Cavaliers in the Conference Finals

From regular sports contributor, Mark Barnes:

With a stirring, 88-72, victory over the New Jersey Nets Friday night, the Cleveland Cavaliers return to the NBA Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in 15 years.

After easily sweeping Washington in the opening series, the Cavs won a hard-fought series with the Nets, four games to two.

Now, Cleveland faces its toughest test of the 2007 post-season, a best-of-seven series with the Detroit Pistons, who have been a Cavs’ nemesis in recent years. It was these same Pistons who ended the Cavs’ championship hopes last season, defeating Cleveland, 4-3, in the conference semis.

Things are different for both teams this year, though, especially the Cavaliers. Cleveland didn’t have a completely-healthy Larry Hughes last year; Sasha Pavlovic languished on the bench as coach Mike Brown had not yet discovered the young guard’s abilities; and rookie sharpshooter Daniel Gibson was a senior at the University of Texas.

Plus, Cleveland is much more NBA playoff-savvy. Oh, and let us not forget superstar LeBron James, who has his Cavs a breath away from playing for an NBA title, in only James’ fourth season in the NBA.

The Pistons counter with nearly the same roster from last year. The biggest difference is forward-center Chris Webber, who has replaced Ben Wallace, who departed for Chicago in the off-season.

Webber is an excellent passer and much better shooter than Wallace, giving Detroit more options in the middle.

Surrounding Webber is a tremendous group, led by one of the NBA’s best back courts, Chauncey Billups and Richard Hamilton. Tayshaun Prince is a long forward, who is a terrific defender and Rasheed Wallace is rare 6-11 power forward, shooting nearly 40 percent from 3-point range.

The Pistons won the NBA Championship in 2004, and this year marks their fifth straight trip to the Eastern Conference finals.

Detroit is a very difficult test for the Cavaliers for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is that the Pistons have home-court advantage. Detroit defends well individually and as a team. They shoot the ball well, and, like Cleveland, the Pistons have a true star in Hamilton.

The Pistons are an imposing hurdle for LeBron James and the Cavaliers. It took seven games to decide in 2006, and it looks like another grudge match in 2007.

Our Prediction: Detroit 4, Cleveland 2

The complete Eastern Conference Finals playoff schedule is as follows:

• May 21 – 8:00 pm – in Detroit
• May 24 – 8:00 pm – in Detroit
• May 27 – 8:30 pm – in Cleveland
• May 29 – 8:00 pm – in Cleveland
• May 31 – 8:00 pm – in Detroit
• June 2 – 8:30 pm. – in Cleveland
• June 4 – 8:00 pm. – in Detroit

^{(picture of Larry Hughes courtesy of the NBA)}