The Empire Strikes Back - Thursday, April 24, 2008
497 Views :: 0 Comments :: :: Michael Bradley

   Wednesday night, the Sixers got a taste of what happens when a talented, veteran team plays 48 minutes of focused playoff basketball. What did you expect, another second-half meltdown by the Pistons? Mo Cheeks must prepare his team to play that level of basketball for the rest of this series, and the sad fact is the Sixers might not be able to do it.

   This is hardly a slam of the Sixers. They accomplished great things this season, making renowned experts look silly in the process. Their brand of team basketball was refreshing in the wasteland of NBA selfish play and was recognized in many league circles as a great achievement.

   The trouble is, the playoffs aren't about moral victories or building the foundation of something that could be great in the future. They are about winning and competing on every possession. The Pistons forgot to do that during the second half of game one, and it cost them. As odd as that may seem for a veteran team that understands the need to keep its foot on the playoff accelerator, it happened. Detroit corrected it Wednesday night.

   Now comes the real drama. Friday night, the Sixers must answer the Pistons' intensity with even more passion and focus. They must realize that there will be no late collapses, that anything they get they must take. Can they do it? The smart money says no. Detroit has too much talent and playoff experience to give away a first-round series. And though the Sixers can be cheered by Golden State's upset win over Dallas last year, those surprising verdicts are rare in the NBA. 

   The series is far from over, but the Pistons have made their first argument, and it was a resounding one. The Sixers have a chance to answer. Just don't be too upset if their reply isn't strong enough.