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RANDOM FINALS THOUGHTS

-- I’m glad the Detroit Pistons are in the Finals, no matter how ugly it gets. That’s because the Pistons are a great example of teamwork, and mostly, D-E-F-E-N-S-E. And defense is a part of my own game that’s severely lacking. So watching the Pistons helps me learn how to guard my man one-on-one, how to help my teammates, when to reach (rarely), and when to shuffle my feet (always). I hope young players who actually might have a future in this game are paying close attention.

-- Young big men should especially take note of how the Pistons NEVER leave their feet on defense. Instead of trying to block every shot and getting pump-faked to death, they tend to hold their position and keep their hands in the shooter’s face. Even shot-swatting machine Ben Wallace stays on the ground until the ball is in the air.

-- Great line by ABC color commentator and future Boston coach Doc Rivers: “Some teams make offensive runs; the Detroit Pistons make defensive runs.”

-- Most of the moves Shaquille O’Neal makes on offense should not be made by a man who is pushing 370 pounds. People seem to forget how quick Shaq really is. He’s also a very underrated passer, and when you throw in his exceptional defense, you have to wonder if Shaq just might be the greatest player ever. It’s hard to tell, though, because there’s not even another All-Star caliber center in the entire league. Then again, who’s to say a modern-day Shaq wouldn’t dominate against greats like Kareem Abdul-Jabber, Wilt Chamberlain, or Hakeem Olajuwon when they were in their primes?

-- I’m not whining here, because I like both the Lakers and Pistons, and I’ll be satisfied with the next champion, no matter who wins. But it just seems to me that whenever a call could go either way, it ALWAYS goes the Lakers’ way. That’s why I think fans everywhere are constantly talking about a conspiracy. It’s not one big call that has people questioning the league’s integrity; it’s the little calls throughout the course of the game, random whistles that make you go hmmm.

-- On that note, big-market favoritism is nothing new to the NBA. At least, it’s nothing new in the David Stern Era. He’s been commissioner for 20 years, and at least one of the NBA’s three largest markets -- L.A., Chicago, and New York -- has played in all but five Finals during that span.

-- Is there an all-out conspiracy to make sure a large-market team reaches the Finals? Of course not. Could games be officiated more fairly? No question. And I think that’s all most fans really want.

-- At the same time, you also have to ask yourself if you would actually watch a Minnesota-Detroit or San Antonio-Indiana championship series. If not, then you can hardly blame the league for slightly favoring the big-market teams (and that’s all it is -- SLIGHT favoritism).

-- And say what you will, but the NBA didn’t cause Kobe Bryant’s miraculous game-tying 3-pointer in Game 2 to swish through the hoop. The truth is, the greatest players usually flock to the big markets for the bright lights and increased media attention they offer (read: Shaq and Kobe). Unfortunately for Knicks fans, not enough of those types have taken an interest in the Big Apple lately.

-- Finally, if Denver’s Carmelo Anthony and Cleveland’s LeBron James ever face off in the Finals, you can be sure that EVERYONE will watch, regardless of their teams’ market size. And with the way Carmelo and LeBron looked during their rookie years, you can count on it happening soon.

-- A few of you have asked, and my answer is no, I do NOT care for the 2-3-2 format of the Finals. (In case you have no idea what I’m talking about, “2-3-2” means two games are played on the higher seed’s home court, followed by three games on the lower seed’s, followed by two more on the higher seed’s). Something about it just seems wrong, especially since the format for the rest of the playoffs is 2-2-1-1-1. With three games in a row in one building, BOTH teams are at a disadvantage.

-- Only two teams won all three games on the lower seed’s home floor since the NBA went to the 2-3-2 format. The 2001 Lakers were the last team to do it. Can you name the other? Answer in a minute.

-- Lakers forward Karl Malone has been banged up and just generally not close to his old self, missing wide-open jumpers and struggling to get into any kind of rhythm. But let there be no doubt, Malone has made some huge plays during the postseason, and particularly, in the Finals. He’s been doing everything from tipping offensive rebounds to teammates, to chasing down loose balls, to throwing some outstanding passes to guys cutting to the hoop. He’s also playing arguably the best defense of his career. So while his numbers might be down, it’s clear the 40-year-old Malone is as valuable as he’s ever been.

-- Gary Payton, on the other hand, is a different story. This isn’t meant to diminish everything Payton has accomplished in his career, as he too is headed for the Hall of Fame. But his season in L.A. has been a disaster. The man just cannot defend anymore, and he’s obviously lost a step (or five) on offense. Payton could still be a valuable pro if he ever agrees to come off the bench for 20 minutes a game, but if I’m Lakers coach Phil Jackson, I would much, much, much rather have Derek Fisher on the floor.

-- Meanwhile, Lindsey Hunter has been the quiet-but-effective guy for the Pistons, as he seems to thrive on the constant bumping and reaching that define Fisher’s defense. It may have something to do with the fact Hunter practiced against Fisher every day as a member of the Lakers last season. Anyway, Hunter has played superb defense and hit a few gutsy baskets of his own during the Finals.

-- By the way, wouldn’t Fisher be a perfect fit for the Pistons? He’s feisty, physical, and an all-around pesky defender. He’s one of the most-swell fellows you will ever meet.

-- Trivia answer: The 1990 Pistons beat Portland all three games on the Trail Blazers’ home court to win the Finals. Interestingly, like the 2001 Philadelphia 76ers did against the Lakers, the ’90 Blazers entered their home stretch with the series tied at one game apiece.

-- I’ve thoroughly enjoyed listening to Al Michaels and Doc Rivers call the games on ABC. Michaels is the best play-by-play man in the business today (and that includes the horribly overrated Marv Albert), and listening to Rivers’ astute observations makes you wish he would coach your favorite team. This is how people in all sports should call games -- they should be subtle, smart, and refrain from yelling.

-- How’s this for a stat: The Pistons’ win over Indiana in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals was the most-watched basketball game ever on ESPN. Not NBA game -- it was the most watched BASKETBALL game. Is this just more propaganda from The Worldwide Leader, or are people really starting to fall in love with pro basketball again?

-- It could be a little of both, but I think overall, people are starting to enjoy the game again -- as they should. Besides, high ratings only hurt David Stern’s argument that the league is suffering because there’s no age limit to enter the draft.

-- The Detroit-Indiana Game 6 reportedly drew a 5.0 rating and was seen in more than 4.4 million households. Also, the Lakers’ win over Minnesota in Game 6 of their series was watched in 6.5 million households, the most ever for an NBA playoff game on cable.

-- Here’s a great article by SI.com’s John Hollinger on the lost art of the mid-range jump shot: click here.

-- You may remember my column last week, in which I wrote, “The Pistons will win the Game 1 of the Finals in Los Angeles.” Every once in a while, I get something right. And when I do, it’s reason for celebration -- which is why I let myself eat an extra cookie last night!

BIRD TALK

Not many fans seemed all that upset by Larry Bird’s comments stating that having more white stars would be “good for the (NBA’s) fan base” because “the majority of fans are white America.” It appears ESPN was just over-hyping the remarks (surprise, surprise) to help promote its programming, as Bird was speaking at a roundtable discussion with Magic Johnson, LeBron James, and Carmelo Anthony that later aired on the network.

In a poll on ESPN.com, 63 percent of the voters said they agreed with what Bird said. Sixty-three percent also voted that “none (of Bird’s comments) were offensive.”

Of course, the most interesting thing about the poll was this: When asked who would win a game of two-on-two pitting Magic Johnson and Larry Bird in their prime against Carmelo Anthony and LeBron James, a whopping 93 percent of the voters picked Magic and Larry. I’d have to agree with that one.

DRAFT STUFF

-- Atlanta is reportedly offering point guard Jason Terry and the No. 6 pick to the Clippers for the No. 2 pick, which would allow the Hawks to draft native son and high school big man Dwight Howard.

-- This would be a great trade for the Clippers, who are in dire need of a point guard, particularly an underrated one with a great attitude like Terry. Plus, they’d still be getting a top 10 pick.

-- It wouldn’t be a bad deal for the Hawks, either. They would end up with the local star they’ve been coveting, and oddly enough, the local star who’s been coveting them. They also own the No. 17 pick, so it’s not like the Hawks would be without a first-rounder if the trade takes place.

-- University of Connecticut fans jumped all over the scout who compared Emeka Okafor to Adonal Foyle in my column last week, and I was sent links to a few UConn message boards for proof. For what’s it worth, I personally think Okafor will be a much better pro than Foyle. Okafor played for an elite program and led it to a national championship. My only concern with Okafor is his reoccurring back problem. Just ask Tracy McGrady and Larry Johnson, bad backs only seem to get WORSE.

-- My favorite players participating in the Chicago pre-draft camp are David “Don’t Call Me Miles” Simon from Indiana-Purdue-Fort Wayne, and Bernard “Son of Truck” Robinson from Michigan. These are two guys who you haven’t heard much about, but who have loads of NBA potential. I also am a huge fan of Tony Allen out of Oklahoma State, a tough guard who reminds me very much of Orlando rookie Keith Bogans.

-- More than a few scouts have become enthralled with Jonathan Edwards, a 7-footer from Kent State who is also playing in the Chicago camp. Edwards has an incredible wingspan and a 35-inch vertical jump, making him seem closer to an 8-footer. One scout told me Edwards “is slowly moving into the first round, and could be the biggest steal of the draft this side of (Cleveland forward) Carlos Boozer.” Just to be funny, the scout added, “The only thing Edwards has working against him is the fact he’s not from some other country. If he was a native of Russia, he’d be a top 10 pick.”

-- One of my other favorite obscure college players is Kevin Martin out of Western Carolina. But even I can admit the nation’s second-leading Division I scorer last season made a mistake by skipping the pre-draft camp. Martin received an invitation, but instead opted to hold individual workouts. This tells me that Martin just didn’t want to look bad. I’m not alone, as NBA scouting director Marty Blake called Martin’s decision “a catastrophic mistake,” and said that Martin would probably be “hung out to dry.” The good news is, Martin still has a year left of eligibility left at Western Carolina, so he’ll probably return to school. He could be a first-round pick if he wait’s a year -- and plays in Chicago next summer.

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