Well, the conference finals are both official. A playoff that started off with 16 teams is now down to four. Only one will be left standing when all is said and done, and there will be a lot of emotions that fly before we find out who the best truly is. First, the Detroit Pistons will go to battle with the “Big Three” in Boston. In the West, Phil Jackson’s Lakers are going to do battle with Tony Parker and the San Antonio Spurs. In this preview, I am going to look at each match up in a position versus position manner. The end result will be my prediction.
Comment: MyDyess’ numbers don’t exactly jump off of the page, but he proves to be important for a team that isn’t particularly deep in the position. He outrebounds Perkins by about two per game and is scoring slightly more than him as well. I don’t expect this position to be the deciding factor in which team wins, but rebounding will be huge in this series, and McDyess is the superior in that respect.
Advantage: Pistons
Comment: Garnett has been awesome in the playoffs, averaging over 20 points per game and almost nine rebounds per game as well. Wallace has been a little bit disappointing in the playoffs thus far, averaging 13.9 points and just over six rebounds per game. Wallace has to be able to keep himself in check with his temper in this series. These teams are very evenly matched, and one point from a technical could be the ultimate difference. Defensively, there is no competition, and Garnett is the reigning defensive player of the year. Advantage goes to the Celtics on this one.
Advantage: Celtics
Comment: This was actually a harder decision for me than most would expect. Pierce has been huge in the playoffs for the Celtics, and he has been the rock in this organization. Prince has averaged 16 points and six rebounds throughout the playoffs so far, and has been one of the most consistent players for the Pistons. Pierce’s 19 points, five rebounds and four assists have proven to be important in the Celtics’ hopeful trip to the NBA championship.
Advantage: Celtics
Comment: This was an easy call for me. Hamilton may be the MVP of this Pistons team right now with the way that he is currently producing in the post season. He is averaging over 21 points, almost five boards and two assists. He has attracted the attention away from Chauncey Billups and that has allowed the other players to get more into the action. Allen has been a disappointment in the playoffs with his 12 points per game, but don’t be surprised if he breaks out in the clutch. I expect this to be a big matchup in this series.
Advantage: Pistons
Comment: This was a tough decision for me because Rondo has really performed well in the playoffs. Along with his 11 points per game, he has averaged 6.6 dimes and four rebounds as well. Billups averages more in points, but is not exceeding as well as Rondo in the other areas. I think his experience is going to be the major difference here. Billups knows what it is like to win, and he knows how to deal with everything that comes with it. I want to know whether or not Rondo will be able to keep his composure when it comes down to the pivotal play in the fourth quarter. Who would you rather? I think the answer to that question is painfully obvious.
Advantage: Pistons
Comment: For me, this is much like my Joe Torre philosophy in baseball. With all of those stacked Yankees teams, I never believed Torre was the genius that everyone made him out to be. The same applies for Doc Rivers. You can give Dennis Rodman the helm to that team and they would probably be in the same position that they are in today. The Pistons, on the other hand, execute fundamentals, and that is something that Saunders very much believes in. He is known to be excellent with time management, and has proved to be one of the best coaches in the NBA.
Advantage: Pistons
Prediction: Pistons in Six Games.
CENTER
Kendrick Perkins vs. Antonio McDyessComment: MyDyess’ numbers don’t exactly jump off of the page, but he proves to be important for a team that isn’t particularly deep in the position. He outrebounds Perkins by about two per game and is scoring slightly more than him as well. I don’t expect this position to be the deciding factor in which team wins, but rebounding will be huge in this series, and McDyess is the superior in that respect.
Advantage: Pistons
POWER FORWARD
Kevin Garnett vs. Rasheed Wallace Comment: Garnett has been awesome in the playoffs, averaging over 20 points per game and almost nine rebounds per game as well. Wallace has been a little bit disappointing in the playoffs thus far, averaging 13.9 points and just over six rebounds per game. Wallace has to be able to keep himself in check with his temper in this series. These teams are very evenly matched, and one point from a technical could be the ultimate difference. Defensively, there is no competition, and Garnett is the reigning defensive player of the year. Advantage goes to the Celtics on this one.
Advantage: Celtics
SMALL FORWARD
Paul Pierce vs. Tayshaun PrinceComment: This was actually a harder decision for me than most would expect. Pierce has been huge in the playoffs for the Celtics, and he has been the rock in this organization. Prince has averaged 16 points and six rebounds throughout the playoffs so far, and has been one of the most consistent players for the Pistons. Pierce’s 19 points, five rebounds and four assists have proven to be important in the Celtics’ hopeful trip to the NBA championship.
Advantage: Celtics
SHOOTING GUARD
Ray Allen vs. Richard HamiltonComment: This was an easy call for me. Hamilton may be the MVP of this Pistons team right now with the way that he is currently producing in the post season. He is averaging over 21 points, almost five boards and two assists. He has attracted the attention away from Chauncey Billups and that has allowed the other players to get more into the action. Allen has been a disappointment in the playoffs with his 12 points per game, but don’t be surprised if he breaks out in the clutch. I expect this to be a big matchup in this series.
Advantage: Pistons
POINT GUARD
Rajon Rondo vs. Chauncey BillupsComment: This was a tough decision for me because Rondo has really performed well in the playoffs. Along with his 11 points per game, he has averaged 6.6 dimes and four rebounds as well. Billups averages more in points, but is not exceeding as well as Rondo in the other areas. I think his experience is going to be the major difference here. Billups knows what it is like to win, and he knows how to deal with everything that comes with it. I want to know whether or not Rondo will be able to keep his composure when it comes down to the pivotal play in the fourth quarter. Who would you rather? I think the answer to that question is painfully obvious.
Advantage: Pistons
COACHING
Doc Rivers vs. Flip SaundersComment: For me, this is much like my Joe Torre philosophy in baseball. With all of those stacked Yankees teams, I never believed Torre was the genius that everyone made him out to be. The same applies for Doc Rivers. You can give Dennis Rodman the helm to that team and they would probably be in the same position that they are in today. The Pistons, on the other hand, execute fundamentals, and that is something that Saunders very much believes in. He is known to be excellent with time management, and has proved to be one of the best coaches in the NBA.
Advantage: Pistons
FINAL THOUGHTS
Comment: Originally, I thought there was no way that the Celtics could be defeated by any other team in the Eastern Conference, but it is painfully obvious that the team that executed the fundamentals of basketball will be the team that advances to the NBA championship. As long as they can get Rasheed Wallace to maintain his composure, I think the Pistons are golden. Prediction: Pistons in Six Games.
