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Friday, June 02, 2006
Sayson: Conspicuous D and the missing freebies
By Homer Sayson
Secondovertime
CHICAGO – After a postseason of uneven play, an inexplicable stretch of nine games where their championship defense had mysteriously vanished, the two-time defending Eastern Conference champions were supposed to have died last night at the Palace.
Like rows of neatly piled church pews on Sunday morning, the excuses of Detroit’s unfortunate demise have been lined up, ready for debate all summer long. And the passionate eulogies, dripping with bitter-sweet memories, have all been written, begging to be said.
But like they’ve always done when facing possible playoffs death, the never-say-die Pistons simply found a way to live. They routed the Heat in Game 5 of the East Finals yesterday, 91-78, sending this best-of-seven series back to Miami for Game 6 tomorrow at the American Airlines Center.
Although they’ve cut the Heat lead to 3-2, Detroit still faces nearly impossible odds. Of the 43 teams that have trailed 3-1 in the conference finals, only three went through to the NBA Finals, including 0-for-16 in the recent years. And Miami coach Pat Riley is 11-0 when his teams took 3-1 leads this late in the playoffs.
But the Pistons appear unperturbed, relying on their own history of fierce survival. They’re 11-2 when facing elimination in the last four seasons. They were down, 3-2, against the Cavaliers this year, plucked a gritty road win in Game 6 before dominating a winner-take-all Game 7.
“They took their defense to another level. It was very intense, very denying,” Riley told USA Today as he went over the debris of Game 5’s deflating loss.
For one game at least, Detroit played as though Larry Brown was still striding the sidelines, demanding effort with every play, and barking orders of hard fouls to any Heat who dared to venture the paint.
The Pistons held Miami to 34-of-77 from the field (44.2 percent) and 4-of-19 from 3-point range (21.1 percent). They limited Shaq and Dwayne Wade to a combined 42 points, which is 9.6 less than their series average of 51.6. And when the going got sandpaper rough in the fourth quarter, Detroit held Miami scoreless in the last 3:30 of play.
Ben Wallace, the heart and soul of Detroit’s defense, played with infectious desperation. He swatted shots, tangled with Shaq, grabbed rebounds and set numerous brick-hard picks that made his shooters more open than a tupperware party.
Heck, Wallace, the worst free-throw shooter in NBA playoffs history (24.2 percent), even had the audacity to make 2-of-4 freebies. “You either find a way to win, or you go on home, “ said the bruising 6-foot-9, 245-pound center.
With Wallace setting the tone on defense, Tayshaun Prince provided the sweet melody on offense. It didn’t matter whether Alonzo Mourning, Antoine Walker or Udonis Hasem was guarding him, Prince kept swishing the nets for a playoffs career-high of 29.
Detroit struggled with its shooting, 33-of-77 from the field (42.9 percent) and 2-of-15 beyond the arc (13.3 percent). And without Tayshaun making one big shot after another, there definitely won’t be a Game 6. “He’s always been a thorn on our side,” said Riley of the lanky 6-foot-9 Prince, who sank 11-of-17 field goals and 2-of-5 treys.
Many things went wrong with Miami in its first attempt to close out the series yesterday. Besides the obvious fact that the Heat couldn’t score, they gave up 13 offensive rebounds and turned the ball over 14 times.
But the killer, really, was how they fared at the 15-foot line. Beneficiaries of 20 free throws off 19 Detroit fouls, the Heat just made six. Yes, 6-of-20. And that sound you just heard is Ben Wallace laughing his afro off.
But Game 6 is another day, another time. And more importantly for Miami, it will be at a friendlier arena. It’s hard to root against the Pistons. They’ve proven themselves time and time again. But then again, how many times can they cheat death?
(homsay@hotmail.com)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (June 2, 2006 issue)
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