Around this time last year, the Miami Heat were on their way to the NBA Finals before Dwayne Wade strained a muscle in his rib cage in Game 5. They lost in seven games and “retooled” in the offseason by bringing in Jason Williams, Gary Payton, James Posey and Antoine Walker. Pat Riley added these players because he thought they would help him get past the Pistons. After a season of adjusting to one another, all of the quizzes and the mid-semester tests are over – now it’s time for the final exam.
While Williams, Payton and Walker are – or once were – terrific individual players, they aren’t exactly known for being team players. Maybe their recent proximity to a NBA title has kept their usually unruly personalities in line, and maybe they are about to blow. Anyone remember in the Bulls series – when the chips were down – how Payton and Wade were going at it on the sideline?
The Pistons are the consummate team. They share the ball on offense and help each other on defense. Other than Rasheed Wallace, there isn’t a selfish bone in that starting five. And even Wallace has bought into the team concept in Detroit – he only puts himself first when he feels the refs are out to get him.
This series is shaping up to be the Ultimate Team versus Pat Riley’s Band of Mercenaries In Search of a Ring.
The teams are evenly matched, so I think the series will come down to psychology. The Pistons are better equipped to withstand the forthcoming adversity whereas I think there is too much underlying turbulence on the Heat roster to make it through a seven game series with the Finals on the line. Still, up until Game 6 of the Cleveland series, the Pistons haven’t really looked like themselves in these playoffs, and Miami does have enough talent in Dwayne Wade (one year better) and Shaquille O’Neal (one year older) to pull the upset.
But, in the end, I think the Pistons already received their wake-up call. Game 7 is in Detroit and I think that will put the Pistons over the top.
