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PISTONS vs. BULLS - LET’S GET IT ON!

Posted by bigD | May 4, 2007 .

Our Detroit Pistons manhandled the Orlando Magic in 4 games straight but now the first major test for our boys comes in the form of the Chicago Bulls and BIG BEN. Without further adieu, here is my prediction for the upcoming Pistons/Bulls series…GOT WALLACE???

pistons.jpgbulls.jpgAnd so we begin another chapter in the one time heated rivalry of Detroit/Chicago in the world of basketball. Well guess what, the rivalry is back but this time for different reasons. Ex-Pistons Forward/Center, Ben Wallace will return to the Palace where we can expect a rather unfriendly welcome to say the least. Pistons guard, Rip Hamilton has already called out Wallace in a friendly, competitive way which I don’t necessarily agree with and I just hope it doesn’t give Chicago “blackboard material” and add fuel to Big Ben’s fire. Either way though, Chicago can do what they want. They can say what they want. Detroit outmatches them in many different areas and if Detroit plays the experience game and attempts to frustrate the Bulls, I think Detroit will take this series. That being said…it sure as hell won’t be easy.

In round 1, the Pistons swept the Orlando Magic and I wasn’t one bit surprised. The Magic’s little “WE WON’T BE SWEPT” guarantee was about as believable as Pinocchio. Your nose is growing, Darko!!! This is the 6th straight year that the Pistons have made the Eastern Conference semi-finals and they’re attempting to make the East Finals for a 5th straight time.

Chicago is coming off a surprising sweep of the Miami Heat but as shocking as this was let’s not be too quick to call the Bulls heavenly. After all, Heat superstar, Dwayne Wade was only at 65% (or so they say) due to a shoulder injury which clearly needed surgery. I think Wade was moronic to attempt to play it out but I guess he felt like protecting his NBA title from a season ago was way more important then having a healthy shoulder for his NBA career. DUH! Shaquille O’Neil also wasn’t the Shaq of old. That’s because HE IS OLD. One thing about Ben Wallace. Shaq has gotten the better of Wallace on many occasions in the past but…the thing about Shaq is that the younger, quicker Wallace would always end up wearing Shaq down as he did this time around. With those 2 factors at work and the fact that Miami is clearly one of the oldest teams in the NBA, face it folks, this sweep wasn’t as unlikely as you’d think and the difference is Detroit IS HEALTHY and the star players ARE READY!!!

EDGES
THE BIG MEN

ben.jpgAs all around players, Detroit brings to the table 3 guys that can flat out do it all. In Rasheed Wallace they have a tremendous outside shooter for a big man, a decent post up player and an excellent defender who can be mean at times. With Ben Wallace guarding him, it will be interesting to see if Detroit can lure out Big Ben from under the basket with 3-point attempts by Rasheed. When he’s shooting well, you can’t stop him no matter who you are because he’s just too big to block.

Chris Webber will be matched up against PJ Brown and this might just be the biggest mismatch of the series. Brown’s defense on Webber is key because of Webber’s ability to pass and find the open man in traffic. Expect Ben to switch off at times especially if Webber is in a passing groove. This match-up does not look good for Chicago if Webber is shooting well from outside and making strong interior passes.

rasheed.jpg

The most intriguing matchup of this series may just be Tayshaun Prince vs. Luol Deng (averaged 26 pts and 9 rebs a game vs. Miami). Anyone who thinks Deng is going to do that again with the huge wing span of Prince’s arms in his face all day has another thing coming. The bottom line is if the Pistons defend Deng and the other big scorers for Chicago, the Bulls better hope they play better defense then Detroit does because they may not score much.
THE GUARDS
rip.jpgBen Gordon and Kirk Hinrich (Chicago) vs. Richard Hamilton and Chauncey Billups (Detroit). Chicago has a good twosome here in that Hinrich keeps improving and is very hard nosed (especially defensively) and Ben Gordon who is Chicago’s version of Mr. Clutch. The problem is, they are just outmatched. Billups and Hamilton are a deadly all-star twosome that can flat out do it all. Hamilton is grease lightening quick off screens and can hit from dam near anywhere and Billups is an excellent outside shooter and passer. The one flaw in Billups is that he will get careless. Chicago’s defense in this area is another big key to Detroit winning or losing.

THE BENCH
Detroit’s bench is not a real good one per say but there are some wildcards on it. Swingman, Carlos Delfino is more then capable from the outside and isn’t afraid to take it hard to the hole but saying it and doing it against the Bulls are 2 different things. Center, Dale Davis and guard, Flip Murray will also see action. Murray is very dangerous and is a definite X-factor in the series and playoffs in general because he can go in offensive streaks. The problem is you never know which Flip Murray you’ll get. The key off the bench is Antonio McDyess who’d probably start on any other team. He only averaged 5 points vs. the Bulls but he can backup either Wallace, Webber or Prince, play hard on both ends and he’s more then capable of hitting the outside shot.

The Bulls have the better bench without question. Andres Nocioni leads the way and he certainly did against Miami averaging 12 points a game with strong outside shooting ability. Guard, Chris Duhon and rookie Ty Thomas will also see action. Although these men are better then Detroit’s, the Pistons aren’t known for their bench anyway and will win with their starters.

INTANIGIBLES
Are you kidding? Ben Wallace returns to the place where he won a World Championship. If that isn’t the biggest intangible I don’t know what is. Wallace will come at the Pistons with everything he’s got (especially defensively) to not only prove a point to his ex-teammates, but to everyone in Detroit and the Pistons organization that he really was worth the contract he got from Chicago (Does anyone actually recall that the Pistons DID IN FACT try to sign him in the first place?).

PREDICTION
pistons2.jpgDetroit is too much for the Bulls because of their experience. Chicago will make it interesting and will probably learn by losing. Chicago’s success will come farther down the road whereas Detroit must win now and they will. Detroit’s big men are too much defensively for Chicago who won’t match Detroit’s ability to score in this area. Chicago can play strong defense as well but Detroit can easily counter anything they bring to the table. Chicago’s best defense is to try and just take it right at the older Pistons and try to wear them down as best they can. The guards are the biggest key of all after Prince’s defense on Deng. Detroit has been there before and knows what it takes. Hamilton and Billups have gone through hell in the past and know how to bump, play defense, be physical and throw both Gordon and Hinrich off their game. I totally expect it to happen too.

The fact is…the Bulls are very good. They are just not as good as Detroit when you talk about a complete game and certainly not in a 7 game series. Stranger things have happened and Chicago will make it scary for Detroit at times but how can you not take Detroit when you look at the match-ups here and not expect them to win in 6 or 7?
BIG D’S PREDICTION - Pistons over Bulls in 7.

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