NBA Playoffs 2008 - Conference Finals

[Gert T]

Were the Spurs out of timeouts?

 

I don't really have a rooting interest, but whether or not the ball hit the rim does not bail the refs out of blowing a call.

 

 

 

[Karc]

If the refs had called the foul, it would have been two shots because Barry tried to move away from Fisher and was not shooting. What Barry should have done was shoot into Fisher as soon as Fisher jumped into the air. That would have given him the three free throws to win the game. It was a good no call by the refs, since if he made the three pointer to win the game, it would have been erased for two, and then the game would have gone to OT.

 

That said, stupid play by Kobe Byrant, twice. The "MVP" almost cost them game with the bad shots. The Lakers should have finished this game without that run by the Spurs. I would not be surprised if the Spurs still win this in seven, especially if they keep Byrant out of the foul line.

 

That's just my opinion on it, no doubt the Joey Crawford conspiracy theories will start soon. I mean, Duncan did get him suspended from the playoffs last year, what better way to get revenge than to screw the Spurs out of the Finals.

[Ripper]

And Ernie calls Kenny a fruit to leave the air. I swear, if more people watched these guys late at night they would be up in arms and ready to sue!

[chaosrage]

Pop said if he was the ref, he wouldn't have called that a foul either.

[Rendclaw]

I was so mad after game 3 and the Pistons blowing a golden opportunity, I could not show my face in here because I would have gone on a Denis Leary-style rant.

 

I'm glad that they bounced back and squashed the Celtics in game 4, and like the rest of the Piston fans I sit here asking the question that every Piston fan asks: Why can't they play this way every FUCKING night???

 

Oh believe me, I know the answer. This is who they are. They in a space of two games can look utterly unbeatable one game, then the next night you wonder how they even got into the playoffs because they play so badly. This is the ultimate Jekyll and Hyde team. They can look like world beaters and then look totally disinterested sometimes in the very same game. They try and throw the switch and sometimes the lights goes on, and sometimes every light in the house burns out at the same time. I just don't know what they can or should do about it, aside from firing Flip Saunders and blowing up the team. That's not going to happen now, especially if they win through. In a couple of years sure, because several players are going to really start to lose it, and the Pistons are going to have to rebuild. They have a good nucleus of young players, and they are going to be a decent team for years to come, just not good enough to win the title without getting a really good draft selection in the coming years.

 

Joe Dumars has his work cut out for him when Chauncey, McDyess, and Rasheed either retire or get traded. Rip Hamilton is going to be the elder statesman on the Pistons with 8 years in, and Lindsey Hunter is taking a front office job after this year is done.

 

But getting back to this playoff run, consistency is the word that the Pistons need to look up and keep in mind.

[alfdogg]

That's the right call right there. Shut the fuck up, Jackson and Van Gundy.

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

Kendrick mothafuckin' Perkins!

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

What the hell? Is this the new NBA tradition? Every spring, the Pistons make it to the eastern conference finals, and we get to hear the Legend of Rip Hamilton's Mask™?

 

EDIT - Son of a bitch... they're not even using different footage?!

[CanadianChris]

Welcome to the Eastern Conference finals, Ray Allen.

[Ripper]

That's the right call right there. Shut the fuck up, Jackson and Van Gundy.

 

I am starting to see the theme here. mark Jackson never jumped more than 2 inches off the ground in his prime, Van Gundy...nah. Reggie Miller...nope. thats why they keep not seeing the big deal in shoving actual big jumpers out of the air as a flagrant.

 

That is simply the most dangerous foul in basketball.

 

 

And yeah refs....reward that flopping.

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

Welcome to the Eastern Conference finals playoffs, Ray Allen.

Fixed.

[Brett Favre]

That's the right call right there. Shut the fuck up, Jackson and Van Gundy.

I am starting to see the theme here. mark Jackson never jumped more than 2 inches off the ground in his prime, Van Gundy...nah. Reggie Miller...nope. thats why they keep not seeing the big deal in shoving actual big jumpers out of the air as a flagrant.

 

That is simply the most dangerous foul in basketball.

 

 

And yeah refs....reward that flopping.

 

Exactly. Running full speed then leaping up into the air and getting pushed from behind is dangerous as hell.

 

 

[alfdogg]

And then Pierce does a Raja Bell on Billups, and that's somehow not a flagrant, presumably because he slapped him on the ass following the play.

 

And FINALLY they call a T on that whiny bitch Perkins. Jesus.

[Damaramu]

Wow......this free throw contest sure is fun....

[MFer]

Way to blow the call, Breen.

[Cartman]

This game is making me physically ill.

[alfdogg]

The Pistons must lead the league in not being able to inbound the ball in endgame situations. This is at least the second time I've seen it happen in these playoffs.

[Bruiser Chong]

Well, FUCK.

[naiwf]

I think that all but guarantees us Lakers/Celtics.

[Brett Favre]

Eh, I still think the Pistons will win the series.

[MFer]

Tough game...Pistons had one bad stretch and couldn't quite come all the way back. Allen was obviously way past due and he delivered. I think Detroit should be fine in Game 6, but it's gonna be a tall order to win a Game 7 in Boston. They won Game 2 and were right there tonight...gonna be hard to play that well on the road 3 outta 4 but if anyone's gonna do it, it would be the Pistons.

[Bruiser Chong]

I heard a very large stomp above me after Stuckey bricked on the first free throw. I'm going to assume that means I wasn't the only one in my building watching the game.

 

I'm not convinced the Pistons are licked, either. I won't go assuming Game 6 will be an instant win, but if I like their odds if they do walk away the victors there. We need to remember this game had no business going down to the wire like it did. The Celtics were up by 17 as late as the closing minutes of the third quarter.

[alfdogg]

The Pistons were down 3-2 against Miami in '05, and won that series. I think there's still hope here

[Just John]

The Pistons were down 3-2 against Miami in '05, and won that series.

 

Because Dwyane Wade got injured.

[alfdogg]

He still played well in game 7, and they still lost after blowing a late lead.

 

They were also down 3-2 against Cleveland in '06, and New Jersey in '04, and won both.

[alfdogg]

fun fact: If the Celtics do close it out, they would become just the second team in the last 30 years (along with the '02 Nets) to make the Finals after missing the playoffs the previous year.

[Just John]

Wade getting hurt allowed the Pistons to coast in Game 6, and he had an ok Game 7 at best. Not nearly as dominant as he had been earlier in the series. I don't think any of those teams you mentioned that had the Pistons down 3-2 (including the 05 Heat) had as much talent as this year's Celtics team.

 

I don't think Detroit's dead in the water by any means, but I think this is a bigger challenge than the previous 3-2 defecits they have overcome.

[alfdogg]

Well, I agree with that. More or less, I was just pointing out the obvious and saying that it's happened before with this team.

 

I can't really predict what the Pistons will do, anyways, because of their Jekyll & Hyde tendencies that have already been mentioned. I think they're good enough to beat any of these three teams in a series, but who knows where their heads are going to be at.

 

I'll go ahead and ask this question, since it's probably inevitable: If the Pistons fail again to make it to the Finals, should/will Flip get the boot?

[Precious Roy]

Should? Yes. Will? No.

[Brett Favre]

He shouldn't. I think he's done alright.

 

BTW the NBA is going to fine floppers next year.