Great. Same team = Great for Miami
I don't agree with those defensive matchups. No way would I have Manu chasing Rip all over the court, having Rip rest on defense guarding Bowen, and have Manu drained in addition to having to face Prince. You take away their biggest offensive threat with Bowen, put Manu on Prince and take your chances with Tony on Chauncey.
Timvp's Quotes
When he hasn't shot over him he was busy bobbling the ball or committing offensive fouls on Wade. And that has happened about 3-4 times easy. Prince is definetely NOT dominating that matchup at all.Yes he has. And he's been able to shoot over him.
Sure he can hit from a lot of places. But if you body him up like Wade did, you an draw some charges on him. He isn't extremely proficient at taking a bump and fading on his man and scoring. He has to have fairly deep position to be most efficient. I don't see why Prince will be any better against the Spurs D, than the Heat's.Huh?
He has one of the best mid-range games in the league. He can hit from a lot of places on the court.
I agree. He is underrated. The engine of the team? I don't really even know what that means. The Wallace's have just as much impact on D if not more. But Prince does have a huge impact on stopping his man, and still remaining a threat on offense. Not a HUGE threat, but a very good 2 way player.Well Prince is a highly underrated player. He leads the Pistons in +/- in both 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.
I remember Manu guarding Rip in the last game and Rip didn't even get off a clean look. I remember Manu making him even bobble the ball a couple times. I think he even blocked his shot once. Manu can guard Rip if he was told to. Rip hasn't exactly been dominating these playoffs, he is not going to score 40 on you if you don't have Bowen on him. If he does he will need a ton of shots to do so.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 you put Manu on Rip, Manu would have to be put on IVs at halftime.
What it means is that if Duncan can't rise above the Wallace's defense and do what he has to do to lead the team to victory, then he isn't the dominating force that he is made to be.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.
No offense, but that's suicide. Billups is too quick for Bowen. Manu wouldn't last long chasing Rip and Prince would torture Parker.
No way the Spurs could ever align like that.
Good point but the '03 Spurs were champions2) 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.
The Pistons played against Nazr as a Spur.3) Detroit hasn't had the chance to play against us with Nazr yet this year. He chances the equation a bit.
But point taken.
True.4) The Billups-Parker matchup is definitely scary. If Tony struggles, things could get ugly.
Pistons can win on the road just as easy as they win at home. I wouldn't call it that much of an advantage.5) We have HCA. That is huge.
Good point.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.
True.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.
You didn't read what I said. I said I'd go with those assignments in the final minutes of a close game.
this hopeful spurs-pistons finals will not be about the defense but more about the OFFENSE. both teams will play superb D, we are talking about the 2 most consistent teams in the league. im also afraid that if we get by PHX, spurs will be not be used to going into the lane and getting roughed up again after the open lane galore phoenix has been giving us all series so far. so i think its gonna come down to who will be more productive offensively b/c our defenses should neutralize each other.
That didn't deserve a logical response.
My bad. But even in a close match, as Timvp said, I don't agree with those matchups. Billups would blow by Bruce and Prince can just take it right into the paint and shoot over Tony.
Again, I think we could only do this for limited possessions at the end of a close game. I don't think Bowen is too slow for Billups. If he can guard Marion and Allen, why would he be too slow for Billups? Billups has a great first step but he isn't unguardable by Bruce.
I guess my subconscious is just telling me that Parker won't be able to hang with Billups in the crunch. Billups is bigger and stronger and is a tough matchup for TP. I could also see the unwanted effect of Tony losing confidence when Billups nails clutch shots over him. He more than any other Piston is the assassin for that team. I really feel Bowen will be guarding him when it matters.
DET doesn't have Kerr.Good point but the '03 Spurs were champions
I see the series going to a seventh game easily, that's why I feel the advantage is there. I agree that DET is tough on the road though.Pistons can win on the road just as easy as they win at home. I wouldn't call it that much of an advantage.
1) Billups has the bulk, but Tony has the speed. I like to think Tony will have no problem getting into the lane and break down Detroit's defense. Billups can try to post up, but I don't think the Pistons run their offense that way.
2) Agreed. Prince has the wingspan, but Manu is crafty in piling up fouls on the opposing defender.
3) I really don't see the Pistons doubling Timmy that much. Brown doesn't like to double team unless he really has to. If they do, Nazr should be able to rack up points and offensive rebounds or Horry should be free.
4) Rip isn't 100% so I don't see him guarding Manu too much. Most of his energy will be spent on the Piston offense.
5) Pistons are good but we're the best passing team around the perimeter and with kick-outs.
6) Manu should be able to guard Prince on post-ups. He'll have 2 seven footers for help.
7) Disagree wholeheartedly. If you were the Pop, wouldn't you want to beat your teacher? Pop has 2 rings to Larry Brown's one. Pop will have a level head just like he's instilled into his team.
another thing i wanna add is how will the spurs deal with a game 7 situation? yes they have experience but the only elimination game MOST of these guys have played in was a game 5 against seattle a couple of years ago. i know these guys are poised but with a game 7 and an anything can happen scenario, it'd be interesting to see how SA responds. because as most of you know, anytime SA faces an elimination game they havent faired too well.
1) Prince can't dominate that matchup. Wade is Miami's first option ... not to mention one of the best players in the league. I never said Prince > Wade. Prince, offensively, is the Pistons fourth option most of the team.
2) Prince has two turnovers in the series.
Wade drew one charge on him in two games. And that was a horrible call. It was a blatant flop by Wade.Sure he can hit from a lot of places. But if you body him up like Wade did, you an draw some charges on him. He isn't extremely proficient at taking a bump and fading on his man and scoring. He has to have fairly deep position to be most efficient. I don't see why Prince will be any better against the Spurs D, than the Heat's.
Prince can score from all over. That's one of the strengths to his game.
Being the team's best +/- in both the regular season and the playoffs means that he's a huge part of that team. I never said he was a huge offensive threat.I agree. He is underrated. The engine of the team? I don't really even know what that means. The Wallace's have just as much impact on D if not more. But Prince does have a huge impact on stopping his man, and still remaining a threat on offense. Not a HUGE threat, but a very good 2 way player.
You mean the game where Manu played 16 minutes and had no blocks?I remember Manu guarding Rip in the last game and Rip didn't even get off a clean look. I remember Manu making him even bobble the ball a couple times. I think he even blocked his shot once.
Yeah he can, but that's not what you want. Manu would average like 16 minutes per game for the series.Manu can guard Rip if he was told to.
So I can't say that the Wallaces can guard him because that means Duncan isn't as good as he is made to be? Doesn't make sense to me.What it means is that if Duncan can't rise above the Wallace's defense and do what he has to do to lead the team to victory, then he isn't the dominating force that he is made to be.
Not like you had one anyways.
Then I guess by your logic, Duncan sucks. Because Rasheed Wallace (for the most part) has owned him for a long, long time.What it means is that if Duncan can't rise above the Wallace's defense and do what he has to do to lead the team to victory, then he isn't the dominating force that he is made to be.
Yes, if in a 7 game series he couldn't outplay Rasheed by a large margin, then yes he is overrated.
That's true as well....
By who? Wallace has always played Duncan well. You'd think that'd be calculated into his "rating" by now.
And we still have Big Dogg Robinson if we start struggling on offense. He's another player Timmy and Manu could kick it out to and score, even with a hand in his face. Bowen is another player that is going to have to step up and hit his corner 3's cause the Pistons will not guard him. Rip is going to be cheating off bruce and pestering Duncan with Rasheed. Will Bowen make them pay???
Lets first get by the suns first and then we could start talking about it more.
The Spurs, while playing well, haven't won jack yet. They get two more then I will be ready to talk Miami or Detroit.
another thing i wanna add is how will the spurs deal with a game 7 situation? yes they have experience but the only elimination game MOST of these guys have played in was a game 5 against seattle a couple of years ago. i know these guys are poised but with a game 7 and an anything can happen scenario, it'd be interesting to see how SA responds. because as most of you know, anytime SA faces an elimination game they havent faired too well.
anyone?
they are 2-0 so far this year. Lets hope that keeps up.
All I am saying is Prince has not even really caused many problems with his postups on Wade. I know for a fact on 3-4 plays Prince either turned it over or ended up up bobbling the ball without even getting off a good shot. The point is Prince has deliberately taken Wade in the post about 6-7 times, and has deliverd maybe once or twice. Not very effiecient for such a dominant post player as you seem to be alluding to.1) Prince can't dominate that matchup. Wade is Miami's first option ... not to mention one of the best players in the league. I never said Prince > Wade. Prince, offensively, is the Pistons fourth option most of the team.
And both were on post ups. And there was a good 4-5 plays where he wasn't even close on the play. He has missed more 1 on 1 post ups on Wade then made. Thats not dominance IMO.2) Prince has two turnovers in the series.
Yes, and more often than not Prince has not delivered against Wade in 1 on 1 situations.Wade drew one charge on him in two games. And that was a horrible call. It was a blatant flop by Wade.
Sure. But he isn't a dominant scorer all in all. He isn't a great 3pt shooter, and isn't really a dominant post player. He can have some solid games where he hits from all over the place, but I don't see him as being unstoppable against the Spurs. If he is, it won't be solely cause of not having a long 3 guarding him, but also some weak team defense.Prince can score from all over. That's one of the strengths to his game.
You make it sound like he will dominate any Spur and be a huge matchup problem. I don't see it that way.Being the team's best +/- in both the regular season and the playoffs means that he's a huge part of that team. I never said he was a huge offensive threat.
No actually it may have been Game 1. But I know for a fact there was one play where Manu forced Rip to lay the ball on the side of the backboard, and it wasn't cause of the Spurs help defenders.You mean the game where Manu played 16 minutes and had no blocks?
If Manu gets tired that easy than I don't know what to say? He must not be that great of an overall player if he gets tired guarding Rip 16 minutes, and yet other teams can put defenders on Rip and make him shoot 4-18 for a game. I'll take my chances on Manu guarding Rip if Prince were as dominant as you say.Yeah he can, but that's not what you want. Manu would average like 16 minutes per game for the series.
.So I can't say that the Wallaces can guard him because that means Duncan isn't as good as he is made to be? Doesn't make sense to me
If Duncan didn't clearly outplay them, and play his type of championship ball, then yes, he isn't the best player in the world. Duncan should be able to get numbers even if the rest of the Spurs struggle IMO. All great players can find ways to at least be a dominating force even if the defender on them is elite. Duncan can't play like he did in Game 1 of the Denver series 3 or 4 times in the Detroit series. Otherwise he is simply not the best player in the game.
Played him well? Sure. But if he was playing near the level of Duncan or making him shoot 35% for a series, than I can't bring myself to say Duncan is the best in the game, even if his teamattes underacheived.
The team that wins the backcourt battles will win the war.
To beat the Pistons, I think you have to breakdown their interior defense. That's not a small task but AI was able to do it in games 3 and most of game 4, when Philly played Detroit. And we have the bigger version of AI in Manu.
Also, I was reading on the Pistons board that they were a little worried about playing Phoenix. It seems that Nash gave them problems in their regular season matchups. Well, if TP can incorporat a little bit of Nash's game from his matchup in the Conference Finals, that would be another way to cause havoc in the lane. He's just as quick and elusive but he has to focus on playmaking because of all the help defense he will be attracting from the Pistons bigs.
As far as Billups and Hamilton, they are primarily perimeter players. I do not think they are very good at penetrating unless you go for one of their pumpfakes. They don't really beat guys off the dribble like TP and Manu. And Hamilton isn't really a three point threat. Billups will try to post up Parker but TP has post defense experience and he's stronger than he was even from a year ago.
Tayshaun Prince will be a tough matchup. But if he becomes a problem, I think Big Dog could post him up and defend him on the post. He's kind of light in the butt. It will be interesting to see how they try to exploit his size.
I like our chances against Detroit.
No it won't be a cakewalk if the Spurs and the Pistons met in the finals. But I don't exactly see the Pistons having any dominating matchups. Thats all. It would be a tight battle. But technically the Spurs are the more balanced team. But as we seen in the past Parker can dissapear at times, Manu gets too tired, Duncan loses focus at times, and the offense can go stale. This season the Spurs offense was a lot better than the Pistons, and even slightly better on D. But of course the Pistons matchup well position for position, and Billups is a big game player. Which is why I say if Parker just played him to a stand still, then they would beat the Pistons. If not it would be tough, but not impossible.
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote