Of course, assuming that we don't win it. The Pistons have been looking very good as of late. Their backcourt is still better than most (and clutch too), and they have two forwards who can guard anyone. Webber's passing and jumpshooting has been helping the offense and they still defend well. Plus the East sucks, especially if Wade doesn't come back. They really don't have a center but who does these days, besides us....
I could see it happening... Detroit takes care of business and rests up while the 2 teams from the WCF beat up on each other in an epic 7 game series... The Pistons would be fresh and ready
Detroit is a terrific team. I completely disagree with those who think that whomever comes out of the West will basically have the trophy handed to them; that's what they said last season. I like Detroit emerging from the East. They're a talented, disciplined team and they will give anyone fits.
If Dallas makes it to the Finals (ugh...gag me) then I really hope Detroit makes it. Their backcourt is better than the Mavs and Prince/Wallace will make Howard/Dirk work for their points. Those forwards will make them play defense too. Dirk will have to hold somebody.....
it's a good call just because they're going to dominate the East playoffs barring a miracle DWade recovery or a miracle run by any other team. So by default almost, Det should be in the Finals. Which should give them a lot higher likelihood than any other team you might choose...since it'll be hard to predict btwn HOU SA DAL PHX
if detroit seperates themselves and steamrolls to the finals i wouldn't count them out. the road in the west is a lot harder and may take something off of the western conference champion. i think this is a possible advantage an eastern conference team will have, no matter how small.
Doesn't matter at all how strong the West is, only one team comes out of it. The East, meanwhile, might as well be a cakewalk? If there's no Wade, there's no competition for Detroit IMO. All they have to do his hold their own against a West team who will probably be exhausted by finals time due to the difficulty of the West. 7 games, 4 wins, that's all it takes. If we don't get to the finals, and if it's the Mavs who do, I want them to be demolished by the Pistons.
Since getting Webber, I've been penciling in Detroit in the East. The only team that can challenge them is the Bulls. But no team from the East is going to win this year. Any of the top 6 teams in the West can take any team in the East in a 7-game series.
Too often Sheed, Billups, and Prince shoot poorly... during the same game. Sheed shout not be shooting 41% from the field as a 6' 11" power forward. Seems you can only rely on Hamilton, and now Webber. I can not see them winning the title.
With their long athletic forwards they match up better with the Mavs than the Spers do, I give them that. Remember this was a team -Sheed leaving Horry open that would have been up 3-2 in a quest for back to back, and were the best regular season team last year. Something happened later where the Wallace-coach fued plus hitting a hot jelling Miami team around Wade lead to their exit. So this years team has Webber, Nazr & Davis for Ben Wallace. They really should have traded one of the later two for an extra guard or swingman who can shoot (James, Atkins, etc). Billips and Rip are going to have to be major ironmen. On the plus side the may not have to exert themselves too much to make the finals and could be well rested for Billips and Rip to me finals ironmen. Phx I think would be their worst team to play.
NO WAY unless Web play no role of the game. He's the biggest loser ever who shares this glory with StarBerry.
I don't see it. Detroit had a superior team three years ago - and I don't think that Lakers team was as good as either Phoenix or Dallas this year. Webber is a complete and utter defense liability. The dominant teams can exploit that. Their bench is fairly weak. Scoring could be a problem. Any team can get hot - but their personnel seems drastically inferior to several other teams.
I don't think Phx or Dallas this year are as good a recent Lakers, Pistons or Spurs champions. But since those 3 teams are not what they used to be (particularly defensively), the Mavs or Suns are strong favorites now. I think the Suns (Amare) or us (Yao) or Mia (Shaq) can exploit that middle with Webber in there. But Mia doesn't look like they will have their team ready (and Wade has been the one guard who they have not been able to handle the last 3 years), so scratch them. Dallas is not an interior offensive team, so I don't see Webber on the defensive end a problem there. Sheed and Prince would probably draw the Dirk assignments, good guys to throw at him. Detroit still is a good perimeter defensive team from PG through PF, exactly what you want to play the Mavs. Sheed is also good guy to play on Duncan (and they can throw McDyess, Davis and Nazr at him as well) and the Spurs no longer have a real good alternative big to exploit. So I think Detroit matches up well with them. Their front court bench is excellent (McDyess, Nazr, Davis). They are weak only in the smalls off their bench. But Billips, Rip and Prince have proven they can play heavy minutes. They would have to. Detroit also a good scoring team. They have probably the best backcour tin the league, a backcourt very efficient at scoring. Overall their 5 starters plus McDyess are pretty good offensive players, they almost always have some favorable match-ups to exploit. Again, I think the Suns and us (if we get humming) actually presents the worst matchups for the Pistons. Of course Dallas is a load for anyone, but I'd give Detroit a shot. Their backcourt would have to roast the Mavs, but they possible could. Terry/Harris are not good players to play Billips (excellent at posting up smaller PGs and has great court vision) and Rip is extremely tough if he is playing someone he can shoot right over. They would be major underdogs (though not as much as versus Shaq and Kobe's last squad they beat), but have a shot.
