Going to walk through this game as long as time will allow. Not sure how this will be, but I’ll be sitting at the computer through the duration of Game 3. Keep refreshing for updates. If only YouTube could give us real-time video replays… where’s technology when you need it…

FIRST QUARTER

• Lebron James starts the game with two quick dunks he made by driving to the lane untouched. Haven’t seen the lane this clear since… the end of Game 1 when James… passed up the open, game-tying dunk to dish the ball to Donyell Marshall who promptly missed the game winner.
• James is at the line, made 1 of 2. Has 5 of Cleveland’s early 7 points. He’s got his game plan in reverse. Pass all you want in the game, Bron Bron, just never in the fourth…
• Larry Hughes hit a shot! Followed by Tashaun Prince dunking an easy bucket! That should tell you how nuts this game will be.
• Debris keeps falling from the roof of Cleveland’s Arena. Either the team is accidentally showing where its budget cuts are coming from for paying James to stay, or the arena operators know nothing of the huge jinx celebrating prematurely brings to a team.
• Cleveland’s moving around, cutting and getting to the basket fairly easy. Webber’s doing his thing (8 pts) and James is on pace to finally break 20 today! (10 pts)

SECOND QUARTER

• Planar Flacitus injury to Larry Hughes? …what? Sager jokes that he was not a doctor, but contributed a few notes on the injury he knew of. Kerr jokes that Sager isn’t a doctor, but “he did stay at a Holiday Inn Express.â€? Ha. Corporate Comedic Commercials work!
• Flip Murray is contributing for Detroit (7 pts, 1 ast) and whaddayouknow? Prince has already scored more than he has in the last two games (9 pts). He’s on a run right now while James takes a breather. Prince better hurry and score before… d’oh! TV timeout. James is probably back on the court when the game resumes…
• Don’t you miss the days when “McDyess with the reverse jam!” was a guaranteed, sure-fire “Du-nuh nuh! Du-nuh nuh!” moment? His reverse dunk was solid, but McDyess of old would’ve brought the rim down and screamed in a face or two.
• James going to the basket was not just a first quarter trend. He went to the lane, got fouled and hit 2-of-2 at the line to take a 1-pt lead. Side note: why don’t we see 20392 Lebron shoe commercials? During the Indianapolis Colts’ championship run, it seemed every break was dominated by Peyton Manning’s face. (Love the commercials, but it made me want those Bears to beat them in the Super Bowl! And then there was Rex…)
• Doug Collins — who used to coach Michael Jordan, by the way, if he hasn’t already told you that a “handful” of times during his playoff broadcasts — just dropped the first MJ reference - “That’s shades of Michael” - as Lebron took the ball to the sideline, delayed, and then drove and hit a reverse layup. Ah, Doug, how the blonde hair can’t keep you from those sweet, sweet memories…
• First half concludes with the Cavs leading the Pistons 46-43. James leads all players with 19 pts, already matching his series high (10 pts in Game 1, 19 in Game 2). Rip has yet to score but the other 4 starters have spread the ball well. Murray (8 pts) and McDyess (6 pts) have contributed off the bench, helping balance the game well. Signs, as always, point towards Lebron coming out to score big and help take over the game in the second half. Zydrunas Ilgauskas hasn’t done much but I agree with the TNT crew who say the Cavs need to ignore this and keep feeding James the rock.

THIRD QUARTER

• Sager’s knowledge points out Chauncey Billups’ limited playing time (14 min.) in the first half was due to his continued trend of turnovers (3 so far). In the game break in the beginning of the game, Billups remarked that his turnovers have been rare and something he’s going to improve on. Maybe he’ll start next game…
• Big Z is stepping it up. He has two nice low-post buckets early and looks quite aggressive at the start of the 3rd looking aggressive. Keep it up and B-E aggressive…
• Rasheed Wallace hit back-to-back 3s. McDyess hit a long J. After Drew Gooden got T-ed up for arguing, Rip hit the free-throw. Billups hits a 3-pointer (his first FG of the night). The Pistons are on a quality run.
• Tashaun Prince looks aggressive, tipping in an offensive rebound. The Cavs are keeping it close. Too close, it seems. Detroit isn’t the kind of team you want to let stay in the game for too long, considering their experience.
• Cavs didn’t score in the last 4 minutes but still have a 1 pt lead. If only this were the end of the 4th…

FOURTH QUARTER

• James opens the fourth with a three-pointer, causing the arena to go nuts. Doug tells us when James scores 21 or more, the Cavs have never lost. Jinxed? Find out in 11 minutes…
• When Lebron drove to the lane and dished the ball out to Donyell Marshall, the ball clanked out. Will the duo never live down that infamous play? Will the Cavs release Marshall so Lebron won’t be haunted every time they exchange the ball? Find out in a few games when the Cavs’ off-season inevitably begins…
• Cleveland fans booed Chris Webber hard at the line. I thought they had some grudge, but instead, turns out the arena was showing a picture of Charles Barkley wearing a Pistons headband. Quality. All they need to do is show a loop of final possessions of the last two games.
• Steve Kerr’s “Thoughts” note allowed for Doug Collins to reference his MJ coaching days yet again, pointing out that Larry Hughes and Scott Williams are the only two active players who have played with both MJ and Lebron. This point makes me think that off-camera, Kerr and Collins probably like to sit back and relive old MJ memories together… holding hands… giggling.
• James drove to the lane and completely posterized Rasheed Wallace, receiving the whistle in the process. This is the kind of play you will see on Sportscenter every 30 seconds.
• Big Z received a quick dish from The King, prompting the Pistons to call a timeout and probably discuss how they are only down 4 pts.
• Billups has 5 turnovers after a travel was called. He’s not himself this series but the Pistons have worked around it. He can’t stay down forever, right?
• Daniel Gibson hits his second 3-pointer of the night, following a cross-court pass from James. *Insert “should’ve passed that Game 1 ender to…” comment here*
• Fun sequence: Mr. Big Shot (Billups for the ill-informed) hit a huge 3-pointer. Keeps the game close. Big Z hits a quick response shot for the Cavs, puts air back in the crowd. Lebron hits big 3-pointer. Timeout called. Someone’s playing up to his King status tonight… (Cavs up 84-76)
• Hamilton hits 2-of-2 free throws, bringing the game within 4 pts. Cleveland time-out called. King Watch: 30 pts, 9 ast, 9 rbs.
• Billups with a runner… Detroit within 2. Cavs Timeout. Out of timeout, James hits an off-balance shot that looked exactly like the Billups running leaner. Timeout called.
• Billups drives, dishes out to Prince who misses a three-pointer. Gooden gets fouled immediately following his rebound, makes two free-throws and the game is as good as over. If only Rip was really a Reggie Miller clone…
• GAME OVER - CAVS BEAT THE PISTONS 88-82

RANDOM GAME NOTES

• The sound that indicates a stat popping up on the bottom of the screen is the tiVo message notice. It’s the same sound that goes off every time I look at my list of recorded shows, telling me I need to update my tiVo box with a phone line. At the sound of it, my eyes immediately dart to bottom of the screen. I feel like TNT’s puppet.
• Kid Rock is shown on the screen. Tell me again what I have to do to be like Kid and date Pam Anderson? Lower standards and expectations, you say? Eh… forget it.
• I think I abused the dot dot dot (…) wouldn’t you say…? (ha)