Pistons look to rule in The Palace in Game 7

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- This is why Detroit wanted home-court advantage.

The Pistons were determined to get it after falling just short of repeating as champions last year in Game 7 at San Antonio.

And they did, winning a franchise-record 64 games -- 10 more than they had in each of the previous two years under Larry Brown. That ensured the team would play in familiar surroundings in any Game 7s this postseason after playing in two on the road last year.

Like the Pistons, many fans at The Palace were nonchalant at times in Game 5, when the Cleveland Cavaliers took a stunning 3-2 lead Wednesday in their second-round series.

It's a safe bet the Pistons and 22,000 fans will take the Cavs seriously this afternoon with a spot in the Eastern Conference finals at stake.

"The Palace is going to be bananas," said Detroit forward Rasheed Wallace. "We're going to tear the roof off the joint."

Experience is expected to give Detroit an edge, too.

-- AP