'Boobie' prize: NBA Finals
Cavs oust Pistons behind rookie's 31
CLEVELAND -- Daniel Gibson will never, ever have to worry about getting a table at this city's hottest restaurant. A phone call will get him a seat on the 50-yard line at Browns Stadium or backstage passes to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremonies. After what he did last night, he might even give the sainted LeBron James a run for the Most Popular Cav -- at least in the overnight ratings.
Two weeks ago, only Cavalier diehards, Texas Longhorn basketball junkies, and his immediate family knew who Gibson was. But the rookie they call "Boobie" is now a certified hometown hero, having delivered the coup de grace -- make that coups de grace -- to lead Cleveland into the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history. As a continually harassed James deferred to his teammates, Gibson erupted for 31 points, including 19 in the fourth quarter, to propel the Cavaliers to a 98-82 victory over the fussing and feuding Pistons. The Cavaliers won the series in six games and will face the Spurs for the NBA title. Game 1 is Thursday night in San Antonio.
Cleveland becomes only the third team in NBA history to overcome a 2-0 deficit in a conference final. They did it by sweeping the next four, taking Game 5 in double overtime behind James's transcendent effort (48 points), and then finishing off Detroit with Gibson spraying in 3-pointers (five of them) from hither and yon. Four came in the first six minutes of the fourth quarter as the Cavaliers used a 12-1 run to blow open a close game. The Pistons subsequently lost their swagger and their composure; Rasheed Wallace was ejected and the team simply collapsed.
"This is special," an exuberant James said after a game in which he had 20 points (on 3-of-11 shooting) along with 14 rebounds and 8 assists. "Detroit brought out the best in us, but we believed . . . I just think it was our time. That team [the Pistons] is awesome. But I believe it was our time."
James did not make a basket until the third period. He didn't need to, not with Gibson knocking down everything and the Cavaliers dominating the glass (53-33) and clamping down on defense in the fourth quarter (holding Detroit to three field goals and 16 points). Gibson, who was 5 of 5 from international waters, had 9 points in the 12-1 run in the first 2:20, all coming from 3-pointers.
"I told Daniel before the game, 'Detroit is going to double-team me, triple-team me before I cross halfcourt, so get that gun and get it locked and loaded and just shoot it. Don't second-guess yourself. Just shoot it,' " James said. "That's what happened. And when they closed out on him, he drove the ball to the rim and made free throws."
Gibson, who was 12 of 15 from the line, was 7 of 9 from the field. He had emerged as a playoff darling, scoring 21 points in Game 4 and adding 11 more in Game 5. Not bad for a second-round draft pick who James called "a steal."
Said Gibson, "[James] told me to keep shooting, keep shooting, don't worry about anything else. When a guy tells you that, you step into it with a lot of confidence and knock it down for him."
The 12-1 run made it 79-67. Soon, Wallace went predictably postal and was tossed and the Pistons imploded. Rip Hamilton scored 29 points in a losing effort, but Chauncey Billups finished a forgettable series with 9 points and one assist. The Pistons believed to the end that they could turn it around. They did last year. Not this time.
"Our shooters never got into a rhythm," Detroit coach Flip Saunders said. "It was disappointing."
The Cavaliers led, 27-21, after one. The arena was hopping. But then a 20-minute stoppage due to a clock malfunction seemed to sap all the energy out of both the crowd and the Cavaliers.
Between the delay and 38 free throws, it took an hour to play the second period. The Pistons capitalized on the lull, as Hamilton (16 at the half) and Wallace (11) led them back. It was 48-48 at the half with James totaling 8 points, all on free throws.
The third quarter saw James's first basket of the game, a drive that turned into a 3-point play at the 3:58 mark. He finished the quarter with one basket, as the Pistons' trap continued to force him to give up the ball. Detroit moved ahead by 4 points, but Gibson started his rampage and, along with Drew Gooden, scored the final 9 points of the period. Then came the deluge.
Said James, "Something good had to happen for Cleveland sports."
On this night, it did. 