that type of personality.

"Usually in that situation, it's easier to play then because when you get the ball, you don't have a choice. You know you've gotta shoot the ball. You don't have any decisions to make."

DREW SHARP: LeBron has all the cards
There's no logical reason for James to sign a five-year contract extension when he can after July 1. Wait it out. When you're making reportedly more than $175 million in endorsements, does it really matter if the Cavs can offer you $13 million more than any other team?

Pistons playoff stats