AUBURN HILLS – By late in the third quarter, even the officials felt sorry for the Nets. Or maybe the refs could not believe the defensive precision the Pistons were displaying.
As Richard Jefferson went up for a driving drunk, the Pistons’ Tayshaun Prince made a spectacular block by the glass. The whistle blew; Prince picked up the foul. The replays showed a perfect defensive play – all ball.
It didn’t matter. The Pistons were up 18 points, Jefferson missed 1-of-2 free throws to keep the Nets at 39 points through three quarters, and Detroit was on its way to one of the most amazing displays of defensive dominance last night at The Palace of Auburn Hills, holding the Nets to 56 points and out-rebounding them 48-29 in a 78-56 victory.
The Pistons’ defensive reputation will only grow after holding the Nets to 25 in the first half last night, the second-lowest total in playoff history. They did it even with Larry Brown limiting Rasheed Wallace to 24 minutes because of his sore foot.
From the opening minute, the Nets knew they weren’t playing the depleted Knicks anymore. Kenyon Martin drove to the hole and as he rose, Ben Wallace swatted the ball from behind. The “Hells Bells” anthem reverberated inside The Palace, with the threatening sound of clock-tower bells in honor of Wallace’s four steals, 13 points, three blocks and 11 rebounds.
The Pistons gave Jason Kidd no room to run the break. Jefferson penetrations usually ended in chaos. And Martin played poorly enough to make Tim Thomas smile.
At intermission, outside the locker room, Lawrence Frank looked paler than usual, standing with his staff in stunned disbelief.
Even the Pistons’ third-string center, Elden Campbell, got into the act, swatting away a Rodney Rogers fast-break layup with 2:11 left in the third.
It was a delirious Detroit scene. The notorious Piston hecklers were merciless, taking on Frank and Martin from the opening tip.
Kidd became just another point guard, while it was the Pistons doing the running and gunning. Detroit ended the quarter with a bang as Martin lost the ball and Richard Hamilton flew the other way for a layup. At the half, the Pistons had held the Nets to as many field goals as turnovers – nine.
