HoopsVibe

Game one of the first round series between the proud unit formerly known as the Pistons and this year’s media bandwagon Cavaliers was nothing more that an example of what the 2009 season has been for Detroit.

In Cleveland’s 102-84 opening victory, a game that slowly became a blowout, the once big-bad Pistons continued to blow defensive assignments, lack the necessary offensive aggressiveness in the wrong moments (like settling for those damn jump shots), and seems very uninspired to compete when challenged.  

The game plan was a good one, take advantage of mismatches and get to the rim.  It worked for the first 20 minutes of the game, and then methodically things went south.  Rushed jump shots and long faces aren’t going to get it done boys!

The Cavaliers were led by Lebron James (sorry I don’t do nicknames of opposing star players) with a robust 38 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists, thanks to a Piston defense that would’ve had a difficult time monitoring high school hallways at lunchtime. Watching James get to the rim for lay-ups, dunks, or to find WIDE open teammates would no doubt make Bill Laimbeer cringe.

If the game effort wasn’t bad enough, viewers were subjected to the 2-hour slurpfest (and I am being very kind) of the leagues darling Clevelanders. All of the MVP talk, the team’s antics during pregame warm-ups, and Mauk (Mark) Jackson and that “Momma there goes that man” crap; kinda makes you wonder if the media even notices that there’s another team on the floor.

I’m not hating on the Cavs and what they have going, they’re a great team but, the bottom-line is that the Pistons just flat out have to play better because, they have little to no room for error. 

So here’s for better in game 2.

[image: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kw111786/]