Thursday, April 7, 2005
Chris McCosky: Burning questions
Pistons match up well against Heat
Miami has Wade, but he wears down trying to keep pace with Hamilton.
Q. It doesn't seem like many experts are giving the Pistons much of a chance to beat the Miami Heat, should the teams meet in the conference finals. Do you?
A. I have said it all year. The Pistons match up very well with the Heat, especially in a seven-game series. And I can tell you, too, that although the Pistons respect the Heat, they like their chances against them.
The Pistons designed a defensive system last year that was effective against Shaquille O'Neal. They know they aren't going to stop him, and that's not the goal. The goal is to occupy him, make him work hard for what he gets, but more importantly, try to prevent the other players from killing them.
Which, given the rest of the Heat's lineup, is a pretty good strategy for the Pistons. Even if you give Dwyane Wade a slight edge over Richard Hamilton at shooting guard, you have to like the Pistons at small forward, power forward and point guard.
And I am not conceding the shooting guard battle to Wade. Wade has admitted that Hamilton is one of the guys in the league that gives him fits. He wears himself down trying to chase Hamilton around screens, and you can bet the ball will be in Hamilton's hand a ton to take advantage of that.
Then, when Wade does wear down, the Pistons can switch and use the lengthy Tayshaun Prince to defend him.
Another factor in the Pistons' favor, of course, is Damon Jones. Chauncey Billups has a huge advantage here, one the Pistons exploited in their series against Milwaukee last year.
The Pistons can effectively derail the Heat offense by rattling the Heat's sometimes shaky ball-handlers (Wade and Jones).
So, yeah, I like the Pistons over the Heat, regardless of who has home-court advantage.
Q. What about the bench, doesn't that favor the Heat?
A. I don't see how. Alonzo Mourning, Steve Smith? How much are they really going to play? Michael Doleac, Christian Laettner, Shandon Anderson, Keyon Dooling -- can't see them making much of an impact.
The reserves in this match-up, with the exception of Antonio McDyess, Lindsey Hunter and possibly Elden Campbell, aren't likely to play enough to make much of a difference.