Chauncey Billups hit two free throws with a tenth of
a second left after drawing a foul on Tony Allen to seal the deal for
Detroit.
Game 2
Boston 92 Detroit 85
Tayshaun Prince was a non-factor in this contest.
Prince was held to 7 points on 3-for-12 from the field and 1-for-3 from the
3-point line.
Game 3
Boston 90 Detroit 78
Boston clinched their playoff birth with this
victory as Garnett erupted for 31 points on 13-of-22 from the field.
Matchups
Detroit has an advantage at the point guard
(Chauncey vs. Rondo) and center (Perkins vs. McDyess) positions. Boston gets
the nod at power forward (KG vs. Rasheed) and shooting forward (Pierce vs.
Prince). Shooting guard (Hamilton vs. Allen) is even.
Although he struggled in the previous rounds, look
for Doc Rivers to insert Sam Cassell if Billups uses his size in the post
against Rondo. Chauncey is two inches taller and outweighs Rajon by 30 pounds.
Cassell didn’t have the quickness to stay with Delonte West or Daniel Gibson in
the semifinals but Billups doesn’t possess blazing speed. Chauncey’s biggest
advantages are his size and his basketball IQ.
Ray Allen shot just 33% from the field and 17% from
the 3-point line versus the Cavaliers. Allen
works too hard for the slump to continue.
On paper, Boston has the superior bench but it will
come down to how well Doc Rivers utilizes the Celtics role players. Leon Powe
and Eddie House need to see more action than they saw in the Conference
Semifinals.
It’s Boston’s Big Three versus Detroit’s Big
Four
But I think the series will be decided by Kevin
Garnett versus Rasheed Wallace.
I regard Rasheed as the second most talented player
in the game (right behind LeBron James). The NBA has never seen a player with
his combination of post-up skills and shooting range. As he goes, so do the
Pistons. But Wallace is a headcase and the Defensive Player of the Year Kevin
Garnett will be defending him. Both players are the emotional hearts of their
respective teams. If KG manages to frustrate Wallace and get him out of his
game, Detroit doesn’t have a prayer.
Wallace has won 20 of those games but KG has got the
better end of their individual matchup.
KG: 19 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 blocks,
47% from the field.
Rasheed: 16 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 1
blocks, 48% from the field.
I’ll take Boston
Primarily because I believe Garnett will get the
better of his matchup with Wallace. KG is a unique player. Most power forwards
are uncomfortable defending Wallace outside the 3-point line, that won’t be the
case with Garnett. He’ll hound Rasheed from end-line to end-line.
Much has been made of the Atlanta Hawks and
Cleveland Cavaliers taking the Celtics to 7 games and Boston’s failure to
win on the road. Let’s get one thing clear — Atlanta and Cleveland — are better
than Philadelphia and Orlando. Philadelphia took Detroit to 6 games in the
first round. Orlando lost by a combined 8 points in game’s 1 and 5.
Detroit isn’t invincible. Their perimeter defense
is overrated and although they’ve advanced to six consecutive Conference
Finals, that's more of a result of the inferior Eastern Conference.
So....you say Atlanta is better than Orlando? And you had Orlando beating Detroit?? So are you implying - by extension - that Atlanta is better than Detroit??
your hatred for Detroit - unlike your hatred for Shaq - is completely unjustified. They have great teamwork and GOOD defense (not GREAT as it once was). They haven't made the finals since Larry Brown left town, but I feel this year is theirs. (even though I will whole-heartedly rooting for Boston).
I say Detroit in 6...maybe 7.
I also disagree that Boston has the superior bench.
I didn't say Atlanta was better than Orlando. I implied that Cleveland was. I do think Atlanta was better than Philly.
I was wrong about Orlando beating Detroit. The Pistons were better than the Magic.
Stuckey and Maxiell are the only Detroit players who are getting significant minutes/production.
Lastly, I don't "hate" Detroit. I just don't think they are as good as most people give them credit for. They've benefited from a mediocre conference the past 6 seasons.
HOFFMAN: We've already argued this topic before so there's no point in doing it again.
But I will say this:
You may have perhaps underestimated Tayshaun Prince in the Orlando series and look what happened. Prince was arguably the most valuable Piston in that series.
He might not make as much of an impact against Boston but Prince is a difference maker. He's an x-factor just like Odom is for the Lakers.
When you have Boston's Big Three and Detroit's Big Three of Billups, Sheed, and Rip, then Prince once again becomes the deciding factor.
Plus Detroit's bench is much leaner and meaner than you think.
YOu've acknowledged Stuckey and Maxiell. But three players to watch out for in this series are Jarvis Hayes, Lindsey Hunter, and Theo Ratliff. They'll make an impact in one way or another.
ah yes...I truly misunderstood your statement. Your sentence is worded wrong. For it to indicate what you truly mean, you need to add the word "respectively" after Orlando. honest mistake...but for a moment there I thought you had lost your mind.
You say Detroit has benefitted from a weak conference. Fair enough...but what is their record vs. the West during the last 6 seasons? I tried to find that info, but I got nada. Do you know where to find it? thanks.
I love basketball. While many basketball fans enjoy the month of March, I prefer the months of April, May, and June. I look forward to productive chats, heated debates, and honest opinions.
