Blue Collar Blueprint

Piercing the aura of invincibility

I’ve always believed that nothing of value ever does or ever should come easily, and as the Pistons climb another mountain this year, we tend to forget how difficult things were in the past.

• In 2003, they were down 3-1 to Orlando before fighting their way to the Conference Finals against New Jersey
• In 2004, they were down 3-2 to New Jersey, before fighting their way to the championship
• In 2005, they were down 3-2 to Miami before fighting to a seventh game in the Finals
• In 2006, they were down 3-2 to Cleveland before surviving

And now they’re in up to their necks with Miami. Adversity and long odds are always part of what it takes to win. The players know it, but the rest of us always seem to forget.

Admit it. After two games against Cleveland you thought it was going to be a rout. Admit it again, after Game Five, you went to the dark side, wondering how the Pistons could ever find themselves in such a position of vulnerability.

Flip Saunders has said many times, “After we started 8-0, we’ve been expected to win every game.” He’s right, and when the Pistons don’t win, people start looking under rocks for explanations.

True story: We get back from Cleveland after the Game Three loss to the Cavaliers. I’m walking my dog and the lady next door says, “I heard that the Pistons lost the game on purpose to make the series longer because they want more games and more revenue.”

She was serious, and I understand the fan mentality that never wants to give the other guys the credit. They feel that if their team loses, it’s something they did wrong rather than accepting that sometimes the other guys just play real well. After all, Cleveland won 50 games and may have the best player in the league.

Dead Team Walking

After getting home from Game Two, the 97-91 win over Cleveland that wasn’t as close as the final score indicated, I tuned into the TNT broadcast of the Spurs – Mavericks series. Magic Johnson was a guest analyst and said that the Cavaliers comeback from 22 down to get within five points in the late going would “Give them confidence for Game Three,” and Magic was now willing to concede them one victory in the series.

Kenny Smith disagreed, calling the comeback an illusion that doesn’t fool anybody. In either case, Game Three becomes the Cavaliers World Series and Super Bowl. If they lose again, they’re looking at getting swept. If they win even one game against the Pistons they’ll feel much more strongly that their season was one of great growth.

In much the same way as Michael Jordan 20 years, LeBron James has given his team hope for a bright future. But he faces the same prospect Michael did in trying to overcome the dominant Bad Boys: How do we get past this 800-pound gorilla that looks to be a powerhouse for the next five years? It’s a discouraging thought. The Cavs know that one man can’t beat five, and making it to the second round still represents a major leap for the franchise. Like the Bucks in round one, the Cavaliers know what they’re up against – a team on a mission that will not be yielding ground to any upstarts. Forgive me for not being cold-hearted enough, but I hope the Pistons don’t totally humiliate them.

As the Pistons were on their way to a 30-point lead while clobbering the Cavaliers in Game One, I mentioned to the guys sitting next to me that this was bound to be the biggest blowout in Pistons playoff history. Eddie Rivero, a member of the basketball staff quickly said, “No, the Pistons once led the Bullets by 46.”

“You’re right,” I said. “I remember writing about that in “Blue Collar Blueprint.” On April 26 1987, the first year the old Bad Boys were of true championship caliber, they swept the Washington Bullets in the first round. In Game Two at the Silverdome, they led 73-36 as time was running out in the first half. The Pistons raced up court and with a second left, Isiah Thomas heaved a shot some 50 feet, from beyond mid-court, that swished in putting them ahead 76-36 on their way to a 128-85 victory.

After the game, Bullets coach Kevin Loughery was asked to share what he’d said to his team at the half. His gallows humor answer: “I don’t have a speech for 40 down.” Bullets guard Jeff Malone said of the Pistons that night, “They’re at a level we’re not even close to.”

Exactly a month later, in the Eastern Conference Finals, Isiah threw the worst pass in Pistons history – into Larry Bird’s hands in Boston, and the rest, as they say, is history.

The climax nears

The 122-93 Game Five elimination of Milwaukee was our last TV 20 game of the year.  It’s feels a little strange because our role in the excitement ends just as the playoff energy gets a big boost with round two right around the corner.

Milwaukee wasn’t likely to win the series under any scenario, but it was still the fourth quarter of Game Four that changed the dynamic. Milwaukee had blown out the Pistons in Game Three and had made up a 15-point deficit to tie Game Four at 80-all. The Pistons led, 87-86, with 4:19 left, when Chauncey Billups hit a three-pointer.  Next time down the court the Pistons moved the ball brilliantly and Billups found Rip Hamilton alone in the left corner. Rip was just 2-12 on the night, missing from everywhere. But he drilled the three-pointer to make it 93-86 and they never looked back. Billups went 8-8 from the line in the final minutes and the series was over except for the inevitable Game Five victory.

Before Game Five I asked Tony Delk to assess Billups scintillating performance. “We needed Chauncey to take over the game,” said Delk. “That’s what you expect from your best player.” The Bucks Charlie Bell went a step further. “Chauncey deserved the MVP over Kobe, LeBron and Nash. He’s the leader of the best team in the league.”

As I watched Rip Hamilton pour in 40 points in Game Five, I thought of his 4-14 in the previous game and how great shooters minds work. When they have off-nights they don’t say to themselves, “Uh-oh, I’ve lost my shot.” Instead they think, “I’m a 50% shooter, so keep firing, the makes are coming.” With his 15-23, Rip’s two- night total was 19-37, better than 50%. Obviously, his ankle is also feeling better which is key to their title hopes.

Hamilton has the most effortless form I’ve ever seen up close. He’s so fluid that for the first half second of every shot he takes I think,  “It’s short,” before it floats through the hoop with minimal arc. He’s the Ernie Els of basketball. He’s so smooth that it’s looks like he isn’t putting enough behind it. If Game Five had been a close one, Rip would have broken Dave Bing’s team record of 44 points in a playoff game.