New Jersey vs. Detroit

[paul_pierce_the_truth]

Could someone find a more boring and ugly series?
Detroit has home court of course.
Sorry to anyone who disagrees or is a fan of either team and is excited.

I pick New Jersey 4-1. (though Rick Carlise [sic] is a great coach, remember he coached the Pacers all the way to the NBA Finals in 2000. Larry Bird may have been the head coach, but Carlise drew up all the plays and at times could be seen overruling Legend about subs and plays.)

But I couldn't think of a series of the past few years or longer that could be less entertaining than this match-up.

It will be difficult to watch, the only player I find fun to watch on either of these teams is Tayshaun Prince. Who guarded Allen Iverson down the stretch in Game 6 of that series. Maybe he'll be guarding Jason Kidd, most likely Billups will have him at first, but remember Allen Iverson, if you are a small forward and they put you on the Answer, that says much for your reach and skills. Not to mention his smooth handle, passing and jumper.

I can't stand Kidd, Martin, Jefferson and especially Anthony Johnson, these guys have eliminated MY team two years running, that last thing I want to do is look at them.

Dallas vs. San Antonio would be the most fun to watch for me.
Two contrasting styles, offense hurricane vs. half court percision.
Again Dallas will have problems with all the San Antonio frontcourt players. To be covered in a future thread.

[air gordon]

i think the series will be an ugly one to watch as well. but i don't think it will be boring.

a battle of contrasting styles: jersey loves to get out in the open court and put points on the board while detroit wants a slow, low scoring, half court game.

detroit has the personnel to force the game tempo to be slow. but jersey has been able to hit the perimeter shots in half court sets.

nets definitely need to find some scoring from the inside. maybe mutumbo gets more tick this series. nets in 6

i'd like to see kidd and co. get to the finals. i think they can matchup with any of the 3 western conference teams that are still in the playoffs.

[Dert]

I think most people will look at this series and contrast talent and not look too much at the matchups... Pistons do matchup pretty well against the Nets and the Nets match up pretty well against the Pistons..

At Center, Clifford should have the advantage over Colins if he gets calls his ways... He can make Colins or Mutombo step aways fromt he basket and that will help the Pistons, hopefully, have a shot at rebounding better.

PF, Battle of all stars... Keyon should have the edge overall in the matchup, but he should work up a sweat for sure...

At small forward, Richard Jefferson is playing very well, but he will have a tough series against Michael Curry and Tayshaun Prince.... I dont think Jefferson will be as good as he was in the previous series, but he is very capable of scoring in bunches.

SG Quickness against quickness.... Hamilton against Kittles... Very good match up... rip should have the advantage in scoring, but he too will have to work for it...

at the point, Kidd is the teams MVP, but so far in the playoffs, so is Chauncey... both can wear each other down at the offensive end, but Kidd has to go out of his usual playing style to do so... tough macth up at both ends

the bench: Rodney Rogers and Aaron williams are the biggest thread against the pistons off the bench... both big and capable of offensive rebounding... Rodney can shoot the trey and can also out muscle Mehmet, so he should have a very good series. Aaron will have to do alot of similar things as Thomas did, which he can. Will Mutombo even play? Lucious is a wild card like jon barry...

It is going to be a tough and hard fought series... i dont personally think that is ugly basketball and i look foward to it.... if the nets win, they will surely be weary for the finals and maybe then their chance against the western's big men is slim.... but i think the pistons will take it... seems that they are able to squeeze a good shot from the least suspected individual at crunch time, and this is the type of series this will be... home court advantage IS an issue and the Pistons must protect it...

[Wall St. Peon]

Dert summed up the matches pretty well, imo...I agree. I'd give the Pistons bench a little bit bigger nod than the Nets, though. The Pistons bench has Tayshaun and Corliss...a bit better than Williams and Rogers. Okur's been playing well.

I'm gonna give the nod to the Pistons because they've won what, three games in OT? The guys that hit the game winners were role players, save Billups, so that's a huge boost for confidence. I say Detroit in six...

[Boyk]

Detroit in 6

[EGarrett]

Quite the amazing phenomena...it seems that no matter what the Nets do people just pick them to lose every series. It happened last year in the predictions thread were the Nets were picked by at least 3 out of 4 people to lose every single series on the way to the finals and again this year...

Nets over Pistons in 5...

...and when we get to the Finals...since the man below is off crying somewhere anything can happen...Tony Parker can't handle star point guards and we can throw Dikembe and Martin alternately at Duncan...the Mavs would probably fold like a house of cards if you hit them in the right spot...I like our chances...

[Matthew]

I agree Ernest. Except for when you call the Nets "we"

I'll give my breakdown.

Clifford Robinson/ Jason Collions: Even
OK one on one, we know Clifford would destory him. But Jason Collins is a true centre, albeit not a very good one. But, this is a team game and he plays his role very well and thats why its even. If Jason Collins was too match up with Clifford Robinson playing power forward, it would be totally different, becuase Robinson still plays like a small forward despite being a centre in the east.

Ben Wallace/ Kenyon Martin: Adv Kenyon Martin
Ben Wallace is a superb rebounder, there is no question about that. And he is a great help defender. However, I think Martin has the advantage not only in offensive skills, but defensively. He is better gaurding players on the ball. Rebounding, Wallace is better, but not by much. Defensively, its close. Offensive skills is not close. So advantage nets.

Richard Jefferson/ Michael Curry: Adv Richard Jefferson
OK Michael Curry is a good role player who plays good defense. However Jefferson is head and shoulders above him offensivly, and defensivly. I would not be suprised to see Jefferson gaurd Hamilton, which should be fun becuase they are both good raw, athletic players. But Jefferson will be able to hold him down a bit plus get some good production offensively.

Kerry Kittles/ Richard Hamilton: Adv Hamilton
Kerry Kittles is streaky. Hamilton is just good. Hamilton has grown in leaps and bounds since MJ joined the wiz, and if Detroit has ANY hope of winning it lies on his skinny shoulders. Hamilton is a better shooter, better off the ball, better penetrater and better at getting to the line. Hamilton may be guarded by jefferson, which could and should slow him down. But expect 20-25 ppg out of him, and kerry kittles to get 10 ppg.

Chauncey Billups/ Jason Kidd: Adv Kidd
This is not battle. Kidd is playing great leading the nets and guiding them to easy baskets. Watch for him to feed Jefferson, Kittles, Harris Rogers etc for jumpshots and in transition Jefferson and Martin will get baskets from the long rebounds via the outside misses from Billups and Hamilton (much like the Boston series)

Benches are close, but ill give the advantage to the nets strictly becuase of their experience. You have Mutumbo, williams, Rogers, Harris etc. They are great defensively so dont think they will give up any lead to the Pistons bench.

I think this will go 5, and each game will be close. And the nets will win, 4-1

[Rens]

Wouldn't Martin defend Robinson/Okur whoever is in the game, and have the Nets just put Collins on Wallace just to box him out? I think that might be a better idea for them.

[Matthew]

I don't think Collins would be too effective at boxing out ben wallace becuase 1, wallace is stronger, 2 wallace is faster. So while it may be a small obstacle, if you put Martin on him he could neutrualise Wallace and let jefferson, Mutumbo and collins clean the glass. And dont forget Kidd is a good rebounder too.

[Rens]

That's true, but Cliff and Okur aren't among the slowest either, especially Cliff. Will Collins be able to defend these guys up to the perimeter? If not, I think the Pistons could get a good production out of their centers if they play it right.

[Matthew]

I didn't think of that. If Okur or Robinson start making perimeter shots New jersey could shift into a zone or put Aaron Williams on them.

[EGarrett]

I agree Ernest. Except for when you call the Nets "we"

The Nets have practiced and played 20 minutes from my house my whole life...the local billboards and ads also use "we"...so the habit develops...

If it makes you feel better you can refer to your favorite local rugby team with "we" also from now on...

[Matthew]

Lol I'll be right.

[Andrew]

Well, it's 1-0 to the Nets after their 76-74 victory in Game 1. If all they had to win was one game, then my prediction of the Nets advancing would be correct. As it stands, they need to win three more.

[Legin]

Still not over kidd's shot......I was half asleep...and he made the shot, and I went ......nets will win in 6 probably.....but's gonna be very very ugly, and very very boring...I was falling asleep through this game.....

pistons gave the game away with their bad shooting.....up 8 in the 4th...no excuse for losing...

[Eddy-MVP]

Only Kidd factor.
When he is in 20 or about fastbreak but when is out what FAST BREAK they cant even make a good attack.
My heart says Detroit BUT
My logic NJ
anyway
GO DETROİT GO !!! (even i am a Laker)

[Shep]

pistons win 88-86

clifford robinson no rebounds in 38 minutes a center getting no rebounds in 38 minutes of action

[Andrew]

Don't you mean the Nets win?

0 rebounds for Uncle Cliff in 38 minutes is a somewhat embarrassing statistic, but the Beast made up for that. Prince got the start, but it seems as though he's more suited to being a spark plug off the bench, at least at this point.

[Clinton]

Cliffy doesn't care about the boards, he knows Big Ben will get them. He doesn't even bother jumping anymore.
Prince and Jefferson just cancelled each other out.

[Matthew]

Prince and Jefferson cancell each other out?! Hmm Richard Jefferson is good weapon offensively. Plus he spreads the floor out with his shooting which gives Kenyon Martin the space to work down low. Prince plays great d and so does Jefferson.

Stats:
Game1 (pts, reb, min)
Jefferson 11 pts (5-10 fgs), 7 reb, 23 mins
Prince 6 pts (2-5 fgs), 3 reb, 25 mins

Game 2
Jefferson 9 pts(3-9), 5 reb, 23 mins
Prince 6 pts (2-5), 3 reb, 25 mins

I know to the naked eye this isnt total domination by Jefferson, But both games were decided by 2 points so every little advantage helps towards a win. And Jefferson has had the advantage, plus he made some clutch free throws which gave them that 2 point lead

[Ugur]

damn !!! why cant detroit win ? especially at home.
it makes me real sad.i think we r not gonna reach the finals .
just because of that.... kidd

[.]

Can U please use a smaller pic for a signature?

[Clinton]

Prince and Jefferson cancell each other out?! Hmm Richard Jefferson is good weapon offensively. Plus he spreads the floor out with his shooting which gives Kenyon Martin the space to work down low. Prince plays great d and so does Jefferson.

Stats:
Game1 (pts, reb, min)
Jefferson 11 pts (5-10 fgs), 7 reb, 23 mins
Prince 6 pts (2-5 fgs), 3 reb, 25 mins

Game 2
Jefferson 9 pts(3-9), 5 reb, 23 mins
Prince 6 pts (2-5), 3 reb, 25 mins

I know to the naked eye this isnt total domination by Jefferson, But both games were decided by 2 points so every little advantage helps towards a win. And Jefferson has had the advantage, plus he made some clutch free throws which gave them that 2 point lead

That's what I meant. They cancelled each other out with their play. They are very similar players and are both good defenders, that's why they cancelled each other out. Neither let the other do anything spectacular. They have both been relatively quiet and haven't played a lot of minutes. That's what I meant by cancelling each other out.

[Matthew]

But Jefferson has played better so how can they have cancelled each other out?

[EGarrett]

Nets dominate Pistons to go up 3-0 in the series...we've now won 9 straight games in the playoffs. It's looking like my prediction of Nets in 5 might have been underestimating them.

So which doubter wants to come out and admit that they're the best team in the East?