Sports Blog
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Recent posts
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Dantonio hitting recruiting trail hard
When MSU officials handed Mark Dantonio the keys to their football team in late 2006, they knew that in addition to getting a good coach, they’d be getting a terrific recruiter.
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MSU's spotty secondary in question after spring game
To sum it up, spring camp left me with a lot of unanswered and frustrating questions.
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Red Wings need to keep up intensity
The Detroit Red Wings certainly have had a season for the fans.
With 54 wins, the Wings are moving on to the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. This could be the year to bring that coveted silver trophy back where it belongs — in Detroit.
In NBA playoffs, Pistons' experience would trump green Celtics
Born and raised in Detroit, it’s only natural that I grew up to be a Detroit Pistons fan.
I live for the red, white and blue Pistons’ jerseys, and with the NBA playoffs fast approaching, I’m ready to see them hang another championship banner from the ceiling of the Palace of Auburn Hills.
As much as I love my Pistons and as much attention as I think they deserve, it seems the NBA is focusing on the Boston Celtics more than any other team in the league.
Since the addition of Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, many sports commentators are saying the Celtics are the team to beat this season. If what they are saying is true, it means that the Pistons will inevitably have to go through them to get to the championship.
I beg to differ.
When it’s all said and done, the NBA playoffs boil down to one thing: experience.
It’s been said that a playoff game has a totally different atmosphere than that of the regular season and I’d agree with that idea. The crowd is more pumped and the pressure doubles for players to make their fans, coaches and teammates proud.
The Pistons have been at least to the Eastern Conference finals every season since they won the championship in 2004. They know what it’s like to play under the pressure of their own and their opponent’s roaring crowd.
The Celtics, on the other hand, have only had three winning seasons since 1993. Also, few of their players have real playoff experience, so when it comes to playing in the finals, they’re more than likely to (cough, cough) choke.
I admit that if the Pistons face off against the Celtics in the playoffs, they’ll be a bit of a challenge, but if it comes to a game seven, trust that the Pistons will pull out a win.
Comments
rick suaree
03/27/08 @ 8:50pm
Keep on Dreaming !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Alexa
03/27/08 @ 10:50pm
I’d be careful if I were you with regards to your “choke” reference.
Uh, wouldn’t that have been the Pistons of last year?
Oh, and Boston is 2-1 against your beloved.
Nora
03/28/08 @ 12:11am
Yep that ‘experience’ worked wonders against the Cleveland Lebrons. Excuse me if I don’t buy that at all.
Matt
03/28/08 @ 6:17am
In 2002 we lost in the semi finals to a team, do you know who that team was? The Celtics, good guess.
Experience? That’s a bunch of crap. Yeah it matters but that’s not a real reason why one team wins and one team doesn’t. It’s cliche. The Warriors beat up on the Mavericks last year, what was that about? Plus this team has Ray Allen and KG. They have your “experience.”
It comes down to consistency. Spurs
Mike
03/28/08 @ 6:20am
You have to love these one-eyed Pistons fans. First they puffed out their chests and predicted the Celtics new line-up couldn’t gel before the season even started. Then, after Boston jumped out to the best record in the NBA, they told us to see what happens when one of the ‘Big Three’ went down. After the Celtics went 7-2 without Garnett and 6-1 without Ray Allen, the Pistons fans then boldly predicted that their Pistons would clean up in the regular season series with the Celtics. After losing 2-1 (and only winning the first game on last second free throws by Billups), the Pistons fans claimed that the Celtics downfall would come at the hands of the Western powerhouses. After the Celtics swept the ‘Texas Triangle’ and compiled a 25-4 record against the West, the Detroit fans have started playing the ‘playoff experience’ card, hoping that such ‘experience’ will miraculously carry the Pistons to the Finals. As rick sauree wrote, keep dreaming. You are about to experience yet another Celtics nightmare!
Chris
03/28/08 @ 10:36am
HA HA!!
You say 8 words in the whole column that make any sense…
“But if it comes to a game seven…” — Those words are the only thing that makes sense because it is a HUGE IF for the Pistons to make it to a game seven against the Celts (if the Pistons even get there!!!)
There is a reason the media and sports world has focused on the Boston Celtics…BECAUSE THEY DESERVE THE ATTENTION!!! I would take KG, Allen, and Pierce over any three Pistons right now. Does that mean they are better than the Pistons of old? No. But this year the Celtics are better.
But you keep living in your fantasy world. I know Pistons fans are very close-minded when it comes to their playoffs. Should you make it to a series with the Celtics you guys will be dispatched in 4 games, 5 if you are lucky!!
Ba Ba Ba Billups!
03/28/08 @ 10:41am
I am a Pistons fan. But I’ve got to say Mike, you made a good argument. I’ll just leave it at these two teams are by far the class of the East. They match up well and when they meet up in the Eastern finals it will be a war. And yes I’m giving zero chance for the other 6 teams. In the end, for a long series I think Detroit just has too many weapons. Detroit in seven!
Matthew
03/28/08 @ 12:58pm
Are you the same Snews writer that complained about the NCAA Hockey seedings? “Michigan’s road is too easy.” “Boston gets too much attention.” That’s because both of those teams have the best record in their respective sports. Idiots!
That said, go Pistons! And Matt, you better have been born and raised in San Antonio you turn-coat bandwagon jumper. Take Manu the Sped, Tim the Cry Baby, and the Over-Rated Frenchman with you on a very long walk off a very short pier.
Jim
03/28/08 @ 5:18pm
Lets see, you said (When it’s all said and done, the NBA playoffs boil down to one thing: experience.) Nothing else matters? Well I guess if experience is all it takes we should just get Bird and Parish and McHale and Maxwell and Ainge out in the playoffs and maybe Russel and Cousy for good measure and we’ll be a lock! You are a typical fan, your hope exceeds you commen sense. Good Luck.
Hylas Streabogg
03/29/08 @ 4:15pm
Hello, good comments everyone. I’m a Celtics fan, hated the “old” Pistons of the 1980’s, loved the “new” Pistons for knocking off the Lakers a few years ago. However, you’ve had your moment in the sun. Make way.
Regarding “experience”, it’s a Non Factor in this match up. The teams are essentially even in the necessary experience. Paul, Kevin & Ray have all had plenty of playoff experience. Their teams have been knocked out before the finals. Do you think that’s going to help them or hurt them in a series with Detroit? (Hint, the answer is “Help them”.) As noted Paul’s team was the one that beat the Pistons in the playoffs in 2002. That counts as “experience” for both teams. Don’t Posey & Cassel also count towards our “experience” factor? The Pistons have had a few good runs and they seem to be everyone’s favorites, even though they have disappointed in their last few playoffs. I think they’re complacent, and tend to believe their press clippings a little too much. I like the Celts in a series with Detroit. If it’s anything like the regular season games it will be a great series. And we will win.