duncan228
03-15-2008, 10:25 AM
http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=383189
Spurs-Pistons Finals would bring something to the table
Stan McNeal
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- Any time the Celtics or Pistons play one of the West's bests between now and the end of the regular season, you can bet the game will be hyped as a "potential Finals matchup." Prepare to hear those three words a lot in the next two weeks.
The Celtics play a "potential Finals matchup" four times in the coming week: at Spurs, at Rockets, at Mavericks and -- don't count out these guys -- at Hornets. The Suns head East for back-to-back "potential Finals matchup" games on March 24 and 26. There'll be a "potential Finals matchup" on Sunday when the Hornets visit Detroit.
So many "potential Finals matchups," so much intrigue. Of all the Finals matchups the league would like to see, you can bet the "potential Finals matchup" played at the Palace on Friday night is nowhere near the top of its list: Spurs-Pistons. Oh no. Been there, done that.
When the Spurs outlasted the Pistons in a seven-game slugfest three years ago, TV ratings were not mentioned without the words "all-time low." The series did not exactly create crowds at water coolers, either. But there are reasons why a Spurs-Pistons matchup should not give David Stern a queasy stomach. Here are three, in fact, based on the Pistons' 84-80 victory Friday night.
Fundamentals. Basketball purists would love the bank shots, defense and teamwork. Highlight lovers would not enjoy the lack of highlights. These teams dunk about as often as the Heat win; there were none in Friday night's game.
Mr. Cool vs. Mr. Hothead. That would be Tim Duncan vs. Rasheed Wallace -- a clash of styles and personalities. Duncan won the matchup Friday (20 points, 10 rebounds to 10 and 8), but Rasheed's team won the game.
Close games. They might not be pretty (combined 40.0 percent shooting in the second half Friday night), but they'd be tight.
There you go. Convinced that Spurs-Pistons would make must-see TV? Didn't think so. I'm guessing David Stern isn't convinced, either.
Spurs-Pistons Finals would bring something to the table
Stan McNeal
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- Any time the Celtics or Pistons play one of the West's bests between now and the end of the regular season, you can bet the game will be hyped as a "potential Finals matchup." Prepare to hear those three words a lot in the next two weeks.
The Celtics play a "potential Finals matchup" four times in the coming week: at Spurs, at Rockets, at Mavericks and -- don't count out these guys -- at Hornets. The Suns head East for back-to-back "potential Finals matchup" games on March 24 and 26. There'll be a "potential Finals matchup" on Sunday when the Hornets visit Detroit.
So many "potential Finals matchups," so much intrigue. Of all the Finals matchups the league would like to see, you can bet the "potential Finals matchup" played at the Palace on Friday night is nowhere near the top of its list: Spurs-Pistons. Oh no. Been there, done that.
When the Spurs outlasted the Pistons in a seven-game slugfest three years ago, TV ratings were not mentioned without the words "all-time low." The series did not exactly create crowds at water coolers, either. But there are reasons why a Spurs-Pistons matchup should not give David Stern a queasy stomach. Here are three, in fact, based on the Pistons' 84-80 victory Friday night.
Fundamentals. Basketball purists would love the bank shots, defense and teamwork. Highlight lovers would not enjoy the lack of highlights. These teams dunk about as often as the Heat win; there were none in Friday night's game.
Mr. Cool vs. Mr. Hothead. That would be Tim Duncan vs. Rasheed Wallace -- a clash of styles and personalities. Duncan won the matchup Friday (20 points, 10 rebounds to 10 and 8), but Rasheed's team won the game.
Close games. They might not be pretty (combined 40.0 percent shooting in the second half Friday night), but they'd be tight.
There you go. Convinced that Spurs-Pistons would make must-see TV? Didn't think so. I'm guessing David Stern isn't convinced, either.