A daily look at the big story of the day in sports as seen through the eyes of writers and bloggers all across the internet.
LeBron James caught a lot of flak for his fourth quarter play in the two Cavalier losses that opened their series in Detroit. He's not getting any after evening the series with 13 points, five rebounds and three assists in the final 12 minutes of last night's 91-87 win at the Q. His play over the last two games may be the one thing that will get the NBA Finals more than just hardcore basketball viewers. If James can lead his club past the Pistons it will become a hot story nationwide. Maligned all season for not lifting his own game and his team beyond where he was last season, James is doing everything he can to make all the detractors eat their words. You can be sure execs from the NBA and ABC are hoping he makes it happen because the prospect of the league's best team trying to win a fourth title against the league's best player in his first Finals is a story that will sell far better nationwide than the Pistons.
He'll still need to find a way to win a game in Detroit to complete that task and that's not going to be easy. It was an odd game last night. Several Pistons played well - Tayshaun Prince, Rip Hamilton and Antonio McDyess - so if you're looking for goat horns you have to look closely at two of the team's other stars. Chauncey Billups played better than he had in the first three games. With Larry Hughes out of the lineup for most of the game, Daniel Gibson did everything he could and played a great offensive game. Billups appears to be too big and strong for the rookie and that matchup is one Detroit is sure to exploit for the rest of the series but Chauncey still turned the ball over too much and took too many threes. Hughes was totally ineffective in his 16 minutes and clearly is hurting you have to think Gibson will be an attack point for the Pistons. But does Billups have enough in the tank to make it happen?
Rasheed Wallace seemed to lose his cool after a hard foul from Drew Gooden early in the fourth. He started barking at teammates, throwing his headband after a defensive breakdown and picking up a technical, and hoisted some bad shots down the stretch that helped seal the Pistons fate. His volitility hasn't been a secret for a very long time but Wallace needs to keep his head about him when Gooden tries to get under his skin in the next couple of games. The Pistons can't win without an overwhelming team effort and last night two of their key players let them down.
I'm sure a lot of Detroit fans are probably upset about that last foul on Rip Hamilton. He did intentionally impede Eric Snow, but I have the feeling that in Detroit that's over-and-back.Speaking of Rip Hamilton, how did he not get more touches down the stretch? His shot was falling nicely. (True Hoop)
If the Pistons don't wake up, it could be the Cavs facing the Spurs, and while that may make NBA Commissioner David Stern and all the television executives happy, it would be a huge under-achievement for this Pistons team. (Quo Vadimus)
This was the game Detroit really wanted, and its focus was there. But the Cavaliers are very good -- especially defensively -- and they're making things awfully tough on the Pistons. Game 5 is Thursday, and there will be plenty of tension at the Palace. And if Gibson keeps knocking down threes and opening up the floor for LeBron, Detroit could be in some trouble. (Steve Kerr)
Sadly, it can no longer be said that the hallmark of this Pistons team is an uncanny ability to close games late — all of the experience in the world couldn’t prevent mistake after mistake from piling up when it mattered most. And uncharacteristically, Chauncey Billups was the main culprit, making some of the most boneheaded, un-clutch plays I’ve seen from him in years. (Detroit Bad Boys)
Before I write this I'm telling you I don't know if it is true, it is complete hearsay. That's why it's in a blog and not a story. But some PWK (people with knowledge) whispered to me tonight the Pistons are having some chemistry problems in the locker room right now. Again, I don't know the team and I don't know the locker room. I am just passing it on because it's from a reliable source. It is interesting, though, that Wallace got a technical foul for yelling at his own teammate tonight. (Brian Windhorst)
After the Spurs-Suns series was ruined by a hard-headed, stupid rule (once again, correct ruling, but of a horrible rule) this is the NBA's only shot. LeBron doesn't even have to win the championship, the NBA will benefit by him being there. The sports world will be abuzz with talks about how he will perform in his first finals appearance. If you think that he is under the microscope now, watch what happens if he can somehow get his Cavs past the Pistons. All eyes will be cast toward the NBA finals, and all of them with mouths attached to critique and say what should be done. (Just Call Me Juice)
(AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
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