(My Sportsbook) - The Detroit Pistons could use Maximus Meridius right about now because they are about to get thrown to the lions in a first-round playoff matchup with the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers.

The eighth-seeded Pistons will have to play like gladiators in order to stop or even slow down MVP candidate LeBron James and the cruising Cavs, especially since Cleveland captured homecourt advantage throughout the entire postseason with an NBA-best 66-16 record. The Cavaliers were also a remarkable 39-2 at Quicken Loans Arena in the regular season and reached the playoffs for a fourth consecutive season.

Cleveland defeated Washington in six games in the first round of the playoffs last year before bowing out to Boston in seven games during the Eastern Conference semifinals. The Cavs carried that momentum and experience into the 2008-09 campaign and won a consistent basis behind the great play of superstar James and new point guard Mo Williams. Head coach Mike Brown was fortunate enough not to have any serious injuries to his players this season, but also had the luxury of coaching one of the top scorers in the league. James, the NBA's darling and top commodity, averaged 28.4 points per game this season and led his team to their first Central Division title since the 1975-76 season.

Williams had a career season, averaging 17.8 points and 4.1 assists per contest and made general manager Danny Ferry look like a genius. Williams was acquired in a three-team deal last August and gelled with his new teammates immediately. The former Alabama star could be the deciding ingredient to Cleveland's championship formula.

Detroit qualified for the postseason for an eighth straight year, and has reached the conference finals six consecutive times. That streak will probably end in five games since the three-time NBA champion Pistons are coming off a tumultuous season despite making the playoffs.

First-year head coach Michael Curry had his fair share of injuries to deal with and the departure of fan favorite Chauncey Billups, who was shipped to Denver with two other players in exchange for guard Allen Iverson. The Iverson experiment didn't work out and he will not be available for the playoffs because of a lingering back problem. The disgruntled guard spoke vehemently about his playing time and that coming off the bench wasn't for him. Iverson, a future Hall of Famer, didn't do much to help Detroit on its path to the postseason.

Tayshaun Prince and Richard Hamilton were the usual scoring suspects for the Pistons, while Prince led the club in points (14.2), rebounds (5.8) and field- goal percentage (45.0). Hamilton shook off groin and hip injuries this season and his numbers declined after Billups left the scene for Denver. While Billups has helped the Nuggets to the Northwest Division title and the No. 2 seed in the West, Hamilton has witnessed the Pistons back into the playoffs and their four-year streak of winning the Central Division come to an end.

Detroit's run of six straight Eastern Conference finals appearances is in jeopardy too. Cleveland went 3-1 against Detroit this season, but the Pistons have won 10 of the last 15 meetings between the teams. Detroit beat Cleveland in the 2006 conference semifinals before the Cavs bounced the Pistons from the East finals the next year.

The Cavs and Pistons will meet in the NBA Playoffs for the third time in franchise history, all in the last four seasons. The Cavaliers lead the all- time playoff series 7-6 and have won five of the six home games against Detroit in the playoffs. Cleveland has won four straight playoff games against the Pistons.

POINT GUARD

Williams, not James, could be the final piece Cleveland needs to make a run for their first title. While James led the team in most offensive categories, Williams got everyone involved with his unselfish play and earned an All-Star nod in February. The 6-1 guard appeared in all five playoff games for Milwaukee in 2005-06 and averaged 7.2 points and 2.0 assists.

If the Pistons had Billups on their roster they would win this matchup between point guards, but instead Rodney Stuckey will run the point. Stuckey had been playing in Billups' shadow until the trade with Denver, then had to deal with Iverson sucking up minutes before his injury. Now Stuckey has the reins and enough playoff experience. The second-year pro appeared in 17 playoff games (two starts) last season and averaged 8.2 points and 3.4 assists per contest.

EDGE: CAVS

SHOOTING GUARD

Hamilton dealt with his own playing time saga while Iverson was in tow, and is now back in the starting lineup where he should be. The UConn product and one of the best Detroit players in history finished the regular season strong and will be one of the few scorers Curry can trust this postseason. Hamilton was acquired by the Pistons from Washington before the 2002-03 season and has been in the playoffs every year since then. In 116 career playoff games, Hamilton is averaging 20.8 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.0 steals. He is also the Pistons' all-time leading scorer in playoff history (2,414 pts) and franchise leader in postseason games played (116).

Cleveland's Delonte West enjoyed a strong 2008-09 campaign and also battled back from injury to help the Cavs to the top seed and best record in the NBA. The Saint Joseph's product doesn't strike as much fear into opposing teams much like Hamilton, but can burn defenders with his left hand and sweet stroke from beyond the arc. West has some experience at the playoff level, competing in 20 postseason games and averaging 8.5 points and 2.9 assists.

EDGE: PISTONS

CENTER

The big man matchup in this series features a pair of veteran centers in Detroit's Rasheed Wallace and Zydrunas Ilgauskas of the Cavs. Wallace is in search of his second championship ring and will most likely not get it this season with the Cavs on the horizon. Wallace, who entered the league in the 1995-96 season with Washington, is a rare breed as a big man with his ability to knock down three-pointers and make the precise pass. The 6-11 Wallace has appeared in 149 career playoff games (149 starts), including 99 with the Pistons, and is averaging 14.8 points, 6.7 boards and 1.4 blocks per game. He is one of 13 players in NBA history to make 13 consecutive appearances in the NBA playoffs, joining Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bob Cousy, Patrick Ewing, Hal Greer, Dennis Johnson, Jason Kidd, Dan Marjerle, Kevin McHale, Charles Oakley, Robert Parish, Bill Russell and Chet Walker.

Ilgauskas is a quiet player but his contributions to the Cavs speak volumes. The 7-3, 260-pound Lithuanian has been a model of consistency over the previous eight years and will give Detroit problems in the paint. His inside game is much better than Wallace's, but his shooting can use work. Ilgauskas, selected in the first round of the 1996 draft by the Cavs, will use his height to his advantage when banging down low this postseason. He has appeared in 50 playoff games -- all starts -- for Cleveland and is averaging 12.5 points, 8.1 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per outing.

EDGE: EVEN

SMALL FORWARD

The most anticipated matchup in this series is the small forward position, held by Cleveland's James and Prince of the Pistons. Unless James goes down with injury before or during the series, he will have the edge with his overall skills of shooting, rebounding, passing and defense. The MVP favorite finished second in the NBA in scoring with 28.4 points per game, led the Cavaliers in every major offensive category and even finished tops in blocks and steals. James has led Cleveland to the postseason in each of the past three years and is expected to take the Cavs even further this time around after what was accomplished during the regular season. In 46 career playoffs games, James is averaging 27.5 points, 8.0 boards, 7.3 assists and 1.6 steals.

Prince has been one of the most reliable players in Pistons history and has played in every game over the past six seasons. The defensive-minded Prince is a very stealthy kind of player and opposing teams must know where he is on the court at all times. It would seem Detroit has the edge in this matchup, but then again comparing a player with James is similar to an elephant and an ant riding a see-saw. Prince is one of Curry's best options on the floor and he led the Pistons in points, rebounds and field goal percentage this season. He has played in 114 career playoff games (102 starts) and has posted 12.8 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.9 assists per contest.

EDGE: CAVS

POWER FORWARD

Cavs power forward Anderson Varejao was able to stay healthy for the second time in three years and adds another inside presence with Ilgauskas. Varejao is not a very good shooter, but his energy and strength give Cleveland the advantage down low. He shook off an ankle problem this year to put up decent numbers and has appeared in 46 playoff games, no starts. Varejao is averaging 5.7 points and 5.3 rebounds in the postseason.

Pistons PF Antonio McDyess had an interesting season, as he was a part of the Iverson deal to Denver. The Nuggets let him go before the Pistons re-signed him in December, and he is back in the starting lineup. McDyess is an aging veteran and has played in 80 career postseason games with 15 starts, and is averaging 8.2 points and 6.9 rebounds. He will not be able to hold down the paint with Varejao and Ilgauskas underneath.

EDGE: CAVS

BENCH

Cleveland's bench has more firepower than Detroit's which will make Brown's coaching job a lot easier. Forwards Wally Szczerbiak, Joe Smith, Darnell Jackson and Ben Wallace could be starts on many other teams but have no problem coming off the bench for a winner. Wallace, though, may not see action because of a strained left knee. He just returned to the Cavs after missing significant time with a broken right leg.

Curry has a few options to go to off the bench, with the best being perhaps shooting guard Arron Afflalo. Afflalo and fellow guard Will Bynum will spell Hamilton and Stuckey at times, while reserve big men Kwame Brown and Jason Maxiell add depth in the low post. If the Pistons are using their bench early and often then they will be in trouble.

EDGE: CAVS

PREDICTION

The Cavs breezed through the regular season on a mission, and now the quest for an NBA title begins. They took care of business at home by matching the best-ever mark as the host and will use that to their advantage. It also helps to have one of the best players in the NBA on the roster, as James is prepped to make an even deeper run in the postseason. James thrived with new point guard Williams on his side and the two were rewarded with All-Star nods. They will try for an encore performance in the postseason against a depleted Detroit club. The Pistons struggled for the eighth and final playoff berth and their streak of six straight conference finals appearances will most likely come to an end after five games or less against Cleveland, which went 26-5 since the All-Star break. Hamilton and Prince can not do enough to help the Pistons reach the second round of the playoffs.

CAVS in 5