Miracle in Motown?

Is there any ohter team in the league hotter than the Detroit Pistons?

Faced with a 3-1 deficit in the first round, the Pistons still found a way to shut down Tracy McGrady and defeat the Orlando Magic in seven games.

The Detroit Pistons have the look of a "miracle" type squad. They may not have a Jimmy Chitwood, but they do have a talented roster and their own Norman Dale.

Not only does Detroit have a young and talented roster, but they also have a great coach in Rick Carlisle (Norman Dale in disguise).

This guy is a miracle worker. He may not have the greatest team, but he gets everything out of them.

He took Chauncy Billups and made him look like Allen Iverson.

Carlisle is one of the main reasons for the resurgence of basketball fans in Detroit.

They also have a brilliant GM in Joe Dumars (Why wasn't Dumars name on the list of successful GM's who were former basketball players on ESPN?

I was at game 5 of the 2002 Eastern Conference semifinlass when the Celtics eliminated the Pistons last year.

An uninspired Jerry Stackhouse couldn't handle the pressures that a superstar should be able to handle. He actually was passing the ball when they were down with less than two minutes left in the game.

A superstar steps up and takes charge of a situation, and Stackhouse couldn't do it.

So Dumars swindled Rip Hamilton away from the Wizards for the quasi-superstar Stackhouse.

(Tangent: Does anyone else think Michael Jordan is an idiot? He maybe the best basketball player of all time, but he makes some pretty thick headed decisions. Doug Collins as coach? Everyone knew that wouldn't fly.)

So, what did do you get with a trade like that?

The Pistons are the number one team in the East and could very easily represent the East in the Finals.

I just like the players the Pistons have. They are working class and underdogs and you just have to love that.

Take Ben Wallace for example.

Wallace was at one time traded for Ike Austin (Side Note: Who made this decision?....you guessed it.. Michael Jordan.)

Wallace adopted the Detroit working class mentality and that has turned him into a bonafied superstar.

Wallace may not have offensive prowess, but he has some pretty intimidating defensive numbers (15.4 rebounds, 1.3 steals, and 3.2 blocks).

Then you have Tayshaun "The Fresh Prince of Motown."

This guy's left hand is phenomenal. Also, he has pretty good size for a shooting forward (6'9").

Then, how can you forget the foreign powerhouse of Mehmet Okur? He is the most powerful man from Turkey since the Iron Sheik (was the Iron Sheik from Turkey?? I think he was).

You just want to see these guys succeed.

Everything seems to be clicking at the right time for the Pistons, which leads to the question -- can the Pistons win the NBA Championship?

The answer -- why not? They match up favorably with everyone they might have to face, and they could even stun whoever wins the west.

Also, with the Red Wings eliminated from the Stanley Cup playoffs, the fans will turn their attention to the Pistons.

With the raucous (Raucous=drunk and crazy) fans, I wouldn't want to be the team who steps into the Palace.

The Pistons are a team who are coming together at the right time, and very well could be a team of destiny.