Think any Pistons fans were sitting in the Palace parking lot having heart attacks while Dwyane Wade (and the Heat) almost came back from twelve down in the final two minutes last night?
That game was never really a game, despite the final score being pretty close (92-88). A lot of people will say this morning that the Heat seemed satisfied with their already accomplished splitting of the games in Detroit, and didn’t bring the full intensity.
Dwyane Wade is not one of them, and his rationale is clear, clear, clear.
“They did a good job with pressure,” Wade said. “I’m not like them. I’m gonna give them credit.”
So Wade doesn’t think the Pistons give the Heat any credit?
“No,” he said softly. “They was tired,” Wade said, referring to comments the Pistons actually made after Game 1, in explaining their defeat. “That’s why we won the first game.”
It’d be real easy to hop on Dwyane’s back and keep our running feud with the Detroit Pistons at ful throttle. Instead, we’ll simply post a link to this nice profile of Rasheed Wallace from the Miami paper, and ride off into the sunset of a holiday weekend.
What are we doing this fine Memorial Day? Why, driving around to every single memorial in the country and honoring our country. We’re starting with the Sofa Memorial, and at some point will switch to the Recliner Memorial.
After a stop at the Gym Memorial, we’ll be hitting the Booze-Drugs-Self Loathing Trifecta Memorial, with a slim chance of a tour of the Make-Out With Pretty Girl(s) Memorial.
Have a great weekend. Take care of each other, and feel free to use this comments section to discuss the games.
He sang the national anthem last night and we know the name, but we have no idea who Eddie Money is. 1980s – that’s about all we can gather from his website.
Farlane, Bill Walton, NBA Comix, X-Men, and toasters. Need you know more?
SacTown Royalty used this thing to determine that YAYsports! is at a reading level suitable for middle school kids. He did the whole NBA blogoshere.
We agree with Deadspin – this totally would’ve been us, too. Trampolines and dunking. Actually, once per year, our gym teacher would have a day where we dunked off a mini-tramp – it was like worth a whole year of gym class just for that day, easy.
The Mavs will make the adjustment of “playing defense” against the Suns tonight.
Raja Bell’s face is out for tonight’s Suns-Mavs Game 2, Josh Howard is day-to-day.
The Cavaliers picked up the fourth year option on coach Mike Brown’s contract.
Stephen A Smith makes a point about Chris Webber. Depending on which paragraph, it’s either keep him or trade him. We’re not sure what he actualy thinks on the matter.
Are the media ready to go to war with David Stern and the Knicks?
Don’t be afraid, but we’re actually taking the holiday weekend off. In fact, one more post after this and then we’re out the door. We’ll try to pop in on comments here and there -
This post is a incredibly ego-filled and somewhat masturbatory, but bear with us – it should open the doors to a fun little exercise for everyone.
We’ve recently been considering the future of the NBA blogosphere, where we think it could go, and naturally our place in it. Coincidentally, a few days ago End of the Bench had a great post that gave out NBA-ish awards to various basketball blogs.
We came in as the 2nd Runner-Up MVP, and we certainly appreciated the kind words.
MVP Second Runner-up: Brian the Cavalier, Yay! Sports
Every since Yay! emerged sometime last summer, the basketball world hasn’t been the same. Every single day, you get something that is two-parts crazy and one-part funny, creating what the basketball world has come to expect from Yay! Sports. Without them, we wouldn’t have got to know Black Mamba very well, nor would we have worked on our Photoshop skills.
Again, nice words, and there’s no shame in coming in behind TrueHoop (MVP) and LowPost.net (1st Runner-Up). That said, we’re not an MVP candidate. Not at all.
It took us a few days, but it dawned on us a bit ago – we’re totally the Slam-Dunk Champ. More specifically, we’re Vince Carter. It’s pretty eerie how well it fits, actually. Note:
1) We’re possessed of undeniable talent, which we utilize in flashy, exciting, and attention grabbing ways. In fact, the flash is so bright, the performance often masquerades itself as having actual substance.
2) About once every couple weeks, we do something truly kick-ass, which completely erases any discontent with our normal output, which is always solid on the surface, but never truly inspiring or memorable. In this way, everyone keeps one eye on us, just to be sure they don’t miss something extraordinary.
3) Our peers sense we’re capable of greater things, and secretly wonder to themselves how motivated we really are – they question if we’re actually trying or just coasting on natural ability. On rare occasions they voice this opinion out loud.
4) We make motorcycle gestures with our hands, and we wouldn’t be anywhere if not for some sweet passes from a better, more respectable player.
5) Finally, and this hasn’t happened yet, but we can promise with 99% certainty it will – one day out of nowhere, when our traffic and hits are having a down month, we’ll get bored and quit. And when it happens, much like when Vince retires, there will be a feeling of “Yeah, that was some cool shit,” and then you’ll be kinda glad there’s one less thing you need to pay attention to.
There it is – we think we pretty fairly nailed our strengths and weaknesses. We’re Vinsanity.
So…what about the rest of you? NBA blogs from the highlands and the lowlands – what player are you and why? We’ll even make you a little button for your sidebar if you do a write-up. Could make an interesting list, yes?
(btw we’re still waiting for our 2000 Slam Dunk Contest-ish “defining moment”, so remember to please donate to Who Shot Mamba?.)
We’ll be watching with great anticipation to see what happens tonight in Pistons-Heat Game 2, both to see which superhero pose Wade does next, and also to observe the final score, which will be key in determining who is declared the winner of the game.
Also on the list of things to watch is the mood of Detroit as a whole – fans and players alike. The Palace crowd hasn’t been itself since Cleveland Game 5, and the Pistons players have stated for the record that they’re not exactly having a great time.
“We have to get back to having more fun on the basketball floor,” [Rip Hamilton] said after the Pistons’ short film session Wednesday. “A lot of times when we’re great on that floor, we’re out there smiling and we’re out there laughing and we are all out there having a good time. Right now, it’s not like that. It’s like, ‘Aw man, we’re fighting for everything.”
“I am getting sick of hearing everything,” Chauncey Billups said. “I am getting sick of everything.”
Those comments don’t inspire great confidence, unless you’re cheering for Miami. Sumpthin’s up – it seems like Detroit has almost psyched itself out at this point.
We’ve been taking some heat in the comments about our bad-mouthing of the Pistons, and we realize now we’ve been a little rough. We’re sorry – they were playing our Cavaliers, and it’s possible we took things personally.
Let’s switch it up, right here and now. We’re positive the Pistons will win tonight – not only are they the defending champs from the year before last, but they also have less travelling violations than any other team in the playoffs.
If that’s not enough, all five starters are going to play, and that mean FIVE starters on the court. Let’s see Shaq’s guys counter that brand of Deeetroit Basssketballlling. Go Pistons go!
Just when he thinks he’s protected his precious face, PHXer Raja Bell goes and messes up one of his calves last night, likely putting himself out of Game 2.
As is his way, he made sure to sound stupid about it after the game.
“I thought a fan had thrown something at me and felt a pain,” he said. “I tried to get up and it wouldn’t let me get up.”
Yeah dude – a fan stood up and thought “hey, I’m going to throw something at Raja Bell’s leg.” Then when it hit you, it gave you a pulled muscle. That’s what always happens when you’re struck with something. We got punched in the chest once, and instead of a bruise, we came away with a (rock-solid) pectoral strain.
If you’re wondering why this deserves a post all its own, we really just wanted a reason to post that Boris Diaw picture. We also will never, ever, ever let Raja off the hook for whining about his face.
EVER.
Sorry, we really just enjoy that show for the mindless, good-natured fun that it is. Also, we think we’ve figured out what it is with the McPhee girl – she’d simply be the meanest girlfriend in the world, which is appealing to us.
Other awkward moments last night – pretty much every time one of the Idol people sang with a professional, especially when Toni Braxton was grinding on Taylor Hicks.
Anyway, on to basketball. Jones on the NBA explains why there’s nothing wrong with guaranteed contracts.
Maverick Moneyball gives their thoughts on the game; complains about Stackhouse.
George Karl is willing to give Kenyon Martin another chance, but is going to vent his anger at him first.
The Cavaliers could be looking to trade Z, depending on what type of offense they’re going to install. The big news there is actually that they’re going to install an offense!
Could Mario Elie be the next coach of the Kings?
Mark Cuban may be going on the offensive regarding the last few seconds of Game 1.
New episode of The Basketball Jones is up – featuring Detroit Bad Boys.
Dwyane Wade keeps hundreds in his socks.
Farlane hits up Steve Nash again, doesn’t understand our comic from yesterday, compares us to pasta.
There are so many reasons to be miserable this morning.
Global warming, that Alias lost its way the past three years, and for many of you, the obvious “life in general”.
There’s a special form of misery reserved for fans of the Phoenix Suns, however. You people must feel awful that you had to come back from nine down in the latter moments of the fourth quarter in order to take Game 1 and steal away home court from Dallas. Then the last second shot to win it by the NBA’s other Frenchie, Boris Diaw? Rough night. Rough, rough, rough.
Besides all that, the big talk is whether Dallas fans should continue to verbally abuse their ex-players, this time the discussion centering on Steve Nash.
One of the local papers ran a short story that actually said, yes, it was time to boo the ex-Mavs point guard. Too much was at stake, too much time had passed.
“It may hurt,” began a story in the Dallas Morning News. “It might even go against your basic principles. But it doesn’t matter. You have to boo him.”
“There’s a demeanor shift in Dallas,” [fan Andrew] Cobb said. “Everyone here thinks Dallas has a chance to win it all.”
Wait a minute, [other fan John] Cantrell said, “You’re a real reporter, right? You weren’t hired by Mark Cuban to sniff out people like us.” He was serious, paranoid.
Maybe everyone, Mark Cuban included, should be concentrating on winning games, rather than the strategy behind whether to and how vigorously to boo? And why the paranoia about Cuban? What do these people think he’s gonna do?
Whatever – this thing will go seven games. For some reason this loss doesn’t play off with the devastation that Detroit’s did. Dallas looked fine up until the final minutes.
Like we said, there’s lots to be miserable about, including the unnatural attraction we feel toward American Idol runner-up Katherine McPhee. By all logical thought processes, we should want nothing to do with this girl.
She’s like 8-feet tall, robotic, emotionless, phony, 9-feet tall, a 2nd place finisher, 10-feet tall, and also 11-feet tall. She’s a fucking giant. There’s something about her, though. Maybe it’s the fact she’s 12-feet tall – that’s nearly twice our size!
Besides the height thing, this chick is like 19-feet tall, and we like short girls. Not some 23-foot tall girl who loses American Idol. Yeah, we watched it. Shut up.
Here’s what all your ESPN guys are saying – everyone except Sheridan likes the Mavs. Our in-depth analysis below.
Everyone on the Pistons seems to be very hesitant to point to “tired from Cavs series” as a reason for the big home loss to the Heat in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals – even Big Ben Wallace said there’s no excuse.
On a night when Shaq and Dwyane Wade spent a lot of time on the bench in foul trouble, the Pistons refused to take advantage, then ruined our entire posting agenda by not giving any excuses. One little “we seemed tired” from Tayshaun Prince.
Let’s go to the fan contingent – Need4Sheed disappoints us, as well.
There was no urgency in the way they played tonight, and it’s been hard to come by at all during this playoff run. The Pistons can’t win this series against a well rested Miami team that seems to be in sync with each other.
Somethings wrong, no excuses.
We’ll tell you what’s wrong – the Pistons aren’t as good as everyone thought. What they are is a team who’s played together for three years, while everyone else made a bunch of changes in the offseason.
They cruised through the regular season because they all knew each other, knew their tendencies, and it was business as usual. The rest of the NBA was trying to figure out what they had, playing with their rotations, getting to know each other, making friends, or were just plain bad.
Somewhere in there the Pistons lost their real strength, Larry Brown their edge.
Anyway, according to the Detroit News, her name is Carly Kraft, 24, of Bloomfield Hills and we like her. We don’t like her like her, we just like her. In the case she happens to be an heir to the Kraft empire, we really like her like her like her.
Not because of the money, but because anyone who’s associated with such fine products via birthright is special indeed.
The Mighty MJD 
