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Spurs are still mighty
They load up on teams with Duncan at forward and Parker and Ginobili manning the backcourt.
By Chris McCosky / The Detroit News
http://www.detnews.com/2005/pistons/...E01-208526.htm
AUBURN HILLS -- You wouldn't blame the Pistons if they didn't want to let go immediately of their noble victory over the Heat in Game 7 on Monday night.
It was, with all its drama, plot twists and praiseworthy performances, what the networks call an instant classic. The sporting public will be hashing and rehashing not just Game 7, but also the entire seven-game series, for years to come.
"That was what you play the game for," Richard Hamilton said. "As a basketball player, that's what you live for."
Said Chauncey Billups: "That was the best series I've ever played in."
But the Pistons don't have time to bask. As they know, nobody passes out rings and organizes parades for winning a conference le.
The Pistons had about half a day Tuesday to enjoy the sweetness of that hard-earned victory -- that historic victory, actually, as it was the franchise's first Game 7 win on the road -- before boarding a plane bound for San Antonio and getting back to business in the NBA Finals.
Believe this, as tough as the Heat were, the Spurs will be tougher.
"I don't think there's much that you can really say about the Spurs," Billups said. "They are an unbelievable team and are very well coached. They have some great players; Tim Duncan is one of the best probably to ever play the game. So, you know, I think you are going to see another great series."
This is the first time since 1987 that the two previous NBA champions will meet in the Finals. The Spurs won it in 2003, and the Pistons won it last year.
The Spurs and Pistons are the league's two stingiest defensive teams. Each is driven by an elite set of guards -- Billups and Hamilton for the Pistons, and Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili for the Spurs. Each has elite forwards -- Duncan for the Spurs, and Ben and Rasheed Wallace for the Pistons.
Each team has a capable supporting cast -- Tayshaun Prince, Antonio McDyess and Lindsey Hunter for the Pistons, and Bruce Bowen, Brent Barry and Robert Horry for the Spurs.
The two coaches -- Larry Brown and Gregg Popovich -- are the best of friends (Popovich was the best man at Brown's wedding), and the teams use similar basketball systems.
There are plenty of story lines, but one will be all too familiar to the Pistons. They again will be cast in the role of underdogs.
"We played San Antonio twice and split with them, and the game we lost down there was a pretty good game," Billups said. "It's going to be a tough series. They are one of the best home teams in the game, if not the best. But we are looking forward to it. I just can't wait, man, I can't wait."
The Spurs can't, either. They haven't played since June 1. That's plenty of time to heal their bumps and bruises (namely Duncan's sore right ankle) and plenty of time to grow rust.
"I thought the four best teams were in the conference finals this year," Brown said. "But I still think the Spurs are special.
"We have great respect for them. They have won two championships with Gregg and not too many people talk about it. We are the defending champs and not very many people talk about that."
Brown doesn't want to hear about how these teams aren't exactly big draws outside of their markets.
"I think our teams play the game the right way," Brown said. "We both try to defend. We both share the ball. We both can score. We both have great players. I think we help the game the way we play."
The Pistons are no longer worried about what outsiders say about them. Their accomplishments, last year and in getting to the Finals again, say it all.
"It's been a crazy season, man," Billups said. "This season has presented a different challenge for us because this season we were the hunted. We won a championship hunting people down, and now people were hunting us. We lost a lot of games early because we didn't realize how hard people were coming at us. We got everybody's best game, everybody's A-game every night, and it was tough.
"That was tough early in the season, then everything else that went on (the brawl against the Pacers, Brown's health), all of that took a toll on our team. But to come through and win a series like this is validation that, you now, we have some tough players on our team."
Briefly
The Pistons lost 15 spots in the second round of the 2005 draft Tuesday. The 76ers acquired Utah's second-round pick (60th overall) and sent it to the Pistons to complete the 1997 Jerry Stackhouse trade. The move enables the 76ers to keep their second-round pick (45th overall). The Pistons will have three picks in the June 28 draft -- their first-round pick (No. 26), their second-round (No. 56), and the Jazz's second-round (No. 60).
