Playoffs Game #1: Pistons @ Cavs

Round One, Game One: 2009 NBA Playoffs
	@
39-43 (18-23 away)		66-16 (39-2 home)
Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland, OH
April 18th, 2009  3:00 PM ET
TV: ABC  Radio: 1130 WDFN
Probable starters:
Rodney Stuckey	PG	Mo Williams
Richard Hamilton	SG	Delonte West
Tayshaun Prince	SF	Lebron James
Antonio McDyess	PF	Anderson Varejao
Rasheed Wallace	C	Zydrunas Ilgauskas

This is what we've all been waiting for. Eight pre-season games and 82 regular season games, all for a chance to play on the big stage in the NBA playoffs with hopes of raising the Larry O'Brien trophy in the air come the middle of June.

Today will be game one for half the playoff slate, with our Pistons playing the second game of the day at 3:00 PM ET on ABC.

While the Pistons have the edge in playoff experience and have been to the Eastern Conference Finals six years in a row, the Cavs have arguably the best player in the universe, the NBA's best record, and a strong yearning for their franchise's first NBA championship.

The key for the Pistons will be containing Lebron James, but not necessarily just his scoring.  Lebron can be most dangerous when he creates open looks for his teammates, which he does often.  The Pistons will have their work cut out for them as I'm sure they don't want to allow another 25-point Lebron spurt like they did in 2007, but also so they don't let the lesser players beat them. 

The Cavs will have to contain the always moving Richard Hamilton, while also preventing guys like Rodney Stuckey and Will Bynum off the bench from penetrating.  That being said, preventing offensive rebounds will be one of the biggest keys to victory.

The spark Detroit bench players are able to provide could also serve as a determining factor in this series.  How Coach Michael Curry utilizes what always seems to be a changing rotation will definitely be interesting to see and play a major role as to just how good of a chance the Pistons have.  In my mind, this will be Michael Curry's first major test of the season as he finally has a healthy lineup that he was able to work with for the latter games of the regular season. 

This series has a chance to be a very competitive instant classic, but also could be an ol' fashioned route. It will all depend on what the Pistons make of it.  Certainly they can hang with anyone, it's just a matter of how this Pistons team comes out to play. 

The unveiling begins at 3:00 PM ET.