Pistons at Cavaliers, 4.21.09, Round 1, Game 2

I will be participating in a Live Blog (link) on PistonPowered.com during the game. Piston Powered is a Detroit Piston's blog that is a part of the ESPN.com TrueHoop blog network. During the Live Blog, I will discuss the game, the state of the team, and will be available to answer questions. Thanks to Dan Feldman of Piston Powered for helping set this up.

Matchup: Detroit Pistons at Cleveland Cavaliers
Series: 1-0, Cleveland
Spread: Cavaliers -11.5

The Pistons will attempt to even the series after suffering a beat down in game one. Detroit’s offense had some success in game one, but the defense was brutal. The team has likely paid quite a bit of attention to shoring up its defense during the two days between games. Hopefully, the concentration on defense will not lead to a drop-off in Detroit’s offensive production.

While the Cavaliers are heavily favored once again, recent history may be on Detroit’s side. The Pistons are a remarkable 9-0 in the second game of a playoff series over the last three years. Flip Saunders took plenty of heat for his inability to get to the team to the finals, but he deserves praise for that 9-0 record. In the first game of a playoff series, teams employ their series strategies and feel out their opponents. It is in that second game that coaches have a chance to break down their opponents and make adjustments to their schemes. The fact that Saunders had a perfect record in such games while in Detroit reflects well on his ability to make in-series adjustments.

For the Pistons’ game-two winning streak to reach 10, the defense must find a way to turn LeBron James into a volume scorer. The Pistons can live with him scoring 38 points again, so long as it takes him upwards of 30 shots to do so. If James is again able to score nearly two points per shot attempt, the Pistons are doomed.

As Magic Johnson explained during the 1991 finals, the margin of victory is meaningless. If the Pistons can eke out a win tonight, the series will be tied in spite of Cleveland’s dominating performance in game one. As much as I’d like to see that happen, I can’t imagine this Piston team beating LeBron James on his home floor.

My Pick: Cavaliers by 14

Update:
Final Score: Detroit 82, Cleveland 94
Notes:

• LeBron James is playing basketball at a higher level than any perimeter player this millennium.
• If this Cavalier team has a weakness, I can’t spot it. Their bench is a little thin, but they have enough quality players to fill out a playoff rotation. Aside from that, this team does everything well.
• The difference between the current Pistons and the contenders from the past several years starts with the interior defense. Ben Wallace is gone and the remaining players – Rasheed Wallace, Antonio McDyess, and Tayshaun Prince – look older and slower by the day.
• Will Bynum, Arron Afflalo, and Amir Johnson led a 20-2 fourth quarter run. When the Pistons finally pulled within single digits, Amir Johnson was pulled and Cleveland immediately regained control.
• Delonte West and Mo Williams were the primary beneficiaries of all of the defensive attention LeBron drew.