DEEETROIT BASKETBALL!

Well the time has come.  The matchup most people expected to see, and anticipated, begins tonight.  The Boston Celtics, and Detroit Pistons do battle in one of the NBa’s most storied rivalries.  Vegas has the Celtics winning in seven games.  If I had to make a prediction at this very moment, I’d say Pistons in seven.  I see no reason why they can’t get the job done, that is if the Pistons play up to their competition.  The switch is right in front of them, if they chose to flip it and play like the NBA title contenders they are.  The Piston’s bench must play better, similar to the way they did at the beginning of the regular season.  It’s no secret that Boston’s big three are the best three players on the floor (although Ray  Allen against Rip is debatable) so the Pistons deeper roster needs ot show up big.  Rasheed Wallace is key as well.  Garnett is a more consistent player by a long shot, but Sheed matches up with him well defensively, and posseses most of Garnett’s offensive skills, if he choses to use them.  Neutralize Garnett’s advantage in this matchup is key for the Pistons success.  Chauncey Billups should carve up Rajon Rhondo if he can keep the pace more to the Piston’s liking.  However, if Rhondo can use his superior speed to run up and down the court, the Pistons may struggle.  Either way, 8:30 on TNT.  All fans of good basketball should enjoy this one

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Great teams put a lesser team on the chopping block.  Great teams have a killer instinct that beats their opponents when they are down.  Judging from the performance  the Pistons put on last night, they have yet to show signs of being a great team.  With a chance to go up 3 game to 0 against the Magic, the Pistons got slapped around for the majority of the 48 minutes, and folded in the final quarter, just when they had cut the deficit to only three points.  So the Pistons could, and probably still will, win the series against the Magic, leading 2 games to 1.  But a great team would be geared up for a sweep heading into Saturday night, and a chance to get some much needed rest in preparation for Boston Celtics.  Instead, the Magic can even up the series at home, with the possibility that Chauncey Billups may not even play.  This is the fate of a very good team, not  great one.