Post by ball4life on Dec 29, 2005 13:38:22 GMT -5
GAME: Miami Heat (17-12) at Detroit Pistons (23-3).
TIME: Thursday, 8 p.m. EST.
If anything can slow down the league-leading Detroit Pistons it might be Shaquille O'Neal.
Tim Duncan and San Antonio tried and failed in a one-sided rematch of the NBA Finals. O'Neal and the Miami Heat, who lost to the Pistons in last season's Eastern Conference finals, take their best shot at Detroit when the teams meet for the first time in 2005-06.
The Pistons, tied for the second-best 26-game start in league history, ride a season high-matching eight-game win streak into this meeting. The streak includes an easy 85-70 Christmas Day victory over the Spurs, who won the '04-05 title against Detroit in seven games.
The Heat have finally begun to resemble last season's 59-23 team since O'Neal's return from a knee injury that sidelined him for over a month. Miami went 9-9 without its All-Star center and is 6-2 since his return - which also coincided with Pat Riley taking over as head coach.
However, Detroit has gotten the better of O'Neal over the last two seasons. The Pistons cruised to a 4-1 Finals victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in 2003-04 before rallying from a 3-2 deficit to claim last season's Eastern title over Miami in Shaq's first season with the team.
In addition, the Pistons took advantage of O'Neal's absence (stomach virus) in the last regular season meeting for an 80-72 victory that snapped Miami's franchise-record 18-game home win streak.
The Pistons kept rolling Tuesday and improved to 4-0 on a five-game homestand - and to 11-1 at the Palace of Auburn Hills - with a 113-106 victory over Toronto.
Richard Hamilton scored 24 points and Chauncey Billups had 21 points and 13 assists as Detroit matched Phoenix's 23-3 start to last season.
The 1995-96 Chicago Bulls also went 23-3 before winning 18 straight but the 1966-67 Philadelphia 76ers and the 1969-70 New York Knicks share the NBA's best 26-game mark at 24-2.
Detroit's Rasheed Wallace insisted he's not impressed with the fast start.
"Our ultimate goal is not to have the best record, but to win that championship," he said.
Tayshaun Prince added 18 points, Rasheed Wallace had 16 and Antonio McDyess posted his second straight double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds.
Ben Wallace was elbowed in the lip by McDyess late in the third quarter and did not return, holding a towel over his mouth on the bench. The three-time Defensive Player of the Year finished with two points, seven rebounds, two blocks - and five stitches.
"He should be OK, but we felt he'll take enough hits on Thursday," said head coach Flip Saunders, referring to Big Ben's matchup with O'Neal. "He could have played if we needed him."
O'Neal scored 23 points Tuesday, but it was Dwyane Wade who was the difference with 14 of his 35 points coming in the fourth quarter in Miami's 109-98 home victory over Milwaukee.
With short jumpers or drives that ended in dunks or trips to the free throw line, Wade shot 10-of-14 from the field and 15-of-19 from the line.
"We came out and took care of business and that's the sign of a good team, coming out and making adjustments," forward Udonis Haslem said.
STANDINGS (through Dec. 28): Heat - 1st place, Southeast Division. Pistons - 1st place, Central Division.
PROBABLE STARTERS: Heat - F James Posey, F Haslem, C O'Neal, G Jason Williams, G Wade. Pistons - F Prince, F R.Wallace, C B.Wallace, G Hamilton, G Billups.
TEAM LEADERS: Heat - Wade, 26.3 ppg and 6.6 apg; O'Neal, 9.5 rpg. Pistons - Hamilton, 21.6 ppg; B. Wallace, 12.1 rpg; Billups, 8.6 apg.
2004-05 SEASON SERIES: Pistons, 2-1.
LAST MEETING: April 10; Pistons, 80-72. At Miami, Hamilton scored 17 points, Prince added 16 and the Pistons limited Wade to five points - ending his streak at 51 consecutive games in double figures.
ROAD/HOME RECORDS: Heat - 6-8 on the road; Pistons - 11-1 at home.
I think that Since the HEAT are on the road they will lose, but not by much, mabey 5 pts, but anything can happen, i hope the HEAT win.
your opinions oin the artical.
TIME: Thursday, 8 p.m. EST.
If anything can slow down the league-leading Detroit Pistons it might be Shaquille O'Neal.
Tim Duncan and San Antonio tried and failed in a one-sided rematch of the NBA Finals. O'Neal and the Miami Heat, who lost to the Pistons in last season's Eastern Conference finals, take their best shot at Detroit when the teams meet for the first time in 2005-06.
The Pistons, tied for the second-best 26-game start in league history, ride a season high-matching eight-game win streak into this meeting. The streak includes an easy 85-70 Christmas Day victory over the Spurs, who won the '04-05 title against Detroit in seven games.
The Heat have finally begun to resemble last season's 59-23 team since O'Neal's return from a knee injury that sidelined him for over a month. Miami went 9-9 without its All-Star center and is 6-2 since his return - which also coincided with Pat Riley taking over as head coach.
However, Detroit has gotten the better of O'Neal over the last two seasons. The Pistons cruised to a 4-1 Finals victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in 2003-04 before rallying from a 3-2 deficit to claim last season's Eastern title over Miami in Shaq's first season with the team.
In addition, the Pistons took advantage of O'Neal's absence (stomach virus) in the last regular season meeting for an 80-72 victory that snapped Miami's franchise-record 18-game home win streak.
The Pistons kept rolling Tuesday and improved to 4-0 on a five-game homestand - and to 11-1 at the Palace of Auburn Hills - with a 113-106 victory over Toronto.
Richard Hamilton scored 24 points and Chauncey Billups had 21 points and 13 assists as Detroit matched Phoenix's 23-3 start to last season.
The 1995-96 Chicago Bulls also went 23-3 before winning 18 straight but the 1966-67 Philadelphia 76ers and the 1969-70 New York Knicks share the NBA's best 26-game mark at 24-2.
Detroit's Rasheed Wallace insisted he's not impressed with the fast start.
"Our ultimate goal is not to have the best record, but to win that championship," he said.
Tayshaun Prince added 18 points, Rasheed Wallace had 16 and Antonio McDyess posted his second straight double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds.
Ben Wallace was elbowed in the lip by McDyess late in the third quarter and did not return, holding a towel over his mouth on the bench. The three-time Defensive Player of the Year finished with two points, seven rebounds, two blocks - and five stitches.
"He should be OK, but we felt he'll take enough hits on Thursday," said head coach Flip Saunders, referring to Big Ben's matchup with O'Neal. "He could have played if we needed him."
O'Neal scored 23 points Tuesday, but it was Dwyane Wade who was the difference with 14 of his 35 points coming in the fourth quarter in Miami's 109-98 home victory over Milwaukee.
With short jumpers or drives that ended in dunks or trips to the free throw line, Wade shot 10-of-14 from the field and 15-of-19 from the line.
"We came out and took care of business and that's the sign of a good team, coming out and making adjustments," forward Udonis Haslem said.
STANDINGS (through Dec. 28): Heat - 1st place, Southeast Division. Pistons - 1st place, Central Division.
PROBABLE STARTERS: Heat - F James Posey, F Haslem, C O'Neal, G Jason Williams, G Wade. Pistons - F Prince, F R.Wallace, C B.Wallace, G Hamilton, G Billups.
TEAM LEADERS: Heat - Wade, 26.3 ppg and 6.6 apg; O'Neal, 9.5 rpg. Pistons - Hamilton, 21.6 ppg; B. Wallace, 12.1 rpg; Billups, 8.6 apg.
2004-05 SEASON SERIES: Pistons, 2-1.
LAST MEETING: April 10; Pistons, 80-72. At Miami, Hamilton scored 17 points, Prince added 16 and the Pistons limited Wade to five points - ending his streak at 51 consecutive games in double figures.
ROAD/HOME RECORDS: Heat - 6-8 on the road; Pistons - 11-1 at home.
I think that Since the HEAT are on the road they will lose, but not by much, mabey 5 pts, but anything can happen, i hope the HEAT win.
your opinions oin the artical.
