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After watching the Detroit Pistons defeat the Los Angeles 88-80 in game 4 last night to take a commanding 3-1 series lead, I felt cheated. This series was not supposed to go like this. Someone forgot to read the script.

Unlike game 3, the Lakers at least put up a fight. Shaquille O’Neal was as quick and as dominant as he has been in years, putting up 36 points and 20 rebounds. It wasn’t enough. In the fourth quarter Los Angeles started to unravel and the Pistons pulled away to come within one game of bringing hardware back to the city of Detroit. Rasheed Wallace was the man of the hour, hitting tough shot after tough shot, putting the Pistons on his back and finishing his stellar night with 26 points and 13 rebounds. Chauncey Billups continued his Finals MVP performance, scoring 23 points.

This year’s edition of the NBA playoffs took awhile to get warmed up but once it reached the conference semi-finals, the match-ups and the drama was spectacular. This has been the best collection of playoff series in several years in regards to competitiveness. These playoffs have produced some memorable moments such as the Derek Fisher buzzer beater vs. San Antonio, Dwayne Wade throwing down a dunk on Jermaine O’Neal, Kobe Bryant’s game tying 3-pointer vs. Detroit and Tayshaun Prince’s superman effort to block a Reggie Miller lay-up to preserve a Piston victory over Indiana.

The NBA finals were supposed to be the icing on the cake; an epic battle between two franchises with contrasting styles and a finals history trading blows for seven games. That is not going to happen now. The Pistons are on the verge of closing this out in five games and these playoffs are going to end on a letdown.

It is truly foul play.

The Lakers have been vocal about the officiating. They have a reason to complain. It has been as foul as cow dung in the sun. The officials have allowed the Pistons to play aggressively on Los Angeles, bumping and slapping Kobe, Shaq and others without blowing a whistle while calling it tightly on the other end. The lack of consistency has impacted each game regardless of the result and has not allowed both teams to play their best.

I feel cheated because Karl Malone was injured in the finals and was not able to compete at his absolute best for what may well be his last opportunity to win a championship. Sitting on the bench and unable to help his team has to be eating him up. A player like Malone deserves better. He is someone who has given his all to the game and should go out after a valiant effort, win or lose. Not like this.

I feel cheated because Gary Payton lost his internal battle with himself. He was never able to play his game due to the constant strain placed on him by the coaches, fans, media and himself. The accumulated pressure took away his will and his ability to compete against Billups on the grandest stage in a facsimile close to his old self.

Finally, I feel cheated because the Pistons are just too good. They have not allowed it to be a competitive series. Their athletic ability, defense and scoring threats from four positions among their starters make them a combination of Miami (athleticism), San Antonio (defense) and Dallas (scoring). I am convinced they are one of the few teams in the league that has the personnel to excel in any style they chose.

The series is not over just yet so there is still hope for some drama, but the fat lady (Aretha Franklin will sing the national anthem before game 5) is getting ready.

(Sports Journalism has stepped up its game with the Sportsfather Step Clay! Comments? Questions? Contact Step at Stephen.clay@comcast.net.)