It's Pistons VS. Lakers!

ESPN ^

[quantim]

All Engines Go!

[SoCal Pubbie]

Only if the Lake Show pulls two hamstrings again.

[TheBigB]

I'll be rooting for the Pistons, but I fear the Lakers just have too much offense.

[Dan from Michigan]

That's why I have to consider Daly to be one of the best coaches of all time.

He was able to keep stars like Isiah, Laimbeer, Mahorn, Aguirre, Dantley(before him), and Dumars(although he had no ego) in check. He also got VJ, Salley, and James Edwards - starters in most places, to come off the bench.

And Dennis Rodman wasn't a nut when Daly was here. That's what's most amazing. Contrast that to the Ron Rothstein/Rodman battles afterward.

[Mr. Mojo]

Can we next have the LA gangs vs the Detroit Gangs face off?

One thing is certain -- no matter who wins there'll be post-championship downtown mini-riots.

[SoCal Pubbie]

"The greatest team of all time."

You forgot the sarcasm tags!

[quantim]

"Watching basketball is like watching a hockey game with no goalies."

Like soccer.  Your point is pointless.

[Numbers Guy]

Only if the Lake Show pulls two hamstrings again.

Detroit was already dominating the series when Magic pulled his hamstring. You want to talk about an unhealthy team, look at Detroit in 1988, even before Isiah ripped up his ankle in game 6 (Mahorn, Laimbeer, Salley were all playing with major injuries). Unlike LA, the injured Detroit team managed to take it to 7 games, not 4.

[Dan from Michigan]

Those late 80's and early 90's rivals are classic.

The Celtics taught us how to win in the playoffs(For years we couldn't win in Boston Garden). The Lakers taught us how to win titles(1988). The Bulls and Jordan we sent to the school of hard knocks and taught them how to win.

[FlyVet]

True. There was a insider book written by a Detroit sports writer during that time. I remember reading that, during a practice section, Aguirre drove to the basket, and Laimbeer clothes-lined him to the floor with a forearm, almost knocked him cold, looked down at him and said, "Welcome to the Pistons." L was a real mean bastard...unless he was on your team.

Typical press interview with Laimbeer:

Presstitute: "How do you think you will be remembered?"

Laimbeer answer, with bloodshot eyes: "I don't care."

Gotta love that.

[Numbers Guy]

There was a insider book written by a Detroit sports writer during that time.

"The Franchise", by Cameron Stauth. Great book, he actually wasn't a Detroiter, he was a writer who had a deal with GM Jack McCloskey for full access during the 1988-89 season.

[NYC GOP Chick]

I used to be a Knicks fan - until I discovered what loathsome turds some of them are.

[NYC GOP Chick]

You don't really mean that? Romancing the good ole' days makes us appreciate the days we have in front of us.

Nah, it just depresses me.

[NYC GOP Chick]

Nope, it won't. Those teams had personality. Nasty and vicious. The present ones don't. I'll always remember Chuck Daly, sitting on the bench, always miserable, even when he was kicking the other team's @$$. Who could blame him? He had to deal with Laimbeer, Thomas, Rodman, Salley, Aguirre, and other impossible egos, anchored by reasonable people like Vinny Johnson, and make them all into winners. LOL. Doesn't seem like that any more, anyways.

I always loved how Chuck Daly could deal with those major headcases, but the Nets drove him around the bend and out of the game for some time.

I'll never forget the time I got Armon Gilliam to trade Derrick Coleman jokes with me at a college game back in '95 or so. :D

[FlyVet]

Wasn't that also the same year that, at a crucial moment, Dantley and Vinnie Johnson knocked each other cold diving for a loose ball? Regardless, when people talk about Majic pulling the hamstring, the Pistons fully paid their dues with bad-luck injuries.

If you see Thomas on TV these days, he looks more like an ex-boxer with all the scars on his face.

[NYC GOP Chick]

Same here! That's why I'll hardly watch -- I can't stand the Lakers, yet I know they'll probably win. Grrr!

[SoCal Pubbie]

You forget a few facts. The Lakers were 11-0 going into the finals, and were playing the best ball of any on the Showtime teams. Byron Scott, the starting off guard, tore his hamstring BEFORE game one. Magic followed suit in game 2. With LA's starting backcourt out the series was over right there. If the Lakers stayed healthy they would have beat the Pistons like a drum.

[Smartass]

HABIT FORMING...

BEEN THERE, DONE WON THAT

[Dan from Michigan]

James Worthy was the guy that always seemed to hurt us though.

[FlyVet]

And Dennis Rodman wasn't a nut when Daly was here.

Rodman, back then, used to say Daly was like a father to him. He seemed to be a clean-cut, motivated kid. It seemed that when Rodman lost Daly, he went nutso. Just like when Tyson lost Cus D'Mato (sp?). It's a shame.