It's set! The Pistons have made it back to the finals, and will face the Lakers, who are back for the 4th time in 5 years.


At first glance, I don't really see how the Pistons can match up against the Lakers, but as I start to look deeper, I can see it happening. On a local radio show, I heard someone say that the Pistons should worry about everyone but Shaq and Kobe. Let them put up 30 points a game, but shut down everyone else. Good strategy? Yes and no. No, because you can't just let those guys go. They could each end up with 50 points a piece. That won't bode well for the Pistons. Yes, because if you can hold them to 30 points, the Pistons can score more than 60 points per game, despite the recent output.


Anyway, how do the Pistons match up against the Lakers? Who covers who? Do you use Rip Hamilton against Bryant? He's in good enough shape, but do you risk him getting into foul trouble? What about Shaq? Do you use Big Ben? Or will he get into foul trouble early? What about Rasheed? Could we see Eldon Cambell play Hack-A-Shaq? Here?s my "game plan." Use Rasheed on Malone. Malone is old, and Wallace's ankle will hold up enough to defend a 40 year old man. Use Campbell or Okur against Shaq. At least Campbell roughly has the same size as Shaq (still giving up 20 lbs.). That gives you two guys (and 12 fouls to give) for Shaq before you have to have Ben guard him. Then, use Ben to come over to block shots.


Use Prince or Billups on Bryant, unless you can get Bryant to guard Hamilton. I'll take that match up. If Bryant wants to chase Hamilton all night, fine. They can cancel each other out. Assuming that doesn't happen (unlikely), let Hamilton run Payton all over the place.


Watching the Pistons, they tend to play to the same level as their opponents. They played a very defensive type of game against the Pacers. The same style the Pacers played. So do I expect the Pistons to run and gun with the Lakers? Not exactly, but I think it will be more up tempo.


The Pistons have to win one of the games in LA - either Sunday or game 2 (that's in July right?). Then, they'll have a shot. I still don't think the series will end in Detroit (for either team), so that means the Pistons will have to win one or two more in LA at the end of the series.


My bold prediction is that the Pistons will lose in 6 games. Of course, I'll be thrilled if I am wrong, and the Pistons win it all. At least one Detroit team will bring home a Championship then!


Oh yeah. One last point. Since the Pistons made it to the finals, does that make hiring Larry Brown worth it, especially when you consider that Carlyle lost in the Eastern Conference Finals for the third straight year? I don't. I think the Pistons had what it takes this year - the grit and determination, and a front office (Dumars) with the ability to pull of the Wallace deal at the deadline. I don't give the credit to the coaching staff. They still play scary basketball - they look great, then they look horrible, like they lack motivation. Motivation is usually the result of coaching, although when it comes right down to it, it's up to the players. Either way you look at it (coach's fault or not the coach's fault), the same thing happened last year. This year, they just happened to have the talent to win some of the games they lost last year. I'm not ready to attribute that to coaching.


On the other hand, if they beat the Lakers, that's another story.