Win a Sony PSP! Play Drive to the Finals Now!

By Rob Peterson

Previous Expert Picks

May 29 - Happy Memorial Day.

If you're reading this, you are one dedicated fan. You should be frolicking, grilling, funnin' and sunnin'.

Also, if you're reading this, it means you've probably been following these expert picks all along. That, of course, is just a guess.

You know what else is a guess? Our next pick. I'll tell you straight up, today we're spitting into the wind.

How so? Glad you asked.

Today's Expert Pick

Player: Antoine Walker, Miami Opponent: Detroit Pistons Regular Season Averages Pts Reb Ast 12.2 5.1 2.0

EXPERT PICK ARTICLES May 28 -- Tim Thomas May 27 -- Rasheed Wallace May 26 -- Devin Harris May 25 -- Richard Hamilton May 24 -- Raja Bell Previous Expert Picks FANTASY BLOG ARCHIVE May 26 -- On Second Thought... May 24 -- Hands off the Keys May 23 -- End in Sight May 20 -- The Curse Continues May 18 -- Advantage: Non-Experts

We've used three Pistons: Rip, Tayshaun and 'Sheed.

We've used no Heat (or Heatians as Shaq once called 'em).

So, do we go with a Piston? The only viable choices are Chauncey, Big Ben and 'Dyess.

As for the Heat, well, we have the pick of the litter, including Daddy, Flash and anyone else wearing white tonight.

Now, I can completely understand if you decide to head screaming in the other direction of my selection. I have, after all, said root for Raja Bell (9 PRA) and depend on Devin Harris (12 PRA).

Ugh.

So, if you continue to walk on by Walker, I completely understand.

But here's why 'Toine is the 'tion (selection -- bear with me...) for today.

First off, you save Wade and Shaq. Do I even need to explain this?

Second, you save Billups. If the Pistons win tonight, the series goes back to Detroit tied a two games apiece and you may be wise to use Chauncey at a later date. That being said, if the Pistons lose Game 4 in Miami tonight, Billups gets picked for Wednesday.

I don't think you can pick Big Ben. He's been way too inconsistent as of late. And if you never get to use Big Ben at all? Eh. He has just over a 17 Playoffs PRA. Precisely, what are you losing here?

Then, there's McDyess. His Playoffs PRA is just over 15, nothing to get too excited about. Plus, he plays limited minutes, unless 'Sheed gets into foul trouble. The Pistons need 'Sheed to stay in the lineup to win, so ... let's not roll the 'Dyess tonight.

As for the Heat, I select Walker because he's the Heat player with the most pop for this series. If the Heat do advance, they face a Western team that'll want to pick up the pace. A faster pace means more shots. I completely expect Udonis Haslem to grab a copious amount of rebounds and James Posey to take a copious amount of shots in the Finals. Still, you'll have Wade, Shaq, Williams, Payton on the table for those contests.

I don't think Williams, Payton or Posey can give you much against the Pistons. Of course, Wade and Shaq can. But so can Walker. As a matter of fact, the Heat need him to play well.

Like I said, spitting into the wind today.

It's probably best to duck.