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?

Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it

The one word (Other than several that are profane) that comes to mind when thinking about the Detroit Pistons is "Hubris."

Hubris: hu·bris(hyōō'brĭs) n. Overbearing pride or presumption; arrogance: "There is no safety in unlimited technological hubris" (McGeorge Bundy).

I'd have to say that the Pistons are hubris defined.

For more fun with the English language, here are some synonyms for "Hubris."

airs, assumption, big-headedness, cockiness, conceit, condescension, contumely, disdain, disdainfulness, egoism, egotism, haughtiness, hauteur, hubris, huff, immodesty, insolence, loftiness, morgue, overconfidence, patronage, pragmatism, presumption, pretension, pretentiousness, proud flesh, self-exaltation, self-importance, self-love, smugness, snobbery, superbity, superciliousness, swagger, swelled head*, vainglory, vanity

I could use any of those words to describe the Pistons' personality. They are a team whose attitude is often been reflected in their on-court play. Their demeanor the past 3 games with the Chicago Bulls has been "Hubris" personified.

The Pistons may just be the most frustrating and confounding team to root for in all of sports. They can look like both the best, and worst, team in the NBA during a 7 game series. Actually, they can pull their good/bad act in the same game. Just go back to game 3...

The Detroit Pistons are the "Sybil" of the NBA.

Their attitude is a big reason why most opposing fanbases despise the Pistons. (Well, that and the constant referee baiting and whining, of which Pistons fans are sick of tired of seeing) Much like deposed royalty living in exile, royalty who believes they still have the same station in life, the Pistons all too often carry themselves as if they are the defending NBA champions. Considering their NBA title was 3 seasons ago, they don't deserve that kind of respect. 3 seasons is eons in NBA years.

It's one thing for yokels such as myself to declare that a series is all but over. It's another thing altogether for the Pistons to feel that way.

Much as the shoe was on the other foot way back in 2003, when the Orlando Magic had the Pistons on the verge of elimination. Remember Tracy McGrady's infamous statement after game 4? T-Mac was thrilled to "finally be in the second round (of the playoffs)," despite still having to win one more game.

We all know how many games the Magic won after T-Mac looked in his crystal ball...

You'd think a Pistons team that barely survived the same playoff scenario in round 2 last season would have realized that you can't just show up at the arena and expect the opposition to roll over. Instead, to quote noted scholar Yogi Berra, "This is like deja vu all over again."

Do I think that the Pistons will still win this series? Sure do. Am I confident with that prediction? Not nearly as much as I was a few days ago. Matt at Detroit Bad Boys put it much more succinctly.

I still think that the third time trying to close out the series will be the charm in Game 6 on Thursday in Chicago, but I no longer know if my confidence is fueled by optimism, logic or denial.

At this point, I'm now expecting this series to go 7 games. The Pistons have not shown me that they can get themselves fired up unless their backs are against the proverbial wall.

What was once a farce of a series has turned into a legitimate one.

Burning questions from a crazy Detroit sports weekend

It's being called "Black Sunday," as all 3 of Detroit's teams lost.

But the only loss that really meant anything was the Red Wings', as that made their series with the Ducks 1-1. The Pistons losing to the Bulls is just delaying the inevitable, the of type emotionless performance that we were all expecting them to have sometime during their playoff run. It just happened to be yesterday. As for the Tigers, they just had one of those crazy Baggiedome games where nothing goes right, the sort you just forget about right after the final out.

After a weekend of Detroit sports craziness, some questions were left unanswered. Till now...

Will will we ever see Virgil Vasquez in a Tiger uniform again?

The Twins shelled poor Virgil for 9 hits and 6 runs less than 3 innings. Not an auspicious major league debut. So it might be quite a while before we see Vasquez again. But one game does not a career make. Let's hope Vasquez learns from his cup of coffee in the bigs, and makes it back to Detroit.

After seeing Vasquez struggle mightily in his first ever start, the best news Tigers fans could have heard was that phenom Andrew Miller's first double A start was a rousing success. The one question none of us can answer is, "When will Miller be called up?" I'm guessing it's going to be sooner than later.

How badly did the Tigers embarrass themselves on the worldwide leader's airwaves last night?

Less than Joe Morgan manages to every Sunday night. Even though the Tigers were given a thorough whipping, it was just 1 game in a 162 game season, folks. Games like these happen to even the best teams during a long season. Even Jim Leyland knew it was going to just one of those games, and threw in the towel early, if you go by his wholesale substituting.

To be honest, I'm thrilled beyond belief that the Tigers took 2 of 3 from the Twins, especially in that house of horrors known as the Baggiedome. Any trip to Minnesota where you win the series is a successful one.

What happened to all the Tigers' supposed pitching depth?

Some of it was traded to the Yankees for Gary Sheffield. The rest still isn't quite ready. But to say the Tigers don't have depth is unfair. Think about it, how many teams could bounce back from such a tough 1-2 injury punch as the Tigers have this season? Most teams would be happy to just tread water. The Tigers, on the other hand, have gone on a winning streak!

To still lead the Central division after arguably losing both your best starting and relief pitcher says volumes about the Tigers' talent and fortitude. Having The Gambler and Joel Zumaya return mid season will be a huge boost to the Tigers morale, and even more importantly, talent level.

Why are the Pistons so God damned confounding?

If I could figure out in advance what nights the Pistons would decide to take off, I'd make a killing in Vegas. I've said it before, and I'll say it again, it's just how they roll. The Pistons have rarely taken the easier road. Personally, I'd bet the farm that the Pistons close out the series on Tuesday. They normally bounce back quite well after one of their frustratingly blasé performances.

Is Flip Murray still rising after posterizing a helpless Kirk Hinrich?

Holy shit, who knew Flip had such mad hops? It was one of the few emotional moments in a game which the Pistons showed little. Too bad the only defense Hinrich had was to give Murray a shot in the nether regions. Just look at the screen grab that was posted at The Fanhouse.


Hinrich successfully went for the proverbial cock punch. He must cribbing cheap shot notes from Bruce Bowen. Seeing that now puts Murray's glaring reaction at Hinrich, which pissed off Bulls fans, in context.

What were the NHL replay judges looking at on the 3rd period goal that tied Red Wings - Ducks at 3-3?

Considering the time of night of Travis Moen's third-period goal, probably "The Family Guy." They sure as Hell weren't watching the instant replay. Dominik Hasek made the stop, then was shoved / pitchforked / bulldozed into the goal. Everyone but the replay judges saw it that way. I hope they enjoyed the wacky antics of Peter Griffin.

Are the Anaheim Ducks the better team?

Going from what my eyes are telling me, yes. When play is 5 on 5, the Ducks have dominated the Wings for long stretches. The Red Wings have been making hay with their special teams, and they will have to continue to cash in on the power play and stifle the Ducks while on the penalty kill, in order to win this series.

I'm not saying that the Red Wings won't win this series, even if they aren't the better team. If there is one thing we've learned from watching the NHL playoffs over the past few years, it's that the better team doesn't always win. The more opportunistic team wins. More than a little luck helps too. The Red Wings of 2003, 2004, and 2006 would concur. This series is far from over, and it will go 7 games.

What about the Lions?

What about them? They still blow.

The Pistons took game 4 off, thinking the Bulls would lie down and be swept. Ready for game 5?

Did anyone else get the feeling that the Pistons purposely decided to lay low for 3 quarters in their game 4 with the Chicago Bulls today? Why else would they wait until the 4th quarter before turning up their intensity?

DAMN! So much for our Tuesday night clubbing...

The game within a game they were playing was "How long can we just go through the motions before deciding to make an effort?"

Just as the Pistons waited till the 2nd half tip before turning up the wick in game 3, they decided to make things more interesting in game 4. How? By waiting for the 4th quarter before trying the same sort of comeback. Their little game backfired this time...

I admit I'm being somewhat facetious. But when you consider the Pistons found themselves down 21 after 3, it's the only thing that makes sense.

You have to give the Bulls some credit, as they just could have laid down and let their season come to an end. But I think the Pistons deserve most of the credit for the Bulls extending the series. Who were the biggest culprits in Game 4? It was an ugly game for the Detroit big men.

Rasheed Wallace fell back into his lazy habit of lingering around the 3 point line. I can somewhat live with that when he's hitting those long jumpers. But when you shoot 2-12(!) from 3 point land, and 2-4 inside, you'd think that one would tend to work the paint just a little more? 2 for 12? Jesus.

Chris Webber has been all but invisible the last 2 games. On second thought, C-Webb has been totally invisible. In games 3 and 4, Webber was a combined 0-8 in 30 total minutes. Webber was damn successful if he trying to go incognito. Someone has to clue Webber in that the feds aren't after him anymore, he doesn't have to attempt to hide in plain sight.

Antonio McDyess hasn't been much better than Webber, with his 3-11 from the floor over the 2 games. His normally on the money jumper has gone AWOL.

I'm not going to get to uptight over the Pistons first loss in a 7 game series. It's their first playoff loss, period. Even the best teams will lose playoff games. The Pistons weren't going to go through the playoffs as Moses Malone once predicted for his 76'ers, "Fo, fo, fo."

I fully anticipate that the Pistons will wake from their partial game stupor upon coming home for game 5. If they show even a little interest from the start, the Pistons should blow away the Bulls Tuesday night, and finally end this farce of a series.

Still, I'd feel a little better about losses like today's if the Pistons would at least make an attempt to look like they give a shit.

That. Was. Embarrassing.

After a very ugly 24 minutes, I thought the above, or something similar, would be the headline of my next post. That post was going to be about the Pistons deciding to take the night off against the Bulls.

A 28 point 1st half? What. The. Fuck?

I was going to write that what we witnessed was a typical Detroit Pistons game 3 playoff effort, an effort we've seen before in previous series. 2006's examples being awful game 3's against the Bucks and the LeBron's.

I would have also delved into the thought being that Pistons don't seem (or want) to play their best until their backs are against the wall. If we saw the same sort of effort in game 4, that would lead to another one of those 6 or 7 games series that the Pistons would invariably win, but never should have gone that far to do so.

I even thought of getting a head start, and posting some quick thoughts royally ripping the Pistons royally their lack of both effort and killer instinct against an inferior opponent.

Then the 2nd half started, and I figured it would be best to wait. The Pistons could at least make a game out of it. I was hoping they would make a run, get the game somewhat close, and not give the Bulls much momentum going into what I thought would be a more interesting that it should of been game 4.

I'm glad I held off...

In a short 12 minute span, the Bulls' 19 point lead, my building bile, and my blog post, all went right out the window.

The game finished 81-74 Pistons, but it wasn't even that close by the end.

What we witnessed in the 2nd half Thursday night was a textbook example of a young team undergoing a total meltdown. A nuclear meltdown. A China Syndrome meltdown. I don't think I'd call it a choke job, as the Pistons had much to do with Chicago's mental mistakes and horrible decision making. I think we can all agree that it was definitely an embarrassing 2nd half performance, or lack thereof, by the Bulls.

After the 2nd half tip, the Pistons executed their offense to perfection, and the shots finally started to fall. Defensively, the Pistons didn't let the Bulls have a single easy shot. And as we saw, hardly any found net, with the Bulls only scoring 30 points. The Bulls couldn't execute. It was asking to much for them to make a pass, a shot, or a anything resembling a good decision in the 2nd half.

Chicago had absolutely no answer for Rasheed Wallace, Tayshaun Prince, and someone who's going to be a very, very rich man after the playoffs, Chauncey Billups. Grizzled playoff veterans were taking visibly nervous playoff neophytes to school, and giving them an ass kicking.

'Sheed ended the 3rd with a dagger of a 3, to bring the Pistons to within 1 of the Bulls. The game was over then and there. At that point, it was just going to be a matter of what the Pistons' final margin of victory was going to be.

Gordon, Deng, Nocioni, Brown. Hell, just name a Bull, they were visibly shaken once the Pistons made their move. They couldn't hold on to passes, bricked free throws, and couldn't hit even uncontested shots.

And just where was Ben Wallace in the 2nd half? On the bench, thanks to his non-existent offensive game, and if you ask me, emotion. When he was a Piston, Ben Wallace was a huge, intimidating presence. He could control a game with his defense, rebounding, and will. But with the Bulls? That's not the same Ben Wallace I saw as a Piston. He's just another guy now.

If I'm a Bulls fan, I'm thinking differently about him after this series. They paid Wallace 60 MILLION DOLLARS, and they get absolutely no veteran leadership. Wallace showed up late for the game, 'nuff said. Late for a must win playoff game? Your prize free agent? The face of the franchise? Make you wonder where Wallace's head was at, as it sure isn't in this series.

When it was all said and done, the Pistons had crushed any and all hope the city of Chicago may have had in the Bulls, let alone the Bulls themselves.

This series is over. Bring on the LeBron's.

The Chicago Bulls are 1 player away from beating the Pistons. Unfortunately, he's 43 years old and owns the Bobcats

The Chicago Bulls have a roster issue. That being they don't have a circa 1991 Michael Jordan on their playoff roster. It has become obvious that having a young, title hungry Jordan on the Bulls would be the only chance they have of taking out the 2007 Detroit Pistons. As far as I know, Mr. Peabody hasn't yet invented the Wayback Machine, so the Pistons need not worry about a time traveling Jordan.

Sherman & Mr. Peabody are the Chicago Bulls only hope

The Detroit Pistons have made this round of the NBA playoffs boring. By sprinting out to double digits leads right after the opening tip, the Pistons have been doing Detroit sports fans a huge favor. Their blowing the Bulls right out of the Palace have allowed us to tune in the Red Wings, whose games with the now vanquished San Jose Sharks have been nail-biters in comparison.

The Pistons haven't looked this focused since their 2004 title run. While watching the game (Flipping between 24, the Pistons, and the Red Wings caused a great deal of painful thumb strain. But in the playoffs, you have to watch hurt...) I expected the Pistons to let off the throttle, allowing the Bulls back in the game, much as they did against the LeBron's last season. I was thrilled to see that they kept their foot on the Bulls throat, and pretty much choked out their playoff hopes in the process.

What is even more encouraging is that despite their focus, the Pistons aren't yet playing their absolute best. There were too many turnovers last night, 21 to the Bulls' 13, and even more glaring, the Pistons were well out shot from the charity stripe. I don't think I've ever seen a team shoot 29 (!) more free throws, as did the Bulls, and yet get blown out of the arena so decisively.

Back in the 80's, the Pistons had "The Jordan Rules." Imaginary rules or not, the Bad Boy Pistons were unquestionably in the Bulls' collective heads for several years. I think we are seeing history repeat itself.

The Bulls guards are shooting blanks, and are being grossly outplayed. Their forwards aren't faring any better, the Pistons front line are mentally and physically dominating play. Ben Wallace is no longer a superhuman force of nature, he's just a good rebounder and defender who is non-existent on offense.

The Pistons' domination of the Bulls was so total, Bulls coach Scott Skiles never changed his facial expression through the the last 3 quarters of game 2. It was the look of a shellshocked man who's resigned to his fate. He doesn't have a solution, any answers, or even a prayer. How do you tell a team that they are still in this series, despite being out played and out talented? I don't even think the Zen Master himself could make that sound plausible.

The Bulls may end up winning a game or 2. That's just how the Pistons roll. But to think that the Bulls can win 4 of 5 from the Pistons? After consecutive 20+ point losses? While enduring such utter and total domination? Not even bringing back the Zen Master, Jordan circa 1991, and Jordan's caddie in Mr. Peabody's Wayback Machine could pull this series out of the ashes.

"A person is smart, people are stupid."

Agent K couldn't have been more correct. In regard to "Fans" of the Pistons, let me paraphrase Agent K, and put it this way.


"A fan is smart, fans are stupid."


Why am I saying such a thing? Because the Chicago Bulls' Ben Wallace was booed in his return to the Palace on Sunday. It proves that fans, as a whole, are dumbasses. They definitely have very short memories.

Why did Ben Wallace leave? Because the Bulls overpaid. Also because the Pistons recognized that the NBA is changing to an offensive game, and Ben Wallace's offensive game is very offensive...to the senses. Both teams had a need. The Bulls needed defense, the Pistons offense. Thus, goodbye Ben Wallace, and thanks for the memories.

They should be ashamed, especially the guy wearing the TEAL uni.

Was I happy about Wallace leaving? No. Has it worked out for the best, for both parties? Since the Pistons finally found a most capable replacement in Chris Webber, yes.

Fans need to remember all Ben Wallace did for the Pistons. 1 NBA championship, 2 Eastern Conference titles, 4 All-star games, 4 defensive player of the year awards, 2 rebounding titles, and that just naming a few accomplishments. The man was the face of the Pistons for his entire tenure. Ben Wallace WAS the Pistons.

To boo and jeer that kind of effort is to just show how silly fans as a whole can be. Without Wallace's efforts, the Pistons aren't the team they are today.

Please. As if you wouldn't have left for the additional Brinks truck of coin the Bulls offered.

"Fans" have a right to do whatever they want, within reason. They can boo and jeer Ben Wallace. They paid their money. But this "Fan" says doing so doesn't make them right, or smart, or especially clever. It just makes them small, petty, and clueless.

The Pistons rose out of the ashes of irrelevancy on the shoulders of Ben Wallace. Wallace deserved better from the "Fans" of Detroit.