Wow! The Pistons as world champs again! The parade is probably going on as I'm writing this. Expected turn out: 1,000,000 people! Detroit loves it's sports heroes!
 
I just read my last Pistons post - and I was pretty much dead on about quite a few things. The Pistons didn't stop Kobe and Shaq, but stopped everyone else. Proof? Not until game five did someone besides those two score in double figures. But they did play hard against Shaq and Kobe, making them work for their points.
 
Side note: Why the discrepancy in fouls between the Pistons and Lakers? The announcers in game five gave the answer pretty clearly. When you lead against the Lakers, there's no reason to play Hack-A-Shaq. When you are behind, you tend to play sloppier, trying to get back into it. And the Pistons either lead or the game was close the whole series. The Lakers "me against the world" thing was a bit over the top, if you ask me.
 
Anyway, I also mentioned Rip should run Payton all over the court. He did. Ben Wallace on Shaq was a good match up too. I loved Ben's big (goaltending) block at the end of game five! His head was even with the rim!
 
Like I said before, if Detroit beat L.A., then hiring Larry Brown was the right call. Well, I would say it obviously was the right call. And this team is young enough that they can get back to the finals again, especially if Rasheed decides to stick around (a good possibility if you ask me. Let's see here. I'm traded to a true team, I fit right in, and I win my first NBA Championship. Why wouldn't I come back?).
 
Now let's talk about William Davidson. He's a smart guy. He understands what it means to be a team owner. He puts people in place who know how to do their job. Joey D. is sharp. The GM of the Lightning is sharp. Both guys were able to build a core of young players, and then keep them together while adding the necessary pieces to push them over the top. And Davidson stays out of it all. He knows what he's good at, and where he needs help. That's why you hire sharp people. They fill in your gaps, and they don't need you constantly in their way. Mr. Davidson understands that.
 
Imagine owning a professional team. Now, imagine owning two (three, really). Now imagine winning the championship. Now, win one in two different sports in the same year! Amazing! Win the Stanley Cup, then win the NBA Championship. Oh yeah, he also won the WNBA Championship last year too! Now, if only he owned the Lions!

Anyway, congrats to the Pistons. They truly earned it this year.