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NBA Playoffs Interviews: Detroit Pistons

 


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/ June 2, 2005

The Detroit Pistons and Miami Heat are tied 2-2 in their best-of-seven Eastern Conference finals series in the 2005 NBA Playoffs. Here's what Pistons coach Larry Brown and players Chauncey Billups and Tayshaun Prince had to say on the day after game 4 (the day before Game 5):

LARRY BROWN

Q. On the job Rip did on Dwayne Wade last night:

Larry Brown: Well, he wasn’t the only one who guarded him, Lindsey (Hunter) played 17 minutes. But we did okay compared to the other games, but he still got 28 and that shows you how good he is. The whole thing with us is that we didn’t give them a lot of opportunity in transition. When your defense is set, that is the only chance you got to at least make it difficult on a player like him (Wade). We didn’t have any turnovers the first half and I think that that was critical in guarding him. But Rip, and whoever guarded him, understands their challenge.

Q. On Rip Hamilton making the decision to guard Wade:

Larry Brown: He (Rip Hamilton) guarded him in game three. I thought we made a rally in game three even though we didn’t get it done. They all are going to have to take the chance; we’ve talked about that. With foul trouble and the way this series has been going, both teams have gotten into foul trouble the last two games. So, he took a challenge. But he also recognizes how good Wade is.

Q. On if Brown will stay with Hamilton on Wade:

Larry Brown: I don’t know, we’ll just see how the game goes. A lot of times it dependent on who they’re guarding. You can’t in transition guard someone who is not guarding you. You’d never get back to your man. However, if the defense is set, then you can change up from time to time. But I’m sure, watching what Stan’s (Van Gundy) done, he’s figured out ways to help Dwayne in every game and made adjustments in a positive way in every game, so I’m sure he’ll do some things to help him.”

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CHAUNCEY BILLUPS

Q. On his performance last night:

Chauncey Billups: It was a good game. I came in focused, knowing what it was going to take. Knowing that every position counts. But it was a good game for myself and for the team, but more importantly for the team. We played good together.

Q. On if he took those two losses personally:

Chauncey Billups: Yeah, I think everybody did. Nobody likes to lose, but in a series like this you are not going to win every single game. But the way that we lost to them was uncharacteristic of us. So, it hurts a little bit but that’s the way it is.

Q. On the importance of Game 5, especially with the series tied up 2-2:

Chauncey Billups: It is the biggest game of the series, now it’s a three-game series. We are going to have to win on the road to win the series, it’s a great opportunity for us. We have a little momentum going in right now and we felt like we played pretty well on their court so we are looking forward to it.

Q. On having so few turnovers and how it helped in the win:

Chauncey Billups: You can go through a game, especially a game with that kind of intensity, with only six turnovers, you have given yourselves a great chance to win. With not giving them so many extra possessions, when we can do that, we are pretty tough to beat. I think if any team does that they are going to be tough to beat.”

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TAYSHAUN PRINCE

Q. On conversation with Richard Hamilton before the game about covering Dwyane Wade:

Tayshaun Prince: I let him (Hamilton) guard him, I mean, it was time for a change. Obviously, he (Wade) still had 28 points but I think he had to work a little bit harder for it. Rip (Hamilton) is a lot faster than I am. But, like I said, when things are not going well, you got to change something up.

Q. On how Elden Campbell matches up against Shaquille O’Neal:

Tayshaun Prince: I think he (Elden) does a great job because he can hold his ground a little better than the other guys with the weight that he has. Elden (Campbell) is the most experienced player on our team and he knows what to do in those situations. He can stand up to Shaq (O’Neal) a little bit and make him take a tougher shot.

Q. On the change-up in covering Dwyane Wade:

Tayshaun Prince: We just had to do something different, that’s it.

Q. On Chauncey Billups taking the last two losses personally:

Tayshaun Prince: I think everybody for the most part, especially in the starting line-up, is the main focus of this team and we all have to do our parts. With the minutes that we play, especially the starting five, who are averaging probably 40 minutes in the Playoffs, you definitely have to take it personal as far as trying to get this team over the hump. I know why he (Billups) said that, because he is the leader of this team, and he runs the team. But I think it comes with all five guys out there on the floor.

Q. How the experience last year may play a role and who has the edge:

Tayshaun Prince: At this point in time, it is just a matter of us going out there and being focused. I have said that at the start of the series. Last night, we were focused. Game 1, we were focused; Game 2, we were focused partially; and Game 3, we were not really focused at all. Last night, with the situation we were in, we had our backs against the wall and we had to be focused.”










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