No. 7 Raptors (42-40) vs. No. 2 Pistons (50-32)

Hall of Fame coach Dr. Jack Ramsay provides analysis for ESPN on SportsCenter and NBA Today. Here he breaks down the playoffs for ESPN.com. Also a former color analyst for the Heat, Ramsay's impressive résumé includes making the playoffs in 16 of his 20 seasons as coach and winning an NBA title with Portland in 1977.

Throughout the 2002 playoffs, Dr. Jack will break down each series from the backcourts to intangibles. Look for his analysis from the first round all the way through to the NBA Finals.

BACKCOURT

EDGE

The Pistons will go with Chucky Atkins and Jerry Stackhouse against the Raptors' Alvin Williams and Morris Peterson. Stackhouse is such an irrepressible player who has had a great season. He can get to the basket and then to the free-throw line, where he is an 85-percent foul shooter. He is a difficult player to defend. Atkins is an underrated point guard. I like Williams, but I don't think he will have an edge over Atkins.

FRONTCOURT

EDGE

This will be a dogfight. Toronto will use Antonio Davis, Jerome Williams and Keon Clark as its starting front line. Detroit will counter with Cliff Robinson, Michael Curry and Ben Wallace. This is an interesting matchup, but I would guess that Detroit will dominate inside with Wallace's shot blocking and rebounding, although the energy of Williams and Clark will try to negate Wallace. Curry is a hard-working player, and Robinson is a solid defender. But Wallace gives Detroit the edge. He is just a killer. He can guard people, has great timing on his blocks and doesn't allow teams many second-chance points.

BENCH

EDGE

The Pistons' bench has been terrific, with top sixth-man candidate Corliss Williamson, Jon Barry, Zeljko Rebraca and then Damon Jones. The first three have been outstanding, and they are as much responsible for the Pistons' record as any of the starters other than Wallace. The Raptors will use Chris Childs, Hakeem Olajuwon and probably Dell Curry, but their reserves don't come close to matching the Pistons.

INTANGIBLES	EDGE
The Pistons want to show everyone that their regular season was no fluke. They beat Toronto 3-1 in the regular season. The Raptors may have expended too much energy just trying to make the playoffs.

PREDICTION
Pistons in 3. Wallace and Stackhouse will be too much for Toronto, which won't have Vince Carter. The Raptors doesn't have the personnel to match the quality of either player.