Check out the comments section of this post on Detroit Bad Boys to see the growing rivalry happening here. Ian says it best - he’s developing a healthy dislike of LeBron, and it’s the rivalry kind, not what we would call the “Tim Thomas” kind.
Anyway, as we did before the series started, this morning we sent Detroit Bad Boys our bullet points for the Cavaliers to win. It’s three instead of five this time, since this is a fresh, new three game series. There’s actual basketball knowledge there, so be careful.
From here, we turn it over to DBB - everything in italics is them guys.
Rasheed Wallace has never been shy to speak his opinion. And why not? Unlike some players in this league, he’s just a man, not an entire brand. For Detroit fans, it’s fun to pick up the newspaper to see what he just said about LeBron James ® (Presented by Nike) and the Bronettes.
Unfortunately, his candor is lost upon Cavaliers fans. Most Cavs fans seem to be a little on edge right now, which is somewhat understandable considering that fans born during the team’s last foray into the second round 13 years ago are now going through puberty.
All I can say is, take a deep breath and enjoy yourself. This is supposed to be fun. I know it must be confusing, one week playing a team like the Wizards who was so excited to make the playoffs they printed up commemorative t-shirts, and the next week playing the Pistons, who calmly act like they’ve been there before.
But, no matter how much all those commercials and TV announcers want to fool you, the Cavs are still underdogs, and underdogs are supposed to be taken for granted. Revel in this, because it
very well may be the last time a team with LeBron James is ever considered an underdog again.
The Boys in Blue took care of business in Games 1 and 2, but they stumbled a bit over the next two games, allowing the Boys in… Wine(?) to return to the Palace with the series all tied up. This is what the Pistons need to do to get back on track and advance to their rematch with the Heat. It’s not going to be easy, especially with the referees well aware how much Godfather Stern would appreciate a LeBron-Wade-Shaq matchup the next round, but if they get their act together this series should only go six games.
1. Get Antonio McDyess back on track. Especially with Rasheed Wallace hobbling, McDyess needs to quit being so tentative shooting the ball. In the first six games of the playoffs, he
attempted 7.5 shots per game. Over the last three contests, just 3.3. His turnaround jumper from the high post is automatic when he’s on, and quite honestly he’s the best rebounder on this team not wearing a big Afro. He needs to step up and provide a solid 20 minutes per game, perhaps much more if Rasheed is forced to miss any action. McDyess is by far the most productive reserve the Pistons have, and so far the bench has been practically non-existent, which is one reason the starting five appeared to run out of gas the last three fourth
quarters.
2. Protect the ball. The Pistons were the stingiest team in the league turning the ball over this year, coughing up the rock just 11.35 times per game. They averaged just nine turnovers in Games 1 and 2, but a whopping 15 per game over the last two. Had they been just a little bit more careful on Monday, this series would
easily be 3-1 in Detroit’s favor.
As much as it sometimes annoys their fans, Detroit is primarily a jumpshooting team, and there will always be games like the last two when the shots just aren’t falling. Aside from being more careful with shot selection, there’s nothing the Pistons can do about that… but they can control how crisp their passes are and cut down silly mental
errors.
3. Don’t let LeBron James facilitate. Normally a blueprint for success against the Cavs would include some mention of stopping LeBron James from scoring, but quite honestly, the Pistons have already proven to have a handle on that. He gets his points sooner or later, but it’s no longer rare for him to go an entire
quarter (or two) without finding the bucket once. It’s his passing Detroit can do without out. After dishing out 11 assists in the first two games, he’s had 19 the last two.
The Cavs don’t have a single player after James who can give Detroit headaches — their second-leading scorers so far this series have been Zydrunas Ilgauskas with 14 points in Game 1; Drew Gooden with 17 in Game 2; Anderson Varejao with 16 in Game 3; and Eric Snow with 12 in Game 4. Since those guys don’t normally make plays on their own, Detroit can’t allow James to help them become a factor, especially in the fourth quarter with long across-the-court passes the result in three-pointers.
Very nice job, and we appreciate the nod toward the Cavaliers’ future dominance over your team. We’ll take the last word before this evening’s festivites -
For those of you Detroitees calling Cleveland fans classless for cheering Sheed’s ankle sprain…didn’t you people try to fight an entire Indiana Pacer team once?
{ 28 comments }
I wish Cleveland had a guy who underachieves but consistently speaks his mind.
We have Drew Gooden - unfortunately there’s nothing in his mind that’s untangled enough to become words.
Um the Pacers fought us, not the other way around!
just sent you 15 bucks. good luck.
Dwyane Wade is one cheap bastard.
The whole fight was started by Ben Wallace who, I believe, pushed Artest. So that would mean that Detroit started it.
I think everyone was pretty much in the wrong on that one, but it could’ve ended with Artest and the guy in the stands. Instead the rest of the arena decided to have a 20-minute riot.
At least they didn’t boo anyone, though - that’s like real bad.
Booing is definitely less classy than a riot. Duh.
Where does “swift punch to the face followed by an apology and a handshake” rank?
I had someone do that to me once, and I was so drunk I didn’t realize they were the one who hit me.
one time someone punched me when i was sober, and they didn’t apologize so i went home and ate applesauce.
go cavs!
awww stang!
Does any of this really matter when The Pistons are going to send the Cavs home in a couple days with their tails between their legs?
If I recall correctly, the unclassy scale looks like this: (starting from the most unclassy)
Touching Raja’s Face
Booing
Spitting
Swift punches to the Cavalier
Genital Grabbing
Riots at the Palace
…I could be wrong.
Well yeah you got Spitting and Booing backwards, and you spelled Face wrong.
Cheering after an opposing player sprains his ankle is nothing. Now cheering when your own quarterback suffers a concussion, now that’s impressive.
And the only difference between what happened at the Palace last year when one cup was thrown and what happened in 2001 at Cleveland Browns Stadium when the field was littered with hundreds of bottles of beer is that crazy Ron Artest doesn’t play football.
You can’t tell a city’s character by how a handful of fans react at a sporting event. Let’s talk basketball.
Matt quit classing the place up.
What’s your prediction for tonight? Scores, please.
Cavs 88 - DeeeeTROIT 82. Whoops! No Heat for you.
IT IS ON.
By the way, I’m so glad the Nets are done- Richard Jefferson’s tiny ears creep me out.
RJ gets the hot white girls, though!
DTroit 85, Cleeeland 73
Cavs take 6 at home to make it a one-game series, winning the finale
If Detroit doesn’t win by at least 10, I’ll be shocked. (Granted, I’ve been shocked the last two games, but still…)
Pistons 93, Cavs 78
Pistons 86 Cavs 72. Detroit is going to be hella pissed off. I think the Cavs got their last win already…I sure hope I’m wrong.
I think the Bad Boys and the Cav should have a “blog bet”. Winner gets to tell the user what to write (or photoshop).
Pistons 120
Cavs 99
Billups goes for 35. LeBron goes Kobe, scores 40.
Hey, Cavalier, why is it that when you guest write on other people’s sites, you actually bother to write good articles, and here on YAY we get nice photoshops accompanied by drivel?
Love the site!
Todd it’s all part of my art. Immense talent such as mine is hard to tame.
I really have no prediction, but a lot of people have noted how the Detorit offense has been off the past two games.
So has Cleveland’s!
Pistons 94 Cavs 86.
(The “riot” at Browns Stadium occurred because the refs actually changed the rules to screw the Browns. I don’t condone it, but I understand it.)
Rasheed looks so sad.
…….The NBA is Fixed, I’m convinced
Only if David Stern is paying Ben Wallace to go 0-7 from the line and telling Prince to let Donyell block his shot.
yeah we beat them piston we gonna go all the way cleveland on deck!!!!!!
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