heres something that might make you smile

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

Damn rookies!

[x0xbillupsx0x]

Damn rookies!

i'll pretend like you wasn't referring to me:P

[slayermin]

It's possible, yes. Likely? Lol. Anything is possible. And comparing this year's Pistons team to the 94-95 Magic is a bit of a stretch, wouldn't you say? These guys are playoff vets, and the Magic, with the exception of Horace Grant and a few role players, I believe, were not.

I'm not comparing the Magic to the Pistons. But if you were going by regular season performance and record, the difference between the Magic and the Rockets in '95 is equal to or bigger than the difference between the Spurs and the Pistons this regular season.

Let's say the Spurs and Pistons do face each other in the Finals. The first two games in Detroit are going to be wars. The Pistons will be under a huge amount of pressure to protect homecourt. Game one might determine the winner of the series.

[DisgruntledLionFan#54,927]

Or the first two games could be blowouts...

[slayermin]

Or the first two games could be blowouts...

I seriously doubt that.

[DisgruntledLionFan#54,927]

Why? In the last 9 games between SA and Detroit, 6 have been 15+ point wins...

[Darrin]

I'm really looking forward to the matchup. I respect the Spurs more than any other team, and I would be disappointed if the Pistons won the Championship and didn't go up against their stiffest compe ion. Besides, if this becomes a recurring event, maybe people outside the purists will start watching these two teams .

Both teams have to get there first.

[slayermin]

Why? In the last 9 games between SA and Detroit, 6 have been 15+ point wins...

I predict the play will be a continuation of games 5-7 from last year's Finals.

[Darrin]

It's possible. It's possible.

11-23-94 Hou 94 @ Orl 117
03-02-95 Hou 96 Orl 107

06-07-95 Hou 120 @ Orl 118
06-09-95 Hou 117 @ Orl 106
06-11-95 Hou 106 Orl 103
06-14-95 Hou 113 Orl 101

I think there is one marked difference in that matchup, and that's experience. When a team wins 60 games, it guarantees nothing. The Suns last season and in 1993, the Pacers two years ago, the Celtics in Bird's rookie season, etc. But when a team with as much experience as the Pistons and Spurs win 60, it results in Championships. No team has the advantage in that area, and that's why it will be so tough to call, and I believe, a very close series.

The series as close at it is, I believe that's why homecourt will make a difference. Not because one team can't win on the other's floor. Both teams proved in last year's Finals that they can win when it counts on the other team's floor. But because it could be so close, it could be a flick of a wrist, a key possession that means the difference between a Championship and being the most tired team not to win the le. The Pistons have stacked the statistical probabilities in their favor, and that's all they can do in regular season.

And anyone searching for comfort in the majority of the Pistons opponents being scrubs forgets that the Pistons had the same schedule last season, lost more games than the Spurs, and took San Antonio to seven games. It's not about the opponents; it's about your team, how you're playing. This isn't college where you pick your opponents. All they did was play the teams infront of them each night.

[slayermin]

Nice post, Darrin. The Pistons are significantly better than the '95 Magic. Championship teams should never be underestimated.