Why the Detroit Pistons Will Win the NBA Title

Someone's got to tell the truth, and it might as well be me: The 2007 NBA Champions will not come out of the Western Conference.

There, I said it. Write it down. Bookmark it. Take it to the bank. 

Here are the facts:

Since acquiring Chris Webber, the Detroit Pistons have gone 32-13.  More recently, they've won 14 out of 17 games.

On March 16th, Detroit went into Phoenix and left with a 105-83 win. This came at the end of a long road trip—a swing that featured five games in eight days. 

All of them were wins.

The Pistons split their two games against Dallas this season.

They were a few missed free throws and a defensive stop away from splitting with San Antonio. 

 

They lost their two games to Utah by a combined three points.

Sure, the regular season was dominated by the West.  And most people will tell you that, top to bottom, the West is a much better conference than East.  

I can't deny that.

What I can deny, though, is the idea that regular-season performance matters come playoff time. The Dallas-Golden State series proved that in spades.

What does count is playoff experience and talent on each end of the court.  And it just so happens that Detroit possesses both of those.

All of you who think that the West is going to cruise in and out of the NBA Finals are foolish—plain and simple. Most of you will say that the Pistons can't run with the Suns, and aren't as deep as the Spurs.  Well, the good news for Detroit is that they only have to play one of them.  

While the Western Conference teams continue to beat each other up in long, grueling series, the Pistons are waltzing through the East bracket.  

Detroit is athletic enough to hang with Phoenix in the Finals.  And don't forget that the Pistons actually play defense, which gives them an immediate edge on the Suns.

The Pistons also match up well with San Antonio.  They have enough size inside—and enough fouls to give—to contain Tim Duncan, and the Detroit defenders should be able to keep Tony Parker out of the lane.  If you do those two things, you give yourself a chance.

If it's Utah or Golden State...Wait a second, does anyone really expect Utah or Golden State to make it to the Finals? 

Yeah, didn't think so.

Bottom line: The Larry O'Brien Trophy is staying in the East. Place your bets now and thank me later.