The Heat is on

Forgive me if I am not panicking over the Game 5 loss to the Pistons. Forgive me if I am rolling my eyes every time I hear how 'resilient' or how 'tough' this Pistons team is. Or I stick my finger in my throat when someone starts to spout off about how many times they have come back from being down in a series.

Enough.

Plain and simple, the Pistons did what they were supposed to do - win a game at home. Finally. Yeah. Bang your thundersticks, keep replaying your 'Detroit Basketballllll' announcement over your PA's all you want. But the fact is, Detroit was the favorite in this series and they were supposed to win EVERY home game. But they didn't. And as it stands, the Heat will have to take the series on their own home courts instead of doing the dance in enemy territory.

Sure, the Pistons got it done last year on Miami's home floor. And yes, I wanted to see the Heat do it last night on Detroit's home floor just for poetic justice. But it didn't come to fruition.

And sure, I am all the more pissed for it because it just shows that the Heat are a very good team and not entirely a great team.

At least, not yet.

They have to close the deal first and make no mistake, the heat is on the Heat. Detroit, with their arrogance and cockiness have creaked open the door a little further. Their fans are starting to breath again, after going on life support.

I say we slam the door on their fingers for good. Right in their faces tomorrow night. And the Heat will get it done.

Why?

Because the Pistons will be overmatched by a Heat team faced with home cooking and smelling history. This team is poised for greater things, and beating Detroit is just on that path. Detroit doesn't have the firepower to keep up with Miami. Detroit blew their load and tried all their tricks in their desperation for a win last night: they crowded Shaq. Even if he passed out of the tendrils that surrounded him, Shaq's supporting cast wasn't up for the challenge - most notably Udonis Haslem who was missing open looks from midrange. Something that UD does well is hit his midrange shots.

So, what is more likely to happen, the Heat have another mediocre game in this series or the Pistons struggle to keep up with the firepower of the Heat?

Exactly.

The heat is on the Heat, but they will take Game 6. Because if they don't, they might as well not even waste the gas flying up to Detroit for Game 7.