Unfortunately in the NBA the most well-rounded teams don't always win. That's why teams spend millions on superstars - they get the respect.
The Pistons beat both the Lakers (Shaq and Kobe) and the Heat (Shaq and Wade). So much for that theory that you need a superstar to win a championship.
Unfortunately in the NBA the most well-rounded teams don't always win. That's why teams spend millions on superstars - they get the respect.
The Pistons beat both the Lakers (Shaq and Kobe) and the Heat (Shaq and Wade). So much for that theory that you need a superstar to win a championship.
Don't forget AI, JKidd, JO, etc.
The Lakers were finished after the WC Finals, and we both know Shaq and Wade are not a well rested Shaq and Kobe, sorry.The Pistons beat both the Lakers (Shaq and Kobe) and the Heat (Shaq and Wade). So much for that theory that you need a superstar to win a championship.
I'm not saying that Detriot is a bad team, I'm just saying that they are a very vulnerable team.
As are the Spurs...
And the Heat...
And the Mavs...
And the Suns...
Eh, if the Spurs lose Manu, Tony or Tim they're out, but if Detriot loses Ben, Prince, Rasheed, Billups or Hamilton they're out. Now I can't predict that both teams are gonna meet again in the playoffs, it's too soon for that, but I will predict that if they do meet in the Finals, the health of one of the above 8 players will have a tremendous effect on what happens in the series.
Add BB to that list as well...
Health always plays a major role in the playoffs...
I would say the Spurs minutes were a bit more "untraditional". Starting SG only playing 19 minutes, while 2 backup guards played over 21? And you're forgetting, the Pistons' starting lineup isn't "traditional". It's not "traditional" to have 5 players that provide equal value to a team. The Pistons tend to use a "playoff like" rotation against tough teams on the road.
Also, we didn't have a backup PG (Hunter, injured; Arroyo, Suspended), so we had a whacky rotation. Tayshaun had to play PG for a good strech.
I do think they played a bit too many minutes, but some people are unaware that these national games have extra long TV timeouts that give players more rest. We also tend to play the starters more on the road because our young bench still struggles with inconsistancy on the road. They need the home crowd to feed off of at this point. Hopefully that changes.
Solid said that the minutes were traditional for the Spurs at this time of the year. As I'm sure you seen in this game, some of the rotations and minute selection for players the Spurs have during the regular season over the years is quite mind boggling.I would say the Spurs minutes were a bit more "untraditional".
I've always wished Pop would establish a set rotation a lot earlier than 10 games before the postseason.
The Pistons' starters log some heavy minutes and we all know that this marathon "pre-season", i.e. the NBA 82 game regular season is, indeed, wearing. Can they hold up throught, not to mention through a potentially grinding 28 game postseason?
Well, minute by minute they are playing less than last year as a whole. And the Pistons are hardly grinding through the regular season like they used to. Last year, the Pistons had to break out suffocating defense (Which takes a ton of energy) against pretty much any team to win. This year, they're only using it in certain situations, or in big games (Spurs for example). This year they can rely on the offense to get them through meaningless games (which is why we are statistically a mediocre defensive team). Thus, the minutes they're playing are less draining. That's just my take though.
The Suns played 2 bench players, low minutes, last week versus the Spurs. The Pistons played 3 bench guys. The Spurs try to keep Manu under 30 min. per game during the season. The minutes analysis is meant to point out that both teams (Suns and Pistons) really adjusted to win those games. They were "statements". If the Spurs and Suns/Pistons have the same record at season's end, taking a season series means more than just making a statement.
The Spurs have their method of figuring things out. It's kind of ugly right now.
Lindsey Hunter was out with an injury (should be back in a couple of games), and Arroyo was serving his 1 game suspension. The Pistons had no backup point guard. OBVIOUSLY they had to adjust the rotation. Outside of Arroyo being gone due to suspension though, the minutes were about normal. It was just that everyone else was adjusted up slightly due to missing our only backup PGs.
I am hearing all the explanations, but weren't we all (including myself) saying these same things last month after the first loss? Also with all the injuries I thought that was why Tim and Manu rested this summer? They seem worse off now that at this time last year.
Make no mistake about it, the Pistons starters play a lot of minutes, and more minutes to many of the fans' liking. That is a direct reflection of the trust that the coaching staff has in the Pistons bench, as well as the faith they have in the Pistons starters. The Pistons that need to watch themselves most in terms of fatigue towards the end of the season and in the post-season are Tayshaun Prince and Ben Wallace, primarily because in the playoffs they will prospectively have the most arduous defensive tasks (Vince Carter, Dwyane Wade, Manu Ginobili for Prince and SHAQ for Ben). While Tayshaun has logged heavy minutes so far this season, Flip has made a concerted effort to rest him a little more lately with Carlos Delfino. However, in big games, as the one against the Spurs, Prince will play more minutes. As for Ben, his health and conditioning will be tested as well. Flip must also make a concerted effort to give Dale Davis minutes as the season progresses in order to not only rest Ben, but to begin his conditioning of Dale Davis in preparation of the playoffs.
The Spurs have the luxury of having bench players that are proven. While they may not always play up to expectation, their career resumes have shown they deserve minutes and are capable of production. Nick Van Exel, Michael Finley, and Robert Horry afford the Spurs to never really overplay their starters or stars. Yet Duncan, Parker, and Bowen still have logges almost as many minutes as the Pistons starters. Taking injury into consideration, it just proves that the best players on the team will still log heavy minutes.
When it comes to the playoffs, every team is fatigues to a certain extent. Each team has its share of bumps and bruises. Fatigue may be a factor. But, as in last year's NBA Finals, I think the fatigue Detroit showed, especially in first two games, was more attributable to the Indiana and Miami series more so than the heavy regular season minutes. Even if the Pistons starters are better rested this year at the beginning of the post season, if they have two long (6 or 7 game) series before the finals, they will still show effects of fatigue. Just as will San Antonio if they have two grueling series against say Dallas and Phoenix.
WHoa there, settle down.
1. Spurs have some of the best 3 point shooters in the NBA - in fact, they have the best 3 point shooter in Bowen right now. But last night they weren't fallen, which made it easier for Detroit to just collapse in on guys in the paint. The Spurs won't shoot 3's as badly as they did last night in the playoffs.
2. SPurs have no chemistry? If anything, they have too much chemistry - they're all lovey-dovey and Finley and Van Exel are fitting it famously. What they need is guys to challenge each other a little more.
3. Parker is one of the better defending PGs in the league, and apparently played excellent D on Billups last night, as people reported during the commentary while the game was on.
4. Rip had a good game last night. But Bowen still owns him. He hasn't had a good game against the Spurs in a long, long time, mostly because of Bowen. But if you recall, last year in the Finals when Billups was guarded by Bowen, Parker held his own against Rip pretty well as well.
Despite being rested, Tim and Manu have still been banged up this year. Manu will be fine. Tim will struggle with the plantar fasciitis all season.
I don't think we can rationalize this loss away. Simply playing harder isn't going to erase a -25 rebounding differential. Most of that is because outside of Tim Duncan, the Pistons' interior players are vastly superior to the Spurs'. The Spurs will have to find a way to win in spite of that.
At best, Parker will cancel Billups out. The deficiency inside will have to be overcome with superhuman performances by Duncan and Ginobili. It remains to be seen whether Duncan is capable of that this season. With Ginobili, it depends upon health.
That is NOT the kind of chemistry that people were referring to. Who cares if guys are "all lovey-dovey"? This isn't a soap opera. Love and affection isn't what makes a lineup dominant.
The brand of chemistry that makes a lineup dominant (and the chemistry that GOBLUEADAM was referring to) is when the bench players know their role and effectively play their role...AND successfully compliment the abilities and on-court personalities of the starters.
I just don't see that kind of chemistry brewing from the new additions of Finley and Van Exel.
Wow! You are a good fan....Thanks for coming on our board and NOT being obnoxious! We will see you in June...and as everyone know the Spurs will be prepared.
We had injuries tonight. Our Field Goal Percentage sucked...as soon as everything comes together like it always does it will be a real game
FreshPrince, I hear you, you're right. I know the Pistons didn't have a backup PG. I mentioned that they didn't have Arroyo so I'm with you 100% there. The Pistons still adjusted their minutes for the starters in order to play well against the Spurs.
The Pistons continue to do what they have been doing all season by playing at a very high level and stepping up in crunch time when they need to do so. The Spurs obviously have some things to figure out before they get to the end of the regular season.
Detroit is simply more athletic and physical than we are on the front line. We will continue to lose to them if we can't rebound better.
Last year in the finals, Nazr played a big part in rebounding, but he's not getting the minutes now--and when he does, he's been pretty ineffective. I don't know how Pop sorts that out in the matchups, but what we're doing now isn't working.
I don't think Pop was playing around with the minutes like this was a preseason game. He had to know that this game might help determine home court advantage which we desperately need against the Pistons.
He just couldn't find any answers anywhere on the squad. Maybe there aren't any.
I'm still in shock that Rasho played 23 minutes and grabbed only 4 rebounds. No excuse for that at all.
I had one continuing thought during the game last night..."We have met the enemy...and they are US". The Spurs were beaten at their own game - defense. In other words, if the Spurs are "a group of dip players", the Pistons must, be, too; the similarities are uncanny. And, when you get right down to the bottom line...the Pistons didn't even beat the Spurs, the Spurs beat the Spurs.
Ok. But, but that's gotta cut both ways. We get laughed at and sniped at when we say the same thing about the Spurs (I'm not saying YOU do it, but other Pistons fans certainly do).
Last edited by pache100; 01-13-2006 at 02:31 PM.
Utah matchue up with us very well. And they beat us. But at least we don't play them again.
But the Spurs need to start Ginobli. This is a bit ridiculous. You can face those other weak teams in the West in your current condition but if you want to beat Miami and Detriot you need to start Ginobli. And even Nazr, eventhough he cheats.
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