Actually, Rip was injured for a good amount of the games, too. Remember, he had a calf injury ?
As to Ben wallace being injured. It wouldn't really matter that much...Shaq would just force his ass into him and hook his arm around, anyway.
Yes wade was hurt, and maybe his play would've changed the series...maybe the phantom fouls the refs called for him would've helped out...but what about other players ? Damon Jones played terribly last night. Hasleem played terrible the first few games. What about game 1 in Miami ? The pistons won, and shaq played very well for the first half.
Excuses, excuses. In the end, the champs are still in it.
Anyway, charisma? Who doesn't want to see the hard working Pistons play? Rip Hamilton is a great player who doesn't talk sh--. Rasheed is an explosive individual who loves making drama. Ben Wallace is no-nonsense, a defensive expert, the defensive MVP ? The heat have two players most people can name.