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Tuesday, 22 May, 2007 1:27 PM
Sports Column: History repeating
itself for Pistons
Heading into the Piston's
second round series with the Chicago Bulls, everyone wanted to compare
the current rivalry - if you can call it a rivalry - with the early
'90s clashes between the Bad Boys and Michael Jordan's Bulls. Granted,
there were similarities: the Pistons were the established conference
power, the Bulls had one of the most promising young squads in the
league and the Bulls needed to go through the Pistons to get to
the next level.
Unfortunately for the
Bulls, that is where the similarities stopped. This time around,
there wasn't the same kind of intensity. Jordan and Scottie Pippen
truly despised the Pistons, and after three years of ending their
seasons with losses to the crew in Motown, the Bulls were consumed
with a singular goal: beating the Pistons.
This time, when Ben Wallace
tried to set up dinner with his old 'mates, you knew something was
off. Could you imagine Jordan trying to meet up with Bill Laimbeer?
Absolutely not. Now, it's worth noting that Wallace won a championship
in Detroit, but the point remains. These Bulls weren't consumed
with a desire to beat the Pistons.
Everybody out of the
Windy City said the right things, even Wallace. Past friendships
won't get in the way. Our focus is on doing what we need to do.
Heck, I don't think there was a single sports cliché that
got left out. You can bet the house that everyone was giving 110
percent.
But one thing was missing.
One thing the Baby Bulls need to learn if they are going to advance
deeper into the playoffs. The playoffs aren't just about doing what
you need to do. The playoffs are about cutting off the head of the
opponents. In the playoffs, it's personal.
More than any other sport,
basketball requires teams to learn how to win. There are stages
of accomplishment that can rarely be skipped. You don't just saunter
into the playoffs and expect to be dangerous when you get there.
The precedent was established in the '80s. The Pistons weren't going
to do anything without beating the Celtics first, and the Bulls
weren't going to taste champagne until they took out the Pistons.
Even the modern version
of Pistons-as-title-contenders went through the process. New Jersey
had been there and done that, Richard Jefferson had successfully
embarrassed a young Tayshaun Prince and the Pistons knew exactly
who they had beat if they wanted to get to the next level. If the
Bulls are going to become real contenders, they need to take direct
aim at their Central division rivals.
Unfortunately for the
Pistons, not all of their challengers need to learn that lesson.
In the conference finals, the Pistons face another Central foe in
the Cleveland Cavaliers. Only this time around, they are facing
a team that has tasted defeat at their hands.
You can be sure that
the Cavs have not forgotten. They had the Pistons on the ropes.
They looked stronger and fresher at the end. All of Detroit heaved
a collective sigh of relief when their heroes finally escaped. The
Cavs have to feel like if they come out of the gate fast, then maybe,
just maybe…
They have all the desire
they need. Not just the desire to win, or just to make the NBA Finals,
but the desire to do so against the Pistons. The NBA has strict
rules against players publicly showing a preference of opponent
in the next round, but I would bet that on their off nights, when
they were watching the Pistons-Bulls series, they all wanted the
same outcome.
When you aspire to greatness
- and when you're led by LeBron James, you do - you can't be looking
to duck opponents. Larry Bird and Magic Johnson have always said
that they pushed each other to heights they could not have reached
if they hadn't faced each other. Jordan knew he had to push the
bar even higher.
Hailed by many as the
next savior of the league, LeBron knows he is chasing history. He
will be measured not only by the number of championships he wins,
but the competition he defeats to do so. One of Jordan's greatest
legacies will be the great players who were denied championships
because they peaked during his era. He dominates the nightmares
of Charles Barkley, Stockton and Malone, and Patrick Ewing.
While the Pistons may
not have first-ballot Hall of Fame credentials, they are the best
thing going in the East right now, and have been for a few years.
You can bet that LeBron, who is well versed in the history of the
league, is acutely aware of this.
On the court, the series
will be decided by match-ups. The Pistons hold the edge at every
spot -- except small forward, of course - and still sport a serious
advantage in experience and poise, but the gap is closing.
The Pistons still have
a few lessons to teach the Cavs, but they won't be the same ones
they gave the Bulls. Most of those lessons were learned last year.
In all likelihood, the Pistons will be able to use their depth and
experience to make it to their third NBA Finals in four years. But
they'd better be careful, because they may be creating a monster
in Cleveland.
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