Thread Tools

Display Modes

**jvanbusk** · 11-09-2002, 08:09 AM

Tough game here. Dallas is coming off an easy win versus Chicago (I was hoping that Chicago would play them a little tougher). This is also the 5th and final game of our west coast swing. So far the Pistons are 3-1, and 3-2 is completely acceptable in my opinion. I'm predicting a loss tonight, only because our offense has yet to come around. If we throw out a stinker in the first quarter the game will be over before you even know it, with Dallas' firepower. To win this game Detroit will definately need to hit jumpshots.

<b>Pistons Record: 5-1</b>

**Brian** · 11-09-2002, 03:04 PM

Couldn't agree with you more Jvanbusk. I too was hoping that chicago would at least show up for the game yesterday and make their starters play a lot of minutes and I also expect detroit to lose this game I just hope we can keep it close and make it a somewhat enjoyable game.

**kingofkings** · 11-09-2002, 03:18 PM

Just a quick comment, about this game. It would be a mistake if you guys guard Ben Wallace on Dirk Nowitzki. Firstly, I predict that Rebraca will have Bradley, Wallace will have Dirk, Curry will have Finley, Hamilton will probably take Griffin and Billups on Nash.

If Wallace takes Dirk, he will get exposed. Firstly, Dirk goes from inside to outside, which makes alot of room for Wallace to cover and counter Dirk. Secondly, once Dirk is isolated out on the perimeter, your best rebounder and interior defender is out of the key and effectively is not a factor. This creates space in the lanes for the likes of Finley and Nash to do alot of damage, without the likes of Ben Wallace intimidating in the low blocks. It also leaves your best rebounder out of position and out of the play,to get the ball back, through the rebound.

This is where they did alot of damage to the Raptors, a few days ago. But, in my opinion, Wallace still is the man for the job on Dirk. If they play Curry on him, which might be a possibility, but I doubt it, Dirk will just shoot over him, at all times.

Watch out for the drive and dish game, which is where Nash thrives.Where we got caught out, a few games ago, was that whenever Nash drove the lane, our perimeter defenders felt the need to collapse on him and help out, which left 2 spot up shooters on the wings, open. Needless to say, we got burned by threes by Finley and also Van Exel spotting up for open shots, in this regard.

I keep expecting the Pistons to crumble and falter, but they are too good a team for that to happen. Any team that can come back after a Western road trip, that can hold their head high, is a good team. No stars, but a great team concept, means a solid season to come.

Oh and another thing, I take back what I said few weeks ago about Rodney White. This guy sucks and is so far from contributing and developing it is just not funny. The Pistons were right to let him develop on another team and also get something for him. He is so far from contributing it is not funny.Watching a Nuggets game, he was just standing around on defense, while his man got free from a pick and roll. Needless to say, he was subsequently benched for the entire game, after this play.

**Brian** · 11-09-2002, 04:06 PM

Great post as always kingofkings. First I would not be suprised to see a little tayshun prince on Dirk when they played in the preseason (I know its only the preseason) prince did a fine job of defending him of course some of that could be contributed to dirk not playing prince before and not knowing what princes brings to the table and dirk not playing as well as he could have because like I said it was preseason game but that being said prince is regarded as a very good defender and he also has that freakish 7'2 wing span.

**kingofkings** · 11-09-2002, 04:23 PM

If this game is a shootout, you guys will get blown away. But, if this game is played on the Pistons terms, you guys will probably win. Slow down the tempo of the game and make the game a grind. That is how the Pistons win their games.

Traditional defense, revolves around making the other team shoot jumpshots primarily. Cut off the driving lanes and cut off the space, for the main offensive guys to score from. The only problem with this, is that the Mavs have so many guys that can hit their jumpshots, no matter how far out they are.

If you lock down on Dirk, do you have enough defenders to stop Finley, Nash, Van Exel and Walt Williams??Double teams do not work against the Mavs, as they have so many quick players, that can get free, when open.

Once again, for the Pistons to win, they need the game played on their terms. If it is a fast paced game, the Mavs will win, because they will have the game played on their terms. If you guys are struggling with your shooting, like you did a few games ago, you might not have enough points to outscore the Mavs.

No-one zones against the Mavs. The Raptors tried to do it for a few minutes, last game, but reverted back to the more traditional man on man defense. The Mavs scorers do not need alot of space to get their points, so if the Pistons are going to win, they need to be on their best defensively.

I have no doubt that the Mavs are going to target Wallace in this game. They will probably have the guards drive hard at him and try and get him into foul trouble. I would not only have the player that Wallace is guarding step out on the perimeter, to get him out of the lanes, but also use his man, to set picks up high, to once again, get him out of the play.

Wallace needs to be wary of early foul trouble on Dirk, if he is guarding him. If that is the case, I would give Dirk the ball early on and let him go to work. Make Wallace move around and try and draw some early cheap fouls on him. Make Wallace guard Dirk at all areas on the court.

I would maybe look at starting Cliff, Wallace, Curry, Rip and Billups and have Cliff take Dirk. Wallace on Dirk is not a good matchup in my opinion...

**jvanbusk** · 11-09-2002, 06:36 PM

Only down 25 at the half. Good job Pistons.

benfica · 11-09-2002, 06:50 PM

The Pistons are getting blown away. Looks like Mavs are now a strong defensive team.

Bradley is playing as well as in Center in the league at the moment.

**Brian** · 11-09-2002, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by <b>jvanbusk</b>!
Only down 25 at the half. Good job Pistons.

Wow what a bad performance. The zone did us in again we could not hit the open shots we were 2-20 from three point range. Obviously Dallas is a much better team than we are but we have to get over this game and set our sights on tuesday's game against the hornets.

Only 75 more games to the playoffs...

**jvanbusk** · 11-09-2002, 08:10 PM

When you are down by 52 points you can only chuckle if you are a fan. I mean, that's so pathetic. You're right, it's over. They need to put it behind and focus on New Orleans. I also don't think it would be fair to hand out a player of the game, but let's give it to...i don't know

Player of the Game: Richard Hamilton

**kingofkings** · 11-09-2002, 08:28 PM

This is really a game that you just forget about as quick as you can and just move on. But, I want to add just one thing. It appears that you guys still seem to be vulnerable, when your players are forced to hit your jumpshots.

If you remember, when the Raptors came back against the Pistons, we adopted a plan, whereby we would close the game down and cut off the driving lanes for Stackhouse and Williamson to score from.We sagged off Wallace and used his defender to just clog up an area of the court, to stop penetration.

I know that it is just one game, that can easily be erased and forgotten about, but in high scoring games, personally,I cannot see the Pistons having enough weapons to score from.

Williamson, from watching only a few games of the Pistons, this year,seems to be struggling with his shot.

If I was to play against the Pistons, I would really look to play the game on my terms. They want the game to be slow and a grind, to compliment their defensive sets. But against high scoring fast tempo teams, they might just struggle, when the game is not played on their terms.

Dallas, rarely turned the ball over and seemingly scored at will. They have so many scoring threats that they are able to spread the defense all over the court, which creates more space for their players to get to the rim and do their thing.

Not alot of positives, as it is just one game.

Thread Tools Display Modes

Thread Tools

Display Modes