2005 NBA Playoffs: Face The Music
by Rob King
Renowned poet and musician Gil Scott Heron said that Black people never die in scary movies because they can hear the music that forecasts imminent danger. As soon as they hear the ominous melodies they respond accordingly.
As we all know a series does not begin until the home team loses. After watching four games where only the home team bothered to show up, fans and viewers were finally treated to competitive contests in games five and six. Game 5 featured Horry’s heroics, while Game 6 turned into Rasheed’s redemption.
On Sunday, the Detroit Pistons were poised to go up three games to two in the 2005 NBA finals when they became the latest victims of Big shot Rob. San Antonio forward Robert Horry’s three-point basket in the final seconds of overtime gave the Spurs a 96-95 game five victory.
Horry capped a 21 point second half with a final three-point dagger off a Manu Ginobli feed for the game winning basket. Everyone on the Pistons and in the Palace was familiar with Robert’s record in the final moments of playoff contests, yet he was left uncovered. Must be the music, or in this case Piston power forward Rasheed Wallace, who took full responsibility for the defensive lapse that left Horry uncovered behind the three point line.
Robert Horry’s game five heroics aside, San Antonio superstar forward Tim Duncan played horrible down the stretch Sunday. He had the worse 26 point 19 rebound performance in finals history. He missed crucial free throws, put backs and played real small in the clutch. Duncan wasn’t “tiny tim” during crunch time in Game 6 but he didn’t play like the best player on the court either.
After the first two games people were speculating on how many championships Duncan would win in his career. Now “Duncan Doubters” are wondering if Tim can win a chip without former Spur great David Robinson, who retired following the 2003 season. Robinson played a prominent role in the Spurs 1999 and 2003 titles. If the Spurs hope to secure their third championship in seven years “Tiny Tim” better play like "Mr. Big Stuff".
Tuesday the Spurs were the team that tuned out. How many times during the last two playoffs have the Pistons appeared beaten and left for dead only to bring “Ether” to the foolish foes that underestimate them. The men from Motown netted victory over Jersey in 2004 and withstood the Heat in 2005 when faced with 3-2 deficits. No road team has won Games 6 and 7 since the Finals went to its present 2-3-2 format in 1985. Ten consecutive loses in San Antonio, including games one and two of this year’s final. The Spurs had to know that such rhetoric meant nothing to “Dead Team Walking”.
Fueled by Rasheed Wallace’s desire to erase game five’s defensive gaffe, and directed brilliantly by point guard and team leader Chauncey Phillips, the Pistons demonstrated poise under pressure and won game six. The Pistons 95-86 victory evened the series at three and set up tonight’s showdown in San Antonio.
Constructed by Joe Dumars, and coached by “Love ‘em and Leave ‘em” Larry Brown these Pistons are a resilient bunch. The Spurs received that message loud and clear in game six. If the Spurs plan to beat the “Bad Boys” tonight they better bring silver bullets and stakes because the men from Motown don’t die they must be killed.
The stage is now set for the game seven showdown for the 2005 NBA title between the last two title teams. For tonight’s winner “it's your world” and for the losing squad the off season will feel like “winter in America”.
As we all know a series does not begin until the home team loses. After watching four games where only the home team bothered to show up, fans and viewers were finally treated to competitive contests in games five and six. Game 5 featured Horry’s heroics, while Game 6 turned into Rasheed’s redemption.
On Sunday, the Detroit Pistons were poised to go up three games to two in the 2005 NBA finals when they became the latest victims of Big shot Rob. San Antonio forward Robert Horry’s three-point basket in the final seconds of overtime gave the Spurs a 96-95 game five victory.
Horry capped a 21 point second half with a final three-point dagger off a Manu Ginobli feed for the game winning basket. Everyone on the Pistons and in the Palace was familiar with Robert’s record in the final moments of playoff contests, yet he was left uncovered. Must be the music, or in this case Piston power forward Rasheed Wallace, who took full responsibility for the defensive lapse that left Horry uncovered behind the three point line.
Robert Horry’s game five heroics aside, San Antonio superstar forward Tim Duncan played horrible down the stretch Sunday. He had the worse 26 point 19 rebound performance in finals history. He missed crucial free throws, put backs and played real small in the clutch. Duncan wasn’t “tiny tim” during crunch time in Game 6 but he didn’t play like the best player on the court either.
After the first two games people were speculating on how many championships Duncan would win in his career. Now “Duncan Doubters” are wondering if Tim can win a chip without former Spur great David Robinson, who retired following the 2003 season. Robinson played a prominent role in the Spurs 1999 and 2003 titles. If the Spurs hope to secure their third championship in seven years “Tiny Tim” better play like "Mr. Big Stuff".
Tuesday the Spurs were the team that tuned out. How many times during the last two playoffs have the Pistons appeared beaten and left for dead only to bring “Ether” to the foolish foes that underestimate them. The men from Motown netted victory over Jersey in 2004 and withstood the Heat in 2005 when faced with 3-2 deficits. No road team has won Games 6 and 7 since the Finals went to its present 2-3-2 format in 1985. Ten consecutive loses in San Antonio, including games one and two of this year’s final. The Spurs had to know that such rhetoric meant nothing to “Dead Team Walking”.
Fueled by Rasheed Wallace’s desire to erase game five’s defensive gaffe, and directed brilliantly by point guard and team leader Chauncey Phillips, the Pistons demonstrated poise under pressure and won game six. The Pistons 95-86 victory evened the series at three and set up tonight’s showdown in San Antonio.
Constructed by Joe Dumars, and coached by “Love ‘em and Leave ‘em” Larry Brown these Pistons are a resilient bunch. The Spurs received that message loud and clear in game six. If the Spurs plan to beat the “Bad Boys” tonight they better bring silver bullets and stakes because the men from Motown don’t die they must be killed.
The stage is now set for the game seven showdown for the 2005 NBA title between the last two title teams. For tonight’s winner “it's your world” and for the losing squad the off season will feel like “winter in America”.
posted by Guichard Cadet @ 1:10 PM
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