My beef with Dirk is two-fold, like another MVP winner he can't guard anyone. And despite the fact he puts up big numbers, he doesn't demand the ball in the clutch, and he hasn't consistently hit big playoff shots. He is a classic numbers player, and yes his defensive effort is soft because he doesn't have a position. He's to soft and not physical enough to guard a good four, and he doesn't have the quickness or lateral movement to guard a three. Perhaps his numbers would be a little lower if he worked on both ends of the floor, less MVP's and personal accolades, but more rings.
As far as AJ he's been a mixed bag. I actually thought Dallas was better defensively with Harris. Kidd has really lost explosiveness since his injury. AJ did a good job of instilling a team defense mentality in them, something Nelly never demanded. They play reasonably good team defense although in a playoff series, their liabilities show up. Offensively they're biggest problem is they have no post game.
They are a better team without Bens contract, no question in my mind about that. Big Ben is not half the player he was three years ago. And when you don't contribute on the offensive end it's not enough to just be good defensively, you have to be a stud, and Ben is not that anymore. They are not the "Badboys 2" I like this team a lot, but that team had some genuine offensive studs too, and if not for Bill Lambier getting called for fouling the air about a foot away from Jabbar they would have won three tittles in a row.
This Pistons team will still be in the Conference finals. The Sixers have won their last win of the series, So I was a couple games off.
No one saw Atlanta beating Boston one game either. But Boston is a very good team too. My biggest concern about the Pistons is still officiating. Like the Bad Boys they don't get a good whistle, unlike the Bad Boys they aren't always good enough to overcome it. Even in tonight's victory I'm left with one question, is it possible for a Pistons guard to get to the foul line after getting mauled on the way to the basket? The concept of building a team with no superstars, may not work in David Sterns Hollywood NBA. 
And while some of the stuff Bowen does crosses the line, in my opinion, they're simply an excellent defensive team overall--and that's what wins in the playoffs most of the time. Finally, I've been a big Duncan fan since college, the guy's still awesome.
