BillLaimbeer's Look at this series:

The Milwaukee Bucks will be the Pistons 1st round opponent this year. At 40-42, the Bucks will be the only team in the 2006 NBA playoffs with a losing record.

The Bucks started out the season pretty strong (17-11), but have had losing records in each of the last four months:

November 7-6
December 9-5
January 7-10
February 6-7
March 7-8
April 4-6

Milwaukee depends on Michael Redd (25.4 ppg) for over a quarter of their offense. On any given night, Redd can go off for 40+ points. In the 3 games Redd scored 40+ this year, however, the Bucks are 1-2. The shooting guard is the only position that Milwaukee holds the advantage over the Pistons (Rip Hamilton).

The Bucks have some youth at most key positions and that should prove to be the difference in this series. Point guard T.J. Ford is playing in his first full season. Ford averages 12.2 ppg and 6.6 assists per game (14th in the NBA). Edge: Detroit (Chauncey Billups)

At the small forward, Bobby Simmons is really in his 2nd full season as a starter. His numbers and experience are somewhat similar to Tayshuan Prince, but I'll give a slight edge to Detroit with Tay's all-around game.

The Pistons also have an advantage inside with the Wallace's matching up against rookie Andrew Bogut (good rebounding and FG% numbers) and Jamaal Magloire (3rd season as a starter in the NBA, 9.5 rebounds per game).

The bench production differs a little bit, as far as scoring goes. The Bucks have 8 guys scoring 8+ ppg. The Pistons have 7 guys scoring 7+ ppg. Detroit most likely will use an 8-man rotation with McDyess, Delk, and Hunter coming off the bench.

Defense: The Pistons rank 3rd in the NBA for points allowed (90.1). The Bucks rank 20th, giving up 99.8 ppg.

The Bucks have beaten just about every team in the NBA, including Detroit, Miami, New Jersey, San Antonio, Dallas and Phoenix. With a 40-42 record, the Bucks have lost to just about every team in the NBA, as well.

Season series:
Nov 26: Det 85, @Mil 76
Jan 25: @Det 106, Mil 102 (OT)
Mar 31: @Det 112, Mil 105
Apr 17: @Mil 113, Det 93

Detroit won the season series 3-1, although the Bucks win came in a game when Detroit was resting its starters (Sheed and Rip didn't even dress). The 3 Piston wins were all close games.

For a #1 vs. #8 matchup, these games will be more competitive than most people predict. My guess is the Pistons win the series 4-1. The difference will be Detroit's experience.

Will be watching this one from Honolulu.......

Let`s see game time is 7pm EST, that`s 1pm there, have to remember that.

Ok, I`m looking for blowout city in this one. Pistons will come out firing on all cylinders as they say. Tay will lead the team in scoring with 27.

CB will have 12-10, while the Wallace and Wallace defense team holds it down. "If the Bucks don`t hustle and just trot, your weak shots we will swat"

Oh yeah, is that Rip D ing up on Redd...........

Deeeeeetroit Baaaaasketball

Sundays are our bad day right? Still
Ps 99
Redds 80
all 4 games.

Pistons by 30 points. Seriously.

Bucks is team dangerous in one game ....in the series best of seven i think ...no problem for Detroit


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I agree - Bucks will have that game where they shoot an unbelievable % and take one of the them. Besides the current Pistons have never swept a series.

Would be nice to open it up with a laugher from tip-off, but I get the feeling this will be a close game. Remember how the Pistons came out of the gate against Philly last year? I know I was sweating a bit. Didn't we get down about 16 points in the 1st quarter? Let's not have a repeat of that.

I remember we were a tad sluggish coming out of the gate Prince, however, that was last year.

What a difference a year makes! The Pistons will drop a couple of games but their mindset will be totally focused on the task at hand.

Last year the focus and desire wasn`t quite as strong........

It will come down to the SF's. If Tay outduels Simmons it will be an easy win, but if simmons gets the better of the matchup the bucks will have a chance. i'm thinking Tay will be the best player this series. Lets look closesly on the jumpshots, and see if Sheed will start controling the post.

You know, I am mad as hell that we don't start until Sunday. How can I repent for my game time actions after I go to church??