http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/story/13112525p-13956976c.html
Ailene Voisin: History no match for Detroit's blue-collar grit
By Ailene Voisin -- Bee Sports Columnist
Published 2:15 am PDT Thursday, June 23, 2005
SAN ANTONIO - The brawl happened. The suspensions resulted. Larry Brown took ill. Larry Brown threatened to take flight. And then there was the Reggie Miller retirement series and the formidable presence of Shaquille O'Neal, looming ever-so-large down there in Miami, determined to dominate that seventh game, so sure his Miami Heat would withstand the final thrust of the Detroit Pistons.
Yet here they are, still the champs, always the Pistons.
In a game of h-o-r-s-e, the San Antonio Spurs win easily.
In a game of nerves - and that's what this seventh game is - the Pistons are fearless.
"Pressure busts pipes," Rasheed Wallace said before Wednesday's practice. "We don't bust pipes."
The team that always seems ready to implode, that has seen and heard and done it all this season, refuses to study NBA Finals history, acknowledge any weaknesses, or listen to anyone except their coach. Except, that is, when their own Mr. Fix-It chokes up in the huddle; then they lock down on Larry just like they do everyone else.
"He's like, 'Oh, guys, I forgot to tell you something,' " Ben Wallace said before Wednesday's practice, referring to Brown's "I just forgot to tell you guys I love you" declaration that was picked up by the ABC microphones during the final minutes of Game 6. "I'm like, Here comes the Geico commercial ..."
The Pistons roll their eyes, shake their heads, go back to work.
Though their coach is a short-timer, they're in it for the long haul, and they assess their current predicament accordingly: If they can overcome the brawl, the suspensions, Reggie and Shaq, can endure two seasons with a coach who is brilliant but eventually unbearable, then what's another 48 minutes with the Spurs?
And could there be a more complete recovery than overcoming all of the above, including a hostile crowd, en route to a second straight title?
The NBA Finals record book, of course, suggests that this is highly improbable, leaning heavily toward the Spurs. No team in NBA playoff history has ever won two Game 7s on the road in one postseason. Furthermore, of the 15 championship series that have been extended to a seventh game, the visiting team has prevailed only three times - the Boston Celtics in 1969, the Celtics again in 1974, and the Washington Bullets in 1978.
But these are the Pistons, 2005.
They might be crazy and tough enough to do it.
Taking their cues from a quirky coach, who says, "I'm not an innovator, but I'm relentless in what I believe," the Pistons have forced the Spurs into a halfcourt game and into committing mistakes. They are exceptional at slapping the ball for strips, deflections and long rebounds, and their frontcourt players have wrapped Tim Duncan in a blanket.
Though Big Funds stands 6-foot-11, his own teammates have been unable to consistently get him the ball, certainly not often enough to satisfy coach Gregg Popovich.
"There were many opportunities where (Duncan) was in position and getting into position, where he needed to get the ball and it didn't happen," said Popovich, referring to Game 6, when Duncan's first fourth-quarter touch came with 7:23 remaining.
"So I think our perimeter has to be a lot wiser in situations ... to know where Timmy Duncan is on the court, and to remember that that's how we played all year long."
But as the Pistons so often say, this is what they do. Richard Hamilton scores off curls and leaners. Rasheed Wallace is the inside/outside threat. Ben Wallace provides the dunks and the follow shots. Antonio McDyess and Lindsey Hunter offer scoring and defense off the bench.
Chauncey Billups is the floor leader and, arguably, the most effective point guard in the league. He protects the ball, involves his teammates, has a knack for the big basket.
So while the numbers certainly favor the Spurs, and with Duncan forever a factor, underestimating the Pistons would be ill-advised. They play hard and they play mean, play right into a marketing campaign that portrays them as hard-working, blue-collar stiffs just striving to make a living.
And one more thing. They play to win.
Reach Ailene Voisin at (916) 321-1208 or avoisin@sacbee.com.
Ailene Voisin: History no match for Detroit's blue-collar grit
By Ailene Voisin -- Bee Sports Columnist
Published 2:15 am PDT Thursday, June 23, 2005
SAN ANTONIO - The brawl happened. The suspensions resulted. Larry Brown took ill. Larry Brown threatened to take flight. And then there was the Reggie Miller retirement series and the formidable presence of Shaquille O'Neal, looming ever-so-large down there in Miami, determined to dominate that seventh game, so sure his Miami Heat would withstand the final thrust of the Detroit Pistons.
Yet here they are, still the champs, always the Pistons.
In a game of h-o-r-s-e, the San Antonio Spurs win easily.
In a game of nerves - and that's what this seventh game is - the Pistons are fearless.
"Pressure busts pipes," Rasheed Wallace said before Wednesday's practice. "We don't bust pipes."
The team that always seems ready to implode, that has seen and heard and done it all this season, refuses to study NBA Finals history, acknowledge any weaknesses, or listen to anyone except their coach. Except, that is, when their own Mr. Fix-It chokes up in the huddle; then they lock down on Larry just like they do everyone else.
"He's like, 'Oh, guys, I forgot to tell you something,' " Ben Wallace said before Wednesday's practice, referring to Brown's "I just forgot to tell you guys I love you" declaration that was picked up by the ABC microphones during the final minutes of Game 6. "I'm like, Here comes the Geico commercial ..."
The Pistons roll their eyes, shake their heads, go back to work.
Though their coach is a short-timer, they're in it for the long haul, and they assess their current predicament accordingly: If they can overcome the brawl, the suspensions, Reggie and Shaq, can endure two seasons with a coach who is brilliant but eventually unbearable, then what's another 48 minutes with the Spurs?
And could there be a more complete recovery than overcoming all of the above, including a hostile crowd, en route to a second straight title?
The NBA Finals record book, of course, suggests that this is highly improbable, leaning heavily toward the Spurs. No team in NBA playoff history has ever won two Game 7s on the road in one postseason. Furthermore, of the 15 championship series that have been extended to a seventh game, the visiting team has prevailed only three times - the Boston Celtics in 1969, the Celtics again in 1974, and the Washington Bullets in 1978.
But these are the Pistons, 2005.
They might be crazy and tough enough to do it.
Taking their cues from a quirky coach, who says, "I'm not an innovator, but I'm relentless in what I believe," the Pistons have forced the Spurs into a halfcourt game and into committing mistakes. They are exceptional at slapping the ball for strips, deflections and long rebounds, and their frontcourt players have wrapped Tim Duncan in a blanket.
Though Big Funds stands 6-foot-11, his own teammates have been unable to consistently get him the ball, certainly not often enough to satisfy coach Gregg Popovich.
"There were many opportunities where (Duncan) was in position and getting into position, where he needed to get the ball and it didn't happen," said Popovich, referring to Game 6, when Duncan's first fourth-quarter touch came with 7:23 remaining.
"So I think our perimeter has to be a lot wiser in situations ... to know where Timmy Duncan is on the court, and to remember that that's how we played all year long."
But as the Pistons so often say, this is what they do. Richard Hamilton scores off curls and leaners. Rasheed Wallace is the inside/outside threat. Ben Wallace provides the dunks and the follow shots. Antonio McDyess and Lindsey Hunter offer scoring and defense off the bench.
Chauncey Billups is the floor leader and, arguably, the most effective point guard in the league. He protects the ball, involves his teammates, has a knack for the big basket.
So while the numbers certainly favor the Spurs, and with Duncan forever a factor, underestimating the Pistons would be ill-advised. They play hard and they play mean, play right into a marketing campaign that portrays them as hard-working, blue-collar stiffs just striving to make a living.
And one more thing. They play to win.
Reach Ailene Voisin at (916) 321-1208 or avoisin@sacbee.com.
