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."
