Finished in Five - Pistons Take Down The Magic

Detroit set a NBA playoff record Tuesday night in their 91-86 victory against Orlando by committing just three turnovers in the game, none of which came in a tight second half. Down to the wire it went again as the Pistons, minus Chauncey Billups, showed The Magic they know how to close out games. It took a signature Tayshaun Prince Block on Hedo Turkoglu and key free throws by Rip Hamilton to seal the series for The Pistons.

The Pistons are now on their way to a sixth consecutive trip to The Eastern Conference Finals, they await the winner of the Celtics - Cavaliers series to begin their goal of reaching the NBA Finals again.

Key Points:

• Antonio McDyess a double-double with 17 points, 11 boards and a takeaway. McDyess was everywhere on the defensive end and it was Dyess that kept the Pistons in the game when they couldn't knock down a shot.
• Dyess played with so much heart, but that's nothing unusual, little did we know that he found out his Grandmother passed away when he got to the Palace before the game. "She was my mother, basically," McDyess said. "The most important thing for me is that she had an opportunity to see me play in the league and I had the opportunity to take away all of her worries financially." Via NBA.com . My prayers go out to Antonio and his family at this difficult time. I have said it before and I will say it again, I love Antonio McDyess.

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• Then there was his fury and determination that led to him to the foul line late in the game. It's just too bad his buckets got waived off.
• "It made me think she was looking down upon us, definitely, and I'll definitely dedicate this win to her because she never missed a game," McDyess said. "She always called me, always talking about the game. She loved the Pistons. To have the opportunity to win this game on such an important day of her passing brings tears to my eyes, pretty much. I tried not to think about it when I was on the court. She was definitely with me." Via The Detroit News.
  
• Just three turnovers in one game is an amazing feat. On the opposite end of that, the Magic were comically handing the ball over to Detroit all game long.
• What is a Pistons game without a Richard Hamilton to Tayshaun Price Alley Oop?
• Dyess post game interview.
• If there was ever a time to do this for Dyess...this is it.
• I don't know what it is about broadcasts but they don't quite capture the intensity or noise in the Palace. I can tell you with all honesty that I screamed, whistled and clapped so hard the entire game that I became dizzy. I am paying this morning with a headache and a voice that doesn't register beyond a whisper.
• So what if Dwight Howard put up a double-double, it was as if he wasn't even on court. Had he knocked down his free throws things may have turned out better for his tea. He went 6-for-15 from the line. I don't care what you tell me, the Pistons, the crowd and the pressure rattled him.
• Could Rodney have done better in Chauncey's absence? Stuck played like a vet putting up 15 points with 6 assists and 2 steals while running the floor like a pro. And how about this gem to Tayshaun Prince for the trey to put the Pistons up 76-70 in the fourth.
  

Courtesy of The Detroit Pistons, The NBA and TNT

• I will admit it now, I was a bit worried that Stuckey was in the game late in the fourth quarter, but he soon gained my confidence. I just kept thinking, this kid isn't turning the ball over. Little did I know until the post game recap by Blaha that not only didn't he turn the ball over the entire game, but the Pistons set the playoff record.
• The Pistons just 3 for 14 from downtown. Sheed himself was 0-for-6 and the entire crowd almost cringed in anticipation every time he put one up.
• I don't know what the broadcast showed, but Chauncey Billups was up on his feet barking orders to his team the entire second half.
  
• What a defensive effort from Detroit. It didn't matter that they could barely hit a shot, the D kept them in the game. As I was sitting in my seat in the fourth quarter I can remember the Magic being stuck at 70 points for an eternity.
• NBA.com Highlights of The Game.
  
• Rip started the game cold, but boy did he do his part to heat the game up. He led the Pistons with 31 points in 41 minutes, surpassing Isiah's record and leading Detroit to another trip to the ECF. Something must be said for his gritty defensive effort on Lewis while diving for loose balls and pickpocketing the ball 4 times. Rip made it a point to get to the line all game long, it was his late game free throws that clinched it for The Pistons. Mr. Hamilton was a perfect 16-for-16 from the line.
  

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• Rip didn't even see who blocked the shot late in the game, he just saw some flexin.
• Five Pistons in double figures.
• Rebound war lost 46-38.
• I always enjoy my ride home from the Palace by listening to Matt Dery on WDFN's post game coverage, but last night I got a chance to talk to him before he went on air. Long and short of our conversation....the Magic choked.
• Surprisingly Dwight Howard walked off court as Rasheed Wallace was walking over to shake his hand after the game. Turkoglu bolted too.
• Team Need4Sheed is calling for Tayshaun's MVP trophy already.
• The entire bench saw time on the floor, but Detroit got just 4 points from the bench. Three came from Lindsey and Maxiell's single point game from a free throw.
• How about Maxiell's block on Rashard Lewis that sent him tumbling to the ground.
  
• Stuckey's late game layup over Dwight Howard was HUGE. I swear to you I could just hear Blaha saying "Stuckey off the high glass and he hits it" in my head after the play. I don't care if you are Superman....Rodney isn't afraid of anyone.
  

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• "(Stuckey's) never going to back away," Saunders said. "I remember when he first started playing, I yelled at him about something and he came over and said, 'Why do you always yell at me and you never yell at Chauncey?' I said, 'I yelled at Chauncey a long time ago.' And the reason I am on him is because I think he can be a special player in this league." Via The Detroit News
• The Pistons didn't let the Magic score in fourth for the first 8:19 minutes of the quarter. Now that's some serious D.
• Stuckey named to the All Rookie second team.
  
• Though Theo played just 4 minutes, he had 3 key boards in that stretch.
• "It's an awesome feeling, but playing in the conference finals is something we feel we're supposed to do," he said. "That's just our confidence. We feel we have to make it to the Finals, the NBA Finals. That's our goal." Via The Detroit News
• Yes the Magic stepped out of bounds and kept posses ion, but the Pistons got their share of breaks this series so lets call it even.
• I have criticized Flip Saunders for years about his lack of adjustments, but did a heck of a job making adjustments this series and frustrating the hell out of Dwight Howard.
• Both Sheed and Rip were 7-for-20 from the floor.
• Credit Joe Dumars for the job he's done with this team. Thanks to Team Need4Sheed Captain Steve for the link.
• "Just because I went to a small school doesn't mean nothing," Stuckey said. "I believe in myself when I step out there. This is why Joe [Dumars] drafted me." Via ESPN
• Happy to be done with this guy, his team who talked too much and the hacks in the Orlando media. Hope your fishing trip is rewarding, our team had business to take care of.

Courtesy of The Detroit Pistons, The NBA and TNT

• Dumars talks to Chad Ford of ESPN about the potential preference between Boston and Cleveland.
  
• Who do you want to see Cleveland or Boston?