Cleveland at Detroit: Game 1 Recap
The Pistons hang on to take the early series lead
By Vincent Thomas
Of course Game 1 was all about Bronny. First Conference Finals of his career, playing against his early-career nemesis — the game was going to come down to him in some way. But at first I thought I was going to end up writing about how LeBron did enough little things to squeak out a victory and steal home court advantage. During the fourth quarter, my boy Gee IM’d me, up in arms about LeBron having just six points and no free throw attempts, wondering how it was possible for Cleveland to still be in the game. I noted that Chauncey was having an equally horrible shooting night, plus umpteen turnovers and (as much as Magic and Kenny and Chuck want us to believe that no single Piston is very important) Chaunc his nearly as vital to the Pistons as LeBron is to the Cavs.
But then the kick out to Donyell Marshall happened and — once again — the talk of Bron’s killer instinct (or lack thereof) was front and center. I think Kenny said it best when he noted that Bron’s choice to swing the ball to Donyell for a potential game-winner wasn’t a bad pass, but it wasn’t a great play. Replays from multiple angles showed that Bron had beaten Tayshaun. With Tay on his huge right shoulder and Rip offering (in uncharacteristic Pistons-rotation fashion) weak help from the left, Bron could have easily gotten a bucket AND the foul. This dude is one of the greatest finishers in the game (maybe the best) and he elects to swing the ball to Donyell for a 22-footer when he was, like, 5 feet from the cup?! Word?! Who cares if Mike Brown designed that play or not? I kinda expect that from him. But like Barkley said after the game, in those situations, franchise players should almost have tunnel vision, specifically when a clear path to the basket presents itself like it did for Bron last night.
And, of course, like I expected, we got a lot of talk about how MJ trusted his teammates in similar situations — once with Kerr and another time with Paxson. First, they were entirely different situations. And second, one never even happened.
The most rational rebuttal for this flimsy rationale is that by the ‘93 (Paxson) and the ‘97 (Kerr) Chips, Jordan was no longer building his rep as a late-game hero. He had won enough games, dominated enough supremely important fourth quarters, suffered enough heartbreaks and weathered enough storms for his role on the team and own personal psyche to be as stable as it gets. Bron is still building his rep with himself, his squad, his opponents — everyone. The same way he took over in last-minute situations against the Wiz last season; he should’ve done so last night.
So having clarified the obvious difference in meaning and import for Jordan making a similar pass as opposed to Bron, you get to the actual game situations. Paxson took his shot in the final seconds of Game 6 against the Suns, down 98-96. Chicago was 3-2 in that series. Stakes are higher. We could say that, correct? Kerr stepped up and knocked down his mid-range winner with the Bulls tied 86-86 in a tight Game 7. He misses the shot, they go to overtime. Who you bettin’ on, Jordan or Malone? Yep.
Now as for Paxson’s shot, which people love to falsely remember as some example of Jordan trusting his teammate: That’s not how the play transpired. MJ didn’t kick it out to Paxson. Horace Grant did. MJ got the ball in the backcourt and swung it to Pippen when the trap came. Pippen took it from the top of key, drove hard to basket and dumped it off to Horace who could’ve put up a short 5-footer on the baseline. But Horace chose to kick it out to Paxson for three. If Paxson misses, I guarantee MJ is fuming at Pippen for not being a tad more patient and waiting for Jordan to come get the ball again and even more furious with Horace for passing up the gimme for a trey. What does LeBron do after Donyell’s miss? He’s slappin kats on the butt with this wack “it’s aight” expression his mug. It ain’t alright, Bron. YOU win the game. You are not John Stockton.
Kerr? It’s kind of simple. Jordan was triple teamed, saw one of the best shooters in NBA history wide open for a 16-footer and swung it to him, knowing that the game was tied and they’d have another shot were Kerr to miss. Even still, I think everyone was mad puzzled when watched that play live. It was like, “Wait, MJ passed it?”
I just doubt MJ, Kobe or even Wade-Melo would’ve passed up that bucket so that Donyell could “potentially” knock down a game winner. And enough with this going for the win on the road. Perhaps the Cavs were just a little apprehensive about taking things in OT. Seemed that way.
Magic said Bron was gonna rep hard in Game 2 and I tend to agree with him. We’ll see. If I had it my way, it’d be another close game and we get another chance to see how Bron gets down when it’s G-time. ‘Cause last night was disappointing.
27 Responses to “Cleveland at Detroit: Game 1 Recap”
May.22 at 1:46 pm
2G40 says:
first!
May.22 at 1:47 pm
2G40 says:
Great post Vince.
May.22 at 1:48 pm
white hot eboy says:
Vincent, great work. It’s nice to see someone write an article about Lebron from the SLAM fam that doesn’t involve calling out everyone else for criticizing the “Chosen One”.
May.22 at 1:51 pm
Ryan Jones says:
eboy: if you don’t quit criticizing the Chosen One, I’m gonna cry.
May.22 at 1:58 pm
white hot eboy says:
Ryan, on the real, I love Lebron’s game, it’s his attitude that bother’s me. And he seems like a good person as well. But when I watch an NBA playoff game that involves one of the top three talents in the league, I want to see him 1)succeed against insurmountable odds and 2) play like he really wants it. I support D-Wade’s game to no end, and I know for a fact that when he had the ball in his hands at the end of a close game for the Heat the last couple of years, 99% of the time he is going for the closeout himself, not the bailout. Lebron’s pass out to Donyell is a smart basketball play, but the best play is to man up and end it (or extend it) yourself. That’s just reality.
May.22 at 2:14 pm
Ryan Jones says:
Then we couldn’t agree more, eboy (well, not much more). I want to see those same things. And while I’m the first to admit I give LeBron the benefit of the doubt for personal reasons, I also think I watch him as critically as anyone because I have a pretty good idea of what he’s capable of. When I get really, really frustrated with him is during those games when he just sort of floats out of the offense for 5 minutes at a time and settles for long jumpers — that sh*t drives me NUTS. But last night didn’t bother me because I was trying to be realistic about the circumstances: first time in the Conference finals, playing on the road against an experienced, all-time-great defensive lineup. If he doesn’t come much harder in Game 2, then I’ll be pissed. You’re right about Wade, too, all I can say is that they’re very different players, and that last season, he had a lot more help than LeBron does, AND he did it against a Pistons team that was mentally a shadow of this year’s version, and then against a Mavs team that still hasn’t learned how to play D. But again, my point is: we all agree that what sets LeBron apart is his all-around game, so when faced with a layup that’s going to be contested by two terrific defenders or making a great pass to a wide-open teammate, I’m not going to kill him for making the decision he did.
May.22 at 2:30 pm
white hot eboy says:
Ryan, all your points are well taken, and I agree with you. I just want to see Detroit knocked off their pedastal but it might take another year or two (and a couple of more killer’s on his team) to have the Cavs representing the East in the Finals. I for one, would like to see Lebron and D-Wade go head to head for a conference final title just for the “wow” factor each game can provide. I’m sure the Sternbot could wrap his grubby fingers around that and contemplate the promos for the series in his sleep.
May.22 at 3:02 pm
Alpha-bet says:
As long as somebody rep a 23 on thier back, you got to get your ass whupped by Detroit, a couple times, before you can taste greatness.. LeBron is whats up, but you got to come thru the D to get that trophy..and we dont give it up easy….
May.22 at 3:07 pm
Ryan Jones says:
See, I like Alpha-bet’s explanation.
May.22 at 3:09 pm
white hot eboy says:
Alpha-bet, D-Wade had no problems with them Detroit boys. (Maybe because he is missing the 2)
May.22 at 3:16 pm
white hot eboy says:
And since Detroit and Miami has one ring each, there is no differentiating between the two’s Eastern conference ranking. Three years ago the Pistons were great, when they lost to the Spurs they were really good, losing to Miami last year showed their weaknesses and unless they pull it out this year they are lining up to be on the cusp of a team shift. Chauncey might ride without another ring. Webber will be gone. Rasheed will be itching to move, so their time is now. (C-Webb needs to comes through big in the Finals against the Spurs and we all know what pressure has done to Mayce in the past.)
May.22 at 3:59 pm
Boing Dynasty says:
Lebron James is really good at playing basketball.
May.22 at 4:16 pm
Billy Blanks says:
I’m so happy to see that someone explained that Paxson as it actually happened. Jordan wouldn’t have even got the assist if it was hockey on that play
May.22 at 4:35 pm
Mack So Fly313 says:
If Ludacris woulda hit tha shot then that woulda been all u heard was how unselfish and great of a pass and how he trust his teammates like last yeard when damon jones hit it. I wonder why damon jones dont play though he kills tha pistons he used to play here,
May.22 at 5:14 pm
YungLeBron23 says:
LeBron is stil younger than 72% of the ROOKIES in tha league..-n- he is a senior(4thyear) -n- yall expect him to make every shot..JORDAN said he missed mor shots than he made..same case for everyone!if Donyell woulda hit tha shot errybody would of been giving BronBron props but he miised it..LeBron was expecting him to hit it!-n- i was too…tonight Bron gone go all out..Detroit gots tha better team -n- LeBron will get a ring in tha Next 5 years..maybe not this year but everybody knows that he gots cleveland on his bacc!!LeBron stil gots my respect and love! LBJ23>
May.22 at 5:14 pm
Brian says:
Miami has never beaten Detroit when DET was healthy.
May.22 at 5:27 pm
BASKETBALLGIRL44 says:
LEBRRON MADE A GOOD CHOICE IN PASSING THE BALL TO MARSHALL SINCE HE NLY ENDED UP WITH 10 POINTS. MARSHALL SHOULD HAVE MADE THAT BUT THE CAVS NEED TO REBOUND MORE! IF ONLY THAT LONG DISTANCE SHOT WOULD HAVE WENT IN AT THE END OF THE QUARTER THE CAVS AND DETROIT WOULD HAVE WENT INTO OT AND THE CAVS ALWAYS SEEM TO COME OUT AND WIN IN OT. CAVS DEFINATELY HAVE GAME 2!
May.22 at 6:00 pm
Allenp says:
And Brian, Detroit never beat Miami when Miami was healthy. Dumbass argument.
May.22 at 7:41 pm
Garrett says:
Ryan Jones: Are you ever not at your computer? It’s like you’re plugged into a neural link or something.
May.22 at 9:24 pm
Kilo G says:
what happened on the sideline with lebron and that old ass dude? am i the only one who noticed that? that old fag wouldnt shut the hell up.i mean how would you like an 90 year old yellin through your tv speakers? the camera man should have moved two miles away cuz that dude yelled “HUSTLE!!!” like there was no tomorrow,otherwise that game was a load of douche reffing wise,sux that pistons won personally cuz i dont want to see a pistons spurs repeat in my lifetime til sheed retires,but theres hopefully no worrying about that,finals r gonna be cavs spurs,cavs being there i wish..
May.23 at 12:46 am
Jarren Smith says:
Lebron needes to man up and take this series into his own hands… he needs to play like he is the best player on the court and he is!!! J.Smith #20 MHS
May.23 at 4:22 am
JpT says:
Spurs-Pistons will kill NBA ratings!!! poor Sternbot
May.23 at 6:36 am
seppo says:
In the postgame press-conference LeBron came across as a lunatic. All this talk about he made the right play and that he doesn´t need to take a high number of shots to be effective. Bullshit. I think LeBron is manipulating the game on purpose, trying to prove to his critics that he can win games by passing.
May.23 at 8:21 am
Ryan Jones says:
8-5, Garrett. BTW, you take purty pictures.
May.23 at 11:52 am
Mike says:
Piston’s are DIRTY and have been since Lambier.
May.23 at 12:40 pm
Chelsee says:
Lebron is the best in the world
May.23 at 5:41 pm
Sidney says:
If the NBA was a legit league they would Suspend Lebron for the next game after his hit on Chris Webber in Game 1. Stu Jackson has already made precedent regarding this move in suspending Kobe not once, but TWICE. This was the same play, and not one writer has mentioned this. The talking heads on TV may try and bury this, but the NBA fans have taken notice and do not approve of this double standard when it comes to their meal ticket in LBJ. The video proof: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGnnN5BMXwE