ESPN.com - NBA/PLAYOFFS2006 - Conference semifinals: Cavs vs. Pistons

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NBA Playoffs:

Sun, 5/21
CAVALIERS 61
PISTONS 79

CLEVELAND @ DETROIT
Pistons clamp down on LeBron after halftime to win series
Final: Box Score | Play By Play

Pistons Tickets | Cavaliers Tickets | Bracket

PLAYER MATCHUPS
CAVALIERS		PISTONS
M. Williams Points: 12.1 Rebounds: 2.5 Assists: 4.0	PG	R. Stuckey
A. Parker	SG	B. Gordon Points: 16.9 Rebounds: 2.7 Assists: 3.0
L. James Points: 31.4 Rebounds: 7.0 Assists: 6.6	SF	J. Jerebko
J. Hickson	PF	C. Villanueva Points: 13.0 Rebounds: 6.4 Assists: 1.1
Z. Ilgauskas Points: 15.6 Rebounds: 7.6 Assists: 1.2	C	B. Wallace Points: 7.3 Rebounds: 11.3 Assists: 1.9

TEAM STATS (Regular Season)
	CAVALIERS	PISTONS
PPG	97.6	96.8
RPG	42.3	40.5
APG	19.0	24.0
FG%	45.352	45.486
FT%	72.865	72.718
3P%	.339	.384

SEASON SERIES
Detroit leads 3-1
Dec 31, 2005	@CLE 97, DET 84	Recap \| Box Score
Feb 26, 2006	@DET 90, CLE 78	Recap \| Box Score
Feb 27, 2006	DET 84, @CLE 72	Recap \| Box Score
Apr 12, 2006	@DET 96, CLE 73	Recap \| Box Score

PLAYOFF HISTORY

Championships: 0	Championships: 3
Last Championship: N/A	Last Championship: 2004
Last Season: Did not qualify	Last Season: Lost in NBA Finals last year

(Lippitt/Einstein/Getty Images)

LeBron James has the appearance of a grown man, not a 21-year old.

Oh, for Seven

Game 7s rarely turn out well for Cleveland teams. So while LeBron led a valiant effort to put Detroit on the edge, the Cavs were no match for the Pistons -- or history -- Sunday. Detroit held LeBron to six points after halftime to reach the East finals 79-61. Story |

• Daily Dime: Detroit turns to (what else?) defense | Best Game 7s

Scouts Inc.

LeBron James cannot get into a stretch where he settles for outside shots. James has to continue to drive to the basket and force the Pistons to pick up fouls as they attempt to contest his layups.

The Cavaliers have success on the pick and roll when the screener rolls toward the basket. The Pistons are late to defend the slashing screener because the focus is still on James.

Lindsey Hunter is defending James more and will do so in Game 7. James has the size advantage on Hunter and should look to post more, but Hunter works like crazy trying to front the post.

• Entire Game 7 scouting report | Full series scouting report

Eastern Conference Playoff poll
John Hollinger chat wrap

EXPERT PICKS
Anthony	Broussard	Hollinger	Sheridan	Stein
(In 5)	(In 6)	(In 5)	(In 4)	(In 5)

ESPN RESEARCH

• Pistons notes: This is Detroit's fifth straight postseason appearance. The Pistons made the NBA Finals each of the previous two seasons and won the title in '04.

• Cavs notes: This is Cleveland's first postseason appearance since 1998. They hadn't won a playoff series since 1993 (lost five straight series before beating the Wizards in Round 1).