On a night where washed up reality TV star Bret Michaels played the halftime show at the Palace, Aretha Franklin was also in attendance. AND both Michaels and the referees should have listened to her famous anthem BY SHOWING A LITTLE RESPECT.

Instead, it was another Queen who got all the calls – LeBron James. In his first game in Detroit sans Miami, it was like we traveled back in time to that dreaded Conference Finals, only this time, James wasn’t young enough to reach the hoop himself. The Cavs were allowed to own the painted area, whereas Detroit’s real big men couldn’t get a whistle under the basket.

The Pistons kept clawing their way back, preventing a double-digit lead from getting out of control in the third. In the fourth, we were down to six or seven a lot, but it was uncanny: Andre Drummond or Greg Monroe would get hacked, grab their own rebound, then just miss another hacked putback.

Without star and leader Brandon Jennings, someone might have to stand up for us when calls stop going our way. D.J. Augustin might have to be the guy to step up and be more assertive like we know he can be. Plus, Stan Van is a demonstrative fella, so we should be in solid hands.

#GayLoss