The Pistons move on, the Bulls go home & fans ask, "Why did it take 6 games?"

Thursday night's 95-85 win was another shining example as to why the Detroit Pistons are such an infuriating team to their fans.

I'm innocent, I tell you! I'm a victim of circumstance!

This series should have been over in 5 games, max. But the Pistons pulled their frustrating "We're too cool for school" act, basically taking 3 games off. That being the 1st half of game 3, and the 10 quarters following their explosive, game saving, 2nd half.

When the Pistons finally decided to stop dicking around, and impose their will upon the Bulls, it was obvious they were the better team. It took them till the 2nd half tip before they decided to, once again, flip the "Let's play to win" switch.

Once they went on their 12-4 run at the beginning of the 2nd half, the Pistons took the lead and never relinquished it. When the lead made it into the 6-8 point range, the Pistons kept it there for the the vast majority of the game. You could sense that the game was theirs, if the Pistons wanted to keep it. (You can never be too sure.) But from the sound of the Chi-town crowd, they sensed it as well.

When it became a free throw shooting contest with 2 minutes left, the game, and series, was finally over.

About damn time...

Not that there weren't several times throughout the game when you just wanted to throw your hands up, and say, "What the fuck?"

The PJ Brown show during the 1st half. When did he become an offensive force? Or was the defense that lax? Brown somehow canned 20 points tonight, almost all in his insane 1st half. He shouldn't score 20 points in 3 games combined...

Why is Lindsey Hunter allowed to shoot? I love his defense and energy, but he's as effective as Ben Wallace on offense.

The 5 second call against Tayshaun Prince late in the game. To paraphrase Biff Tannen, "Think Prince, think!" I'll give Prince this, he was the Pistons' most consistent performer. The Bulls had no answer when Prince would post up.

Rasheed Wallace being unstoppable down low, leaving you thinking, "Why did he wait 2 games to re-manifest his considerable talent?" In other words, "Where you been, 'Sheed?"

No, I didn't! Honest... I ran out of gas. I, I had a flat tire. I didn't have enough money for cab fare. My tux didn't come back from the cleaners. An old friend came in from out of town. Someone stole my car. There was an earthquake. A terrible flood. Locusts. IT WASN'T MY FAULT, I SWEAR TO GOD.

The questionable, at best, foul calls on Wallace on consecutive possessions, costing the Pistons 4 points. To be honest, 2 positives did come from that sequence. Rasheed somehow didn't get T'ed up, despite his histrionics, and the calls lit his "I'm taking over" fuse. A pissed off 'Sheed is a force of nature.

Add it all up though, and it equals a win. The Chicago Bulls season is over, thanks to the Pistons. That's all that counts, as (Thankfully) the NBA doesn't issue style points. It's win, and move on.

Detroit moves on, as expected, to their 5th consecutive eastern conference final.

This series win leaves me asking 1 more question. The Pistons were heavily favored to make the east finals. In fact, it was considered inevitable. So why do the Pistons have to be make the inevitable so God damn dramatic?