Team Need4Sheed Podcast #17: Tayshaun Prince - The Eastern Conference Finals Boston or Cleveland?

Now that the Pistons are on their way to the Eastern Conference Finals Bennie and Jeff talk about Tayshaun Prince's performance in the playoffs as well as posing the question "Boston or Cleveland?"

Don't forget you can e-mail Bennie and Jeff at gameday@woodradio.com or as always you can leave them your thoughts in the comments.
Team Need4Sheed Podcast #17

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The Nike Air Force 1 Rasheed Wallace 1World Edition

Photo Highsnobiety.com

Many of you have asked me, "Where can I find the Air Force 1's Ra has been rocking on court all season long?" Well up until now I wasn't sure Nike would be releasing them, but sure enough Highsnobiety.com confirms the release.

Joe Dumars on ESPN's First Take

After Tuesday's win against Orlando, Joe Dumars was a guest on ESPN's First take. Joe talked coaching, what's more rewarding, to win as a player or GM, the big layoff, Detroit's next opponent and most importantly what The Pistons need to do to win the Championship. It was a phone interview, so I didn't feel the need to put up the video. Here is an audio rip of his segment.

Joe Dumars on ESPN's First Take

Audio Courtesy of ESPN
Thanks to Team Need4Sheed member Junior for the heads up.

Playoff Week Four - Stardock / Need4Sheed Giveaway

The Winner of the Week Three Stardock Giveaway was
Sharjeel Fraz, Congrats Sharjeel!
For those of you who didn't win this go around you still have a chance.

I have another wonderful Pistons Desktop courtesy of Stardock to give away.

Stardock will be giving away 1 downloadable Pistons Theme a week during Detroit's playoff run. Here is your chance to snag one for Week 4.

Send the answer to the trivia question to:
need4sheedcontest@gmail.com
Subject line: Week Four
With your Name
and Email Address

I will be picking a winner randomly from the correct submissions. Deadline for this one is Monday May 19th, so send away.

Which Detroit Piston appeared in one episode of the television show "Land Of The Lost?"

Finished in Five - Pistons Take Down The Magic

Detroit set a NBA playoff record Tuesday night in their 91-86 victory against Orlando by committing just three turnovers in the game, none of which came in a tight second half. Down to the wire it went again as the Pistons, minus Chauncey Billups, showed The Magic they know how to close out games. It took a signature Tayshaun Prince Block on Hedo Turkoglu and key free throws by Rip Hamilton to seal the series for The Pistons.

The Pistons are now on their way to a sixth consecutive trip to The Eastern Conference Finals, they await the winner of the Celtics - Cavaliers series to begin their goal of reaching the NBA Finals again.

Key Points:

• Antonio McDyess a double-double with 17 points, 11 boards and a takeaway. McDyess was everywhere on the defensive end and it was Dyess that kept the Pistons in the game when they couldn't knock down a shot.
• Dyess played with so much heart, but that's nothing unusual, little did we know that he found out his Grandmother passed away when he got to the Palace before the game. "She was my mother, basically," McDyess said. "The most important thing for me is that she had an opportunity to see me play in the league and I had the opportunity to take away all of her worries financially." Via NBA.com . My prayers go out to Antonio and his family at this difficult time. I have said it before and I will say it again, I love Antonio McDyess.

Photo/Getty Images

• Then there was his fury and determination that led to him to the foul line late in the game. It's just too bad his buckets got waived off.
• "It made me think she was looking down upon us, definitely, and I'll definitely dedicate this win to her because she never missed a game," McDyess said. "She always called me, always talking about the game. She loved the Pistons. To have the opportunity to win this game on such an important day of her passing brings tears to my eyes, pretty much. I tried not to think about it when I was on the court. She was definitely with me." Via The Detroit News.
  
• Just three turnovers in one game is an amazing feat. On the opposite end of that, the Magic were comically handing the ball over to Detroit all game long.
• What is a Pistons game without a Richard Hamilton to Tayshaun Price Alley Oop?
• Dyess post game interview.
• If there was ever a time to do this for Dyess...this is it.
• I don't know what it is about broadcasts but they don't quite capture the intensity or noise in the Palace. I can tell you with all honesty that I screamed, whistled and clapped so hard the entire game that I became dizzy. I am paying this morning with a headache and a voice that doesn't register beyond a whisper.
• So what if Dwight Howard put up a double-double, it was as if he wasn't even on court. Had he knocked down his free throws things may have turned out better for his tea. He went 6-for-15 from the line. I don't care what you tell me, the Pistons, the crowd and the pressure rattled him.
• Could Rodney have done better in Chauncey's absence? Stuck played like a vet putting up 15 points with 6 assists and 2 steals while running the floor like a pro. And how about this gem to Tayshaun Prince for the trey to put the Pistons up 76-70 in the fourth.
  

Courtesy of The Detroit Pistons, The NBA and TNT

• I will admit it now, I was a bit worried that Stuckey was in the game late in the fourth quarter, but he soon gained my confidence. I just kept thinking, this kid isn't turning the ball over. Little did I know until the post game recap by Blaha that not only didn't he turn the ball over the entire game, but the Pistons set the playoff record.
• The Pistons just 3 for 14 from downtown. Sheed himself was 0-for-6 and the entire crowd almost cringed in anticipation every time he put one up.
• I don't know what the broadcast showed, but Chauncey Billups was up on his feet barking orders to his team the entire second half.
  
• What a defensive effort from Detroit. It didn't matter that they could barely hit a shot, the D kept them in the game. As I was sitting in my seat in the fourth quarter I can remember the Magic being stuck at 70 points for an eternity.
• NBA.com Highlights of The Game.
  
• Rip started the game cold, but boy did he do his part to heat the game up. He led the Pistons with 31 points in 41 minutes, surpassing Isiah's record and leading Detroit to another trip to the ECF. Something must be said for his gritty defensive effort on Lewis while diving for loose balls and pickpocketing the ball 4 times. Rip made it a point to get to the line all game long, it was his late game free throws that clinched it for The Pistons. Mr. Hamilton was a perfect 16-for-16 from the line.
  

Photo/Getty Images

• Rip didn't even see who blocked the shot late in the game, he just saw some flexin.
• Five Pistons in double figures.
• Rebound war lost 46-38.
• I always enjoy my ride home from the Palace by listening to Matt Dery on WDFN's post game coverage, but last night I got a chance to talk to him before he went on air. Long and short of our conversation....the Magic choked.
• Surprisingly Dwight Howard walked off court as Rasheed Wallace was walking over to shake his hand after the game. Turkoglu bolted too.
• Team Need4Sheed is calling for Tayshaun's MVP trophy already.
• The entire bench saw time on the floor, but Detroit got just 4 points from the bench. Three came from Lindsey and Maxiell's single point game from a free throw.
• How about Maxiell's block on Rashard Lewis that sent him tumbling to the ground.
  
• Stuckey's late game layup over Dwight Howard was HUGE. I swear to you I could just hear Blaha saying "Stuckey off the high glass and he hits it" in my head after the play. I don't care if you are Superman....Rodney isn't afraid of anyone.
  

Photo/Getty Images

• "(Stuckey's) never going to back away," Saunders said. "I remember when he first started playing, I yelled at him about something and he came over and said, 'Why do you always yell at me and you never yell at Chauncey?' I said, 'I yelled at Chauncey a long time ago.' And the reason I am on him is because I think he can be a special player in this league." Via The Detroit News
• The Pistons didn't let the Magic score in fourth for the first 8:19 minutes of the quarter. Now that's some serious D.
• Stuckey named to the All Rookie second team.
  
• Though Theo played just 4 minutes, he had 3 key boards in that stretch.
• "It's an awesome feeling, but playing in the conference finals is something we feel we're supposed to do," he said. "That's just our confidence. We feel we have to make it to the Finals, the NBA Finals. That's our goal." Via The Detroit News
• Yes the Magic stepped out of bounds and kept posses ion, but the Pistons got their share of breaks this series so lets call it even.
• I have criticized Flip Saunders for years about his lack of adjustments, but did a heck of a job making adjustments this series and frustrating the hell out of Dwight Howard.
• Both Sheed and Rip were 7-for-20 from the floor.
• Credit Joe Dumars for the job he's done with this team. Thanks to Team Need4Sheed Captain Steve for the link.
• "Just because I went to a small school doesn't mean nothing," Stuckey said. "I believe in myself when I step out there. This is why Joe [Dumars] drafted me." Via ESPN
• Happy to be done with this guy, his team who talked too much and the hacks in the Orlando media. Hope your fishing trip is rewarding, our team had business to take care of.

Courtesy of The Detroit Pistons, The NBA and TNT

• Dumars talks to Chad Ford of ESPN about the potential preference between Boston and Cleveland.
  
• Who do you want to see Cleveland or Boston?

Tayshaun Prince Blocks Hedo Turkoglu

Tayshaun keeps saving the day! Tayshaun Prince's block on Hedo Turkoglu.

Courtesy of The Detroit Pistons, The NBA and TNT

With seconds left and the game on the line, Royalty takes over. And don't think for one second Prince's Kingdom wasn't rocking. Tayriffic!

Pistons - Magic Game Five

The Pistons have the chance to end their second round matchup tonight at home against Orlando. Up 3-1 Detroit would love to wrap this one up tonight and wait on the winner of the Celtics - Cavs series for their sixth consecutive trip to The Eastern Conference Finals.

Chauncey will likely be a game time decision again today, though feeling a bit better he'll only play if he's close to 100%. Joe Dumars seems to think he may give it a go.

Rip is on the verge of becoming the franchise's all-time leading scorer in the playoffs. He needs just 11 points to pass Isiah Thomas, who holds the record at 2,261. Crazy thing is it only has took Rip six seasons to do it.

I'm expecting a fight from both teams tonight, so this one should be good (not that they haven't been thus far.)

Tip off is at 7:00 PM and will be Nationally televised on TNT. If you can't catch it on the tube you can always tune in to 1130 AM WDFN The Fan, or stream it live through your computer at NBA.com.

Just in case you were wondering, my playoff Palace ensemble of the Red Sheed and Pistons Kicks is 4-0. See, I do my part.

I am hoping The MOVEMENT travels to The Palace tonight, since it's clearly growing.

The rest Pistons Fans is up to you in the comments.

Body Language Says it All - Jameer's Guarantee isn't Very Convincing

We all know now that Jameer Nelson has guaranteed a win for his team tonight against The Pistons. In fact he's not backing down from his comments, and God Bless him, I don't blame him one bit and Detroit doesn't seem to care either. His team in on the brink of a summer vacation and I guess it's his way of doing his part.

I do however have a little advice for Mr. Nelson, if you are going to make a guarantee like that at least make it sound convincing and please don't look like you're going to burst out in tears at any moment. Just check the video.

If anything, Sheed and company will be amused by his comments as well as Rashard Lewis's statement of superiority. My money in on Detroit!

Photo/Getty Images

Jameer, next time go the Sheed route. One of my favorite Sheed lines ever,
"Put it on the front page, back page or the middle of the page, we will win game two."