I have waiting for this thread, like a snake in the grass. I hear posters say these Pacers are Title material. It is hard not to laugh. In front of them now is a real team, not the pretenders they faced the first couple of rounds, especially the discredited Celts. I just keep fading these overated Pacers and winning. Shoppers now 7-0 ATS against the Pacers. But now they leave their precious home, where they seemed to be blessed. It is just amazing how Wallace is in foul trouble instantly, and O'neal never gets whistled. And some of those calls and non calls at the end of last game, double dribble? What a joke. They could win by double digits at home, and lose by them on road. Why are the Pacers struggling?, matchups are just plain bad, everywhere. Where do I starts, how about big to small. Ben vs. Foster. Are you kidding me, total mismatch. O'Neal vs. Sheed. Give O'neal the edge, but by a very slim injured margin. O'neal just has not got it done. Artest vs. Prince. Right now, this goes to Prince, from his game saving hustle to get the block, to his defense on Artest. Poor Ron is shooting his team out of contention, a negative. R-E-G-G-I-E vs. Rip. Not sure I want to offend those Pacer loyal homers out there, but this is just plain sad. Even Reggie himself said it is like playing himself ten years ago. Sorry, this time, as in what have you done for me lately, Rip has the huge edge. Money time, last game, Rip is laying them in, Reggie lost on pick or screen. Reggie missing the threes. His one miracle game, in which he also totally stunk up, is in the past. Point, Billups vs. Tisdale. Again, I have to go with Chauncey, better range, more experienced and much more consistent than erratic Tisdale. But the biggest mismatch of all may be coaches. A lot of people say look at the stats. Who was coaching the Pistons before playoff savvy Brown. The you can't win in the playoffs Carlisle. He was like super ofer in the conference finals. Coach Brown has been there done that, successfully. So you have never done it, changes sides of the stats. Plus you add Sheed, subtract Miller. I have said this since the playoffs started, The Pacers are overated, and do not match up with the Pistons. Pistons-4, Large...OF
[This message was edited by OMNIVOROUS FROG on May 26, 2004 at 04:07 PM.]
[This message was edited by OMNIVOROUS FROG on May 26, 2004 at 04:07 PM.]
Although I hold my only futures bet on Det I have seen something in Ron Artest I haven't seen much. NBA defensive POY and his offense came into its own vs Mia. He is a future first team all NBA, he has game. Det is yet to see it and ugly games should be his forte, but he will come thru in this series, IMHO. Indy +5 is the play.
He is being defended my a much quicker stronger player. There is a reason why he is totally stinkin it up. Game #1, 6-23 game #2, 5-21. Both games 1-9 for 3's. He is used to bulling his way to the front of the rim, getting easy looks. You know what, that does not work well against muscular, physical and athletic Motown. In fact, his game suffers more than anyone elses. His confidence is shot, he is flippin people the bird, and his teammates are wondering what the f---?, on half his low % shots. This is not his series, and I really do not see that changing...Best Wishes...OF
OF on Detroit and Fezzik on Indiana. What to do. Personally, I think the line is pretty accurate, don't see much of an edge here as it appears that all of these games may be nailbiters. Don't feel real comfortable laying points, but don't feel real comfy with what I've seen from Indy, and on the road. Seems like a good game to pass on.
One of the long standing trends is when the loser outright of one of first two games goes on road they win one of next two on road. Pistons in round 1, TWolfs in round two. Yesterday, TWolfs dumped big. They are a double play next game. Fezzik is probably much stronger than I with trends and stats, it would be hard not to. But I cap, position by position. Home/road, coaches, players current form, and current matchup. Key word current. There are arguments for both sides. I just see a big swing in form when Indy travels. They were very lucky to win any on road vs. Heat. Only game was when Heat shot worse than Indy. Plus horrible heartripper game #2 when R-E-G-G-I-E gets blocked and game goes down drain. That and losing the homecourt, have to be an emotional downer. So much for best record. Then Artest, a key player losing it at home. 0-7 ATS run. Detroit has completely shutdown this Indy squad, especially in 2nd halves. Indy has not broke 30 last 3. Coach Carlisle back to losing conference final form. I like Motown, I like Motown a lot...OF
Frog best of luck to you. Like an idiot I hedged my 16-1 Det future against Indy. The reason was I made the futures bet 5 or 6 weeks ago and when I looked at this series I thought (and still think) Indy will win it either way I pinch, but I just like the points tonight. He is a better shooter than that.
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>He is being defended my a much quicker stronger player. There is a reason why he is totally stinkin it up. Game #1, 6-23 game #2, 5-21 <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
With all due respect the person that shut him down in game two was Prince!!!!
With all due respect the person that shut him down in game two was Prince!!!!
