I've done it now. I'm shocking the world like the Warriors with a career-high second post this year! I'm sure for you guys, this is like Christmas in April. It is for me at least.
So I got the Detroit series almost right. Good for them, they actually maintained focus for one whole playoff series. This is a major development for Dee-troit, after all, since this the team that thought it could beat the Spurs in the finals after spotting them two games. That they almost pulled it off (and really would have, had Rasheed not forgotten to guard Bob Horry for the fourth quarter and OT of game 5; that game, along with his Charles Smith impersonation against the Lakers in 2000, perfectly captures why 'Sheed has to be one of the most frustrating star players in NBA history) just shows how unique and great this team is. But we'll get to why I think they're winning the whole shooting match later in this series of posts. If I stick around until the finals, that is.
Post-mortem Bulls-Heat Diagnosis
Wow. I really didn't see this coming. In my lost column of last week, I gave the Heat almost an even chance to win this series. I think Kahn, or whoever on Fox it was who wrote this last week, nailed it right on the head: the laziness of one of the game's great underachievers of all-time is finally catching up to him. Simply put, Shaq has never come close to his potential as a defender or rebounder (on the defensive end), which both come down to focus and effort. While the overratedness of Shaq is a whole 'nother column waiting to happen, I'll say this now: the Diesel D is such a liability, he has to be rolling offensively to justify him being out on the floor. Otherwise, the team is better with 'Zo in the middle.
After witnessing the demise of Shaq to mortal status in games 1 and 2, you knew Miami was going down. But who'da thought the baby Bulls were bad enough to do it big four in a row? Big Ben put in yeoman work, and his ability to play earnest defense straight up against the Diesel was huge. But the game ball has to go to Luol Deng. The guy did his best Rip Hamilton impression, at 6'9'' putting on a clinic of movement off the ball and midrange shooting. That said, don't believe the hype: they shoulda traded him for Pau Gasol. Deng will be a valuable piece on a winning team, but I don't see enough playmaking ability for him to be a franchise-type player. Yet. If dude ever learned a post-up game though...
While it's nice to hang on to developing young players, I'm definitely of the school of thought that a deal that gives you a shot at a title is a deal you have to make. Nevermind the need for scoring in the paint, can you imagine the looks Gordon, Hinrich, and Nocioni would be getting with a passer like Gasol out there?
As it stands in 2007, Luol Deng does not have a post up game. Neither do any of his Bull buddies. That means 'Sheed and CWebb will be frisky on offense in round two, and with their shooting, Big Ben is going to be drawn away from the basket. Rebounding is going to be critical in this series: with the Bulls' best lineup having Deng, Nocioni and Wallace, they could be hammered on the offensive boards. No rebounds means saying bye-bye to the running attack that worked so well for Chicago in round one. This doesn't begin to mention how the Pistons backcourt matches up almost perfectly with Chicago's, with the length of Hamilton and the strength of Billups causing headaches for Gordon and Hinrich at both ends.
Nonetheless, Chicago plays harder than any team in the league. Unlike Detroit, you won't have to worry about them not showing up for a game. Deng is really on a roll, and his matchup with Tayshaun Prince (Kentucky style!) will be great to watch. Two guys who count on their length meeting their matches, it'll be very interesting to see if they elevate their games or if they malfunction like KG and Duncan do when they go head to head. You know, the "Oh %$^&, you mean I cant just turn around and shoot over the top all day? What do I do?" syndrome.
But back to the series, I see a hard fought six games, with Detroit's road dominance on full display in the clincher. It will be the best series to watch in the second round. If you're into stuff like tough, competitive playoff basketball that is. Everyone else can watch the pretty-boy Phoenix Suns in their quest to kill defensive basketball in the NBA. Yeah I know, another column.
Nice column...but I totally have to disagree with you on this one! The baby Bulls aren't baby anymore..there the BULLS! Ben Gordon leading the troops with Deng finally steping up for kirk...b/c he's playing super D! The Bulls plainly are more focus, have way more heart then any other NBA team out there. Which makes them a force in the East. Bulls in 5 games! SOrry Piston fans!
I'd say the Bulls win in 5 games. Just remember, the Bulls dominated vs. Detroit in their matchups in the regular season. Yeah, playoffs is a lot different, but however, who did the Bulls sweep the first round? Miami...Good. Now who did the Pistons sweep in their first round...Orlando, an 8th seeded team. Not saying much there. The Bulls will come into Detroit and play hard, and Pistons will have to play at a different level to keep up. Bulls have more heart and passion to win this all.
BULLS WILL WIN IN 6! bulls wiil win game 1 3 4 6. The mavs will win the title if they get out of golden state but if they dont it will b a bulls suns final.
I enjoyed your blog and your comments about the Bulls/Pistons series. I agree that the resurgence of the Bulls franchise did not happen all of a sudden. They have a lot of talented young guys that make plays and can really pour it on. I think Ben Wallace was the perfect addition to that team and really ####s those boards and solidifies the middle, freeing up other guys like Gordon, Deng and Hinrich to do their damage to the Bulls' opponents. But I do have an issue with your comments on the Phoenix Suns.
Being a life-long Suns fan, I feel I need to illuminate everyone else on a few key stats before we start criticizing the "pretty boys" as you call them:
61 - 21, that's their regular season record. 15-1, that was Phoenix's road record against Eastern Conference opponents if you want to talk about road dominance. 27-5, that was their record against Eastern conference opponents. The Suns were 34-18 against the Western conference, a conference that features 5 of its 8 playoff teams with over 50 wins.
How about the Pistons? 53-29 regular season record, an outstanding mark. But their road record against the West was 9-7, average and not dominant. 16-16, that is Detroit's record against the Western conference for the season, again only average. They were 37-13 against fellow conference foes, but only the Pistons and Cleveland won more than 50 games. Those numbers don't lie, the Suns flat-out know how to play and win. To be continued....
Last edited by AZCardsfan4life on May 1st at 7:10 AM.
But let's look at some other other stats as I'm sure saying to yourself, "well they still can't play defense!"
The Suns had two players ranked in the League's top 50 at 7th & 8th in rebounds, Amare Stoudemire (222 off, 564 def) & Shawn Marion (172 off, 613 def). The Pistons closest player was at #29, Rasheed Wallace (90 off, 453 def). How about defense? Shawn Marion is ranked 9th in the league in steals and reigning Sixth Man of the Year Leandro Barbosa is ranked 39th, while the only Piston is the top 50 is Chauncey Billups at 41st.
And if that's not enough, then how about this fact that was just posted by fox sports today; Suns Guard Raja Bell is a 1st Team All Defensive player selection. In fact, every player selected to the 1st team All Defensive NBA Team is from the Western Conference. Yes, Tayshaun Prince from Detroit did make the 2nd Defensive team, but 6 out of the 10 players came from the West.
Now I have to give credit where credit is due, the Pistons do lead the league in fewest turnovers, which means they know how to take care of the ball. And they also have the rebounding edge as a team on the Suns, 3322 - 3320.....TWO REBOUNDS!!! That's not domination, that's two lucky bounces!
The Suns lead the league in scoring, points per game, FG%, 3PT%, 3PT made. Detroit never ranks above 21 in any of these categories. What makes it so appealing to grind out a 71-69 win in a "defensive struggle"; all it shows is each teams ineptitude at pushing the tempo, shooting, passing and scoring...the fundamentals.
Last edited by AZCardsfan4life on May 1st at 6:22 AM.
It's not that teams don't copy Phoenix's style of play because they don't like it or don't want to, IT'S BECAUSE THEY CAN'T DO IT, THEY CAN'T KEEP UP!!!
Bottom Line is that the Suns are a dynamic, phenominally gifted team with veteran leadership and young, athletic talent. They can impose their will on any team, in any arena.
Steve Nash and the Suns aren't killing defensive basketball ......... they're destroying it with absolute precision. Their style of play isn't "pretty", it's freakin' beautiful!!!
The Suns & the Pistons will meet in this year's finals, and if you have truly read this entire entry and watched this season, then you already know the outcome.
Just to add to all this, the Bulls are 3-1 vs the Pistons during the season. The bulls are playing harder on the defensive end than any team in the playoffs right now and it just seems Chicago is on a mission to prove something to the rest of the league. Hard tough series, Bulls in 7.
Also, am I the only one who thinks that WHEN the Spurs and the Suns close out their series', that their matchup will be the one to watch and be a little more intriguing than the Bulls/Pistons?
I like the Pistons to beat the Bulls in 7, with the Pistons dominating a game 7 at home. The Bulls will put up a good fight and gain a lot of experience in the process. To AZCardsfan…the only WC team the Pistons can beat in the Finals is none other than the Phoenix Suns. Your stats are all skewed because Phoenix plays at a faster pace, shooting earlier in the shot clock. That means more possessions and more rebounds to get and more steals to get. The Pistons play half court using more of the shot clock and therefore having fewer possessions. The Pistons match up VERY well with Phoenix. Look at their two reg. season meetings. Yes, PHX beat DET on new years eve, but the Pistons were without Billups for that game and PHX won that game by 7. However, DET had a 1 point lead with about 2 minutes left, minus their BEST player by far. When the teams met again in PHX, the Pistons were once again without Billups for the second half, as he was felled by a groin pull in the 2nd qtr. Detroit dominated that game 105-83. PHX had all of their regulars playing in both games. Heck even Chicago gave PHX two tough games with CHI dominating the Suns in PHX, 116-103 (Though the Suns were minus Nash) and the Suns needed a game winning three by Barbosa to beat the Bulls in CHI (97-96). The East is a different brand of ball, a much more a half court game, very capable of beating any team in the west in a seven game series. Believe it or not West fans the east does have some very good teams, they're just not as deep as the West. Not saying the East will win, but it will be competitve
I like the Pistons to beat the Bulls in 7, with the Pistons dominating a game 7 at home. The Bulls will put up a good fight and gain a lot of experience in the process. To AZCardsfan…the only WC team the Pistons can beat in the Finals is none other than the Phoenix Suns. Your stats are all skewed because Phoenix plays at a faster pace, shooting earlier in the shot clock. That means more possessions and more rebounds to get and more steals to get. The Pistons play half court using more of the shot clock and therefore having fewer possessions. The Pistons match up VERY well with Phoenix. Look at their two reg. season meetings. Yes, PHX beat DET on new years eve, but the Pistons were without Billups for that game and PHX won that game by 7. However, DET had a 1 point lead with about 2 minutes left, minus their BEST player by far. When the teams met again in PHX, the Pistons were once again without Billups for the second half, as he was felled by a groin pull in the 2nd qtr. Detroit dominated that game 105-83. PHX had all of their regulars playing in both games. Heck even Chicago gave PHX two tough games with CHI dominating the Suns in PHX, 116-103 (Though the Suns were minus Nash) and the Suns needed a game winning three by Barbosa to beat the Bulls in CHI (97-96). The East is a different brand of ball, a much more a half court game, very capable of beating any team in the west in a seven game series. Believe it or not West fans the east does have some very good teams, they're just not as deep as the West. Not saying the East will win, but it will be competitve
Matthew,
I'm not sure why you had to post it twice, but you do make some good points. However, those stats aren't necessarily skewed. Sure Phoenix shoots the ball more, which creates more second and third shot opportunities, which is why their the highest scoring team in the league. Their not skewed, their just correct.
As to Detroit's half-court game, it does match up very well against the Suns. If Chauncey Billups can continue to penetrate and dish to Rip Hamilton coming off of those screens then they could be very successful, but that also means shutting down the Suns attack. This year's team is not like the past two years, you may get them to slow down once, maybe even twice, but not for four games.
Lakers tried to do it in Game 1 this year, Suns pushed it in the 3rd and 4th quarter and came out on top. Lakers did it in Game 3 and were successful, trapping Steve Nash and rotating effectively to cut off the passing lanes. But when they tried to duplicate it in Game 4 by coming after Nash again, he went straight into the teeth of the defense and shredded them for 23 assists and 17 points.
It's a different Suns team this year, you may get them to slow down once, maybe twice, but you won't be able to contain Steve Nash from what he does best: driving the ball and making the split second decisions to set his team up for success, dish it or sink it. Nobody has found a way to consistently stop the Suns all year. Anything can happen, it's the playoffs, but you gotta love Phoenix's chances. You're right though....it will definately be competitive.
As a life long BULLS fan(since 1983 when i was old enough to follow sports) The Bulls/Pisstons match up has been ledgendary. I as a Chicago Fan do not like the main rivals. Chi vs GB..Cubs vs Cards
But when it comes to the Detroit Pisstons it is a different level of hate. The games in the late 80's and early 90's set in stone a life time of animosity towards them. This next series is going to be hard core! I am looking forward to this! This series brings out the best in both teams, so it is hard to tell who will win. Anything can happen! see below
My most sincere condolences go out to Mark Cuban
and all the Mav fans, man it must really suck to have a great season an get knocked out in the first round! I bet you thought your team was going all the way.
Go Bulls!! Bulls in 6
First, the piston will beat the bulls in 6. Yes the bulls won the regualr season series 3-1, but the Pistons starting 5 was only intact for one of those games and they won. In regards to the Suns, when they and Detroit matched up, the Pistons murdered the Suns by 20 in Phoenix. Billups is too much for Nash, Pistons would not be a good match up for the Suns!
To mysterious anonymous blogger (and anyone else who is reading this)
You all have to remember that the game where the Pistons beat the Suns by 20 points came basically a day and a half after the Suns Double-OT marathon victory over Dallas in Big-D. They were pretty drained at that point, not going to be the same situation in the Finals. Go back to New Year's Eve, that is what the series between them will be like: tough back and forth contest, but Phoenix keeping the tempo up and forcing the action, and in the end coming out with narrow victories. I never said that the Suns will have easy wins, I just said they'll win.
Last edited by AZCardsfan4life on May 1st at 8:22 AM.
In the New Years Eve matchup, when the Suns barely escaped with 108-101 victory, Chauncey Billups was out with an injury. That was no indication of how great the Pistons will be, C-Webb wasn't playing for them either.
Well Chauncey was back for the series against Orlando and in three out of the four, the largest margin of victory was only eight points, 100-92, 98-90, 97-93. So if they only "escaped" with these wins and had a healthy Billups and C-Webb, why such a narrow margin of victory? Why didn't you run them off the court? Because they couldn't do that because they play that slow tempo, half-court style of b-ball. The Magic is a young team, but they are undisciplined and couldn't keep it together down the stretch, not the same for the Suns.
I think the Pistons' series depends on two players: Billups and Hamilton. If they're on, then the Pistons take it in six games. With Billups slicing into the lane and Hamilton knocking down those mid-range jumpers (nobody is better that Hamilton at moving to the open spot/moving without the ball) then the Bulls won't have a consistent answer. The Pistons playoff experience will carry them through.
THE ONLY GAME THIS YEAR THAT BOTH CHICAGO'S STARTERS AND THE PISTONS STARTERS ALL PLAYED IN WAS WON BY DETROIT...SO NEVER MIND THE BULLS 3-1 REGULAR SEASON LEAD...ITS MEANINGLESS..THE PISTONS WILL NOT TAKE THIS SERIES LIGHTLY, BAD NEWS FOR THE BULLS...PISTONS IN 6
With Big Ben the "traitor" coming back to the Motor City with his new team, ARCH RIVAL Chicago Bulls, you best to believe that the PISTONS will be up for this series. Whoever takes this series will go to the FINALS for the EAST. I think it will be a great series with DET taking it in 6, both teams play defense and hustle, the difference is the Pistons have a low post threat in Sheed & Webber Chicago doesn't. Also the Bulls are Piston imitators, the Pistons are the originals. They will show why they have gone to 4 straight Eastern Conference Finals they're not up and coming, they've been there before they've been in all sorts of situations, this will just be another one where they step their game up. Plus the Bulls will realize why Detroit let Ben go, he's an overrated defender and an offensive liability.
Chicago in 5. I watched all the games between Detroit and Bulls and you can see the vast difference between the teams. Detroit is strong and steady. Chicago is quick, great shooters, and better talent. Detroit is older( probably too old), and Chicago is youthful( maybe too young). Detroit thinks they are entitled to get to the finals, the Bulls will grab it from them. I think Miami would have beat Detroit.
The match favor Chicago across the board, especially the bench. The final thing, Detroit knows the Bulls are better and they acted that way in all the meetings. Hamilton and the others tried to start confrontation, tried to intimidate, and just showed overall bad behavior, they tried to bully. No other team tries to do that. It is a sign that they know that they need something else to win. Ben Wallace, PJ Brown, and Scott Skiles will control Bulls and Detroit will fall.
Playoffs is a different brand of BALL, the Bulls are hungry but you think the Pistons aren't? Chicago had the same team all year and finished with the 3rd best record, just like when Detroit won the championship they improved tremendously after a key acquisition, this year its C-Webb. Trust me the Bulls and Pistons are a good matchup, but Detroit is a lot different from Miami they don't have a bunch of over the hill players and 2 great players they have a TEAM. With Detroit the whole team is capable of going for 20 or more on any given night, the whole starting 5 can knock down threes, its not the stop SHAQ and DWADE defense, the whole team will have to play defense and the Pistons don't turn the ball over.
I think that Detroit has too much of a total team for the Bulls to handle for an entire series.
The starting 5 is one of the best in the entire league, consistent and they have been together for many years, not including webber.
I do think the Bulls may steal a game or two but in the end i think the Pistons make it to the Finals.
And i would love to see them play phoenix, it would be a good matchup but being pistons fan i have to believe they would win. but steve nash is the man.
It is refreshing to read some sanity finally. If the Bulls get 4 out of 7 from the Pistons, I'll root for them the rest of the way but the Pistons starters are better over-all, the bench is more capable and deeper in Detroit and there is no substitute for the experience edge the Pistons bring. As it goes, the Bulls are getting it together-the experience o####ood series with Detroit and coming back next year as the favorites, is the more likely scenario.
I want to see Pistons/Spurs and watch some real basketball. They are the two best teams in the game right now. I can't stand the league essentially trying to remove lock-down defenses from being a part of the game in order to cater to pansies who can't stand the fundamentals of the game.
To AZCardsfan4life- I disagree in geneal about how you view the Suns matching up to the Pistons-but your point about using a regular season game or total record of the regular season games I agree with and is important. The regular season does not compare to a formal series and does not offer a tremendous amount of info to go on.The regular season could mean extensive travel, back to backs, and several little things that could take place. Anything can happen on a given night. The formal series still holds a home court advantage, but the playing variables are more even over-all and the best team will usually be the team to get 4 wins the soonest.
BULLS IN 5 , Anyone who doesnt believe the Bulls can out play the pistons , has not been watching basketball for the last year. Chicago is the best TEAM in the EAST. I won't even bother talking stats, you can all just wait and see.
Reading the above comments most of the Piston fans are picking Detroit in 6 games.
Most of the Bulls fans are picking Chicago in 5.
The Bulls have been laughed at and made fun of by the Pistons the last few years when they were bad.
No more....
They are out for respect. Bulls in 5 games
As a life-long Piston fan, I'm sorry, but I think the Bulls will win this series in 6, maybe 7.
There are two main reasons: First, the Pistons lost their heart and soul as a tough team in the paint when they foolishly let Big Ben go.
Secondly, the Piston coach, Flip Saunders is a natural born playoff loser. In tight games, when the clock is running down, and the TV cameras zoom in on the Piston bench, watch him do his "Rodney Dangerfield" impression. He nervously loosens his collar and has the look of a deer in the headlights. He's not tough and neither are the Pistons. The Bulls will eat them up in the paint!
This will be an interesting match-up. Much better than the games in the otherside. But I bet my dollars on this. Which ever team win in this series will surely go straight to the NBA Finals. No pun intended to the Cavs, they just dont have the heart and tenacity both this team shows.
All in all, i like your summary of Chicago... they are no longer Babies. They are now Men.... oh sorry... BULLS!!!!!!!
Everyone needs to realize the Bulls just swept the defending champion Heat. A lot of experts still expected them to repeat, atleast in the East. There was a reason Philly gave up on Webber, and a reason why Rasheed is crazy. I ask you to just watch how uptight Detroit plays. Bulls could have easily won 55, but they were still learning to play together. They had FIVE turnovers in the final game against the Heat.
As a Pistons fan I will admit, at the start of this season, losing Big Ben to the bulls, I was not optimistic about the Pistons chances this year... especially trying to replace him with ####r. I also did not think that Chicago was going to be that much better off with Ben Wallace. When the Pistons brought in Chris Webber the play off choke artist, I was not very enthused either, especially since he ruined U of M basket ball.......
The difference is here Webber is not expected to be the man, he is AT BEST a # 3 or 4 option in the pistons offense. I think a key player in this series will be McDyce... he still is very hungry to validate his career with a NBA title. If he comes off the bench and gives the Pistons Big minutes, they will be tough to beat. I think the Pistons will take it in 6, losing one at home and one in Chicago. Id be lying if I said I wasnt nervous about this match up, but any bulls fan that thinks that the Pistons will lay down like the heat did, has not watched enought DEEEtroit basketball.
I would like to add one more thought.... Chicago fans, be prepared for the frustration of close games and the HACK a BEN stradegy, as much a I miss Ben, I will not miss his free throws....
it's about time we start talking sh@#. I loved the old rivalries between the bulls and pistons. As a bulls fan I would like the bulls to beat the pistons and they will if the pistons take them lightly but, experience wins game 7's. so the pistons in seven grueling games. Watch out for the bulls next year with greg oden. then we'll win for a decade.
Come to think of it the Suns have to get out of the west. By then the western conference winner will be beat up and out of gas to face the east. Funny but 2 out of the last three championships came from the less superior east. Marinate on that.
I say Bulls in 5 games...why? Because they have the heart and hunger for the game and to get the title. Yeah, the Bulls sweeped Miami....former NBA champs. I don't care how Miami wasn't 100%, but the idea and status itself for the Bulls to face Miami is still a mountain to climb. They overcame it, and played their best. Who the hell did Pistons play in the first round? Uhh, was it a team called the Orlando Non-magic? Come on...Pistons had no challenge whatsoever playing that team, so they're gonna be surprised at the level the Bulls will bring their game to Piston's homecourt. Piston's may have not been 100% in the regular season against the Bulls...but it's playoffs, and there's no excuses now. The Bulls are stampeding to the Finals.
