Dba, interesting comment on Billips. The remarkable tenacity this team has had was also its downfall. That certain stubborness.

I think the Pistons have better players too. So what? But we have no youth mixed in in an era of soft rules. You can't play defense in the NBA so you better have a penetrator or a real scorer on your team.

It also helps to have a coach that can think ahead.

It also helps to have an owner and a GM (who is great) who can make the little moves that prevent what just happened from happening.

Now we are at a major crossroads instead of the NBA finals. Talked to my Laker friends and they say the same thing. They say your team used to be so crisp and so in sinc. They say you guys don't have that extra bounce like the young teams.