Se7en, "In my mind this whole idea that the league was going to call the rules during the playoffs just as they had during the regular season is a complete joke. It just wasn’t worth my time to watch once I saw the Spurs players getting completely mugged with no call while on the other end they were getting very ticky-tack non-contact calls against them. The home court advantage has been taken to a whole new level in this series."
The question about the change in offciating for the playoffs was more specific than that - at least, in my mind. There was no question they would allow more physical play on the inside, as they have always done. The question was would they allow hand checking on the perimeter and I haven't seen that being allowed much in this series. (If anything Bowen is getting away with the most stuff but he uses all his body parts to interfere with guys moving where they want to go.) The Pistons are not hand checking Parker and Genobili - they are bodying up to them, especially Lindsay Hunter, and everyone is staying very alert to sealing them out of the paint.
I wouldn't say that it is homecourt advantage so much as it's the more active and aggressive team that is getting favorable calls, which is fairly normal in the NBA. It is dismaying when it's the Suns suffering from that but I have to admit I rather enjoy it when it's the Spurs getting a taste of their own medicine.
As far as to the Spurs not employing much running, I think it's mainly that, in the last two games at least, they are not forcing many turnovers - and Detroit is getting back on defense. Which is aided by the fact that they are staying within their offense so are positioned to get back.