This is the game that slipped away. I said before this series started that I thought that the Pistons would push the Lakers to seven but considering this demoralizing loss I'm leaning towards the Lakers winning in six. Outside of Richard Hamilton, no one on the Pistons seems to want to take the big shot (make or miss). The Pistons looked beat as they walked out of the huddle after Kobe made the three. They played an excellent, gritty, and gutty game for 47 minutes and 58 seconds. The rest of that time (end of regulation and overtime) they might as well have been preparing themselves to lose the game (and possibly the series). The bad part about this series is that the Pistons actually have the better team. I just don't think that have the offensive fire power that is necessary to win nip and tuck games. I'm not sure whether or not anyone outside of Richard Hamilton wants to be the guy the Pistons will go to down the stretch; but with Kobe playing the way he is defensively, I'm not sure whether or not Richard can make the big play (if Kobe is on him). ps Why wasn't Tashaun guarding Kobe at the end of regulation? That might have been the difference in Kobe making (or even taking) that shot.
Yeah what a huge loss the game was right in their hands,I bet if Tayshaun was guarding Kobe it would have been different because Rip gave Kobe to much space to shoot,also I dont see how the Pistons let Luke Walton bring so much energy to the game I feel sorry for GP losing his minutes to Luke Walton!IMO I still think Detroit can win this series the Lakers cant win close games all the time and it seems like most of the games in this series are going to be close.
The lakers weren't expecting this kind of series. They see a east team and automatically think their the washington wizards or the hawks. The piston got what they wanted out of la, home court. They totally outplayed the Lakers in both games but it was the lakers offense that showed up in ot today. I see the pistons winning all their home games i know it is ballsy to make that prediction. but you know detroit will be pumped at home and lakers are not a good road team regular season or playoffs. But with Karl malone hurt the lakers will be thin at the 4 spot and that will play into the pistons hands. I think pistons in 5
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting navyballer18:</div><div class="quote_post"> I think pistons in 4</div> you mean 5?
I've got two points of emphasis.... 1 - The shot made by Kobe was cool (I've seen KG do the same with two defenders), but the loss lands on the Pistons as a team because there are some facts that any....ANY player knows when coming down the stretch when leading by 3. If the offensive team is stupid enough to put the ball in the worst free-throw shooters hands with the clock running down, you foul him and make him earn it. Shaq had the ball and they let him pass it away. I would've even fouled Kobe as soon as he received the ball (remember he just missed a free throw earlier). 2 - I think the Lakers got the win, but didn't receive momentum because the Pistons had the win and gave it away (similar to the Kings and Wolves game 2). The Pistons are better defensively and should take the series, maybe in 6.
That was a tough loss, but I think the Pistons still win this series. Kobe can't guard both Rip and Chauncy, and whichever one he isn't guarding is going off. Fatigue is going to start becoming more of a factor (against the Lakers), I think we'll see that in game 3 with only one day in between games and the long travel. Pistons bench comes up big in the home games I think. Peyton is lost. Malone is gimpy. I think LA does take one game in Detroit, but then the Pistons come back and take the series with another road win in game 6.
i don't know how anyone could say that Rip is the only guy that wants to take that shot down stretch....when #1 Rasheed Wallace took that shot for YEARS in Portland and #2 Chauncey Billups is the one who HAS taken that big shot for them throughtout this entire season... it was a real tough loss for the Pistons....but in a slight way you kinda have to be happy that the Lakers didn't blow you out in regulation like everyone expected...as for the Lakers...yeah ya got the win...and i do agree a win's a win....but this was game 2 at home in a series where you were already down by 1 going into the game...this should of been a game with a burst of energy from all parties involved yet it still wasn't...if you are the Lakers the Pistons shouldn't of been "in" the game they played carelessly down the stretch allowed Detroit back into the game and then to take the lead (should NEVER have happened if you are the Lakers) ....and all in all the Pistons would be up 2-0 going back to Auburn Hills IF Kobe didn't hit that three or better yet Tayshaun was guarding Kobe instead of Rip...Rip should know after guarding Reggie in the last series you CAN'T give big time players that kind of daylight...i think the Lakers kind of surprised people...well me at least...by going for the three i thought with 10.5 secs they would go for the quick two and then foul...but they took the gamble and it eventually paid off...but the Lakers better watch out cuz they are going back to Detroit where the fans are gonna be like 100x more rowdier then their fans... Detroit definetly needs to take advantage of the situation...cuz i can tell ya that the Lakers are still on cloud 9 from this win...thinking "we've even'd the series we're cool"....you never know what Laker bunch will come to play and my bet is that it will be the ones that think they still have "time" to win the series...the one that showed up in game 1...the team that showed up in game 1 & 2 of the san antonio series...the team that couldn't close the series out in minnesota during game 5...Detroit NEEDS to make it where the Lakers backs are against the wall and they believe in their HEARTS that their is no way they can win the series at the current stand point ...if this same exact game was played at the Palace we know that Detroit would of won this game...they wouldn't of turned it over at key times down the end...Rasheed wouldn't bobble the last second chance pass...they would of won...im convinced....but you can bet your ass that if it comes down to a desperation shot by the Lakers in game 2 Tayshaun Prince will be on Kobe so tight that Kobe is gonna wish he didn't hit that shot in game 2...i mean serioulsy...Tay WILL be in the picture... but im excited...cuz they are going back to Detroit...hopefully they win all three games and show everyone that thought the Lakers would win some way or another (which includes EVERYONE but the Detroit Pistons and the Detroit Pistons fans)...but they HAVE to win at least 2 games at home....they have to think that its the last bunch of games they will be playing at the Palace (to end the season) what better way to go out then with a chamipionship won at home...ofcourse its a "one game at a time" scenario for both teams really...but before game 6 in the ECF LB told his team that as far as he was concerned it was like they were playin in the NCAA championship one game and you are out...the Pistons have to look at each game like that....they play better defense i think at home ...and with the crowd behind them...watch out...the Detroit fans to me are the second best fans in the NBA behind the Kings fans ofcourse...and for those of you who don't think that will be a factor need to WAKE UP cuz it is a factor....they have to be confident...they did what they were suppose to do split the first two games and they did....they almost won both.....the Detroit Pistons ARE the better team they have to go out and show everyone that they aren't some pushovers that are gonna roll over and let the Lakers who were built to win a championship THIS year win....show the world why they made it that far....they flat out deserve to win more than the Lakers....to tell you the truth their were a lot of teams that got knocked out the playoffs already that i feel deserved it more than the Lakers (but thats just my oppinion)...shock the world boys GO DETROIT!!! BEAT LA BEAT LA BEAT LA!!!! (sorry it is long...i just had to get that rant out)
[quote name='ice ice BIBBY']i don't know how anyone could say that Rip is the only guy that wants to take that shot down stretch....when #1 Rasheed Wallace took that shot for YEARS in Portland and #2 Chauncey Billups is the one who HAS taken that big shot for them throughtout this entire season... Rasheed has always been a passive/aggressive star and is known far more as an unselfish player than a go to player. Chauncey was a go to player last season but this season Larry Brown has given him so much information to process that he isn't even sure when he is supposed (allowed) to shoot. Rip wants the ball and I think that this year his teammates want him to have it.
^ You might want to put a little spacing into that post, because once I saw it I immediately stopped reading. I usually read every single post when I post in a thread, but yours was too big..lol People say that Rip did a poor job on defending Kobe on that shot, but I disagree. Kobe was 5 feet behind the 3point line and rip was still standing outside the line. I don't think he wanted to get Kobe any closer of a three, and that's why he stood back to force him that shot. Even when Kobe went up for that shot he had his hand up for the most part. As for the overtime the Pistons looked like they were in shock, but I expect them to be fully recovered in time for game 3. Looking forward to it.
i didn't know it was as long as it was until it was actually posted but i spaced it..its still long but better on the eyes Iron Shiek...i agree that Rasheed in the past has been that passive/aggressive player...but today's a new day and i think he'd do what ever he deemed necessary to win...and i know he wanted to take that shot and it was apparent that he was the one that they were gonna go for...on that in bounds pass Tay was like watching Rasheed the whole way...i think their was someone kinda open at the top of the three point line but he passed it to Rasheed he was the one that wanted to take that shot.... and that whole thing with Billups is ridiculous...Billups and LB have taken some many times throughtout the entire season just working one on one....LB has molded him into the type of PG that he wants and im sure that pretty clear to Billups...and you still can't dismiss the fact that Chauncey has been that guy throughtout the season to take that big shot he also has been known to kinda put the team on his back and ride...i know that Chauncey would want to take that shot...PERIOD. as for Rip...yes he has emerged as that "go to" player just through these playoffs...the "go to" player in terms of much needed offense in the game...so its only natural for him to want to be the one to have the ball....and yes this may be true from now on maybe Rip will be the only one to take those last second shots...but you CANNOT dismiss the efforts of Rasheed and Chauncey Phreeze....maybe in a normal play throughout the course of the game Rip wouldn't of defended Kobe poorly cuz yes you are right Kobe was like 5 feet behind the 3pt line..but in an end of the game situation...and you can't give Kobe ANY air..cuz about 7-8 times out of 10 he's the one that is going to take that shot...you don't force Kobe into any shot...from any spot on the court in an end of the game situation...and yes Rip did get a hand out their (even you said "for the most part") but it WASN'T a Tayshaun Prince hand...thats what the Pistons would envision in that situation
Larry Brown is trying to make Chauncey Billups into a distributing point guard. Chauncey has been more of a scoring point guard his entire career. Larry has tried to get him to get others involved before looking to score himself. Up until the Finals, Chauncey has really struggled w/ his field goal shooting and point production. I attribute that to him being unsure of when it is right for him to be aggressive shooting the ball. In this series Chauncey has to look to score more b/c he is being guarded by the weaker of the Lakers perimeter defenders (Payton or Fisher/not Kobe). He seems more comfortable in this role which is why he has been playing well. Still making big shots hasn't been something that he has done this post season (or all season) and (for most players) it is very difficult to readjust to being the first option (imagine Gary Payton taking the final shot down the stretch). He may want to take the shot, but I'm not sure whether or not he believes that Larry Brown wants him to be the one to shoot it (which can mess w/ someone's head). Rick Carlisle always wanted him to have the ball down the stretch. Larry Brown (I'm guessing) would rather have Chauncey setting the table in clutch situations than taking a contested shot. ps By the way, how is fumbling a pass make someone believe that you wanted to take (and make) the winning shot. Had the Pistons been down in that situation Rasheed would not have been demanding the ball.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Iron Shiek:</div><div class="quote_post">ps. Why wasn't Tashaun guarding Kobe at the end of regulation? That might have been the difference in Kobe making (or even taking) that shot.</div> No actually Rip was still guarding him.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Streetball2k3:</div><div class="quote_post">No actually Rip was still guarding him. </div> Tayshaun was double screened. Rip had to switch or Kobe would have been open.
Tay was guarding Kobe to start with, but switched with Rip when Luke Walton screened him (and gave Kobe the ball). Rip talked about making the switch in the news conference. I agree it would have been better to have Tay on Kobe when that shot was taken. It's all hindsight now tho.
not to cause a stir (but what the hell)... I really would like to see that last posession that the refs ruled as not going out of bounds off the lakers deciding that time had expired. I think there was still time on the clock when they went out of bounds and the refs blew it. I do realize that it would not have made a difference, I just would like to know if that was the case or not.
