Cavs own 4th quarter again….series tied 2-2

Alright Detroit. It’s time to stop playing around. The series is tied 2-2. [link]

Since Cleveland won Game 3, and tighten the series to 2-1 in favor of Detroit, two questions have been swimming around in my head. It’s as uncomfortable as showering in prison because I do not know the answers.

Is Detroit losing these games? Or is Cleveland winning them?

At first, it seems as though Detroit was just playing down to their competition. Just toying with the Cavs like they were dogs. Secretly watching game film of San Antonio during practices, halftimes, even timeouts. Not showing Lebron and the Cavs an ounce of respect.

Belittling Cleveland during Games 1 and 2. Almost getting caught both times. No worries.

Then, Lebron woke up in Game 3 and just beat the living shit out of them. But I don’t think Detroit was worried.

But after Cleveland’s 91-87 series tying win in Game 4, the Pistons’ might be a little quiet on their plane ride back home to Detroit.

Worrying.

Worrying about how they lost a two-game lead in the Eastern Conference finals. Worrying about how to contain Lebron James. Worrying about how they dug themselves into huge first half deficits in Games 1 and 2. Worrying about how they got humiliated in the 4th quarters of Games 3 and 4 in Cleveland. Worrying that the reality is this series could easily be 3-1 or 4-0 in favor of Cleveland, if they weren’t so damn lucky in Games 1 and 2.

Worrying because they know that no matter what happens in Detroit, they’ll have to come back to Cleveland one more time.

After going into the locker room trailing by seven 50-43 in last night’s Game 4, Detroit tightened up in the 3rd quarter. Holding Cleveland to 15 points, and outscoring the Cavs by nine in the quarter. Taking a 67-65 lead into the fourth.

The problem was, they stopped playing after that. And Cleveland didn’t.

Lebron James scored 13 of his game-high 25 points in the 4th quarter. While teammate and former Longhorn Daniel Gibson dropped in a season-high 21 points helping the Cavs inch that much closer to their first ever appearance in the NBA finals.

And when you give up 21 points to Daniel Gibson, you’re not going to win shit. Detroit should put that line above their locker room door and hit it every time they walk out onto the court.

“Play Like A Champion.”

“And when you give up 21 points to Daniel Gibson, you’re not going to win shit.”

Anyway…

Detroit absolutely fell apart. Chauncey Billups shot 6-16 and a miserable 2-9 from deep. Richard Hamilton hit 9-21 shots. Tayshaun Prince only had 15 points, shooting 4-11 from the field. And Rasheed Wallace just looked like hell.

Appearance and performance.

If I was Detroit, though, I wouldn’t worry. I think there’s a good chance this will go seven games, with the home team going undefeated in the series. Detroit is too good of a team to lose another home playoff game.

And Cleveland isn’t good enough to steal another one.

But hey, we have a series.

And David Stern is more than likely pissin’ himself.

Out of joy.