#1 Detroit Pistons at #2 Miami Heat
Game 6 - Friday, June 2nd, 8 p.m. Eastern
The Pistons are arguably the most resilient team in NBA playoff history after improving to 11-2 in elimination games since 2003, including 3-0 this year after Wednesday's 91-78 win in Game 5. Detroit is tied for the most wins ever under such circumstances over a 4-year period and can set the record with another victory. "We just came out aggressive like we talked about and played Pistons basketball," Pistons point guard Chauncey Billups said. "There's pressure on them now, now that they are home." Meanwhile, Miami star Dwyane Wade dispelled that thought and believes the pressure is still on Detroit. "Ain't no pressure on us at all, we have a golden opportunity to win Game 6 on our home floor," Wade said. "They're the defending conference champions, there's no pressure on us."
Miami's role players clearly play better at home, and insiders believe that will be the difference in Game 6. Antoine Walker, Jason Williams, Udonis Haslem and Gary Payton combined to make just 11-of-36 shots from the field compared to 20-of-35 for stars Wade and Shaquille O'Neal. Detroit's Tayshaun Prince has also been a completely different player on the road in this series, averaging just nine points and three rebounds in the two games at Miami compared to 23 points and eight boards in three games at home. Prince had the best offensive game of his postseason career in Game 5 with 29 points on 11-of-17 shooting to lead the Pistons.
The Heat made only 6-of-20 free-throw attempts in Game 5 and obviously can't afford to do that again in Game 6. Miami also made just 28-of-47 shots from the charity stripe in Game 4 for a 51 percent clip over the last two games. On the other hand, the Pistons finished strong in Game 5, making 9-of-10 from the free-throw line in the last 3:10 alone to outscore their opponent for just the second time in 13 games during the fourth quarter.
DET are 2-9-0 ATS in their last 11 games overall.
The pistons are 8-0 in game six playoff appearances since 2003 season, including 6-0 on the road. Also since 2003, in games where a loss could end the pistons season they are 11-2 and have outscored thier opponents by an average of 13.2 points in those games.The Pistons have gone Under the posted total thier last 10 games . The Miami Heat over the last two years, are 16-3 in the first two rounds of the playoffs, including 4-0 in close-out games.But in the conference finals facing the Pistons both times, they are just 6-6, including 0-3 in close-out games.Some food for thought guy's
Miami -3.5 vs Detroit
It is well documented that since 2003 the Pistons with their backs against the wall are 11-2. All of this will change tonight as I feel that "THIS YEAR" in the "Play-OFF Season" Miami is clearly the better team. Throw out the frist two Piston games against Milwaukee and the frist two against Cleveland and you see a Piston team that has struggled mightily. Cleveland could have and should have won game 6 at Cleveland. Detroit has not shown me enough overall grit,determination and most of all "Fire Power" that I would have enough confidence to take them tonight.
The Heat will come out with a lot of fight and hussle tonight. Coach Riley is clearly the better coach in "THIS SERIES". I am not taking any undue credit away from Coach Saunders and the Pistons 64 wins this season, but lets get real here, there are about 5 or 6 other coaches that could have coached this Piston team to about the same amount of victories, all Coach Saunders did was micro-manage this team and not rock the boat or disturb the chemistry that already pre-existed. I will not even mention Wade and Shaq as I see the key to this game being the "Role" Players. Haslem and Peyton and the rest of the bench will out perform McDyess and Hunter and the other bench players of the Pistons. Just like in game four, I do not see Billups and Prince having outstanding games and this will be the key factors in this game. It will not shock me at all to see Wallace "Implode" and pick up at least one technical.
This will not be a blow out but a grind-em'-out down and dirty low scoring affair, however at the end of the day the Heat will prevail.
My Pick
Changing of the Guard
Miami -3.5
GLTA
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