RockyMountainWingGal

I wasn't all that thrilled when Flip came in to replace L.B. But he was a pleasant surprise in the regular season. I don't like alot of his coaching decisions in the playoffs, but after listening to Barkley last night I have to agree with him. During the season the players were quick to praise him, ecstatic about their new-found offensive freedom. Glad he gave them more control over the game - 64 wins and everything was rosey. Now that they are losing, it's all on the coach. None of these guys has taken responsibility for their dismal on court display. Like I said, I wasn't a big Saunders fan to begin with, and I too have been quick to jump on him after a few of these losses, but I admit he is getting the bad end of the stick. Hopefully something clicks tonight and they get a big win. The fans deserve a series.

I hear you on the talk. The trash-talking the coach, the whining, the cocky attitudes of the Pistons are sickening. The Wings - or most hockey players for that matter - handled their loss with much more class. I put that aside and ask if I was told before the NHL or NBA playoffs started, whether the Wings going out in the first round or the Pistons going in in the ECF would be a bigger disappointment, and I still come up with the Pistons. The WAY they're going out is much worse (if so), but nonetheless they still went further.

Now that it is *likely* the Pistons will lose to the Heat (still haven't given up), I will say that the Red Wings are clearly the bigger disappointment. Even if the Pistons go down - they made it to the conference finals. They are one of four teams left standing. Sure we expected them to take the title - but they at least got close (I'm not cutting them any slack by saying this because their on-court play has been flat out horrific). The Wings got bounced in the first round - they were only one of 16 teams left standing. I would have to say that is much worse. I expected them to get to the WCF at the least. Losing to the 8th seed is shameful - and I don't care that the Oilers are going to the SCF - doesn't say much about the western conference imo. So at this point, although both teams are disappointing- I'm choosing the wings - who have been golfing for a month already.

The officiating was just plain dreadful - as long as the Pistons were taking fouls - they needed to take some real hard ones. Stupid, biased, paid-off, pinhead, BS refs aside, the Pistons haven't deserved to win any of the 3 games they've lost vs. the Heat. You're right - there is "something" missing. It's easy to see - it's just hard to figure out what it is. Flip is very unimpressive in the post-season. OK just dreadful I would say. It's very painful to watch this team right now (shoudn't be for too much longer though).

pathetic performance again - not really surprised though. Something has been off with this team since the playoffs began. All the lockerroom rumors are out there in the press - obviously they've completely tuned out Saunders. Sadly, this team needs Larry Brown. They seemed to function under him and his system. I don't blame Dumars for letting go of Brown - the guy has some serious issues with the way he bounces around the league(s). But Flip ain't cutting it in the playoffs - it's not like Minnesota ever did anything special post-season. As long as the Stones change coaches every season - they might as well do it again this year. Well, we can always hope for a miracle - I haven't seen anything from this team to warrant such hope - but you never know - someone could light a fire under their a$$e$.

Well here we are once again in all too familiar territory - a must win playoff game for the Pistons. I'm not even nervous anymore. I'm OK with whatever happens. I want the Pistons to win more than they do at this point. Baffling team - if they played even remotely close to how they were several months ago - lights out for any opponent. But that killer instinct just isn't there. Don't get me wrong I'm not jumping off the bandwagon - I think they'll win tomorrow and if so still have a great chance of winning the series. BUT, is it just me, or is there something intangible that's missing this year? Even last year with the game 7 loss to SA I still thought they had it. Might be Flip - but I'll reserve final judgement until the fat lady sings - which I hope isn't until mid-late June!

Yeah Tayshaun was unbelievable. He's carrying the team right now. I know Chauncy was 18-8 which isn't so bad but I still think something is off with him (?). If he can pick it back up - the Pistons will be in great shape. P.S. Pat Riley annoys me

Uh-oh. This doesn't mean you have to watch though. I have to listen to much of the game on the radio tonight - sometimes I find the radio feed is better luck for me. Superstitions crack me up - although I did everything I possibly could to send the Red Wings some good karma and it didn't work.

I didn't think Miami was that stellar - the Pistons needed to take advantage of their foul trouble and they didn't. The Pistons have lost their offensive "mojo" and they need it back if they hope to win these series. But if since wer're on the Pistons ride, we need to expect by now that they never do anything easily. As bad as they played, they only lost by a few points last night.

As ecstatic as I was that the Pistons won, it was not a great game. At least not to a general audience. That would be Dallas vs San Antonio Game 7 tonight. Unbelievable - Dallas had more points in the first half than Cleveland scored the whole game yesterday. Spurs came back - then OT - Nowitski was a monster - guy brought it tonight. If the NBA has games like this every year in the post season - consider me a convert. I've sort of been a fair weather fan the past several years - jumping on the Pistons bandwagon but paying little attention to the rest of the league. Looking forward to a great series vs. Miami.

Could it be any more stressful than the last one? I hope not. Pistons need to play better against the Heat - and I think they will.

lol I was thinking about posting this topic - but not until the final dagger is put through the Pistons (if it is). Pistons easily. Upsets don't happen as much in the NBA. Cleveland is <<<<< the Pistons as a team, whereas there is not as much difference between the top and bottom seeds in hockey. Considering the new CBA in the NHL, the Wings overacheived in the regular season. I never would have guessed they would have the best record in the league again this year. The Pistons were expected to compete for the #1 seed from the start. Steve Yzerman or any other Wing did not "guarantee" they would win game 6 to the press.

That's why I would have laughed if they drafted Leinart. Getting drafted by the Lions is the kiss of death - I think the guy's somewhat of a jerk so it would have been funny. The Lions are a bad team no matter what - he might have at least brought some press and attention to their sorry organization. Any franchise that keeps Millen as their GM cannot have any serious aspirations of winning anything - what a buffoon that guy is, and everyone knows it. Yet they extend his contract. The Lions have been bad my entire life - I don't even want them to win at this point - not unless they start completely from scratch. This coach's career will be ruined to - no doubt. Whatever the Lions doth touch, turns to mud...

Prince is only guy of the starting 5 showing up. Sheed is hurt - post mouth syndrome, Chauncy is a turn-over machine, RIP missed a few game winners (although he's been the 2nd best of the starting 5), and Big Ben can't hit a single free throw when the entire game/maybe series depended on it. Mcdyess was good tonight off the bench. The bench? Flip Saunders actually played someone off the bench? Where is Delk? I'd take either Carlisle or Brown over this guy - he looks just like Babcock out there - utterly confused and completely inept at making changes to fit the game/series - ugh.

This team showed up for 82 games of the regular season and has now basically quit since the 4th quarter of game 2 - it's inexplicable. They are a far better team than the Cavs - they are simply beating themselves. I have to blame Saunders myself - if that guy can't coach this group of talent out of the second round vs. a far inferior team - he should be fired plain and simple. Well, they still have a shot at winning game 6 - but alas like the Red Wings, I haven't seen anything to make me enthusiastic about it. Where's Chauncy?

The Pistons beat themselves the last two games. The Cavs have played the best two games they could have ever hoped for - and won with only 74 pts last night. The Pistons were absolutely dreadful - squandering multiple opportunites to win both games. Does this mean that the Cavs can't win the series? Not at all - but if they do if will only because of the poor play of the Pistons. They don't really have any excuse for losing to that team.

Things aren't looking so rosy tonight. The Pistons ALLOWED the Cavs to tie the series (2-2) by beating themselves for the second game in a row. No guaran-Sheed tonight. This team should have smoked these pretenders and gone home up 3-1 for the kill. I still think they'll win the series, but that was a meltdown worthy of the Red Wings in yon game 6 ( ). A chance to win with 8 sec, but no give the underdogs some hope. Ah sigh, the Pistons never make it look easy.

Ugh - Nets win game 1. I would much rather play Miami in the ECF - I hope they rebound in game 2. A series with the Nets would go 6 or 7 - I really don't like that team at all. Pulling for Dallas in the west. I'm sick of San Antonio and their little French mascot. Not sure if anyone will beat them - until they run into the Pistons of course....

Nope - the guy is a great hockey player. I believe his day will come in the playoffs. He was great feeding Hull in '02. The Wings just need to add a few pieces and get some more solid goaltending imo - no need to completely bust up the team. If they just anywhere near how they did in the regular season (we need to figure out how obviously) they will be fine.

I clicked the wrong button! I meant to vote Hatcher was better. So consider it 2 votes against Lilja. Hatcher - while definitely not stellar - laid some mean hits on the Flames. Therefore he wins. (Lilja loses).

Ouch - very ugly. I turned it off some time ago. I'm still not worried about the Bucks though - the Pistons obviously took a night off. Shouldn't do that in the playoffs - but they did. I'm fretting much more about the wings right now - don't have enough energy to worry about the Pistons too. I'm sure they'll bounce back in Game 4.

Very ugly unwatchable basketball game this evening - the Pistons depress me right now. They're running out of gas and seem to not care too much about blowing the #1 seed - after all the hard work they did the first 2/3 of the season. I'm still hopeful they can turn it around - but now we have to keep hoping for San Antonio to lose - and every time I turn around they're playing some bottom-feeder team......

I figured the Pistons would run into some kind of "slump" eventually - I guess going 500 over the last several games could be considered such. They are still hanging onto the #1 seed overall (barely) but SA and Dallas are lurking right there. Of course they have homecourt locked up in the East - but if they make it to the finals I believe they will have a big advantage if they can lock up homecourt overall.....making me a bit nervous but we'll see............

Yes pathetic. I follow the Nuggets - basically Anthony is a great player, but as a team they're awful. Camby is pretty good , but he's always battling some injury that inhibits him. Kmart had a good game tonight - but the guy's a total jerk - he shows up about once a month to play. The Pistons don't haveto play their best game to beat this club, they just have to play smart. Oh well, one down the drain. Billups was good in the first half but he had some real bloopers too. Someone offered me a tik for this game too - I almost went - glad I didn't!!

Well the Lions stuck with Millen - possibly the worst GM in NFL history. So why not Harrington? I like Joey but he won't ever take the Lions anywhere. Brees isn't good in the playoffs??? Harrington can't even get his team within sight of the playoffs....whatever, the Lions are just a sad story that never ends....