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Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Bucks News and Notes Column: Detroit Shows Poise in Comeback

Posted on: Saturday, 1 April 2006, 03:00 CST

By Tom Enlund, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Apr. 1--Auburn Hill, Mich. -- And that, ladies and gentlemen, is why the Detroit Pistons have played for the National Basketball Association championship the past two seasons.

The Pistons didn't flinch when the Milwaukee Bucks scored the first 15 points Friday night at the Palace and they didn't panic when the Bucks held an 18-point lead early in the third.

Instead, they maintained their poise and used their championship experience to their advantage as they rallied for a hard-earned, 112-105 victory.

"It's disappointing," coach Terry Stotts said. "The Pistons are a good team. They turned up the pressure. They got very aggressive and the complexion of the game changed in the second half."

Said guard Michael Redd, "That's a championship team and they played like it tonight."

The Bucks conceded afterward that the experience the Pistons have gained through past playoff successes gave them a big advantage in games like this one. The Bucks have lost all three of their games against Detroit this season.

"That's the frustrating thing," Redd said. "We've played them tough every game and just come up short. I think it's their championship experience and getting tougher down the stretch that hurts us."

Said guard Mo Williams: "We made them earn it tonight. I'll guarantee you they're tired. But they turned it up and made it a game on their home court. They picked it up and made some plays. They're a championship-caliber team.

"They're poised. They know what they want to do. They been in situations before and we're still learning. We only play a few big games a year. It's ironic how at the end of the game, who always hits the big shot? They know what they want to do and they know how to get it. It's kind of tough. You've got to play really, really well to beat this team."

Redd led the Bucks with 37 points on 13-for-20 shooting. He sank six of eight shots from three-point range. Charlie Bell, again starting in place of the injured T.J. Ford, added 16 points and Williams had 15 points and eight assists off the bench. Ford said he would play tonight against Indiana at the Bradley Center.

Rip Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince scored 25 points each for Detroit, Rasheed Wallace contributed 21 points and 10 rebounds and Chauncey Billups handed out 11 assists. Antonio McDyess had a big game off the bench, scoring 18 points. The Pistons had a huge edge at the foul line, where they made 25 of 31. The Bucks made 12 of 17.

"I think the one thing that people underestimate is that when there's adversity, and (the Pistons) become challenged, they rise up to the occasion," Detroit coach Flip Saunders said. "They love those types of situations. That's why this team is built for the playoffs."

Said Billups: "We were never out of the game. You can never measure pride."

The Bucks led, 69-51, early in the third quarter and were still ahead three going into the fourth quarter.

Detroit tied it, 85-85, on a jumper Antonio McDyess with 9:56 left.

Two free throws Hamilton tied it again, 89-89, and another free throw Hamilton gave Detroit its first lead, 90-89 with 7:34 to go. Those three free throws began a decisive 13-3 run that put Detroit in front, 100-92, with 4:35 left.

Still, the Bucks ran off nine straight to go ahead one with 2:25 left. A layup Ben Wallace put the Pistons back in front and three-pointer Billups made it 105-101 with 1:37 left. Redd hit a jumper but Rasheed Wallace responded with a trey for a 108-103 lead with 50 seconds left. Redd couldn't get a layup to fall and a jumper Prince with 26 seconds left sealed the deal.

"We're trying to get to the point where coming down the stretch we know what we want and know how to get to it," Williams said. "I think it's just our inexperience coming down the stretch. . . . Everything's tight. The pressure's on us and a lot of times we've got to make plays. They're a championship team and we're trying to get where they're at."

Redd made nine of 11 shots and scored 24 points to lead the Bucks to a 59-45 halftime lead. Redd made all five of his three-point shots. Redd hit 2 three-pointers and Bell added another to help the Bucks to their early 15-0 lead.

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Copyright (c) 2006, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

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Source: The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

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