Down to Final Four
May 20th 2008 09:37
It’s hard to say that Monday’s game between the San Antonio Spurs and the New Orleans Hornets was as classic as I had expected. But it did kind of live up to the pattern of the series that the third quarter is the biggest key. The Spurs only outscored the Hornets by 6 in the quarter, but it was enough to give the Spurs a 15-point lead. Hornets cut it to 3 in the fourth, but they were done.
Spurs vs. Lakers, Celtics vs. Pistons. I think the Celtics-Pistons matchups was expected, and anticipated, but I think the Spurs are kid of surprising everyone by sticking around. It’s the heart of a champion.
Do the Spurs have enough for the Lakers? That seems to be the question Bu remember, the Spurs are the defending champions, not the Lakers. The Lakers are the No. 1 seed, but that means nothing, except the home court advantage.
In the final regular season standings, the Lakers only had one more win than the Spurs and one less loss as the west standings seemed to change everyday.
But in the east, the advantage is more telling. Boston had seven more wins than Detroit. But will they win this series?
Here’s our comparison:
Regular season records:
Boston 66-16, Detroit 59-23
Home:
Boston 35-6, Detroit 34-7
Analysis: Should be another tough series for the road team to win, which works against Detroit if there is a game 7
Offense:
Boston 100.54 points per game
Detroit: 97.46
Analysis: Pretty even and Detroit has about a half-point advantage in the playoffs.
Defense:
Boston: 90.29 ppg
Detroit: 90.07
Analysis: Wow. These two were the best in the NBA and Boston has allowed about a half point less per game in the playoffs.
Intangibles: Detroit is a better blocking and steal team, but Boston has better rebounders. Detroit only lost one regular season game where they scored 100 or more points and are perfect in the playoffs and Boston is 0-3 in the playoffs when their opponent scores over 100
Boston won season series 2-1, and beat Detroit at Detroit. Detroit’s win was only by 2 points, Boston by 7 and 12.
Detroit is making its sixth consecutive trip to Conference Finals
Prediction: Both teams have a nice balance between experience and youth, and both play solid defense. But we see the Celtics staying solid at home and stealing on the road. Celtics in 6.
Spurs vs. Lakers, Celtics vs. Pistons. I think the Celtics-Pistons matchups was expected, and anticipated, but I think the Spurs are kid of surprising everyone by sticking around. It’s the heart of a champion.
Do the Spurs have enough for the Lakers? That seems to be the question Bu remember, the Spurs are the defending champions, not the Lakers. The Lakers are the No. 1 seed, but that means nothing, except the home court advantage.
In the final regular season standings, the Lakers only had one more win than the Spurs and one less loss as the west standings seemed to change everyday.
Chauncey Billups led the Pistons in the playoffs before he got injured. But he plans to return for the Conference final.
But will he have enough to overcome Boston's Kevin Garnett?
But in the east, the advantage is more telling. Boston had seven more wins than Detroit. But will they win this series?
Here’s our comparison:
Regular season records:
Boston 66-16, Detroit 59-23
Home:
Boston 35-6, Detroit 34-7
Analysis: Should be another tough series for the road team to win, which works against Detroit if there is a game 7
Offense:
Boston 100.54 points per game
Detroit: 97.46
Analysis: Pretty even and Detroit has about a half-point advantage in the playoffs.
Defense:
Boston: 90.29 ppg
Detroit: 90.07
Analysis: Wow. These two were the best in the NBA and Boston has allowed about a half point less per game in the playoffs.
Intangibles: Detroit is a better blocking and steal team, but Boston has better rebounders. Detroit only lost one regular season game where they scored 100 or more points and are perfect in the playoffs and Boston is 0-3 in the playoffs when their opponent scores over 100
Boston won season series 2-1, and beat Detroit at Detroit. Detroit’s win was only by 2 points, Boston by 7 and 12.
Detroit is making its sixth consecutive trip to Conference Finals
Prediction: Both teams have a nice balance between experience and youth, and both play solid defense. But we see the Celtics staying solid at home and stealing on the road. Celtics in 6.
| 68 |
| Vote |
