Mar

30

Detroit Shuts Down Cleveland 85-71

Posted by Jeff Sack under Main 

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The San Antonio Spurs can play a smothering defensive game, but in this observer’s opinion, when everything is going according to Hoyle, there is no better team to play lock down defense in the NBA in 2008, than the Detroit Pistons. Detroit had one of those games Saturday night as they held the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 36.5% (27-74) and they shut down Cleveland 85-71. Ironically though Cleveland found out after the game that they have made the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs for the third year in a row. The Cavaliers backed? into the Post Season because the New Jersey Nets also lost Saturday night.

Detroit controlled this game from the outset, and did not take their foot off the Cavaliers throats until the game was long decided in the fourth quarter. The Pistons jumped out to a 29-18 lead at the end of the first quarter. They then extended their lead at the half to 49-33. The game truly ended in the third quarter as Detroit led at the end of the period, 72-50. The fourth quarter was nothing but extended garbage time.

Richard Hamilton led the Pistons as he scored 14?points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 block, in the Detroit victory. Chauncey Billups scored 13 points, 4 assists, 2 rebounds, Jason Maxiell came off the bench and also scored 13 points, 3 rebounds, 1 block.? Antonio McDyess recorded? a double-double 12 points, 10 boards, 2 assists, 1 steal, Tayshaun Prince also scored 12 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals.

Cleveland was led by LeBron James who scored 13 points, 5 assists, 4 rebounds. Zydrunas Ilgauskas scored 11 points, 5 rebounds, 1 steal, Devin Brown scored 11 points coming off the bench, 2 assists, 1 steal. Joe Smith scored 10 points, 5 rebounds, in the loss for Cleveland. Detroit now improves to 52-21, the loss made it mathematically impossible for them to get 50 wins for the third season in a row as they are now 40-33.

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