Need a combination of defense and offense
The Los Angeles Lakers can be beaten, but it won't be easy. The Detroit Pistons will have their hands full this Sunday as they take on the Lakers in the NBA finals, but with solid defense and well-balanced scoring they could give the Lakers a run for the title.
If the Pistons have any hope of beating the Lakers they will have to combine their stifling defense with potent scoring. The Pistons have been successful in the postseason largely because they are one of the best defensive teams in the NBA, which is rare in an era of high-scoring and individual play. The Pistons have allowed their opponents to score an average of 80 points per game in the playoffs.
However to continue this staunch defense the Pistons will have to shutdown Shaq down low and Bryant all-over the court. The Shaq assignment will be more difficult than any of the other centers the Pistons had to stop in the Eastern Conference Finals, but with the athletic Ben Wallace, seven footer Elden Campbell and solid team defense the Pistons could disrupt Shaq much like the Timberwolves did in the Western Conference finals.
Yet, to win games you have to score and the Pistons are not a prolific scoring force. Richard Hamilton, who is averaging 21.5 points per game in the playoffs, will have to get assistance on the scoring from his teammates or the Pistons will fold to the high-profile Lakers. Rasheed Wallace, Chauncey Billups and the rest of the Pistons will need to have outstanding offensive production to compete with the Lakers.
The Western Conference teams have dominated every Eastern team in the NBA finals for the past five years and the Lakers are poised and confident to continue the West's dominance. The Lakers are the most star-studded team in the NBA with four hall-of-famers to be and several key role players. The Lakers know how to win championships and have more playoff experience than the Pistons. Still, the Lakers have their problems with Bryant's legal problems off the court, bickering within the team and possibly underestimating the Pistons. If the Pistons play tough and intense basketball they could extend the series into game six or seven, but it seems unlikely that the Pistons could beat the Lakers four times.
Erik Kojola. Erik Kojola is a senior in the Communication Arts Program at Blair. He plays both lacrosse and soccer for Blair and hopes to continue his lacrosse career in college. He writes sports for SCO and a variety of other topics. More »
No comments.
Please ensure that all comments are mature and responsible; they will go through moderation.