Potential Playoffs Matchup: Detroit Pistons
by Jeff Clark on Apr 3, 2009 2:03 PM EDT
in Boston Celtics Articles
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PrintContinuing our series on Potential Playoff Matchups we look at the Detroit Pistons. (Also see Miami Heat)
Detroit Pistons
Celtics won season series 3-1
Team Blog: Detroit Bad Boys
Pros: Right now they are a dysfunctional mess. They are 3-7 in their last 10 games and Allen Iverson is becoming a the distraction that all his detractors said he would become. They don't have Mr. Big Shot (Billups) anymore, and they clearly miss his leadership. Sheed is a shell of himself (except in the area of picking up technicals, where he's still unmatched). Young players Stuckey, Maxiel, and Amir Johnson have not blossomed as they would have hoped. And on top of all that, everyone knows that the Billups trade was made with an eye to future cap space and not for this year.
But other than that Mrs. Lincoln, how did you like the play?
Cons: Well, they're still the Pistons. Rip Hamilton can still fill it up night in and night out. Prince is still a plus defender. When Sheed cares enough to show up, he can be a matchup nightmare. Allen Iverson, when healthy, can still score in bunches. Basically on any given day they can look like the Pistons of old.
Matchup Highlights: It is always interesting to watch Rip and Ray go at it all game. They run each other through a myriad of screens and knock down jumpers with the tiniest of slivers of space. As mentioned, Sheed is hard to guard for most centers because he floats out to the 3 point arc. But if he isn't hitting that shot, he can turn translucent for games at a time.
Conclusion: The biggest danger with this team is the fear of the unknown. They seem like they could put everything aside for a few games and handle business like they used to. Or they could completely implode and get run out of the playoffs in 4 straight games. Prediction: If they play the Celtics, they'll either make it a 7 game series or they'll get swept.
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Pistons are finished.
You should hope to see them. The talk of them still being able to be a dangerous team is just talk. They wilted against Cleveland the other night when it mattered. The Iverson situation will only make matters worse. The Celtics should want this team over a team like Miami.
I see what you mean about the unknown, but...
…this Pistons team is still inferior to the one we took out in 6 games last year. As long as KG is close to his old self, I really don’t see the Pistons pushing us to 7 games. They could definitely fold and get swept, although I tend to feel like some of their remaining players have to much pride to let that happen. But they just don’t play the kind of defense that made them so successful in the past. I’d say we take them in 5 games.
They'll be lucky to make the playoffs at this point
Not even sure they want to.
Love this series, Jeff -- well done!
Pistons are one of the least troubling matchups for me right now. Without Billups, and with all of the Iversonian nonsense, they are more dangerous in the cornered animal sense than anything else. Might be a fun series to watch though, in a sadistic way.
ESPN says AI's sitting out the rest of the regular season
They say it’s because of his back injury, I call BS after what he said two days ago.
They might be a better team without him.
I'm surprised AI is dumb enough to take the bait.
The NBA is secretly happy about this. They couldn’t put the Iverson braids, bling, and tattoos “Era” behind them fast enough, and he’s helping them by seeming to be the selfish superstar not able to cope with his declining abilities. Is he still a starter in this League? Sure, but right now, it’s about perception and he is guaranteeing that he ends his career as a role player, or star on a crap team. He took the bait. Dumars and the Pistons wanted this to happen.
In a post game interview on Wednesday...
Kobe Bryant was asked if the Lakers should rest him and Pau to prepare for the Play-offs, and he responded, “These people pay their hard earned money to watch us play, I’ma play.”
I know most of you aren’t Kobe fans, but it’s good that someone gets it, and AI should learn a thing or two. It’s about the fans, not just yourself, and from the practice rant to sitting out because he’s not starting, AI (like T-Mac) just doesn’t get what it means to be a professional.
ESPN says AI's sitting out the rest of the regular season
I have read that Iverson will be out for the rest of the season including playoffs. I imagine he will retire or at least not be a piston next year. He won’t come off the bench for any team.
Pistons Series
If the C’s face the pistons it should be no problem to dispatch them. One caviot if Garnet is not playing (and he should be) the C’s perimiter D has had some problems of late without him. I don’t think that is a killer against a inferior team like Detriot but something to look out for.
I honestly think that...
The Pistons, if motivated, can win this series. But with only Rip really playing good ball for the Pistons, and a healthy KG, this may not be a series to watch
4-1 with or without KG
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