I was a voting weenie and opted for not sure. And I'm not.

The Pistons lost in the playoffs because the starters didn't play up to the level they had shown during the season - and you need to raise that in the playoffs anyway. Maybe this was because they were just worn out. Certainly looking at how much they played over several seasons would suggest this.

Maybe it was something else. Someone (sorry, can't remember who or where) described it well the other day when he or she was talking about the Pistons getting offended because someone was playing them hard defensively. They do seem to take it as an insult and go into a funk when someone has the audacity to play hard against them.

Well, if two years of failure doesn't convince the team that they haven't done anything yet, nothing will. And everybody is probably as rested as an NBA team can be at this time of year (other than the Spurs who don't play anyone who isn't a vet).

So, if the vets play they way they played the past two post-seasons, no amount of Max, Johnson, or Affalo will save them. Neither will Dixon or Hunter. If they play like a hungry team that hasn't earned anything, then those young guys will feed off of that and play well. Billups, Sheed, Rip, Prince, and Dyess set the tone and if they bring the half-hearted game to the playoffs they brought in years past look for an early exit. If they don't, then look for the young guys to get some time and to play well.

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"But first, are you experienced? Or have you you ever been experienced? Well, I have."
Jimi