:D

I have been a Piston's fan for a very long time. I was a fan when Kelly Tupukia was on the team with Zeke was on the team in the 80s. I was with them when they won the back to back titles. I happen to spend the summer in Louisiana in Joe Dumar's home town (where Steel Magnolias was made). I befriended Joe's nephew that summer, he was dating at the time a girl that was the daughter of a women who my mother was working with during her sabbatical. Dumars that year one the MVP and his father was very sick and died the next year, when they won again. I will never forget that year, it was a special time. Now my childhood team is doing it again, against the Lakers. And to win it with of all people, Rasheed Wallace. I never thought they would ever win it again during the Grant Hill years. And when they traded him away, I thought they would really never have a chance.

I am complete shock that they are throughly kicking the behinds of the Lakers. I knew they were good, but right now they are winning by almost 30 points.

I am in complete shock right now. They will win 3 straight just like they did when they beat the Blazers during their second title.

Peace

who saw Ferris throw-up at 31 flavors last night. I guess it's pretty serious.
"Thank you, Simone."

"Bueller? Bueller?" :)

The worst thing is that they showed an NBA player, who just had his ears pierced, on TV with tape over his ear lobes. :(

I watched, I would have liked to see the game go to the 7th, but pistons deserve it, they smoked the lakers tonight. Would have liked to see a closer game but wanted the pistons to wint he series the whoel time.

I really hope Pistons win it. I just want another team win the championship other than the Lakers again :D

God is in His Heaven; all's right with the world!

God is a Piston's fan? God don't like the Lakers?

Joe Dumars was a class act with those particular teams, Jeff. And a very under-rated player, I thought. He still is a class act. However, to quite a few people outside Michigan, those "Bad Boy" teams turned them off of the NBA game for years. I'm one of those people. The present champions don't have that same stigma, thank goodness. You certainly have to admire how hard they play, and also how well that they play together. Not that they're really entertaining to watch though. They are boooooring. But "Boring" sure beat the hell out of "Showtime", didn't it? :D The only complaint I have is the MVP though. Ben Wallace is the engine that makes the team run,imo. I love his game.

Congratulations, Pistons! Best team won. The Lakers' dynasty is over. And I think that the Kobe vs. Michael debate may have ended with it too.

I slept very good last night with the win. I am a Dallas Maverick fan but seeing the Lakers get beat is just as good to me as a Maverick win. The Lakers played like they have all year except it wasn't good enough for the Pistons. I'm no coach but it seemed like Kobe was a big reason for the loss. He was taking stupid shots and all those turnovers. When he would go out they played better so why not just leave him out. I just don't see him as a Hall of Fame calibur player like all the press is giving him.

It does filter down.
 

When the Pistons were beaten by the Bulls, all the Piston starters walked off the floor without a word, except for Joe D who stayed around to give the Bulls their attaboys.

Re: It does filter down.
 

Like I said, Mick, the guy has always been a class act. And a great player. Joe D is the guy from those Pistons' teams that had to play D on Jordan. Jordan admitted in the Jordan Rules that Dumars gave him more problems than any other defender in the league at that time. I guess now you can add "Great Executive" to Joe's resume also.

Well, I'm not sure about specifically, but I do know He's always for the scrappy, big-hearted underdog, as long as they play fair, and don't take sexual advantage of vulnerable women. (Example, David until Bathsheba).

God is in His Heaven; all's right with the world! [/B][/QUOTE]God is a Piston's fan? God don't like the Lakers? [/B][/QUOTE]

Well, I'm not sure about specifically, but I do know He's always for the scrappy, big-hearted underdog, as long as they play fair, and don't take sexual advantage of vulnerable women. (Example, David until Bathsheba). [/B][/QUOTE]Nope, can't agree with that at all. If that were true, then God would be a BoSox fan. And everybody knows that that ain't even an option. God's a Yankees' fan. That's even in the Bible some place, I think.

Btw, God ain't too fond of short people either. And that "don't take sexual advantage of vulnerable wimmen" ain't gonna fly either until I get my rib back.

Gimme a break, Juules. "Vulnerable women" don't have sex with several different partners in the span of a couple of days.

Perhaps it depends on your definition of "vulnerable." I mean, Bathsheba wasn't exactly a shrinking violet, from what I understand.

Bathsheba, maybe. But my point is that if we're talking about girls who work at resorts in Colorado, there's not much vulnerability there, especially when acts that are normally found on film are performed.

And my point is that, just because of her "life-style", you can't automatically assume willingness. In fact, her life-style could be construed as being more vulnerable, not less. Depending on how you define vulnerable. Also, I'm not saying whether she was willing or not. Whether she planned the whole thing or not. There's no way I could possibly tell.

On the other hand, as far as my original statement about taking sexual advantage, what is the track record of the Pistons? Probably not a whole lot better than the Lakers, overall. Just better at avoiding publicity?

God is a Piston's fan? God don't like the Lakers? [/B][/QUOTE]

Well, I'm not sure about specifically, but I do know He's always for the scrappy, big-hearted underdog, as long as they play fair, and don't take sexual advantage of vulnerable women. (Example, David until Bathsheba). [/B][/QUOTE]Nope, can't agree with that at all. If that were true, then God would be a BoSox fan. And everybody knows that that ain't even an option. God's a Yankees' fan. That's even in the Bible some place, I think.

[/B][/QUOTE]

The Red Sox are (is?) proof that God has a well rounded sense of humor.

History has shown that if God is a fan of the underdog he certainly does not go out of his way to meddle in their affairs.

I aint going near that Bathsheba thing, but you guys feel free to knock yourselves out...I'm gonna go get some popcorn.

While God's favorite team is not specifically mentioned in the Bible, Her fondness for the game is mentioned right in the first few verses: "In the big inning, God created the heavens and the earth."

That's clever, I like it!

BTW, haven't been many "big innings" for the home team in Big-Dig-ville lately, have there?

http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/standings/index.jsp

Maybe just for the teams that visit big digville :)

The Red Sox are (is?) proof that God has a well rounded sense of humor.
[/B][/QUOTE]

Maybe Next Year!!

Great to see the Pistons back on top
 

The sign of a successful franchise is championships in multiple eras. Pistons made 5 straight conference finals, 3 straight NBA finals, and won 2 championships, but with the same core group. Winning again 15 years later is a validation of sorts. I went to the first finals, and one of the last Pistons games at the silverdome. It was a blast yelling beat LA. Unfortunately, Isiah blew a tire in game 6 and the Lakers walked off with a title.

Funny thing about injuries. The Pistons were almost forced to apologize for winning the title when Magic got hurt, yet the entire time that announcers made excuses for the Lakers that year they never mentioned Thomas's critical Game 6 injury from the year before (when Detroit had a lead in the game and series). Seeing 80s replays this year, it was the same thing. No mention of how the Pistons star went down the year before, just about how the Pistons won when Magic pulled a hammy. Now this year, all we hear about are the Lakers injuries and how Karl sat out and everybody else has something hurting. As if every team at this point in the year isn't feeling some pain.

Get over it - the Pistons spanked the Lakers and sent them home to have abig dysfunctional family spat. Its the last we will see of this spoiled bunch. I kind of like the Pistons model of basketball and professionalism myself. Then again, I am biased :)

Hawk,

I am not hearing much about Karl's injury as the reason the Lakers lost. I am hearing more that Karl's injury might have affected the complete domination, but no one has said (to my knowledge) Karl's injury is the reason they lost. I think the Pistons just out played, out hustled, out coached and just wanted it more. Only a few of the Lakers had won a Championship, just like the Pistons players. But the Pistons are younger and played with more energy and heart.

I am just proud to be a Pistons fan. They just kicked their butt, plain and simple. I thought they had a chance, but I just did not think they would rip them apart like this.

Peace

The difference here is that he is paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to do a JOB. HS and Jr HS kids are participating in an EXTRA CURICULAR activity. Dick and Jane still need to take that earing out till they start getting paid to play. And that is what I'll tell them too.

jrut
I am more referring to the commentary during the game, where it was mentioned more than once (and in more than one game) that players for the Lakers were playing hurt. Everybody has something tweaked at this point in the year - the Pistons played back to back physcial series in the east. They just didn't need any crutches, if you know what I mean.

And the last time, when the Pistons beat LA without Magic, it was nearly a criminal act to hear the announcers tell it. At best it was a tainted championship. But again, they dominated for 5 years, so it wasn't just luck.

I would agree that the post-game analysis has said that the Pistons were just a better team, end of story. Hard to argue that when LA got one win, at home, relying on a last second three to go to overtime. If you just looked at the Lakers faces, it was clear they got their butts handed to them.

Hawk,

I do not disagree. I did not see the entire game (I was officiating). But at the end they seemed to make it clear the Pistons domininated this series.

But I do remember back in 1988 (sorry if I am off by a year) when the Pistons played the Lakers, I do not remember many folks saying the Lakers would not have won if the Isiah was not hurt. That is why the next year was so sweet. Then it was great when they won back to back to validate that team. I think this year have clearly earned the respect much more than they recieved in the past. I just hope they can do it again. It will be tough, but they are young and talented. If this team can keep the core together, they might just have a chance.

Peace

That's not a difference. Players in the NBA are not allowed to wear jewelry, so why does he have them in. I can appreciate that he didn't play, but even so.

[Edited by BktBallRef on Jun 17th, 2004 at 08:47 AM]

When they did dominate for 5 years? :confused:

Did someone miss a NOT in there?
BTW Darko is listed as playing 2 minutes in the box score.

Yeah, I did.

He must have played at the end, when I stopped watching.

\

1987 Conference Finals (lost to Celtics in 7)
1988 NBA Finals (lost in 7)
1989 NBA Champs
1990 NBA Champs
1991 Conference Finals (lost to Bulls who won the whole thing)

During that stretch, probably the best NBA playoffs record of any team during that same time.

Aw c'mon, Coach. You don't dominate when you LOSE! :D You can say that they dominated in '89 & '90, but that's it.

You dominate with sustained high level performance. I think the Pistons demonstrated that. Others may differ.

Portland would "settle" for that kind of non-dominance!!

LOL. If they hadda sustained their <b>high level performance</b> in the 3 years that they lost,they woulda WON!

Rational and friendly discourse
 

Teams that dominate don't lose playoff series. If they did, then you can say that several teams dominated each of those years. They were a terrific team but 3 of those 5 years there were teams that were better. The Bulls were as good of a team in 90 but the Pistons had home court, which they had earned.

In 91, they lost 4-0 to the Bulls, only held the lead for like 12 minutes of the 192 minutes played, and in embarassment, walked off floor before game 4 was over. Dominant teams don't do that.

The final irony of Darko's rookie season is that he actually broke his hand during garbage time that last game.

From the Detroit News: "Darko Milicic, who played the last two minutes of the game, suffered a broken bone in his right hand.

Milicic appeared to injure his hand while taking a jump shot, as a Lakers defender hit him.

He held the hand and begged to come out of the game, but Coach Larry Brown told Milicic to keep going.

Neither knew the hand was broken at that point.

The Pistons said Wednesday there was no update on Milicic’s injury or treatment. "

Re: Rational and friendly discourse
 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by BktBallRef

Quote:

Originally posted by Hawks Coach Teams that dominate don't lose playoff series. If they did, then you can say that several teams dominated each of those years. They were a terrific team but 3 of those 5 years there were teams that were better. The Bulls were as good of a team in 90 but the Pistons had home court, which they had earned. In 91, they lost 4-0 to the Bulls, only held the lead for like 12 minutes of the 192 minutes played, and in embarassment, walked off floor before game 4 was over. Dominant teams don't do that.

I'll grant you year 5 was a drop off, so you can say they were on top for 4 years if you like. But for those 5 years, or for the first 4 of those years, the Pistons had the best record in the East. They made the conference finals every year. The Lakers didn't win every year either, but I wouldn't say they weren't dominant. The Lakers dominated the West, and had the best overall record, but I think that the East with Jordan's Bulls, Dominique's Hawks, and Bird's Celtics, was the stronger conference at that time. So you can flip a coin between Lakers and Pistons as to who was the best during that period.

The dominant teams in the early 80s were the Lakers, Celtics, and Sixers, with the first two being the strongest. But none of those teams won every year. Nobody does. If I pick a period and say a team was dominant during that period, I don't mean they won the whole enchilada every time, I mean they were in the top echelon for a sustainted period of time, and won some championships. If you never win the big one, you didn't dominate. If you consistently contended and finished the deal a couple of times in the process, you were dominant.

Re: Re: Rational and friendly discourse
 

I'll grant you year 5 was a drop off, so you can say they were on top for 4 years if you like.
[/B][/QUOTE]You mean that YOU can say that they were on top for 4 years if YOU like. The NBA record book says that they were on top for 2 years.

The rational question is "How can you possibly be "on top" when you lost?" :D

Justice for playing with taped ears! Lesson for those HS players who want to do this. See what happens!