<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">AUBURN HILLS -- You wouldn't blame the Pistons if they didn't want to let go immediately of their noble victory over the Heat in Game 7 on Monday night. It was, with all its drama, plot twists and praiseworthy performances, what the networks call an instant classic. The sporting public will be hashing and rehashing not just Game 7, but also the entire seven-game series, for years to come. "That was what you play the game for," Richard Hamilton said. "As a basketball player, that's what you live for." Said Chauncey Billups: "That was the best series I've ever played in." But the Pistons don't have time to bask. As they know, nobody passes out rings and organizes parades for winning a conference title. The Pistons had about half a day Tuesday to enjoy the sweetness of that hard-earned victory -- that historic victory, actually, as it was the franchise's first Game 7 win on the road -- before boarding a plane bound for San Antonio and getting back to business in the NBA Finals. Believe this, as tough as the Heat were, the Spurs will be tougher. "I don't think there's much that you can really say about the Spurs," Billups said. "They are an unbelievable team and are very well coached. They have some great players; Tim Duncan is one of the best probably to ever play the game. So, you know, I think you are going to see another great series." This is the first time since 1987 that the two previous NBA champions will meet in the Finals. The Spurs won it in 2003, and the Pistons won it last year. The Spurs and Pistons are the league's two stingiest defensive teams. Each is driven by an elite set of guards -- Billups and Hamilton for the Pistons, and Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili for the Spurs. Each has elite forwards -- Duncan for the Spurs, and Ben and Rasheed Wallace for the Pistons. Each team has a capable supporting cast -- Tayshaun Prince, Antonio McDyess and Lindsey Hunter for the Pistons, and Bruce Bowen, Brent Barry and Robert Horry for the Spurs. The two coaches -- Larry Brown and Gregg Popovich -- are the best of friends (Popovich was the best man at Brown's wedding), and the teams use similar basketball systems. There are plenty of story lines, but one will be all too familiar to the Pistons. They again will be cast in the role of underdogs. </div> Source
This is as the NBA finals should be, the last 2 champions slugging it out. I hope it don't come to that but I think the Spurs are going to try bait some of the Pistons at some very critical times in every game. Boy is this going to be a great series. JT
