| The Heat got excellent play from their 'new' players | | | | year. That would be quite an accomplishment.In fact, |
| last night, as Payton, Walker and Williams combined | | | | in NBA history, only three franchises have been able |
| for 41 points in Miami's 91-86 Game 1 win over the | | | | to reach more than three straight NBA Finals. Going in |
| Pistons in Detroit. Wade had 25 points (on 9-of-11 | | | | reverse order, Bird's Celtics did it from 1984 through |
| shooting) and Shaq added 14-8, as the Heat shot | | | | 1987 (winning two and losing two), while Kareem and |
| 56.2 percent from the floor.My free play is on the Chi | | | | Magic's Lakers did it from 1982 through 1985 (also |
| White Sox over the Oak A's at 8:05 ET. I've ripped | | | | going 2-2). In another era, Red Auerbach led the |
| off FIVE straight Las Vegas Insider winners since | | | | Celtics and Bill Russell to 10 consecutive NBA Finals |
| Friday (2 in the NBA and 3 in MLB) and go for my | | | | from 1957 through 1966, winning nine times (won |
| sixth winner in-a-row tonight in Game 1 of the Suns | | | | eight straight from 59-66)!The Pistons are the only |
| Mavs series. In MLB, I'm featuring one of my new | | | | one of the remaining four teams to have won a title, |
| Technical Insiders plus a 15* Blowout!The Pistons are | | | | winning in 1989 and 1990, as well as in 2004. In fact, |
| in the Eastern Conference Finals for the fourth | | | | of the other three teams, only the Suns (way back |
| straight year and the last team to do that was MJ's | | | | in 1976 and again with Charles in 1993), have ever |
| Bulls back in the early 90s. Was Detroit tired from its | | | | even played in an NBA Finals. However, Detroit's head |
| seven-game series with Cleveland or did the Pistons | | | | coach (Flip Saunders), hardly owns an impressive |
| just play poorly? They sure shot poorly, making 37.8 | | | | playoff resume.Saunders led the Timberwolves to |
| percent as a team. While Hamilton and Billups | | | | eight consecutive playoff appearances from 1997 |
| combined for 41 points, they also made just 15-of-41 | | | | through 2004 but was eliminated in the first round in |
| FG attempts.Miami's win on the road follows a recent | | | | the team's first seven playoff seasons. He did take |
| trend in the NBA conference finals, as home teams | | | | the T-wolves to the Western Conference Finals in |
| are now just 3-8 SU and 2-9 ATS in Game 1 of a | | | | 2004 but left Minnesota with a 17-30 mark in the |
| conference final since 2001. Tonight (at 8:30 ET on | | | | postseason. After last night's loss, Saunders is 8-5 |
| TNT), the Suns hope that trend will continue, as they | | | | with the Pistons in this year's playoffs.While Detroit is |
| open the Western Conference Finals in Dallas against | | | | the only team left to have ever won an NBA title, |
| the Mavericks.The Suns have needed seven games | | | | Miami's Pat Riley is the only coach remaining to own a |
| to win of their first two series while the Mavs, after | | | | title. Riley won four championships with the Lakers |
| a four-game sweep of the Grizzlies, beat the Spurs in | | | | (1982, 1985 and 1987-88). However, many would |
| one of the best seven-game series in NBA playoff | | | | consider that "old news." While Riley has coached in |
| history. The Suns eliminated the Mavs in last year's | | | | more playoff games than any coach in NBA history |
| playoffs (4-2 in the semifinals) but of course Phoenix | | | | (268 after last night) and owns more wins (164) than |
| had a healthy Amare Stoudemire for that one.The | | | | any coach other than Phil Jackson, he's done little |
| teams split four games during the regular season this | | | | recently.Riley went 102-47 in the playoffs (.685) as |
| year and the Mavs are favored by six points in | | | | LA's head coach from 1982 through 1990 but was |
| tonight's game (220 1/2). For the series, Dallas is | | | | just 35-28 in four playoff seasons with the Knicks |
| favored by about minus-$3.60.The NBA's Final FourAs | | | | from 1992 through 1995. After taking over the Heat |
| we've often mentioned, the NBA playoffs rarely | | | | in 1996 and before moving into the front office prior |
| offer many surprises. The Mavs did knock off the | | | | to the 2004 season, Riley's playoff record in Miami |
| Spurs (their 63 wins were 2nd-best in this year's | | | | was just 18-25! However, if last night's results are |
| regular season) in the semifinals but the four | | | | any indication, maybe Riley's back?The Heat are 9-3 |
| remaining teams own the league's best regular | | | | in this year's postseason and if the Heat could win |
| season mark (Pistons with 64 wins), the league's | | | | the title, Riley would join John Kundla with five titles. |
| third-best record (Mavs with 60 wins), the league's | | | | Kundla won his with the Minneapolis Lakers back in |
| fourth-best record (Suns win 54 wins) and the | | | | 1949, 1950 and 1952-54). Red Auerbach and Phil |
| league's fifth-best record (Heat with 52 wins).Since | | | | Jackson share the record with nine all-time titles. A |
| the 1983-84 postseason (when the league went to a | | | | Heat win would also allow Riley to join another |
| 16-team field), the NBA title has been won by a | | | | exclusive club. Only Phil Jackson (six with the Bulls and |
| team finishing with either the best (including tied for | | | | three with Lakers) and Alex Hannun (one with the |
| the best) or second-best (again including ties) regular | | | | Hawks in '58 and one with the 76ers in '67) have |
| season record 19 times in 22 years! The exceptions | | | | won titles with two different teams.The Suns are in |
| came in 1993 (the Bulls owned the league's 3rd-best | | | | the conference finals for the second straight year |
| record), in 1995 (the Rockets were tied for the | | | | under Mike D'Antoni. Heading into tonight's Game 1, |
| 10th-best mark!) and in 2004 (the Pistons had that | | | | D'Antoni's playoff record is 17-12. While the Suns |
| year's 6th-best record).There have been 12 titles | | | | have been to two previous NBA Finals, none of the |
| claimed by the team with the best record (or tied | | | | players on this year's roster have ever participated in |
| for the best) and seven titles won by the team with | | | | an NBA Finals (on any team!).As for the Mavs, this is |
| the league's second-best mark (or tied for it). Of | | | | just the third Western Conference Final in team |
| concern for Detroit fans may be the fact that the | | | | history. The Mavs lost to the Spurs (4-2) back in |
| team with the league's best record has gone on to | | | | 2003 and in 1988 to the Lakers (4-3). Avery Johnson |
| win the title just once in the last five years (the | | | | is in just his second year as the team's head coach |
| Spurs in 2003). In three of those five years, the | | | | and his playoff record is 14-10. As for the current |
| team with the league's second-best record has taken | | | | roster, only Keith Van Horn, who was with the Nets |
| the title.So who are these guys? Everyone knows | | | | in 2001 when they were swept by the Lakers, as |
| the Pistons, who won the title in 2004 and lost to | | | | ever been to an NBA Finals.Ness Notes is available |
| the Spurs in last year's Finals in seven games. Detroit | | | | Monday through Friday by 1:00 ET.Larry Ness is a |
| finished the regular season with a league-best 64 | | | | documented member of the Professional |
| wins and as mentioned earlier, are in a conference | | | | Handicappers |
| final for the fourth straight year. The Pistons have a | | | | League. |
| chance to reach the NBA Finals for a third straight | | | | |