Game 1, Round 2 Cleveland @ Detroit
Preview:
The Pistons now turn their attention to the Cleveland Cavaliers after a dominate performance against the Chicago Bulls. As well as being in possibly their best Form all year Detroit now have the boost of Howard Coming back from injury which will mean they have great match-up for LeBron is someone who has been playing as good as him if not better before his minor injury. The game plan for Detroit will definitely be to attack from their dominate duo in Billups and Nowitzki the two areas where Cleveland have massive holes and need massive improvement, for the Cavs they will try and use LeBron a lot on Offence and even try to get Shaquille O’Neal in foul Trouble. Although the task is made that much harder considering Detroit have only lost 1 home game this season out of 15-17 games. This means that the Cavs will have to get off to a good start like they have in their series Vs New Jersey or it could mean the game will be over extremely early. Therefore 3PK’S Prediction is the Detroit to jump out of the gates early and win 103-91.
Detroit starting 5
C-
S. O’Neal
PF-
D. Nowitzki
SF-
J. Howard
SG-
R. Hamilton
PG-
C. Billups
Coach–
Flip Saunders
Cleveland Starting 5
C-
Z. Ilguskas
PF-
D. Marshall
SF-
L. James
SG-
L. Hughes
PG-
E. Snow
Coach-
Mike Brown
LeBon-less Cavs survive 55-44 Pistons run with last second three
1st Quarter Round 2 of the Eastern Playoffs was underway as Ilguskas won the ball down to Snow. The Cavs then went to work with LeBron but Howard’s great defence prevented the bucket then set up the first score of the game for Detroit, From this Detroit set out to score and had an early 4-0 lead. But Cleveland came back strong with a two then 1-2 from the line to trail 3-6. Both teams then played and offence oriented game but Detroit were able to take advantage and break out to a 10-5 lead. Although LeBron then lifted his game scoring a few quick buckets to trail by just 3 when the news became terrible for Cleveland and James was fouled heavily and injured, forced to leave the game. At this stage Cleveland trailed 9-12, and this quickly turned around as Cleveland took a 15-12 lead without LeBron who wasn’t going to return for the remainder of the game. The Pistons continued to struggle and couldn’t end the run which was now 8-0. Until Big Diesel got into the game with a massive Jam which rattled the ring. Detroit then picked up their Defence but they still had very little offence, this was all true until Nowitzki finally got the scoreboard ticking over and they were right back in the game trailing 16-17. Although once again Cleveland excelled and took a 23-16 lead leaving the Pistons with no ideas. Although Howard then Lifted the team setting up Williams for the two with a good screen, then stealing the ball and assisting B.B Carpenter for another lay-up. Although this did not discourage the Cavs as they scored the next two baskets although all this did was anger Haslem who slammed the ball down after a great offensive rebound. From this Cleveland went mad in the last 30 second and took a 29-22 lead.
2nd Quarter The second quarter was a mirror image of the first as Cleveland went straight to work and had a early double-digit lead. Detroit then began to make simple errors and Cleveland had broken out to a 35-22 lead. The Pistons now new a change had to be made immediately calling a time-out but even this did no good as after two plays the lead was 38-24. But Dirk was determined to make a difference as he “schooled” Donyell Marshall with a monster 3 point play. But Cleveland were relentless and Detroit Continued to struggle missing Lay-ups and Dunks falling behind 42-27. But Dirk Continued his early game dominance as he kept the scoreboard ticking over until the finally got the deficit back to just 10 points (32-42). The news then worsened for Detroit as they fell behind by 15 and Shaq had a 3rd foul drawn on him. Although Dirk Nowitzki continued to be the only shining light in a dismal Detroit performance as they fell behind by 17. Detroit then began to be frustrated until finally things began to turn there way scoring two quick baskets thanks to brilliance from Josh Howard, Cleveland quickly hit back but Dirk Continued to be Un-Guardable as he scored his 2nd three point play. The Pistons then re-shuffled their line-up bringing B.B Carpenter and Williams in but they both disappointed missing an open three and then turning the ball over on the other end. The lead was now out to 20 in Detroit worst performance all year. Detroit then got a bit of respect back reducing the margin to 15 points with 30 seconds to go. But the last 30 second were once again owned by Cleveland who dropped 3 points to take a 16 point lead at the Half (48-62).
Players at the half
Detroit 
Dirk Nowitzki had a massive Half with 20 points, 2 rebounds and 2 steal
Cleveland 
Larry Hughes killed Detroit Back-Court with 20 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists and 4 steals
3rd Quarter Detroit came out with a scoring Mentality scoring the first to points, but then it all turned sour as Hughes made a three point play. Billups then lifted with the next two buckets to re-gain a bit of momentum for Detroit. Chauncey Billups then went crazy as the game was on again (Pistons only trailing by 8). Concern was then raised by Cleveland but they could do nothing to stop Detroit who was on a tear, with an 11-3 run. From here Cleveland was then able to hush the crows although this was temporally only as Billups got them back within 6. The Cavs then re-adjusted and kept at Detroit pace but Billups was relentless and scored his 12th points of the quarter. Cleveland then levelled their feet and took a 73-63 lead, until Detroit put the pedal on the medal again and scored the next 3 points. The game was now on and Without LeBron and with Hughes sitting on the bench no-one new where the scoring was going to come from but Pavlovic answered that question with two consecutive buckets to have them leading 77-66. Hughes then re-entered and the Cavs re-gained control of the game to take an 80-68 lead. But Detroit as had been the case all season never said quit when the going was tough and got back within 10 points. The word ‘quit’ was simply no-where in the Pistons dictionary as they got back within seven when the Cavs suffered yet another injury this time Sarunas Jaskevivius. Although Cleveland once again found momentum from an injury as they took the lead back out to 9. Once again Detroit played it’s Trademark Basketball and got the score back to 75-81. The form then kept rolling for Detroit and especially Billups and B.B Carpenter as they had the game within 1 point. Eric Snow then provided one more highlight sinking a half court shot to make it 83-79 going into last.
4th Quarter Then the one and only B.B Carpenter (MR. Unconscious) (Mr. Clutch) made a impossible three to make it once again a 1 point game. Both teams then levelled up at 86-86. This was the first time all game Detroit had been tied after the 1st minute of the game and they looked to take the lead although both teams wanted it and once again they were tied this time at 88-88. Billups then Gave Detroit the lead with 5:40 to go, but once again Pavlovic scored to tie it up for the 3rd time this quarter. From this stage the game was bucket for bucket as neither team got out to more then a 2 point lead. Both teams then traded one point leads until Cleveland took a 95-92 lead. The Pistons then worked inside and drew many fouls but Shaquille O’Neal went 0-4 and the deficit continued to grow. The pistons then began to play dismally were lucky to be trailing by just 7 points. Detroit then made another one of their min runs but was quickly shadowed out as Pavlovic kept the scoring going. Although from here Turkoglu dominated a tired Pavlovic at SF and got them within 3. Hughes then got going and the game began to slip away from Detroit, although they never gave up and with 47 second to go they trailed 101-99. The game then stayed close and Cleveland had one chance to put away the game but fell short and Detroit tied it up with 10 second left. Then the game was Lost when Marshall hit a contested three pointer and the Cavs won 106-103
Quarter By Quarter Score line
1st Quarter 
Detroit trail 29-22
2nd Quarter 
Detroit trail 62-48
3rd Quarter 
Detroit trail 83-79
4th Quarter 
Detroit lose 106-103
Player Quotes
LeBron James “ I was really disappointed when I went down with the injury early In the game but I’m really happy the team was able to come away with the win in the end.”
Dirk Nowitzki “ I thought I played one Half of Basketball and the team played the other half of the game, I’m just disappointed that I couldn’t do more and now we’ll have to re-group and send the game to a deciding 3rd game.”
Flip Saunders “ we played our worst basketball of the year and it was simply not good enough next game at Cleveland we will have to play two Superb Halves to come away with the win. I just thought that we got carried away and this was a game we had to win. Now the only thing we can do is focus on next game.”
Larry Hughes “ I just went out there with a mentality to score and do nothing but score and I guess it worked. I was happy with the fact out bench came on and contributed massively in the absence of LeBron and now we have to close it out next game @ Cleveland.”
3PK’s Game breaker:
Alexander Pavlovic 
Alexander was superb, actually better then superb in LeBron’s absence every time Detroit went on a run he stopped it and ignited one of his own. As Well as this Alexander performed in the clutch moments of the game and was a massive Game Break. Alexander finished with 18 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal
Notable performers

Dirk Nowitzki had 32 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks and 2 steals.

Alexander Pavlovic had 18 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal.

Chauncey Billups had 23 points, 3 rebounds, 9 assists and 6 steals.
Player Of The Game
Larry Hughes 
32 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals.
Statistic Leaders
Points 
Nowitzki 32, Hughes 32
Rebounds 
Ilguskas 11, Nowitzki 7
Assists 
Billups 9, Snow 7
Blocks 
Ilguskas 2, Nowitzki 2
Steals 
Billups 6, Hughes 4, Snow 4
Shooting percentage
Detroit:arrow: 46%
Cleveland 
47%
3-pt shooting percentage
Detroit 
30%
Cleveland 
50%
Bench points
Detroit 
30
Cleveland 
34
Injuries
Detroit 
None
Cleveland 
LeBron James, Sore Calf Muscle, Playable
P.S. All of the other results are on the 1st post (check them out)
Last edited by
3PK on Sat Jun 02, 2007 3:04 pm, edited 1 time in total.