Umm, the officials are not from Detroit, they are used throughout the NBA. That statement doesn't makes sense.

Give credit to Detroit. They are the only team thus far that has guarded Shaq one on one, and that is why they are winning. Kareem Rush, Derek Fisher, and Devean George have been non-factors because they are not being left open for threes. Larry Brown has figured out how to beat the Lakers.

Oh, and maybe if Phil Jackson would stop complaining to the refs the day before the game and throughout the entire game he might get some coaching done. Every time I see him, he is either sitting on the bench scratching his head or up in the refs ear whining. I know what he's thinking when he's sitting there scratching his head too..."Damn...I wish Michael was here." Larry Brown and the Pistons defense has exploited Jacksons overrated coaching abilities...Shaq is having to do everything on his own. Don't even blame this on the refs after all the good fortune the Lakers have had in previous years with getting the calls.