EASTERN CONFERENCE

* Who: No. 1 Detroit (64-18) vs. No. 2 Miami (52-30).

* Season series: Detroit, 3-1.

* What you need to know: Falling behind Cleveland’s young one-man gang in the conference semifinals blew apart the Pistons’ myth of being invulnerable in the East. When Detroit went 13 for 43 from three-point range in Games 3, 4 and 5, it showed that the team that lives by the jump shot can, indeed, die by it. However, Miami Coach Pat Riley now has a new-fangled, up-tempo team that doesn’t defend the way his old Heat and Knicks did. It’s Dwyane Wade’s team, but the Pistons will gang up on him. So it comes down to what Shaquille O’Neal has left. In the first two rounds, it was only 19.3 points and 9.2 rebounds a game.

*888

SERIES SCHEDULE

Game 1: Today at Detroit...5 p.m.

Game 2: Thursday at Detroit...5 p.m.

Game 3: Saturday at Miami...5 p.m.

Game 4: Monday at Miami...5 p.m.

Game 5: May 31 at Detroit...5 p.m.*

Game 6: June 2 at Miami...5 p.m.*

Game 7: June 4 at Detroit...5 p.m.*

--MARK HEISLER