12/21/24
June 22, 2005
Desperation 1, Expiration 0.: The Pistons beat the Spurs to force Game 7.
posted by kirkaracha to basketball at 09:16 AM - 20 comments
So far I haven't watched a game. Talk radio seems to be debating the quality of the series, with some pointing out that only two games have been competitive, while the other pointing to a game seven for the first time in, you know, a long time. I'm hoping for a great one thursday night.
posted by justgary at 11:33 AM on June 22, 2005
Because of the differing playing styles of both teams, I think tomorrow's game will come down how the game is called. A tight game works in the Spurs' favor, because the Pistons won't be able to rough up the 3-headed monster like they did in games 3 and 4, and to an extent, last night. If the refs let the guys play, as it were, the Pistons will have a definite advantage, because the Spurs are too finesse to play smash-mouth ball. Of course, if Kerry Fraser...er, I mean, Steve Javie is involved, all bets are off for the Pistons...
posted by MeatSaber at 01:31 PM on June 22, 2005
Game 5 was a total classic, but I would agree that the first 4 games were of the pedestrian variety. I don't care how 'boring' one thinks game 7 will be, if you don't watch it, you're just not a basketball fan. Spurs are still the favorite, but it has been alarming to watch Duncan in the 4th now two games in a row. He seems tentative and upset. Man, does anyone realize how good Chauncey Billups really is? He's making Tony Parker look really bad. Gotta see the Spurs win this one, though.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 01:37 PM on June 22, 2005
Without looking at the predictions thread, I recall most of us expecting pretty much this outcome. And Game 5 was a classic, but last night's was no letdown. If I hadn't picked the Spurs in seven at the start of the series, I don't know if I could decide between the two teams right now. I have Manu at the buzzer, but it could just as easily be Barry or Bowen (or Chauncey or Rasheed). Anyone within 50 miles of NYC wanna grab a drink tomorrow night?
posted by chicobangs at 01:43 PM on June 22, 2005
Damn chico, I'm 5 miles outside that radius... Should be a classic tomorrow night...first time in 11 years since we've seen a NBA Finals game 7.
posted by Texan_lost_in_NY at 02:01 PM on June 22, 2005
My (completely baseless, of course) predictions for Game 7: Close game, with San Antonio pulling it out in the 4th, scoring in the mid-80s. Bowen guards Billups for most of the night, forcing him into a similar stat line to Game 6 - 6/16 shooting - and less productive in total big points - 17. Parker has the same stat line he has had basically the entire series: 7/15 shooting, 15 points. Manu Ginobili has a big 4th quarter to atone for his Game 6 4th quarter performance but is almost completely canceled out by huge rebounding and energy from Ben Wallace. Neither Rasheed nor Horry have great games. Duncan shoots 70% from the foul line but misses a couple in the 4th quarter. He does enough, though, including blocking an important Rip Hamilton jump shot in crunch time, shades of Olajuwon and Starks in the '94 Finals Game 7.
posted by platocave at 03:45 PM on June 22, 2005
Neither Rasheed nor Horry have great games. But...but...I thought Horry was always great in the clutch? Isn't game 7 the purest definition of "clutch"? How could he not prove his "clutchiness"? /stupid snarky response, worth of derision
posted by grum@work at 03:53 PM on June 22, 2005
Man, does anyone realize how good Chauncey Billups really is? He's making Tony Parker look really bad. Yes. My guess for who has a big game tomorrow night: Brent Barry. He had a semi-breakout in Game 6, and that's without getting hot from behind the arc (I thought he was really aggressive attacking the basket instead). He is too good of a shooter not to finally put it all together, and I think it will be he, not Horry, who will produce best off the bench for S.A. (Horry will, however, have the requisite 2-3 big plays in the 4th quarter when the Spurs appear on the verge of gagging.) Billups and Ginobili will be phenomenal. Pop will make the better coaching moves (unless LB pulls out the Hack-A-Dunc, but I think he respects TD and the game too much to do that). Spurs win by 6.
posted by smithers at 04:28 PM on June 22, 2005
MANY OF YOU MAY BE AMAZED AT WHAT THE PISTONS ARE DOING AND (HOPEFULLY) AFTER GAME 7 YOU WILL BE EVEN MORE AMAZED BUT ME BEING FROM DETROIT THIS REALLY DOSENT SURPRISE ME FOR THE PAST 2 AND A HALF YEARS THIS HAS BEEN THERE M.O PLAYIN THE RIGHT MEANS DOING IT THE HARD WAY I TELL ALL MY FRIENDS (AND ALL THE PISTONS HATERS) THAT THIS IS HOW THEY DO THEY NEVER WIN WHEN THEY R SUPPOSED 2 THEY ONLY WIN WHEN THAT HAVE 2 AND SINCE THE SO CALLED EXPERTS R SO CAUGHT UP IN NUMBERS I HAVE A COUPLE 4 U OVER THE PAST 2 YEARS THE PISTONS ARE UNDEFEATED WHEN FACING ELIMATION UNDEFEATED WHEN THEY HAVE THE CHANCE 2 CLOSE OUT A OPPONENT AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST UNDEFEATED IN GAME 7'S SO HAVING THAT SAID WHY WATCH ON THUR LOL !!!!!!!
posted by DETROIT DIESEL at 04:56 PM on June 22, 2005
Hey, I'm from the Detroit Area, and I gotta admit, I didn't think the Pistons would beat them last night. They haven't beaten the Spurs at their house in 8 years. But, hope can be a wonderful thing, and mine were realized when the Pistons showed them that not only are they human at home, but they can be humbled as well. And what about Billups on the line.....Awesome, just awesome.
posted by Caligrafix at 05:06 PM on June 22, 2005
The Spurs had their chance- Pistons win going away
posted by daddisamm at 05:35 PM on June 22, 2005
I CANT HERE U!
posted by yerfatma at 05:38 PM on June 22, 2005
Sweet jeezus, another captard.
posted by lilnemo at 06:11 PM on June 22, 2005
You know, with "captards" on both teams, it's really hard for me (non-partisan) to cheer for EITHER team to win. No matter what happens, it's going to guarantee a flood of "TOLD YOU !!1!!11!!! WHO R DA BEST!!!one!! MY TEAM IS NUMBAR ONNE!!!" posts. Any chance they'll cancel game 7?
posted by grum@work at 06:24 PM on June 22, 2005
Of Battle of the Captards or the NBA Finals?
posted by lilnemo at 07:10 PM on June 22, 2005
You know, with "captards" on both teams, it's really hard for me (non-partisan) to cheer for EITHER team to win. This is how I feel after reading a thread on any other sports forum. It's a wonder that I give a damn about sports at all. Anyways, this is more or less shaping up as I thought that it would. I'm still calling the Spurs in a squeaker (with Manu making the last shot), but my respect for the Pistons has grown enormously this series (despite some of the whinging).
posted by avogadro at 08:47 PM on June 22, 2005
Anyone notice that the Spurs have lost every game this series where there was only one day off between games?
posted by apoch at 12:07 AM on June 23, 2005
This has been an excellent series, even though Im a SPURS fan. I have lots of respect for the pistons, and the teams have respect for each other which is nice. SPURS will take it at home tonight, but I wouldnt mind playin the pistons again next year to defend the title.
posted by Rage Rod 74 at 02:40 PM on June 23, 2005
The San Antonio Spurs are the NBA Champions!!!!!!
posted by Rage Rod 74 at 11:06 PM on June 23, 2005
They're still playing? (*yawn*) (KIDDING.)