ECF Game 4 Celtics/Pistons Mon. May 26th 8:30 PM

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Starring James Posey

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and of course, Rodney "Hot Rod" Stuckey

http://img529.imageshack.us/img529/4557/rodneystuckey8821b75sz5.jpg

From DetroitBadBoys


Meet Detroit’s Big 3 | Detroit Bad Boys (http://www.detroitbadboys.com/archives/2008-05-23/meet-detroits-big-3/)

http://img165.imageshack.us/img165/3218/stuckeybigthree88b33c4wx4.jpg

Lets get this one. Chauncey and Sheed need to get on track. Tayshaun needs to stop looking lost on offense. Rip needs to stop taking stupid shots. Maxiel needs to bring energy. Dice needs to get the ball more. Stuckey should stay the same or even do better.

So far the responses of the 3 coaches left in the PO's to struggling or just generally have been to go deeper into their bench, Will Flip?

This is the 1st game that i will be able to watch live.

If Amir plays, he will rebound. I don't want to hear about him getting pushed around by KP. He's pushing around everybody.

If AA plays Rondo will not get into the paint at will.

If Stuckey or Max starts the energy will be way up.

If Tay plays less than 40 and gets a blow, he might actually be effectice.

If we lose thing game, it's a step closer to getting rid of Flip, "We didn't make shots, I can't get out of the conference finals" Saunders.

edited to add;

I also think a good idea would be to go small, but i know this probably won't happen.

make or break. a sad place to be

make or break. a sad place to be


Yet it's a place where 28 other teams would like to be right now....

9.8 DR
I don't think it gets tougher than this.

Erase the past, make this 2-2 under any other scenario, and we would still be stoked.

Pistons win tonight and they have as good of a chance as anyone to win the series and make it to the finals.

Personally, I think they will take this season as far as possible before disappointing the fans. it's like lpgirl said (paraphrase) "just lose already!"


You bastards! (The Pistons of course) :)

I honestly expect them to drag it out and give us hope upon hope before they disappoint. Its the only way they (and we) know.

I'm gonna take half day off to watch this game. Almost all my colleagues and my boss knew I'm takin leave to watch this game. 60% of my colleagues are younger than me and doesn't watch NBA at all. So, don't disappoint me and make me look stupid if they knew I took half day off to watch a bunch of losers play basketball losing at home, 2 straight.

If they win this game, I'm gonna take another half day off to watch game 5. So, let's play with some HEART, play with ENERGY and WIN THIS GAME & SERIES!!!

I'm gonna take half day off to watch this game. Almost all my colleagues and my boss knew I'm takin leave to watch this game. 60% of my colleagues are younger than me and doesn't watch NBA at all. So, don't disappoint me and make me look stupid if they knew I took half day off to watch a bunch of losers play basketball losing at home, 2 straight.

If they win this game, I'm gonna take another half day off to watch game 5. So, let's play with some HEART, play with ENERGY and WIN THIS GAME & SERIES!!!

I hope you need to take a half-day off to watch game 5 jzchen.

I hope you need to take a half-day off to watch game 5 jzchen.

OK, I wanna take half day off to watch game 5. Nuff said.

So far the responses of the 3 coaches left in the PO's to struggling or just generally have been to go deeper into their bench, Will Flip?

This is the 1st game that i will be able to watch live.

If Amir plays, he will rebound. I don't want to hear about him getting pushed around by KP. He's pushing around everybody.

If AA plays Rondo will not get into the paint at will.

If Stuckey or Max starts the energy will be way up.

If Tay plays less than 40 and gets a blow, he might actually be effectice.

If we lose thing game, it's a step closer to getting rid of Flip, "We didn't make shots, I can't get out of the conference finals" Saunders.

edited to add;

I also think a good idea would be to go small, but i know this probably won't happen.

I vote lpgrl26 for coach! :good:

WHEN I GET HOME FROM WORK, I'M PUTTING TV ON The back porch, say a prayer for my fellow vets, mia's, pow's and fallen heroes, crack open a high life, enjoy my wife's cooking, split the Wings and Pistons and thank God I'm still alive.


....if we win , that's just the icing on the cake


....if we lose, life is still better than cake...-hqism

see yall tonight!

preSENT ARMS!

I vote lpgrl26 for coach! :good:

Aww i feel so special. First Cloudwalker's quoting my pessimism, and now this. LOL Who cares if we lose? j/k

I'm going to make myself watch this game. Even sometimes when i have nothing to do i Tivo for my nerves. This is kind of (in a way) our last hoorah so i guess here it goes.

Even if we lose and Flip gets fired. Its going to get harder and harder to make it to the ECF so you have to hope that they do take advantage of the opportunity - c'mon..

Even if we lose and Flip gets fired. Its going to get harder and harder to make it to the ECF so you have to hope that they do take advantage of the opportunity - c'mon..

I do hope they win, but I want more than making it to the ECF every year . . .

Also can we somehow quarantine BOS fans and put them on their own island or something ? They're like an infectious disease that keeps spreading (or maybe like pink eye). Even being near them causes you to lose brain cells.

Even if we lose and Flip gets fired. Its going to get harder and harder to make it to the ECF so you have to hope that they do take advantage of the opportunity - c'mon..


But is a couple steps back for more steps forward that bad?


I'm not endorsing anything in particular, but lets flash forward to a few years from now, and pretend Joe pulled the trigger on Rip and Sheed for Amare Stoudemire.


Wouldn't we be much better two years from now then, than two years from now if Joe just sat on his thumbs?


I'm just sayin'.... Sometimes change is good, and sometimes you need to take a couple steps back to move even further forward....etc, etc.

I'm an angry Piston fan right now. I'm so disgusted how they played the other night. Absolutely no excuse for that trash. I don't mind at all losing to the Celtics if we leave it all out on the floor. What the Pistons did last game was not just a loss. It was a disgrace. I bet Dumars is as ticked off as I am right now. This team will not be back as it is next year. You can be certain of that. I don't even have the stomach to watch those guys tonight but I probably will just because I'm a Piston fan. Those Pistons disgraced the uniform they put on last game. And I'm sick of being jerked around by these half-hearted, I'll play if I want to, clowns. We had the Celtics right where we wanted them and gave it all away without a fight. I hope Dumars cleans house. In fact, I don't even have to hope. It will happen this summer if he can find a team or two to sheist. He's not going to do anything rash or stupid but you can bet he is already formulating a plan to sheist someone. If I were another GM, I wouldn't even talk to Dumars. He's not perfect (drafting Darko). But he took his huge blunder and turned it into gold (Stuckey). He is the GM of the decade in my opinion regardless of sport.

I'm an angry Piston fan right now. I'm so disgusted how they played the other night. Absolutely no excuse for that trash. I don't mind at all losing to the Celtics if we leave it all out on the floor. What the Pistons did last game was not just a loss. It was a disgrace. I bet Dumars is as ticked off as I am right now. This team will not be back as it is next year. You can be certain of that. I don't even have the stomach to watch those guys tonight but I probably will just because I'm a Piston fan. Those Pistons disgraced the uniform they put on last game. And I'm sick of being jerked around by these half-hearted, I'll play if I want to, clowns. We had the Celtics right where we wanted them and gave it all away without a fight. I hope Dumars cleans house. In fact, I don't even have to hope. It will happen this summer if he can find a team or two to sheist. He's not going to do anything rash or stupid but you can bet he is already formulating a plan to sheist someone. If I were another GM, I wouldn't even talk to Dumars. He's not perfect (drafting Darko). But he took his huge blunder and turned it into gold (Stuckey). He is the GM of the decade in my opinion regardless of sport.

Buckeyes, you're an asset to the forum. It's not just because I'm drunk and it's memorial day:)


Here I thought I was the bitter drunk posting up on PF.com today, and then you just posted what I've been thinking, and that's awful, but I agree wholeheartedly.


Here's to you, being you, much love.


:cheers:


Cheers!:)

If a healthy energetic Stuckey starts...Pistons win.

If a wounded Billups starts...50/50.

It's just postponing the inevitable, though. Before this series started I said Celtics in 6.

Lose tonight and it goes 5. Win tonight and Detroit POSSIBLY stretches it to 7 before losing...:stirthepot:

Teams I want to win the ship:

1. Detroit:party2:

2. San Antonio (I'm ok with that).:decision:

3. Boston (yuck).:mmph::rain:

4. The Kobes (pleasssseeee NO)! :icon_evil::ill::gaah::puke:

If a healthy energetic Stuckey starts...Pistons win.

If a wounded Billups starts...50/50.

It's just postponing the inevitable, though. Before this series started I said Celtics in 6.

Lose tonight and it goes 5. Win tonight and Detroit POSSIBLY stretches it to 7 before losing...:stirthepot:

Teams I want to win the ship:

1. Detroit:party2:

2. San Antonio (I'm ok with that).:decision:

3. Boston (yuck).:mmph::rain:

4. The Kobes (pleasssseeee NO)! :icon_evil::ill::gaah::puke:

Darth.....:cheers:

If a healthy energetic Stuckey starts...Pistons win.

If a wounded Billups starts...50/50.

It's just postponing the inevitable, though. Before this series started I said Celtics in 6.

Lose tonight and it goes 5. Win tonight and Detroit POSSIBLY stretches it to 7 before losing...:stirthepot:

Teams I want to win the ship:

1. Detroit:party2:

2. San Antonio (I'm ok with that).:decision:

3. Boston (yuck).:mmph::rain:

4. The Kobes (pleasssseeee NO)! :icon_evil::ill::gaah::puke:

Yep that's my order too or these scenarios in order

Det over LA,
Det over San Antonio
San Antonio over Boston
Boston over LA

But is a couple steps back for more steps forward that bad?


I'm not endorsing anything in particular, but lets flash forward to a few years from now, and pretend Joe pulled the trigger on Rip and Sheed for Amare Stoudemire.


Wouldn't we be much better two years from now then, than two years from now if Joe just sat on his thumbs?


I'm just sayin'.... Sometimes change is good, and sometimes you need to take a couple steps back to move even further forward....etc, etc.

We are not going to get much for a 34yr Rasheed Wallace. Someone will be interested in the expiring contract buts its not going to get a premier PF even with Rip thrown in.

May as well face it. This could be the last of the ECF streak. Clev, Orlando, Tor, Sixers are only getting better.

Think about it. This could be the last time the Pistons are in the ECF for the next 8 years. Maybe not that long but you never know.

Pistons win game four.....I guarantee this game.:stirthepot: That makes game 5 very important. That's the one to key in on....

We are not going to get much for a 34yr Rasheed Wallace. Someone will be interested in the expiring contract buts its not going to get a premier PF even with Rip thrown in.

May as well face it. This could be the last of the ECF streak. Clev, Orlando, Tor, Sixers are only getting better.

Think about it. This could be the last time the Pistons are in the ECF for the next 8 years. Maybe not that long but you never know.

Of course not now....but think about if we had done it 4 years ago when Coach Brown said "lets do it!"


Of course in hindsight, we would have lost nothing....yet what might have been if Joe would have had the strength and conviction to pull the trigger when our players value was at it's highest.

For of all sad words of tongue or pen, The saddest are these: "It might have been!"

Think about it. This could be the last time the Pistons are in the ECF for the next 8 years. Maybe not that long but you never know.
I think eight years is too long. Look what kind of assets Joe D. inherited in 2000, and he put together a championship team in just four years. There's no reason that rebuilding has to mean multiple trips to lotteryland.

I think eight years is too long. Look what kind of assets Joe D. inherited in 2000, and he put together a championship team in just four years. There's no reason that rebuilding has to mean multiple trips to lotteryland.

I think we only needed one...

His name was Darko Milicic Chris Bosh DWade Carmelo Anthony.

Ask me next week and I'll probably cross out a different guy. :)

I think eight years is too long. Look what kind of assets Joe D. inherited in 2000, and he put together a championship team in just four years. There's no reason that rebuilding has to mean multiple trips to lotteryland.

I concur.

With J-Max, Stuckey, AA, Amir surrounded by a few vets I don`t see the Pistons as being a lottery team going forward. This is the EC remember.

However, I would be stunned if Joe D didn`t move one or two starters after the season, even if we did win the ship.

I concur.

With J-Max, Stuckey, AA, Amir surrounded by a few vets I don`t see the Pistons as being a lottery team going forward. This is the EC remember.

However, I would be stunned if Joe D didn`t move one or two starters after the season, even if we did win the ship.

Definitely not a lottery team which is why i guess I'm more OK with losing than most. I see the main problem being the coach, and i think with less min for the vets, maybe a move or two, and more time for the rooks, this is still a very competitive team. I'd rather be moving upwards and in this situation i feel like were running in quicksand. Flip can't win.The starters can't coach themselves. It's the same every year. Rinse and repeat.

Also i think ppl underestimate the value of Rasheed Wallace. For a contending team that thinks they are piece away he will get you a decent amount of talent (equal no, but still).

Yep that's my order too or these scenarios in order

Det over LA,
Det over San Antonio
San Antonio over Boston
Boston over LA

If SAS/DET are out, I'm rooting for the Lakers. :sssh:

If I make it to chat time you folks are in for a treat........:)

If I make it to chat time you folks are in for a treat........:)Reading thru a few of your posts today that sounds like a pretty big "if" lol

I picked the Celts in 7...mind if I pull up a barstool?

"Here's to CHANGE!" :party: Uh...nevermind :)

Reading thru a few of your posts today that sounds like a pretty big "if" lol

I picked the Celts in 7...mind if I pull up a barstool?

"Here's to CHANGE!" :party: Uh...nevermind :)

If you dont' watch it you're gonna be an asset to the forum :cheers:


:pound::pound::pound:

Reading thru a few of your posts today that sounds like a pretty big "if" lol

I picked the Celts in 7...mind if I pull up a barstool?

"Here's to CHANGE!" :party: Uh...nevermind :)


And Oh...I'm making it just because of that...

That sounds like a CHALLENGE mister :yellowprison:

well, i finally washed my shirt that i've been wearing every game, to get rid of the stench of that loss. i cut my hair. i'm doing the usual routine having my buddy drive to the game instead of me. i'm not wearing the shorts that i wore when they lost Game 5 to cleveland last year.

the rest is up to them lol.

i'm all for starting either max or stuckey - energy from the beginning. it worked great the last 2 series, let's do it again.

As much as people pile on Flip, Dumars deserves a lot of the blame for this team. He has not added a lot to this team recently. When Daly made the "flawed players" remark, to me he was talking about the similar slowness/un-athleticness of Tay, Rip and CB. That has come back to bite them time and again. They haven't needed an overhaul, but needed some pieces. Dixon has been H-U-G-E in the playoffs. I can't believe Ainge won Exec of the Year. The fix is clearly in with those results.

Usually the papers spin this stuff to give some optimistic outlook. Not today. I can already tell I'll be watching this game, arms crossed and a scowl on my face the entire time. Unreal.

I love you guys. A lot. I hope we win tonight.

As much as people pile on Flip, Dumars deserves a lot of the blame for this team. He has not added a lot to this team recently. When Daly made the "flawed players" remark, to me he was talking about the similar slowness/un-athleticness of Tay, Rip and CB. That has come back to bite them time and again. They haven't needed an overhaul, but needed some pieces. Dixon has been H-U-G-E in the playoffs. I can't believe Ainge won Exec of the Year. The fix is clearly in with those results.

Usually the papers spin this stuff to give some optimistic outlook. Not today. I can already tell I'll be watching this game, arms crossed and a scowl on my face the entire time. Unreal.

Ernie....asset to the forum and what not... :cheers:


Seriously, your moniker goes a long way into belying your bball knowledge. I always approach the beginning of your posts with a certain anticipation that is unique to any other post on the forum.

Kudos to you, and thanks for your contributions.

I would like to see everyone at The Palace tonight boo DET from the introductions on. I don't care if they go up by 30.

I love you guys. A lot. I hope we win tonight.

I guess that deserves a "we love you too, man." and a hug smiley....


:hug:

:MusicBigGrin:Ernie....asset to the forum and what not... :cheers:


Seriously, your moniker goes a long way into belying your bball knowledge. I always approach the beginning of your posts with a certain anticipation that is unique to any other post on the forum.

Kudos to you, and thanks for your contributions.

Take the keys someone! Take the keys...........:)

:MusicBigGrin:

Take the keys someone! Take the keys...........:)

4 hours 'till tipoff...darnit!

Since we all are going through this superstition thing, perhaps, I will only eat 12-14 wings during the game (like I usually do) instead of the 20+ I had on Saturday night........................:MusicBigGrin:

I guess that deserves a "we love you too, man." and a hug smiley....


:hug:

Wait, how come Roscoe doesn't get to be a big forum asset? He's gotta be one of the biggest assets I ever knew in my entire life. Come on. He works very hard at being an asset to the entire forum.. Give some credit where it is due, my man! :pound::wedgie:

Wait, how come Roscoe doesn't get to be a big forum asset? He's gotta be one of the biggest assets I ever knew in my entire life. Come on. He works very hard at being an asset to the entire forum.. Give some credit where it is due, my man! :pound::wedgie:

Hey!

He was the very first forum asset of the day!

Where were you?

http://www.pistonsforum.com/detroit-pistons-general-discussion/8539-pistons-celtics-press-conferences.html#post146824

In fact, he's got to be one of the biggest assets I've ever seen. You're slippin' Tater.

Hey!

He was the first forum asset of the day!

Where were you?

http://www.pistonsforum.com/detroit-pistons-general-discussion/8539-pistons-celtics-press-conferences.html#post146824

Oh, my bad. It must have been written in Cannuckian and I missed it. I just wanted to make sure he got his due for being the #1 asset that he is. But I guess everyone already recognized him for that! :MusicBigGrin:

Oh, by the way...I may not make it to chat tonight. I have a feeling my ban won't quite be over by tipoff.:sssh:

Oh, my bad. It must have been written in Cannuckian and I missed it. I just wanted to make sure he got his due for being the #1 asset that he is. But I guess everyone already recognized him for that! :MusicBigGrin:

Oh, by the way...I may not make it to chat tonight. I have a feeling my ban won't quite be over by tipoff.:sssh:

You better make it to chat...punk!

This game is special!

It might be "short bus" special...but it's special nonetheless!

I love you guys. A lot. I hope we win tonight.Awww...reminds me of LB's last game with the Pistons...:crying:

We love you too Uncle Larry Scoe :)

Awww...reminds me of LB's last game with the Pistons...:crying:

We love you too Uncle Larry Scoe :)

Here I thought you were joking about the barstool...

welcome to my world detteam

Everyone...I think our fates tonight are firmly in the hands of the basketball gods....'cause our team isn't taking control of a gosh darned thing!


I hope you all show up for chat

If SAS/DET are out, I'm rooting for the Lakers. :sssh:

Sorry I live here and I just can't go through a full summer and then the next 10 months hearing THE WORLD CHAMPION LOS ANGELES LAKERS.......With Bynum coming back next year, they will surely win it then so I am reluctantly OK :yellowprison:with Boston winning it this year so that the lakeshow can sit thru another summer of wondering why they didn't. I had to suffer through the 2000-01-02 seasons when all of Socal was inundated with LAKER/Kobe/Shaqmania...and then thru 04 when the local fans and local media were so arrogant, they still thought that the they were better than the Pistons. The felt that no team was on their level even though they got the benefit of a couple of calls vs the Kings and Trailblazers in the conference finals during their 3 titles to begin the decade.

Don't really want to see Celtics either, but if they beat us then they deserve it more so than the Heat did 2 years ago. :sssh:

Sorry I live here and I just can't go through a full summer and then the next 10 months hearing THE WORLD CHAMPION LOS ANGELES LAKERS.......With Bynum coming back next year, they will surely win it then so I am reluctantly OK :yellowprison:with Boston winning it this year so that the lakeshow can sit thru another summer of wondering why they didn't. I had to suffer through the 2000-01-02 seasons when all of Socal was inundated with LAKER/Kobe/Shaqmania...and then thru 04 when the local fans and local media were so arrogant, they still thought that the they were better than the Pistons. The felt that no team was on their level even though they got the benefit of a couple of calls vs the Kings and Trailblazers in the conference finals during their 3 titles to begin the decade.

Don't really want to see Celtics either, but if they beat us then they deserve it more so than the Heat did 2 years ago. :sssh:

Kudos to you for not selling out like all the other residents of LA.

Sorry I live here and I just can't go through a full summer and then the next 10 months hearing THE WORLD CHAMPION LOS ANGELES LAKERS.......With Bynum coming back next year, they will surely win it then so I am reluctantly OK :yellowprison:with Boston winning it this year so that the lakeshow can sit thru another summer of wondering why they didn't. I had to suffer through the 2000-01-02 seasons when all of Socal was inundated with LAKER/Kobe/Shaqmania...and then thru 04 when the local fans and local media were so arrogant, they still thought that the they were better than the Pistons. The felt that no team was on their level even though they got the benefit of a couple of calls vs the Kings and Trailblazers in the conference finals during their 3 titles to begin the decade.

Don't really want to see Celtics either, but if they beat us then they deserve it more so than the Heat did 2 years ago. :sssh:

Oh yea...you are ONE HECK of an asset to the forum... :cheers:


:)

Oh yea...you are ONE HECK of an asset to the forum... :cheers:


:)


You too and thanks for your enthusiasm and rallying the troops and fans today. You sure you can't make it to the game and get into the players and coaches ear?

You too and thanks for your enthusiasm and rallying the troops and fans today. You sure you can't make it to the game and get into the players and coaches ear?


only if they were playing in INDY laDre...

Is anyone else completely wired for this game? I have done absolutely nothing all day. I listen to music, then I'm checking the time, kill time watching TV while checking the time . . . I was supposed to go to a party I'm skipping it. I feel nausea, dread, excitement, and I'm terrified all at the same time.

I'm watching this game with myself and maybe my mom if i can talk her into it LOL. My boyfriend doesn't feel like the Pistons are worth skipping getting drunk and partying w/ his friends. Can't blame him. Besides, he's a New Yorker through and through; the only team he really loves are the Yankees. :puke:

I don't know what to do with myself. There's only so much Law & Order a person can watch LOL

Is anyone else completely wired for this game? I have done absolutely nothing all day. I listen to music, then I'm checking the time, kill time watching TV while checking the time . . . I was supposed to go to a party I'm skipping it. I feel nausea, dread, excitement, and I'm terrified all at the same time.

I'm watching this game with myself and maybe my mom if i can talk her into it LOL. My boyfriend doesn't feel like the Pistons are worth skipping getting drunk and partying w/ his friends. Can't blame him. Besides, he's a New Yorker through and through; the only team he really loves are the Yankees. :puke:

I don't know what to do with myself. There's only so much Law & Order a person can watch LOL

you can always join us in chat.... :)

Its bound to be live.

Is anyone else completely wired for this game? I have done absolutely nothing all day. I listen to music, then I'm checking the time, kill time watching TV while checking the time . . . I was supposed to go to a party I'm skipping it. I feel nausea, dread, excitement, and I'm terrified all at the same time.

I'm watching this game with myself and maybe my mom if i can talk her into it LOL. My boyfriend doesn't feel like the Pistons are worth skipping getting drunk and partying w/ his friends. Can't blame him. Besides, he's a New Yorker through and through; the only team he really loves are the Yankees. :puke:

I don't know what to do with myself. There's only so much Law & Order a person can watch LOL



I sure hope the Pistons understand what they put their devoted fans through. :crutch: :brick: :Cry: :pray: :crying: :confused: :swear2: :frusty: :yukpuke:

you can always join us in chat.... :)

Its bound to be live.

My laptop is broken so my home computer is downstairs, and the TV is upstairs. Last time i tried to watch/chat at the same time like that, i was running up and down the stairs like a lunatic. Someone would have an awesome dunk, I'd run downstairs to post about it, and i'd see something like "great, we give up one on the other end right after" Needless to say it didn't work LOL. Maybe if i only post during commercials . . .:gun1:

My laptop is broken so my home computer is downstairs, and the TV is upstairs. Last time i tried to watch/chat at the same time like that, i was running up and down the stairs like a lunatic. Someone would have an awesome dunk, I'd run downstairs to post about it, and i'd see something like "great, we give up one on the other end right after" Needless to say it didn't work LOL. Maybe if i only post during commercials . . .:gun1:

Thats acceptable...as long as you join us :)

Thats acceptable...as long as you join us :)Yeah...I get the feeling Cloud will be in rare form tonight. If SKOOL & Low show up too...it might be a chat for the ages.:pirates:

Cloud, with the Mojo you've been putting on the Pistons all day, I think the Pistons cannot lose tonight.

You are truly an... Oh wait. If we say it to you, does it break the spell? :sssh:

Good luck to the Pistons and Wings.

I'm tempted to step into chat tonight, but whenever I do things go due south (for the team and the chat:pound:). But I may stop in to say "hi" for a minute.

Cloud, with the Mojo you've been putting on the Pistons all day, I think the Pistons cannot lose tonight.

You are truly an... Oh wait. If we say it to you, does it break the spell? :sssh:

Good luck to the Pistons and Wings.

I'm tempted to step into chat tonight, but whenever I do things go due south (for the team and the chat:pound:). But I may stop in to say "hi" for a minute.
you BETTER.... :yellowprison:

Yeah...I get the feeling Cloud will be in rare form tonight. If SKOOL & Low show up too...it might be a chat for the ages.:pirates:

Is that me, old skool , and the low in that smiley?

I don't know if I want the flag or the rufus henry eyepatch

Is that me, old skool , and the low in that smiley?LOL....x 2.......I'll be there....but I'm upset that no one commented on my Memorial day post tribute....so I know u guys are TOOOOOOOOOOOO focused on Game 4...


I'll be in peaceful form tonite in honor of our fallen troops............

With an hour to go......


I think Fratello (the "Czar") is pulling a Ron Rothstein.

His little "clip" of a week or so ago with him running a play with Rodney Stuckey reminded me so much of Rothstein it hurt.

I wonder if he is twirling his moustache while Flip goes down in flames. :stirthepot:

mua-ha-ha-ing on the sidelines until his chance to coach the Pistons comes up.....

Cloud, with the Mojo you've been putting on the Pistons all day, I think the Pistons cannot lose tonight.

You are truly an... Oh wait. If we say it to you, does it break the spell? :sssh:

Good luck to the Pistons and Wings.

I'm tempted to step into chat tonight, but whenever I do things go due south (for the team and the chat:pound:). But I may stop in to say "hi" for a minute.

if thats the case can you wait till were up atleast by 30 with under 30 secs to play.... just to be safe

With an hour to go......


I think Fratello (the "Czar") is pulling a Ron Rothstein.

His little "clip" of a week or so ago with him running a play with Rodney Stuckey reminded me so much of Rothstein it hurt.

I wonder if he is twirling his moustache while Flip goes down in flames. :stirthepot:

mua-ha-ha-ing on the sidelines until his chance to coach the Pistons comes up.....


No, seriously.


Anybody else does this and they're using game film as an example, or they've got Igor or somebody out there on the floor.....


But Fratello was out there taking and giving passes to the players.


It's Ron Rothstein all over again. You heard it here first.

That ain't normal and that ain't right.

Chat is open. See y'all soon (closer to the tip @ 8:30)

http://www.pistonsforum.com/playoff-chat/

:)

ok before i break something here.... somebody tell me the refs are being impartial here and its a well called game.... i am just not seeing it that way... but it has to be....... right?

Det over LA,
Det over San Antonio
San Antonio over Boston
Boston over LA <-----------:puke:
-
I can go with that Dre.

EVENED UP! I hope we see this team in Boston.

Wow, what a collapse by Boston down the stretch. No way that should have ended as a 19 pt game.

Just a massive game by Dice, huge production from Rip in the 4th, awesome play from JMax in the 2nd and 4th quarters, and a super-efficient game from Sheed when he wasn't racking up fouls. Too bad for that awful first half in Game 3; this could be a 3-1 series in our favor.

Let's just hope this ends up being like the '04 ECF, where the Pistons stole home court on The Block, lost it back at the Palace, but won Game 5 at Indy before wrapping it up at home. Winning twice in Boston in one series is going to be awfully tough, but this has been a pretty strange series, so who knows?

EVENED UP! I hope we see this team in Boston.

Indeed Oz.

Was it me, or did it seem like Rip just ran Ray Allen into the ground. Dude just seemed to have little or no energy towards the end of the game.

I was glad to see Billups nail that 3 toward the end to put Detroit up 10. Looked like vintage Chauncey there.

I only watched the 4th Q of this one. Seemed like a lot of disputed calls. I've never seen Flip so animated. It was good to see.

Dice busted his butt tonight.
Rip ran Allen into the ground.
JMax played well including an inverse posterizing of Garnett.


Where in the hell was tonight's team on Saturday night?

Pistons finally lead from wire to wire and get the proverbial 90+ points to win...even though all they needed was 76 to win....

refs did all they could give the game to the Celtics, allowing them to shoot 32-39 from the field. Crawford, Delaney and Foster should not ref anymore games this series or playoffs IMO. Its a miracle none of our guys fouled out.

Pistons finished the game on 16-2 run after Boston had trimmed the lead to 78-73 with a little more than 4 mins left in the game.

Dyess (21-16) still seems to be the only Piston who wants a ring, and so far is the MVP of this playoff run with Stuckey and Rip contributing big too. Billups hit a key three down the stretch but was not on par again, missing open jumpers and failing to drive when he had open lanes to the hoop. 32 mins were way to many for him tonight.

Max was huge off the bench hitting 6-6, but he and Tay still only got 2 and 3 boards. Stuckey did not score that much but did dish out 5 assists.

Assists > Pistons 27 Celtics 12

Points in the paint Pistons 31, Celtics 25

Points off TO's Pistons 17, Celtics 11

Afllolo 2 mins= Victory :)

No let downs on Wednesday...keep being aggressive, get the calls, get to the paint, and get to the line

ok before i break something here.... somebody tell me the refs are being impartial here and its a well called game.... i am just not seeing it that way... but it has to be....... right?

Boston was living from the line, no doubt about that. Could not save the C's tonight though. I don't know if they were trying to keep them in the game or if that crew just does like the Pistons - i.e. Crawford. Whatever, Pistons did a good job of playing though it and this year we have some depth to combate the foul trouble.

How huge was Dyess in this one? He had the Garnett type numbers today. Rip shot what 8-10, Maxiel with the hustle. Fine bench play from Stucky and Hunter. Sheed had 5 blocks and CB with 7 assists plus the game sealing 3-pt shot.

Amazing how the Pistons finally broke through and were able to finish the game with a score more indicative of how the 2 teams played.

I hope Maxiell brings some intensity on the road. That has been missing. Can Detroit win 2 of 3 on the road?

Amir 2 rebounds!!!!!

AA 12 sec!!!!

Seriously though, great game. Dice was the hero. Max wants his minutes back Flip. Sheed was a rock on defense. Chauncey was mixed. Rip came alive. We need to exploit Allen's lack of defense more. Most importantly when it counted, we went INSIDE.

Gotta play much better in BOS. Hope we don't get screwed by the officials even more so than before.

Tay just needs one breakout game. He's doing a very good job on Pierce but if he can give us seom offense that would be great. I won't fault him though since he plays the whole damn game.

Not much else to say right now. Just happy about the win :)

flip needs to make sure that the players listen to the national feed of the game.... if they were ticked off by the calls during the game wait till they see the way the announcers were all over the boston bandwagon. They agreed with every call against detroit to the point its pretty dang sickening anymore....

The players need to get that chip on there shoulder that there against the celtics, the refs, the announcers, the league.... heck i expect peta and green peace to start protesting against them any day.....

good effort... stuckey and max were great, still would like to see more boards from max, but dyss was sucking everything in sight up.

great effort from start to finish, and hope to see this same team on wed night....

Seems every time you heard a foul "called by Crawford" was followed. Blaha/Horn were just getting sick of it. Only way to win a game like this is this way. Defense and then hit shots like no tomorrow down the stretch.

Seems every time you heard a foul "called by Crawford" was followed. Blaha/Horn were just getting sick of it. Only way to win a game like this is this way. Defense and then hit shots like no tomorrow down the stretch.

Flip had a couple comments on the calls... one he praised the team for not letting it get to them and playing thru it, and two that it was called different then any game in the playoffs so far...

The players need to get that chip on there shoulder that there against the celtics, the refs, the announcers, the league.... heck i expect peta and green peace to start protesting against them any day.....



:pound::pound: That's funny.

I hope Maxiell brings some intensity on the road. That has been missing. Can Detroit win 2 of 3 on the road?

I don't know. It would be great getting game 5 but this thing is sure looking like a 7 gamer. Maybe the Pistons can win game 5.

Series squared at 2-2. How did we win, luck. Sheed and Rip both got into foul trouble so Flip had to finally sit them. Otherwise we would have ended up too tired to finish in the 4th quarter.


More silliness from Flip, putting Hayes into the game. Brick. Foul. Foul. Exit Hayes. Anyone notice what happened to our momentum after Hayes entered the game. At least Saunders pulled him quickly. We did have a cameo appearance from Afflalo for the last minute of the 1st half.


The National announcers could not understand why we played Theo instead of JMAX when Sheed got into foul trouble way early in the 3rd quarter. But it was the right move. Adding a guy into the rotation is never a bad idea. JMAX still got his minutes, and still had time to rock. JMAX started his very impressive game with a spectacular block on Garnett. Garnett broke out ahead of everyone on a fast break. JMAX, trailing him, went up, blocked the shot from behind, and continues off to the side avoiding the foul. Kind of like a Tay block, but just triple the power.


Dyess had a fine game. He kept nailing those outside jumpers. He actually does not hurt the team as long as he hits those at a 75% clip, like he did tonight. Of course, not one of those shots ever draws a foul, but again, if he makes them like that, it works. Dyess also had one excellent rebounding game.


Sheed did ok, knocked down some shots in kind of close to the basket. Rip scored going inside, and making some outside shots too. Tay did little, but him and Pierce were both guarding each other very well, and neutralizing one of their stars will have to be called good enough.


Stuckey hit a jumper, got to the line a time or two. Made some nice passes for assists. Nothing spectacular.


Theo played credible D. Not very good, but good enough to make the fact he was adding some fouls to give in the rotation worth having him out there. Nothing on O, but he did draw a foul after getting an O board.
Billups, well, I guess he had a good floor game. He finally hit about his 2nd made shot of the game, a triple, late, to help seal the deal. But overall, he was horrid shooting, and not too good on D. He is not healed.
Hunter does pressure the ball. And that is the sum total of what he gives us. Afflalo can play some pretty good D himself, and does not tend to stall out our offense. Hunter did have that knock away.


Amir and Afflalo got into a bit of garbage time at the end of the game. Hayes hit a totally meaningless jumper there.


Well, here we are in a three game series. Struggling, but still in the series. But Boston has the next two out of three at home. Flip to this day, this late in the whole thing, does not have a rotation down, as his main goal is not to play Amir and Afflalo, rather than to try to put a decent rotation on the floor. Hunter is the guy spelling Tay now, with Rip moving up to small forward. Mind you, we only do this for a moment or two each half, but we could do better.


Ok. 2-2. We have at least two more games in this series for Flip to come to his senses and start actually playing a rotation with a decent backup shooting guard, and a decent backup small forward.


GO PISTONS!!!!!

Fantastic post-game by Dice. If Roscoe puts it up, everybody should listen to it. Completely heartfelt and honest.

And Flip did talk about the refs sorta. Thank god.

Max is doing the next presser. I can't wait for this LOL

I hope Maxiell brings some intensity on the road. That has been missing. Can Detroit win 2 of 3 on the road?

If we win Wednesday and Friday all we need is one more on the road...or are you counting game 2 in the equation??:confused:

Good post game comments by Dyess ...says that he is battling for a ring and tired of the excuses as to why they have not gotten it done the past 3 years. Sounds like he respects Flip and gave him credit for the win as well as some of the things he preaches in practice.

The National announcers could not understand why we played Theo instead of JMAX when Sheed got into foul trouble way early in the 3rd quarter. But it was the right move. Adding a guy into the rotation is never a bad idea. JMAX still got his minutes, and still had time to rock.

Van Gundy actually did point out the probable reason for it: Dice had 3 fouls, and he needed to stay in the game with how well he was playing. So putting him on KG seemed too risky, and JMax on KG for that long a stretch might have been too much of a mismatch, so in came Theo. I thought it worked OK for about 5 minutes or so--Theo was mostly playing good D and not letting KG get too many open looks, and the lead was still in the low double digits. But it caught up with them a bit right at the end of the 3rd, when another mini-meltdown at the end of a quarter allowed Boston to cut it to 7 going into the 4th, thanks partly to some bad plays by Theo.

Well, here we are in a three game series. Struggling, but still in the series. But Boston has the next two out of three at home. Flip to this day, this late in the whole thing, does not have a rotation down, as his main goal is not to play Amir and Afflalo, rather than to try to put a decent rotation on the floor. Hunter is the guy spelling Tay now, with Rip moving up to small forward. Mind you, we only do this for a moment or two each half, but we could do better.


Ok. 2-2. We have at least two more games in this series for Flip to come to his senses and start actually playing a rotation with a decent backup shooting guard, and a decent backup small forward.


GO PISTONS!!!!!

Lee i admire your persistence and semi-hope. I gave up a long time ago on Amir/AA getting any real minutes.

Van Gundy actually did point out the probable reason for it: Dice had 3 fouls, and he needed to stay in the game with how well he was playing. So putting him on KG seemed too risky, and JMax on KG for that long a stretch might have been too much of a mismatch, so in came Theo. I thought it worked OK for about 5 minutes or so--Theo was mostly playing good D and not letting KG get too many open looks, and the lead was still in the low double digits. But it caught up with them a bit right at the end of the 3rd, when another mini-meltdown at the end of a quarter allowed Boston to cut it to 7 going into the 4th, thanks partly to some bad plays by Theo.

I liked the move also for another reason.... It really seems if max play much more the 20 mins his next game he lacks energy... it was early in the quarter, so i was good with it....

However.... did you catch the comment from them in the 4th where they said that max was playing hard because he was upset that he got skipped in the pecking order? did i miss something? are they going to the huddles and doing interviews mid game? The announcers are even trying to stir the pot.... i so wish that the local media could present the games, i can't pick up the game on radio.... hummm maybe i'll have to see if i can get an online feed of the pistons radio network.

I don't know. It would be great getting game 5 but this thing is sure looking like a 7 gamer. Maybe the Pistons can win game 5.

I enjoyed watching the final Pistons victory of the season.
Ok, MAYBE they stretch it to 7...before they lose.

Let's keep it in perspective.

Celtics have home court. They were the better regular season team. They can't even beat Atlanta or Cleveland on the road, but they beat the Pistons after the Pistons steal a huge game on the road. Boston could have stolen two on our court.

It's not like the league or the refs are going to help Detroit. Best you can hope for is reasonably fair.

Pistons played hard and deserved to win. Kudos. BUT...It was a HOME game. They rarely do this twice in a row. Boston gave up those last couple of minutes and that's why the score was lopsided.

Flip is the coach. Billups is hurt.

Maybe it goes 7 before Boston wins. I still think 6.

I'm thinking that the number of games played is catching up with the Celtics....if this goes 7 we might be able to steal it, but only with a 95% healthy aggressive Billups and a re-energized Tay

I enjoyed watching the final Pistons victory of the season.
Ok, MAYBE they stretch it to 7...before they lose.

Let's keep it in perspective.

Celtics have home court. They were the better regular season team. They can't even beat Atlanta or Cleveland on the road, but they beat the Pistons after the Pistons steal a huge game on the road. Boston could have stolen two on our court.

It's not like the league or the refs are going to help Detroit. Best you can hope for is reasonably fair.

Pistons played hard and deserved to win. Kudos. BUT...It was a HOME game. They rarely do this twice in a row. Boston gave up those last couple of minutes and that's why the score was lopsided.

Flip is the coach. Billups is hurt.

Maybe it goes 7 before Boston wins. I still think 6.

They are at a disadvantage but you guys were the ones telling me all year that home court would not matter. Here we go.

Pistons are also the only team to have beaten the Celtics at home. Its a different series than any of the others. When the Pistons have won the ECF it was always 2-2 at some point.

Probably the biggest factor is going to be how Billups is comming along with the injury.

flip needs to make sure that the players listen to the national feed of the game.... if they were ticked off by the calls during the game wait till they see the way the announcers were all over the boston bandwagon. They agreed with every call against detroit to the point its pretty dang sickening anymore....


That is a very good idea. I would have the Detroit staff edit a 20 minute tape of each BS foul and the announcers comments afterward.

As a Pistons fan, I've seen a lot of one-sided games from the refs, but this easily makes the top 3 in terms of phanton calls, off the ball calls, touch fouls, either way calls going to the opponent.

Think about this. Boston just had the LOWEST FG TOTAL in any game in this year's playoffs by any team with 21. Considering they made 1 3-pointer, they had 43 points + FT makes. The score tonight would have been 106 to 63 if you switch the FT's around... that is how well the Pistons played! Ignore the calls and this was one of the most dominating games our current squad has ever played. And I appreciate earned free throws, but Boston was getting gift after gift with a significant number of shots off of off-the-ball fouls while in the bonus because of previous off-the-ball fouls. I'm glad Flip mentioned it, cause it was a total travesty.

I hope it was rigged, cause if this is the way that the NBA really wants to call a game, winning it all is completely hopeless.

"They had a no-layup rule and that's why we made it to the line so much."
- Rivers.

ESPN - Boston vs. Detroit - Recap - May 26, 2008 (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=280526008)

What do you think he's gonna say?

How often have you seen the coach of the winning team get his first question in the press conference and have it be about how his team got shafted on the calls?

When you win, nobody cares. That was bad enough that the press was like, "whoa, how did you guys keep your composure?"

I do think the refereeing was bad and that more bad calls went against the Pistons than against the Celtics, but if it had been called even, I think the Celtics still would have had a slight advantage at the line, or maybe it would have been closer to even on FT attempts. The Celtics shot 13 more FTs than the Pistons did, which was bad, but in no way did the Pistons earn more trips to the FT line than the Celtics did (that is, assuming a more competent whistle both ways).

Tough series. You have to play 48 minutes against them. We finally started out like it meant something. The Celtic formula is to jump on the opposition early.

You have to manhandle Pierce and Garnett.

We need to play deep into the bench because every minute has to be playoff baskeball.

Dyss has been laying it all on the line.

We have to get Tay some room into the lane. Tay has to break loose to tilt the balance.

Billips need to take a jumper now and then to keep the defense honest.

This is pretty easy to determine. How many of the Celtics free throws were off of FG attempts vs. bonus related?

Boston was getting shut down. They weren't the aggressors, we were.

This game actually make me rethink my theory on HCA. I just figured that the margins were caused by unconscious helpful reffing to the home team. After seeing this, I think the HCA must be cause purely by crowd noise helping addreniline, and familiar visuals in the home arena.

Here it is. Game 5 winner will win this series. This and game 2 were the most important games of the series. It was easy to pick the Pistons in game 4. I knew they'd win... Pickin game 5 is harder. So I'll predict the winner and the score. Pistons 88-85.........

Here is how unusual tonight was.

Boston had 21 field goals. For comparison...

NBA Finals Record
Fewest field goals, team, game:
21 - Utah at Chicago, June 7, 1998
So, if this would have been the Finals, it would have been a historic low, even though Boston was only down 4 points in the final quarter.

The fewest number in any NBA game was 18, so Boston barely beat that mark. (Chicago vs. Miami, April 10th, 1999). Compare that to the 74 FG's that Detroit made in that famous game in Denver.

On May 24, 1987, the Pistons made 61 fields goals against... Boston! Over 80 more points from the field than Boston had against us tonight.


I'm just a little upset that our ridiculous defense went somewhat unrewarded through the smog of over-reffing.

“Dice has been our best player in the postseason, and we’re all feeding off his energy,” teammate and close friend Chauncey Billups (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3174/;_ylt=Ail280ugatl6kfu1tDodobGLvLYF) said. “You see how hard he is working, and you can’t help but play hard.”


This comment bothers me. It shouldn't... maybe...but it does. They should be playing hard regardless. Maybe Dice should make them play harder...but not hard. Semantics? Perhaps.

McDyess' 21 points and 16 rebounds lift Pistons over Celtics - NBA - Yahoo! Sports (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/recap;_ylt=Av.gsyEVVKRdb1pArhXYjsm8vLYF?gid=200805 2608)


It probably won't happen, but it would be so great to see Mcdyess get a ring.

Here is how unusual tonight was.

Boston had 21 field goals. For comparison...

NBA Finals Record
Fewest field goals, team, game:
21 - Utah at Chicago, June 7, 1998
So, if this would have been the Finals, it would have been a historic low, even though Boston was only down 4 points in the final quarter.

The fewest number in any NBA game was 18, so Boston barely beat that mark. (Chicago vs. Miami, April 10th, 1999). Compare that to the 74 FG's that Detroit made in that famous game in Denver.

On May 24, 1987, the Pistons made 61 fields goals against... Boston! Over 80 more points from the field than Boston had against us tonight.


I'm just a little upset that our ridiculous defense went somewhat unrewarded through the smog of over-reffing.

Nice find. Just imagine what it's going to be like in BOS :cold:

I'm thinking that the number of games played is catching up with the Celtics....if this goes 7 we might be able to steal it, but only with a 95% healthy aggressive Billups and a re-energized Tay

This is what I noticed in how Boston slips after the second half. You must give 110 per cent effort in the first half. If you lead, or are within a couple of points; then pressure, the bench and fatigue lets you win it in the end.

Lack of rhythm (caused by the refs) always hurts the home team, which is what happened tonight.

Thank you Dyess and JMax.

Sheed was just so, so, (hey, what do you expect for 13 million). CB was off and continues to struggle and looks slow (he is not aging well and again in the 12 million range). Rip finally got into the flow and put the game on ice. Prince is lost, slows down the offense and this from your 3 position? I can excuse this because he is only making 10 million.

I am mad at Flip, because it isn't his role to stop the starters from embrassing themselves for the second home game stretch. But, then again, he gets paid to win games.

Dyess, in his interview had it right.

First off, Flip Saunders is an idiot! He played Dyess too many minutes in the reg season and there is no way he'll be effective in the playoffs.

I think the road team has gotten the benefit of the whistles in this series, games 2-4 at least. Why do I see that taking a drastic turn in 2 out of the next 3 games?

That being said, teams will have to sit players with 2 fouls for a bit, but it will always be DET who loses players for huge stretches with 4 and 5 fouls.

I could have sworn I saw some civil interaction between Sheed and Dan Crawford. Man I used to love seeing LB go after him.

Flip took a T for the team and I think it helped. He is such a dud over there though. I wish he could go off and just be forceful with them. It is well worth the point to make your point.

I thought putting Sheed on KG early really made a difference. He did a really nice job pressuring him and hindering their offense. KG is a lot tougher to guard if you let him hit a few to start.

Conversely, Sheed and Dyess hitting the long J's to start the game off of good movement opened DET's offense up.

I think Flip played CB, Stuckey and Hunter at PG in the 1st half. I wish he did stuff like that in season.

I think Hunter has played well, minus G3, this series.

The announcers make a big deal out of Pierce guarding Tay, but you don't have to guard Tay 1 on 1. You guard him with your team D and by stopping other folks. Unless he's posting you there isn't a lot to worry about there.

Putting Cassell on CB was a smart move by Doc. It made Billups have to go at him when he wasn't up to it. It had to be well into the 3rd quarter before I stopped lamenting and adding CB's 2 missed free throws to the score. It makes me wonder about Chauncey when his game totally collapses like this. He should be able to shoot free throw with a broken leg.

Who shows up Wednesday? I wish I knew. Had this been G3 it would have been a lot nicer.

What a way to endure a bad officiating game, a (another) bad rebounding night, and another bad night for CB (except that 3pt jump shot). Pierce struggled, yet managed to create 16pts. But then, i couldnt be happier with the word "won". Thank God for Dyess. 21/16/1. You can see his heart flaming in there. If only sheed was fired up the way he is, then this series should have been 3-1 already. Good luck to us on Wednesday.

Go kill 'em (again) Dyess.

Just read Dyess' post-game. WOW....just WOW. After that, if they don't bring it home, then break it up. I pray that they have turned the mental corner. I can only imagine that film session on sunday, Rip and Chauncey with their usual "We Straight..... If it aint rough it aint right.......this what we do.....we aiight...." BS, and the normally quiet McDyess jumps up emphatically and says what Pistonland has been wanting to say for 4 years, "MAN STFU WITH ALL THAT BULL****!!!!!, I'm Tired of y'all mutha$*#'s with same ol BS year after Year!!!!! Quit Making EXCUSES and LEAVE IT ALL ON THE FLOOR!!!!!!" Dyess, we don't say it enough, but THANK-YOU!!!!! From the bottom of our hearts, THANK-YOU!!!!

Well everyone, that was pretty darned fun.

I have tons of confidence that there will at least be a game 7, even if it stems from bitter pessimism.
Of course the guys will take this to the limit and pull at the heartstrings before they flop on us.

Then again....if the Pistons really want to toy with us....they should make it all the way to the Finals!
They can take a 3 games to none lead, get me and Darth back on the bandwagon, and then to top it all off The Low can post something very McGradylike about him being glad that the team won another 'Ship.....etc....etc

And then they can promptly drop 4 in a row.

Yea....now that is doing it the right way.

Pistons might just win this series! :MusicBigGrin:

Well everyone, that was pretty darned fun.

I have tons of confidence that there will at least be a game 7, even if it stems from bitter pessimism.
Of course the guys will take this to the limit and pull at the heartstrings before they flop on us.

Then again....if the Pistons really want to toy with us....they should make it all the way to the Finals!
They can take a 3 games to none lead, get me and Darth back on the bandwagon, and then to top it all off The Low can post something very McGradylike about him being glad that the team won another 'Ship.....etc....etc

And then they can promptly drop 4 in a row.

Yea....now that is doing it the right way.

Pistons might just win this series! :MusicBigGrin:


I believe Pistons will win this series.

Gotta love Dice. Good article.

McDyess drags Pistons past Big Three - NBA - Yahoo! Sports (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=Ahyv7qp7oje.M6eNFb1NGXI5nYcB?slug=dw-eastfinalsgamefour052708&prov=yhoo&type=lgns)

If we win Wednesday and Friday all we need is one more on the road...or are you counting game 2 in the equation??:confused:


Right, I should have written: Can they win two games on the road?

JMAX started his very impressive game with a spectacular block on Garnett. Garnett broke out ahead of everyone on a fast break. JMAX, trailing him, went up, blocked the shot from behind, and continues off to the side avoiding the foul. Kind of like a Tay block, but just triple the power.




I love your description of JMax's block. Man, I think that block is my favorite play of the 2008 playoffs so far.

I love your description of JMax's block. Man, I think that block is my favorite play of the 2008 playoffs so far.

That was maybe my favorite play of the entire year, although Sheed's three from 3/4 court was awesome. I think that was more luck, though. I must have yelled "WOW" out loud about 5 times in a row when J-max did that.

My wife probably thought I ordered the playboy channel or something...:MusicBigGrin:

My wife probably thought I ordered the playboy channel or something...:MusicBigGrin:
Nah, I think she's probably used to you arbitrarily yelling to yourself.

:rofl:

That was maybe my favorite play of the entire year, although Sheed's three from 3/4 court was awesome. I think that was more luck, though. I must have yelled "WOW" out loud about 5 times in a row when J-max did that.



Sheed's shot was over a year ago. It was awesome, irregardless.

YouTube - Rasheed Wallace 3/4 Court Buzzer Beater (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvAHMvlm9eY&feature=related)

Here's my final vent on the refs.

There were 65 fouls called. That means that the whistle blew every 44 seconds on average, which comes out to every 1.8 possessions.

Considering that this was a game with no intentional fouling in the end-game, that is ridiculous. Who wants to watch bball with no flow? The NBA should be much more conscious of that and less obsessed with inflating the score at all costs.

Mo Flo yo.

Here's my final vent on the refs.

There were 65 fouls called. That means that the whistle blew every 44 seconds on average, which comes out to every 1.8 possessions.

Considering that this was a game with no intentional fouling in the end-game, that is ridiculous. Who wants to watch bball with no flow? The NBA should be much more conscious of that and less obsessed with inflating the score at all costs.

Mo Flo yo.

The lack of flow must have made this a brutal game to watch for any non Celts or Pistons fans.

The announcers called it a grind it out game.

Sheed's shot was over a year ago.

**Throws Bill a peanut**

If we play with the AGGRESSION, ENERGY & HEART as well as play both ends as a TEAM, we can win the next 2 games. Move the ball, make the extra passes, we will win. 27 asst tonite. Whenever we past the 25 asst mark, we have yet to lose. CB will never be fully recover for the rest of the season (if we can get into the finals), let alone this series. But he still can contribute by makin plays and makin asst, steals and of course FTs. If both CB and RIP has at least a dozen asst between them, I'm pretty sure we will win. DICE really played his heart out tonite. Hope the rest of the team can follow suit for the remaining of the series. What DICE said in the post game interview is what all forumites in here agreed. If we lose the series leaving everything on the court, we can deal with it. We rant bout stuff in here when we lose is cuz we played as if we can 'flip the switch' anytime when needed. NO HEART like in game 3.

What we can see in this series is that in the 4th quarter, the Celts have no more energy in their bodies. They are definitely a step slower. Can't make shots. All we got to do is get the ball inside and we will be fine. In game 3, we shot jumpers in the 4th, no good. RIP did a great job and driving inside for lay ups in the 4th and in one possession, he dished the ball inside to MAX, who made the shot. Flip should run some plays where gettin CB in the post in the 2nd half. We did this to start the 10-0 run in the 1st quarter but after that, we did run the play anymore and god knows why.

Rebounds, we got outrebound by the Celts in every game so far this series. However, we got outrebounded by 4 tonite. As long as we keep this stat within 5, we will be alrite. If we win this stat, we will definitely win without a doubt.

Why is Kid Rock at the JLA? Was he at JLA last Sat?

... and the normally quiet McDyess jumps up emphatically and says what Pistonland has been wanting to say for 4 years, "MAN STFU WITH ALL THAT BULL****!!!!!, I'm Tired of y'all mutha$*#'s with same ol BS year after Year!!!!! Quit Making EXCUSES and LEAVE IT ALL ON THE FLOOR!!!!!!"


This is one of the reasons I think the Pistons might pull this out. With Dyess going from soft spoken to the outspoken conscience of the team I'm hoping we see no more lazy efforts like game 3.

And that is, I think, the difference between the Celtics and the Pistons - - the P's were lazy in Game 3... the Celtics looked tired in Game 4.

And I have to say the people running the CelticsBlog show that not all of the fans are like their chest pounding team and bandwagon fans. I particularly liked this comment:

Antonio McDyess and Jason Maxiell have earned the tip of our caps. Hard-nosed, Blue-collar basketball. Hungry baskeball. Though I say it grudgingly, well done, fellas.

Rebounds, we got outrebound by the Celts in every game so far this series. However, we got outrebounded by 4 tonite. As long as we keep this stat within 5, we will be alrite. If we win this stat, we will definitely win without a doubt.


Maybe I'm missing something obvious here, but I don't get the accounting.

There were 79 missed shots in this game and there were only 72 rebounds. Don't those two numbers need to equal eachother?

Boston shot 21 for 66 = 45 misses
Detroit shot 36 for 70 = 34 misses

Boston had 38 rebounds
Detroit had 34 rebounds

Is team rebounds the difference? If so, how is that credited, and doesn't that mean that we effectively got those boards?

I'm guessing that airballs with a shot clock violation is one possible reason. If so, then I think the defensive team should get a team rebound for those. Also, shots that end up out of bounds, same thing.

So, I'm not convinced that we were outrebounded in this game. It sure didn't feel like they were getting more that us. Dyess was rebounding hard and there were very few rebounds that we should have got, but didn't. Their desperate shot attempts resulted in a few offensive boards that are to be expected.

I love your description of JMax's block. Man, I think that block is my favorite play of the 2008 playoffs so far.

its got to rate up there.... princes block was like a ballet dance, and max's was the head bangers ball... lol

but both are wow moments....

Maybe I'm missing something obvious here, but I don't get the accounting.

There were 79 missed shots in this game and there were only 72 rebounds. Don't those two numbers need to equal eachother?



I've never quite understood this either, but - how about missed free throws? Those count as boards, but the box scores never give you number of missed first versus missed second shots so it's never possible to compute the percent of rebounds attained which is the more interesting number.


My two cents re the number of fouls - yes, there were a lot, and yes, there were some dubious calls, but there were sure a lot of dumb fouls committed too.

As jz pointed out, the Celts looked tired in the 4th, effect of too many 7 games series IMO. If Flip can continue using the bench effectively and maintain the energy of the Pistons then Game 5 is for the taking. Punch 'em in the mouth and keep 'em down, I don't think the Celts have the energy to keep fighting.

Tay deserves kudos for keeping Pierce quiet, though a little more on offense would'nt hurt.

Rebounds off missed FTs is one thing that doesn't show up in the box score, and as dba said, you can't get it straight from the stats because they don't tell you how many missed 2nd FTs there were.

I'm not sure what the deal with "team rebounds" is. TaS's disparity of 79 missed shots and 72 rebounds between the two teams is a lot smaller than the 20 total "team rebounds" listed in the Yahoo box score (13 for Boston, 7 for Detroit).

My understanding is that "team rebounds" are just those rebounds that go out of bounds before anyone grabs it (off the rim, over the backboard, off the shot clock, or tipped out of bounds before anyone gets possession). An airball at the end of the shot clock is sort of an in-between thing; it counts as a missed shot, but I think it also counts as a turnover against the guy who airballed?

So total rebounds + total "team rebounds" should pretty much equal missed FGs + missed 2nd FT attempts (or 3rd, on a 3-pt shooting foul). There were so many FTs taken last night (though not very many missed) that the totals probably work out for last night's game.

So total rebounds + total "team rebounds" should pretty much equal missed FGs + missed 2nd FT attempts (or 3rd, on a 3-pt shooting foul). There were so many FTs taken last night (though not very many missed) that the totals probably work out for last night's game.

OK, that probably explains it. I completely forgot about rebounds off of missed free throws.

I guess the point is that unless we have all the data, it isn't easy to say whether or not they rebounded better than we did. For instance, if all of our missed free throws were on the 2nd attempt and Boston easily got all of those rebounds, it doesn't really mean that they were doing a great job on the glass.

But whatever. My impression from watching the game was that we were doing a really nice job on the boards. I never had that frustrated feeling when Boston snagged an offensive board. It was more like a "sure, throw up a crap shot and they get a lucky bounce" type of feeling.


It is so much fun to watch a pumped up, motivated, swarming, defense-first Pistons performance. They truly look like the best team in the NBA when they are doing that. Vintage 2004 grit. That is why it will be so baffling if they come out flat next game. If Dyess leads the way and gets them to the next level, it will be quite a story.

I caught up with the game in the second haf because I just could not stomach a poorly played game, not two times in a row.

I thought the game was POORLY OFFICIATED, why not just hand the game to the Celtics on a silver platter. The "Let The Celtics Win By Giving Them A Free Ride To The Free Throw Line Concept" obviously did not work.

I have always said that Boston is a tired team, if the Pistons are willing to play that kind of defense for a full 48, we won't lose another game against this team.

KG and Ray J was sucking air when they were given a blow somewhere around the end of the 3rd or top of the 4th qtr.

I would so much like to see Flip throw fresh bodies at the Celtics, they can be worn down if only Flip would use the bench and throw both AA and AJ out there for energy.

If we can keep the score close next game, we can come out and take control if Flip utilizes his bench.

Good game, thank you Dyess for saying what all of us already knew, "We are sick and tired, of being sick and tired", hearing the same crap after every loss; 1)We ain't worried, 2)If it ain't rough...,(you know the rest), 3) We ain't no Punks (ala Rasheed), we ain't scurred of those cats, 4)we know what we have to do, 5).........You know the rest.

I think the only way to read into the numbers in any one game on rebounding is just the offensive rebounding. I was getting frustrated with some of the 2nd chances Boston was getting in the second half, but overall the numbers were pretty even, 11 offensive boards for Boston and 9 for Detroit. Boston had 10 more rebounds overall in the first half, but that was largely because the Celtics had way more turnovers and FT attempts than the Pistons did, hence fewer defensive rebounding chances for the Pistons. You also have to take into account things like weird possessions where one team gets like 4 offensive rebounds all at once; the only thing that really matters there is whether they score on that possession or not.

Looking up "team rebounds," I see there are some other little subtleties to it. If there's a foul after a missed shot before anyone gets the board--that happened a few times last night, I think--it's a team rebound for whichever team got fouled. And if someone misses a shot at the buzzer of a quarter, it's a team rebound for the offense!

Van Gundy actually did point out the probable reason for it: Dice had 3 fouls, and he needed to stay in the game with how well he was playing. So putting him on KG seemed too risky, and JMax on KG for that long a stretch might have been too much of a mismatch, so in came Theo. I thought it worked OK for about 5 minutes or so--Theo was mostly playing good D and not letting KG get too many open looks, and the lead was still in the low double digits. But it caught up with them a bit right at the end of the 3rd, when another mini-meltdown at the end of a quarter allowed Boston to cut it to 7 going into the 4th, thanks partly to some bad plays by Theo.

Yeah, here is I really feel about that stretch, at the risk of some Boston fan wondering by and reading this. Garnett was gutless, choosing not to attack Theo on a few occasions. I think that helped Boston lose the game, which is a great thing, and I hope Garnett acts the same way next time. (But I doubt very much that the film from the game has not been fed to Garnett showing him what he should have done.)

I think the only way to read into the numbers in any one game on rebounding is just the offensive rebounding. I was getting frustrated with some of the 2nd chances Boston was getting in the second half, but overall the numbers were pretty even, 11 offensive boards for Boston and 9 for Detroit.

There were in our favor when you consider that they rebounded 24% of their own misses and we got 26% of ours.

It has been pointed out a lot, but when Rip makes hard cuts and curls it helps DET immensely.

Flip hasn't been all bad. Switching Tay & Rip (and the PG at times) whenever there is a screen roll with Pierce has worked well. Doing the same with Rip and the PG on Rondo has worked also. The bad is when you see Max hitting J's like last night. If Flip wasn't so rigid during the year he could hit that shot a lot more.

KG made way tougher shots that the ones he was passing up last night. The free throw J he passed to Rondo in the 4th? Yikes.

Rondo kills the C's. I have no idea why he won't shoot.

Can DET play with that energy for 2 straight games?

And can the Celtics come out as tight as they were in game 4...... that would go a long way towards helping the Blue team steal another one on the road.

They really were tight. Was the atmosphere at the Palace intimidating them or what?

Can DET play with that energy for 2 straight games?

Change the "can" to "will" and I think Ernie has come up with the only question that really matters.

The Pistons are clearly the fresher team (i.e. they CAN play with that energy). Boston tried last night (unlike Detroit in Game 3). Boston's effort has always been there (and if their energy has not matched ours it's not for lack of trying, but more likely fatigue, as others have observed). Our energy seems, fortunately and unfortunately, to be a function of our effort (read: our will or desire or whatever you want to call it)

My feeling is that the series is purely a matter of will on the part of the pistons. If they decide to play with energy and with effort, I really don't think it matters what Boston does: Pistons will win the next two. If they give away one of the next two, then Game 7 will be a toss up, because the emotion of Game 7 at home may be enough to carry Boston through the fatigue and through even a desperation Pistons effort. But I don't think they'll give away either of the next two: I'm still sticking with Pistons in six (and I'd just like congratulate myself because in the ECF Deja Vu thread, I foresaw exactly the dynamic and the win pattern that we've seen so far in the series).

I also want to point out something that Dice has been doing nicely all series, even before his breakout starring performance last night: killing (or at least wounding) Boston runs. Someone pointed out that PJ Brown does this well for Boston. I've noticed in every game so far that when Boston takes off or hits back or what have you, it's always a bucket by Dice that seems to stop (or at least interrupt it). Just a side note, probably not of great relevance.

My feeling is that the series is purely a matter of will on the part of the pistons. If they decide to play with energy and with effort, I really don't think it matters what Boston does: Pistons will win the next two.

I think it's mostly about will from the Pistons at home, but I'm not so sure about that in Boston. The Pistons obviously played with great effort in Game 2, but they also needed incredible execution for almost the entire game to pull it out. The Pistons' execution was certainly more consistent in Game 2 than it was last night, but they had a much wider margin for error in Game 4 because Boston got back to their usual (crappy) selves on the road. I definitely think the Pistons will have to play better than they did last night in order to be able to win again in Boston.

hey all. what a difference! first, a few points i forgot to mention from the last game...i sat on the wrong side of my buddy, and when the players came out at the beginning for warmups, the celtics came out at the same time as the pistons. just a bunch of weird stuff all around.

it was time to get down to business. as we were entering the palace, instead of a bunch of music pumping, it was rather quiet outside (they were tearing everything down early) and it just seemed like everyone wanted to focus on winning. the crowd was ultra-loud, people were standing and cheering a lot more for good plays, and no one let up screaming for all 4 quarters. i lost some of my vocal capabilities by the 4th quarter and i'm having difficulty talking today.

i'm glad we finally had a great start. there were a couple screaming girls directly behind us and they were loud (as well as hilarious, although a bit much dropping f bombs left and right at one stretch of the 3rd quarter). they also kept spilling beer on my buddy and i got some splashes on my legs, but because they were so spirited we didn't care. i think i did a pretty good job cheering as well and yelling 'DEEE-FENSE' constantly and getting many others around me to do the same.

as for the game itself, what a joke. i've been to countless games and this was by far the most poorly officiated game i've ever witnessed. this should've been a 40-point blowout and refs decided to keep the celtics in the game. toward the end of the 3rd quarter that had over 50% of their points come from FTs. it was 10 PM at halftime! and boy, the fans did not let the refs off the hook...but it was so blatantly horrible we couldn't believe it. i'm not one to complain about the officiating, but this was so blatantly terrible that i would like to discuss what i saw:

- cassell hurts his back and arches it, so the refs call a foul without seeing anything
- rondo trips his feet on rip's and it is a foul, while chauncey trips on cassell and nothing is called
- garnett gets fouled along the baseline and they're about to take the ball out on the sidelines, when the celtics whine a little bit, so the refs confer and overturn the call
- mcdyess gets an and-1 called off and instead just gets 2 FTs
- refs call pistons ball on an out-of-bounds play, the crowd cheers, then about 5-10 seconds later they randomly change the call and give the celtics the ball back
- something else i forgot but i'm sure it was bad

...and that's just a sample. The bad calls are one thing, but changing them to favor the celtics after they have been already called for the pistons is just lame.

After the game we met the couple we sit close to during the regular season and discussed the game, then we went to our car and there were 4 people tailgating near our car so we chatted with them for awhile, and I didn't get home until 1:30. I also got a frosty at Wendy's (chocolate oreo), but the drive thru took nearly 6 minutes and it was practically liquid. By the time I realized it, it was too late.

Anyway, best crowd all year, great game, great time.

Execution is tough for fans, b/c when it's off, it's off, and there is nobody to blame. You can say that we should get easier shots and get in the paint, etc., but we should be doing all those things anyway.

As you all know from playing sports yourself, some days you got it and other days you don't. Sometimes it is very mysterious how your touch can leave you. Fortunately for us, Dyess has been on. He's getting his shot, but he could just as easily be bricking 2/3rds of them and we would be saying that he's washed up. He's executing.

And Warthog, I'm really glad to hear that the crowd was letting the refs have it. I'm still very disturbed by that game. I'm ultra confident in our team, but I've become paranoid about the system.

I love your description of JMax's block. Man, I think that block is my favorite play of the 2008 playoffs so far.

That was a great block, however, NBA TV had a countdown of the ten best defensive plays or it might have been ten best blocks of the season, Max`s block on Chandler was #1!

That block last night could very easily slide the Chnadler block to #2 and take over the num 1 slot!!!!!!

Was it Rondo that came over Chauncey's back for a rebound, knocking CB to the floor and the ball out of bounds? No foul called and the announcer (JVG?) said "it was a good non-call."

And Warthog, I'm really glad to hear that the crowd was letting the refs have it. I'm still very disturbed by that game. I'm ultra confident in our team, but I've become paranoid about the system.

agreed. that's why i don't want a game 7 in boston, especially if the lakers have moved on to the Finals by that point. and yeah detteam, it was...can't believe the announcers thought it was a good no-call though...WOW.

Was it Rondo that came over Chauncey's back for a rebound, knocking CB to the floor and the ball out of bounds? No foul called and the announcer (JVG?) said "it was a good non-call."

In a normal situation, I might have wanted the no-call if the teams had been reversed. But given the way the game was being called, it certainly should have been a foul.

One other tidbit that I forgot to mention. Boston got 14 FTA's off of non-shooting fouls while in the bonus.

The worst stretch was 3 fouls against us in 23 seconds. 2 on Sheed, which sent him to the bench and put Ratliff in the game.


Those announcers are not genuine. They do the old routine where they are provacative, and disagree with eachother for the sake of debate, etc. Just ignore them.

In a normal situation, I might have wanted the no-call if the teams had been reversed. But given the way the game was being called, it certainly should have been a foul.Exactly. With as ticky-tack as they called the game, that one should have clearly been a foul.

Another unbelievable stat: 39 FTA and only 21 FG from Boston. Who's zoomin who?

The worst stretch was 3 fouls against us in 23 seconds. 2 on Sheed, which sent him to the bench and put Ratliff in the game.

Did Sheed get his 4th and 5th in quick succession? I remember his 5th being an obvious foul, reaching in as someone (I think it was Ray) was going to the rim in the lane. That was a bad play by Sheed, since he should have realized how many fouls he had and recognized that giving up the easy 2 was better for the team than him being forced to go to the bench. I don't remember which one was his 4th, but there was one near the sideline where he bodied up while trapping that seemed like a legit call, which was another somewhat careless foul by him.

“Tell the refs to do the interview. They were just as important,” an angry Rivers shouted at a team official as he walked back from the postgame news conference.

(That was after a loss to the Cavs.) :pound:

Was it Rondo that came over Chauncey's back for a rebound, knocking CB to the floor and the ball out of bounds? No foul called and the announcer (JVG?) said "it was a good non-call."


I don't mind a no-call in that situation. The Rondo bump didn't give the Celtics any advantage. It's 80 feet from the Pistons' basket. Let the teams play on.

I don't mind a no-call in that situation. The Rondo bump didn't give the Celtics any advantage. It's 80 feet from the Pistons' basket. Let the teams play on.I take it you're "okay" with Gary Roberts blind-side punching Franzen in the head last night too.

I don't mind a no-call in that situation. The Rondo bump didn't give the Celtics any advantage. It's 80 feet from the Pistons' basket. Let the teams play on.

Normally I would agree. But when the Pistons are getting called for the ticky-tack fouls, I want Boston to get called for that.

I take it you're "okay" with Gary Roberts blind-side punching Franzen in the head last night too.

Franzen was OK with it.

Franzen was OK with it.
Wel, he's not about to complain about it and let the Penguins know that it gets to him.

I take it you're "okay" with Gary Roberts blind-side punching Franzen in the head last night too.


I read that it was Franzen that ran his head into Roberts' fist.