What does everyone think of this series? It's a known fact that Detroit is going to win their series and Indiana is going to win theirs. I believe the regular season series was 3-1 in favour of Indiana but that doesn't mean anything in the playoffs. Who will win in this series, Who is the key matchup and who does Indiana want to play in the finals?
Personally although they probably won't be facing off. I think it'll be a battle between Big Ben and either Artest or J'O. He'd be battling for the boards with J'O and just flat out all out defense with Artest. Whoever shuts down the offense could be the hero. Maybe Ben would even play well offensively, he can take J'O. As usual Rip and Billups will lead the way offensively, you guys need to make Prince shoot. He looks unconfident during this playoffs and will most likely bum out in this series as well. If you make him shoot, you can keep them at low scoring probably. You'll have to rely on Foster a lot, double teaming is the key, J'O and Foster could probably massacre Big Ben on his own, but he has his own buddy, 'Sheed.
Jermaine O'Neal against Ben Wallace. That will be key to the series. If Wallace/Wallace can contain O'Neal, the Pistons have a chance of winning. Expect Al Harrington to play more, taking the time of Jeff Foster.
First of all, I can't wait until the Pistons & Pacers actually finish off NJ & Miami, respectively, because it makes me queezy to do all this speculating before they even face each other. As much as I feel confident that will be the match-up in the next round, I really hate to start talking match-ups before there is even a match-up to talk about. But having said that, the urge is nearly irresistable. I think a key will be the guard match-ups. I really think the front court match-ups are about a wash. Wallace > Foster, Artest > Prince, Wallace = JO. Ben will probably be guarding JO a lot (advantage Ben), and JO will probably be guarding sheed, which makes it kind of even IMO - although if Ben keeps JO frustrated the scales tip in favor of the Pistons. If Ben has trouble containing JO things tip a little bit in Indy's favor. But overall things balance out with these three front court players. One really key thing will be how the Pistons reserves play against the Pacers bench. Both teams have strong bench play. I think the Pistons guards coming off the bench and disrupting things with their defense will be a difference maker in the series.
^ZappaFan I'm glad you can make it! I think the key matchups in this series has to be how Foster can guard Rasheed Wallace and how Ben Wallace can guard JO. Foster is a very underrated defender and I believe he will cause a lot of problems for Rasheed and vice versa. Ben is runner-up for the DPOY and I see Jermaine having a ton of problems against him. I agree with the fact that how the reserves play in this series may determine how well each team does but I also see Reggie Miller as the key for the Pacers. There is no doubt that Rip will try to attack him in every way possible and there is no way that Artest will switch with Reggie to guard him. The size difference between Prince and Reggie is way too much. But Reggie will be called upon to hit key shots in this series and if he can still knock down those timely jumpers Indiana has a good chance of taking this team.
