My point is, in stretches, Parker can help in ball denial by guarding Hamilton. He gets his shot off generally, but looks to get closer to the lane to release it. A mad quick player can frustrate him.
And this is the fatal flaw in the theory that Manu shouldn't be put on Rip...
Manu is going to wear out if he's playing against Steve Kerr...Manu wears himself out. Manu wears out because of the way he plays the game. It's got nothing to do with who he is defending. Putting him on Hamilton or Prince is not going to cause him to expend any more, or less energy, than he spends anyway.
Might as well give Rip a dose of his own frenetic medicine while Manu is on the court.
Sorry Whottt. As mentioned, Manu would get worn down chasing Rip -- and yes, running around will make him even more tired than normal. Bowen and Pop have already both talked about the pending matchup of Bowen on Rip. So that's what you are likely going to see.Parker guards Billups
Manu guards Rip
Bruce guards Prince...
Yeah...if we don't put Manu on Rip Manu will save his energy...that'll be a first.
He'll be able to last 35 minutes compared to like 20 if he has to chase Rip around.
Well it's good to know Manu can take it easy now...too bad he's not going to anyway...
Manu plays all out when he is in the game...he's not going to use any more energy than he does anyway.
I must be the only guy in the world that's ever seen Manu play a game.
Whottt, I get what you are saying but it's logical that chasing a guy like Rip will make him even MORE tired. It's simple logic. It's not about not ever seeing Manu play .. have you ever seen Rip play?
If he's not chasing Rip around he's going to be chasing something else around...he's going to chase because that's what he does when he is in the game.
Or you've never watched Rip run around the court like Reggie Miller on speed.
Prince doesn't move 1/4th as much as Rip does. Against Prince, Manu will just have to not let him post up on him or hit open threes.
I predict that Manu will run around on the court like a bat out of whether he is on Hamilton or not...it's what makes him great.
Manu will still be frenetic, I don't care if he's guarding Steve Kerr...
Manu wears himself out...that's what you guys aren't seeing.
Well if Prince is camped in the corner, Manu better not be running too much or he'll be benched after Prince hits a wide open three.
Like I said, we'll see a lot of switches in this series. But Bowen always starts out guarding Rip .. he was even talking about it on TV like two days ago. Sure Pop might switch him onto Prince if Prince is going off or something .. but hopefully that isn't happening.
Look...here's the deal...
A.Rip Hamilton is not Jordan...but he did play with Jordan, in fact, Jordan traded him away IIRC...and his 20PPG did exactly squat as far as getting his team into the playoffs in Washington.
B.The Detroit Pistons are not the greatest offensive team in NBA history. The team we just played is a much better offensive team, as matter, of fact, every team we have played so far is a much better offensive team. We...are a much better offensive team.
C. The Pistons win because of their D. Breaking their D is the key to beating them, not shutting down their mighty 92ppg offense.
It's this type of mindset that I find frustrating...it's why we lose. We are over-rating our opponents and under-rating our own team. Instead of making them worry about us...we are starting off on the defensive. We are being a counterpuncher...I hate it when the Spurs do this. It's why I am forced to pick against them.
But since you guys are worried about offense....here's my point...
Now humor me for a second, and let's pretend Rip Hamilton isn't Wilt Chamberlain, Michael Jordan, George Gervin, Allen Iverson, Jerry West, TMac and Kobe, all rolled into one...I know it's a taking a huge leap from reality to do so...but just humor me, please...
Remember when the 49'ers signed Deion Sanders and everyone thought it was to stop Michael Irvin? Then it turned out they put Sanders on Harper and doubled Irvin, enroute to making the Superbowl? The Niners were brilliant, they used their stopper to stop the guy they had a better chance of stopping...
That same logic applies here...
We can stop Prince easier than Hamilton...we may not be able to do much about Hamilton...he's plays a team style of offense...
So if we really want to stop their mighty offense...why not use our defensive ace to stop the guy we have a better chance of stopping...Prince? Stopping one is better than stopping none.
What makes you think Bowen can stop Prince?
Bowen guarding Hamilton will keep Ginobili fresh.
Whott, my point is that you are under the premise that Bowen can't slow Rip (and that no one can) so we should just let him go.
This season against the Spurs, Rip went 4-for-14 for 8 points and 4-for-12 for 11 points. So if you know that Bowen can slow Rip, why do you want to switch Bowen onto Prince?
And BTW Whottt, no one is saying that the Spurs offense isn't going to win them games. But the Spurs have to D up too -- and we are just discussing matchups.
There are no gurantees on anything...but my mindset is this...Hamilton is the guy used to getting the ace defender. Prince is used to getting the second tier defender. On top of that, he's younger and less experienced...I don't think he's had the Bruce experience yet.
I don't think he'll be prepared for it mentally or physically. Hamilton OTOH will...And yes I know Bruce defends Hamilton about as well as anyone in the NBA...but that's not the point...because Hamilton will still be effective Bruce or not.
On top of that...Prince is much better at driving to the basket than Hamilton...Prince can only hurt you really if he's getting to the basket...
Unlike TimVP...IMO, I think what makes Bruce a great defender is his ability to stay in front of his man and his great vertical foots quickness...even when going backwards. Yes Bruce can and will chase guys all night long...but IMO, you are focusing on the hustling aspect of his D, and not the skill that actually makes him a great defender.
We don't see it as much anymore because Bruce is always trying to force guys to the baseline, he's usually forcing shooters to drive into seven footers...but his best skill is actually staying in front of his man on drives.
Now here is where it's complicated...and it might even sound contradictory..but..
I think every team goes into playing the Pistons with the mindset of...force Hamilton to drive and force Prince to shoot.. and they are right to do so...
The reason it doesn't work is because it's hard to force Hamilton to drive, and it's hard to force Prince to shoot. Well...we aren't going to force Hamilton to drive, he's a vet and knows his limitations.
But we can force Prince to shoot. My way we are using Bruce to turn Prince into the shooter...it's kind of like we are using him as a decoy...he won't be playing D as hard as he usually does...but I claim he will be just as effective nontheless....because he'll make it more attractive to the Pistons for Prince to shoot.
No wonder Whottt is picking Detroit.
The Spurs are cool, but wrastling fans stick together.
Um...that guy in the bottom picture is a hardcore Spursfan....he's not rooting for the Pistons(and neither am I)
I don't get your point...
But I evidentally "believe" in the Spurs more than you do...I don't have my panties in a bunch over Rip Hamilton...and I don't think they are fit to hold the Spurs jock in the talent department...it shouldn't be a close series...The Pistons would have been beaten by every team we have met in the post season.
Then again...I thought that when you guys were handwrining over Denver as well...and sure enough Pop proved ya'll right by getting stupid in the 4th of game 1...and so for that reason...I still must say: Pistons over Spurs. Until Pop once and for all overcomes his choke loving tendencies(I've been very happy with him lately BTW).
'Twas a joke. Didn't mean to offend you or that wrestler.
Ginobili is going to get 3 or 4 offensive fouls off of prince when Tayshawn tries to post him up in this series.
You just watch.
So tell me TimVP...are you a big fan of the Pistons' "absolutely no ing interior scoring presence" type team? I'm not.
Maybe we should trade Duncan so we can have money to sign the midrange shooting BigDogg and become Pistons South.
This series shoulodn't even be close...if we lose...and if I don't see a major choke(and no, Barry going 1-3 in 10 minutes of play isn't a choke) causing it...then it will all be on Pop. We'll have lost because Larry Brown is a better coach than Pop.
I think it will be. Pistons in 6.
Last edited by whottt; 06-07-2005 at 03:03 AM.
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