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Sports InsiderPreview: Pistons vs. Celtics
May 19th 2008 00:50
This is the match-up everyone has been talking about since the midway point of the NBA regular season. Could the Celtics beat Detroit in a seven game series? Is Detroit the one team that Boston should be afraid of? Well, all of these questions will be answered as the two teams look to square off in a few days. My opinion on this matter has changed since the season ended, and since I am now enlightened, I will tell you why the Pistons will beat the Celtics in the Conference Finals.
Let me start off by saying this. The Pistons match-up better against the Celtics from a defensive standpoint than any other team in the league. If I were to guess off the top of my head, I would say that the Spurs are close behind in terms of best match-ups. So already, the Pistons have the defensive advantage in this 7-game affair. Rasheed Wallace is a great defender and although he won't shut down Garnett completely (who can?), he should be able to do a good enough job to give Detroit an edge. Rasheed is no stranger to the mid-range game, so I think he should be able to effectively guard Garnett out there in addition to holding him off down low. We're all aware of Teyshaun Prince's spectacular defense. Although Garnett won't be shut down, I think there is a possibility that Paul Pierce will be rendered obsolete in this series. Prince is coming off a great defensive effort in the Orlando series and I look for that to continue through to this round. Neither Rip Hamilton nor Ray Allen play great D so look for those two to put up some good numbers throughout the series. Their teammates will be looking for them to score the big points since they themselves are tied up in tough defensive match-ups.
I think the PG battle might be the deciding factor in this series. Chauncey is just so much more polished an experienced than Rajon Rondo. That alone puts Rondo at a disadvantage, and to be honest, I think he will get ripped by Billups. These are two of the best defensive guards in the league and although I know Rondo can keep up with Billups, I just think he'll get outsmarted and posted up down low. Chauncey has the size to overpower Rondo with relative ease, and I don't know if Rondo knows how to guard a PG that likes to post up every once in a while. Rondo will have to use everything he's got on defense is he hopes to stop Billups. On the other hand, I think Billups can and will contain Rondo rather easily. He's been here before, and when it's a seasoned veteran versus a very young PG, I have no problem admitting that experience and knowledge plays a big part in the outcome. I expect to see more of Cassell in this series so Rondo can get the rest he needs to go 100% for the minutes in which he is playing. I like Stuckey off the bench for Detroit, and I think he'll capitalize on opportunities if he is put on the court with a tired Rondo or an older, slower Sam Cassell.
While Detroit may have the defensive edge, I don't think there is any doubt that the Celtics have the advantage on the offensive end. My opinion is that Detroit's defense is more of an asset than the Celtics' offense, which is why I chose Detroit to take the series. I'm gonna stay true to the home-court advantage phenomenon that's been taking over and say that the series will go to seven games. Obviously, Detroit will have to win game seven in Boston, so the home team will have to lose at least one game in this series if my prediction is to come true.
While Detroit may have the defensive edge, I don't think there is any doubt that the Celtics have the advantage on the offensive end. My opinion is that Detroit's defense is more of an asset than the Celtics' offense, which is why I chose Detroit to take the series. I'm gonna stay true to the home-court advantage phenomenon that's been taking over and say that the series will go to seven games. Obviously, Detroit will have to win game seven in Boston, so the home team will have to lose at least one game in this series if my prediction is to come true.
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