Well, for one thing, I would say that's already happened -- last year in Game 5 of the Finals. In retrospect, wasn't that a must win game?

On the other hand, I would have said Game 5 against Cleveland was a "must win" and yet we didn't (and yes, i know, miami is much better than cleveland, but we were playing even worse against cleveland in games 3, 4, 5).

Anyway, Ii the Pistons win game 4, what'll happen in Game 5? Will they have momentum, home court, and go up 3-2? Can we be sure? Or will they relax, thinking they've regained HCA, and lose to a motivated Miami team in Game 5? either way, how could we know how that will afffect a possible Game 6 in Miami, or a Game 7 back in Detroit?

that's why I take the strict definition of must win: it's must win when you must win or you are out. anything else is pure speculation based on factors that are too variable to make for dependable predictors.

alternatively, my view is that every game is a must win and that we've already blown it by losing two must win games in teh series.