I had to start this thread just to say what a phenominal player Dwyane Wade is.
And he didn’t even play tonight.
If you saw what the Pistons just did to the Heat in Wade’s absence, you know what I mean. There’s no way the Pistons would’ve beaten Miami like that with him in there. Detroit’s just not that good. (And I’m a die-hard, balls-out Pistons fan from way back-- like, Kelly Tripucka era.)
So…who wins Monday?
I say Detroit, 84-80. Not even worried about Miami coming out pissed off and ready to kick some ass on their home court. Detroit’s got this series. When their ass is against the wall, they knock it down.
I haven’t been watching the games. Basketball bores the crudler out of me. I have been keeping an eye on the series though.
I want to say that Mondays game will be a toss up, but with Wade injured I have to go with the Pistons. Even if he comes back he won’t be 100% and the Heat are going to need it to beat the Pistons in a game 7. Detroit will lock things down hard and play the game very safe.
Barring any unforseen Detroit stupidity, I have to go with Pistons v. Spurs in the finals.
I agree, and it sucks. I was looking forward to a Miami-San Antonio finals series.
D Wade is intense. His creative offense and mature attitude are well-documented, but I didn’t realize what a good defender he was until we saw on Saturday how, in Wade’s absence, Richard Hamilton finally had a good game.
(btw, Michael Jordan was always more proud of his defense than any other part of his game)
If Detroit plays the kind of aggressive game they did yesterday, they’ll probably win even if Wade is healthy. And yes, he’s amazing. A Pistons-Spurs series would be a very good matchup in my opinion, I’d really like to see that.
For some reason my husband was certain Miami was gonna get swept. I like Miami better for purely emotional reasons (because I’m a girl) but couldn’t understand why so many thought they’d get crushed. I guess they thought the reason they got there was Shaq and he was hurt. And his replacement was on his third kidney.
Plus, I never really liked the Pistons. They’re plain old mean. Ever since Laimbeer. Since all the teams I really care about suck, the Piston’s beating Miami would be a fitting cap to this season for me. So I’m guessing the Piston’s will win.
I don’t really care about the NBA, but I sort of adopted a passing interest in the Pistons last year because of former UK star Tayshaun Prince. I’m glad to see Tayshaun doing well, since his college career was amazing (I still can’t believe that 3 he drained from the U at center court against North Carolina.)
Actually, most of my NBA attention is centered on former Wildcats. Jamaal Magloire, Mashburn, Keith Bogans, Ron Mercer, 'Toine…
Mark my words, Miami will get almost all of the calls in their favor tonight. Don’t be surprised if 2 Detroit stars are in foul trouble at halftime (this means being forced to sit to avoid picking up a 4th foul). Stern desperately wants the Shaq v. Duncan matchup for the ratings, since the NBA playoffs are getting zero attention. Detroit in the finals is bad, bad, bad for ratings. Detroit is going to have to play a flawless game if Wade plays significant minutes.
I’m pulling for Miami, if only because of Shaq. This is really my favorite matchup of the playoffs because of all the talented big men. Shaq, 'Zo, the Wallace Boys, the bored look on Darko’s face. I mean come on, how can you not like Shaq? He needs to have his own reality show. Just Shaq being Shaq. I can’t be the only one who would watch this, right? Right?
I like Wilbon of ESPN’s Pardon the Interruption and of the Washington Post, and Wilbon likes Shaq’s sense of humor and says he’s a great guy, but I just don’t see it. I see a guy who always gets his way, and when he doesn’ t he carps about it. I don’t see Shaq as particularly gracious, given his continued sniping at Kobe. (Not that Kobe’s been particularly gracious either.) I don’t like people who give themselves nicknames (Shaq, Diesel, The Big Aristotle, etc.) You can watch him in a reality show if you want but count me out. I’m only interested in finding out if he approaches Wilt’s “10,000 women” record and that’s just for my own purient interest.
**Zamboni **
I think someone needs to make the “Shaq: Approach to 10,000” reality series (though I think Shawn Kemp or someone might be a better bet to crack the magic number).
I’m already seeing the screen as he walks into a bar with a time/date/score stamp in the corner “6/6/05 10:27PM 4,781” followed by a cut to him driving home (with a ‘yeah, typical night’ look on his face) “6/7/05 1:15 AM 4,783”
That, and the scenes of him getting signatures on the post-Kobe-in-Colorado this-was-consensual forms, would keep me entertained (“Oh, baby, that’s great. You’re really special to me, you know. Just wait a second, you’ve got to sign this. No really baby, it’s not a joke. Yeah, your friend, too. And initial the 'birth control/no child support box, too. And the damage/stain/rip waiver. Right. OK, let me get the notary in here…
All set? Ok, then then, baby, are you ready to get freaky Aristotle-style?” )
For the OP, I may watch a little bit, but I’m not especially entertained by watching Shaq push his defender to the floor, dunk it, and then get the defensive foul call and shoot a free throw. But I suppose whining about the league office’s emphasis on dunks, flash, and stars over teamwork and good basketball is another thread (Is there already a Great Debates thread titled “NBA Refs: How honest?” )
Kept checking the score on espn.com last night. Didn’t see the final score until just now on the free press site. Now Shaq will have more time to get that reality show going.
I mean come on, how can you not like Shaq? He needs to have his own reality show. Just Shaq being Shaq. I can’t be the only one who would watch this, right? Right?