Maybe it’s just the cynic in me, but I can’t imagine they are broken up at The Palace because the Pistons didn’t sweep the Chicago Bulls in four games. Game Five Tuesday night means one more big gate for The Palace - a couple more million dollars for the Pistons to bank. It doesn’t seem like Sunday’s loss was flirting with danger, either. The Pistons should crush the Bulls on Tuesday. Talk to coaches, and they invariably will tell you the same thing: There is no such thing as a good loss. But the Pistons weren’t going to run the table in the playoffs. The loss allows for a little bit of concern, and some regrouping. It’s the elixir, if you will, for overconfidence. There is one tangible concern, however. It is the performance of Chris Webber. He didn’t have a point and gathered just one rebound Sunday. He must play better if the Pistons are going to take a run at the NBA title. Antonio McDyess is a good player, but fits the sixth man role better than anything else for the Pistons. The last thing the Pistons need is for Webber to be so ineffective that McDyess goes into the starting lineup.

Random thoughts

- We’ll know a lot more about the Tigers in a couple weeks. Boston is a very difficult place to play, emotions will be running high for the St. Louis series, the Angels are very strong and Cleveland has emerged as the Tigers’ primary rival, so far anyway, in the American League Central.

- People scoffed when I picked Utah as a darkhorse in the NBA playoffs, but the Jazz seemed headed to the final four. The reason I feel the Jazz are better than most think is point guard Deron Williams. He reminds me of Chauncey Billups in that he is more strong and big than quick and fast. He also shoots the ball exceptionally well.

- I absolutely feel alcohol should be banned from every clubhouse in the major leagues. Nor do I feel it should be served on team flights.

- I am not sure if Virgil Vazguez did enough Sunday to merit a second start. The Tigers should look elsewhere in their system for the next start in that spot. Zach Miner has not pitched will for Toledo, but I still like Dallas Trahern at Erie. Oh, and what about Wilfredo Ledezma getting a spot start now and then. How much can that hurt?

- How about Oakland County with representatives in Sports Illustrated’s "Faces In The Crowd" back-to-back weeks. Birmingham Brother Rice lacrosse player Colin David made it one week, Oakland University baseball Ryan Heath the next.