Sheed and Maxiell Power The Pistons

Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals was like a carbon copy of game one. The final score was even the same at 79-76. It came down to the final play with the Pistons up by one and LeBron with the ball, but this time he didn't pass. He drove the lane, with Rip in front of him, put up the shot and missed. The rebound came off to Larry Hughes who had a wide open look but missed the 10 footer and Varejao missed the Hughes put back. Rasheed got the board, passed it to Richard Hamilton who was fouled and sent to the line with a second left on the clock.

Key Points:

• Just like everyone was talking about LeBron's pass in game one, all I keep hearing is that Rip fouled James when he was driving the to the hole but didn't get the call. Sure there was a little contact but that is how the game was being called all night. I am glad to see that the refs were consistent and didn't leave the game up to a call that could have went either way.
• Speaking of the no call foul, why isn't anyone mentioning that the Cavs missed both Larry Hughes's wide open shot or the Varejao put back. They had their chance and they didn't do it.
• ESPN's Chris Sheridan is crying foul. So much so that you would think he was being payed by Dan Gilbert.
  
• I am truly surprised at the Cavs defense, they have really been giving the Pistons (especially Chauncey) a hard time.
• I truly loath Varejoke more and more with each passing game. The name Clown Shoes comes to mind when I think of him.
• I don't know how the game sounded on television, but The Palace crowd was about as loud as I have heard them in years.
• Carlos Delfino came up huge in his 11 minutes on the floor. He not only did a great job on LeBron but he hit 2 HUGE 3's.
• One word...... SHEEDtastic

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• Tayshaun is 1-19 for the series. He was 0-for-8 last night.
• McDyess had a scare in the first quarter when he got cut in the mouth. A good thing came out of it though...Jason Maxiell.
• Christopher Roumaueh of Lake Orion made $50,000 for making a shot from midcourt during a timeout. Let me tell you the crowd went wild, along with Chris and the rest of the Pistons. Especially Sheed.
• "All that flopping, they need to make that a technical foul for next year. That's not defense in the fourth quarter and I'm glad we have veteran officials to see that."Pistons forward Rasheed Wallace, referring to Anderson Varejao's sprawl fall on Sheed's shot that gave Detroit the lead for good.
• LeBron received a flagrant foul for elbowing Webber in game one. If you haven't seen it, check it out. Looks like Bron takes lessons from Kobe.
  
• On the way home from the game I was listening to the locker room interviews and Chauncey said something that will stick with me forever. When asked about Cleveland's complaining about foul calls he said. "If they are crying that much what are the babies going to do?"
• Jason Maxiell got the crowd on their feet all game. This guy was a key to the Pistons win. The ally oop he converted was redunkulous.

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• Rasheed was the Pistons high scorer with 16 points, but his defense is what has been coming up big this series. In fact there has been a Need 4 Sheed this whole playoff run.
• The Pistons actually shot 47% from the charity stripe.
• The Cavs defense is causing the Pistons to uncharacteristically turn the ball over. They had 18 on Thursday.
• Bonehead tech by Mike Brown at the end of the game.
  
• As I was walking to my car at the Palace I saw a bus load of fans from Cleveland waiting to leave. Let me tell you that they looked devastated. That was a long ride home. Funny, Clevelenad fans are brutal, they talk shit even when their team is down. I am surprised there hasn't been some kind of incident considering the Cleveland fans I have seen this series.
• Mr Wallace, who hit the off balance game winning shot over LeBron, was happy that Varejoke tried his patented flop move. It just make it easier for Sheed to sink the shot while Varejoke was crying on the floor. Everyone knows you game Clown Shoes, it doesn't fly here in Detroit.

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• Drew Gooden, Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Larry Hughes combined for just 11 points.
• The Pistons were down by 12 at halftime but their usual 3rd quarter run got them right back into the game.
• The Pistons defense in the closing minutes of the game was key.
  
• Cavaliers sent two defenders at Billups when he tried to initiate pick and rolls, and again, it worked. Billups had five turnovers and only attempted seven shots.
• I am not going to complain about whistles, but I did notice that Chauncey couldn't get a call to save his life and LeBron looked like he traveled and palmed the ball on a couple of ocasions with no calls.
• Webber got some nice points in the paint, but he really had to work hard. Some easy ones just wouldn't go in.
• Did I mention that Maxiell had the best game of his career considering what is at stake here. J-Max put up 15 points with 2 blocked shots, 6 rebounds and a steal. Oh and he posterized LeBron.

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• "Our offense has just not been very good," said Billups. "And, of course, when you're at home and your offense is good, there's a lot of energy in the building. We have not given our fans a lot to cheer about in these two games with the exception of our defense."
• Sheed loves to be dramatic, especially when he hits those important 3's.
  
• Is anyone going to Cleveland for games 3 or 4? If you are I would love to know.
• The Pistons, along with their fans, know that they have to play a lot better in Cleveland to win.
  
• Someone in the crowd had THIS (one of my wallpapers) as poster, but I didn't get to see what it said on it.
• FEELING LUCKY: When he stood up from the podium after his sit-down with the media, Wallace asked the media if anyone knew what the lottery jackpot currently was worth.