Pistons < Spurs
04-21-2006, 12:36 AM
Thank god the Playoffs are finally here.
Detroit (64-18) gets what appears to be the easiest matchup in the enitre playoffs. The Bucks (40-42) are the only sub .500 team that is still alive.
It appears that most 'experts' are picking Detroit in 4, with a few saying 5 games.
Detroit won the season series 3-1. However that number is a little deceiving as the one loss came on game #81 for the Pistons in which they sat Rip, Sheed and Hunter.
Nov 26, 2005 DET 85, @MIL 76
Jan 25, 2006 @DET 106, MIL 102
Mar 31, 2006 @DET 112, MIL 105
Apr 17, 2006 @MIL 113, DET 93
The first thing that jumps out at you when considering the Bucks is the fact that they can put the ball in the bucket. For the season, Milwaukee averaged 97.8 ppg where Detroit scored 96.8.
Leading scorer Michael Redd averaged a very respectable 25.4 points ( #9 in the NBA ). Against the Pistons he was able to increase that to 30ppg.
Every time these two teams get together, it becomes a Rip vs Redd exhibition. Redd may have the quicket release in the L. He is able to get it of so quick, that defenses constantly get burned. Not to mention that he has the uncanny ability to hit the difficult shot....which always seems to come w/ just a few seconds remaining on the shot clock.
Redd is their first, second and third option. He will have to carry them through this series. Always a 3pt threat with a very quick release. Very capable of 40+ point performances. He's also a very solid FT shooter.
vs. Detroit in 2006:
39.3 min 55% FG (4.3 of 5.8 3PT) 93.7% FT 30pts 3.8asts 5.8rbs
T.J Ford is like Speedy Gonzalez on the court. Overall he's having a very solid season. However he struggles against Billups. Chauncey is to big and strong for him. Ford only had one good game vs Detroit this year, and naturally, Chauncey only played 19 minutes in that contest, against Ford's 35 minutes.
vs. Detroit in 2006:
34.0 min 44% FG 71.4% FT 10pts 6.0asts 3.0rbs
Bobby Simmons has been a very nice addition to the Bucks. Adds a little verality to the lineup for Milwaukee. Decent defender witht 3 point range. Tends to be a streaky kind of player. Will often be invisible for 3qtrs then explode for 10 points in 5 minutes.
vs. Detroit in 2006:
37.5min 48.7%FG (2.0 of 3.8 3PT) 100.0% FT 12pts 1.5asts 2.8rbs
I really like Andrew Bogut. Has played very solidly all year. Noticed vast improvement in his decision making and confidence as the year progressed. Pretty good rebounder, with decent post moves. Biggest drawbacks for him will be limited experience and the fact that he is too slow to deal w/ Sheed.
vs. Detroit in 2006:
34.3min 54% FG 36.3% FT 11pts 2.3asts 6.8rbs
Jamaal Magloire is a big physical presence. Good compliment to Bogut. Big time rebounder who can get a little sloppy and find himself in foul trouble. Team needs to try to get him more involved offensively. Like Bogut, lacks quickness to deal w/ Detroits frontcourt.
vs. Detroit in 2006:
28.8min 38.7% FG 33.3% FT 6.3pts .5asts 12.3rbs
While this could be a 4 game sweep, it will not be an easy series. Redd has the ability to keep them in any game. The biggest question is who is going to give him the needed help. Simmons is the most likely candidate as I have no faith in Ford being able to get it done vs Billups.
Look for Chauncey to control the tempo for Detroit. He will pick his spots offensivley, defering to his teamates ealry in the game.
I still wonder what to expect from Detroit. Will we see the offensive minded play like we did earlier in the season? Or will the guys show the typical playoff defense? Will we see the Saunders Zone defense? In recent days I've heard alot from Flip about scaling back the playbook. Not showing the scouts what to expect from us. Today he mentioned that the team still has alot of sets that they haven't used as of yet this season.
Watch the FG% in this series. Detroit IMO has allowed too many teams to shoot well against us. This year the Bucks shot 48% to our 43%.
It wil be interesting to see how deep Milwaukee goes into their bench. Role players like Kukoc, Gadzuric, Williamas and Bell can all contribute.
For Detroit, expect steady doses of Dice, Delk, Hunter and Evans.
Milwaukee rebounds well, and likes to shoot the 3. Much like Detroit.
Overall the Bucks are too young and too inexperienced to handle the Pistons. Milwaukee will be able to make the games interesting, but the chemistry of the Pistons will win the games in the 4th quarterss.
Hopefully Sheed will be active in the post. Hopefully Tay will not fall int o a slump w/ his shot. Hopefully we finish this series as quickly as possible w/ no injuries.
I expect it to go 5. But I do expect each and every game to be much closer than many people expect.
Detroit (64-18) gets what appears to be the easiest matchup in the enitre playoffs. The Bucks (40-42) are the only sub .500 team that is still alive.
It appears that most 'experts' are picking Detroit in 4, with a few saying 5 games.
Detroit won the season series 3-1. However that number is a little deceiving as the one loss came on game #81 for the Pistons in which they sat Rip, Sheed and Hunter.
Nov 26, 2005 DET 85, @MIL 76
Jan 25, 2006 @DET 106, MIL 102
Mar 31, 2006 @DET 112, MIL 105
Apr 17, 2006 @MIL 113, DET 93
The first thing that jumps out at you when considering the Bucks is the fact that they can put the ball in the bucket. For the season, Milwaukee averaged 97.8 ppg where Detroit scored 96.8.
Leading scorer Michael Redd averaged a very respectable 25.4 points ( #9 in the NBA ). Against the Pistons he was able to increase that to 30ppg.
Every time these two teams get together, it becomes a Rip vs Redd exhibition. Redd may have the quicket release in the L. He is able to get it of so quick, that defenses constantly get burned. Not to mention that he has the uncanny ability to hit the difficult shot....which always seems to come w/ just a few seconds remaining on the shot clock.
Redd is their first, second and third option. He will have to carry them through this series. Always a 3pt threat with a very quick release. Very capable of 40+ point performances. He's also a very solid FT shooter.
vs. Detroit in 2006:
39.3 min 55% FG (4.3 of 5.8 3PT) 93.7% FT 30pts 3.8asts 5.8rbs
T.J Ford is like Speedy Gonzalez on the court. Overall he's having a very solid season. However he struggles against Billups. Chauncey is to big and strong for him. Ford only had one good game vs Detroit this year, and naturally, Chauncey only played 19 minutes in that contest, against Ford's 35 minutes.
vs. Detroit in 2006:
34.0 min 44% FG 71.4% FT 10pts 6.0asts 3.0rbs
Bobby Simmons has been a very nice addition to the Bucks. Adds a little verality to the lineup for Milwaukee. Decent defender witht 3 point range. Tends to be a streaky kind of player. Will often be invisible for 3qtrs then explode for 10 points in 5 minutes.
vs. Detroit in 2006:
37.5min 48.7%FG (2.0 of 3.8 3PT) 100.0% FT 12pts 1.5asts 2.8rbs
I really like Andrew Bogut. Has played very solidly all year. Noticed vast improvement in his decision making and confidence as the year progressed. Pretty good rebounder, with decent post moves. Biggest drawbacks for him will be limited experience and the fact that he is too slow to deal w/ Sheed.
vs. Detroit in 2006:
34.3min 54% FG 36.3% FT 11pts 2.3asts 6.8rbs
Jamaal Magloire is a big physical presence. Good compliment to Bogut. Big time rebounder who can get a little sloppy and find himself in foul trouble. Team needs to try to get him more involved offensively. Like Bogut, lacks quickness to deal w/ Detroits frontcourt.
vs. Detroit in 2006:
28.8min 38.7% FG 33.3% FT 6.3pts .5asts 12.3rbs
While this could be a 4 game sweep, it will not be an easy series. Redd has the ability to keep them in any game. The biggest question is who is going to give him the needed help. Simmons is the most likely candidate as I have no faith in Ford being able to get it done vs Billups.
Look for Chauncey to control the tempo for Detroit. He will pick his spots offensivley, defering to his teamates ealry in the game.
I still wonder what to expect from Detroit. Will we see the offensive minded play like we did earlier in the season? Or will the guys show the typical playoff defense? Will we see the Saunders Zone defense? In recent days I've heard alot from Flip about scaling back the playbook. Not showing the scouts what to expect from us. Today he mentioned that the team still has alot of sets that they haven't used as of yet this season.
Watch the FG% in this series. Detroit IMO has allowed too many teams to shoot well against us. This year the Bucks shot 48% to our 43%.
It wil be interesting to see how deep Milwaukee goes into their bench. Role players like Kukoc, Gadzuric, Williamas and Bell can all contribute.
For Detroit, expect steady doses of Dice, Delk, Hunter and Evans.
Milwaukee rebounds well, and likes to shoot the 3. Much like Detroit.
Overall the Bucks are too young and too inexperienced to handle the Pistons. Milwaukee will be able to make the games interesting, but the chemistry of the Pistons will win the games in the 4th quarterss.
Hopefully Sheed will be active in the post. Hopefully Tay will not fall int o a slump w/ his shot. Hopefully we finish this series as quickly as possible w/ no injuries.
I expect it to go 5. But I do expect each and every game to be much closer than many people expect.