Detroit Pistons - a tale of two halves
NBA Obsessed takes you into the hit and run game of NBA Basketball.
The Pistons were playing the Philadelphia 76ers in game 4 of the NBA Playoffs. All of the momentum was with the 76ers. They are a young team that does not know enough to fear the Pistons. Their coach, Mo Cheeks, has them believing in themselves. Their slogan is “Come Run With Us”.
And run they did, picking up every missed shot or loose ball by the Pistons and taking it the length of the court for the early lead in the game. At one point in the second quarter they led by 13. Things began to look bright for Philly and dismal for the Pistons.
This Piston team had been to the Conference Finals 5 years in a row. They are expected to play the Boston Celtics and Kevin Garnett for the Eastern Conference crown. They are not expected to lose to the 76ers.
Then halftime came. Coach Flip Saunders of the Pistons made an inspiring speech.
“I said, ‘Are we having fun yet?’ “Pistons coach Flip Saunders said.”Because we weren’t. I said, ‘Guys, right now, we’re playing really tight. We’re playing like we’re afraid to take a shot, we’re afraid to make a move.’
“When you’re playing like that and thinking too much, you’re going to make mistakes. I said, ‘Relax, settle down, we’re a good basketball team. Let’s get into some flow and go out there and have some fun.’ ”
They listened.
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The Pistons, led by Rasheed Wallace, came out and blew the 76ers away in the third quarter. There were very few loose balls, very few missed shots, and very few Philly offensive rebounds. Without all the turnovers and missed shots the game was reduced to a half court battle, the type of game that favors the Pistons. Suddenly the Pistons were chasing the loose balls and offensive rebounds.
Detroit woke up.
Billups, the Pistons’ starting point guard: “We were playing hard, but we weren’t playing that smart (in the first half). I think we were a little too excited. We wanted it a little too bad. At halftime, we just said, ‘Listen, settle down. Settle down. We’re going to get what we want. Slow down on offense and speed up on defense,’ and we did that.
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The series is tied 2 - 2, but the momentum has swung back to the Pistons and 2 out of the next 3 games are in Detroit.
During halftime, Chris Weber, former Piston, made the comment that Joe Dumars, the GM, will come down into the locker room at halftime and say something like, “Don’t know how ya’ll think you are doing, but you can be traded before this game is over”. It was funny, but Joe has shown himself to be no nonsense guy in running the franchise.
NBA Basketball special comment Detroit has started to play and when they do, they can impose their will on most teams.
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POSTED IN: Boston Celtics, Chauncey Billups, Detroit Pistons, Flip Saunders, Kevin Garnett, NBA Basketball, Philadelphia 76ers, Rasheed Wallace, Rip Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince
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