One lopsided affair

Updated: June 14, 2004, 11:01 PM ET

By Brian James | Special to ESPN Insider

Brian James, a former assistant coach with the Pistons, Raptors and Wizards, spent the 2003-'04 season scouting for the SuperSonics. Insider tapped his NBA expertise for the NBA playoffs.

All of the analysis of this year's NBA Finals will read the same. It's been one lopsided affair, with the Detroit Pistons completely dominating the Los Angeles Lakers.

While L.A. spent the season dealing with internal turmoil and distractions, Detroit was developing a cohesive unit dedicated to practicing what coach Larry Brown was preaching -- keep opponents under 20 points per quarter and 70 for the game.

Detroit knows the long playoff grind has slowed the Lakers' fast break and even their ability to chase down rebounds and loose balls, and the Pistons are forcing the action every chance they get, crashing the offensive boards with a vengeance.

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