Which team was/is better? The Pistons of last year or the Mavericks of this year? Both year raining runner up champions hungry to get back and win it.Im going with Dallas. They are deeper, more of a two way threat, and and even with a lot of players contributing they have a player with a legit chance of winning MVP.
The Mavs are dominating even more in the regular season and are a much more playoff-ready team than last year's Piston's squad. The bench is hugely in the Mavs' favor and they are just a better team than the Pistons were.
Dallas, Although I have yet to see them in the playoffs, let me remind you that pistons expended all their energy in the first half of the season which resulted in them losing badly in the ECF. Why? They have little depth, sure you can make a point for Flip Murray, Lindsey Hunter, and Antonio Mcdyess. REally teh only one who can make an impact is dyess. They had a inner struggle with Ben Wallace and Stephen Saunders which resulted in Big Ben leaving the franchise. Dallas will be the complete obvious answer if they win a chip this year.
The mavs and it's not even close. The pistons started fading in the second half of the season in a weaker conference while the mavs continue to dominate.
you guys are going to be pretty surprised when you get to see the games come playoff time about the Pistons bench. They have spot all year finding themselves, and have definitely been rolling. Flip Murray, Carlos Delfino, Antonio McDyess(absolutely tearing it up), Jason Maxiell, and Nazr or Dale are going to be a lot more productive then they were last year in the playoffs. Just as important..they have proved that to Flip Saunders and he now trusts them and can go to them. The Pistons +/- Ratio is actually HIGHER with the bench then it is with the starters.Webber I think will also be an upgrade in the playoffs over Ben Wallace, as he fits our new scheme way better.I know most of America is on the Dallas Mavericks bandwagon..and rightfully so with what they have done. But things change eventually. I really think if these teams meet in the finals..it will be a good series..it will go at least 6 maybe 7. And both teams have the same chances of winning it.
Mavs are a better team IMO. They're are a threat on both sides of the court (although not as much as Pistons on D, but good enough) The mavericks are a complete team IMO, they have a lot of scoring options off the bench which the piston's didn't really have last season.But I wouldn't count the pistons out if the teams meet in the finals. Other than the Suns, the pistons are good as a team, and their chemistry's really great.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Combs @ Mar 28 2007, 04:15 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>you guys are going to be pretty surprised when you get to see the games come playoff time about the Pistons bench. They have spot all year finding themselves, and have definitely been rolling. Flip Murray, Carlos Delfino, Antonio McDyess(absolutely tearing it up), Jason Maxiell, and Nazr or Dale are going to be a lot more productive then they were last year in the playoffs. Just as important..they have proved that to Flip Saunders and he now trusts them and can go to them. The Pistons +/- Ratio is actually HIGHER with the bench then it is with the starters.Webber I think will also be an upgrade in the playoffs over Ben Wallace, as he fits our new scheme way better.I know most of America is on the Dallas Mavericks bandwagon..and rightfully so with what they have done. But things change eventually. I really think if these teams meet in the finals..it will be a good series..it will go at least 6 maybe 7. And both teams have the same chances of winning it.</div>Come on man. You really think Detroit is that good? Anyways most coaches play the bench less during playoffs than the regular season so that advantage Detroit has gets decreased.
Mavs are definitely better this year, they are better this year than the Pistons were last year, AND they were better than the Pistons last year. They have dominated the regular season even more than the Pistons did last year, and they have progressed as the season has gone along instead of degressing. They made it further in the playoffs last year than the Pistons, and IMO, the Mavs are the favorites to take it all this year.
Mavs. They were better last year due to the fact that Ben was starting to develop his "I dont like anything" attitude and thats when they lost their championship dominance. They are still an elite team. But Dallas pulled away with it this year.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (mavsfan1000 @ Mar 28 2007, 03:28 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Come on man. You really think Detroit is that good? Anyways most coaches play the bench less during playoffs than the regular season so that advantage Detroit has gets decreased.</div>I watch them everynight. I see the signs of what it takes to get it done. My feeling at this point is Detroit has a 85% shot to make the finals. Dallas has about a 50% shot to make the finals. If they both DO get there..it's gonna be 50/50 on who wins it all in my eyes.The Pistons have done it before. The Mavs haven't Both teams are hungry. Both teams are talented and have limited weaknesses at their best. They played a great game last week and the Pistons gave them all they could handle without Chauncey Billups who is IMO their best player.I think it's much closer then people think, and much closer then records would indicate. If you'd ask me right now which team was better..I'd be a fool not to say Dallas. However that is not saying the Pistons won't be better in June, and can't beat them. I think they can.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Point Blank @ Mar 28 2007, 06:47 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>The record speaks for itself.</div>But does the team with the best record win the title every year? The majority of the time they don't. I'm not trying to turn this into a NBA Finals thread already. But just showing that basing everything just on record is dumb.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Combs @ Mar 28 2007, 07:45 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>But does the team with the best record win the title every year? The majority of the time they don't. I'm not trying to turn this into a NBA Finals thread already. But just showing that basing everything just on record is dumb.</div>Theres nothing wrong with comparing teams to records man. People do it all the time..especially in sports in general.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Combs @ Mar 28 2007, 06:45 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>But does the team with the best record win the title every year? The majority of the time they don't. I'm not trying to turn this into a NBA Finals thread already. But just showing that basing everything just on record is dumb.</div>Not they don't, but when a team wins 65 or 67 games and has the best record, they do. :happy0144: The Mavs are MUCH better this year than the Pistons were last year, and I think the Mavs are much hungrier than the Pistons.Yeah the Pistons lost they last time they were there, but they fought hard, and could have easily won their last Finals matchup.The way Dallas lost last year, brought the team together in such a way that I dont' see anyone standing in their way at all.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Combs @ Mar 28 2007, 04:43 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I watch them everynight. I see the signs of what it takes to get it done. My feeling at this point is Detroit has a 85% shot to make the finals. Dallas has about a 50% shot to make the finals. If they both DO get there..it's gonna be 50/50 on who wins it all in my eyes.</div>How do you come up with that bullsh**? It is completley ridiculous....Detroit has an 85% chance to make the finals? Says who? They had the best record in the league last year, with a better team, and they almost lost to the Cavs in 6 games, AND they lost to the Heat....The Heat are playing well, they could get Wade back, and the Cavs and Bulls could beat the Pistons if they play the best. Detroit is the best team in the East, and Dallas is the best team in the West. And if both teams got there, there is no way in hell that its 50/50. You saying that these teams are equally good is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard.
Mavs fans should be praying for Dirk not to have a sustainable injury. That sprained ankle last night looks at least 2 weeks.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (RaptorFan#1 @ Mar 29 2007, 02:28 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Mavs fans should be praying for Dirk not to have a sustainable injury. That sprained ankle last night looks at least 2 weeks.</div>Wow did you actually see the game? Dirk was actually able to come back in the game but Avery was being cautious. You sound like a hater with those comments.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (RaptorFan#1 @ Mar 29 2007, 09:28 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Mavs fans should be praying for Dirk not to have a sustainable injury. That sprained ankle last night looks at least 2 weeks.</div>Dirk, and Josh Howard for that matter, turn, twist, and roll their ankles on a weekly bases...and they never miss more than a game or two, if at all.It's actually quite surprising that they don't miss alot more time considering how much they do hurt their ankles.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ballerman2112 @ Mar 28 2007, 10:04 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>How do you come up with that bullsh**? It is completley ridiculous....Detroit has an 85% chance to make the finals? Says who? They had the best record in the league last year, with a better team, and they almost lost to the Cavs in 6 games, AND they lost to the Heat....The Heat are playing well, they could get Wade back, and the Cavs and Bulls could beat the Pistons if they play the best. Detroit is the best team in the East, and Dallas is the best team in the West. And if both teams got there, there is no way in hell that its 50/50. You saying that these teams are equally good is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard.</div>It's not ridiculous at all. The East sucks horribly this year, and the Pistons have a better team than last year. We don't have any chemistry problems like we did either. Our bench is deeper, and we have been playing them more in the season and our starters won't be fatigued in the playoffs ala last year. I really don't see any team in the East being able to knock off the Pistons in a 7 game series.
