[box score] The Cavs kept it relatively close for half the game, that is the half that they had the league’s leading scorer LeBron James on the floor.
LeBron James didn’t come out of the lockeroom with the Cavs after the half and when he finally did it was in street clothes and a taped up sprained finger on his left hand. LeBron’s absence confirmed how much the Cavaliers rely on his production as the Pistons went on to route the Cavs by 35, their largest win of the season.
The Pistons led at the break by five, 43-48. The game looked like it was going to be a good one, but without LeBron Jimmy on the floor the Pistons did what they wanted when they wanted and it made for a pretty anti-climatic second half.
The Cavs Daniel “Boobie” Gibson played the spoiler in last year’s ECF, but in this game he was the weakest link. Chauncey Billups, Richard Hamilton, Flip Murray, and Tayshaun Prince all took turns abusing Gibson with post up moves on the undersized guard. Maybe that star Gibson had shaved into the back of his head was a bit premature?
The large second half leads gave Flip Saunders the chance to give extended minutes to primarily second unit lineups. Unlike previous games the bench did not relinquish the lead but rather added to it. The Pistons bench outscored the Cavs bench 45-24. The Pistons bench also accounted for 20 of the Pistons 43 team rebounds.
Richard Hamilton took a step forward in moving past his early season slump in this one. Rip led the Pistons in scoring with 18 on 8 of 14 shooting. Rip also had 6 assists. One thing that might be overlooked when talking about Rip’s slump is that his assist totals are up. Rip is averaging 5.1 apg, up from his 3.8 from last season. So, even though his offense has not been there in every contest he’s still helping put points on the board.
GAME NOTES:
- Solid contributions by everyone off the bench.
- Lindsey is still a ballhawk
- Maxiell led the team with 10 boards (3O/7D). He wasn’t just grabbing them, he was ripping them down.
- Cavs 40% FG, Pistons 58.4%
- Rebounds: Cavs 23, Pistons 43 (13 offensive)
- Assist: Cavs 14, Pistons 30
- Dice: 14 pts (6/8), 8 rbs
- Pistons had 9 blocks & 9 steals
- James didn’t play after halftime and still led Cleveland in scoring with 15
- Drew Gooden has traded in his hideous ducktail for an Al-Queda style beard. Appearently he and the Wizard’s DeShawn Stevenson have a beard growing contest.
- NO Cav had a positive +/- stat
- Pistons only 2/11 from beyond 3pt arc
QUOTES:
Flip Saunders on not letting up on the LeBron-less Cavs:
“This isn’t a sympathy league, but we would have liked to see LeBron stay in, because I thought we were pretty tuned in,” Saunders said. “I think we were ready to take it over in the second half.”
MORE RECAPS:
