James’ 48 tops Pistons’ best effort
We Haven’t Seen This Before
by Ryan Pretzer



The 2007 Eastern Conference finals had been considered a pretty mundane exhibition in playoff basketball up until Thursday night. Close scores, but not a lot of offense. Players from both sides made as many poor choices down the stretch as clutch plays. It was four games of good basketball, not great.
That changed two minutes shy of midnight Friday, when LeBron James capped one of the most memorable NBA playoff performances ever. And the Pistons, who did everything else for 58 minutes, couldn’t stop him.

Over the course of the fourth quarter and two overtimes, James scored 29 of Cleveland’s final 30 points. James’ layup with 2.2 seconds remaining (perhaps his easiest bucket of the night) capped a Herculean, 48-point effort – and the Cavaliers’ 109-107 double-overtime victory in Game 5. It is the most points scored by a Pistons opponent at home, topping Elgin Baylor’s 47 points 46 years ago.

For the second year in a row, the Pistons find themselves facing a 3-2 series deficit against Cleveland after winning the first two games at The Palace. But Thursday night was not about the Pistons’ desire or focus or execution, because it was all there.

At the end of regulation and the game tied at 91, the Pistons had more rebounds (38-33), more assists (18-12), more points in the paint (38-30) and more second-chance points (17-14). The Pistons also won the turnover battle, 10 to Cleveland’s 11, and only one had been committed by the much-maligned Chauncey Billups.

It was vintage playoff Billups Thursday. Trailing by one with 22.9 seconds left, Billups didn’t hesitate, knocking down a 3-pointer that gave the Pistons a 91-89 lead. Then James sent the game to overtime with a dunk.

There Billups was again at the end of the first overtime, making two free throws with 3.1 seconds left to force a second overtime. Billups had 21 points, seven rebounds and four assists – but not the winning basket, which rolled around the rim and off as the second overtime expired.

It’s hard to believe James’ exploits were put in early jeopardy when he received a technical foul for charging after Pistons forward Antonio McDyess, who was ejected for a flagrant-2 foul on Anderson Varejao in the final minute of the first quarter.

Chris Webber – coming off a two-point, three-rebound no-show in Game 4 – came through when his team needed him most, playing 30 minutes after McDyess’ ejection. No Piston has benefited from McDyess more than Webber, who has virtually shared the starting center minutes in this series.

Webber scored 11 of his 20 in the first half, including seven straight to help the Pistons take a 39-35 lead. Then on weary legs in the second overtime, buried his shoulder into Cavs center Zydrunas Ilgauskas to draw a foul and flipped a turnaround jumper. Webber’s three-point play gave the Pistons a 107-104 lead with 1:28 remaining, and the Pistons again had victory within sight – before James hit a 3-pointer on the next possession.

The Pistons even had their first halftime lead in the series, 52-51. The second half in Game 5 went just how it did in the first four games – with momentum moving fiercely in one direction or the other, and never staying put for long. Richard Hamilton scored eight of the Pistons’ 10 unanswered points during such a fourth-quarter run, which put the Pistons in control, 88-81, with 3:15 remaining. The Pistons then committed three straight turnovers, and James made sure this game reached the conclusion of his choosing.

Hamilton scored a team-high 26 points and made all 12 of his free throws. He is now the second Pistons player – along with Isiah Thomas – to score 2,000 postseason points. Hamilton has 2,017 points – and a chance to add to it Saturday in Game 6 at Quicken Loans Arena.

Playoffs

Hey guys I'm BACK,I'm so sorry that I've been on hiatus but I had problems with my blogger account. Here are the playoff games that the Detroit Pistons have been doing so well in(We are almost to the trophy).

DETROIT vs. ORLANDO
Game 1: at DET
DET 100, ORL 92 - Final
Recap | Box Score Game 2: at DET
DET 98, ORL 90 - Final
Recap | Box Score Game 3: at ORL
DET 93, ORL 77 - Final
Recap | Box Score Game 4: at ORL
DET 97, ORL 93 - Final


PISTONS vs.BULLS
Game 1: at DET
DET 95, CHI 69 - Final
Recap | Box Score Game 2: at DET
DET 108, CHI 87 - Final
Recap | Box Score Game 3: at CHI
DET 81, CHI 74 - Final
Recap | Box Score Game 4: at CHI
CHI 102, DET 87 - Final
Recap | Box Score Game 5: at DET
CHI 108, DET 92 - Final
Recap | Box Score Game 6: at CHI

PISTONS vs. CAVALIERS
Game 1: at DET
DET 79, CLE 76 - Final
Recap | Box Score Game 2: at DET
DET 79, CLE 76 - Final
Recap | Box Score
Highlights Game 3: at CLE
CLE 88, DET 82 - Final (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/playoffs/detchi)