Boston and Detroit are the two best teams in the Eastern Conference and for the most part they are evenly matched. So far, Boston has struggled in the NBA Playoffs having to go to a seventh game in both rounds. Detroit, on the other hand, has avoided going to a seventh game in either round and ended their series vs. Orlando in five even winning the last two games without Chauncey Billups.
Detroit is one of if not the most balanced teams in the NBA. Offensively, they are able to score inside and outside. Their bigs, Rasheed Wallace and Antonio McDyess have the ability to score in the post with their back to the basket and can also face up. Tayshaun Prince is very versatile and has a high basketballIQ. Their starting backcourt of Chauncey Billups and Richard Hamilton is one of the best in the league. Billups has great size as a point guard and uses it to take smaller defenders in the post. Hamilton moves as well as anybody without the ball and is excellent at catching and shooting.
On the defensive end, Detroit has been near the top of the NBA the last few years. This season, they ranked 4th in defensive rating (points given up per 100 possessions). They have excellent individual defenders in Billups, Prince, McDyess, and Wallace. They don't give you anything easy and force you to execute. They rebound well and held teams to a FG% of .437.
Boston is loaded with star power. Offensively, they feature three offensive players who rank near the top at their respective positions. Kevin Garnett is one of the premier bigs in the game; he is a tough cover in the post and is an outstanding defender. Paul Pierce has great size for a small forward and can score in a variety of ways. Ray Allen has struggled this postseason, but he is more than capable of lighting you up from the perimeter.
Defensively, they are statistically the best in the NBA this season. They put good pressure on the ball and have excellent helpside defense. Garnett is one of the best bigs at defending the pick and roll and erases mistakes. They play well as a unit and play great transition defense.
This series in will come down to who can get more easy baskets. Both teams would prefer to play in the halfcourt. Whoever wins the battle on the glass and the turnover battle will in advance to the finals.
Jared Ziegler is an assistant basketball coach. To read more analysis and commentary about the x's and o's of basketball, please click here http://basketballanalyst.blogspot.com/
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