I say we will bring another ship back to the Palace. A title is never a given but man, are we the team to beat. We have played at the highest level this year early and late. Our competitors have slipped a bit. Only Dallas has improved. Teams now say that they are happy when they can PLAY with us. Teams fear us. We are in their heads. Even Shaq had said that they need a near perfect game to beat us. That puts a lot of pressure on our opponents.

We have an offense--finally. It is a modern NBA offense in the era of three ball. No more pounding it in just to be pounding it in. No more work the clock just to work the clock. We can score early and late in the clock. Tay is now a beast--teams have real problems handling him. Rip is near superstar levels now in his offensive game. Sheed can score from anywhere. We do need to get Ben his touches--I agree with him. But we don't go back to post up Ben--not like last year.

Do we have a bench? How about a starter anywhere else, Antonio McDyss? How about instant offense, Tony Delk, the second coming of Vinnie Johnson.

Can we still lock down? Rip is a first rate defender now. Tay is back. Ben is feeling good and can single-handedly wreck an offense. Sheed is on of the best defenders down low in the league. Mr. Dumars has put together a juggernaut that will show its dominance. Delk and Hunter can put the screws on defensively from the second unit.

I just want to sit back and enjoy this team and watch it make history. To heck with all that Arroyo and Darko talk. Why it didn't happen last year--too many distractions. This is the year that was supposed to follow the championship. Like Joe says, these guys are special so lets enjoy this championship run. What do others think?

Rip has been a wonder this year. He keeps taking his game to new levels. Last year it was rebounding and assists. This year, he's a threat to score from anywhere on the court, not just in the mid-range game.

I've got butterflies until the ball goes up in the first playoff game. For an adrenaline/paranoia/jubilation junkie like myself, the playoffs are the big score.

When I think about the Pistons in the Finals, I feel like I can run through brick walls. Please let it be so.

Me too, Micro, I can taste this one. The championship over the Lakers in 2004 was a bit of a surprise to me. I hadn't followed the team like you all and wasn't on the board in those days. I just told people that the Pistons would not be a pushover. Those tough Indiana games with low scores didn't make me think that the Pistons could actually take the series. But this one...I have seen it coming--I can't wait. I want this one badly.

Over the season, I was always worried about the defense and the bench (or the apparent lack of both). Over the last month, though, we've seen the lockdown D when we need it, and most encouraging we've seen Hunter and Delk form up for a solid, solid backcourt off the bench. I only see one team in the whole league that can compete with the Pistons in a series, and I'm looking forward to seeing the Pistons take the trophy back from them.

YES I BELIEVE!!

bdubya, yes, now is the time to look ahead before the big show starts. A championship would be so sweet. Who do you think can compete with us. You didn't say?

I love this time of year and can remember all 3 runs in the playoffs and the 2 we shoulda had(Bad Boyz era and last year).Cloud nine after a ship to carry through the rest of summer is all I want.We are playing very good now and I only think it improves first tip-off, first series.All game long, every game.Time to crush.

I am super hyped awaiting the second season. I still have that bad taste in my mouth from last year.

I wonder if the Spurs can actually get to the Finals this year. They seem to be limping along, not the Spurs we are accustomed to seeing.

Only the Pistons and the Nets are the only teams that are coming into the playoffs healthy and ready.

I don`t see a team out there that can beat the Pistons 4 times out of 7, nope, it aint happening.

Somehow if the Wiz could get by the Cav`s in the 1st round they would play the Pistons, and I would be able to check out a game at the Verizon Center!

So let`s do this Pistons, I`ve been trying to get rid of this taste for over a year now, it`s time for the swet taste of a championship!!!!!!!

Right on Dlev, that was a bitter taste last year. I think that we were all in misery posting on the boards last summer. It helped knowing others felt the same way.

This is going to be the easiest East playoffs the Pistons have had. No big powerhouse in the 2nd round. No facing an Ugly giant that won 5-10 more games during the season. Past 2 years were like one of those video games where you keep getting a tougher and tougher opponent as you advance ( 04 Finals noted).

Past 2 seasons the Pistons have had a tough series in both the 2nd and East finals round.
In 04 the Nets were up 3-2 at one point and in the Conf Finals Indy tied it 2-2 and had homecourt. Last season many thought the scrappy Pacer team could upset given the emotional edge they seemed to have ( and a 2-1 lead after 3 ). Heat were up 3-2 at one point in the Final round.

Cardiac Kidds comming back and winning when many had written them off. Heck I thought they would even do the same thing to the Spurs.

Can it be this easy now? Sub-500 team in the 1st round. Cavs or Wizz in the 2nd and then homecourt in the East Finals?

Seems too easy. Almost enough to worry about.

Max, we are in great, great shape. I know, I keep thinking it is almost too good to be true too. But seriously, we should not get a major challenge until probably Miami in the East finals. We should not be as tired as last year because (1) we did not play a defensive style all season as defense takes more work than offense and (2) as you say, we should have two fairly easy rounds in the playoffs and get the home court all the way. I tell myself to just enjoy this team. Has anyone noticed how confident they are? Sheed on the Stephan Smith show was saying he expects the team to get the job done.