So here we are.  At the beginning of the season did any of us look in the mirror and say "damn, the Pistons are going to only win 39 games this year and finish 27 games back of the Cavaliers"?.  I don't think so...  I know I didn't say that.

We've had to form our own opinions on the many changes this team has made this season, and I won't re-hash the pain.  We've had to sit through one of the roughest seasons in recent memory, a season the teal uniforms would be proud of.

Now... Detroit is limping in to the playoffs as the 8th seed, and they're scheduled to face the Cleveland Cavaliers.  I say "limping in" not because of injuries, Detroit is relatively healthy.  I say "limping in" because at times this team looked like world beaters, but at other times they looked absolutely horrible and completely undeserving of a playoff spot.

I can't say that I'm 100% positive about this series.  As a matter of fact, this is the most unsure I've ever been about this team's chances in the playoffs.  You don't even need to look at the 1st round, just look at a potential road the team needs to go through to make it to the Finals.  Sure, we watch the boys get up for 4 games and beat the Cavaliers... the best team in the East.  Then who do we see?  Athletic Hawks team or Dwyane Wade??  Pick your poison right?  Let's say you get past DWade or Atlanta, and then you see Boston or Orlando?  This playoff run has set itself up to be the most difficult run for Detroit.

But let's look now at the 1st round of the 2009 NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs:

The name of the game with the Cavaliers is the drive and kick.  Cleveland is going to spread the floor and create iso for LeBron from the top of the key.  They're going to lineup Mo Williams, Delonte and Z out on the perimeter, with only Varejao in the middle which allows LeBron free run of the middle.

We're going to have to get used to something that we haven't seen a lot of this season, and that is the 3-2 zone.  Now who knows what Curry does when it comes time to lace it up, but if I was the coach, I'd call out the 3-2 zone and I'd occasionally run a trap at LeBron whenever he catches the pass near the halfcourt timeline.

The most important starters on defense are going to have to be Rasheed and McDyess.  Defensive rebounding has always been a weak spot for Detroit when they play Cleveland.  These guys are going to have to stay out of unnecessary foul trouble in order for Detroit to have a chance.

On offense, the team is going to have to share the ball.  LeBron is going to be matched up on the most dangerous player on the floor, that's a given.  At times this season he's guarded Rip, Stuckey, Prince and even McDyess.  The ball is going to have to move from one side of the court to the other to find the easy shot.  Z is a difficult guy to post with his height, Varejao is difficult to post because of the chance of a flop.  The weakness in the Cavs' defense lies in their 2 guards, Delonte West and Mo Williams.

If Detroit is able to move the ball around the perimeter, their backcourt will be able to find success against Williams and West.

Do I see Detroit winning the series?  I'm not going to count out my boys.  Like the title of the fanpost says, when this team has been backed into a corner they come out fighting.  They've done it time and again... and even with their captain playing in Denver, I think the team has enough pieces remaining to put up a fight.

Detroit in 7.  A bigger upset than Golden State over Dallas a few years ago... Detroit once again becomes the center of attention during the playoffs, only this time it's for positive reasons.