Oops. Sorry, my Hubie Brown translator was on.

I’m not a fan of individualism, marketing, or commercialism. But that’s what drives the NBA. And that’s why they’ll do just about anything to have a Finals with LeBron. Because the alternative does not bode well for ABC and the NBA. Utah, San Antonio, and Detroit have no national appeal. They’re not big media markets. The last thing the Association wants is a repeat of the ‘05 Finals (even though it went to seven games and was a hell of a battle).

So I don’t look forward to a series dripping with ‘Bron worship. I’m not looking forward to talk about “destiny fulfilled,” because I don’t want some shady-ass, self-fulfilling prophecy.

But I do look forward to Tay shutting his ‘Bron’s ass down. That’s what this technologically backwards, advertising adverse Pistons fan really, really wants to see.

Let’s crush ‘em like we crushed MJ back in ‘89.

I question his supporting cast.

OK, Hamilton and Billups were All-Stars this year and Price should have been in many eyes. Webber is an intriguing story and the Spurs bring All-Stars Duncan and Parker along with Duncan’s tandem, Bowen. However, none of these players carry public interest outside of the markets where they play the way LeBron James does.

Of course, we all know not calling Duncan a superstar is like not calling the Pope a Christian, but NBA executives are looking at the bottom line and it is a no-brainer that they’ll get a more national audience with LeBron playing the final.

For this reason, NBA sports anouncers, executives and pretty much anyone outside of Detroit can be forgiven for doing anything to motivate Cleveland to the final, especially since they’ve probably already resigned themselves to the Spurs making it from the West.

As long as it remains in motivation and not in the actions of referees we gotta just suck it in and understand it’s just business. Let our boys do the talking on the court and the rest is irrellevant.

Patrick asked Grant Hill about the Pistons and Cavaliers.

Grant Hill proceeds to bring up a story about disrespect involved with Detroit’s starting five in relation to the popularity of LeBron James. Hill believes the Pistons will use that as fuel to lock down for every game and play the best basketball that they’ve played all season, using the league’s star preference as motivation.

Michael Wilbon asks if we haven’t been down this road before, which is very similar, as Wilbon made point, to the 89-90 Pistons, with regard to Michael Jordan and the Bulls.

Dan Patrick asked if the Pistons believe that LeBron James is not as much as the sum of his hype.

Jon Barry takes over, restating the disrespect briefly, stating an opinion that Detroit learned from their mistakes in the series from last year, and he proceeded to call the series - Pistons in 5.

Are they trying to motivate LeBron James?

I don’t completely disagree with your opinion that they might not have gotten to the conference finals playing either the Bulls or Pistons in the second round, but they are there now and Detroit is just going to have to deal with them.

By the way, Rob G. You’re making an excuse before it is even needed. Don’t do that crap! Even getting a few calls in their direction won’t be enough to carry the Cavaliers into the finals. I cannot believe you are a real Pistons fan and actually believe that could happen.

I’m a Pistons fan, but I still predict the Cavaliers will be NBA Champions. RELAX ! Not this year, but in two years. It will be LeBron’s 6th season, which is how long it took MJ in Chicago. You know a bookie interested in giving odds?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKMv9LrgF6M

Enjoy!

who wins: the spurs’ dirty tricks or the pistons’ whining? kind of a irresistible force/immovable object type battle. bowen’s “who, me?” face is the only one that even comes close to ’sheed’s.