Reply With Quote
Why are so many people counting Shaq out already? A Shaq at 50% is better than 90% of the NBA's big men. He is THAT DOMINANT.
Please don't tell me you think both of these teams are the same as they were last year.
Why are so many people counting Shaq out already? A Shaq at 50% is better than 90% of the NBA's big men. He is THAT DOMINANT.
who were the bigmen that the pistons had coming of the bench last year, it was Okur, and i think someone else i cant remember.
Cold spell from long range down the stretch hurts Pistons
By TIM REYNOLDS, AP Sports Writer
May 25, 2005
MIAMI (AP) -- A barrage of 3-pointers brought the Detroit Pistons to the brink of claiming a stranglehold on the Eastern Conference finals.
Then the long shots stopped falling, and the Miami Heat evened the series.
The Pistons missed six of their final seven 3-point tries, including two that were rushed by Rasheed Wallace in the final 2 minutes. Their reliance on the long shot -- and a 40-point night from Miami guard Dwyane Wade -- helped the Heat eke out a 92-86 win in Game 2 on Wednesday night.
ADVERTISEMENT
``Maybe we took some quick outside shots,'' said Pistons coach Larry Brown, whose team finished 9-for-23 from 3-point range. ``But I thought it was a great game. They just made the plays at the end that we made in Game 1.''
Detroit connected on eight 3-pointers in the first 38 minutes Wednesday -- including two by Chauncey Billups and Lindsey Hunter to end the third quarter, when the Pistons completed the climb from a 14-point first-half deficit and took a 63-62 lead.
Tayshaun Prince and Hunter each connected from behind the arc to open the fourth, giving the Pistons a 69-66 lead. Billups hit another 3-pointer with 6:08 left, again putting Detroit on top 76-74.
But the Pistons wouldn't lead again -- and it wasn't a coincidence that they didn't hit another 3-pointer.
Detroit isn't a team that heavily relies on the outside shot. The Pistons averaged 4.4 3-pointers per game in the regular season, and made 5.3 per game -- on 33.7 percent shooting -- in their first 12 playoff games.
Yet the 3-pointers were falling in waves early in the second half of Game 2. The Pistons were 5-for-8 from long range in the third quarter. Those 15 points matched Miami's total points in the period, during which Detroit turned an 11-point halftime deficit into a one-point lead.
And another 3-pointer that may have been ill-advised provided one of the game's biggest turning points.
Billups spotted up on the right wing with 2:40 left, and let fly with a shot that would have brought the Pistons within two points. But Wade came from behind and blocked the shot, sending the sellout crowd into a roar.
``He's as good as it gets in our league,'' Brown said.
Damon Jones' layup 11 seconds later pushed Miami's lead to 87-80 and the outcome was never seriously in doubt again.
If Parker played well vs Pistons, then there is no way I can see them beating the Spurs. If Parker got dominated by Billups, then I think they would have a good chance.
As far as Prince goes, he hasn't been able to post up Wade at all. Yes Wade is stronger than Manu, but I think Manu can draw some charges if he digs down deep enough. Prince isn't really a good fadeaway shooter ala Rashard Lewis. Prince pretty much has to get all the way underneath to score it. And if Prince is good enough to destroy Manu on offense AND shut him down on defense, then he should be a Top 15 player in this league -- and if Prince is THAT good he should get at least 20ppg against the Heat, WHILE limiting Wade. The Heat's team defense isn't close to the Spurs, and Prince isn't exactly tearing it up.
If Prince is that much of a threat, why not put Bowen on him? If Wade can guard Prince in the post, I think Bowen can at least contain Tayshaun Prince.
I have no problems with Manu guarding Rip at all.
Duncan is an MVP calibur player and should be able to dominate when it matters. If he gets shut down by the Wallace's then how good is he really?
I am not saying the series would be easy, but the Spurs have the balance to outduel the Pistons. If they played aggressive and smart, they should be able to beat them in a series.
Anyhoo, the Pistons aren't a lock to beat the Heat, and same for the Spurs over the Suns. Still a lot of basketball left.
Okur, Williamson, Campbell last year.
McDyess, Campbell this year.
Who thinks this??? Some people got some issues.
I'ts gonna be a war against Detroit. But Spurs are showing right now they want it more than the Pisstons, by all the hustle and killer insctinct shown in this series.
This is my last post about the Finals until Spurs are finished w/Suns. Don't want no bad karma.
They dominated the Lakers, WITHOUT Malone. Big difference.
Very true. I am still baffled how people are doubting Shaq and the HEAT.
Seriously, the way timvp puts it..should the Spurs get past the Suns, it's best if they don't even show up to the Finals.
No doubt about it. Pistons are legit.
As I stated in another thread, Pistons scare me the most. They match up well with the Spurs and play the team game well. They are also the defending champs so in the words of Ric Flair: "To be the man, you've got to beat the man!"
It should be a good series (provided we get past Phoenix), both games this year were close - game 1 - Detroit comes from behind and lose by 3 and in game 2 - the game which Duncan left with bad ankle - Spurs rallied but Detroit pulled away.
I feel Detroit is the team to beat.
Apparently you can't read.Seriously, the way timvp puts it..should the Spurs get past the Suns, it's best if they don't even show up to the Finals.
I said that the Pistons are the team to beat. I didn't say the Spurs can't beat them. It'll be tough, but the Spurs will be favored by pretty much everybody.
When the Heat make it then what? Is SA or PHX still favored???
Timvp i think you made an excellent thread. Anytime the spurs face a defense which is even remotely stingy or physical the spurs offense is absolutely non existent. rasheed wallace is by far the best defender when it comes to guarding TD, no one can guard him as well as sheed, and tayshaun prince is gonna be a handful. we can keep rip down or chauncey down but i dont see us stopping both at the same time. also both wallaces should have no problem keeping parker out of the lane. and if parker isnt slicing through the lane, he's rendered pretty useless as his outside J is ugly! im really rooting for miami to pull it out against detroit tho it will probably be a 5 game series like u said. i think the chances of the spurs beating a showboating miami team (See: alonzo mourning) will be much easier than a rugged pistons team.
Detroit scares me much more than Miami does. In regards to the frontcourt matchups, Miami would be a war no doubt with even a less than 100% Shaq and Mourning as a backup. But Detroit has the bodies to throw at Duncan to limit him. Rasheed Wallace has always been one of the best at limiting Duncan and with Big Ben, McDyess and even Elden Campbell in the mix, I can see them neutralizing Duncan.
As for the backcourt, you know Wade is going to drop 25-30 on you but nobody else on that team scares me. Detroit on the other hand is so unpredictable. Both Billups and Hamilton are streaky shooters but when it counts, they are both very clutch in the 4th quarter. And like you said TPark, I worry about Billups scoring on Tony down on the post again and again.
:vomit Yuk!
Timvp?
One thing I remember you saying last year was how Malone's absense paved the way for the Pistons to win it. I distinctly remember you saying the Pistons would not have won the series if Malone was 100%. Why the change of opinion all of a sudden? Why are the Pistons so dominant now? Why are they any better than the Spurs were last year? Or a healthy Lakers for that matter?
True.
Yes he has. And he's been able to shoot over him.As far as Prince goes, he hasn't been able to post up Wade at all.
Huh?Prince isn't really a good fadeaway shooter ala Rashard Lewis. Prince pretty much has to get all the way underneath to score it.
He has one of the best mid-range games in the league. He can hit from a lot of places on the court.
Well Prince is a highly underrated player. He leads the Pistons in +/- this season -- in both the regular season and in the playoffs. In fact, last time I checked he was second to Manu in +/- in the playoffs. Going by those stats, he's the engine of that team.And if Prince is good enough to destroy Manu on offense AND shut him down on defense, then he should be a Top 15 player in this league
Bowen is built to guard Rip. That is one huge thing the Spurs have going for them. Rip is in constant motion and going around picks ... but Bowen should be able to stay with him.If Prince is that much of a threat, why not put Bowen on him? If Wade can guard Prince in the post, I think Bowen can at least contain Tayshaun Prince.
I have no problems with Manu guarding Rip at all.
If you put Manu on Rip, Manu would have to be put on IVs at halftime.
I'm not sure what that means. There are great defenders in the league. Wallace isn't going to "shut down" Duncan, but he'll make life hard for him.Duncan is an MVP calibur player and should be able to dominate when it matters. If he gets shut down by the Wallace's then how good is he really?
I agree with everything you say in your analysis timvp, the Pistons are most definitely the team to beat. However, I think the Spurs still have a good chance of winning it all should they get to the finals. Here are some of my thoughts in no particular order:
1) The Pistons' most clutch players are Billups and Rip. These are the guys they go to in the crunch. I'd put Bowen on Billups and Manu on Rip and take my chances with Tony on Prince funneling him to the help or letting him shoot from outside in the final minutes of a close game. I know it's a bad mismatch but Billups and Rip are far more dangerous.
2) The Pistons remind me a lot of the Spurs of '03 with their offensive droughts. We don't seem to suffer from them as badly as they do this year.
3) Detroit hasn't had the chance to play against us with Nazr yet this year. He changes the equation a bit.
4) The Billups-Parker matchup is definitely scary. If Tony struggles, things could get ugly.
5) We have HCA. That is huge.
6) With Det/Mia going at least 5 games (I agree Mia will definitely lose btw), Devin could be back for us by then and if we take care of business with PHO, we'll have more rest.
Ultimately, I think the Parker-Billups matchup could decide the series. If Tony ever needed to perform up to his abilities, it has to be in this series. Right now Billups/Arroyo > Parker/Beno until proven otherwise.
Mouring in the early rounds given the minutes is better then a 50% shaq
The Pistons are getting better and better. Plus, I look at the matchups and they look really tough for the Spurs. At each position, the Pistons can compete.
This isn't meant to be a doom and gloom thread. The Spurs were the favorites coming into the playoffs -- and rightfully so. They should still be favorites now.
But like I said last year that the Lakers were going to be a tough matchup and everyone told me I was crazy, I'm saying the same thing this year about the Pistons.
IF it happens and the Spurs do their job of taking down the Suns, it'll be an epic battle.
Whoever makes it out of the East will be very tough to play. If we play Detroit, they are basically San Antonio; unselfish, play D and have people who are dangerous with the basketball. Miami, if we play them will be tough aswell--you got Wade and if you make a mistake he'll punish you either scoring or finding an open shooter/big and we're gonna have to deal with Shaq--so Rasho,Horry, and Nazr are gonna have they're hands full aswell.
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)
Posting Permissions
