That was a valid point he was making. Both teams (Dallas, Detroit)
led the league in wins and both lost in the playoffs. Doesn't matter
who you lose to, you lost. And don't count Golden State out. I said
before the series started that GS could beat Dallas and they did. Now
GS will get the winner of Houston/Utah - probably Houston. They
should have no problems handling Houston whom they faced 3 times and
won twice during the regular season. And remember GS beat Detroit in
November (111-79) and March (111-93).
I, for one, really like TNT's broadcast crew including Charles Barkley
and Kenny Smith both of whom are more honest and know more about
basketball than ESPN's Greg Anthony and Tim Legler.
And to say Steve Kerr never gives the Piston's any props is to deny
the facts. Here is an article Steve Kerr wrote and appeared on many
websites including
phxsuns.net:
--
A lot to like about Pistons
By Steve Kerr
Sunday, Apr 29, 2007 1:02 pm EDT
Maybe it's just my new job as the official color commentator for
Detroit Pistons playoff games (I've now been courtside for three of
their four games), but the more I see this team, the more I think it
can win the whole thing.
I realize Detroit is the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference and
isn't exactly a dark horse, but the fact is, everyone is focused on
the West's power teams.
The East's best clubs -- Detroit, Cleveland and Chicago -- are all
playing well, but I get the feeling they're all considered eventual
fodder for the West champion, whoever that may be. Keep in mind,
though, that despite the West's dominance in recent years, the NBA
champ has come from the East in two of the past three seasons. And
with the West's playoff teams beating the hell out of each other
already in the first round, it could be that the East winner will have
an advantage come June. (However, Detroit and Chicago are about to
wage a war of attrition of their own.)
Anyway, now that I'm quite familiar with this Pistons team, here's
what I like about them:
1. Great guard play. Chauncey Billups controls the tempo of the game
as well as anyone not named Kidd or Nash. You simply cannot pressure
him into turnovers, so Detroit doesn't give up anything easy
defensively. Against Orlando, the Pistons committed just 28 turnovers
in the first three games of the series, and as a result, the Magic had
to play in the half court most of the way. Billups is the main reason
for that. He takes care of the ball, he plays with great confidence
and, when Richard Hamilton isn't making big shots, Billups is.
2. Amazing front-court depth. Ask Dwight Howard how much fun it was to
play against Detroit's front line. As soon as Chris Webber and Rasheed
Wallace went out of the game, in came Antonio McDyess and Dale Davis.
The Pistons' big men threw so many looks at Howard that he was a
non-factor through the series' first three games.
3. Experience. In Game 4, Detroit looked indifferent for much of the
night and looked like it was going to let things slip away. Then in
the final couple of minutes, the Pistons made all five of their shots,
showing incredible execution and patience as they put the game away.
Veterans in the playoffs are invaluable, and Detroit has tons of them.
4. Camaraderie. These guys really like each other. They have no
agendas, they don't seem to care who scores and they have fun playing
together. The ball goes where it is supposed to go, not where someone
wants it to go. The Pistons just play, and they let the game dictate
who the star will be.
Is all of that enough to win a championship? I think so. Especially
with Dallas looking so vulnerable in the West.
But as soon as the Bulls polish off Miami, we'll get a better idea of
how good the Pistons really are. The Magic didn't present much of a
challenge, but Chicago is a whole different story. I can't wait to see
Luol Deng go against Tayshaun Prince, among other matchups.
Unfortunately, we will have to wait for that series, which won't start
for at least a week.
--
Sounds good to me and I've heard him say many good things about the
Pistons during the games as well. Don't diss him just because he was
once a Bull.
Regards,
////
(o o)
-oOO--(_)--OOo-
"If you take an Oriental person and spin him around several times,
does he become disoriented?"
