Write On Sports LLC - "Crazy 'Sheed leads the Pistons" by Jake Lloyd

Crazy 'Sheed leads the Pistons

2007-05-25 09:45:26 | By: Jake Lloyd

Rasheed Wallace may be crazy. His histrionics may go a bit beyond the realm of sanity (I personally liked the one during Game 6 against Chicago when he jumped straight in the air, gawking simultaneously, after getting whistled for some call against the Bulls).

His actions can get pretty hilarious.

But Rasheed Wallace isn't just some crazy dude. He's also the oil that makes the Pistons' engine run. He's the essential piece of the puzzle, the piece that you absolutely need in order to complete the puzzle, which otherwise resembles a mess. His ankle injury probably didn't get enough credit for the Pistons' flameout against the Heat a year ago (no, Ben and Flip squabbling didn't help matters, but if 'Sheed was healthy, Detroit might have won that series).

And his play is one of the main reasons the Pistons are up 2-0 on Cleveland in their best-of-seven Eastern Conference finals after another 79-76 win Thursday night at The Palace of Auburn Hills.

In the final minutes, usually reserved for Chauncey Billups, 'Sheed was the man. He scored 10 of his 16 points in the fourth quarter, including what turned out to be the game-winning, ridiculously difficult fadeaway baseline shot with about 24 seconds remaining.

After tangling with Anderson Varejao, who thought 'Sheed pushed off (Varejao may have a point, but at that stage of the game a player can't expect a call), 'Sheed caught the ball close to the baseline and in one motion turned and shot.

Butter. Ballgame.

“What now?” 'Sheed must have said as he wheeled back downcourt. Actually, that's the clean version. But who really cares?

I've said it before: When 'Sheed is playing with that chip on his shoulder, when he feels he has something to prove, when he's angry... the Pistons are close to impossible to beat. He can shoot over anybody. He can post anybody up. He can shoot from inside. He can shoot from outside.

He's Mr. Versatility, and on Thursday -- not to infringe on your territory, Chauncey -- 'Sheed was Mr. Big Shot.

A VERY DIFFERENT LEBRON
So LeBron James definitely pays attention to what is said about him in the media. After being bashed by many media outlets, including myself, the past two days, James played much more aggressively on offense Thursday, taking the ball strong to the basket throughout the game (he even shot seven free throws, making five).

James didn't have a particularly good game, shooting just 7-for-19 from the field for 19 points, and committing nearly as many turnovers (6) as assists dished out (7). But he played with a greater urgency.

Despite five sets of Pistons' eyes locked on him whenever he touched the ball, James made a conscious effort to get to the basket and free throw line. And that opened up easy opportunities for his teammates.

Still, James showed once again that when the game is on the line, he isn't exactly Mr. Clutch. First he missed a free throw that allowed Wallace's fadeaway to give Detroit the lead. Then, in the final seconds, James drove to the hole, spun and was unable to hit a difficult, contested shot that any Cleveland fan will say he was fouled on.

And maybe so.

But you know how the NBA works. Unless a player starts getting to the basket consistently, and getting whacked more than a WWE fighter, he's not going to get the calls come crunch time. Dwayne Wade earned that status last year.

James still has a ways to go.

SAVE ONE TIMEOUT!
Despite James' miss, followed by a missed wide-open jumper by Larry Hughes and a missed tap by Aragon, the game didn't have to be over when Detroit's Richard Hamilton was fouled with 1 second remaining and the Pistons up by a point.

Especially if Cleveland coach Mike Brown had saved a timeout.

As it turned out, Brown instead picked up a useless technical foul arguing the no-call on James' shot attempt, Billups and Hamilton made free throws, then Hamilton missed his second attempt.

And thAragon (no, not great odds on that one).

If Cleveland had a timeout, however, it could have called it as soon as Aragon grabbed the rebound, giving itself maybe 0.7 seconds to inbound from midcourt and attempt a game-tying 3-pointer (again, not great odds, but plausible).

In a tight game, teams should always keep one TO in their back pocket in case a situation like Thursday's presents itself.