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The Heat might not make it out of the second round. And even if they do, that's going to be a tough, long series...
if the pistons aren't playing in this years playoffs then yes
even the suns and mavs could beat the heat in a playoff series let alone the pistons
The Heat might not make it out of the second round. And even if they do, that's going to be a tough, long series...
Detroit versus New Jersey in the ECF.
Book it.
I agree. Miami just doesn't have it this year...
We shall see.
Pistons in 3.
Ohh, and I'd bet you'll see Rip on Manu. He has really picked up his defense against the quick slashers, so I'm guessing he'll be on him now.
Billups >> Parker
Rip < Manu
Prince > Bowen
Sheed < Duncan (probably equal if Timmy doesn't get better)
Ben >> Nazr
Dice > You
Pistons offense v. Spurs defense: I think when the Pistons play their best basketball, move the ball from side to side, get everyone involved, Flip's offense is pretty tough to defend. Pop's defense forces the ball to the baselines and tries to use the baseline as another defender. Pistons have great baseline jumpshooters. Bruce Bowen and Manu Ginobili are excellent perimeter defenders. Tim Duncan is a smart and great help defender. Rasheed spaces the floor well to cause defenses to adjust.
EDGE: slight edge to Pistons offense
Spurs offense v. Pistons defense: Tony Parker has been amazing this season. His midrange jumpshot has complemented his dribble penetration to keep defenses honest. When Manu Ginobili is healthy, his spontaneity and creativity keeps defenses on their heels. Tim Duncan is one of the top post offensive players in the league, even injured. Fortunately for the Pistons, with Rasheed and Ben, the Pistons can do a fairly adequate job on Tim with one-on-one coverage. Even though the Pistons have not been nearly as consistent defensively as last year, in recent weeks, the Pistons have been locking down teams better, and more especially in the second half and more specifically the fourth quarter even after giving up big first half offensive outputs. Detroit has been able to really stifle great offenses like Phoenix, Dallas, and a hot shooting Milwaukee ballclub in the second halves of their recent meetings. The Pistons, like the Spurs, are one of the best defensive teams in the league. And, when the Pistons play their best defense, they are great. Lindsey Hunter's healthy return has also given the bench some energy on the defensive end. When the Spurs click on all cylinders on offense, working inside out, driving and dishing, and everyone healthy, they are extremely difficult to stop.
EDGE: Tie
3-point shooting: Last year, I think the 3-point shooting may have helped determined the outcome of the series. This year, I'm hoping the same, as Detroit has an offense and personnel to really excel with the 3-point shot. The Pistons have been a top three shooting team from the arc all season. In the playoffs, however, Horry, Finley, and Van Exel might turn this aspect of the game into their own version of a corporate takeover. Those three and Barry and Manu are all dangerous from outside, while the Pistons really only have Chauncey and Rasheed, and maybe Tayshaun.
EDGE: Pistons ... based on the regular season so far, but with hesitation
Rebounding: Last year, Tim Duncan was a possessed animal on the glass. In the two meetings this regular season, the Pistons used their rebounding advantage to help win the two games. Nazr Mohammed is starting to get into form. And, Bruce Bowen has shown recent glimpses as to being a more than adequate rebounder for his size and position. Tim Duncan's PF is cause for concern, but he still gets around 10 rebounds a game. Wallace, Rasheed, and Prince are almost always good for 20 rebounds a game. McDyess has been much better on the glass recently as well.
EDGE: Pistons
Bench depth: Two former all stars and three former long-time NBA starters come off the bench for the Spurs. The Pistons have McDyess and Lindsey Hunter and a whole punch of unproven players or past-their prime vets. The Pistons will likely use a 7-8 man rotation unless there is foul trouble and it is yet to be determined whether Mo Evans, Carlos Delfino, or maybe even Tony Delk will be that 8th player. In recent weeks, the Pistons bench is playing a little more and are contributing more as well. Flip's indecision on the set rotation is a concern for some Pistons fans. Spurs have one of the top 3 benches in the NBA.
EDGE: Spurs
Free throws: Ben Wallace is awful. Tim and Tony can hit them, but every once in a while, for some reason, they miss important free throws down the stretch. Chauncey is a 90% free throw shooter. Rip Hamilton is an 85% free throw shooter. The Pistons keep the ball in their hands at the end of close games.
EDGE: Pistons
Coaching: Pop has proven it with three different teams. He's a great coach and motivator. Flip has failed countless times. He has yet to really prove he can make proper adjustments in the playoffs, especially on the spur (no pun intended) of the moment.
EDGE: Spurs by a mile
Turnovers: The Detroit Pistons turn the ball over the least in the NBA, and by a large margin.
EDGE: Pistons
Health: The Detroit core of players are the luckiest group of athletes over the last two years in terms of serious injury and overall health. The Spurs have been banged up all season long, which really makes their record all the more impressive. Tim's foot problems will be tested throughout a grueling playoff run. Manu has had some very good games, but lingering injury seems to have affected him quite a bit this season as well. The Pistons starters seem to keep on trucking. And, Pistons fans knock on wood in the hopes that it continues not only for this season, but for seasons to come.
EDGE: Pistons
The San Antonio Spurs were the better team last year before the series, during the series, and after the series. In most aspects of the game, they were the better team.
This season, I think the Detroit Pistons are the better team in most aspects of the game. That does not guarantee victory should the two teams meet. We don't even know if the two teams will meet at all yet. But, if they do, I think this year, the Pistons have a very good chance against the Spurs. I think they are the better team this season. The Spurs are the defending champs, so the Pistons will have to prove that they are better in order to dethrone them, IF they earn the opportunity by reaching the Finals.
Yeah. Jersey plays them tough, and that Heat defense can't contain RJ or Vince very well let alone Kidd. I think it goes to seven.
In the playoffs, the Heat might sweep the Nets again. I really don't think New Jersey can beat the Heat in a seven game series.
I don't think the heat will sweep the nets, though with Shaq and probably a healthy Alonzo, you never know. Last year's heat team is much better than this year's IMO but they also have a better coach..it's a toss up, I guess. I just hope the nets give the heat a tougher time, at the very least.
NJ is playing really good D lately. I don't think the Heat have any chance to sweep them. I think it will be a long series.
NJ-Mia
Great series. I wouldn't mind 7 games. And NJ wants a rematch that also can motivate them. It will.
The keys Jefferson, Krtic, Mourning, J-Will
Yea.. .pre-mature post tulations...
It's like you hash it over too much..
It's gonna be a battle.. don't over analyze it... WAR is HE LL !!
Delk has a 50 pt game under his belt I belive....when he was with Phoenix6. Tony Delk: I myself don't know much about Delk, but it looks like he can put up points and can shoot the ball.
Too bad the Pistons only play 7
I say Spurs in 6
True, he hasn't played up to what I believe his potential is this year. I think Flip's still trying to effectively utilize his abilities. He's taken too many outside jumpers this year and that's not his game, he's better when he aggressively takes it to the basket which he's done very successfully the last 2 games.
Flip stressed a few games ago that the Pistons were relying too heavily on the outside jumper, that would be fine if we didn't have anyone capable of getting to the basket but Hamilton, Billups and Tayshaun are all capable of taking it to the hole. I'm sure we all know that you need an inside threat to open up the outside.
Hopefully Tay's recent success (21 pts/6 rbds over the last 3 games) is not an aberration but a trend that will carry over to the playoffs.
They have no bench!
The Spurs WILL win the championship.
(I read this in an article published last year, which also predicted the Spurs would win the ring - been searching for the article, ain't found it yet)
The three most reliable statistics for predicting an NBA champion are:
1. Point Differential
2. Opp. FG %
3. # Games won by > 10 pts.
Spurs lead in #1, are 3rd in #2, and they lead in #3.
Also, although it is not part of the prediction model; Spurs are still consistently blowing teams out, Detroit not so much anymore.
Breaking it down position by position might sometimes work for the 1st game of a series, but it irrelevent over the course of a series. With two evenly matched, teams, coaching and defensive adjustments are going to make an enormouse difference. Last year; Pop V. LB was a very close matchup; I don't believe Flip can hang; and his playoff record suggests as much - as his team's productivity historically has diminished, not improved throughout a series.
Blowing out teams consistently? That's not going to happen often in the playoffs...those games are going to be close. Pistons have shown their ability to come back from behind and beat good teams, down 17, down 15, down 20 points. Spurs have had few games like that this season it seems. Maybe because they're blowing out more teams. Not that it really matters either way I guess, it all rests on Manu and Tim anyways.
1P1, is that you or has an Argie taken over your keyboard?
We are going toneed TP slashingto the basket and hitting some outside shots if we want to beat the Pistons.
1P1, is that you or has an Argie taken over your keyboard?
We are going toneed TP slashingto the basket and hitting some outside shots if we want to beat the Pistons.
The Pistons are crazy good. We will need everybody (that includes the bench guys too) firing with all cylinders if we are going to beat them. If both teams get to the finals, it will be a remake of last year.
Spurs in 7.
^Well, except for maybe the Spurs wouldn't have HCA in Game 7 like last year. Here's hoping Pistons go on a 3 game losing streak and Sheed gets a tech every game (since he now has to miss every other game per tech!)
I personally think you throw out the matchups. I believe it all comes down to home-court. Do the Spurs win at least one in Detroit while winning all here? I think that's a big question in a 2-3-2 format. Am I wrong??
Not a bad formula to be used as a barometer of championship chances. But, instead of just stating how the Spurs are #1 or #2 in each category, perhaps it is better to compare the two teams in this discussion.
1. Point Differential
Spurs: +7.1
Pistons: +7.1 (had the lead throughout the majority of the season)
2. Opp FG%
Spurs: .432
Pistons: .451
Spurs are better defensively. Pistons seem not to play their best defense until the second half of games. That must be addressed in the playoffs.
3. # Games won by > 10 pts (including 10 point wins, I assume)
Spurs: 27
Pistons: 25
I read somewhere that the technical count gets reset for the playoffs, so unless Sheed goes ballistic against the Nets, he won't have that problem to deal with against the Spurs. ITA with 101A, though, that it'll be all about the coaching and defensive adjustments in a Spurs-Pistons series. We're just too closely matched otherwise.
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