Miami Heat Feb. 4th, 7:30 PM TV - FS Detroit HD, NBALP Radio WDFN 1130 Most thought the Heat were lottery bound this year, however D-Wade is the leagues leading scorer (28.9 ppg) and the Heat are currently the 6th seed in the EC.
Now the Heat have caught and tied us. The question is with the next two Piston games vs the Celtics and Cavs, will they have slipped ahead of both us and Atlanta for the 4th spot. Shawn Marion has missed three straight games with a strained groin, and the Heat have won all three, but you know by the time the Piston game pops up he would have stolen the frozen banana remedy and will be ready to challenge our bigs
We have to give Orlando some credit here...we might be able to beat them (at least we forumites think we can in 7 game series), but they are only a game out of the second seed, and 1.5 out of the # 1 seed so whose to say that they don't get the # 2 seed and we run into King James again. To early to speculate as the Pistons are currently only 2 games ahead of the # 7 seed Sixers who have won 7 of 10 compared to our 3 of 10.
I think we can forget about that w/ the Nelson injury. I didn't realize the Sixers were that close. In that case thank you Ray Allen and bad Sixer defense.
All right everyone it is game time! We had a few days to vent and lick our wounds, but now it is time to get back to work against God's team the Miami Heat. It seems our Pistons have had time to rest and practice. Hopefully they'll come out tonight on their first few possessions and have Sheed and AJ up top setting screens while Stuckey, AI and Tay slowly and carefully probe the defense for a tough shot against the shot clock as well as the Heat's set D. It is the time and space conundrum. On D I am hoping to see them play P&R differently from any other team in the league over committing on weak traps up top that leave the lane wide open and makes dominant scorers out of Joel Anthony and Mark Blount. At its' best the stout Piston defense will stop neither the wings or the bigs of the opposition.
You have set some high expectations for this team, Ernie. Don't be surprised if the Pistons disappoint you.
Does this belong in the Hope Thread? Both teams appear to be heading in opposite directions. Case in point: 4 weeks ago on 1/7/09, the Pistons record was 21-12 and they were 3.5 games ahead of the 18-16 Miami heat. Since then the Pistons have gone 4-9 and the Heat have gone 8-5 to move a half game ahead of the Heat. Wade is up to his dirty tricks again getting to the line on phantom calls. Beasley has been great off the bench doing what a # 2 draft pick is suppose to do. (any reference to Darko is strictly coincidental)
The Heat have been better without Marion. The Pistons were better without Rip, and perhaps Rip and Sheed. Go figure.
Stuckey is day to day with a thigh injury and might not play. Any news on that people? I guess it will be a game time decision. Will be interesting to see how we play without Stuckey if he is unable to play. Takes one of our guards out of the picture as it did when Rip was out, so might be better off, we will see. Staying up for this one See you in the chat
Really nice half from Afflalo, who finally saw some minutes. 8 points a couple boards and he harassed Wade into 4-13 shooting.
LOL Guess who's running the point-forward to start the 4th quarter? 2 point lead now... and shrinking.
