Game Time: Miami vs Detroit

Listening to the Detroit-Miami game

• Miami jump out to a 11-4 or a 13-4 lead …. some score keeping problems.
• Shawn Marion has 6 quick points while Wade has been creating off the dribble and setting up his teammates.
• Mark Blount is supposedly in great shape coming into training camp this year
• Diawara, Blount and Quinn have started alongside Wade and Marion. As for Detroit, as reported Amir Johnson replaces McDyess in the starting lineup, otherwise no changes. McDyess checks in after Detroit cuts it to an 11-9 Miami lead. Stuckey is in too.
• Wade with a backdoor cut, Blount hits him, Wade finishes inside. Pistons overplaying Wade.
• Young Joel Anthony checks in for Mark Blount. The 6-9 big man will be playing center this season and is the squad’s best shotblocker. He’s gotten good reviews early in training camp so one to keep an eye on as an emerging role player.
• Stuckey with a jumper off the elbow
• Maxiell with the alley oop, nope, Marion the other way, ahead to Cook, three pointer on the way, miss, rebound Detroit, ahead to Stuckey, he drains another jumper. Quick offense from Stuckey.
• Beasley enters the fray
• Herrmann and Banks also join the action, Walter immediately picking up a foul and putting Detroit in the penalty. Diawara takes two, makes two.
• Beasley with the steal, fouled, timeout. He’ll shoot two. Misses the pair.
• Detroit outrebounding Miami 10-1, but the Heat have forced 5 turnovers and outscored Detroit 8-2 in the paint.
• Herrmann nails the long J off of the dish from Billups. I’m hoping we see more of Walter this season, he’s a player, he belongs on the court, he’d be great for Miami (or San Antonio or 20-25 other teams) but that’s another issue entirely.
• Cook with the ball fake from three, gets Stuckey off his feet, drives baseline, and hits the layup
• Anthony gives away a silly foul 25 feet from the rim. Detroit restart it, Basden fouls, more FTs. The game is tied at 18 before the freebies. Herrmann steps up for the FTs, hits both, Detroit lead.
• Billups misses a 20 footer, Herrmann with the hustle play getting a tap on the ball and knocking it out to a teammate.
• Beasley misses the long three
• Detroit hold for the final shot …. 20-18 Pistons … Stuckey up top, Cook defending, Stuckey drives, off the glass, miss.

Second Quarter

• Another turnover for Detroit, Banks comes the other way. Over to Beasley, fakes the shot, then passes, three second violation inside, they thought Beasley was shooting.
• Beasley snares a rebound. He’s defending Wallace.
• Beasley inside, shot fake, lefty drive, crossover, muscles up the layup with the right hand, fouled and finishes. Hits the FT.
• Stuckey driving and fouled …. “Stuckey looks like he’s already in mid-season form” …. Rodney has 7.
• Basden dribble drive shoots off the elbow, miss.
• Herrmann drives, takes the runner, misses, offensive rebound, putback good. 7 points for Herrmann.
• Good defense by Detroit, Miami working against the clock, Banks with 5 seconds trying to get it up, down to two, shoots, loses it. Kwame Brown did a great job there knowing the clock was against Miami, showing on a screen and forcing some time away. On the other end Kwame finishes inside.
• Timeout Miami
• Miami’s offense sounds like it’s struggling without Wade out there. Lot of passing with little pressure being exerted on Detroit over the past few minutes.
• Stuckey toying with Banks, nice hesitation and crossover dribble to take Banks off balance, draws the foul.
• Cook into Anthony, fumbles it, to Beasley, loses it ….. turnover, Basden steals it back, hits Banks, three pointer, nails it. Detroit lead by 9 now, they’ve taken control of this game ever since Wade sat down.
• 33-24 Detroit
• Wade dribble drive, into the paint, runner, blocked … Stuckey flies down the court and scores the easy two. He has 11 points on 6 shots, that’s the difference in the game right now. Wade draws the foul on Afflalo, shoots two, makes both.
• 7 to play in the half
• Pass intercepted by Wade, one mad fastbreak, curling right to left, layup over Stuckey
• Stuckey’s shot blocked, Wade fouls Kwame trying to get the loose ball
• Chalmers checks in for the first time
• Afflalo air balls the shot. Chalmers contesting the shot.
• Wade falls over, loses the ball.
• Another turnover, third straight possession with a turnover, Rasheed with the backdoor pass but his teammate wasn’t paying attention. Timeout, Miami down 7.
• Detroit shooting 48%, Miami 33%. The announcers are saying that Detroit are moving the ball very quickly, especially on reverse passes.
• Wade sets up Blount again, about the fourth time he’s gotten Blount an open shot, from 18 feet, hits it.
• Kwame Brown trying to back his way into the paint out of the post, gives up, out to Stuckey, 20 footer, miss.
• Marion alley oop to Blount, two points. Blount has 9. Miami on a 8-0 run. Marion has been quiet offensively since the fast start.
• Stuckey misses another shot. Commentators don’t think he’s doing a good job getting his teammates going, looking for his shot too much.
• Blount posts inside, Detroit front the post, pass over the top, Blount gets it and is fouled inside to avoid the easy two. Blount has four boards to go with his 11 points.
• Pistons with another offensive rebound, reset the offense. Amir Johnson tries to post up, dips his shoulder into Blount, offensive foul and turnover. Good work by Blount.
• Chalmers passes inside to Blount, fouled. The commentators like the vision from Chalmers on the backdoor cut from Blount. One of two FTs made.
• Tie game 35-35
• Cheik Samb turns the ball over. That’s their 13th turnover. Miami have 5.
• Wade with a beautiful move inside but throws away the pass, steal Prince. Another turnover.
• Detroit miss on the other end, Chalmers chips in with a rebound. Chalmers is getting involved out there.
• Bynum with the runner off the glass opening his account. Wade comes right back down the other end, draws the foul, will head to the line after a timeout.
• Wade with another interception, ahead to Chalmers, he jets ahead, then measures his run for Wade to jon, back to Dwyane, right handed slam.
• Bynum doing a good job pressuring the ball, making life difficult for Chalmers.
• Amir Johnson taps the offensive board back up and in, off of a miss from Alex Acker.
• Timeout Miami as the second half is coming to a close. This is the play I’m sure we’ll be seeing all season, high pick and roll with Wade, Wade drives inside, Detroit collapse help off of Mario Chalmers, Wade dishes to Chalmers in the corner, three pointer on the way, good. That’s one of the many reasons why Chalmers will be a great fit next to Wade.

Halftime

• 43-42 Miami lead at halftime
• Chris Sheridan pops in for a halftime interview. Talking about the half. Feels Beasley was a little lost offensively, but did a good job defensively albeit against a passive Wallace. Thinks the Heat got back into it when Wade moved to small forward ….. Sheridan feels Wade was the best player on the USA team this summer, and also that Bosh was close for team MVP ….. Sheridan likes the Celtics to win the East, doesn’t feel there is anyone close to them. In the West, Sheridan likes both LA and Houston, loves the Artest addition, feels they’re the two best in the West and hopes they play in the Western Conference Finals …. Elton Brand the best free agent signing, Baron Davis a close second.
• Detroit have 15 turnovers. Billups leads the way with 3, Herrmann and Rip have 2 apiece, 8 other players have 1 turnover each.
• The Pistons are pounding Miami on the glass 24-15. Afflalo and Prince combined for 9 boards, nobody else has more than 3. Shawn Marion and Blount have 60% of Miami’s rebounds, they need more well rounded contribution on the backboards. Miami was out-rebounded in 66 of their 82 games last year, finishing last in the league last year.
• Wade and Blount have 23 of Miami’s 43 points. Marion is the third leading scorer with 6, all scored in the first five minutes. Nobody else has more than one basket. For Detroit, Stuckey and Herrmann have 21 of the team’s 42 points … but they also have Rip and Billups combining for 9 more points.
• Suprisingly (turnovers), Detroit has taken just as many shots as Miami and have made two more of those shots. Both teams had 36 shots, Detroit making 16. The Pistons have only 2 extra offensive rebounds over Miami …. 7 more turnovers. Odd. Okay I think the scoreboard is incorrect, Miami can’t miss 22 shots, have 4 offensive rebounds, and Detroit have 24 defensive boards. The math there is just wrong.

GSW – Hornets scoreboard

• Warriors lead 53-46. Azubuike leads the Warriors with 10, but have a balanced act with 7 players having between 4-7 points. Ronny Turiaf with 4 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists … odd stat line.
• Ahh … Tyson Chandler has only played 5 minutes and has one rebound. Still the Hornets outrebounded GSW 27-22.
• My preference for the second unit has played most of the half for New Orleans – Mike James, Devin Brown, Julian Wright, James Posey, Hilton Armstrong. Ely and Bowen got some minutes too.
• Chris Paul played the most out of the starters playing 10 minutes. None of them have done anything special. Only two dimes for Paul, team assists low for NO without their playmaker.
• Brandon Wright has played 9 minutes, almost twice as much as Anthony Randolph. Bellinelli and Marcus Williams playing also off the bench.

Second Half

• Chalmers, Wade, Marion, Beasley, Blount to start the second half. That’s my pick for the starting lineup this season. Magloire and Padgett are on the bench and have yet to enter.
• Bullet pass by Wade to Beasley, Beasley takes a dribble steps out of bounds.
• Wallace posts up inside, quick turnaround after the pass from Billups, turnaround J, high bounce off the rim and in.
• Chalmers with the steal, fastbreak, two on one with Wade, alley oop, turnover, Wade loses his shoe. Good hands by Chalmers to get the steal.
• Chalmers and Beasley playing the two man game, back to Beasley for the long J, misses badly.
• Beasley with a lefty hook off the glass, good.
• Wade drives inside, goes baseline, shovel pass to Beasley, slam dunk. That’s the 7th assist for Wade, he’s doing a fantastic job getting good shots for his teammates.
• Beasley and Amir battling inside, but called for the offensive foul, Beasley that is. Johnson comes back down the other end, looks for the pass, gets it inside, right hook, miss ….. Beasley hits the offensive glass, muscles up through Amir Johnson and draws the foul.
• Chalmers boxing out inside, trying to keep Amir off the glass, no use, Miami looks for an over the back, not given.
• Beasley spinning and finishing left. Nice move. Beasley heating up. Next possession, Beasley on the elbow, over to Wade, Wade looking to drive, stops pulls up for the jumper, miss, rebound tapped by Blount, Beasley fouled on the loose ball. Timeout. Great job by Beasley.
• Cook with a nice cut to the basket, gets the pass and layup.
• Chalmers steps out, Banks back in. Stuckey also checks back in.
• Close game … 58-55 Miami.
• Beasley takes Maxiell off the dribble with a left hesitation dribble, another bucket.
• Nice pass by a unnamed Piston to Maxiell for the open dunk inside. Under three minutes to play in the third, timeout, Miami up 1. The Pistons were up by 12 at one time, Miami’s high was 7 in the opening minutes.
• Beasley goes for the rebound, doesn’t get it, off Stuckey’s foot. 12 points in the quarter for Beasley. Leftys, right handed shots, drives, offensive boards, dunks. Showing a lot.
• The announcers discussing Stuckey at the point again and his intent on holding onto the ball, and at times over dribbling and looking for his shot too often. Not servicing guys like Rip Hamilton well enough. They feel that’s the one knock on him.
• Beasley misses a three, Rip running the other way, ahead to Stuckey, to Maxiell for the easy, foul Beasley. Not much contact but it avoids a basket anyway so it’s all good from Miami’s perspective. Maxiell ties it, and now puts Detroit up 1. Final minute.
• Cook with a step back J, missing. Announcers think he’s lost. Rebound Prince, to Stuckey, quick push Stuckey, to Rip Hamilton, three pointer, he has 12 points on 5-8 shooting. Tayshaun has 8 rebounds tonight.
• The trio of Stuckey-Hamilton-Herrmann (hasn’t played since) have 35 of Detroit’s 64 points. Sheed, Prince and Maxiell add another 18 points.
• Miami’s scoring isn’t as versatile. Beasley leads the squad with 16 points, Wade has 11, and that good burst from Blount gives them another double digit scorer with 12. Their next leading scorer? Marion. Still on those 6 points from the first five minutes of the game. Cook is next with 5 points on 2-7 shooting. Miami’s offense lacks weapons … Marion has to be a good go-to scorer for Miami to make the playoffs this season.

Fourth Quarter

• Cook squirrels his way into the lane, swatted by Maxiell. Announcers feel the Heat’s guards are doing a poor job now and have no organization.
• Magloire into the game and gets a rebound. Padgett is also in the game, posts up, hook shot, miss, offensive rebound Magloire, fouled inside.
• Miami waste the shot clock again with Banks at the point, kicked out to Banks to create a last second shot, doesn’t get it off. Second time he’s failed to get a shot off in time. Announcers say they’re not getting into their offense quickly enough, always below the 15 second mark, poor. Banks’ offensive skills as a point have held him back his entire career …. big season for him.
• Diawara nails a three. Must be one of those nights where he can shoot. Won’t last long.
• Another shot clock violation for Miami
• 8 minutes to play. Stuckey scoring again, commentators again point out his individualistic nature.
• Quinn just gets off the shot before the clock expires. Stuckey turns it over on the other end, 21st turnover costing 21 points, but only 6 turnover so far in the second half which is better. Cook nails a long three to tie the game.
• 6 minutes to play
• Lot of bench players out there now ….. big advantage for Detroit.
• Maxiell hitting the 19 footer on the right wing. Padgett answers right back.
• Afflalo to Stuckey, dribbling up top, drives, finds McDyess on the baseline from 15, hits it. Diawara answers with another jumper.
• Stuckey takes the shot looking for his 19th point, miss, defensive rebound Miami, fastbreak, Quinn finding Padgett on the break, slam dunk. Timeout Michael Curry.
• Stuckey gets another two at the line. Omar Bartlett subbed in, and is fouled straight away.
• Timeout with two and a half to play, Detroit will be heading to line afterwards and have a chance to tie the game.
• Quinn with a nice move inside, reverse layup up and it’s out, offensive rebound Padgett, fouled. He’s 3-4 for 6 points. Makes the first FT, and hits the second. Padgett is 6-11 240lbs with good passing skills and a solid high post player.
• Stuckey gets the ball, finds McDyess, jumper on the wing, he has 8 all in the fourth, ties the game at 82-82.
• Quinn drives, to Bartlett, on the wing, three pointer, missing.
• Stuckey trying to do it all himself on the other end, Chalmers picks his pocket, he races ahead, finds Padgett on the four-on-one break for the slam dunk. Timeout Michael Curry. Miami up two.
• The crowd is chanting defense
• High pick and roll with Stuckey+McDyess coming? …. Stuckey brings it back, no over to Afflalo who will work on Cook, they help of McDyess, McDyess gets it shoots it, misses it, defensive rebound.
• On the other end, Bartlett steps out of bounds when receiving the pass on the wing. Turnover.
• Stuckey high point left side, over to Afflalo on the wing, out to Herrmann, long J, miss, defensive rebound Miami. Chalmers fouled and he’ll go to the line. Chalmers is an excellent FT shooter. Miami lead by 2 with 15 seconds to play. Mario misses the first, makes the second. Heat up three. Timeout Michael Curry to set up a play.
• Crowd getting pumped up with some loud chants
• Herrmann up top, over to Stuckey, Rodney drives, muscles by Chalmers, and shoots from behind the backboard, with a looping shot over the backboard, and it’s good. Refs say it was from the side of the backboard rather than directly behind the backboard so it’s all good.
• Miami to inbound …. foul, two FTs, one of two. Timeout Detroit.
• Detroit can go for the win or the tie here
• Stuckey gets the down screen, is open, hits the open 16 footer. Tie game.
• 2.1 seconds … we’re going to overtime

Overtime.

• Yeah I don’t care enough to tune in for the overtime. Detroit will win this, they should have won this game several times already … they’re bench is far superior to Miami’s, this shouldn’t be a contest. Stuckey just fouled out with about four minutes to play, he had 23 points on 8-15 shooting. Detroit still have more about them. A minute later the announcers are criticizing Miami’s ability to get into their offense – it would help if they had a scorer on the floor.

Well done to both sides.

Edit: Pistons did end up winning the game, by four.

• Herrmann scored only 1 point in his final 18 minutes after scoring 11 in the first 7.
• David Padgett did himself the world of good with 11 and 6 in 17 minutes.
• Chalmers got the most minutes out of the guards but only because Quinn had a slight knock, and the offense ran the smoothest when Quinn was in the game. Chalmers contributed in more areas though. Marcus Banks looked like the third string. So that’s how the point guards have started for Miami as they battle for minutes.
• Magloire didn’t do much in his minutes. If I was Miami I’d be cutting him, but since he’s a vet with a rep he’s likely safe. Basden seemed to be pressing at times, and with poor end results, so that was disappointing. Bartlett didn’t do a whole pile either.
• Daequeen Cook had a poor game but he does have some scoring abilities which give you pause … needs better judgement though.
• As for the Pistons it’s everything you’d expect from them. Stuckey of course was the star of the show.

Golden State – New Orleans

• Brandon Wright didn’t play the rest of the way. Instead Anthony Randolph earned 14 second half minutes. He finished with 6 and 6, albeit with 4 turnovers. Bellinelli led the side with 14 points.
• Chris Paul and David West came out in the second half on fire and put ahead NO in control of the game. Paul had 13 on 6-7 shooting, while West went for 19 on 8-9 shooting.
• New Orleans played 7 bench players who all scored between 6-14 points so that’s nice. Mike James led the way with 14 and 5. Hilton Armstong tagged on 12 of his own.
• Tyson finished on 5 minutes, sitting as a precautionary measure after picking up a knock.