As Lebron Goes

First, because I have not watched any television yet today, I am wondering:
Is it still baseball season?

Ah, well, in that case I will be taking in a few minutes of the
NBA playoffs
later today, especially the match-up between the Pistons and the Cavaliers.
Historically, I have been indifferent about first round series. But the
Pistons-Cavs matchup interests me because it seems the Pistons have almost no
chance whatsoever. Granted, I am a long-time Pistons fan, and I have
enjoyed their streak of success over the past several seasons (what, something
like five consecutive Eastern Conference Finals?). But this season’s
Allenex Iversperiment was an utter bust, and, thus, Detroit is down an
all-star guard. Also, this series reminds me ever so slightly of the late 1980s matchups between a fading Detroit team and the Jordan-led up-start Bulls.
I’d bet a dollar we hear that comparison during today’s telecast.

With all of that said, I’m still not quite a believer that this is the banner year for
the Cavaliers. If Lebron can be guarded, if he can be shielded, if he can be frustrated, if he can slip into a slump from behind the three-point line, then maybe, just maybe the Cavs
will falter. Might not happen versus the Pistons, but one can hope. Or, at
the very least, one can watch a few minutes of each of the first two games of
the series thinking defense.

And just in case Detroit exits the playoffs and does not win a championship
this year, my fan-affinity shifts next to Denver and then Chicago and then
Orlando, mostly because I like certain players on each of those teams.

Trade

Allen Iverson’s a Piston for the season. Huh.

How about that? And Detroit plays Larry Brown’s Bobcats tonight.

I’m not sure whether this puts Detroit in a position to re-take Boston as the East’s elite team. Maybe, just maybe, it’ll give the Pistons some new kick, new spark. But it also gives them a encouraging degree of free agency flexibility next summer if the Iverson-for-Billups/McDyess trade doesn’t pay off in the short term. At the very least, it’s a reason to pay closer attention to the Pistons at a time of year when the Lions are no longer watchable.

Brink

I don’t think Antonio McDyess’ ejection was the determining factor in last
night’s Pistons-Cavs game. It was unfortunate, I thought, that the refs
elected for flagrant two when flagrant one was more appropriate given that 1.)
Andy Veryshow wasn’t injured on the play, 2.) it looked like bad timing on
McDyess’ part more than a deliberate clothes-line, and 3.) McDyess is one of the
classiest (i.e., modest, sporting) players in the league. But you know I’m
a fan of the Pistons, and my affections spill into this stance, no doubt.

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