Pistons impressed with play of Cavs
The Cavaliers didn't just beat the Detroit Pistons on Saturday, they impressed them.
It's a two-way street. After all, just 24 hours before tipoff, Cavs coach Mike Brown was extolling the Pistons' starting five as the ``best-ever.''
But the way the Cavs beat the Eastern Conference's reigning dynasty, getting ahead of the Pistons by 20 points for just the second time this season with smothering defense and game-long intensity, it reminded the Pistons of themselves a bit.
``They come to play every night,'' Pistons defensive master Ben Wallace said of the Cavs. ``That's all you have to do in this league to be successful.''
More and more and much to the pleasure of Brown, that's what the Cavs are doing. At the end of the Cavs' last bump in the road, when they dropped seven out of nine games last month, Brown insisted his team was getting better at team defense.
The Cavs are 7-1 in their past eight games with impressive wins over the Pacers, Heat and Pistons, and their defense has carried them.
In the past four games, the Cavs' opponents are shooting just 41 percent. In the past six, they're shooting just 26 percent from 3-point range, once a severe sore spot.
It is further indication that Brown's help defensive plan might be starting to sink in. Or it could be a blip on the radar in which the Cavs have benefited from playing a string of games at home. The Pistons left thinking it was the former.
``I think they're playing well as a unit... they're tough when everybody can contribute like that,'' Pistons guard Chauncey Billups said. ``You have to give them credit.''
Pistons' grumbles
The talk among some Cavs players after the game was just how much the Pistons complain to officials about calls, a reputation that has been getting around the league this season. Saturday, both Rasheed Wallace and Antonio McDyess were hit with technicals for complaining about calls, even though the Cavs were called for more fouls and the Pistons took more free throws. The irony/coincidence is that the Pistons have had the fewest fouls called on them in the NBA this season and have taken 140 more free throws than the opposition.
Dribbles
Zydrunas Ilgauskas has three double-doubles in the past five games.... Taking advantage of Sunday's day off, Damon Jones flew to New York and appeared on ESPN's New Year's Eve coverage from Times Square.
It's a two-way street. After all, just 24 hours before tipoff, Cavs coach Mike Brown was extolling the Pistons' starting five as the ``best-ever.''
But the way the Cavs beat the Eastern Conference's reigning dynasty, getting ahead of the Pistons by 20 points for just the second time this season with smothering defense and game-long intensity, it reminded the Pistons of themselves a bit.
``They come to play every night,'' Pistons defensive master Ben Wallace said of the Cavs. ``That's all you have to do in this league to be successful.''
More and more and much to the pleasure of Brown, that's what the Cavs are doing. At the end of the Cavs' last bump in the road, when they dropped seven out of nine games last month, Brown insisted his team was getting better at team defense.
The Cavs are 7-1 in their past eight games with impressive wins over the Pacers, Heat and Pistons, and their defense has carried them.
In the past four games, the Cavs' opponents are shooting just 41 percent. In the past six, they're shooting just 26 percent from 3-point range, once a severe sore spot.
It is further indication that Brown's help defensive plan might be starting to sink in. Or it could be a blip on the radar in which the Cavs have benefited from playing a string of games at home. The Pistons left thinking it was the former.
``I think they're playing well as a unit... they're tough when everybody can contribute like that,'' Pistons guard Chauncey Billups said. ``You have to give them credit.''
Pistons' grumbles
The talk among some Cavs players after the game was just how much the Pistons complain to officials about calls, a reputation that has been getting around the league this season. Saturday, both Rasheed Wallace and Antonio McDyess were hit with technicals for complaining about calls, even though the Cavs were called for more fouls and the Pistons took more free throws. The irony/coincidence is that the Pistons have had the fewest fouls called on them in the NBA this season and have taken 140 more free throws than the opposition.
Dribbles
Zydrunas Ilgauskas has three double-doubles in the past five games.... Taking advantage of Sunday's day off, Damon Jones flew to New York and appeared on ESPN's New Year's Eve coverage from Times Square.
posted by Michelle at
2:31 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home