San Antonio at Detroit 3/20/05

**Deleterious** · 03-20-2005, 12:38 PM

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/preview?gid=2005032008

Game Info: 3:30 pm EST Sun Mar 20, 2005
TV: ABC

It may still be a bit early to start dreaming up potential NBA Finals matchups, but the defending champion Detroit Pistons and league-leading San Antonio Spurs are certainly emerging as strong candidates to meet in June.

They'll square off one final time in the regular season when the Spurs visit The Palace of Auburn Hills.

The Pistons ran their home winning streak to 11 games with Friday's 103-92 win over Toronto. The franchise record for consecutive home wins is 25, established from Jan. 29-Nov. 21, 1989, the year they won their second of three NBA titles.

``I think we're continuing in the right direction,'' said Pistons forward Tayshaun Prince, who had 21 points Friday. ``San Antonio is going to be a big game, but so is this one and every other one we play from here until the end of the season.''

Prince was one of three Pistons to score at least 20. Rasheed Wallace and Ben Wallace combined for 28 boards as the Pistons outrebounded the Raptors 55-40. Detroit also held a 48-28 scoring advantage in the paint.

Pistons assistant Gar Heard coached in place of Larry Brown, who is sidelined due to additional surgery on his ailing hip, for the third consecutive game. Heard doesn't expect his team to have such an easy time Sunday. Detroit lost 80-77 at San Antonio on Dec. 3, shooting just 35.5 percent.

The Pistons and Spurs are the two best defensive teams in the league. San Antonio is allowing a league-low 86.5 points, followed by Detroit, which is giving up 89.2 per game.

``It's going to be a different type of game,'' Heard said Friday after the Pistons ran their win streak to four. ``It's going to be a much slower game against San Antonio.''

The Pistons have dropped 10 of their last 12 meetings with the Spurs, but boast a 9-2 home record this season against teams from the Western Conference.

The Spurs have won three in a row and eight of 10, including a 93-76 home win over expansion Charlotte on Friday.

San Antonio held Charlotte to 37.3 percent (28-for-75) shooting, marking the 25th time it has held the opposition below 40 percent this season.

Manu Ginobili, who is averaging 16.2 points, missed his fifth straight game due to a strained right groin.

Tony Parker shot 11-for-17 from the field and finished with a team-high 24 points, and Tim Duncan added 19 and six rebounds.

Duncan is still second in the league in double-doubles with 44, trailing Minnesota's Kevin Garnett, who has 58.

San Antonio is 22-4 against the East this season, including 8-4 on the road.

**DTroppens** · 03-20-2005, 01:34 PM

I have to admit this. Here we are playing San Antonio and my interest in the regular season is at an all-time low. It's obvious that the Pistons can (to a point) turn it on when they want to and become a better team. We've seen that all regular season. And because of that in many ways this has been the most boring regular season of the last four years. I find myself watching games with about half of the intensity as I did in year's past. In many ways I find the regular season "unfun" if there's such thing as a word.

I've started adopting the same view the players pretty much have this year. The real season won't begin until the end of April. Until then pretty much all of these games are just a tad better than exhibition games. Just win your share and that's all that really matters. It doesn't matter who they come against or how.

Does this make any sense to anyone else here? In many ways this has been the most boring regular season I've experienced as a Pistons fan in a very long time.

**DTroppens** · 03-20-2005, 03:44 PM

For those not watching the game Tim Duncan went out early in the first quarter with a leg injury. I think it was an ankle injury. I was just walking in the house when it happened with a bag of groceries when it occured so I was unable to figure out at the time if it was knee or ankle. It looked like an ankle though.

I've settled down now and we are leading 16-15 with 6 left in the first.

**DTroppens** · 03-20-2005, 03:46 PM

For two teams known for their defense this has been a very efficitent offensive showcase so far.

18-17 Detroit with 5 left in the first quarter.

They just showed both teams are 7-for-11 from the field but since they showed that each team has missed a few shots.

**DTroppens** · 03-20-2005, 03:47 PM

Tim Duncan is being xrayed right now and he has a wheelchair to leave.

He was in a considerable amount of pain while getting off the floor. He put no pressure on his right foot while leaving the floor.

**DTroppens** · 03-20-2005, 03:50 PM

Report by Jim Gray: X-rays are negative and possibly a severe sprain but that's a total guess right now. The X-Rays were negative though. It clearly is his ankle he rolled it.

TV timeout 21-20 SanAntonio with 3:15 left in first quarter.

**DTroppens** · 03-20-2005, 03:59 PM

Billups nails a three late in the first.

It's 31-all entering the second quarter.
What defense?

**DTroppens** · 03-20-2005, 04:06 PM

Duncan - A grade two sprain (ranked 1 to 3) which means he will miss some time. They are saying it was a reinjury of the ankle that was never fully healed in the first place.

Sure there will be more said about it later.

**DTroppens** · 03-20-2005, 04:14 PM

This is an entertaining game but there is no way this game represents what would happen if they faced off for 4-7 games in the NBA finals.

This is a case of two teams that probably would like to win this game but realize this game isn't the end of the world. It very much has a regular-season game feel to it. I don't think this game even has that much of a "feeling out" process to it by either team in terms of seeing how they do shake down against each other. Boith teams are getting very good shots and the defense isn't anything like it's going to be in the playoffs if these two teams face off against each other. Nice passing to get those open shots but there's more extra effort being displayed on both team's offensive sides than really trying to create that effort on the defensive side. It's almost like neither team wants to "give out" too much in this meaningless game.

44-42 San Antonio

**Buddha** · 03-20-2005, 04:21 PM

No Duncan. At home. This should be a win.

**DTroppens** · 03-20-2005, 04:25 PM

Since I posted that last post the Pistons have turned the defensive intensity up a bit. Still only a Pistons lead by a handful of points though.

Buddha,
I wouldn't say that just yet. Teams have a tendency to do very well over the short term when they lose a key player like that. I think it's almost easier for the team losing the player to adjust for the short term (that same game) than the opposition because the team losing the player knows more what they are capable of to replace that player than the opposition is.

**DTroppens** · 03-20-2005, 04:30 PM

WOW! Ben just made two free throws!

Pistons lead 62-52 with seconds left in the second quarter.

And that's the score at the half. 10-2 run to end first half and Pistons lead 62-52.

**DTroppens** · 03-20-2005, 04:52 PM

San Antonio has scored first six points of third quarter

62-58 Detroit

**Shaggy Ry** · 03-20-2005, 04:55 PM

I thought x-rays couldn't show ligament/tendon damage, only bone breaks and such, that an MRI would be needed to look at the soft parts.

Reguardless Davidson is lending Duncan his private jet to get him back to SA...

**DTroppens** · 03-20-2005, 05:06 PM

72-66 Detroit with about five minutes left in the third quarter.

Rip Hamilton just got hurt and may be out for awhile. Just moments ago Prince looked like he got hurt a tad too.

Well, Hamilton is still out there. Apparently not hurt.

**DTroppens** · 03-20-2005, 05:11 PM

Now Rip is on the banch getting his left ankle taped.

WOW! Wallace makes a block from behind on a baseline drive.

Arroyo makes a nice running rainbow layup. It may have been tipped in.

**DTroppens** · 03-20-2005, 05:13 PM

1:58 left in the third.
Pistons 77-73

**Shaggy Ry** · 03-20-2005, 05:13 PM

There is no excuse for us losing this game, though it appeared that the wind was knocked out of both teams sails when Duncan went down - the intensity level flatlined.

**DTroppens** · 03-20-2005, 05:22 PM

Ben playing really well right now. He just got another block.

Prince drives blocked but McDyess gets the board and slam.

79-73 Pistons

San Antonio ball
Mohamed goes for a slam and is fouled by McDyess on the drive.
Mohamed misses the first, makes the second.
79-74 Pistons

Pistons ball
McDyess makes two free throws after being fouled.
81-74

**DTroppens** · 03-20-2005, 05:48 PM

Big plays down the stretch.
Prince with a steal on San Antonio'ss possession.

Billups then hits a hoop and is fouled, making the three-point play.

Pistons now lead 102-97 with 2:21 left. The SPurs had a chance to tie it.

**DTroppens** · 03-20-2005, 05:51 PM

SHHHHEEED in the post.

SHeed to Billups driving the lane. he loses momentum and has to stop in the lane. Doublepumps and puts it in underneath the hoop in front of the trees!

Pistons 104-97 in the waning moments. Will be hard to lose this one now

**DTroppens** · 03-20-2005, 05:56 PM

105-97 with 51.6 seconds left

Really San Anotonio's last chance
Brown misses a quick trey and Prince rebounds it.

Prince is fouled. I guess I'll quit the play-by-play. This is over no matter what Prince does at the line.

He made both.

**DTroppens** · 03-20-2005, 05:57 PM

Game MVP - Tayshawn Prince

He was dominant tonight. Don't have his stats but he was huge.

**DetroitFolly** · 03-20-2005, 07:01 PM

He played well, Dave...

but I'm giving my game ball to Chauncey. He made huge plays down the stretch, and hit those clutch free throws.

I can't argue with Tayshaun...but I'm giving it to Chauncey.

**Truth** · 03-20-2005, 08:17 PM

I was at the game today...it's correct that a lot of intensity seemed to go out when Duncan went down. Prince looks so darn slow and awkward half the time that it's amazing to me how he gets to the basket. Arroyo seemed to have his game back which is good to see. I think this is just the second time I have seen Delfino in person. Watching him in the open court is really something...he seems to pick up power with each dribble.

**Deleterious** · 03-20-2005, 08:50 PM

Even with Duncan out, that was enjoyable basketball. I would love to see those two teams square off in the Finals.

**DTroppens** · 03-20-2005, 08:57 PM

DF,
I can go with Chauncey. Good selection as well. That hoop he made underneath on the pass from Sheed was pivotal.

**mtdman** · 03-20-2005, 10:52 PM

I am immensely impressed with Chauncey Billups. He scores like crazy every night, hits big shots, and manages to remain pretty unnoticed. As much as Ben is the heart of the team, Chauncy has become the star. The fact he didn't make the Allstar Team after winning MVP in the Finals last year is a travesty.

And as much as Chauncy is a starra today, Tayshaun is going to be the star in a few years. Especially the way he is aserting himself lately. I can't believe how good he is and he's so damned young.

Good game today, btw.

:D

**estrepe1** · 03-20-2005, 11:22 PM

I don't know that Chauncy goes unnoticed. I mean he does have his own shoe commercial and he did win the Finals MVP.

**ewsieg** · 03-21-2005, 01:02 AM

Originally posted by DTroppens
I have to admit this. Here we are playing San Antonio and my interest in the regular season is at an all-time low.

You are quite a fan if your at an all-time low for interest in the Pistons and have as many posts in this thread as you do! Its the same thing with any championship team, you come to expect them being one of the top seeds in the playoffs and don't pay as much attention until they get there, unless they don't get to the playoffs at all, then you probably start fresh again.

**DTroppens** · 03-21-2005, 10:11 AM

ewsieg,
It was one of those things. At the time when I posted that I wasn't too excited about the game at all. And generally my interest in the regular season this year has wavered. A few differences. I still watch every game but in the past if I was going to miss any of the game I usually taped it and watched it from the start later in the evening (I know get Tivo). Now I don't do that. If I figure I'm going to be home by early in the second quarter I just miss the first 6, 8 or even 12 minutes of the game and watch the rest. I know it doesn't sound like a big thing but it's a rare occurance for me.

I found myself entertained by the game yesterday, but not to the same extent as many other "key" regular season games in the past. I made posts, but I don't make game posts nearly as much this year as I have in the past. When the playoffs start, I'm sure that'll change.

**DaBishop** · 03-21-2005, 11:52 AM

you're gettin' soft Dave...one championship and all of a sudden the regular season doesn't mean anything to you...wow. Where's the passion...where's the love...where's the ...I ran out of things to say.

**DTroppens** · 03-21-2005, 12:05 PM

DaBishop,
I think the team's overall attitude this regular season has rubbed off on me. They haven't shown the same urgency during this regular season as they have in past years and because that has been so obvious it's reflected in my attitude.

Seeing this team turn it on and off throughout the regular season when it's needed has made this kind of an "unfun" regular season. I really don't like saying that but it has. It's been the most boring regular season since the Carlisle era began without a doubt.

That said I don't think there are many others here who can say they haven't missed a game this year.

**Betrayer** · 03-21-2005, 12:13 PM

It hasn't been "unfun" for me, just frustrating at times. But I've still enjoyed every minute of it. For me, there's always been some wrinkle or another I've been watching for in each game and that's kept it exciting whether or not the starters play hard. Right now, I'm watching the bench synergy and hoping to see Delfino and Arroyo start feeling comfortable before the playoffs start. If they do, I'd say we have one of the best benches in the league (Arroyo, Hunter, Delfino, McDyess, Campbell).

<-- another one who hasn't missed a game. I love TiVo.

**DaBishop** · 03-21-2005, 12:45 PM

Originally posted by DTroppens
DaBishop,
I think the team's overall attitude this regular season has rubbed off on me. They haven't shown the same urgency during this regular season as they have in past years and because that has been so obvious it's reflected in my attitude.

Seeing this team turn it on and off throughout the regular season when it's needed has made this kind of an "unfun" regular season. I really don't like saying that but it has. It's been the most boring regular season since the Carlisle era began without a doubt.

That said I don't think there are many others here who can say they haven't missed a game this year.

I'm just busting your balls DT. I know what you're talking about, and having to argue with my friends in Miami is hard to justify at times with the way the team plays. That said, I think I made a pretty interesting point the other day when arguing with them. We have 7-8 players on our team that would start for Miami. That's pretty scary as it's true for probably 90% of the teams in the league. I mean, C-note wouldn't start over Wade, but he'd just move to SG. Ben wouldn't start over Shaq but he'd move over to PF. Pretty impressive.

**DTroppens** · 03-21-2005, 12:46 PM

Betrayer,
You don't find yourself less glued to the TV watching games than in the past? I certainly do - especially the last 3 weeks or so.

What I find entertaining in sports is effort. And quite frankly this team turns it off and on. I find that frustrating as heck to watch after being spoiled with pretty consistent efforts night in and night out the years prior to this one. But, again that obviously has something to do with winning the title.

Even at the Palace you don't get the same intensity while there. Fans are quieter and much less focused on the game than in past years. You just get that sense that people are waiting for the exhibition season (I mean) the regular season to end so we can get to the meat of the season. I guess Piston fans are learning what Red Wing fans have experienced for many years now.

**DTroppens** · 03-21-2005, 12:51 PM

DaBishop,
I knew you didn't mean anything by it. I wasn't even really trying to defend myself.

I agree. I don't think there is a team that has as talented and as balanced a starting five as we have in the NBA. And they work so well as a team. That's probably their biggest strength. I expect to see that when the playoffs come around.

**jjg777** · 03-21-2005, 01:10 PM

I haven't missed a game either, and I have to say that I am ready for the playoffs. It seems like were pretty much where we're going to be (2nd seed in the east) unless Boston keeps on playing the way there playing and we tank it the last month of games. Bring on the playoffs.

**Betrayer** · 03-21-2005, 02:00 PM

I agree that things aren't as intense this year as last for the Pistons and as a result their fans. However, I'm a huge NBA fan in general and watch at least 2 or 3 non-Piston games per week as well as countless hours of NBA TV. So, while I'll get frustrated with the Pistons, I still find the games very enjoyable for more reasons than simply watching Sheed morph into Cliff Robinson