Is this a dream? Am I imagining it ? Could this really be the most exciting display of playoff basketball in recent memory? If so, please nobody wake me, because this is certainly everything I dreamed of… almost a basketball utopia. Three game sevens in the course of two days can indeed quench any fan's thirst. We are witnessing something momentous, something out of the ordinary.

Speaking of out of the ordinary, suddenly I find myself becoming a fan of "L.A.'s other team", the Los Angeles Clippers. Seeing Elton Brand dominate opposing forwards with an array of post moves has made this fan smile from ear to ear. What's impressed me most about this team is their ability to play smart hard-nosed basketball while remaining committed to defense.

These attributes can be credited to Coach Mike Dunleavy who has instilled intelligence into a basketball team that was once the laughingstock of the NBA. I've also been impressed by guards Sam Cassell and Shaun Livingston (future all-star) as well as role players Chris Kaman and Corey Maggette. Of course this was all prior to their game seven meltdown in Phoenix, but kudos to the Clippers' players and coaching staff on a job well done.

One team I haven't been too impressed by in these playoffs are our intrepid hometown heroes themselves, the Detroit Pistons. In their quest to win the title, this team has been anything but consistent, throwing away playoff games and making mediocre teams seem superior.

Watching this team piss away big leads and dig themselves into holes has led me to believe that they’re either bored or they don’t have the stones to annihilate their opponents.

It frustrates me so much because this team is capable of reaching greatness, yet they continue to hangout somewhere on a level of good.

I'm sure many of you are thinking, “what the heck is this guy talking about, aren't the Pistons in the Eastern Conference Finals, haven't they dominated just about every team they've faced since Flip Saunders took over the coaching duties?

In theory they've accomplished a great deal, but the fact is it took this team SEVEN GAMES to "dismantle" an average Cavalier team when it could have easily been done in less than five. These Pistons have become mainly a perimeter team settling on jump shots when they're capable of driving down the lane for a lay-up. Let's face it Flip's new "innovative offense" has hurt the Pistons at times more than it's helped them because they now feel they can outscore their opponents, which at times sees them taking a nap on defense.

Granted this is a battle tested team that will more than likely reach the NBA Finals (and possibly win), but in order for this happen these Pistons must maintain their hunger and stop with all the jump shots!

Keep it smart and simple Pistons and you'll be embracing that trophy in no time.

Marquis Taylor is a 20-something college student attending Wayne State University. When not contributing to various newspapers, he wastes away in front of his PS2, watches sports, and consumes insane amounts of food (preferably Bellacino steak grinders). Other hobbies include collecting and reading classic Marvel comics and listening to quality music. If you would like to get in touch with him send an e-mail @ marquis_taylor313@yahoo.com.