a pretty even matchup all around really.The bench is going to be identically effective, The guard play will be huge, CWebb v. Z in a battle of slowpokes(webber with the edge). but the biggest matchup of them all will be in the foward column with Sheed and Prince facing Bron and Gooden. This is the beginning of another rivalry(with Cavs and Bulls) andd hopefully the end of two others(Heat, Pacers).I have the Pistons in 5 for some odd reason....I just hope the Jazz can take the Spurs to 7 and the Pistons can shut them down in 5 for that rest..but its going to tough wins in a close loss in all 5.
I was more scared of the Bulls beating the Pistons than I am Cleveland. Even with LeBron, we have always played good against them and our style just seems to contrast theirs. I dont think we will have a problem as long as me shut down LeBron even a little bit.Pistons in 5.
I'm going with Pistons in 6. Both teams are very good at home, and I think it'll be 2-2 after 4 games, before Detroit takes on at home and then one in Cleveland.
GAME 1 BREAKDOWN BY ME:::<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>79-76 is very ugly, but its a Pistons win and the way that Cleveland wasnt able to execute when they had to took the chance of them getting momentum and now the Pistons get to keep it going into game 2.PISTONSRip had a great game. he kept us in it the whole way with 24.Chauncey was the real hero with that three to put us up two. finished with 13-5-5Sheed was solid on O with 15 and 1oreb, but he was a monster on D with 7 blocks and 11reb.Webber was in foul trouble but he contributed 10 in less than 20 minutes.Tayshaun was the regulator for us. He played a huge role in shutting down LeBron and had 9 dimes, and 6 boards, but was 1-11 with 8.The Bench played well, Maxiell did what he always does-without the thunder dunk, Dale Davis got in early and scored 5, Lindsey played well on D against Larry Hughes(needed to be shut down) and Eric Snow(not to much to be glad about shutting down.), and Dyess did well without scoring.It was tough early but we just played our style of ball and got the job done the way we wanted too.CavsBig Z did exactly what I thought he wouldnt do and thats effectively contribute. he kept the Cavs in it the whole way with 22 and 13 with some big buckets towards the end.The Pistons didnt execute against LeBron when it came to fouling him-which was good, didnt get to the line once-but they shut him down because I think all of the hype about the Bron Rules got to his head. He was the regulator like Prince, but his offense is needed a lot more than Tays for his team and they didnt get that.5-15 is not what you want from him.Larry Hughes, Pavlovic, and Eric Snow did what they always do.Donyell Marshall was just having a good birthday the other night and couldnt hit the big one tonight, and Drew Gooden was a non-factor.Daniel Gibson shot the ball way too much, and the only solid player off the bench tonight was Vareajao with 13-8-and a couple steals.If that shot were to go, this breakdown would have sounded a lot different, but it didnt and the Pistons have a 1-0 lead in the Eastern Conference Finals over the Cavaliers-as expected.GO PISTONS!!!</div>
I'm getting pretty tired of sheed just leaving the bench. He was at half-court catching up with Rick Mahorn in the second quarter while Flip was drawing up a play on the board.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (The`Dream @ May 23 2007, 05:07 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I'm getting pretty tired of sheed just leaving the bench. He was at half-court catching up with Rick Mahorn in the second quarter while Flip was drawing up a play on the board.</div>I dont think that costs us anything...if it did, sheed would def be hearing about it.
yes he would...heres my game 2 preview I guess...its in the playoff forum<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>game 2 and its going to be another good one.Checklist: look for these things....LeBron to be more aggressiveZ not have the same kind of game as he did in game 1Donyell Marshall to continue missingnot as much daniel gibsonlebron to have a much better gameDyess to get hot.Sheed and C-Webb smother Clevelands bigsChauncey to shoot betterTayshaun to be more aggressiveRip to score at least 20: his scoring will rise because its needed.a close game through out the night.a Pistons win and a 2-0 lead.By letting the Pistons come back and win monday, the Cavs lost their momentum for game two and the Pistons got more by getting the close win. in any low-scoring game, you should expect the pistons to come out victorious. and they did..your thoughts and predictions...</div>we really need home court advantage to stay with us tonight.
