With the Pistons locked into the top seed and the Cavs locked into the No. 4 seed, the the two teams have a chance of renewing their recently chippy rivalry in the second round of the playoffs. Considering the last three meetings between the two teams has involved some extra physical playwith Sideshow Varejao getting tossed after committing a flagrant-2 on Wednesday, NBA VP of basketball operations Stu Jackson (aka, the man who doles out the fines) has already talked to Cleveland GM Danny Ferry regarding how the games will be called:
"Yes, I do have some concerns in the event these two teams meet in the playoffs, given the fact that there has been some hard fouling on the part of both teams in the last three games played," Jackson said on conference call Thursday. "I had a conversation with [Cavaliers General Manager] Danny Ferry on this subject."
The Pistons won the last three games of the series convincingly after losing the first at The Q on Dec. 31.
"This is a good rivalry," Jackson said, "but I do have concerns about it."
Ferry confirmed the conversation.
"I told [Jackson] that I thought [Varejao's] foul should have been a flagrant-1," Ferry said. "And we did talk about the possibility of these two teams meeting in the playoffs and how the games would be officiated."
This did come from a Cleveland newspaper, so there's no mention as to whether Jackson spoke with the Pistons, but I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't. The Pistons obviously have their eyes on the prize, while the Cavs seem more interested in acting on a grudge. (Yes, that's incredibly biased toward the Boys in Blue, but anyone that watched Wednesday's uninspired performance by King James and the LeBronettes will likely agree.)
Pistons, Cavs have NBA's attention [Cleveland Plain Dealer]