The Michigan Daily-Friday, November 6, 1987- Page 13 Pistons will be champs this time After a long wait, the basketball teason is finally here. It feels like it's been forever since that Saturday afternoon in May when the Celtics defeated the Pistons in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals, but the memories remain like it was yesterday. The Celtics jumping to to a two fame lead after two convincing victories in the Boston Garden. Isiah Thomas predicting that Boston could not win "in my house," and then proving it with two blowout possession and finally scored on a three-pointer by Danny Ainge with 1:12 remaining to shatter Detroit's chances and turn the game into a free-throw contest with the defending champs winning, 117-114. IN THE END it was the experience of Boston and the magic of the Garden, with the little leprechaun sitting on the rim batting the ball back to the guys in green, that did in the challenging Pistons. That memorable series became even more nightmarish for Detroit fans after the final game when some remarks by Rodman and Thomas about Bird became a national controversy. Forget about all of that now, though, because a new season is here and the Pistons are ready for some excitement in their final year in the Silverdome. All of the key players from last year's squad are back and promise to be even better. Detroit finally has all the ingredients to win an NBA championship. The starting lineup is as good as any in the league and Detroit has more depth than anyone. In addition, the Pistons' running game is one of the league's best and they now have the beef up front to grind it out with the most physical teams around. Yes - the Pistons are a legitimate contender to dethrown the champion Los Angeles Lakers. COACH CHUCK Daly will have a team with a true superstar, Thomas; an automatic inside scoring threat, Dantley; two tough, bruising rebounders, Laimbeer and Mahorn; a hot shooting sixth man, Johnson; a great defensive guard, Dumars; two fast, aggressive, big youngsters, Rodman and John Salley; and a seven-footer full of potential, William Bedford. Put all of this talent together on a hungry team that has learned what it takes to win and has gained the experience to do it, and you have the next NBA champions. It won't be easy, though. The Pistons will get stiff competition in the East from the Atlanta Hawks and the Celtics, again. Atlanta has a very talented collection of players that edged out Detroit for the Central Division title last season. The Dominique Wilkins-led Hawks are loaded at forward, but don't have the backcourt to keep up with the Pistons. The Pistons put that doubt in the Hawks' minds last year when they convincingly beat them in the playoffs, four games to one. Most likely, the Eastern championship will once again be Detroit vs. Boston. The Celtics hung on for their lives in the last confrontation and won't be so lucky ,. Golden Words BY GREG MOLZON victories by an average margin of 22 points. One of those games featuring a takedown of Larry Bird by Bill Laimbeer that led to Bird throwing the ball at Laimbeer's face. At that point, the series became a best two-out-of-three and moved back to Boston, where the Pistons Supposedly could not win. However, ;fter Dennis Rodman blocked a Bird Shot with five seconds left, Detroit was celebrating a win in the Garden. That is, until Thomas made a foolish pass that Bird turned into ,The Steal and a Boston win. THIS GAME also had a violent moment as Robert Parish maliciously threw three punches in 'the direction of Laimbeer's jaw and did not get ejected, or even get a foul 4alled against him. Parrish was suspended for Game ix, though, and the Pistons broke open a close game in the fourth quarter at the Silverdome to force a eciding Game Seven back in eantown. And what a memorable game it rwas. A back and forth thriller that as all a championship game should e. An unlikely hero, Joe Dumars, fed the visitors with 35 points, but Sis team was dealt a fatal blow late n the third quarter when two of its fop players, Vinnie Johnson and drian Dantley, collided going after i loose ball and were unable to contribute down the stretch. M The Pistons hung close and were lied at 99 with three minutes left to flay. The Celtics then grabbed six ;traight offensive rebounds on one this time. Besides getting old, the Celtics lack depth and will be severly hurt by any injuries. One key player, Kevin McHale, is already out for half the year and his full return to health seems questionable. Even if he does come back, Boston will not have enough to get the home-court advantage this year. And without that, the Pistons would have won last year, and will win this year. SO THAT leaves the West. The Pistons are simply a better team than Seattle, Houston, or Dallas, but will most likely play the champion Lakers. In fact, that is the same WEEKEND MAGAZINE Fridays in The Daily 763-0379 prediction that Sports Illustrated made. Sports Illustrated was accurate up to that point, but erred in picking the winner. The Lakers can not match the Pistons depth or toughness inside and even though they have the better starting lineup, the Lakers will not win their second straight title. One reason that the Lakers will not win is because NBA champions simply do not repeat. It hasn't happened since 1969 and as good as the champs are, they are no better Michigan Daily SPORTS 763-0376 than any of the other recent champions who tried to repeat. An injury to Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, or James Worthy could knock out the Lakers if complacency doesn't. So it's that simple, the Pistons will win it all. Maybe that heart-wrenching loss to the Celtics last year shouldn't be forgotten. Because when the Detroit Pistons win the first World Championship in their history, those memories will make it feel all the more special. ------- ----------------------------------- I acauley'S I I I I I I I I north campus.plaza 665-3721 supplies, furniture, machines, cards & gifts PLUS: new low warehouse prices on 400 of our top items. J I l wirebound notebook I 49ea ruled pads 59ea I bic ballpoint pens 9 ea I I I I I I clipboards 95ea report covers 21 lea ----------------------L ------------------ 1 L .y o"I"I ,too/ S I Get your Senior Portrait for the Yearbook taken today! WHERE: West Quad, 2nd floor - Wedge Room WHEN: Monday - Friday 8:30-5:30 HOW: Just bring the $3.00 sitting fee TODAY IS YOUR LAST CHANCE! r ENSIAN ACCEPTANCE CARD Please set aside a copy of the 1988 Michigan Ensian for me for the low price of $26.00. 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