We're going to hand out some posting awards in the New Year as voted by the membership.

As this Christmas Day game is nationally televised, most everyone should be able to watch it providing the family obligations are met.

Here is the scoop.

Write your best pre-game analysis or post game wrap up.

No plagiarising, and linking images will be worth ZERO points. You need to provide TEXT to be considered.

Offer stats, humour, insight but offer YOUR TAKE. Make it original and you might end up on the receiving end of some Pistons or forum schwag.

Please don't post or PM questions. Give us your best work (meeting the above two conditions) and you will be eligible.

Gotta bring our A game for this one. I have a feeling Lindsey's presence will be missed against Tony Parker. His dribble penetration is going to be brutal.

Billups should make him play both ends. Billups should post parker at the offensive end and probably draw some fouls on him.

The Pistons will win this one because

(1) It's a home game

(2) Come on, you know this is the game they've been waiting for since last year (It won't be nearly enough vindication to compensate for the playoff loss but they need to know they can beat these guys). San Antonio will be pumped but not nearly as much as Detroit (because they won).

(3) Ginobli is out

(4) The Pistons are damned good (well, at least 5 of them are).

(5) I'll be watching the game on TV, but the Darth curse only works against us when I watch it live in a visiting city. (I do have to admit I loved the Jazz colors and even ALLOWED the kids to get some overpriced Jazz souvenirs...ok...get over it already, Darth).

I can't see Detroit losing this one. That's not a knock on the Spurs, but I'd be very surprised to see them beat us tomorrow.

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Here are a couple of articles on the game

http://sanantoniolightning.com/spurs1now.html

http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/5...0813162&ATT=73

No question that home court advantage will be a major factor. The Pistons have been playing very well this year, but even so, they will need the extra boost from the crowd if they are to get an assured victory. Rasheed and Ben will need to play great defense and stop the penetration by the Spurs. If we can keep them from driving to the hole like they did in the 2005 Finals, we'll be alright.

the spurs had trouble with the lakers because of their offense. the pistons now with flip play both O, and D.

That is the test. We need to use Sheed both down low and out on the arc. Make Duncan uncomfortable--he doesn't want to come out. Drive on Parker and post Horry over and over again. Take the quick look to keep them honest and then pass, pass, and pass as their defense does not want to go late into the clock as they become vulnerable. Forget the baseline drive--they want you to and are ready to collapse/trap. Use Tay from the top but let Tay shoot the bomber to open up the SA defense. Screen off Bowen as other teams are doing. Remember, they could count on us last year to not take the open look, to use Tay driving the baseline and to use Rip and Chauncey in one on one situations. We gave them what they wanted. If we make them really play defense, they will break down.

First, if Sheed leaves Horry open on the arc we'll have to question his intellegence.... Ben is a better matchup on Horry (and Sheed on TD)

I think Tayshaun has a lot of proving to do after the champ series... he should be motivated... I really believe his ankle was bothering his mobility in that series.

I hope Chauncey & Rip have it worked out if Bowen picks up on C.B.... Rip has to make them adjust to Parker gaurding him.

S.A. has trouble with up tempo teams... we need to look for some breakouts instead of always playing the half court game.

I would start the game with a hard foul on Parker...just for fun :^)

If Finley is starting... the Pistons will exploit his age with Rip... we can crash the boards on these guys.

As Jzchen mentioned Chauncey must make Parker pay down low.

Yep Max, Christmas is on hold for this one.

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With politicians the future lies ahead