Chauncey Billups with an "illegitimate 3," helping Detroit to 2-0 lead.

Do you have to be Albert Einstein to figure out that this Chauncey Billups shot shouldn't count?

Clearly, the clock was stuck at 4.8 seconds then started late with Billups finally getting his 3-pointer off at .5 seconds. The shot should not have been allowed. What's the point of having replay if you're not allowed to use it. TNT had the ability to show a real-time replay with a clock superimposed on the screen, but the league's replay rules don't allow for reviewing a play to determine when the clock started.

Did the "illegitimate 3" matter? Orlando had a 6-point lead with 6 minutes left in the 4th quarter at the Palace, so they were able to rally back from the bogus shot that gave Detroit a 1-point lead at the end of the 3rd, but there is no way to know how the proper call might have influenced the outcome.

Detroit has notoriously tough fans. Somehow, I think that if the same situation had occurred in Orlando, common sense might have prevailed. It's easier to take points off the scoreboard for the road team. It's also easier to take some time and get the call right when you don't have thousands of angry Pistons fans in your face.

It's still a shame. If you've got instant replay, why not take the time to make the right call. A little common sense and logic should rule the day.