Ludden: Detroit no stranger to Spurs

[Kori Ellis]

Detroit no stranger to Spurs
Web Posted: 06/08/2005 12:00 AM CDT

Johnny Ludden
Express-News Staff Writer

http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/b...2f1111aa0.html

For five days, the Spurs waited on the Eastern Conference finals. They spent some time resting. They watched a little film. They scrimmaged against each other.

And, yes, they fielded way-too-many questions. Who would you rather play: Detroit or Miami? Where would you rather spend a week: Auburn Hills or South Beach? Favorite San Antonio reunion: Shaquille O'Neal or Larry Brown?

"It was getting old, and it was very daunting," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "It was like we had to play them both at the same time."

While the Spurs no longer have to worry about splitting an O'Neal-Ben Wallace double team, they saw enough in Detroit's gutsy victory over Miami on Monday night to convince them of the challenge awaiting in the NBA Finals. The name of their opponent, it seems, wasn't all they learned from watching the Pistons win the Eastern Conference.

"It just kind of makes a statement the champions are returning to the championship series," Brent Barry said, "and what it's going to take for us to take them down."

The NBA's reigning champions have proved resilient. In the second round of the playoffs, they rallied from a 2-1 deficit against Indiana. During the conference finals, they twice faced elimination.

The Pistons also have weathered the controversy from the Nov. 19 brawl at the Palace of Auburn Hills, as well as the speculation about their coach's future. In addition to twice leaving the team because of health problems, Brown has had discussions with Cleveland officials about becoming the Cavaliers' vice president of basketball operations.

"I think they're probably the most mentally tough team in the league, night after night, week after week, month after month," Popovich said. "Down deep, their guys really believe in the way they play. They're excellent in that regard."

The Phoenix Suns described the Spurs similarly after the Western Conference finals, which shouldn't come as a surprise. Popovich has been close friends with Brown since serving on his Spurs staff more than 15 years ago. As a result, the coaches have tried to instill the same principles in their teams: unselfishness and an unwavering commitment to defense.

"That's probably the toughest part of the whole thing," Popovich said of his matchup with Brown. "We're going to approach different aspects of the game the same way. It's like beating your head against a wall.

"He knows what we're going to do. I think we pretty much know what they're going to do."

The two teams mirror each other not only in style but also production. The Spurs led the league in scoring defense; the Pistons were second. The Spurs finished third in field-goal percentage defense, the Pistons fifth. The Pistons averaged 21.8 assists per game, the Spurs 21.6.

"It's scary," Spurs assistant coach P.J. Carlesimo said.

The teams can't read much into their two regular-season meetings. The Spurs nearly blew a 21-point lead before holding on to beat Detroit 80-77 on Dec. 3, but Wallace was playing his first game after his brawl-related suspension ended. Tim Duncan also limped off the court with a severely sprained right ankle less than two minutes into the Spurs' 110-101 loss in Detroit on March20.

"So what decides the series?" Carlesimo said. "The same thing that normally decides it: the players."

The Pistons may lack the two-time MVP the Spurs have in Duncan, but they are not without talent. Wallace is the Defensive Player of the Year. Point guard Chauncey Billups played well enough under pressure to be named Finals MVP last season.

Richard Hamilton is one of the game's best mid-range shooters. Forwards Rasheed Wallace and Antonio McDyess are two of Duncan's longtime rivals.

"We're the same group of guys that won the championship last year," Hamilton said, "with the same coaching staff."

Like the Pistons, the Spurs have leaned on their experience. Duncan will be playing in his third Finals in seven years. Robert Horry will be in the sixth of his career. Bruce Bowen, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili were part of the 2003 le team.

"It wasn't so much time ago," Ginobili said. "We know what it takes to win."

[milkyway21]

..They say they are making some changes for the championship series after having so much success playing full-throttle offense while eliminating the Phoenix Suns in five games in the Western Conference finals

is the full-throttle offense can be effective against a good defensive team as Detroit?