There are four teams I don't like to see Detroit go against in the playoffs.

1. Chicago - here's hoping they don't make it. But I have a feeling those boys in red and white can make that run.

2. Cleveland - Two words. Lebron James. Here's hoping if Detroit has to face them, he's injured. He has an agenda against the Pistons and the Pistons become too timid to hit back.

3. Boston - They're hungrier. Unless the Pistons would get together, talk among themselves, get themselves fired up and want it more than any team, Boston has the hunger advantage.

4. Utah - That is if they make it to the finals.

C'mon Pistons. Play like the team we, fans, believe you can play.

I really don`t know what to believe going into this years post season. We have witnessed a Piston team that looked unbeatable, then that very same team looks pathetic.

A team who boasts the best bench in the east, perhaps the league, then a bench who can`t score in double figures in the following contest.

I agree with whomever mentioned the hunger factor, it`s just not there consistently from this Piston team. All the talk from the players and Joe D has been focused on eliminating the lack of effort and flicking the so called "switch", I see very little change from the past couple of years.

The first round shouldn`t present that big of a threat, (anything more than 5 games would be very dissapointing) however, the second round could be tough if the Pistons aren`t ready to handle their business.

It is very obvious that Flip lacks motivational skills, but shouldn`t Tay, Sheed, CB, Rip know how to motivate themselves somewhat? For crying out loud, they have been there before!

IMO, Doc Rivers is no more of a motivator than Flip, however, KG, Pierce, and Ray Allen WANT IT! and they don`t need the coach to light a fire under their arse......

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"I`m shocked" The Low, on the Pistons game 2 win in the ECF at Boston.

Dlev - Its hard not to think about the past 2 playoff collapses. When you analyse the Pistons you almost have to keep that in mind.

I would not mind so much if they lost as long as they lost by getting beat and not because they were tired or chocked.

With our bench. Since the starters hogged all the cap money Dumars had to assemble it with rookie contracts and min contract vets. With the exception of Hunter and Amir ( who hardly play anyway) the bench is all rookie contracts and min vets. So one would almost have to expect some inconsistancies. Its really quit amazing what they have been able to accomplish in that light.

At least Dumars is taking advantage of the rookie contract now. Its a pretty good value. Can you imagine how much Maxiel would go for on the open market?

Agree with 2-4 above; however, if you look at the current standings the top 4 seeds are already pretty much set in the East with only a dozen or so games to go so the only way we will see Clev is if they beat Boston in the 2nd round or Boston is upset in the 1st round.

With Chic, we beat them the last time without Ben. Used to beat them with Ben before but that was also when they had Scott Skiles which makes be wonder if Ben had some inside info on the Pistons that Skiles chose to ignore and that the Bulls new coach took advantage of in their wins and that the Clev coach is now taking advantage of. At any rate thats one of those things that any decent coach would adjust to in a playoff series.

Good point with that series. Altough NJ only had won 46 or 47 games they were more experienced and had the mental edge of having swept us the year before in the ECF. I still remember hearing Mat Dery call the series over when we won the 1st 2 at the Palace. But NJ did not fold. They won game 3, then game 4, then game 5.
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Yeah it was nip and tuck, Nets played like EF Champs, yet the loss doomed K Mart and now puts the Nets in rebuild mode.
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I would guess that if we don't make the finals Maxi and Amir will not get their second contracts. Dumars will pimp them out for experience and go Rattler with somebody.

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"It's a problem man" CB on CWebb stealing his assists


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Max, you are one of here, who makes reasonable posts, instead of typical wishful thinkings. Just keep up!

I am definitely looking at the last two years. The past 2 year collapse can be blamed on two things IMO.......

1/ Poor coaching.

2/ Lack of urgency and lackadaisical effort, (see item 1).

The tired excuse may have some merit behind it, again I point to item 1. Joe D or Flip couldn`t realize the starters weren`t being played to death over the past several years?

I wouldn`t exactly say it was a choke job the last couple of years, I would say the Pistons were clearly out played, outcoached, and their opponents wanted it more than they did!!

We keep hearing how experienced this team is and how well they play down the stretch of games. I honestly believe the players believe that something magical will happen sometimes instead of actually executing, playing aggressively and being focused enough to win BIG GAMES!!

Again, I can`t put all the blame on Flip, afterall, these are experienced veterans that "know how to win"

I still say with the correct mindset this team can still win it all, inspite of Flip Saunders................

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"I`m shocked" The Low, on the Pistons game 2 win in the ECF at Boston.

You are partly correct. This thread really does not matter much, because the Pistons will win it all, or go out in the first round, strictly by what rotation Flip chooses.

Just to rehash the same old (so don't read further if you already know my opinion):

This rotation goes out in the first round:

Billups, Dixon, Rip, Hunter, Tay, Hayes, Dyess, Theo, Sheed, Theo.

This rotation wins it all:

Billups, Stuckey, Rip, Afflalo, Tay, Amir, Dyess, JMAX, Sheed, Theo.

Both lindsey and dixon are highly questionable ( if you believe this Flip Saunders: On the Cleveland loss and how LeBron is fastest in the NBA | Freep.com | Detroit Free Press
it is up to dumars, yes dumars, whether lindsey gets spot or not.) Dixon may help in certain situations - e.g. to break traps, but it doesn't mean that he is in playoff roster.

I don't think this one can even get out of the first round without Sammy Mejia.