|
Monday, May 19
Dr. Jack's Breakdown: Nets vs. Pistons
By Dr. Jack Ramsay
Special to ESPN.com
Editor's note: Dr. Jack Ramsay, whose Hall of Fame head coaching resume includes making the playoffs in 16 of his 20 seasons and winning an NBA title with Portland in 1977, breaks down the playoff matchups for ESPN.com. Throughout the 2003 postseason, Dr. Jack will analyze each series all the way through to the NBA Finals.
|
BACKCOURT
|
EDGE
|
|
Jason Kidd is the best point guard in basketball at generating a quick-tempo transition game. He scores well and is a great clutch player as shown by his game-winning shot in Game 1. Kerry Kittles runs the floor hard, finishes strong at the hoop and is a good spot-up shooter. Both Kittles and Kidd are outstanding defenders. For Detroit, Chauncey Billups has done a great job leading the Pistons to the Eastern finals by hitting big 3-pointers in previous rounds, but he's not in Kidd's class as a playmaker and defender. Shooting guard Richard Hamilton is a good matchup for Kittles because he's a slasher with a good pull-up jumper and, like Kittles, defends tough.
|
|
|
FRONTCOURT
|
EDGE
|
|
If not for the presence of Ben Wallace, this matchup easily would have been the most lopsided. The athletic Richard Jefferson has too many weapons for Michael Curry and Kenyon Martin is too strong and skilled at both ends of the floor for Cliff Robinson. Jason Collins gets a slight edge on offense against non-scorer Wallace, but Big Ben is dynamite on defense and has a huge advantage in rebounding, blocked shots and intimidations.
|
|
|
BENCH
|
EDGE
|
|
The Nets aren't as deep as the Pistons, but they have experienced contributors. Aaron Williams is a steady worker around the hoop, Lucious Harris is a scoring threat from the edges and Rodney Rogers stretches the defense with his 3-point shooting capacity. In addition to their offensive capabilities, all three play well within the Nets' defensive system. Tayshaun Prince and Mehmet Okur are recent insertions off the Pistons' bench and have had a strong impact in the playoffs. Prince provides tough defense inside and out, and he and Okur may move into the starting lineup if this series continues to go downhill for Detroit. Corliss Williamson has a strong inside game and Chucky Atkins is ready if Billups struggles with his injured ankle.
|
|
|
INTANGIBLES
|
EDGE
|
|
Last season's participation in the NBA Finals gives the Nets valuable experience and poise at critical parts of games. Although they trailed by eight points in the fourth period of Game 1, they never blinked. Also, coach Byron Scott still holds Dikembe Mutombo as a defensive trump card if needed. The Pistons' ability to control the game's tempo allows them to hang in games. The Nets were averaging 103 points per game heading into the series but only scored 76 in the first game. The Pistons almost stole the opener, but they will need to generate more scoring. And their deep bench may be the answer.
|
|
|
PREDICTION
|
|
Nets in six. Despite the Pistons' deep bench, their inability to generate more scoring will be a big hurdle. The Nets have experience and a very good starting lineup, led by Kidd, and that might be the difference.
|
|
|
|
|
