I don't dispute the tactic, but is it any more unpenalized or against the rules than the gradding, holding and undercutting (when the jump shooter goes up you move in under him and maybe even include a little push or blow) Bowen did on Kobe? Ray Allen, Kobe, lots of guys playing acknowledge little things Bowen does that should be called fouls and are against the rules than Bowen does to throw off shooters. No question in the Jordan era they would not let a player do those things to him. In the end, last year's Laker playoff team was better than last years Spurs playoff team when they met. Same was true in reverse in 02. A few ref calls and a basket made/missed at the buzzer IMO probably does not change that they way the eventually winner took complete charge in game 6.
Seattle had dribble penetrators that could break down the Spurs defense in Allen, Daniels and Ridnour. They actually became tougher when Lewis and Radmonavich went down and they had more dribble penetrators on the floor. It's dribble penetrtors that is killing Detroit for the most part with Parker and Manu getting into the paint and disrupting the Pistons D. I'm beginning to think with the new rules changes exceptional dribble pentrators is the way to go.
I am actually surprised by the level of the Spurs domination. So far, the Pistons look completely outmatched. I predicted a hard fought series. That has not been the case thus far. If Detroit bounces back in a big way on Tuesday, it might be a series. But, right now they look beat. But so did the Mavs. The games have not been very entertaining to me. The Spurs look like the 400 lb. gorilla, doing whatever they want. Say what you want about Manu, the guy is a winner. He just hammers and hammers until he breaks you down. He is a real pest on the court, the ultimate energy guy. Except he has serious skills. Could the Rockets borrow the Spurs' scouts and draft analysts? Wasn't Manu a second rounder?
He didn't play bad as I hoped but he didn't play that good either, Billups has been awesome. They need to save some of this offense for game 4.
Weird series. Chancey (no surprise) and Rip (mild surprise) go off, and now we have 15+ point wins in all games. I really thought home court would not be much of a factor and tight defensive games like Hou-Knicks series. Wrong again. IF Detroit wins game 4 series is ON. I don't have much more to say or break down, we will just have to see which Pistons and Spurs shows up on Thursday. One day both teams will bring their "A" game and we will find out who is better.
I've lost all respect I had for Ben Wallace. Flopping against Duncan is suspect but trying to flop on Parker the past two games? Is this the new way to pick Defensive of the Year players?
There is something called stepping into the lane to draw a charge. Allowing yourself to fall down when a smaller player hits you is one kind of flop, but drammatically flailing like a little girl and grabbing your face like it was just hit by a sledge hammer (the whole fake injury soccer thing) is a whole different story. Bring on game 4, this series should finally get interesting. Besides, there is a whole another thread dedicated to this topic.
I don't have a big issue with the Duncan charge. Replay shows he put a forearm into Wallace. But what I do have a problem with is the obvious flop when Parker drives in. I guess it's more of a refereeing issue than a Ben Wallace issue.
Wow, I can't believe they're being whalloped like this again! I know Game 5 and 6 havn't been played yet but this is last year's Laker series all over again. Going up 2-0, getting lavishly praised (bring a great organization, having Duncan, having the next 'big thing'), then coughing up 4 in a row. Good heavens ...
When the Wallaces' are playing low post defense like they have been the Spurs have no chance. It limits Duncan on what he can do, and cuts down on the layups from Ginobili and Parker. I know it's not the most exciting but I love to watch great defense like this. It's amazing how much confidence it gives the whole team, and how much it demoralizes the opponent when they feel like there is nothing they can do. I think Detroit wins game 5 as well...but if San Antonio doesn't bounce back and at least compete in that one, they're done. Still pulling for a 7 game series though.
The Wallaces are putting a whooping on Tim Duncan, you could tell he's killing himself for his two straight bad shooting games although he was a monster on the boards tonight. Manu is either bothered by his bruise or he's being shut down, don't think he's as mobile as he once was. Antonio Parker has to show up, this scoring garbage time buckets is worthless, and he's being lit up on the other end by Billups and in this game Hunter. Mohammed has disappeared. Billups has taken control of his team like no other PG has done in the Finals since Gary Payton? Ben Wallace is showing why he's an MVP canidate year after year. Darko scored. Go Darko! Go Darko
If you have followed the Spurs at all this year, can you name a game or a time they looked worse than they did tonight? I can't. Detroit played great defense, but the Spurs look HORRIBLE! I was even laughing during the first half it was so bad. They have suddenly become a turnover machine. They can't buy a shot. How many rim-outs? Wow, they picked a sorry time to go into their season slump. Well, it is a series now, folks.
Good call. Right now I think the best the Spurs can hope for splitting the next two to force a deciding game 7 on their home court. Detroit's defense is just taking over. On to Sunday, SA has to find a way to stay in the game like DRoc said. Then again I thought Detroit needed to play a good game 2 (even if they lost) and they didn't.
Ginobili's struggles are a microcosm of the entire team's. He's an energy player... and he hasn't had nearly enough of it the last two games. He seems fine in spurts, which makes me think it's more than the injury. I think it's the Pistons physicality in the paint and the refs unwillingness to make the calls in Detroit to bail him out... it makes him think twice about taking the ball inside. The play where he missed the layup was a good summary... 9 out of 10 times, Ginobili dunks that with authority. But he was so concerned with the Pistons physical defense and someone rotating to get a block that he wanted it out of his hands as soon as possible and blew two easy points. This series is incredibly disappointing, because I expected two great teams. I thought the Spurs were the best team since the 00-01 Lakers and that the Pistons had the character and mental fortitude to give them their strongest test. Neither has been the case. There hasn't even been a close game in this series. Every game is the same. Both teams are built around halfcourt defense, and at some point they get a tremendous energy boost from the home crowd and it turns into a tidalwave. Why? Neither team has that assassin - the guy comfortable going on the road and shooting the other team's hearts out. Neither team has someone with the ability to make the right shot at the right time to stall the momentum. These games have been about surges, and in each game, once one starts, neither team has the mental character to put a stop to it. That's the mark of two good but not great teams. Personally, I now expect San Antonio to win this series in 7, with the same trend of the home team winning every game to continue. I wouldn't be a bit surprised if there wasn't a game within 5 points in this series either. On a side note, watching these games has me more excited to be a Rockets fan, assuming we can find the right pieces in the next couple of years. We have the one player the defensive juggarnauts don't in Tracy... we have the player with the kind of killer instinct to deliver a road playoff game you have no business winning. Phoenix does to an extent with Amare, but I'd rather take my chances with a guy that can create for himself off the dribble instead of a post player. The makeup of the Rockets, imo, is better than any other team in terms of designing a formula to beat San Antonio and Detroit, assuming we acquire the necessary athleticism around TMac and Yao.
