We just watched the Heat- Pistons matchup, the Eastern Conference finals. The Pistons looked inanimate, they are not running and they're not scoring. Detroit appears to have lost the edge with which it played most of the season. What's wrong with them?

I think part of the reasons why they performed so poorly is that they are depleted, they consume all their energy in the previous game. After last year's Game 7 loss in the Finals to San Antonio, the Pistons appeared to be on a mission cruise from the beginning of the season. They out bustled, outworked and outplayed every team, dominating the NBA. That's nice, that's super only if they didn't get too far. Now the problems are coming up. NBA playoffs, not only do they a series of contests of strength and maneuver, but also competitions of stamina and metal spirit. Detroit is losing confidence for some reason.

Meanwhile, the Heats are heading to the other end. They are playing their best ball of the season. If you consider Detroit's Game 1 loss is an occasional one, Game 2 will be a supreme test of the their pride and resiliency.