Maybe, this defeat was necesary to win the championship... imagine today's victory, and then in Palace on Wednesday and Sunday somehow (after an 'inevitable' loss in Miami on Friday), Pistons would be so exhausted AND complacent, that Dallas would sweep the finals probably.
I think Pistons need a kind of catharsis and this Miami team offers a nice oportunity.
Heat often look better (in this series) than they really are and they still need at least two chances to win a game no matter how bad Pistons play. But Pistons could ('easily' is probably not a word now) make them look worse - and that would really be BAD. They would win a (1) game with Dallas at best.
There are some good things in this defeat - I think bench was good today (I like Dale Davis especially), maybe even great - cosidering oportunities, they've got so far.
Another good thing is - it is about survival from now on and 'locker room issues' should fade on this background. I usually get an idea about someones personality looking at his face and regarding Pistons I like what I see (not so sure about Flip) as much as i like how they play(ed) - I simply have to believe, that they can overcome this.
It may be easier for me to be calm (am I really?), since I'm not a 'native' fan (Slovenia, Europe), but I've missed some optimistic tones in recent posts, so I started a new thread (my first!).

PHX/Dallas looks to be going at least 6 so I would not worry about fatigue if ours happends to go 7 and we actually win it.

Only thing the Pistons have to worry about is game 5. Get that game and it will be a winnable series again. I know the odds are long of comming back from 1-3 but I wonder what the odds are if you go onto win game 5?

I'd be very optomistic if this team wasn't unraveling. Whenever we got in a situation lie this everyone got on the same page to help us win. There was no finger pointing and no one blamed anyone. That's definantly not the case right now. If we're to win this series we have to take it 1 game at a time. Don't worry about how to win on the road in Miami because if we do that we might not even have a chance this season to play there again.

No more isos too. That's not our game. When we got that lead we moved the ball around to every player. We couldn't win though because we didn't play the first 1 and 3/4 of the game, and we worked so hard to comeback we were fatigued in the 4th and everyone was in foul trouble. It's a slim chance to comeback, but if everyone can get on the same page we have a chance.

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"That's the end, man." Rasheed Wallace

Yeh - I'm an Optimist.

I can't wait for the Pistons to break the backs and psyches of the Heat. Take'em down in 3 straight with their backs against the wall. Serve'em humble pie with a heap of motown azzkicking. Send Riley a message (titled "Hey dumbazz") about the money he spent on Shaq over the next 5 years. See Wade walk off the court like LeBron, no looks back, no shaking hands, just off into damp dark night.

Yeh - I'm an Optimist.

I'm a Realist.

If the team continues to "play" the way they have been for the past 2 weeks and if they continue to come out of the gate with little/no interest or energy, then at least it will be over quickly.

But, if the team comes out and plays Detroit Basketball. If they come out and attack the rim, defend the lane, share the ball, space the floor, hit open shots, and make Miami pay for even THINKING they have a chance at winning in our house, then yes, I believe. If the team comes out and plays the way we're used to seeing them play. Plays as if they really ARE the team with the longest serving starting 5 in the NBA. Plays like a team that has been here before. Plays with the same passion as their fans have, then the Heat are in big, big trouble.

It all depends on which Pistons team comes out.

I'm a Realist.

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No - I'm thinking you're a fatalist....

I'm a pessimist. I think that we will have a hard time with Dallas after we dispose of the Heat.

Great thread!

Nothing wrong with Slovenia!

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Nov 13 LW Milan Lucic had an active night. He scored his first goal in eight games since his Oct. 25 hat trick and also pounded Michael Komisarek in a third-period fight. Lucic cut his hand in a fight with Michael Komisarek. "I'll be fine," he said. "(X-rays are) negative, but there's so many broken bones in there from before you can't really tell."

It's on. DETROIT 4 LIFE!!!!!! Plants may close, homicides may rise, unemployment is high and morale is low.....but we'll fight anybody, anytime, anywhere till the end. Detroit won't die on it's own, you better kill it/us cause we coming back.

Game 5: a pride game--do anything and everything to avoid getting eliminated at home

Game 6: Miami's one chance to end it at their place--only the complete resurrection of Detroit Basketball will do

Game 7: a tossup

If the Pistons make it this far, Dallas/Phoenix should be worried.