The firing of Rick Carlisle in Detroit after the 2003 playoffs ushered in the era of Coach Larry Brown. While the arrival of NBA legend, Larry Bird as the Indiana Pacers Team President ended Isaiah Thomas' coaching tenure. Bird brought in his own guy, Rick Carlisle to coach the Pacers.

People in the Detroit area were shocked when former coach Rick Carlisle was let go last summer. Two straight years of 50 wins plus and picked Coach of the Year honors in 2002. So it was only fitting for the Detroit Pistons to face Carlisle's Pacers to verify if they had indeed made the right decision by hiring Larry Brown. Well after the 69-65 victory last night, it is the Pistons that will be facing the Los Angeles Lakers, the Indiana Pacers were defeated in six games.

It should have been clear the Piston's Larry Brown out coached Carlisle throughout the series. In game five, Carlisle was tentative about taking PG Jamaal Tinsley out of the game, while he was not getting the job done. The Pistons played with poise, never really getting into it with the referees, and made the most of their free throw opportunities. The difference in the series was clearly coaching. The Pacers could not score on the inside, missed many open jumpers (39 % from the field), didn't make the most of the free throw line, and they lost their cool. When the Pistons fell behind by 14 points last night, Larry Brown kept it simple and they away at the lead until they took the lead, aided by a Pacer's Ron Artest technical foul. Forwards Jermaine O'Neal and Ron Artest appeared to be whining at times, be warriors, the referees aren't going to hold your hands. We have proved why Detroit upgraded coaches, but Indiana still up to debate!

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