Jun
2
GROUNDHOG DAY FOR DETROIT BASKETBALL
Filed Under Loose Balls
Despite Prevailing in this Situation Before, the Detroit Pistons Are in Some Serious Trouble!
Entering tonight’s Game Six of the Eastern Conference Finals down 3-2 to the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Detroit Pistons have been in this position before. Just last year, the Pistons took the first two games against the Cavaliers in a second round series before dropping three straight. With their season on the line, the Pistons escaped in Cleveland with a tight victory, thanks in large part to the Cavs being unable to convert a couple of shots in-close at the rim as the game ended. Detroit, of course, slugged their way through the first three quarters of Game Seven against the Cavs before pulling away.
Prior to last year’s comeback against the Cavs, the Pistons had found themselves in similar situations in playoffs past.
? Detroit fell behind 3-1 against the Orlando Magic in the first-round of the 2003 playoffs before rallying and taking the series in Game Seven. After the Magic took the 3-1 lead, Tracy McGrady said how it good it felt to finally advance to the second round. Rookie Tayshaun Prince and the rest of the Pistons emerged to prevent McGrady from moving on, and the current Houston Rockets’ star has still not played past the first round.
? Detroit lost a thrilling double-overtime Game Five at the Palace of Auburn Hills against the New Jersey Nets in the second round of the 2004 playoffs. The Pistons won a close Game Six in New Jersey and then took the series at home in Game Seven. The Pistons of course went on to beat the Indiana Pacers in six games in the Eastern Conference Finals and then shocked the Los Angeles Lakers in five games for the franchise’s first NBA title since 1990.
? Detroit trailed 3-2 to the Miami Heat in the 2005 Eastern Conference Finals before whipping the Heat in Game Six at home with an injured Dwyane Wade sitting out the game. The Pistons then got the tough road victory in Game Seven as Rip Hamilton and Rasheed Wallace stole the game in the final 90 seconds with key buckets. After falling behind 3-2 in the NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs, the Pistons won Game Six in San Antonio before falling in Game Seven.
? After getting past the Cavs last year, the Pistons fell into a 3-1 hole against the Heat in a rematch of the 2005 Eastern Conference Finals. The Pistons took Game Five at home but were whipped in Game Six in Miami.
While having an impressive track record with their backs against the wall, the Pistons can’t feel too confident going into tonight’s game. To begin with, they have not played a solid game since Game Two against the Chicago Bulls. In some regards, they could have been swept in this series against the Cavs. And with Lebron James coming off the best game of his young career and having Cleveland on the verge of its first NBA Finals’ appearance, it’s a guarantee that the Cavs’ fans will be berserk tonight.
Detroit’s going to need to bring it for 48 minutes tonight in a very hostile environment. While Detroit has done it before, the Pistons and its championship window are a dead man walking tonight.
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