Rookie Tayshaun Prince Arrives on the Scene in Game 7

[joekiddlouischama]

Also of note is how well another rookie reserve—Mehmet Okur—played for Detroit in this game, posting 6 points on 3-4 shooting, 5 rebounds (3 offensive), 3 assists, 0 turnovers, and 4 steals. Those two rookies, Okur and Prince, really made a difference off the bench in the Pistons' playoff run as the franchise reached its first Eastern Conference Finals since 1991.

By the way, the Shawn Kemp sign at the end of this video is so cold ...

[Swove2204]

@joekiddlouischama Excellent insights. And yeah, I had no choice but to let the video hang just long enough to get that Kemp sign at the end. Too good.

[Swove2204]

@joekiddlouischama Excellent insights. And yeah, I had no choice but to let the video hang just long enough to get that Kemp sign at the end. Too good.

[Swove2204]

@joekiddlouischama Excellent insights. And yeah, I had no choice but to let the video hang just long enough to get that Kemp sign at the end. Too good.

[joekiddlouischama]

So while Billups may have amounted to the unofficial series MVP, Prince played a pivotal role. Again, when he was on the court for at least 15 minutes, Detroit went 4-0; when he didn't play or played under 15 minutes, the Pistons went 0-3. Surely, that relationship wasn't coincidental.

[joekiddlouischama]

Instead, I remember Chauncey Billups scoring 37 points in this game after scoring 40 in Game Seven. But perusing the game logs, I see now that Detroit went 4-1 in the series against Orlando when Prince played and 4-0 when Prince played at least 15 minutes. When Prince scored 15 points with 6 rebounds, 2 assists, and 0 turnovers in 33 minutes in Game Five, the Pistons began their comeback from a 3-1 deficit.

[joekiddlouischama]

Ironically, I remember Teyshaun Prince breaking out in the next series against Philadelphia, but not in this one. I know that I viewed at least part of this Game Seven, but if I saw Prince emerge in this contest (he scored 20 points with 3 assists in this game, shooting 7-10 from the field, 3-5 on threes, and 3-4 from the foul line), I retain no memory of this emergence. Again, my memory is of what he accomplished in the next series.