Spurs in 6
Wearing my Ginobili jersey, I can't see it coming down any other way.
GAME 1--97-79, San Antonio--The Spurs come out rusty at first (missing their first 6 shots) but then loosen up with easy baskets. Detroit has been successful in stopping teams with two superstars, but the three headed monster of Parker/Ginobili/Duncan is too much to handle.
GAME 2--102-100 OT, San Antonio--Detroit makes some adjustments to slightly slow San Antonio down. But foul trouble from Rasheed Wallace causes problems. McDyess is overwhelmed by Duncan. Big Ben guards Duncan well, but Nazr is freed up to rebound all over Campbell. When Tayshaun guards Manu, Parker's speed abuses Billups. When Tay guards Billups, Manu drives around Rip or Billups and opens up the offense for everyone.
GAME 3--87-80, Detroit--Defensive intensity is high for Detroit's first home game (a must win for them). Parker is freed up to go nuts, scoring 29 points and making Billups look slow. Duncan, however is silenced, and Manu is frustrated, never being able to get into the swing of the game.
GAME 4--88-79, Detroit--Ginobli/Parker/Duncan combine for 68 points, but only get 11 from the rest of the team. Bruce Bowen looks lost, with no one to guard and nowhere to hide on offense. Nazr is man handled in the post. Only glimmer of light is Robert Horry's 8 points. Detroit, meanwhile, continues its balanced attack, Rasheed leading with 24 points.
GAME 5--90-81, San Antonio--Pop wanted one win out of the games in Detroit and this is it. Detroit looks a little fatigued from a long, grueling playoffs. While Parker's quickness seems to be contained, Ginobili's speed and spontaneity wear Detroit down mentally and physically. Duncan records 23 points and 14 rebounds, but is overshadowed by Ginobili's triple double (22 points 11 assists 12 boards 4 steals).
GAME 6--94-93, San Antonio--An intense game, with neither team leading by more than 4 points. San Antonio takes the lead with an open dunk by Nazr (assist by Ginobili) with 3.5 seconds remaining. Detroit calls time out. Ginobili, having been burned by Derek Fisher last year, does not allow the pass to get to Hamilton, stealing it and dribbing into the open court to avoid being fouled.
Other Notes:
MVP: Ginobili. Averaging 22 points, 6 assists, 4 rebounds and 3 steals per game, Duncan stats were arguably better. However, Ginobili did it with a flair and also seemed to sense the urgency and carry the team at times. Not quite taking captaincy from Duncan, Ginobili clearly replaces Parker as second in command, and seems to have established himself as a co-cornerstone to this team.
LARRY BROWN: Brown's press conference puts most of America into a three month depression, yet you can't tell if Detroit won the series or lost it. All Pistons players clearly allude to the fact that they don't see Coach Brown returning; in fact, Darvin Ham, Lindsey Hunter both seem jovial about said fact. By the start of 2005 season, Hunter is the starting point guard for the Cavs, and Ham is starting at small forward (moving Lebron to the bench to gain "much needed veteran wisdom" according to GM Brown).
MEDIA: With Ginobili stepping up, San Antonio can no longer be called boring or predictable. Announcers pretend that they have always loved this team and have been pulling for it. Some allude to the fact that Detroit didn't even belong in this series, but for the injury to Wade. Detroit is called all but a fluke champion, and Miami is picked to come out of the east the next year. However, this series proves to be only the first of three finals matchups between Detroit and San Antonio.
GAME 1--97-79, San Antonio--The Spurs come out rusty at first (missing their first 6 shots) but then loosen up with easy baskets. Detroit has been successful in stopping teams with two superstars, but the three headed monster of Parker/Ginobili/Duncan is too much to handle.
GAME 2--102-100 OT, San Antonio--Detroit makes some adjustments to slightly slow San Antonio down. But foul trouble from Rasheed Wallace causes problems. McDyess is overwhelmed by Duncan. Big Ben guards Duncan well, but Nazr is freed up to rebound all over Campbell. When Tayshaun guards Manu, Parker's speed abuses Billups. When Tay guards Billups, Manu drives around Rip or Billups and opens up the offense for everyone.
GAME 3--87-80, Detroit--Defensive intensity is high for Detroit's first home game (a must win for them). Parker is freed up to go nuts, scoring 29 points and making Billups look slow. Duncan, however is silenced, and Manu is frustrated, never being able to get into the swing of the game.
GAME 4--88-79, Detroit--Ginobli/Parker/Duncan combine for 68 points, but only get 11 from the rest of the team. Bruce Bowen looks lost, with no one to guard and nowhere to hide on offense. Nazr is man handled in the post. Only glimmer of light is Robert Horry's 8 points. Detroit, meanwhile, continues its balanced attack, Rasheed leading with 24 points.
GAME 5--90-81, San Antonio--Pop wanted one win out of the games in Detroit and this is it. Detroit looks a little fatigued from a long, grueling playoffs. While Parker's quickness seems to be contained, Ginobili's speed and spontaneity wear Detroit down mentally and physically. Duncan records 23 points and 14 rebounds, but is overshadowed by Ginobili's triple double (22 points 11 assists 12 boards 4 steals).
GAME 6--94-93, San Antonio--An intense game, with neither team leading by more than 4 points. San Antonio takes the lead with an open dunk by Nazr (assist by Ginobili) with 3.5 seconds remaining. Detroit calls time out. Ginobili, having been burned by Derek Fisher last year, does not allow the pass to get to Hamilton, stealing it and dribbing into the open court to avoid being fouled.
Other Notes:
MVP: Ginobili. Averaging 22 points, 6 assists, 4 rebounds and 3 steals per game, Duncan stats were arguably better. However, Ginobili did it with a flair and also seemed to sense the urgency and carry the team at times. Not quite taking captaincy from Duncan, Ginobili clearly replaces Parker as second in command, and seems to have established himself as a co-cornerstone to this team.
LARRY BROWN: Brown's press conference puts most of America into a three month depression, yet you can't tell if Detroit won the series or lost it. All Pistons players clearly allude to the fact that they don't see Coach Brown returning; in fact, Darvin Ham, Lindsey Hunter both seem jovial about said fact. By the start of 2005 season, Hunter is the starting point guard for the Cavs, and Ham is starting at small forward (moving Lebron to the bench to gain "much needed veteran wisdom" according to GM Brown).
MEDIA: With Ginobili stepping up, San Antonio can no longer be called boring or predictable. Announcers pretend that they have always loved this team and have been pulling for it. Some allude to the fact that Detroit didn't even belong in this series, but for the injury to Wade. Detroit is called all but a fluke champion, and Miami is picked to come out of the east the next year. However, this series proves to be only the first of three finals matchups between Detroit and San Antonio.
posted by danny2 @ 12:01 PM
7 Comments:
At 8:28 PM,
Gary Underwood said…
I think you're selling short the supporting cast in Detroit. I'm not sure Manu is any better than Rip. I also think Detroit is more physical, more battle-tested, and more mentally-prepared. I think Sheed will draw Duncan out of the paint, and Ben Wallace, Antonio McDyess, Elden Campbell, and Tayshaun Prince will have a field day. Can't see Rasho stopping it. Pistons in 7.
At 9:54 PM,
Anonymous said…
I will agree that Manu is a better all around player than Rip. Rip can only give is credit due to the one that made him......M.J.
I also agree that the SPURS will win in 6!
But I don't agree with your L.James prediction. One of the best players in the league is not sitting on the bench trying to learn from someone he could teach. His type of talent develops and fine tunes iteself each year...just like MIKE did. Got better at the things he wasn't good at to improve his team. And James has already improved his shooting, and you could see him getting better as the year went on.
No ALL STAR is sitting the bench! Not going to happen.
At 10:01 PM,
danny2 said…
you underestimate the stubborn nature of larry brown.
he sat lbj, wade and amare during the olympics.
(i speak in jest about lebron. however, i do totally hold out hope that darko will flourish with brown out of town....i have learned to trust dumars evaluation of talent far over larry brown's)
At 3:29 PM,
lo said…
MVP: Tim Duncan, without a doubt... (I'm not jumping on the Ginobili bandwagon.)
My take on Lebron since day one: he was too young when he entered the draft and he's a little on the immature side of life. no clear-thinking, mature adult would have stayed in Cleveland. Maybe he had no choice... but then again, maybe he's afraid to leave his momma. Obviously I'm not his biggest fan... :)
At 9:15 PM,
Gary Underwood said…
Top 5 players in NBA:
(1) Lebron James, (2) Amare Stoudemire, (3) Kevin Garnett, (4) Lebron James, and (5) Lebron James.
P.S. Spurs and Pistons are overrated.
At 2:23 PM,
Jason Knavel said…
SPURS IN FIVE!!!!!
Watch the genius of it all tonight!
At 10:55 PM,
Gary Underwood said…
Note: Earlier on in this post thread - before the series started, Gary Underwood (me) picked the Pistons to win in 7 games.
Looks like I have more confidence in your team than you do!
Pistons were so tough under pressure tonight (game 6), and of course all the softy-Spurs disappeared. Stick a fork in Manu, he's done.
Chauncey wins his 2nd MVP.
Without Horry's lucky shot in game 5, this series is over already! Pistons will be tough enough to finish in San Antonio.
I cannot believe how Tim Duncan looks like a deer in the headlights in the fourth quarter. He's redefining "overrated" if you ask me.
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