Here's an interesting take based off of Mike Greenfield's NBA team rankings.

http://teamrankings.com/nba/7powerratings.php3

What stands out to me, when I look at that is probably what drives all Pistons fans nuts, but also should keep us from being worried at this point:

the pistons "sliding scale" of success (proportional to the quality of the competition): they are 8-2 against the top 5 (which is better than any other team by quite a bit); they are 12-5 against teams ranked 6-10 (better than anyone outside of SA); they are 10-7 against teams ranked 11-16 (worst among the top five, and tied for worst among the top 10).

This is obviously a team that brings it when it needs to and often doesn't when it doesn't. We can speculate that this is a dangerous game to play, and that perhaps when they do need to they won't be able to. But -- though I'm aware that it's not necessarily the case -- I believe their record this year suggests otherwise.

The Pistons will be fine, in other words... and we won't.

hrmm interesting. the TV schedule i saw had it 10:30 and SA/Dallas as the early game. hopefully it's the earlier game!!

oh and good perspective, professor. they bring it when they need to, but yah it can be a dangerous game to play.

'GUARANSHEED' game. What else to expect other than a 'W'?

I'm a little worried about our play during close games in the 4th quarter esp against teams that have an all star guard/ forward (Wade, LBJ, Kobe, TMac, etc). We seem to have problem running plays offensively. Even with 5-10 point lead, we seem to run a few plays (esp pick and roll between CB and Sheed) and hope for 3s.

Defensively, our starters seems to be very tired and that's when these players lit off. I agreed that our starters should finished the game, not the bench but if that's the case, Flip should start resting the starters early in the 3rd quarter so that the starters would be fresher in the 4th instead of the starters playing the entire 2nd half.

Big game for Sheed, of course, CB and Rip tonight. Let's Go Pistons!!!

GO DEFENSE, DETROIT BASKETBALL!!!

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DETROIT BASKETBALL

Sheed and his boys are showing almost a total disrespect for Cleveland. Dissing them like they are some sort of step-child or something. Pooh-poohing any notion that Cleveland has a snowballs chance in hell of defeating them. They better back up all that smack or they are going to look very foolish.

Sheed, I sure hope you can back up your trash talk better than Linwood and Slippy did in fantasy basketball.


Pistons win a close one tonight.

We need to end this series as soon as poosible.

Not only do we not want to give cleveland any false hope, Miami is lurking out there, and even made the comment that they have an important date with the Pistons.

On that note, we also do not want to give the Heat any hope or momentum whatsoever that they can beat the Pistons who had a difficult time putting away a number 4 seed.

You may have one this year, but next year I will become, "The Annointed One".

King Linwood.

Master GM.

As far as Sheed goes, I love it when he talks trash. I don't give the Cavs any respect either. They get plenty of that from the refs and the announcers. I hope the Pistons slap them silly tonight. I hope Sheed scores 18 on 3's.

You kill me, King Linwood.

I love Sheed's trash too. He's my fave.

No complaints about last games 4th 25/100 officiating???

Dang, Wood and Slip, sounds like Tater made you gag on some tater soup!
Looks like low scoring again.
Ps 80
Brons 77

No question the calls were tilted, but we played over that. My issue was that we instituted our "Red Sea" defensive scheme through most of the 3rd and 4th Qtr. That hurt us more than anything and what bothers me most is that every interview contains nothing but commentary on offense....."too many turnover, missed easy shots...blah blah, nothing on top of nothing about breaking up that Cedar Point line of Cavs going to the bucket all night.