Pistons - Lakers Game Five : Stream of Consciousness

Live takes on the Big Game

SALINE, MICHIGAN  JUNE 15, 2004

My "live" notes on the game as it happened.

- Ok, Aretha Franklin is doing the national anthem and is clearly not actually signing.  There's a tape rolling in the background.  I guess everyone's tired take about "the fat lady singing" tonight didn't hold.  Bad omen?  Who lip syncs the national anthem?

- ABC chose not to do the starting line-ups with Mason doing the PA work.  This was disappointing.

- They showed Karl Malone in street clothes.  He has been useless and even a liability this series.  It is best for Lakers that he sits.

- Jack Nicholson flew out for the game.  Epic.  I remember he came to the games back in 1988.

First Quarter notes:

- That freak Medvedenko has hit 3 straight shots to give the Lakers a 6-4 lead.  That guy is not going to beat them.

- Kobe drills a shot and now the Lakers have built a 6 point lead and are looking pretty focused.

- If the Lakers had a good point guard I think they'd be unstoppable.  The Glove is trying to penetrate and dish but he's too old.

- Shaq Fu just picked up his second foul very early.  They're going to have to pull him.

- The Pistons are battling back now.  Come on now.  Billups (Mr. Big Shot) just drove and scored to take the lead.

- The end of the first, Pistons up 25-24.  A little faster paced than they'd like, but the Pistons are getting better shots.

Second Quarter notes:

- Hank Williams, jr. is sitting next to Kid Rock (Bob).  Doc Rivers loves it.

- Rasheed just grabbed Shaq and stopped an easy lay-up.  Got to do it, but that's #2 on Sheed now. 

- Rip just threw down an epic dunk on a hustle breakaway.  The Lakers can't keep up with the Pistons speed.

- Jack is all incognito.  Lid riding down low.  Shades as always.  Who do Jack's people call to get his tickets?  The Lakers?  Brokers? 

- The 'president of beers' commercials for Miller are so weak.

- Quietly the Pistons have opened up a 7 point lead.

- Kobe is trying to take this game over like he did at the end of Game 2, but he hasn't yet.  They haven't worked it into Shaq as much as I figured they would.  Kobe is 3-10 from the field.

- Per Jess, this game is "boring" with all these fouls.

- The refs are calling this game a lot tighter.  They're calling fouls off the ball.

- Big Ben just drilled a 15 footer and he was off balance.  Wow.

- Okur is in the game.  I don't think he played at all in game 4.  And he drilled a 10 footer.

- #3 three on Shaq - that's big. He drilled Okur in the grill moving to the hoop.  He's out of the game.  Watch for Kobe to go nuts and take all the shots.

- Pistons need to take advantage of this right now.

- They just showed Rick Fox's greasy grill.  Jess screamed when they showed him.

- Okur is jacking a 3 - and made it.  Coach Brown is going to pull him.  Not the shot he wants.

- Okur scored again.  Big contribution from him.  He's a free agent next year and I think he wants to show his goods.

- Pistons are up 10 and can get the last shot....no good.  Up 10 at half and looking solid.

In the second half they'll have to keep it up and keep going at Shaq.  Pistons up 55-45.

Third Quarter notes:

- Sheed jacks a three to start the half.  Nice. 

- Big Ben grabs another offense rebound - three already in the first three minute.  If they keep that up the Lake show is in trouble.

- Sheed gets his third foul - bad call - Shaq just plowed into him.  We'll see if Brown takes him out.

- Another foul on Sheed - brutal, that's four now.  And a good call that time.  That hurts.  They put in Baby Huey, Elden Campbell.  Lakers look poised for a run.

- Gary Payton is not helping this team at all.  He just jacked up a bad shot.  Kobe or Shaq should be taking 90%+ of their shots.

- Billups has been quiet.  I think Kobe has been locking down on him.

- Shaq stands a foot behind the free throw line.  Not sure of his theory on that.

- Huge sequence - big dunk by Ben, then layup and foul on Big Shot.  And one.  Nice.

- Larry Brown's daughter, err, wife is getting a lot of air time.

- D. George gets a stupid T, now Pistons are up 15.

- Dude, they just showed the replay of Rip Hamilton getting jacked by Gary Payton.  Rip gets hit in the face more than any cat I know.  He should wear that mask 24-7.

- Lakers shots aren't falling.  And the Pistons keep pounding.  They're beating them up bad.  Where's Kobe?  Piston up 19 with 1 to go in the quarter.   Two wild shots by Kobe - no go.  Ouch.

- Up 20.  Up 21.

- Let's see if the Lakers completely melt down or try to battle.

- Kobe misses a lay-up.

- Big Ben at the line.  Holy - they just said Ben has 10 rebounds in the quarter!

- Prince coast to coast-ahh - up 23 - unreal.  82-59.

Fourth Quarter notes:

- Kobe is going to take every shot he sees - or just grump up and not shoot.  I think the former so we'll see.  We could see some crazy stuff.  They've made big comebacks before against the ropes but this is too much.

- Shaq's on the bench?  Say what?

- Hunter gets the steal.  Pistons up 25.

- Lakers a pressing full court.  Ok old men, bring it on.  Whatever.

- Kobe's taking all the shots.  Sheed is back in.

- Al Michaels said something about the Lakers trading Shaq.  Right!  You can't trade Shaq Fu.  Shaq trades you, bro, not the other way around.

- Big Ben has been an absolute monster this game.  Just got a rebound jam to put Pistons up 25.  He just jacked a three - airball - but why not?

- Now Shaq is drilling all his free throws.

- Sheed with the fade away.  The Game!  The Game!

- Shaq is out of the game.  No mas!

- Under 2 minutes to go.  They are talking MVPs.  I guess I'd take Chauncey Billups, too.  Tonights MVP is Big Ben, but for the series I guess it is Mr. Big Shot.

- They are up 21, and now have 100.  Wow.  What a crush.

- Darko is getting to the line.  Rip is showing everyone his greasy mask.