Eastern Conference Finals: Indiana and Detroit

<div align="center"><u><font size="6"><font color="blue">Eastern Conference Finals</font></font></u></div>
<div align="center"><u><font size="6"><font color="#0000ff">Game 2</font></font></u></div>
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<div align="center"> Time: 8:00pm EST</div>
<div align="center">Place: Conseco Field House</div>
<div align="center">Tv: TNT, RSN</div>
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<div align="center"><u><font size="5">Probable Starting Lineups:</font></u></div>
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<div align="center">Chauncy Billups/Jamaal Tinsley</div>
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<div align="center"> Jamaal Tinsley's defensive play on opposing point guards has been a major weakness for Indiana. Chauncy scored 18 points to further solidify that fact. Jamaal had a nice game with 13 points and 5 dimes but he needs to learn how to move his feet on defence. Chauncy is no Dwayne Wade but he is still capable of puttin up major numbers especially if Jamaal "The black hole on defence" Tinsley is guarding him. </div>
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<div align="center">Rip Hamilton AKA. Jar Jar Binks/Reggie Miller</div>
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<div align="center">I call this matchup Alien Vs. Predator. We saw a lot Reggie Miller on Rip Hamilton and if Carlisle wants to keep going with that matchup he might as well hand the series to Detroit. Rip Hamilton is a major reason why the Pistons are still alive in the playoffs and he has been using the playoffs as his "coming out" party but still no one seems to notice. Have to give props to Uncle Reg for hitting his one shot out of seven to put the game away. You still cannot leave that man open especially late in games. Hopefully Carlisle can mix-up the offense and give Reggie better looks because 1 for 7 just does not cut it for a starting shooting guard, especially one of his calibre.</div>
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<div align="center">Tayshaun Prince/Ron Artest</div>
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<div align="center"> We saw Ron Artest guarding Tayshaun for most of the game holding him to 9 points. There has to be a point when Carlisle put Ron Ron on Rip because essentially you want to have your best defender on the opposing teams best scorer. Prince hit a very clutch three late in the game but other than that he was a non-factor for most of the game. Ron Artest put up another solid game on homecourt with 17 points and 7 boards. Carlisle has to figure out a way to get Artest to guard Rip while having someone else guard Tayshaun effectively<font size="1">(Al Harrington or Jonathan Bender anyone??)</font></div>
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<div align="center"><font size="4"><font color="#ff0000">Key</font></font><font size="4"><font color="red">Matchup</font></font></div>
<div align="center">Ben Wallace/Jermaine O'neal</div>
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<div align="center">A great matchup that only true fans would appreciate. The defensive monster against the offensive juggernaut. I though Wallace defended JO pretty decently but there still could be some room for improvement. Big Ben grabbed a whopping 22 boards that game while scoring 11 points. Is it me or is Ben's offense coming together for the playoffs? I know most of his shots come inside but if you get 12-14 a game from him it would be tremendous for Detroit.</div>
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<div align="center">Rasheed Wallace/Jeff Foster</div>
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<div align="center"> Rasheed stank up the Conseco fieldhouse with his terrible shooting. He was hampered by foul trouble for some part of the game but a seven footer of his talent shooting 1 for 7 is not acceptable. Jeff Foster did a nice job on him and he did the small things on the court to win the game for Indiana. Next to Rip Hamilton, Jeff Foster may be the most slept on player in the playoffs.</div>
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<div align="center"><u><font size="5">Bench Players</font></u></div>
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<div align="center"> <font color="blue">Det</font><font color="red">roit</font></div>
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<div align="center">Detroit's bench has to score more than 9 points combined for the Pistons to advance. Corliss was pretty horrible as was everyone else that came off the bench. Very uncharacteristic for them to play this poorly so I would look to see them come out in game 2 and attack Indiana.</div>
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<div align="center"><font color="blue">Indiana </font></div>
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<div align="center">Al Harrington sparked the Pacers in the first half with 14 points but went quiet the rest of the game. He was hampered by an injured back but that is no excuse for his play throughout the playoffs <font size="1">(horrible if you ask me).</font> I'm going to start a petition to give Bender more minutes for the rest of the series. I know he fouls to frequently but if he has consistent time on the floor he should get into a nice groove and create some good matchups in Indy's favour.</div>
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<div align="center"><u><font size="5">Keys to the Game:</font></u></div>
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<div align="center">Detroit </div>
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[*]<div align="center">The Bench has to pick up their skirts for game 2. Scoring a total of 9 points is not going to cut it if they want to beat the Pacers much less any other team..</div>
[*]<div align="center">Detroit is not going to win much games with Rasheed playing the way he is. The reason they brought him to Detroit in the first place was for the playoffs. He has to figure out Jeff Foster or kiss this series bye bye.</div>
[*]<div align="center">Keep attacking Reggie Miller on the offensive end. He can't check Rip Hamilton much less anyone else on that team. If Carlisle keeps Reg on Rip, ATTACK!!</div>
[/list]<div align="center">Indiana </div>
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[*]<div align="center">Artest has to keep on attacking the Detroit Pistons defense. Prince does create a little matchup problem for him due to his height but Artest is 10x stronger than him. Indiana needs 17-20 points from Artest to be successful.</div>
[*]<div align="center">Keep going to JO and work inside out. Even though you have Big Ben on you, you still have to attack using your Franchise player. JO did miss a lot of shots he usually makes in the last game so I expect him to be solid for game 2.</div>
[*]<div align="center">The most important key to this game: PLAY DEFENCE!! Have some pride when someone scores on you. You can't rely on Uncle Reg to bail you out every time. The Pacers are a good defensive team and I don't think we have seen their defensive potential yet in this playoffs.</div>
[/list]<div align="center"><u><font size="5"><font color="blue">CourtVisions Prediction.....</font></font></u></div>
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<div align="center">Indiana 80-78. Every game is going to be a nail biter and this one is no different. Indiana has to keep their home court advantage because they are not so good away. Look for Wallace to break out with 20 and 10 the next game. I can also see more than 15 minutes going to Bender as well.</div>

 

Pistons win this 84-83 by Chauncey Billups' wild shot, BOOK IT.

 

I'm going with the conservative prediction here. The home team always has an edge over the away team down the stretch, and not to mention the Pacers have another game-ending factor in Reggie Miller.

Pacers 87-81

 

great preview, CourtVision!

one thing about the Rip/Reggie matchup. if Carlisle puts Reggie on Tayshaun, i think it would benefit Detroit. Tayshaun is a good rebounder and good post up scorer. you haven't really seen it during game 1 because Artest is too strong for him. if Reggie is on Tayshaun, i'd think that LB will attack that matchup in the post.

for Detroit to win, i think Sheed needs to put up at least 15 pts 8 rebs. also we need productivity from our bench, basically, points, rebounds, and steals.

for Indiana, they need to shoot better and control the boards. winning game 1 covered up the fact that they shot a poor FG% and were outrebounded.

i see the Pistons playing smart and the series tied 1-1 going back to Detroit.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting iamme:</div><div class="quote_post">great preview, CourtVision!

one thing about the Rip/Reggie matchup. if Carlisle puts Reggie on Tayshaun, i think it would benefit Detroit. Tayshaun is a good rebounder and good post up scorer. you haven't really seen it during game 1 because Artest is too strong for him. if Reggie is on Tayshaun, i'd think that LB will attack that matchup in the post.</div>Thanks iamme.

I don't think Carlisle will leave Reggie on Prince for too long. Tayshaun has a definite advantage if Reggie starts guarding him. I would look for Harrington and Bender to get a lot more time so the matchups will be more even.

Essentially I would want to see Reggie come off the bench in a sixth man role and have Harrington start. That would allow Carlisle to move Artest to Rip and Harrington to Prince. I don't think Carlisle will make this adjustment but it sounds logical.

 

Reggie should start. Harrington's production off the bench is invaluable to the Pacers and I doubt that Reggie would provide the same impact off the bench. He tries hard to hassle Hamilton and I think Carlisle would be wise to keep him on Rip. Prince has the quickness and height factor over Reggie while Rip only has a quickness advantage.

How about Jamaal Tinsley? I'm more and more impressed by this guy each passing game.

 

You need Reggie to start the game because of Floor spacing purposes. If you let that Pistons defense sit in the Lane to to start the game, they are going to get alot of Blocks & turnovers early & their defense will feed of that for the entire game.

Even if Reggie isnt shooting the ball well, he is still going to space the floor.

And Reggie guarding Prince, I wouldnt worry about that to much. Prince settles for the perimeter shot way to much to take advantage of any possible mismatch he might have against Reggie.

But it really doesnt matter because Rasheed said the Pacers are going to lose anyway, so its nothing you guys can do to prevent that LOL

 

Like what Rasheed said, they will not win in game 2. 88-81 Pistons. Pistons in 6.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Henacy:</div><div class="quote_post">But it really doesnt matter because Rasheed said the Pacers are going to lose anyway, so its nothing you guys can do to prevent that LOL</div>
The hollowest of vessels make the most noise. This reminds me of the Miami series where Dwayne Wade and Malik Allen guranteed victories. We all know what happened in that game.

 

Nice preview , I think this will be Rasheed's game.

Pistons 82 - 76 , Sheed with 25 and 14.

 

I can't believe Wallace opened his mouth like that and promised a game 2 victory...wait a minute...no I'm not.

 

Rasheed has 2 and 3, O'Neal has 16 and 4

 

This is a low scoring game. Rasheed is playing hurt.. He's not quitting because he has to keep his promise.

 

Wow, Rasheed is a man of his words. Yes, both teams play har.

After Prince leaped that far, I think he can dunk from the free throw line.

 

Sheed was spot on with his comments

He gauranteed victory which came true.

He shot 4-19 but Ron Artest was equally as bad. You can tell Sheed is still really struggling with that foot injury.

Where would Pistons be without Rip Hamilton? at home right now. He came up huge in game 2.

Pistons had 19 block shots

1 away from a playoff record.

 

They will not win game 2,man let me start out by sayin what a great effort, it was by Tayshaun Prince to be five steps behind Reggie Miller on a fastbreak,of course this would have been an easy layup but Prince just blocked it.

Both teams played great defense there was a crap load of blocks and both teams played had,there was 26 blocks combined(DET19,Indy 7),I know this isnt nessicarly true but if Reggie would have dunked Prince probally wouldnt have blocked it but hey he was trying to do the safe thing,but nobody would have thought Prince would block that shot.Awsome play by Prince, what good hustle.

 

Sheed was in a lose-lose situation.

Pistons win, no one gives him credit for guaranteeing victory.

Pistons lose, Sheed becomes the goat and every headline starts off bashing him.

anyways, awesome game. we did exactly what was going to put us in position to win the series: steal one on the road. now back to Detroit to defend the homecourt.

 

go pistons!

honestly im more of a western conference girl...i haven't really watched many eastern conference games all season...and i will admit i was NOT at all looking forward to this ECF matchup...i was hoping the NJ could pull it out over Detroit in the first place but since they didn't im gong for Detroit...im not really a fan of either team...more Rasheed Wallace and Jermaine O'Neal fans...but with that being said...what a frickin game...to tell you the truth i wasn't even gonna watch this game....but after Rasheed made the guarantee i was like "oh i gotta see this"....after watchin that game i had a splitting headache...there is not way i can watch 5,6 or 7 games of that type of play...my favorite team is Sacto...so you KNOW im not use to seeing that type of defense...19 block shots is like whoa...and that one by Teyshaun was straight crazy...i don't think...actually i KNOW ive never seen a game with so many blocked shots and so many people falling to the ground...and what can we say about Rip Hamilton (aka Rip City)...? i so agree with everyone who said that the Pistons are still in the playoffs cuz of him...he's like 97% of the reason the other 3% is due to the Pistons excellent defense....but back to Rip..ive always liked the kid...from his UCONN days ya know me being from Connecticut and all...but the year they won that championship was my one and only year of being a UCONN fan...cuz those kids were straight ballin...but anyways im totally a new Richard Hamilton fan...he's totally got my respect...if weren't for the pistons 19 block shots...their bench in the first half....Tey's incredible blocked shot...and Rip Hamilton Rasheeds guarantee would be the laughing stock of sports media for some time to come

i know the pistons fans are gonna come with it on Wednesday night...giving their team the support they need....and the pistons will pull out their first game at the Palace in the ECF

GO PISTONS!!!!

(that was my rant about the game)

 

Huge win by Detroit in game 5, Rip Hamilton ran circles round Reggie Miller

Rasheed Wallace might have played his best game of the post season, looked very confident with his jump-shot and really did feed off Rip.

Pistons now with a chance to close out the series on tuesday at the palace

Surely they won't blow another game at home, With Jermaine O'Neal and Tinsley carrying injuries there should be no excuse why the Pistons won't be crowned eastern conference champions.

 

tonight's game is huge.

pistons have lost some games they should have won, while winning the tough games. i guess it shows some mental toughness to win on the road, but we've got to win the home games we are supposed to.

a win tonight and the Pistons go on the Finals for the first time since the Bad Boys era.