I said this series is close. It was really close for three quarters in game 1. Spurs dominated totally in game 2 by starting the game with an impressive run. Pistons did the same with a run in game 1. For a moment they made Spurs looked bad and unprepared. But Spurs were able to overcome it quickly and pulled away in the 4th with the help of Manu. When the Spurs got that run quickly at home, the road team Pistons had a hard tome to keep up. They came as close as 8 points in the 4th quarter but that was close as the get in the entire second half. That is homecourt advantage. The hot topic today surrounds whether the series is over. My simple answer is NO. The Pistons are too complete and too disciplined for the series to be over. They didn't come through last year and this year just by sheer luck. Their offense didn't connect in game 2. They missed at least (no official count) 5 under-the-basket routine shots in the second quarter. The Spurs lead was so huge that it was a mountain to climb physically and psychologically. The Pistons are not going away. Larry Brown knows exactly what to do to win game 3 at home to get themselves back into the series. The homecourt advantage plays a big part. San Antonio is one of the best homecourt to play in in the entire league. So is Detroit. They need to take the three game homestand one game at a time. It is hard for a team to return home down 0-2 in this 2-3-2 format than the 2-2-1-1-1. My initial prediction had Spurs to win in 7 because I know how tough the Pistons will be yet the Spurs, as a better team, will win out. The Spurs just held serve on their court. Now it's time for the Pistons to prove the world wrong again... The offense has been the difference in the first two games. The Piston need to respond by scoring immediately. The Wallaces (yes, even Ben) and Lindsey Hunter were the only players playing to their normal contribution in game 2. Billups and Hamilton need to work better. Three pointer was a big part of Pistons' game. They need to move the ball better. They depended on the screens and motion halfcourt plays too much. They are not going to get away from the Spurs playing with screens because their defense is too tight. Billups and Hamilton, or even Arroyo and Hunter, need to handle and distribute the ball and get Rasheed Wallace involved in the offense. Yet, Rasheed need to be more aggressive at the post. The Pistons hardly get a chance to the foul line. It's not a good time to argue calls with the referees. They need to be more aggressive at the post, especially Rasheed. Playing at home will have more calls going to the Pistons' way. This is how the NBA officiating works unfortunately.

6.13.05 photo: Reuters