<div align="center"> <span style="font-size:24pt;line-height:100%">@</span> November 30, 2006 - 8:00 pm ET<span style="color:#FF0000">Game on TNT</span></div> <span style="color:#3333FF">Detroit Pistons</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">(9-5)</span><span style="color:#FF0000">PG</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">Chauncey Billups</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">SG</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">Rip Hamilton</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">SF</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">Tayshaun Prince</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">PF</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">Rasheed Wallace</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">C</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">Nazr Mohammed</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Key Bench Players:</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">Antonio McDyess, Flip Murray, Jason Maxiell, Lindsey Hunter, Carlos Delfino</span> <span style="color:#000000">Miami Heat</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">(6-8)</span><span style="color:#FF0000">PG</span> <span style="color:#000000">Gary Payton</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">SG</span> <span style="color:#000000">Dwyane Wade</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">SF</span> <span style="color:#000000">Dorell Wright</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">PF</span> <span style="color:#000000">Udonis Haslem</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">C</span> <span style="color:#000000">Alonzo Mourning</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Key Bench Players:</span> <span style="color:#000000">Antoine Walker, Jason Williams, James Posey, Jason Kapono, Michael Doleac</span> Injury Report<span style="color:#FF0000">MIA:</span> <span style="color:#000000">Shaquille O'Neal will not play (recovering from knee surgery)</span><span style="color:#FF0000">MIA:</span> <span style="color:#000000">James Posey is probable (left calf)</span> Who To Watch Out For<span style="color:#3333FF">Chauncey Billups</span><span style="color:#FF0000">Season Stats: 18.3 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 8.2 apg</span><span style="color:#3333FF">Rasheed Wallace</span><span style="color:#FF0000">Season Stats: 14.1 ppg, 9.6 rpg, 2.0 bpg</span><span style="color:#3333FF">Rip Hamilton</span><span style="color:#FF0000">Season Stats: 22.1 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 3.3 apg</span><span style="color:#3333FF">Tayshaun Prince</span><span style="color:#FF0000">Season Stats: 16.4 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 4.0 apg</span><span style="color:#000000">Dwyane Wade</span><span style="color:#FF0000">Season Stats: 28.1 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 8.4 apg, 1.5 spg, 1.1 bpg</span><span style="color:#000000">Udonis Haslem</span><span style="color:#FF0000">Season Stats: 13.2 ppg, 9.5 rpg</span><span style="color:#000000">Antoine Walker</span><span style="color:#FF0000">Season Stats: 10.3 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 1.4 apg</span> Rookie Watch <span style="color:#FF0000">DET:</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">Will Blalock</span><span style="color:#000000">Overall Selection: 60</span><span style="color:#FF0000">Season Stats:</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">Has not played.</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">MIA:</span> <span style="color:#000000">Robert Hite</span><span style="color:#000000">Overall Selection: Undrafted</span><span style="color:#FF0000">Season Stats:</span> <span style="color:#000000">3.7 ppg, 1.0 rpg, 0.7 spg</span> <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">1.2 ppg, 0.8 apg</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">Detroit's X-Factor</span><span style="color:#3333FF">Nazr Mohammed</span><span style="color:#FF0000">Season Stats: 6.9 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 1.2 bpg</span><span style="color:#3333FF">If Nazr can come in and get double-digits in the rebounding column again, that will be huge. He needs to take advantage of whatever he can in the paint with no Shaq.</span> <span style="color:#000000">Miami's X-Factor</span><span style="color:#000000">Dorell Wright</span><span style="color:#FF0000">Season Stats: 6.1 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 1.7 apg</span><span style="color:#000000">Wright has been excellent this year, averaging 8.7 ppg and 11.3 rpg as a starter this season (the last 3 games). He needs to bring that great energy tonight against a good team like Detroit.</span> Key Matchup vs. <span style="color:#3333FF">Rip Hamilton</span> <span style="color:#000000">vs.</span> <span style="color:#000000">Dwyane Wade</span><span style="color:#000000">You've got a top 10 SG in Rip and a top 5 overall player in Wade matching up. Rip runs everyone raggid, but that won't stop Wade. Rip may run like a mad-man, but you have to remember: he has to stick with Wade too.</span> CelticBalla's Extra Thoughts/NotesMiami needs this win, they have been struggling lately and they don't have Shaq for another 4-5 weeks. They need to get it together and get the win.Go Toine! Go GP! CelticBalla's PredictionI see Detroit taking it. Miami is not in sync right now, and obviously not having Shaq hurts them tremendously. People aren't left open anymore, they have to create for themselves. But I see Detroit taking it in an 8-12 point win, Chauncey goes off.
I am excited for this game. Miami is struggling, but if they want to get back on track, there is no better time than now, against the Red Hot Pistons.
My prediction is the Pistons win 100-92. Miami will definitely miss Shaq in this game and Wade can't do everything. Also Walker might fall back into trying to do too much and shoot a bad percentage and go 3 point crazy.
Should be a good one. I havn't been this psyched for a game, since our season opener. It's always exciting when we play the Pistons. I think we take this one at home though. I know the Pistons are hot, but we're coming off two straight wins our selves and things are finally starting to look a little better.
A matchup the pistons should look to exploit early is Payton guarding Hamilton. Hamilton should be way to fast in motion for Payton to keep up with him.
If this game turns out to be good then il be watching the replay.Also if dorrel wright plays good and grabs those needed boards for the heat then that could be a big part of a win, thats IF they win.
Miami is taking advantage of Detroit's lack of momentum. Nobody for Detroit has really gotten anything going. Chauncey isn't playing well, Sheed is quiet, Rip and Tayshaun - eh. Nazr didn't really do anything. The Pistons bench is the only thing keeping Detroit in the game. The starters need to step up, and 1 or 2 guys need to get something going.For Miami, Dorell Wright has been phenominal thus far. He's running, getting easy layups in transition, playing good defense, crashing the boards. He's playing excellent basketball, not only tonight, but all season long so far. Zo brought some energy, Wade moved the ball well (but was luckily bailed out by a couple last second cross-court passes), Haslem had a pretty solid start, and Payton played fairly solid ball.So, in the second half, I'd like to see one or two Pistons starters get something going. Rip has been ok, but that's really it. Tayshaun knocked a couple down, but Chauncey and Sheed have not played well at all. Nazr has just sort been "there." For Miami, D-Wade needs to get things done offensively and someone off the bench (whether it's Antoine, J-Will, Posey, whoever) needs to come out the closet in this second half.
Yeah Dorell Wright was phenominal that first half. At times I got him confused with Dwyane Wade. His athleticism is great.
I don't like that clutch decision by D-Wade, He held onto the ball for way too long. With 23 seconds left you have plenty of time to take a quick shot and then get the ball back.Instead he used the entire time to take 1 shot, I think it was a bone head play.
Like I said, some Pistons starters had to come up big. Rip had an excellent second half, Sheed hit some big shots, Nazr did the dirty work, and off the bench Flip Murray kept up solid play.For Miami, D-Wade really had a tough night offensively. It just wasn't his night, same with Toine. Haslem kept up his great play, Wright still brought the energy, and Posey hit some BIG shots. Too bad they came up short in the wins column. This team really needs Shaq.Good game, though.<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BALLAHOLLIC? @ Nov 30 2006, 10:51 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I don't like that clutch decision by D-Wade, He held onto the ball for way too long. With 23 seconds left you have plenty of time to take a quick shot and then get the ball back.Instead he used the entire time to take 1 shot, I think it was a bone head play.</div>I definitely agree. He was having a terrible shooting night and he thrives off penetration. He should have taken it to the basket and either put it in for two, dished it off, or gotten fouled.Also, WTF was up with that last call by Joey Crawford? Rip shot the free throw, it hit the bottom of the rim. Why did he get another shot?
Wade definitely choked in this game. He had some great shots in the last couple minutes and blew it. Damn that was one heck of a game. Glad the Pistons got it together in the second half. The key was staying close though they were struggling.
