MIAMI - Jerry Stackhouse doesn't know any better. And maybe that's a good thing.
He's bold, brash and certainly not bashful.
Prior to the Detroit Pistons' playoff opener against Miami, Stackhouse said he wanted to play the Heat. The Pistons defeated the Heat twice during the regular season, including a 90-73 rout less than two weeks ago.
Miami's players and fans took notice of Stackhouse's boastful comments. During Game 1 introductions, Stackhouse was booed loudly. After the game, a 95-85 Miami victory, veteran Heat guard Tim Hardaway waved to Stackhouse and told him to just go away. Stackhouse, playing in only his second playoff series and displaying no respect for his elders, gave back as good as he got before security intervened.
Stackhouse, who led the Pistons with 23 points, still was squawking in the losing locker room.
He said the Pistons still believe they can win the best-of-five series, which resumes tomorrow night.
"We're not despondent at all."
He claimed Heat forward Jamal Mashburn wouldn't have scored a career playoff high 29 points against a healthy Grant Hill.
"I don't think so."
He made fun of the way Heat center Alonzo Mourning shook his fists and mugged for the cameras after dunks "when the game was out of hand."
"You know how he is with all his fake emotion. They only won one game and this is a (five-game) series. I think they played their best game. Maybe they feel they can play better, but I don't think they can play better."
Stackhouse's outgoing personality is transformed on the court. He pounds his dribble, stares at the rim as soon as he crosses midcourt, and attacks the basket no matter who is standing in his way.
Mourning swatted one of Stackhouse's layups in the first half, but Stackhouse kept coming back. He was the only Piston who refused to change his game in the face of Miami's intimidating defense.
In the regular season Stackhouse scored 94 points in four games against the Heat, including 29 on April 12. He scored 12 points in the fourth quarter of Saturday's unsuccessful comeback and promised to do more of the same in Game 2.
"I'm trying to take what the defense gives me. In the fourth quarter, I got it going. I'm going to have to be more aggressive offensively."
Someone has to do it.
Hill is hurting, both physically and emotionally.
He started the game confidently but a deep bone bruise in his left ankle left him hobbling like Fred Sanford after the game.
In the fourth quarter, when the Pistons needed him most, Hill went scoreless in eight minutes. That is totally unacceptable for the Pistons, who depend entirely too much on Hill and Stackhouse and not nearly enough on the rest of the roster.
Even though he played poorly and in pain, Hill shouldn't have acted like the world was coming to an end.
The contrast between his postgame reaction and Stackhouse's was startling.
Hill sat slumped in his locker, head bowed, arms folded and whispered to reporters, who huddled closely around him so they could hear.
He was the picture of dejection.
Across the room, Stackhouse spoke loudly and confidently. He made you believe the Pistons are going to come back strong tomorrow night.
It was only one game. The Pistons still have a chance to win the series, don't you think?
Hill's body language said no. If his bruised ankle doesn't respond to treatment, he's probably right.
Stackhouse's body language said the Pistons win the series in five games.
Maybe it's a good thing he doesn't know any better.
First Published April 24, 2000, 4:00 a.m.