Cleveland's success creates a role reversal when the Pistons meet the Cavs today.

For years, Detroit has been the team the Cavaliers have been looking up to in the Central Division standings.

Now, it's the other way around as the Pistons (25-20) find themselves trying to catch a Cleveland squad that has established itself as one of the NBA's best.

"They have been playing great, just like Boston has been playing great," said Detroit guard Richard Hamilton.

But Cleveland's success, Hamilton said, hasn't damaged Detroit's confidence.

"We still feel confident we're going to win the game," Hamilton said.

Although the Pistons have dropped eight of their last 11 games, they are coming off an 86-78 loss to the Celtics on Friday that was arguably one of their better performances.

"I just thought overall (against Boston), our focus and intensity level was pretty good except for maybe eight minutes throughout the game," said Pistons coach Michael Curry.

The Cavaliers are just two years removed from a trip to the NBA Finals. Last season, they took the NBA champion Boston Celtics to seven games in the second round.

The mounting losses have been difficult for players, especially veterans like Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince and Rasheed Wallace who are the only holdovers from the 2004 championship team.

"This is tough for us," said Hamilton. "We're so used to being the bully, the team that actually goes out and wins, and wins a lot."