European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - April 26, 1989, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Wednesday april 26, 1989 the stars and stripes Thomas provides spark for pistons Page 25 Aba playoffs by Harry Atkins Auburn Hills Mich. A the do Broil pistons go into the Aba playoffs favored to make in 10 the finals because or a Strong Bench and a new player but the old spark is still the same ism Thomas. Isiah is a big part said Virtnie John son the Quick Healing sixth Man called microwave by his Detroit teammates. We have a lol of Guys who can play but without Isiah we re no As Good a team. Whal Thomas gives the learn is heart and reliability. His longest stretch of missed games was 10 in his Rookie sea son. Since leaving Indiana University to join the pistons in 198l Thomas has missed Only 2.2 games they re 7-15 with out him. Thomas p1a de in the 1986 playoffs despite a broken thumb. He also played23 minutes in game 7 of the 1988 Aba finals against the lakers with a severely. Sprained ankle. A Normal person would be out i Recor four weeks pistons publicist Matt Dock said. But this is  two weeks go Thomas broke a Bone in his left hand during an altercation with Chicago a Bill Cartwright. After serving a two game suspension Thomas was right Back in action playing with a wrap on the hand. Doctors tried to talk him out of re turning so soon. Am i going to die if play Thomas asked hand specialist or. Eugene Hor Roll. No then 1 am  he did it because he wanted to remain Sharp for he playoffs which begin thursday. You can t take a rest for two or three weeks and jump right Back in and play Al he same level you re accustomed to Thomas said. If i did that i d be doing myself the pistons and the City of de troit a disservice because i would t be As effective As 1 should  that kind of spirit has spread through the rest of he team. While their Capla was serving his two game suspension All 11 remaining players met with referee for Normal pregame instructions. We re All leaders we re All captains Forward Bill . Laimbeer is playing with a sprained left ankle and Joe Dumarais playing Over a Groin pull. It inhibits me from Side to Side but i be got to play Dumars said. I be got no Choice. As a result the pistons Are favored Island a berth in the Aba finals again. But there have been major roadblocks along inc Way including injuries that Kepi three key players Dumars John Satley and Rick a Horo out at least 10 games. The loss of assistant coaches Ron Rothstein and Dick Versace when head coaching jobs opened up in Miami and Indiana respectively. The upheaval of the mid season Trade that sent Adrian Dantly to Dallas for Mark Aguirre. The key to this team is its ability to raise what is usually an already High in Tensity level a notch higher Dumarssais. You Slop and consider the things that this team went through this season and yet we re still Able to win thai is a credit to that  and then of course there is that Awe some Bench with Guys like Johnson Sal Ley Dennis Rodman James Edwards Michael Williams and familiar John Long just waiting for playing time. Johnson and Long picked up the offensive Slack during Thomas suspension Johnson hit 16 of 24 from inc floor Long 10 aft3. Picking up Long a tree agent Cut by Indiana who started his career with the pistons really makes our management look Good Laimbeer said. We have a lot of Quality  the key front office move was the Aguirre Deal. The pistons who had been playing second fiddle to upstart Cleve land before inc Trade went on a 23-2 Streak after March 1. Thomas had pushed for the Trade the pistons clinched their first 60-win season with tuesday s win Over Cleveland. The pistons showed their great bal Ance during the stretch run. Five differ ent players were leading scorers Duran the Streak and Only twice did Detroit s leading scorer Hil 10 Points or More. We be been playing very Well to Goth Detroit s Isiah Thomas,., team s 7-15 without him or pistons coach Chuck Daly  re not As up Tempo without Isiah. We re More of n half court team then but we get the Job  Aguirre a scoring Leader with the Mavericks has averaged 16 Points with he pistons. This is a new Hind of basketball for me i be never played a role before. 1 was always the Puzzle now i m just a piece and i m Loving it he said. That too is because or Thomas one of Aguirre s Best friends. A Wiirre received lengthy late night phone Calls while Thomas was serving his suspend  you know a Guy like him is out and not playing you Nave to dig Down deep for a Little something and More Aguirre said. He makes sure we do that feel that i have been blessed More than any other player in the league Thomas said. The Knock when i came to Detroit was that a Little Guy can t Lead a team to the finals. It shows that Little people can play the game  cars approach bulls with Confidence b Rick Warner a sports virile Cleveland in t Cavalier about its first round opponent in the Aba playoffs. Just confident. The Cavaliers meet the Chicago Bull sin a Bcsl-of-5 series thai begins Friday in Cleveland As inc Aba. Playoffs get underway. The Cavaliers were 6-0 against Chicago in the regular season including a 90-84 Victory on sunday that was accomplished without three of i hair Start ers. I guess it s psychological with us Chicago Forward Horace Grant said the a they be dominated us has been unbelievable. Somehow we can l do any thing fight against  Michael Jordan who won his third straight Aba scoring title this season said the bulls  change their strategy to beat the Cavaliers. We be got to put the season behind us and play Tough he said. Cleveland regulars Larry Nance Brad Daugh cry and Mark Price missed Hie regular season Frnak with injuries but the Bench came through. Rookie ran Dolph be s had a career High 19 Points and Darnell Valentine added 1.4 As Cleveland s reserves oui scored their Chi Cago counterparts 47-30. Cleveland coach Lenny Wilkens said the Victory gave our so called backup people Confidence and it certainly does t Hurt the coaches Confidence to know that if someone else in l doing the Job 1 can come in with these  four opening round series begin on thursday Milwaukee Al Atlanta Phil Adelphia at new York Golden slate a Utah and Portland at the los Angeles lakers on Friday it s Boston Al Detroit Houston at Seattle and Denver Al Phoe  celtics who did t gain a playoff berth until the final Day of inc regular season arc heavy underdogs against the pistons who had the Best record in the  win the series Boston must win at least one game on the Road. The problem is the celtics  l Beal a winning team on the Road Ali  make matters worse Larry Bird will probably miss the Senes. Although he was placed on the playoff Rosier Sun Day Bird still in l fully recovered from foot surgery. Despite the obstacles Boston coach Jimmy Rodgers in t discouraged. This team has faced a lot of difficulty he said they never quit  won 37 of their final43 games including their last 21 Al Home. But the pistons arc not taking the celtics lightly they can be a major problem Detroit coach Chuck Daly said. It is critical that we win Al Home. To steal a game in Boston is Lohigh no matter who is playing. They still have a great Low Post game with Kevin Mihalc and Robert Parish which has no ways Given us  lakers open their bid for a third consecutive Aba title thursday night against Portland which needed an Over time win Over Sacramento sunday to male the playoffs. We have our work Cut out for us said a Arcco Abdis Jabbar who is retiring after the playoffs but i do think we re legitimate  Philadelphia had a 4-2 Edge Over new York in the regular sea in but the kicks have the Home ourt advantage in their playoff series surprises scarce m i of round b Bill Barnard Al basketball writer first round playoff pairings and predicted results with conference Sec Mingsin parentheses for the Host of five open ing series of the National basketball association playoffs which begin thursday Eastern conference Detroit i to. Boston 8 the celtics squeezed Imp the playoffs on the final Day while the pistons had the Aba s Best record of 63-19. Boston was the Only learn in the Aba without a Road Victory Over a winning team this season pistons sweep in three games. Kab York i is. Philadelphia 7 both sides expect a Lough series with inc Nicks taking nothing for granted despite a 35-6 Home record because the 76crsi were the Only team in the Aba to win twice at Madison Square Garden. Philadelphia has been Able to handle Thek Nicks press with three guards in the. Starling lineup plus the presence of Strong Mobile Charles Barkley. In a multiple game series the deeper kicks should be Able to adjust. Kicks in five games.-. Cleveland 3 is. Chicago 6 a series of contrasting styles with Cleveland probably the most balanced attack in the Aba and Chicago your. Basic one Man team with Michael Jor Dan. Cavaliers in four Atlanta 4 is. Milwaukee 5 the Hawks came together Laic in the season winning la of 12 games in april while the Bucks faltered losing what. Looked like a solid first round Hom court advantage. Moses Malone 34, is playing exceptionally Well but the Bucks Are starting to show their age. Hawks in four. Western conference los Angeles lakers 1 is Portland 8 the trailblazers arc the Only team inthe playoffs without n winning record and they lost four straight games before getting inc final postseason berth with a overtime Victory Over Sacramento in the last game on the  schedule. The lakers have straggled at times this season but if their third consecutive title in t going to happen the fail won t Hap pen Here lakers in three Utah 2 is. Golden slate 7 the warriors lust their last six games to fall into the seventh spot so Golden state coach Don Nelson made Ralph Sampson a starter again after using a Small Lif cup for most of inc season Chris Mullin and Milch Richmond played Well All year but is this the time to look for new chemistry Nelson could pull it off if anyone can but not with three games at Salt Lake City jazz in Phoenix j is. Denver 6 All sighs Point to a rive game series As the suns Tost Only one game at Home to Western conference team All season and the nuggets won 19 straight in Denver  to Dallas sunday Bui Phoenix is simply ? quicker More solid team particularly with Tom Chambers Kevin to Hsioh and Eddie Johi Sori. A sex English Lafayette lever and Nichael Adams will need to have exceptional so Ries to keep it close. Suns in four Seattle 4 is. Houston 5 the sonics have been virtually unbeatable since Crnic Bickerstaff move Xavier Mcdanie Back into the starting lineup. But they Haven t been As Domi Nant at Home As in the past a situation that Akeem Olajuwon and Otis Thorpe could exploit for an upset. Rockets in five