in NBA Betting Trends

Pistons ready to defend

The Detroit Pistons marched into Miami on Monday night with the sole purpose of getting back to the NBA finals to defend their crown. They succeeded. The Pistons were simply too deep and too experienced for the Miami Heat. Despite all of the controversy surrounding the team and Larry Brown, and despite the valiant return of Dwayne Wade to the Heat lineup, Detroit showed the heart of a lion and a champion throughout the Eastern Conference Finals.

Hats off to Miami for a great season and good playoff run. They never had a 100% Shaq at their disposal and fought hard the entire series. Miami coach Stan Van Gundy proved he could match wits with the league’s top coaches and Dwayne Wade asserted his ascension among the game’s elite players with his postseason game.

But back to the Pistons. I predicted they would win this series and game seven was truly evident of why they did. Detroit’s key to victory is getting contributions from their entire starting five. This way, no one is double teamed and everyone has a chance to succeed offensively. Having several clutch shooters with NBA title1 rings doesn’t hurt either. Defense, buzzer-beater performers, excellent coaching and tons of leadership; that’s the Detroit Pistons.

Barnes’ does his Clousseau imitation

Colorado rookie shortstop Clint Barnes had a terrible turn of fortunes last Sunday night, as he fell on the stairs. Barnes had been one of the few bright spots for the Rockies, as he was leading the National League in most offensive categories. Barnes’ Inspector Clousseau imitation reminds us Sammy Sosa hurting his back with a sneeze and Jeff Kent getting injured while allegedly washing his truck.

Hockey trailing basket weaving at this point

On year ago this week, the National Hockey League crowned the Tampa Bay Lightning as champs, after a thrilling seven game series. Two of the league’s smaller markets had managed to reach the finals and the NHL’s future looked murky but ok. Fast forward a year and an entire season wiped. At this point, the NHL is struggling now to keep their brand name recognition above amateur five-pin bowling. I hope the lockout was worth it boys. We saw legends retire prematurely, networks decline to pick up the struggling sport, and their chances of the participation in the next Olympics dwindle. Good work everyone.

Meanwhile in Chicago…      

What in the world is happening with the Chicago Bulls? They had been the laughing stock of the NBA ever since Michael Jordan left them. So finally they make the playoffs and get a little taste of winning and what do they do? They don’t grant their head coach a contract extension. Are you kidding me? Coach Scott Skiles may have had an up and down reputation before he arrived in the Windy City, but the bottom line is that they won with him in charge this season. In fact, they had to play their playoff series without two starters who were injured.

Skiles had asked the team to pick up his option for next season by a certain time frame; a reasonable request. The team has been dragging their feet about it and isn’t too forthcoming as to why. Ridiculous. General Manager John Paxon already has his hands full with several players being free agents. Why in the heck would he not make a swift decision about who will run his team in the fall? Now is the time to tell the fans that 2005 was not an aberration, that it signaled the rebirth of a competitive Bulls franchise. If there was ever a fan base that could use some reassurance it would be this bunch.

*** Note Skiles and the Bulls agreed to a four-year contract immediately after this column appeared.