Damn shame the refs had to be involved in the outcome like this. My question is: why couldn't they just wave off the basket, give the ball back to Detroit and have them start over? It's fair for both sides.
My opinion of SVG just dropped a notch. He is either a terrible strategist or doesn't have enough control of his team. Four completely boneheaded plays in the final 60 seconds: Rashard's crazy pass, Turkey-Glue's unbelievably stupid shot from straight-away, Rashard being WIDE OPEN from 3 and passing up the shot (I don't care what play was called, he was WIDE OPEN) which results in the Magic barely getting off a shot and the stupid off-the-ball foul giving the Pistons a free point. The Magic proved to everyone they are not ready for prime time. The Pistons were ready to lose this game. Unless the Pistons go to sleep, this series is over in 4 or 5.
The defining moment of the game came when, with about 2 minutes left, Rashard got the ball 5 feet from the basket with a chance to go one on one and tie the game up. Instead he wussed out and threw the ball out for a turnover. The Magic kept going to Lewis when they needed baskets down the stretch and he kept coming short. They need to stop trying to convince themselves that he is actually worth it. You would think SVG would be smarter than this. PS. SVG should have gone ballistic at the end of 3rd quarter when they messed up the shot clock. He was too calm with Steve Javie and Javie took advantage of it.
I too am disappointed in SVG's passive reaction to the late 3 pointer. He should have pitched a royal fit and milked it for everything it was worth. He also should have been in the officials face before they made the decision to count the basket. IMO, SVG has "Great Assistant Coach" written across his forehead.
That call on the Billups 3 was absolute garbage. Its a travesty that the refs didn't replay those 5.1 seconds. I thought refs kept a stopwatch in their pockets for situations like this? If so, they were waaaay off. Almost a whole second off. How was this not a last-second shot situation, where replay is allowable? Because the clock didn't read "0.00"? It should have. It was a clock malfunction. Either its a do-over, or a replay in my opinion. I'm not even a Magic fan, and I was absolutely livid about that call.
magic easily would've won that game if those 3 points were taken off the scoreboard. then with 40 seconds left in the game they would've been up 1 and hedo wouldn't have rushed that 3, the magic wouldv'e been playing with the lead instead of having to play from behind and end up fouling for free throws. sometimes nba basketball is awesome, but at times like this when common sense and reason could have easily solved a problem but didn't, the nba is a shamockery.
If the refs notice that the clock isn't running, they'll blow the play dead. But if they don't notice, then they can use their judgment and almost certainly not get the call right (as to the amount of time left)?? Makes sense. This is the NBA, after all.
You're one of those people?? Just because you void Billup's 3 ptr at the end of the quarter, it doesn't translate to 3 points taken out of the Pistons score with 40 seconds left in the 4th. Too many factors to consider.
i don't believe SVG is a good coach. I always look back to DWade's rookie year, game 6 vs. the pacers. He takes Wade out when they were down by three.... i understand Wade wasn't a great three point shooter.. but you don't take your best player out of the game in the last minutes.. I'll never forget that coaching mistake.
Are you kidding me? Sure that might/might not have been a good idea, but his teams have always overachieved. He got the most out of them.
Agreed he gets a lot out of his players. But come playoff time, too many bad decisions.. The Wade one stands out. But there were plenty which is why Riley took over when he did. He saw an oppurtunity to win a championship and also saw SVG wouldn't get them there.. I forgot what game it was, but the year the Heat lost to the Pistons before they won the title, i remember he had Keyon Dooling handling the ball in the key minutes of the game which cost them the game. (Dooling committed back to back turnovers) Dooling is a backup, no need for him to be handling the ball in key minutes of the game in the playoffs. I think SVG still has a lot to learn before he becomes a good coach.
I expected the Magic to have their finest hour in game 3 as often happens when the lower seed loses the first two games, but if they lose game 4 it won't mean anything. Chauncey's health could be the key to this series. I want the Pistons gone more than any other team, but I'm sorry he's hurt.
