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By Christopher Shryock
If you are one of the legions of Pistons’ fans lining the Ambassador Bridge today, collect your thoughts and take a step back.
True, Robert Horry put a damper on the teams’ plans for a repeat with his auspicious 3-point shot with 5.8 seconds left in overtime that cinched the Spurs’ 96-95 victory
And true, it doesn’t look particularly good for the Pistons at this seemingly dire juncture, especially since Game 6 and a potential Game 7 are in San Antonio; a place where the last time the Pistons won a game Hanson was tearing up the charts and no one had heard of Monica Lewinsky.
The Spurs may have delivered a knock out blow on Sunday night. The Champs are staggered and bloodied. And the national media is convinced they’re ready to fall. They’re convinced that their reign on top of the basketball world is over.
But these are the Pistons, the comeback kids. And they’re not giving up the title belt without a fight.
Every time they’re on the ropes, they find the strength to fight back, to knock you out. Every time it’s win or go home, they find a way to win.
Not many golfers on this team.
This is a team that has won seven consecutive Game 6 contests and they have won their last four games when facing elimination.
Don’t throw in the towel on the season just yet.
After all, how soon everyone forgets that in the conference finals this year the defending champions trailed Miami 3-2 and responded by winning two in a row. The series before that, they were down 2-1 against Indiana before reeling off three straight wins. Last year in the same round, the Pistons went to New Jersey behind 3-2 ultimately surviving that series, and two years ago, a Sheed-less version of the Pistons staved off an upstart Orlando team in the first round after falling behind 3-1.
With Chauncey “Mr. Big Shot” Billups fresh off a 34-point display, Ben Wallace back to his dominant ways on the defensive end of the floor, Tayshaun Prince driving the lane and hitting open jumpers, and both Richard Hamilton and Rasheed Wallace due for breakout performances, don’t bet on the Pistons laying on the mat for much longer.
As Rasheed Wallace, the man who allowed Horry the wide open look at the conclusion of Sunday’s contest so aptly put it, “Like I told y'all before, it goes to four, not three.”
Did you get that? It takes four games to win a best of seven series. No one is there just yet.
So here we go. Game 6 tomorrow night.
It could be the end of the Pistons two year run. It could be the end of Larry Brown’s coaching tenure and often tumultuous relationship with the Pistons. It could also be the beginning of the end for the Spurs.
Once they emerge from their corner, the Pistons will be right back where they have been so frequently over the past two seasons. On the ropes and desperate to win. Desperate to avenge the missed shots and botched defense of last night’s game and desperate to fight another round.
NBA analyst Bill Walton reflected the sentiments of many when he publicly stated the “He [Robert Horry] just guaranteed the Spurs their first title since 1999.”
They’re behind on the scorecard with two rounds left and two wins needed to retain the crown.
Tomorrow night, in hostile confines of San Antonio, the Champs will face their toughest test in their magnificent two year run. Wobbly and wavering, the Pistons must answer the bell two more times against all odds.
But fortunately for the Pistons, this is when they’re at the best.
Strap up the gloves and put in the mouthpiece. The Champs aren’t going to go down quietly. And if history is a guide, they’re not going down at all.
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