<div align="center"> <span style="font-size:24pt;line-height:100%">@</span> March 2, 2007 - 8:00 pm ET<span style="color:#FF0000">Game on ESPN</span></div><span style="color:#0000FF">Detroit Pistons</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">(36-19)</span><span style="color:#FF0000">PG</span> <span style="color:#0000FF">Chauncey Billups</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">SG</span> <span style="color:#0000FF">Rip Hamilton</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">SF</span> <span style="color:#0000FF">Tayshaun Prince</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">PF</span> <span style="color:#0000FF">Rasheed Wallace</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">C</span> <span style="color:#0000FF">Chris Webber</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Key Bench Players:</span> <span style="color:#0000FF">Antonio McDyess, Lindsey Hunter, Jason Maxiell, Carlos Delfino, Dale Davis</span><span style="color:#000000">Miami Heat</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">(28-29)</span><span style="color:#FF0000">PG</span> <span style="color:#000000">Jason Williams</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">SG</span> <span style="color:#000000">Eddie Jones</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">SF</span> <span style="color:#000000">Jason Kapono</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">PF</span> <span style="color:#000000">Udonis Haslem</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">C</span> <span style="color:#000000">Shaquille O'Neal</span><span style="color:#FF0000">Key Bench Players:</span> <span style="color:#000000">James Posey, Antoine Walker, Alonzo Mourning, Gary Payton</span> Injury Report<span style="color:#FF0000">MIA:</span> <span style="color:#000000">Dwyane Wade will not play (dislocated shoulder)</span> Who To Watch Out For<span style="color:#0000FF">Chauncey Billups</span><span style="color:#FF0000">Season Stats: 17.9 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 7.5 apg</span><span style="color:#0000FF">Rip Hamilton</span><span style="color:#FF0000">Season Stats: 21.5 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 4.0 apg</span><span style="color:#0000FF">Rasheed Wallace</span><span style="color:#FF0000">Season Stats: 12.4 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 1.7 bpg</span><span style="color:#0000FF">Tayshaun Prince</span><span style="color:#FF0000">Season Stats: 14.3 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 2.9 apg</span><span style="color:#000000">Shaquille O'Neal</span><span style="color:#FF0000">Season Stats: 15.2 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 1.7 bpg</span><span style="color:#FF0000">Last 5 Games: 19.8 ppg, 9.6 rpg, 2.4 apg</span><span style="color:#000000">Udonis Haslem</span><span style="color:#FF0000">Season Stats: 10.8 ppg, 8.6 rpg</span><span style="color:#000000">Jason Kapono</span><span style="color:#FF0000">Season Stats: 11.3 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 53% 3FG</span> Rookie Watch <span style="color:#FF0000">MIA:</span> <span style="color:#000000">Chris Quinn</span><span style="color:#000000">Overall Selection: Undrafted</span><span style="color:#FF0000">Season Stats:</span> <span style="color:#000000">2.8 ppg, 1.3 apg</span><span style="color:#3333FF">Detroit's X-Factor</span><span style="color:#3333FF">Interior Defense</span><span style="color:#3333FF">If Detroit can hold down the paint and make sure Shaq works for his baskets, they shouldn't have a problem winning this game. They are better than the Wade-less Heat at every position, hands down, except center.</span><span style="color:#000000">Miami's X-Factor</span><span style="color:#000000">SOMEBODY!</span><span style="color:#000000">Antoine? EJ? J-Will? Udonis? GP? Posey? Kapono? SOMEBODY needs to have a big night. This is the case every night until D-Wade returns.</span> <div align="center">Key Matchup vs. <span style="color:#3333FF">Detroit Pistons</span> <span style="color:#000000">vs.</span> <span style="color:#000000">Shaquille O'Neal</span></div><span style="color:#000000">If Detroit can handle Shaq at a fair level, they'll be fine. However, if Shaq carries the offense and gets 1 or 2 other role players to step in and knock down shots, it's going to be a good game.</span> CelticBalla's Extra Thoughts/Notes- Detroit owns the best record in the Eastern Conference, and has won 9 of their last 10 games.- Miami is 1 game below .500 and has won 6 of their last 10. They are 2-2 since the Dwyane Wade injury. CelticBalla's PredictionDetroit wins. They are better than Miami at every position except center, and they have a more consistent bench.
Rasheed Wallace not playing according to WDFN 1130 here in Detroit because of his foot.They said that Maxiell is probably going to start, but don't count out McDyess.
We're up 50-31 at the half. Shaq is playing like it's game 7 of the finals and is just completely dominating. Everyone else is chipping in nicely too. Wow, is this ever a sign of hope. I know the Pistons are without Sheed, but to be up by almost 20 at the half without our superstar player puts a smile on my face. :yes1:
WOW! Miami has been dominant. Shaq had an incredible first half, dominating at both ends of the floor. He has like 16 and 13, he is passing the ball extremely well, playing good defense, carrying the load. I was also very happy to see my man Antoine have himself a good first half, he needs to get going consistently now. He was knocking down shots and hustling, but he also was fronting defensively and he really denied very well. Keep it up, Toine! I also thought Gary Payton had an excellent first half. He didn't score much, only 2-4 points, but he really ran the offense well and set people up nicely.Detroit REALLY needs to get it going. WOW, I haven't seen them play this poorly in a LONG time.<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (The Captain @ Mar 2 2007, 03:39 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Rasheed Wallace not playing according to WDFN 1130 here in Detroit because of his foot.They said that Maxiell is probably going to start, but don't count out McDyess.</div>Or Dale Davis.
Ugh I can't believe how bad we're playing - freakin chauncey has NO field goals - that is f*cking sad.Well we're coming back, and we're down by like 3 - its a game once again.
Posey with a couple of great plays, including that nice throw off Webber for the easy point. Antoine and Shaq have carried the team very well tonight, a win against a good team like Detroit is what we need to keep the confidence going.
Guys - lets give Chauncey a standing O - his first field goal out of 11!!!The Heat should be ashamed for letting the Pistons come back - the Pistons are playing like sh*t - this might be the worst ball I've ever seen the Pistons play - its just sad. This could be because of that huge break we had.
What a game...our defense in the second half has been a joke and the Pistons recently took the lead over, but Toine with the clutch tripple! Up 80-78 now-minute something left. We got to close this out somehow, this would be embarassing if we let this one get away.
Jon Barry doesn't deserve to be able to be in the same place as a basketball game. What a disgrace...I don't want to hear any heat fans going "OMG, We BEAT DETROIT WITHOUT DWAYNE WADE OMG WE ROX0RZ!" This is one game, in the regular season. Hell, you might not even make the playoffs.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (L_C @ Mar 2 2007, 10:31 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Jon Barry doesn't deserve to be able to be in the same place as a basketball game. What a disgrace...I don't want to hear any heat fans going "OMG, We BEAT DETROIT WITHOUT DWAYNE WADE OMG WE ROX0RZ!" This is one game, in the regular season. Hell, you might not even make the playoffs.</div>We won't get that here at BBW, hopefully - but go to the Heat.com forums and you'll get plenty of that. Games not over by the way.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (L_C @ Mar 2 2007, 10:31 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Jon Barry doesn't deserve to be able to be in the same place as a basketball game. What a disgrace...I don't want to hear any heat fans going "OMG, We BEAT DETROIT WITHOUT DWAYNE WADE OMG WE ROX0RZ!" This is one game, in the regular season. Hell, you might not even make the playoffs.</div>I can already imagine all the Heat fans here going wild over an amazing regular season win..not.Regular season games don't mean anything, Dallas beat us everytime I think last season but they didn't win when it mattered.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Heatfan32 @ Mar 2 2007, 10:34 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I can already imagine all the Heat fans here going wild over an amazing regular season win..not.Regular season games don't mean anything, Dallas beat us everytime I think last season but they didn't win when it mattered.</div>It wouldn't happen now, but if it was a Heat - Pistons Eastern Conference Finals, it would come up, I guransheed.
Great win for Miami, but Detroit definitely made a nice comeback in the 3rd quarter. They just couldn't execute at the end of the game. This is the worst I think I've seen Chauncey play in a year or more. But it was GREAT to see Shaq really dominate a game again. He's not Shaq of 2000 or anything, but he's still a hell of a player and the best center in the Eastern Conference without question. He did absolutely everything all game long.But... how about ANTOOOIINNEEE WAAALKKEERRR!!! That's my boy right there! laugh.gif He really played well today. He knocked down his shots, he played unselfishly, and he didn't just hang around the 3-point line. As I said when I posted at halftime, he did an excellent job fronting on defense and denying the ball into the interior. Sure, he made a couple poor decisions in the 4th, but he also made some big baskets and brought a ton of energy. GO ANTOINE!
Yeah the Heat played very well. Rasheed Wallace though would've really helped spread Detroit's offense out. Dale Davis as a starter is a joke. Terrible decision by Flip. Why not Mcdyess?
