I only meant a mismatch as far as Manu guarding Prince (hoping that Prince can exploit the length disparity), guarding Manu obviously has to be done by committee.
I agree with that minus the last one. Manu and Tayshaun are not tied. I put a tie for Duncan and Sheed because of Sheed's defense. I know Tim's a better player, but if he can't move the way he normally would, it won't matter.
Chauncey will probably win out between him and Parker, but I meant more of what they do for their teams.
Pretty much the same as it was last year save a few changes.
TP is playing better this year with his mid-range game, but the Pistons will shut down most of his penetration probably.
TD is getting a bit healthier, but I expect about the same from him as last year.
Hopefully Manu continues to get his game back.
The biggest differnece I see for the Spurs this year is Finley. I expect that Finley will have a very good playoff run. He can easily be the X factor for this team, especially if Manu isn't at 100%.
I hope Beno has matured and won't be a turnover machine like he was in last years Finals. If so, I would love to see Brent be backup PG.
No telling what will happen with Nick, but even though he hasn't played well lately, I still wouldn't mind seeing the ball in his hand late in a game...theres just something about that guy when its all on the line.
I think Rasho will play much better in his backup role than he did in last years Finals. Last year he looked kinda lost in the Finals, but he just seems to be more agressive this year.
Bowen's continued evolution of his midrange game certainly give us hope for good play out of him. You know he will bring the defense, but more offense would be a big plus.
Detroit needs three body to contain Duncan , both Wallace and Macdyes
I think Pop will put TP on Billups most of the game but will sic Bruce on Mr. Big Shot in crunchtime. Hamilton has turned into a money player too but he isn't the killer like Billups.
Also, even Mr. Big Shot is human. He missed a big free throw down the stretch in game seven last year. Probably because Bruce was in his head a little.
Assuming that any of this comes to fruition, considering the way the teams match-up head-to-head strikes me as a horrendous means to analyze a series. For instance, the comparison of the Spurs bench vs. the Pistons bench (or comparing particular players on each bench) had nothing to do with Antonio McDyess killing the Spurs on side pick-and-rolls in games 3 and 4 of last year's Finals. What matters is the way that the schemes match up and how well the players function within those schemes to make plays that matter.
Is Robert Horry better than Rasheed Wallace? Absolutely not. Did Robert Horry make the big play in Game 5 when Rasheed Wallace made a huge mistake? Absolutely.
I think there are a number of schematic issues that arise in a Spurs-Pistons matchup, but I think the most important from the Spurs standpoint are two things: (1) the ability of Tony Parker to hit the 15-18 jumper on a consistent basis and make the Pistons aggressively defend the high pick-and-roll or the elbow pick-and-roll; and (2) the ability of the Spurs to put bodies on the Pistons after missed shots and end possessions. Do both of those things, and the Spurs create great opportunities for themselves.
Of course, this all depends on about a million things happening between now and early June; the Spurs just need to worry about winning in Utah on Tuesday.
I still think MIA is coming out of the east.
If the Pistons think that Tony is Tony from last year, they're done. Teams know that he wants to score in the lane, and he does it anyway. One of the opposing coaches commented that Tony was the only player he ever saw working on layups and finishing in the lane in warmups. The killer is his new jumpshot. It started falling in Late January or early February, so Detroit hasn't seen it yet in person. It's not 3 point range (yet), but it's solid and consistant, with good rotation, out to about 18-20 feet. He took apart LA with it one game. If you play off him and let him hit a few, you're in for a long ing night, whoever's gym you're in. If he gets into a rhythm, he'll go for 30+ on you because you won't be able to decide how to play him once the jumper is falling.
Spurs in 7 again. They won't have homecourt advantage.
I predict: They win 1 of 2 on the road in the first two. 2 of 3 on their homecourt, and then another 1 of 2 in Detroit.
Agreed. But while Tony isn't (apparently) Tony from last year, neither, it would seem, is Tim Duncan of this year the Tim Duncan from last year. The question should a Spurs/Pistons series come to pass, is whether the improvement in Tony's play can offset whatever reductions may exist in Tim's play.
Still, I think the more important thing is to focus on dealing with getting this division clinched and then worrying about a first round opponent. Just as Jim jinxes games with his threads, I have a major fear that a thread like this will bring bad karma.
In fact, I'm supers ious enough to be done posting here.
Amused brought his pessemistic ideas here. I think we'll be fine.Agreed. But while Tony isn't (apparently) Tony from last year, neither, it would seem, is Tim Duncan of this year the Tim Duncan from last year. The question should a Spurs/Pistons series come to pass, is whether the improvement in Tony's play can offset whatever reductions may exist in Tim's play.
Still, I think the more important thing is to focus on dealing with getting this division clinched and then worrying about a first round opponent. Just as Jim jinxes games with his threads, I have a major fear that a thread like this will bring bad karma.
In fact, I'm supers ious enough to be done posting here.
Guys, y'all are sleepin' on Tayshaun Prince ........... this is not last year's Prince.
tayshaun seems worse this year to me. they completely ignored him from the offense up until recently feels like
but i'm not a pistons fan so i'm probably wrong about him
True. He's worse offensively.
thats what i thought
4 percent dropoff in both FG% and FT%
Less points, less blocks, less assists, less rebounds than last season.
And defensively.
I'm going to play the role of cwalk
Parker<<<<<<Billups
Superman<<<<<Rip
Jesus<<<<<<<Prince
The Incredible Hulk=Ben Wallace
King Kong<<<<<<Rasheed
k, so i despite manu's sketchy season the starting 5 matchups will be
TD = sheed (and maybe sheed should get a slight edge if only b/c sheed can get his shot off over TD anytime but not vice versa)
parker < billups
manu > tayshaun
bruce > rip (bruce can shut him down)
nazr << ben
(sigh)
but i still come to pistons in 6
TD = sheed
hold up timvp, i know TD is the better player but here's my thing
sheed can guard TD better than anyone int he league. sheed can block td's shot anytime PLUS get his shot off over TD anytime he wants to. ask duncan and he'll admit that much himself. which is why a lot of people will go with the canceling out of sheed and duncan. duncan will however get more blocks and boards than sheed. but his FG% will be low when goin up against sheed
I think team chemistry on the game day will be the deciding factor. I see good chances for Spurs to win in 6. But as many has posted here - it's a lot of basketball to be played before the finals.
Ask anyone in the NBA whether they'd want Sheed or a one-legged Tim Duncan on their team and you'd get a unanimous answer.
This is all futile. The Heat WILL win the east!
thats a fair assessment
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