NBA Blogging: Wha Happened?

Okay, so, last I mentioned the Pistons they were hours away from playing the Boston Celtics. I was, of course, hoping that they'd crush them just as they did in their first meeting. And, with a stellar first quarter where they ran out to a big lead and Garnett got into foul trouble, it looked like they were well on their way. Then, of course, Big Baby Glenn went off and the Pistons cruised to defeat.

The Celtics then proceeded to celebrate as though this meant something. Besides, of course, that the two teams are headed for one spectacular series in the post-season and, hopefully, a renewal of the old 80s Bad Boys/Bird Boys rivalry. I know if they'd won, I'd have been crowing about it. But that's different, I'm a fan. If I can't talk smack about everyone else's team when mine's doing well there's just no point. It's a lot different when you have the profession athletes on said team jumping around and breaking out the champaign on somebody else's home floor.

In other words, the end of that game gets tucked away in a nice, neat mental file which we shall refer to, in a few months time, as "Motivation".

Still, since then it's been downhill. For both teams. The Celtics have dropped another game or two, and to inferior teams like the Bobcats and Wizards. But the Pistons have lost, too, and their recent streak is now but a fond memory. There's no shame in losing to the Celtics and, sure, they managed to beat San Antonio (Although they're as shaky as they have been in a while this year.) and the loss to the Mavericks is understandable, any time you lose to the Knicks by more than 20 you have problems.

The Knicks, after all, are part of Isiah Thomas's continuing efforts to tarnish his own legacy. Zeke's Folly is bad. Historically bad. Matt Millen's Lions bad. And, yeah, end of a long road trip and four games in five days and all but, sheesh.

What carried them during their long win streak was a renewed focus on defense. A return to the lunchpail days of Big Ben and their last championship. A time when shutting down the other team was their calling card. But, lately, it seems their offense has returned to those days as well. Which, since the vintage Pistons offense involves getting bogged down and desperately heaving the ball at the hoop like you're playing horse, that's not exactly a good thing.

Can't worry too much, though. It's a long season and it has its twists and turns. I wouldn't want to be Toronto tomorrow, because they'll likely be having something to prove.