Damn, it's gonna be a war

[TheAdmiral#50]

May the best team win! As for me, I hope it's us. This series will be tight and I think it will come down to seven games. GO SPURS GO!

[beirmeistr]

I think the Spurs have an excellent opportunity against the Pistons. The defenses are about the same but the Spurs offense is explosive. They could bury the Pistons with some good scoring spurts now and then. Th Pistons are hotheaded and will have a tendency to have foul trouble--the Wallaces. I think Duncan and Mohammed will do weell against the Wallaces. Spurs in 5 or 6.

[ducks]

Agreed......

you can tell some of these guys have LOTS of experience with excuses...

its sad, really.

I DO NOT USE EXCUSES WHEN SPURS LOSE
YOU BETTER NOT USE EXCUSES WHEN THE PISTONS LOOK LIKE JV AGAINST VARISTY

[mookie2001]

Billups has owned Parker every time they've played, he's shooting something like 60% against him for his career.

Who gets to chase Rasheed around the 3 pt. line, Tim or Nazr, and do you really think whoever it is will keep up?

thats pretty good for chauncey, but his drives will be taken away and he'll be forced to shoot jumpers, he can put up nashlike numbers and it wont mean

and horry can defend rasheed in the clutch, he's very familar with him

[FearDaFro]

I DO NOT USE EXCUSES WHEN SPURS LOSE
YOU BETTER NOT USE EXCUSES WHEN THE PISTONS LOOK LIKE JV AGAINST VARISTY

I never once have blamed anyone but the players for losing.

I don't blame luck, bad calls, and I don't look to excuse everything.

Detroit went into Miami, got SHAFTED on the calls, but proved agaian that PLAYERS win games, not refs.

In the end, the tougher team always wins.

blaming the refs are for losers. I'm not a loser.

[FearDaFro]

I'd also like to add that sheed plays duncan better than just about ANYBODY.

[mookie2001]

Det would have been beaten by denver, seattle and phx, houston and dallas too
they could have beaten memphis though

[FearDaFro]

Det would have been beaten by denver, seattle and phx, houston and dallas too
they could have beaten memphis though

I smell trophy envy.

....and who did you manage to lose to last year?

Oh yeah, the same team we SMOKED in 5 games.

[ducks]

I'd also like to add that sheed plays duncan better than just about ANYBODY.

TOO BAD THAT TP AND MANU ARE BETTER THIS YEAR THEN LAST AND MANU WAS A ALLSTAR

[ducks]

Suns Would Have Rolled The Pistons

[SPARKY]

I smell ass and Mad Dog. Be gone.

[mookie2001]

I smell trophy envy.

....and who did you manage to lose to last year?

Oh yeah, the same team we SMOKED in 5 games.

thats cool man i think Det is in for a rude awakening after playing all those fairyass eastern teams

[SPARKY]

I smell trophy envy.

....and who did you manage to lose to last year?

Oh yeah, the same team we SMOKED in 5 games.

Not exactly the same after Evil busted his knee, but whatever makes you feel better.

[FearDaFro]

Suns Would Have Rolled The Pistons

Miami would have rolled the Spurs :p

You might have beaten Philly, though.

[FromWayDowntown]

You're seriously smoking something if you think this one is going to be easy.

If you've been watching carefully for the last few years, you've undoubtedly noted a few things that are true:

1. Tony Parker struggles on both ends against big, strong guards.

2. Manu Ginobili is a good, but not a great jumpshooter. He's best when he's penetrating.

3. There are actually a few guys in the NBA who defend Tim Duncan well.

4. Neither Rasho Nesterovic nor Nazr Mohammed is a consistent offensive force and each struggles to rebound against big bodied rebounders.

5. The Spurs score well and easily against poor defensive teams, but stagnate and struggle against teams that don't have to double the post.

Now, as it relates to this series, how do those things come into play?

1. The Pistons have a big, strong guard who has largely dominated Tony Parker in head-to-head matchups. CHECK.

2. Like the Lakers last year, and better than the Nuggets or Sonics could (based on personnel) the Pistons should be able to effectively clog the lane and deny penetration to Manu, turning him mostly into a jump shooter in half court sets. CHECK

3. Rasheed Wallace has, throughout his career, defended Tim Duncan better than any player in the NBA. In their only playoff matchup (1999 WCF), Wallace held Duncan to under 17 ppg and under 10 rpg. CHECK.

4. With the bruisers the Pistons have in the paint (Ben Wallace, Elden Campbell, etc) Nazr and Rasho are going to have to hold their own on the glass or they will be, essentially negated and very easily. CHECK

5. Detroit's bigs are good enough that they won't have to double Tim on the block. And Larry Brown has shown that he is unwilling to double dominant bigs in the post except in the most dire cir stances. That means no doubles on Tim; that means no open looks at 3 from the perimeter (or very few) unless the Spurs really move the ball. They've not shown a consistent willingness to do that on a regular basis. CHECK.

I'm not saying that the Spurs are done or won't win; but I am saying that this series has the potential to be ridiculously tight.

[mavsfan1000]

Here is a crazy idea. Put Parker on Hamilton and Ginobili or Bowen on Billups.

[SPARKY]

Problem is, Detroit actually has to try to score the rock against the Spurs. Detroit's offense is quite often painfully inept at doing so against any team, let alone the best defensive unit in the National Basketball Association.

[FearDaFro]

Here is a crazy idea. Put Parker on Hamilton and Ginobili or Bowen on Billups.

There would be nothing left of parker by halftime after all those screens....

[timvp]

You're seriously smoking something if you think this one is going to be easy.

If you've been watching carefully for the last few years, you've undoubtedly noted a few things that are true:

1. Tony Parker struggles on both ends against big, strong guards.

2. Manu Ginobili is a good, but not a great jumpshooter. He's best when he's penetrating.

3. There are actually a few guys in the NBA who defend Tim Duncan well.

4. Neither Rasho Nesterovic nor Nazr Mohammed is a consistent offensive force and each struggles to rebound against big bodied rebounders.

5. The Spurs score well and easily against poor defensive teams, but stagnate and struggle against teams that don't have to double the post.

Now, as it relates to this series, how do those things come into play?

1. The Pistons have a big, strong guard who has largely dominated Tony Parker in head-to-head matchups. CHECK.

2. Like the Lakers last year, and better than the Nuggets or Sonics could (based on personnel) the Pistons should be able to effectively clog the lane and deny penetration to Manu, turning him mostly into a jump shooter in half court sets. CHECK

3. Rasheed Wallace has, throughout his career, defended Tim Duncan better than any player in the NBA. In their only playoff matchup (1999 WCF), Wallace held Duncan to under 17 ppg and under 10 rpg. CHECK.

4. With the bruisers the Pistons have in the paint (Ben Wallace, Elden Campbell, etc) Nazr and Rasho are going to have to hold their own on the glass or they will be, essentially negated and very easily. CHECK

5. Detroit's bigs are good enough that they won't have to double Tim on the block. And Larry Brown has shown that he is unwilling to double dominant bigs in the post except in the most dire cir stances. That means no doubles on Tim; that means no open looks at 3 from the perimeter (or very few) unless the Spurs really move the ball. They've not shown a consistent willingness to do that on a regular basis. CHECK.

I'm not saying that the Spurs are done or won't win; but I am saying that this series has the potential to be ridiculously tight.

FWD knows the deal.

[timvp]

But if the Spurs come out clicking on all cylinders, they'll be fine.

[Kori Ellis]

I agree with FWD's assessment and I think the games will be close (just like in the Suns series) but I still think the Spurs win in Five.

[ducks]

Problem is, Detroit actually has to try to score the rock against the Spurs. Detroit's offense is quite often painfully inept at doing so against any team, let alone the best defensive unit in the National Basketball Association.

NO KIDDING THE SPURS DO NOT NEED TO PUT A 100 ON THE BOARD IN ORDER TO WIN
THEY ARE PLAYING THE PISTONS NOT THE SUNS

[FearDaFro]

None of you guys even mentioned the fact that Prince basically ate you alive the last game....

[SPARKY]

Remember what happened a second after this picture was taken, Piston fan?

[mavsfan1000]

Hopefully Detroit can get a second championship but I don't see it happening against a tenacious Spurs team.