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PHOTO GALLERY
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| Recap | Box Score |
May 7, 2004
The Palace of Auburn Hills
Pistons 90, Nets 85 |
| Points: | (DET) 2 tied, 28
(NJN) 2 tied, 19 |
| Rebounds: | (DET) B. Wallace, 11
(NJN) J. Collins, 10 |
| Assists: | (DET) C. Billups, 13
(NJN) J. Kidd, 11 |
| Blocks: | (DET) B. Wallace, 4
(NJN) K. Kittles, 2 |
| Steals: | (DET) R. Hamilton, 4
(NJN) J. Kidd, 2 |
| Turnovers: | (DET) Williamson, 3
(NJN) 3 tied, 4 |
| Biggest Lead: | (DET) 15
(NJN) 12 |
| Fast Break: | (DET) 8
(NJN) 13 |
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POSTGAME QUOTES
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PISTONS.COM
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PLAYER OF THE GAME |
Chauncey Billups
Points: 28
Assists: 13
Rebounds: 4
Steals: 2
Minutes: 40
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Billups' Season Statistics
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Pistons Head Coach Larry Brown
“We made shots, we didn’t give them second shots. I don’t know if we can play any better than that. At half time we had five points out of our frontcourt players. In the second half, their contribution was tremendous. Chauncey just had an unbelievable game against a great player (Jason Kidd). I think you can say the same for Rip, the defensive effort Rushed had in the second half was tremendous, Ben’s energy, and Tayshaun just did all the little things. It was a great team win. I’ve learned one way to coach, my whole life. It’s about effort and unselfish play and trying to guard and trying to rebound. I mean there were things that they did to us (in the first half) obviously, that we talked about, but we never matched their energy. We allowed them to do all the things that they’re so good at. In the second half, I don’t know--I don’t know what to say about that kind of play. Our bench came in and gave us a lift. We just played great. I was grinning (about Ben Wallace’s three straight baskets in the third quarter). He (Wallace) was so discouraged in the first half because he had some opportunities that he thought he could make plays. It never affects him down on the defensive end. But his baskets were huge because we were struggling to score. But all year he’s gotten a little better and a little better. I’ve said numerous times that I think this summer is going to be the time that he is really going to improve in those areas. They didn’t guard him. They were fronting the post and dropping off. Collins did a great job of helping out. We just tried to get Ben when they fronted the flash high and get his hands on the ball and make a quick decision, I kept telling him that. But I didn’t tell him to make jumpers—he did that. I’m happy, why should you play a guy who is open and won’t shoot the ball? Well, one you keep him (Kenyan Martin) out of transition. I think that hurts anybody. We didn’t get beat on dribble penetration as much and he didn’t get to the offensive board. Then, I think individually Rasheed did about as good a job as you can do on him. He (Kenyan) made some great plays, but Rasheed’s length made it a little bit difficult. But he (Kenyan) was sensational the first half, as they all were, as we expected. I’d have been happy with more dunks, because I think we settled early. But they were huge, he’s (Rasheed Wallace) is a great outsider shooter. I like it when we go inside and then come out, or when we run a pick and roll and he (Wallace) pops. I think the defense he (Wallace) managed to play on a great player has gotten so much better. That was the key. I think they had to earn points. In the first half I don’t think they earned them, I just think they got them because they were so much more assertive than us. Maybe it’s the coach. They (Chauncey and Hamilton) know how much I respect them and appreciate them. Chauncey was great last year, but I think he was a little limited when he played the Nets. I think this year it has been a struggle for him because he has a guy that is coaching him that is demanding him to do things that maybe aren’t always in his best interest. But, I think they are in the team’s best interest. And Rip, of all the surprises that I’ve had has a coach he is the one. This guy has improved in every single area of the game—rebounding and defending, sharing the ball. He makes shots. He is one of the two guys in our league that has a mid range game and doesn’t settle. And he is bugging me to shoot threes. They’re a great backcourt no matter what happens. Jason, they don’t get much better. But I think this kid Chauncey is making tremendous progress. I think we held serve like my players talked about, and now we have to go up there and see if we can steal a game. I saw a team come out with a lot of pride on that opposite bench and I don’t expect anything but their best the next game. I’ve told our team that we have to play our best game. That’s what we’re trying to do. We played our best half, now we have to play our best game.”
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Pistons Center Rasheed Wallace
“We came out and played hard, and when you come out playing hard, there is no telling what you can do. In my opinion, they came out and beat us to every loose ball, beat us to get more rebounds. They out rebounded us in that first half. They were just a step too quicker, we just had to come out and play with more intensity.
ON HIS THREE POINT SHOOTING
“They’re just shots man, just shots. It really helped us keep the momentum and it helped fire up the crowd.”
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Pistons Guard Chauncey Billups
“They came out and they jumped on us a little bit. They definitely won that first half and we were not playing the way I know we can play. The third quarter was the large turning point, we were down double digits at the half but a huge run in the third helped pull us out of the hole we dug in the first half. It was great to have huge lifts from the crowd, the sixth man was key tonight. Rip played very well, especially on defense, he did the small things that will not be in the box score but they really helped us come away with the win.”
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Nets Head Coach Lawrence Frank
“We could never respond to their third quarter run. Obviously in the second half they’re forcing fifteen turnovers, contesting shots. That third quarter blitz, we weren’t able to respond. Their guards had a very good productive scoring night. We just didn’t get it done tonight. No, obviously we knew they’d come out with a great sense of urgency. They were in a position where they had to defend their home court and they did. Unfortunately, we couldn’t respond tonight the way we did in the first half. We just weren’t able to put 48 minutes together. We lost. I mean you win, you lose. We lost, we’ll get better. I don’t know if they’re (Piston’s backcourt) underrated, both were borderline all-stars. Rip Hamilton probably should have been an all-star and Chauncey just continues to get better. They have a very good backcourt and they shot the ball extremely well tonight. Obviously it was probably a pretty good lift for them. There is winning and there is losing. Obviously, we have to evaluate the tape. We know some areas where we improved; we had good contributions. But at the same time we lost and that’s what we are here for—to win the game. Unfortunately we weren’t able to get that job done. I think we’re going to be ready for game three. We were ready tonight. Detroit earned it through the regular season, home court advantage. They defended that home court.”
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Nets Guard Jason Kidd
“I think we kind of lost our patience. The start of the third quarter summed up the whole second half. We started off with a couple turnovers, never got any opportunity to shoot the ball and they caught fire. Those guys kept making shots after shots. You look up and then all of a sudden you’re down 12. We fought back and made it a game but they just kept plugging away and we just couldn’t get stops. Billups and Hamilton, they had a great game tonight. They set the tone for those guys by knocking down shots and by getting to the basket. If those two guys are scoring 28 a piece, you’re in for a long night. You have to give those guys credit. They were aggressive tonight. I wouldn’t say it was our best punch. We had control of the game up to half time. Sometimes you don’t want halftime to come because we’re in control. (On the Wallaces) Those guys are long. You beat one and there’s another one coming. I think when you look at the tape you understand you have to look to be aggressive but you have to understand that you have to be a playmaker sometimes too in that position. We’ve come a long way in three years and we’ve had some success now this is a bump in the road. Let’s see how we handle it. We have to push forward, keep pushing the envelope and keep playing hard.”
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Nets Guard Kerry Kittles
“They did a real good job in the third quarter and came out with a real sense of urgency. We didn’t maintain our poise and composure like we normally do and we gave up a good lead. They had a hot hand going, and we just didn’t go a good job of taking them out of their rhythm. We played a particularly well game but the game is for forty-eight minutes, not for just twenty-four. In the first half we played well and did some really good things, but in the second half we turned around and played a totally different game. We’re going home now and we definitely have to play better there. Somehow we have to find the energy to play consistently for forty-eight minutes and hopefully turn this thing around.”
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