10 Reasons why I think the Pistons will beat the Lakers

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">[*]Playoff tested. The Pistons have gone to 7 against the Nets and won tough games when many counted them out. They've played the NBA's top team in the Pacers and beat them.</div>

The Lakers have won 3 championships. They are playoff tested. Plus, this season they beat three pretty good teams in Houston, San Antonio, and Minnesota. They are tested.

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">[*]Element of surprise. Everyone is counting them out. The Pistons are a very strong team, mentally. Everyone in L.A. is getting ready for their victory parade. The Pistons have a chance to steal one in L.A. by throwing the first punch and catching the Lakers (and everyone else) by surprise.</div>

This happened when the Sixers played LA in the finals. Philly came out, won the first game because LA hadn't played in a while, then LA went on to win 4 straight.

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">[*]Sheed. Everyone's "x-factor" is Tayshaun, Rip, or even Memo. They forget that Sheed is finally healing from his foot and ankle injuries. He's closer to 100% health for the first time since the regular season. During the last 3-4 games of the Indiana series, Sheed has been playing his best basketball, since the regular season. He's posted double doubles and scored over 20 points a few times. Mark my words, Sheed will be huge in the Finals.</div>

The Lakers know all about Sheed. They played numerous times in the playoffs.

I have two reasons why LA will win. Shaq and Kobe.

 

Iamme, great post and you put up very valid points, but here are mine:

Shaq attack- virtualy unstoppable, especialy in a playoff series like this. Despite th fact he had a slow start in the houton-Los angeles series, he has been amazing averaging 22.5 ppg, merely 15 rpg, 4.4 bpg and about 64% in the conference finals.Just something to get him started, as in the next series he averaged 21 ppg, 16 rpg, 3 apg, 3 bpg and 57% in field goal percentage. The pistons have just about 24 fouls to give around to shaq, but realistically do you really think the pistons will use all of them? not to mention the fact that if Ben wallace or rasheed were to take a certain amount of them, Detroit will be in very big trouble. I personally do not think any man on the pistons can take on Shaq alone, therfore creating matchup problems (not like detroit is the only team to suffer from this) causing the defense to be broken down from a double team. Shaq might average around 5 assists in this series if my prediction is right.

Kobe - this might be th very last time we could see Kobe in a laker jersey. He is probably the player who we could dominate this series with a 30 point average. He has also been the most consistent throughout the playoffs expecting him to put up great numbers every game.Now in the last series he did not average points, field goal %, rebounds, asissts, steals like he did in the first two rounds, but he did however give the team a lift in the 4th quarter whether it be an offensive or defensive play. But maybe it is because i expect too much from him, especially when there are 3 other HOF on the team. Bryant may have to gaurd Hamilton and people speculate Hamilton to get Kobe fatigued but has anyone thought of this? will Kobe make Hamilton fatigued? for all we know Kobe could play the best defense he has ever played in this very series. Detroit will play a lot of pick and rolls to help Hamilton out and if the Lakers (which i am sure they have thouht about it) pick out some plays from the Spurs' defense then the pick and roll might not be that much of a factor for Los Angeles.

Malone and Payton - This is their chance, probably their last. Malone will be the oldest guy on the court but the player who wants it the most. Payton is just fired up as he has fired up his team in the playoffs. Billups will really try to outrun Payton in the open court but Payton has been through this before in this year's playoffs so not much to worry about, part from the fact that billups will take advantage of payton out in the perimeter.

experience - this will play one of, if not the biggest role in this series. The Lakers have 3 rings in 4 years while these pistons have no experience whatsoever (exclude lindsey hunter).

Homecourt advantage - The lakers have not lost a homegame so far this year in the playoffs. On the road i believe the lakers will lose one or two games but I go with the odds saying they will not lose a home game, and if they do well I took my chance. This is not really a fact but more of an opinion based on the odds.

starting 5 - yes, they pistons have a much better bench, but can their starting lineup match up to LA's? billups-payton, Bryant-hamilton,george-prince,malone-wallace,shaq-wallace? The lakers take this one assuming the lakers don't have any injuries.

statistics - well yes, the pistons are averaging just 2 shots in point averages less compared to the lakers. But what if the games come down to just 1 or 2 shots?

let's compare: (stats from NBA.COM)

<u>lakers </u> <u>pistons</u>
PPG for-against PPG for-against
90.0 - 86.2 87.1 - 81.3
FG% for-against FG% for-against
.452 - .421 .412 - .387
RPG for-against RPG for-against
41.0 - 42.3 44.4 - 41.4
APG for-against APG for-against
23.2 - 17.9 20.1 - 18.1

.


this series could go either ways but i am most def. going to go with LA on this one. just wanted to add my thoughts to this arguement

 

Mike James and Lindsay Hunter are not the Piston's bench powerhouse..lol Williamson , Campbell , Okur...Lakers depend too much on Shaq and Malone...and all of these guys with the exception of Ben Wallace can make an outside shot.

I mean could you imagine Lakers 2nd Unit vs Pistons 2nd Unit?? Pistons will win every minute when that happens and the long arm defensive minded Wallaces can play real hard against Shaq(at least in the last 2 quaters , because they need their points) and it doesn't really matter to get in foul trouble because of all the big men they have..I think Larry Brown will play his bench in the 2nd quater A LONG TIME.

Pistons in 5 or 7.

 

One word: offense. Detroit just doesn't have enough to close it out in a tight game. Lakers were able to score against Houston, San Antonio and Minnesota the top 3 defensive teams in the West...Detroit is not going to be any different. Shut Rip down, box out Ben and voila 4 championships in 5 years. People need to distinguish between good defense and bad offense. The low scoring average is not attributed to good defense as much as it is about people not making open mid range jumpers.

 

I think Lakers will win this in 5, if not a sweep...I'm not underestimating Detroit but I just dont think they have the offensive firepower to keep up with LA...Detroit will give up about 90-95 ppg this series, but there is no way that they can score that many...their only legit offensive threat is Rip because Chauncey has been too inconsistent...the fact is that while the games may be competitive and even ugly, the Pistons are likely to have twice as many offensive droughts as LA, and that will be their undoing...

 

Man I can see most of u are buying into all the hype the media is giving the Lakers.This Laker team aint nothing special , they can be beat...they were a correct ruling away from not even making it past the semis.The Pistons can and will beat Stern's team , barring any extra help from Stern himself...like what happened against the Spurs.

To contain Shaq , all they have to do is just give him the tough shots and foul him when he has easy looks...the best he'll do at the line is hit one out of two.They have a whole bunch of big men to give fouls , they should take advantage of that.They should also give Okur lots of minutes so he can pull shaq away from the basket at the other end of the court because of Mehmet's ability to hit the jumpshot.

As for Kobe , put the Prince on him...I think he can do a good job on Kobe if given the oppurtunity.His long arms and athleticism can really give Kobe some problems , putting Rip or someone else on Kobe would not cut it IMO...he could just post up on Rip and would probably be too fast for anyone else.And all of u who think Kobe will be guarding Rip and will shut him down are wrong , the Pistons should pray that Phil does put Kobe on Rip but he wont...following Rip all over the court would tire Kobe and would affect him on the offensive end and dont be foolish LA fans , Rip doesnt get tired.No way will Kobe tire him out thats why I see Kobe taking Tayshaun or maybe Billups if he's giving GP some problems.

Those two are the key , the rest of the Laker's players will just do what they normally do...if they can contain Kobe and Shaq , I think Rip and Co. will score just enough to beat the Lakers.I'm pretty confident the Pistons will shock the world and beat those supposedly unbeatable Lakers...I however wont be shocked and call this one of the biggest upsets like some people will , the Pistons may be from the Jr Varsity conference but they are one of two Varsity quality teams that that conference has.

LET'S GO BAD BOYS , BEAT THEM L.A. STERNS!!!!!!!!!

 

9SA21SPURS20, you hit it on the head. media has hyped up the laker so much that everyone thinks they are the best team in the league and no one can beat them. Pistons will take it in 6 or 7.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Kobe 8 Ball:</div><div class="quote_post">9SA21SPURS20 you are still flamming from the time we beat the Spurs? It is the Spurs fault, they never should of lost 4 in a row.

Stopping Shaq isnt as easy as you make it sound, he sometimes does have good nights at the line, and he has had one in each of the previous 2 playoff series. He gets great position a lot too, and even if you foul him he makes the shot for an and 1 most of the time.

You make it seem like Kobe is nothing for Prince also, Kobe is faster than Prince, and with the pick n roll's he runs with Malone he could get in the paint all day, and we have seen the shots he makes in the paint, and he normally gets to the line when he is in the paint.</div>

This has nothing to do with me flaming over that , Im just trying to make a point--the Lakers can be beat barring any help from Stern or the NBA...and bro how many times do I have to say it , the Spurs lost four in a row but the last two were in large part thanks to Stern...if Game 5 is given to them like it shouldve been , odds are they wouldve gone on to win the series.

I aint saying they're gonna stop Shaq , IMO opinion all they need to do is contain him something they're very capable of doing...and yes I know Shaq gets very good position and sometimes Detroit wont be able to do anything but watch , but I also think Detroit's quick big man will do a good job of hustling and preventing Shaq from getting great position...I also see ur point about how Shaq sometimes has a good night at the FT line and shoots 50-55% rather then 30% , thats why I said at best he'll make 1 out of 2

The same goes for Kobe , I dont think they need to stop Kobe just contain him...dont sleep on Prince's quickness and also dont forget his length , he is a much different defender then what Kobe has faced thus far...he also has the luxury of playing Kobe tight and agressive because he has two of the best help defender in the league behind him (Wallaces).I maybe wrong but I think Kobe will have some problems with Prince on him.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">last two were in large part thanks to Stern...if Game 5 is given to them like it shouldve been</div>
i just don't see how a game such as that can be staged. I can see your strong hatred of david stern especially when your team is eliminated from the playoffs buy i do not see how fisher's shot was planned.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Kobe 8 Ball:</div><div class="quote_post">i aint trying to bring this back up but, how was game 6 given to the Lakers? and Stern didnt give the Lakers sh.t in game 5. You cant stage a shot like Fisher's, and we all saw that the Lakers should of had the ball with .8 to shoot, not .4.</div>

This is getting way off topic , but I have to respond...u are completely misunderstanding what im trying to say.The fact that Fish made the shot had nothing to do with Stern , but the fact that it counted is a different story.U probably wont believe me but I guess I'll still tell u , in a local sports show here in San Antonio they broke the play down as slow as possible and determined it took fish in between .9 and .95 to get it off , however when they themselves tried it live with a stopwatch noone got it correct...so I guess I can understand the human element of them starting the clock late , but the NBA had a chance to break it down just like the guys from the sports show did and they still ruled it good.The least they could've done was atleast apologize.

As for ur .8 arguement , like I said it took him over .9 to get it off but since u probably wont believe it I'll have to convince u in a different way...I have told u before and I will tell u again , time runs off in practically every single made shot with under a minute left , it doesnt compare to changing a rule that stated u can only catch and shoot in 0.4 (fish clearly didnt catch and shoot , he also turned)...and even if u were right--and the NBA took the fact that LA shouldve had .8 to begin with into account--then they would be breaking yet another rule to favor the Lakers.All u can review is the last play , the NBA had no business looking at Timmy's shot.

As for Game 6 , if the Spurs get Game 5 (like they shouldve) it is very likely that they wouldve taken the series , possibly in Game 6...just look at last yr and at the history of the NBA , when tied 2-2 whoever wins Game 5 comes out on top like 99.9% of the time

The anger is gone tough , I've put this behind me...the Spurs got screwed but there aint nothing thats gonna change that.I guess the Pistons defeating the LA Sterns will have to do... :mrgreen:

 

i still think the lakers will win in 5,even though i want to see the pistons win.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting iamme:</div><div class="quote_post">Well, it seems that the odds are stacked high against the Pistons. Here are some reasons why I think the Pistons will beat the Lakers (btw, i put this in the general forum, because the Pistons/Lakers are the only teams left and everyone can discuss them):

1. Defense. They said it wins championships. The Pistons are playing a level of defense unseen in the modern (shot clock) era. They've set historical records all season long. Sure, San Antonio plays great defense, but they haven't broken records and set milestones like the Pistons have. Remember 19 blocks in one game?
2. Offense. The fashionable thing for analysts to say is: "how are the Pistons going to win scoring 60-70 points?" newsflash, the Pistons are scoring only 3.9 points per game less than the Lakers during the playoffs. that's two shots. that's in spite of the low scoring games that the Pistons played in. The Pistons aren't the same team, offensively, as they were last year. They can and do run the break when it presents itself.
3. Playing on the road. The Pistons have shown to be a good road team during the playoffs. they beat Indiana (tied for the best home record during the regular season) 2 out of 3 times on their own floor.
4. Rebounding. During the playoffs the Lakers are getting outrebounded on average, while the Pistons are outrebounding their opponents on average. When the Pistons control the boards, they are extremely tough to beat.
5. Big bodies. During the playoffs, Shaq hasn't faced a team with as many big bodies as we have. This isn't a Shaq vs. Ben matchup. Shaq will face Ben, Sheed, Elden, Memo, maybe Corliss, and if everyone fouls out, maybe 7'1" Darko. Larry Brown has even shown a zone defense at times, which allows for some help on Shaq.
6. Triangle defense. When the Lakers set up and run the triangle, it plays into the Piston's strength: half-court, help defense. The Pistons had the most trouble against the Nets who are a team that doesn't set up in the half court.
7. Playoff tested. The Pistons have gone to 7 against the Nets and won tough games when many counted them out. They've played the NBA's top team in the Pacers and beat them.
8. Element of surprise. Everyone is counting them out. The Pistons are a very strong team, mentally. Everyone in L.A. is getting ready for their victory parade. The Pistons have a chance to steal one in L.A. by throwing the first punch and catching the Lakers (and everyone else) by surprise.
9. Sheed. Everyone's "x-factor" is Tayshaun, Rip, or even Memo. They forget that Sheed is finally healing from his foot and ankle injuries. He's closer to 100% health for the first time since the regular season. During the last 3-4 games of the Indiana series, Sheed has been playing his best basketball, since the regular season. He's posted double doubles and scored over 20 points a few times. Mark my words, Sheed will be huge in the Finals.
10. Tayshaun Prince. In the NJ and Indiana series, he's had to focus on RJ and Artest. Remember the Milwaukee series when he guarded a lesser Desmond Mason? Well, get ready Devean George....I see Tayshaun stepping it up in the Finals. Tayshaun may defend Kobe a few times, but I see him on George a majority of the time.

Well, that's all i have for now. Let the arguments commence </div>

I know a reason in favour of the Lakers, that is more significant than all your reasons combined:

1. Superiority: The Lakers are the better team.

 

Let's look at this in a different perspective: what factors will play a big part on the Lakers' success? I can think of two main things:

1. Foul Trouble
No, I'm not gonna cry about rigged games and all that -- champions know how to overcome anything thrown at them, including nights when calls don't go their way. Anyways, if Shaq is in foul trouble, the paint suddenly becomes extremely vulnerable. If Malone is in foul trouble, 'Sheed will have a field day in the paint.

2. Lakers' Perimeter Shooting
If Devean, Fisher or Rush aren't making their outside shots, it'll be very tough for the Lakers. When these guys are making their shots, the Piston's defense can't double Shaq in the post, nor can they double Kobe on the pick & rolls.

As long as the Lakers' aren't in foul trouble and the role players are making their outside shots, the Laker offense will be hitting on all cylinders and the defense will be able to limit Rip/Chauncy/Sheed.

 

Well I agree with everything you said. But I just dont know how The piston can really hold Mr. Kobe. I mean not to say hes the best player in the world and he cant be defended Ii'm just saying that he briings a sorta chaotic scheme that other teams aren't really prepared for. Especially with Shaq causing so much focus in the paint kobe can run a muc. I just dont think Prince or Hamilton are ready for the assignment. But I think this will be an interesting series and fun to watch. Go pistons.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting 9SA21SPURS20:</div><div class="quote_post">This is getting way off topic , but I have to respond...u are completely misunderstanding what im trying to say.The fact that Fish made the shot had nothing to do with Stern , but the fact that it counted is a different story.U probably wont believe me but I guess I'll still tell u , in a local sports show here in San Antonio they broke the play down as slow as possible and determined it took fish in between .9 and .95 to get it off , however when they themselves tried it live with a stopwatch noone got it correct...so I guess I can understand the human element of them starting the clock late , but the NBA had a chance to break it down just like the guys from the sports show did and they still ruled it good.The least they could've done was atleast apologize.

As for ur .8 arguement , like I said it took him over .9 to get it off but since u probably wont believe it I'll have to convince u in a different way...I have told u before and I will tell u again , time runs off in practically every single made shot with under a minute left , it doesnt compare to changing a rule that stated u can only catch and shoot in 0.4 (fish clearly didnt catch and shoot , he also turned)...and even if u were right--and the NBA took the fact that LA shouldve had .8 to begin with into account--then they would be breaking yet another rule to favor the Lakers.All u can review is the last play , the NBA had no business looking at Timmy's shot.

As for Game 6 , if the Spurs get Game 5 (like they shouldve) it is very likely that they wouldve taken the series , possibly in Game 6...just look at last yr and at the history of the NBA , when tied 2-2 whoever wins Game 5 comes out on top like 99.9% of the time

The anger is gone tough , I've put this behind me...the Spurs got screwed but there aint nothing thats gonna change that.I guess the Pistons defeating the LA Sterns will have to do... :mrgreen:</div>

I'm sorry you are such a crybaby. The NBA did review the last play and it clearly showed that the ball left Fish's hand before the red light came on the backboard. Maybe it the tear's in your eyes blurring your vision. Yes, I'm pretty Stern scripted the whole playoffs. He probably phoned Duncan the night before and told him make two lucky shots at the end of regulation.

 

Kobe and Shaq are not the key to a Lakers victory. They didn't beat the TWolves and they didn't beat the Spurs. Fisher and Rush were the keys to their success. The Bullets have a GREAT chance to pull off a huge upset because they will defend against the role players much better than the West did.

<font color="Red">Edited by Ice </font>