Shaq Stands in Pistons’ Path Once Again

The Pistons knew Shaq would probably be in their way again.

When Shaquille O’Neal was traded to Miami, the Pistons figured they would likely face the All-Star center in the Eastern Conference playoffs after beating him and the Los Angeles Lakers in last year’s NBA Finals.

“It’s going to be a battle royal,” Tayshaun Prince said after Detroit eliminated Indiana in the conference semifinals Thursday night. “This is where everybody wanted to be.”

O’Neal has been plagued for more than a month with a bruised thigh and hasn’t played since Game 2 of Miami’s previous series against Washington. The Heat have been resting, and O’Neal has been trying to get healthier since May 14, when they swept the Wizards, following a sweep of New Jersey.

“I don’t really like that much rest,” said Chauncey Billups, last year’s NBA Finals MVP. “I like to just get it on.”

When the Heat host Detroit on Monday in Game 1 of the conference finals, the Pistons expect to see O’Neal looming near the basket.

“Shaq will be ready,” said Detroit’s center Ben Wallace, the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year.

The Pistons have two Wallaces and two players off the bench to defend O’Neal, along with help from Larry Brown’s schemes. Ben Wallace and Rasheed Wallace will start on him, then Antonio McDyess and Elden Campbell, who fared well against O’Neal last June, will help out off the bench.

Days after the Lakers lost last year to Detroit, O’Neal demanded to be traded.

Other than his recent injury, O’Neal has flourished in Miami, along with guard Dwyane Wade. O’Neal ranked among league leaders during the regular season with 22.9 points, 10.4 rebounds and 2.3 blocks a game, helping the Heat win the most games in the conference.

He also helped Wade go from a promising young player to an NBA star.

Like they will against O’Neal, the Pistons will rotate players against Wade.

Prince, Billups and Richard Hamilton will likely take turns against him at the beginning and end of games while reserves Lindsey Hunter and, perhaps, Carlos Arroyo help. Wade averaged 28.6 points in the first two rounds and O’Neal averaged 18.

Detroit advanced to the conference finals for a third straight year with an 88-79 win at Indiana in Game 6. The defending champions had the day off Friday and were scheduled to practice Saturday and today.

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MIAMI vs. DETROIT

* Season series: Pistons, 2-1.

* Records: Heat 59-23, Pistons 54-28.

* Series preview: If Shaquille O’Neal’s bruised thigh doesn’t improve, this could be the end of the line for the Heat. The Pistons were the only team that held the Heat to fewer than 80 points this season, and did it twice -- in a 78-77 victory at Auburn Hills, Mich., on Nov. 26 and an 80-72 win at Miami last month, O’Neal’s sitting out the most recent game because of a stomach virus. The Heat made 43.3% of its three-point shots in sweeping through the first two rounds but made only 20% against the Pistons. The Heat’s Dwyane Wade has been the star of the playoffs, averaging 28.6 points on 51.9% shooting, 8.4 assists and 6.6 rebounds.

* Coaches’ playoff records: Stan Van Gundy (Miami), 14-7; Larry Brown (Detroit), 93-82.

*--* STAT COMPARISON Mia. Det. Points per game 101.5 93.3 Opp. points per game 95.0 89.5 Rebounds 43.0 43.4 Shooting pct. 48.6 44.4 Opp. shooting pct. 42.7 43.0 Three-point pct. 37.7 34.5 Opp. three-point pct. 34.8 33.8 Free-throw pct. 67.2 73.9

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* Prediction: Heat, 4-3.

-- Jerry Crowe