Det VS Cle

[BRUNiNHO91]

I would never sleep on Richard Hamilton, Rasheed Wallace, Tayshaun Prince and Antonio McDyess...those guys are some mean muthaf'rs..There are 2 players big and physical enough to actually give LeCock a tough time..and that's Iguodala and Prince...so I actually expect this to be a pretty good series...def not a sweep like many of you are thinking...I say Cavs in 6...with some tight wins here and there..Detroit plays best when they are underdogs like that...

[floyd]

^^ If they hadn't quit on the season I might agree with you.

[hadzilla]

The Cavaliers aren't that good on the road

They have the second best road record in the league.

[hadzilla]

Detroit plays best when they are underdogs like that...

They haven't been underdogs since 2004. They have been underdogs this season. And they, in turn, have been awful.

[GreenGrizz]

The Pistons are very good at stealing home games from opponents. They are given 7 games to beat Cleveland. This match-up is getting interesting. Don't forget Prince that could create problems for Lebron. AV wouldn't want to mess with Rasheed.

[MyInsatiableOne]

Detroit plays best when they are underdogs like that...

They haven't been underdogs since 2004. They have been underdogs this season. And they, in turn, have been awful.

But they are so wedded to the HCA (all but 1 loss on the season on the road) that I could see a home loss in the playoffs being damaging to their team psyche...

[hadzilla]

^^^^The Lakers home loss didn't throw them off so I don't know if a loss to Detroit will. Obviously them losing to the Lakers is a little more respectable and the arena of the playoffs holds a different connotation. We will see my friend.

[MyInsatiableOne]

^Well yeah...that was sorta my whole point!!

[campybatman]

I wonder how Detroit and Philadelphia fans are feeling right now. Because Chicago fans have to be confident that their chances are a lot better of toppling Orlando than they've of doing the same against Cleveland and Boston.

[sunshinekids99]

I don't think Detroit has what it takes, I would be shocked if that series went more than 5.

[MyInsatiableOne]

I wonder how Detroit and Philadelphia fans are feeling right now. Because Chicago fans have to be confident that their chances are a lot better of toppling Orlando than they've of doing the same against Cleveland and Boston.

Yep...I can definitely see Chicago beating Orlando in a series...

[billfromBoston]

Anyone hopeing that Cavs will get beat by the Piston or any other team before we face them is just asking for bad karma towards the Celtics. Out of the two teams I would have to say the Cs are the ones who will most likely be upset before the ECF. I'm not saying that it will happen but the Cs have the harder road IMO then the Cavs would. So I'm not wishing and ill will toward the Cavs. I hope the Cavs and Celtics both make it because in order to the best you have to beat the best. Right now the Cavs are the best team because they have the best record and they blow us out. So in order to get that back I want the Cs to play and beat the Cavs. Because if they don't people will still say the Cs where lucky because they didn't face the Cavs. I don't want to hear it I want the Cs to play the Cavs and Lakers. That way the Cs will be the clear cut best team of 2008-2009 season. If KG didn't miss a game I beleave the Cs would have ended up with the best record in the league.

Ok, lets get one thing clear - the Cavs don't "blow us out" the Cavs blew the C's out in the last game, but Boston mopped the floor with Cleveland in Boston and over the past 2 seasons neither team has won on the others home court and almost every game has come down to the 4th quarter.

We can all cringe at the mighty Cavs because of the last game or we can look at the body of work this season and realize that almost the same roster beat up on this same Cavs team 6 weeks ago - from a talent and ability standpoint, these teams are very evenly matched - it will come down to execution and focus, not some miracle of fate...

That being said - I think Detroit can certainly take a game or two, but more importantly, I want Detroit to go down kicking, clawing, elbowing, and gnawing every minute of the way. Then, ideally the Heat will upset the Hawks and Dwade and company can give LeBron a spirited and physical battle to further extend the intensity that Cleveland has to play with - Atl can do this too and is probably more physical, but a Wade/Lebron 2nd round would be must see TV.

If Boston takes care of their end, they could face a somewhat banged around Cavs team as well, which would be a nice little bonus going into that series.

I fully expect KG to play in every round and I think Powe/Davis are enough to make up for the minutes that KG can't be on the floor - as long as KG is finishing games in the last 6-7 minutes of the 4th, they'll be capable of winning the series again.