The Detroit Pistons are the NBA Eastern Conference champions for the fourth year in a row, after defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers in the seventh game of their divisional playoff series, 79-61. Tayshaun Prince led the Pistons with 20 of the 79 points in the final game. Game Seven started out the way Game Six ended, really close, with the Cavaliers down by just two points at halftime. Fearful of another close game, the Pistons came out strong in the third quarter, outscoring the Cavs 19-6. Cleveland finished the game with just 61 points, the third lowest total score in an NBA play-off game since 1955. The Cavs tied for the fewest amount of points scored in the second half of a postseason game.
So how’d the Pistons manage such a lead sending them to victory?
Their key was holding LeBron James from repeating his 21 point domination during the first half. James didn’t manage to score in the second half until a little less than five minutes were left in the game.
But as we all know, a basketball team is made up of more than one player. James could not possibly single handedly carry his team to a victory with his 27 point game total. The only other player reaching double digits for the Cavs was Larry Hughes, who scored just 10 points during the game.
The Pistons, on the other hand, dominated with four strong players scoring in double digits. Prince finished the game with 20 points, followed by Richard Hamilton with 15, Rasheed Wallace with 13, and Chauncey Billups with 12 points.
All in all the Cavaliers just couldn’t seem to measure up to the Pistons in the final game, leaving Detroit to take home the Eastern Conference trophy for the fourth year in a row.