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Chuck Daly is absolutely certain of one thing -- "The Orlando Magic did not lose to the clock."
Yes, he admits, it was a terrible call, when, at the end of the third quarter, Chauncey Billups made a huge 3-pointer as the clock had frozen and the referees had to guess how much time the Pistons ran off before the shot. A TNT replay showed the referees had guessed incorrectly.
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| Chuck Daly gives credit to Jason Maxiell's Pistons for their work on defense. (AP) |
Although he retired in 1999, after 14 years as an NBA head coach (nine with the Pistons and his last two with Orlando), Daly still sees everything, still knows everything.
The man who invented the "Jordan Rules," who won two titles with the Bad Boys and was beloved by none other than Dennis Rodman, has some thoughts on the NBA playoffs.
"Chris Paul is astonishing," he said. "No one wanted to believe it. I remember George Raveling telling me six years ago, this kid would be an All-Star. It's just that the Hornets are never on TV."
He thinks the Pistons are taken for granted. Between the headlines of the Jazz-Lakers (will Jerry Sloan be able to get past Kobe, years after Michael ripped Utah's heart out with the championship on the line?), the Cavaliers-Celtics (can LeBron challenge the Three Musketeers?) and the Spurs-Hornets (quickness of the Hornets vs. the experience of the Spurs), the Pistons are just moving along.
"Detroit has been to the Eastern Conference finals five straight years," said Daly. "I think Rasheed's gray spot has gotten bigger."
Daly even hints that the Pistons are employing a modern "Jordan Rules" on superstar Dwight Howard.
To review: Two decades ago, Daly had grown tired of watching Michael Jordan light up the Palace of Auburn Hills for 40 points a game. To counter such audacity, Daly decided the Pistons would either work to get the ball out of Jordan's hands or force him to make quick decisions, using any means necessary.
The basic plan was that Joe Dumars would try to force Jordan into traps against taller players like Rodman or John Salley or Bill Laimbeer. Zones were illegal, so the Pistons had to try and hide what they were doing.
The theory was that by the time Jordan got the ball back, he wouldn't have much time to shoot. If His Airness did slip by Dumars, either Laimbeer or Rick Mahorn was waiting with a vicious foul. Ouch.
"We played Jordan differently everywhere he went on the floor," said Daly. "We used everything physical and psychological to throw him off his game."
Dumars, now the Director of Basketball Operations for the Pistons, never wanted to talk about the Jordan Rules back then, and he certainly doesn't want to talk about the plan for Howard now. But coach Flip Saunders said something vaguely familiar.
"You've got to change it up against Dwight," said Saunders. "You can't guard him the same way every time."
Howard has faced a Motown full of different defenders, none of whom are shy about hacking him, whacking him or giving him a headache.
"We can't let them take us out of our game," said Howard, probably speaking for himself. "Mentally, we've got to keep our head."
In Game 2, Howard started with a brace to protect his injured left thumb, then discarded it early in the first quarter ("I couldn't feel my grip," he said) yet he finished with an impressive 22 points and 18 rebounds. He'll have to come up big in Games 3 and 4 because the Magic can't rely on hitting seven 3-pointers in a row as they did in Game 2.
"The Magic are maturing," said Daly, "but the Pistons have been together for five years, winning a title in 2004. Orlando might be a year away."
So how does he see the Eastern Conference finals this year?
"Boston and Detroit, just like the old days."
And how will it end?
"Whoever has home court."