Matt
03-21-2006, 09:06 AM
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/recap?gid=2006032008
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) -- There was no champagne in the Detroit Pistons' locker room Monday night.
In fact, the Pistons didn't even realize they clinched their fourth Central Division title in five years by beating Atlanta 91-84.
"I didn't know until someone just told me," Tayshaun Prince said. "I guess that shows you where our minds are right now."
The win put Detroit two steps up Coach Flip Saunders' pyramid.
"First you have to make the playoffs, which we did a couple weeks ago, and then you have to win the division," he said. "Now we have to get homecourt in the East, homecourt in the league, and then we have to win the championship."
Detroit (53-13), whose magic number to clinch the Eastern Conference dropped to nine over Miami, also moved to 40 games over .500 for the first time since the 1988-89 season.
"That's crazy," Chauncey Billups said. "This has been one of those special years for us. Hopefully, we can keep it up."
Atlanta coach Mike Woodson, an assistant on Detroit's 2003-04 championship team, thinks they can.
"It's going to be interesting to see how it carries over in the playoffs, but I predict they'll win the title," he said.
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AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) -- There was no champagne in the Detroit Pistons' locker room Monday night.
In fact, the Pistons didn't even realize they clinched their fourth Central Division title in five years by beating Atlanta 91-84.
"I didn't know until someone just told me," Tayshaun Prince said. "I guess that shows you where our minds are right now."
The win put Detroit two steps up Coach Flip Saunders' pyramid.
"First you have to make the playoffs, which we did a couple weeks ago, and then you have to win the division," he said. "Now we have to get homecourt in the East, homecourt in the league, and then we have to win the championship."
Detroit (53-13), whose magic number to clinch the Eastern Conference dropped to nine over Miami, also moved to 40 games over .500 for the first time since the 1988-89 season.
"That's crazy," Chauncey Billups said. "This has been one of those special years for us. Hopefully, we can keep it up."
Atlanta coach Mike Woodson, an assistant on Detroit's 2003-04 championship team, thinks they can.
"It's going to be interesting to see how it carries over in the playoffs, but I predict they'll win the title," he said.
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[smilie=drummer.gif]