Video Courtesy of The Detroit Pistons

I Remember the game vividly because I was at the Palace that night. I remember Johns Salley’s performance and I distinctly remember the celebration of being the eastern conference champs getting ready to head off to the NBA Championship for the second season in a row. (Back2Back I still have that t-shirt)

I also had a memory of two player that you may or may not remember. William Bedford and the Bulls B.J. Armstrong.

Bedford turned out to be of the biggest disappointments, a 7 footer with much potential and two NBA championship rings (thanks to Detroit) who sadly squandered his talents because of a drug problem.

B.J. Armstrong was Michigan bred and went the Birmingham Brother Rice high school.  I will always remember how small he seemed to me (6″2)  on court and always amazed in the fact that he was right across the way while I attended school.

Any special moments you remember distinctly?

Photo/Getty Images

You can be as optimistic or pessimistic as you like, you can compare this team to the one that defied all odds to beat the Lakers in 2004, but as Pistons fans don’t we have to be honest with ourselves at this point? If this team crumbles in the fourth and can’t beat the Bulls in an important game how are they going to defeat a Cleveland team that sits atop the Eastern Conference and has only lost one game in their own building all year long?

Now I’m a glass half full kind of gal, but someone needs to give me some kind of hope that Detroit has a plausible chance to upset the Cavs.

I have my own bright spots here and there like the surprising and refreshing play of Will Bynum, the heart and determination of Antonio McDyess, Rip Hamilton’s return to the starting lineup, the defense of Arron Afflalo and iron man Tayshaun Prince, but all those things just don’t add up to what it takes to beat (and I hate saying this) a powerhouse like the Cavs.

The Cavs are 66-15 and have won 18 of their last 20, and like I mentioned before have lost just one at home. The series starts with the first two games in Cleveland.  LeBron has dominated Detroit in the playoffs and to this day he’s responsible for my worst memory of the Palace (remember that fateful game 5). Add in the Cavs defense, the calls they get and it’s a recipe for disaster.

I would love for the Pistons to prove me wrong, in fact I’m rooting for it, but given their play all season long is the benefit of the doubt good enough?

I’m hoping yes, and the Homer in me says so, but someone has to give me something solid besides my loyalty and faith in the team I love.

Any takers?

The Pistons host the Bulls tonight in a battle for playoff position. Chicago comes into the Palace tonight on a four game winning streak a game ahead of Detroit for the 7th seed in the playoff race.

Pistons.com

“Simply put, a win Monday would give the Pistons a leg up on Bulls, whether they’re settling matters for the sixth or seventh seed, provided each team takes care of business in its regular-season finale. A Pistons victory sets up an interesting rundown through the playoff tiebreakers. First, it ties them at 40-41 overall, and win at The Palace would also knot the season series at 2-2, with the home team winning each time. That takes you to the No. 3 tiebreaker – higher winning percentage within the division – but a Pistons victory would give them identical 8-8 records in the Central. The fourth tiebreaker is higher winning percentage in conference games, and that would go to the Pistons, who currently have 26 wins in the East to Chicago’s 23. Keep in mind the sliding Sixers, whose ongoing five-game skid has dropped them to 40-40, could muddle up the mix as well.”

A lot of things to consider with just two games to go in the season.

At this point it’s most likely the Boston or Cleveland in the first round (but Orlando is still a possibility), and it seems plenty of you are ok with facing the Cavs.  Me, not so much, so I thought I would put this one to a vote (taking the Magic out of the vote for obvious reasons).

Tip off is at 7:30 PM and will be locally broadcast of FSN Detroit and on NBA.TV Nationally. If you can’t catch the game on television, you can listen live on WDFN 1130 AM or follow the game online at NBA.com.

This one is important, leave them in the comments or feel free to chat live during the game.

Iverson and Wallace are out for tonight’s game, and Richard Hamilton is doubtful. All three spent time Monday working with Pistons strength and conditioning coach Arnie Kander,

While it looks like Hamilton and Wallace will be ready to return soon, Allen Iverson is a big question mark.

“Whenever I am ready and I can help the way I know I can help, and I don’t have to deal with this problem and know that it’s not going to bother me for the rest of my life, then I’ll be ready to go,” Iverson said. Via MLive

Tip off is at 8:00 PM and will be broadcast Nationally on TNT. If you can’t catch the broadcast, listen locally on WDFN 1130 AM or trough your computer at NBA.com

Leave your thoughts in the comments and feel free to be as descriptive as can be while I’m on the disabled list, your comments will help keep me in the loop.