Kori Ellis
06-05-2005, 05:48 PM
Spurs: Breaking Down Possible Matchups
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http://www.woai.com/spurs/story.aspx?content_id=F2030A77-7579-4B1C-AEEE-4E2A6802EC58
By LJ Ellis
SpursZONE.com
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With Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals Monday night, it's tough to say against which team the San Antonio Spurs would better matchup. The Heat are banged up and they don't have much history together in the playoffs, but then again the Spurs haven't had much success going against Shaq and a superstar sidekick. The Pistons don't have the most high-flying offense and the Larry Brown saga seems to be taking its toll, but they are the defending champions and play great defense and know how to score down the stretch.
Instead of looking at the big picture, it's easier to look player by player to breakdown the possible matchups.
Tim Duncan
Rasheed Wallace and Ben Wallace would be a huge challenge for Duncan. Help defense coming for Tayshaun Prince, Chauncey Billups and Rip Hamilton would be good too. That said, you'd have to go with the Heat being the easier matchup for Duncan. Miami really couldn't put Shaq on Duncan because Shaq has been slowed with his injury in the playoffs. Duncan would mostly go against Udonis Haslem and Alonzo Mourning. While those are still tough matchups, it wouldn't as tough as the Wallaces.
Manu Ginobili
The Heat would be the easier matchup for Ginobili. Against the Pistons, he'd be guarded by Prince. Prince is long and quick, which could cause some problems. On the other end of the court, Ginobili could have some trouble guarding Prince. Against the Heat, he'd be matched up against Eddie Jones. Jones is a good defender and a dangerous offensive threat, but he's not the defender Prince is and isn't a go-to player offensively for the Heat.
Tony Parker
The Pistons would be a matchup nightmare for Parker. Detroit could guard him with Billups or even Hamilton. Billups is stronger and could force Parker into taking jumpers. Hamilton is quick enough and long enough to keep Parker out of the lane. Lindsey Hunter off the bench is another player who could give Parker problems. Against the Heat, Parker would most likely be going against players like Damon Jones and Keyon Dooling. It would be much easier for him.
Bruce Bowen
Dwyane Wade could cause Bowen some problems. Bowen, who hasn't played against Wade much, might have some issues with Wade's speed and quickness. Rip Hamilton, on the other hand, is a perfect matchup for Bowen. He can snake around picks and has the stamina to chase Hamilton around the court. Bowen should be able to hold Hamilton better than he would Wade.
Nazr Mohammed
No center wants to have to go up against Shaq. Even though Shaq isn't 100%, he's still a load in the paint. Mohammed would find himself in constant foul trouble against the Heat. Versus the Pistons, Mohammed would be useful against Detroit's big frontline. He'd also be much less likely to be in foul trouble.
Robert Horry
Horry would be a perfect match for the Pistons. He has a history of guarding Rasheed Wallace well. He'd also force Ben Wallace out of the paint with his three-point shooting. The Heat would pose some trouble for Horry. Horry wouldn't have much success against Shaq or Mourning. Horry also wouldn't matchup well against Haslem, who is stronger and a much better rebounder.
Brent Barry
Barry would be in matchup hell against the Pistons. He'd have to go against Prince on one end and a suffocating defense that doesn't allow three-pointers on the other end. There isn't a player on Detroit that Barry could matchup with. However, against the Heat, Barry would be much more useful.
Beno Udrih
Udrih has had much more success this year against the Pistons than the Heat. The Pistons don't have overly quick point guards in Billups and Carlos Arroyo. While Damon Jones isn't a speedster for Miami, Dooling is fast and could beat Udrih off the dribble. The Spurs could call on Udrih often against the Pistons because Parker will have some trouble with Detroit's guards.
Glenn Robinson
Even though Robinson didn't play a minute against the Suns he could be a major player in the Finals, especially if the Spurs go against the Pistons. The Pistons, with Prince at small forward, pose some size issues for the Spurs. That is where Robinson may be called into action. Barry doesn't matchup well with the Pistons at all, so Gregg Popovich might have to go with Robinson. Versus the Heat, Robinson would see minimal playing time. Their swingmen are too fast for Big Dog to defend.
Rasho Nesterovic
If Nesterovic is to see the court again this season, it'll be against the Heat. He can log some minutes on Shaq and do a decent job. He'd also be a good cover for Mourning. Against the Pistons, Nesterovic wouldn't see much time. Detroit's bigs are too mobile and aren't true post-up players.
Devin Brown
Though Brown has missed much of the playoffs with a back injury, he could be called upon in the Finals. The Pistons have a lot of tough players who will try to get physical with the Spurs. Brown is the perfect person to put in there to combat that if he's healthy.
Tony Massenburg
Massenburg is another player the Spurs can throw at Shaq. He'd get a couple chances to go in there and lay the lumber on The Big Floridian. It would take a total team effort from the Spurs' bigmen to handle O'Neal, even if he says he's only at 40% healthy right now.
This story is available on your cell phone at mobile.woai.com.
http://www.woai.com/spurs/story.aspx?content_id=F2030A77-7579-4B1C-AEEE-4E2A6802EC58
By LJ Ellis
SpursZONE.com
http://cctvimedia.clearchannel.com/woai/tpbillups.jpg
With Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals Monday night, it's tough to say against which team the San Antonio Spurs would better matchup. The Heat are banged up and they don't have much history together in the playoffs, but then again the Spurs haven't had much success going against Shaq and a superstar sidekick. The Pistons don't have the most high-flying offense and the Larry Brown saga seems to be taking its toll, but they are the defending champions and play great defense and know how to score down the stretch.
Instead of looking at the big picture, it's easier to look player by player to breakdown the possible matchups.
Tim Duncan
Rasheed Wallace and Ben Wallace would be a huge challenge for Duncan. Help defense coming for Tayshaun Prince, Chauncey Billups and Rip Hamilton would be good too. That said, you'd have to go with the Heat being the easier matchup for Duncan. Miami really couldn't put Shaq on Duncan because Shaq has been slowed with his injury in the playoffs. Duncan would mostly go against Udonis Haslem and Alonzo Mourning. While those are still tough matchups, it wouldn't as tough as the Wallaces.
Manu Ginobili
The Heat would be the easier matchup for Ginobili. Against the Pistons, he'd be guarded by Prince. Prince is long and quick, which could cause some problems. On the other end of the court, Ginobili could have some trouble guarding Prince. Against the Heat, he'd be matched up against Eddie Jones. Jones is a good defender and a dangerous offensive threat, but he's not the defender Prince is and isn't a go-to player offensively for the Heat.
Tony Parker
The Pistons would be a matchup nightmare for Parker. Detroit could guard him with Billups or even Hamilton. Billups is stronger and could force Parker into taking jumpers. Hamilton is quick enough and long enough to keep Parker out of the lane. Lindsey Hunter off the bench is another player who could give Parker problems. Against the Heat, Parker would most likely be going against players like Damon Jones and Keyon Dooling. It would be much easier for him.
Bruce Bowen
Dwyane Wade could cause Bowen some problems. Bowen, who hasn't played against Wade much, might have some issues with Wade's speed and quickness. Rip Hamilton, on the other hand, is a perfect matchup for Bowen. He can snake around picks and has the stamina to chase Hamilton around the court. Bowen should be able to hold Hamilton better than he would Wade.
Nazr Mohammed
No center wants to have to go up against Shaq. Even though Shaq isn't 100%, he's still a load in the paint. Mohammed would find himself in constant foul trouble against the Heat. Versus the Pistons, Mohammed would be useful against Detroit's big frontline. He'd also be much less likely to be in foul trouble.
Robert Horry
Horry would be a perfect match for the Pistons. He has a history of guarding Rasheed Wallace well. He'd also force Ben Wallace out of the paint with his three-point shooting. The Heat would pose some trouble for Horry. Horry wouldn't have much success against Shaq or Mourning. Horry also wouldn't matchup well against Haslem, who is stronger and a much better rebounder.
Brent Barry
Barry would be in matchup hell against the Pistons. He'd have to go against Prince on one end and a suffocating defense that doesn't allow three-pointers on the other end. There isn't a player on Detroit that Barry could matchup with. However, against the Heat, Barry would be much more useful.
Beno Udrih
Udrih has had much more success this year against the Pistons than the Heat. The Pistons don't have overly quick point guards in Billups and Carlos Arroyo. While Damon Jones isn't a speedster for Miami, Dooling is fast and could beat Udrih off the dribble. The Spurs could call on Udrih often against the Pistons because Parker will have some trouble with Detroit's guards.
Glenn Robinson
Even though Robinson didn't play a minute against the Suns he could be a major player in the Finals, especially if the Spurs go against the Pistons. The Pistons, with Prince at small forward, pose some size issues for the Spurs. That is where Robinson may be called into action. Barry doesn't matchup well with the Pistons at all, so Gregg Popovich might have to go with Robinson. Versus the Heat, Robinson would see minimal playing time. Their swingmen are too fast for Big Dog to defend.
Rasho Nesterovic
If Nesterovic is to see the court again this season, it'll be against the Heat. He can log some minutes on Shaq and do a decent job. He'd also be a good cover for Mourning. Against the Pistons, Nesterovic wouldn't see much time. Detroit's bigs are too mobile and aren't true post-up players.
Devin Brown
Though Brown has missed much of the playoffs with a back injury, he could be called upon in the Finals. The Pistons have a lot of tough players who will try to get physical with the Spurs. Brown is the perfect person to put in there to combat that if he's healthy.
Tony Massenburg
Massenburg is another player the Spurs can throw at Shaq. He'd get a couple chances to go in there and lay the lumber on The Big Floridian. It would take a total team effort from the Spurs' bigmen to handle O'Neal, even if he says he's only at 40% healthy right now.