Coming off a 1-0 day winning with the Lakers. Today's focus is on Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals.
The series between Indiana and Detroit promises to be a highly physical, intensely fought, defensively controlled battle. Both teams have talent as well as depth and player and coaching match-ups and adjustments will be crucial in trying to win this series. First, in looking at the Pacers, we have a starting front line comprised of O'Neal, Artest and Foster while the Pistons counter with Wallace, Wallace, and Prince. In the back court, the Pacers start Tinsley and Miller and the Pistons counter with Billups and Hamilton. Off the bench the Pacers rotate in Harrington, Jones, Johnson, and Croshere while the Pistons counter with Williamson, Okur, Hunter, James, Ham and Campbell. Clearly both teams have starting talent as well as depth. Coaching matches Carlisle against Brown.
In visualizing this game,I keep envisioning a very tight defensive battle. As I have said in previous threads, the Piston front line is tall, long and aggressive and difficult to score against inside. They change shots and rebound strong. As formidable as the Pacers front line is, the feeling here is that the edge up front goes to the Pistons. In the backcourt, the match-ups are very close and it is difficult to separate but Hamilton and Billups can both drive as well as shoot while Miller is the true shooter and Tinsley can be at times, but runs the tempo more. Very tough to call an edge here. Off the bench, it has been said how deep the Pacers are and while this is true, when looking carefully and the player personnel, the Pistons are actually deeper and more versatile at all positions. They have greater flexibility. In coaching, respect the job coach Carlisle has done in Indiana, but in watching the tactical decisions coach Brown made in the series against the Nets, I'll give the edge to the Pistons coaching staff.
Indiana is coming off defeating a weak Boston team and a young Miami team that actually caused the Pacers some problems around the hoop. Meanwhile, the Pistons are coming off defeating a weak Milwaukee team and a very experienced and tough New Jersey team by coming from behind and winning a Game 6 road elimination game, which is extremely noteworthy, followed by an easy Game 7 win. Feeling here is that the Pistons have faced better opposition and have prevailed. Last, these teams played each other only once since Rasheed Wallace joined Detroit. The result was a convincing home win for the Pistons 79-61. Note that Tinsley did not play in that game. We will know more once one game is in the books, but in looking at today's game, believe that value exists within the line itself as the game should be close. Hence,
1* Detroit +6
Overall Unit Record YTD: (184-150.8)(+33.2) 5*(1-0)(+5.0) 3*(10-7)(+6.9) 1*(149-115-7)(+21.3)
Overall W/L Record YTD: (160-122-7) 56.74%
NBA Regular Season Final Record YTD: (17-12-2)(+5.8)
NBA Playoff Record YTD: (10-8-2)(-1.0)
Plays are rated 1*-5*
Good Luck All.
The series between Indiana and Detroit promises to be a highly physical, intensely fought, defensively controlled battle. Both teams have talent as well as depth and player and coaching match-ups and adjustments will be crucial in trying to win this series. First, in looking at the Pacers, we have a starting front line comprised of O'Neal, Artest and Foster while the Pistons counter with Wallace, Wallace, and Prince. In the back court, the Pacers start Tinsley and Miller and the Pistons counter with Billups and Hamilton. Off the bench the Pacers rotate in Harrington, Jones, Johnson, and Croshere while the Pistons counter with Williamson, Okur, Hunter, James, Ham and Campbell. Clearly both teams have starting talent as well as depth. Coaching matches Carlisle against Brown.
In visualizing this game,I keep envisioning a very tight defensive battle. As I have said in previous threads, the Piston front line is tall, long and aggressive and difficult to score against inside. They change shots and rebound strong. As formidable as the Pacers front line is, the feeling here is that the edge up front goes to the Pistons. In the backcourt, the match-ups are very close and it is difficult to separate but Hamilton and Billups can both drive as well as shoot while Miller is the true shooter and Tinsley can be at times, but runs the tempo more. Very tough to call an edge here. Off the bench, it has been said how deep the Pacers are and while this is true, when looking carefully and the player personnel, the Pistons are actually deeper and more versatile at all positions. They have greater flexibility. In coaching, respect the job coach Carlisle has done in Indiana, but in watching the tactical decisions coach Brown made in the series against the Nets, I'll give the edge to the Pistons coaching staff.
Indiana is coming off defeating a weak Boston team and a young Miami team that actually caused the Pacers some problems around the hoop. Meanwhile, the Pistons are coming off defeating a weak Milwaukee team and a very experienced and tough New Jersey team by coming from behind and winning a Game 6 road elimination game, which is extremely noteworthy, followed by an easy Game 7 win. Feeling here is that the Pistons have faced better opposition and have prevailed. Last, these teams played each other only once since Rasheed Wallace joined Detroit. The result was a convincing home win for the Pistons 79-61. Note that Tinsley did not play in that game. We will know more once one game is in the books, but in looking at today's game, believe that value exists within the line itself as the game should be close. Hence,
1* Detroit +6
Overall Unit Record YTD: (184-150.8)(+33.2) 5*(1-0)(+5.0) 3*(10-7)(+6.9) 1*(149-115-7)(+21.3)
Overall W/L Record YTD: (160-122-7) 56.74%
NBA Regular Season Final Record YTD: (17-12-2)(+5.8)
NBA Playoff Record YTD: (10-8-2)(-1.0)
Plays are rated 1*-5*
Good Luck All.
