How to Close

Today in Orlando, Detroit took the 3-1 series lead under the cagey fourth quarter heroics of Rip Hamilton, who wore Kenyon Dooling out like a cheap suit in the clutch. Rip had 32, 6 and 3 to disappoint the raucous home crowd in a back and forth game that went down to the final possession.

The Pistons won the game at the line (they were 14 of 15, compared to the Magic's 11 of 17), off the offensive boards (12 to 10, but with a big edge late), and with a killer running hook from Tayshaun Prince, who had been wearing goat horns earlier in the quarter from Hedo Turkoglu's 13 fourth quarter points (he had 20, but missed the Magic's last shot). Dwight Howard's 3 for 12 for 8 points was the real problem for the home team, but no one outside of Turkoglu looked good when it mattered.

A brief word on Hamilton here... he's really one of the reasons why I love the Association. Hamilton's game isn't sexy -- it's mid-range jumpers, effective low post scoring for his size, and good percentages everywhere. But he's got just enough oddness about his game -- that odd little side dribble free throw thing he does, the ever-present face mask, the constant effort and smart feel to his play -- that you can easily visualize him. He's never been the kind of guy that you think of as a top 5 in his position and role player, and yet he's always one of the best Pistons on the floor, and his team almost always has an advantage at shooting guard.

It was the first road win of the second round in the entire Association, and more or less locked the second round into Boston-Detroit -- probably the most easily predicted conference finals in Association history. (And if you think this is an open plea for the Cavs to get off the deck and make a series out of their ugfest with the Celts, you know me too well.)