Here is an article written by Terry Pluto, writer for the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
Link: http://www.cleveland.com/pluto..._are_erasi.html#more

CLEVELAND -- A year ago, the Detroit Pistons won 59 games.
Think about that as you look at the NBA standings. Think about how the Pistons are 39-42, how they are the bottom seed in the Eastern Conference playoff seedings, how the Cavs have won 26 more games than the Pistons.

That's right, 26 more ...

As in the Cavs are 66-15, best in the NBA. As in the Cavs have won 21 more games than a year ago.

Or as in this ... Detroit has no chance against the Cavs in the playoffs.

None. Zip. Nada.

The Pistons might win a game, perhaps even two.

But that's it, one round and out.

In the last seven seasons, the Pistons had won at least 50 games. In the last six, they advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals. Both of those levels remained a possibility.

They started 4-0, and suddenly, Joe Dumars traded Billups for Allen Iverson.

Denver shot up, the Pistons turned into the NBA's version of AIG stock. They were utterly toxic, cutting out the heart of their team for a shoot-first, shoot-second, "I'm gonna be a free agent soon" guard in Iverson.

It's so bad that Iverson has left the team for whatever reason, so bad that Iverson has even been banned from local Detroit casinos for "boorish behavior ... often throwing his chips or cards at the dealer," according to Chris McCosky of the Detroit News.

It's so bad that the Pistons had a chance to avoid a matchup with the Cavs by winning Monday, but they trashed an 11-point lead at home with 10 minutes left to lose, 91-88, to Chicago.

It's so bad that I'll grow hair before the Pistons knock the Cavs out of the playoffs.

I know some fans are revving up the emails, insisting I have jinxed the Cavs and inspired Detroit.

But the best Detroit can do is talk about Iverson, Rasheed Wallace and Antonio McDyess being in the final years of their contracts, about being $20 million under the salary cap this summer so it maybe can sign some free agents. Then again, last summer one of their free agent signings was the underachieving Kwame Brown for $9 million over two years.

How did this happen in Detroit?

Piston and Cavs fans can look back to the 2003 draft, when the Cavs won the LeBron Lottery and ended up with the man who should be this season's MVP.

Detroit had the second pick in that draft. Carmelo Anthony was available. So was Dwyane Wade. And Chris Bosh. In the name of Vinnie Johnson, the Pistons would be better off with Kirk Hinrich, T.J. Ford, Chris Kaman and Boris Diaw -- also on the board.

Anyone but Darko Milicic, who never played a meaningful moment in three years with the Pistons. He's now with Memphis, where he's averaging 5.5 points -- matching his career scoring average.

Meanwhile, the Cavs have James. They have won 18 of 20, lost only once at home and are 54-2 when leading after three quarters.

This is the season of the Cavalier. Maybe not to win a title, although I wouldn't bet against it. But certainly time to leave the Pistons way back in their rear-view mirror.

Nobody in Cleveland has any respect for the Pistons, they are immature, uneducated, and frontrunning fans/following. If this article didn't make it up on the Pistons bullentin board somebody needs to put it up there to fire some Pistons players up.

Nice way to do exactly what he said. Really classy people, teams, clubs, whatever, don't really NEEEED to Shat on ANYONE. Do you think SA which has won 3 Rings in what, 5 seasons, maybe 6, you think they have beat writers thatwrite shat like this... no, huh uh...nope... Whatever, point is the guy is classless, and sad, not to mention... mostly pathetic. But You, my friend posted this on here. It won't rev up the players, it won't bring back CBill and even if it did, Stern has LBJ in the script to contend in the Finals THIS YEAR, we shouldn't win 2 games. I hope we do, but IIf it goes the way the Stern wants it to, we'll be lucky to win one.

Side note, I believe it was Bill Plashke wrote a nearly Identical article in '04... I'm just sayin....

Terry Pluto is incredibly nice. I met the guy about 6 months ago and I couldn't believe how sincere he was.

I'd have to say that his only flaw is that sometimes he is too big of a fan and this article is probably one of those times. If you want to see "classless," look up Tom Knott or Branson Wright. Those guys are bad.

Terry Pluto is getting a bum rap right here on this site for this article and he is genuinely one of the good guys.

LoOoL! The guy really hates Detroit, and the Pistons!

Just ignore him!

Harsh I guess, it's prolly the truth. Don't really see a point of rubbing it in tho.

quote:

...the Cavs have won 26 more games than the Pistons.

That's right, 26 more ...

That's wrong, the Cavs have won 27 more.