<div align="center"> <span style="font-size:24pt;line-height:100%">@</span> April 1, 2007 - 1:00 pm ET<span style="color:#000000">Game on ABC</span></div><span style="color:#000000">Miami Heat</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">(39-33)</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">James Posey</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">Alonzo Mourning, Antoine Walker, Gary Payton, Dorell Wright, Chris Quinn</span><span style="color:#0000FF">Detroit Pistons</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">(46-26)</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">Chris Webber</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">C</span> <span style="color:#0000FF">Rasheed Wallace</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Key Bench Players:</span> <span style="color:#0000FF">Antonio McDyess, Lindsey Hunter, Carlos Delfino, Flip Murray, Jason Maxiell, Dale Davis</span> Injury Report<span style="color:#FF0000">MIA:</span> <span style="color:#000000">Gary Payton is a gametime decision (age/fatigue)</span><span style="color:#FF0000">MIA:</span> <span style="color:#000000">Dwyane Wade will not play (dislocated shoulder)</span><span style="color:#FF0000">MIA:</span> <span style="color:#000000">Jason Kapono will not play (high ankle sprain)</span><span style="color:#FF0000">DET:</span> <span style="color:#0000FF">Rip Hamilton is a gametime decision (flu)</span> Who To Watch Out For<span style="color:#000000">Shaquille O'Neal</span><span style="color:#FF0000">Season Stats: 16.9 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 2.1 apg, 1.3 bpg</span><span style="color:#FF0000">Post All-Star Break: 19.2 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 2.7 apg, 1.0 bpg</span><span style="color:#000000">Udonis Haslem</span><span style="color:#FF0000">Season Stats: 10.5 ppg, 8.3 rpg</span><span style="color:#0000FF">Chauncey Billups</span><span style="color:#FF0000">Season Stats: 17.3 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 7.3 apg</span><span style="color:#0000FF">Rip Hamilton</span><span style="color:#FF0000">Season Stats: 20.3 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 4.0 apg</span><span style="color:#0000FF">Rasheed Wallace</span><span style="color:#FF0000">Season Stats: 13.0 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 1.7 bpg</span><span style="color:#0000FF">Tayshaun Prince</span><span style="color:#FF0000">Season Stats: 14.8 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 2.8 apg</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">3.2 ppg, 1.4 apg</span><span style="color:#000000">Miami's X-Factor</span><span style="color:#000000">Eddie Jones</span><span style="color:#FF0000">Season Stats: 7.6 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 1.6 apg</span><span style="color:#FF0000">As A Heat: 10.0 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 2.2 apg</span><span style="color:#000000">Jones is still serviceable, and he's a good veteran to have. He's still a very solid defender, but he'll need to bring his A-Game today. Rip Hamilton is no piece of cake.</span><span style="color:#3333FF">Detroit's X-Factor</span><span style="color:#0000FF">Chris Webber</span><span style="color:#FF0000">Season Stats: 11.9 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 3.2 apg</span><span style="color:#FF0000">As A Piston: 12.4 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 3.0 apg</span><span style="color:#3333FF">C-Webb just came back after missing a couple games with the flu, but he'll need to work today. Whether he's on Shaq or Haslem, he's going to have a tough time. He will most likely get outmuscled by both Shaq/Haslem, but we'll see how effective he can be on the offensive end after the wear and tear on the defensive end.</span> <div align="center">Key Matchup vs. <span style="color:#000000">Shaquille O'Neal</span> <span style="color:#000000">vs.</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">Rasheed wallace</span></div><span style="color:#000000">Shaq vs. Sheed. It will be interesting to see if Shaq can will this team to victory over the Pistons again, and it will be interesting to see how well Sheed does on The Diesel.</span> CelticBalla's Extra Thoughts/NotesEastern Conference Finals preview? CelticBalla's PredictionI'm taking Detroit in this one. I don't think Miami can take them out, without Wade, again... especially in Detroit. I predict a big game from B-B-B-Billups as well.
This will be an exciting re-match to last years ECF. It also dictates alot about what will be happening in the southeast division for these final weeks. I can't see Miami who has not played their greatest ball as of late taking this game. Detroit has too much firepower and will finally have CWebb back. How will Miami matchup with Detroit's two shooting big men? It will be a hard task especially with Shaq on the floor to slow down Sheed or Cwebb (Whichever will play the 5).Pistons are a much better team while the Heat don't have Dwayne Wade. I can not see Miami taking this one.
If the Pistons drop another game to the Heat without Wade, I will start to be a little little bit concerned. I don't see it happening though.Should be a great game. Just let Shaq get his and cover the perimeter!
Pistons cut it to 1 on a Delfino jam!Shapin up to be a good one.Side Note: Hubie Brown is the dumbest announcer of all time...
Damn the Heat need Wade to come back fast. If they had Wade the pistons wouldn't really be able to do half of the stuff their doing.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Combs @ Apr 1 2007, 03:16 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Man these refs are horrible. Damn man.</div>The announcers are horrible as well lol.
Damn thats a loss, the pistons played really really good, I don't know how sergey can say the Nuggets are better than the pistons.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Dmoney @ Apr 1 2007, 03:32 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Damn thats a loss, the pistons played really really good, I don't know how sergey can say the Nuggets are better than the pistons.</div>Seemed like Miami had control the entire game until the 4th quarter. Detroit is the most clutch team in the NBA, they come up big when it matters. Rip Hamilton had come back from an injury and he looked like he had never gone out in the last couple of minutes (Amazing shot on Eddie Jones to give Detroit the lead). Mr. Big Shot and Bald Spot came up big in the last minute as well. I thought it was a huge mistake for Pat Riley to decide to go to Antoine Walker when he had to hit that three. He no longer has the amazing range he used to have and it resulted in a missed three and two turn overs on his part. Thank you, Pistons for giving Washington the South East division back :dribble: Dallas @ Pheonix time :worthy:
That game is exactly why the Heat will need Wade in the playoffs. When the game got close in the end, the Heat had no one to finish it off.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Nitro1118 @ Apr 1 2007, 03:38 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>That game is exactly why the Heat will need Wade in the playoffs. When the game got close in the end, the Heat had no one to finish it off.</div>Thats what I mean, I'm not saying if wade was playing the Heat would of won but the Heat need Wade for those kind of situations.
