I think maybe. Defense is the key. T-wolves just don't play much as good as Garnett is. Pacers I think could take them 7 but still lose.

I think Detroit has the best chance cuz they swarm. That would give the triangle fits. The Match-ups will be great though......Big Ben vs. Shaq, Rip vs. Kobe , Chancey vs. Payton, Sheed vs. Malone.

I don't think Indiana could beat the Lakers in a series Jermaine O'neal needs an inforcer. I think Malone would just abuse Jermaine down low.

I think that with an injured Cassel, this T-Wolves team playing the Lakers is not half the team the Pistons are. The Pistons can definitely give the Lakers more of a challenge than the T-Wolves.

At the beginning of the playoffs I thought so, but after watching the Eastern Conference finals, I highly doubt it. At the start of the playoffs, I felt the only thing preventing the Lakers from winning it was their will to win. When a team has as many high profile players as LA does, motivation is the biggest obstacle to success. But now the Lakers seemed to have that aspect all sorted out. And they'll most likely crush whoever comes out of the East.

Det has a shot.. I think they really do. The have the size to bother the Lakers, and the defenders to bother Kobe. They will put the long Prince on Kobe, meanwhile Kobe will be forced to guard someone pretty good on the other side of the ball.

Posted by Nalod:

Cassell was missed, Szerbiack was great.

He is a long island boy, Why nobody talking about him "coming home with Isiah?"

He has the wrong skin pigmentation for Isiah to consider.

I am rooting for the Pistons. I wanna see them shatter the Lakers, even though I doubt it. They just have to keep everyone contained, and they have to get back on defense. The Wolves Transition defense wasn't that good yesterday. Detroits is 10X better, as they have younger players to keep up with LA. This is gonna be the most exciting series, to be honest, since the Knicks vs Spurs series in '99. Even though the Knicks lost in 5, they were all close games. Since I always predict the team I want to win, to win, I say the Pistons in 6. I think it's important for them to win game 1 though. And I think it's even more important for them to close out the Indy series, tonight, if they want to win this, and then beat the Lakers.

Only team that will put up a fight is the Pistons....the Pacers are a little too green, IMHO...

Matchups


PG - Billups/Payton -- - Billups(Detroit)
SG - RIP / Kobe -- Kobe (LA)
SF - Prince /Fox/Rush -- Prince(Detoit)
PF - Rasheed / Malone -- Rasheed (Detroit)
C - Wallce / Shaq --- Shaq (LA)
Bench --- Bench (Detoit)
Coach -- Brown (Detoit)

based on the matchups... i think Detroit can really beat them... As long as Wallace can tame Shaq just a alittle, I think Detroit can really take them out...

Chauncy is just gonna **** on Payton, and embarras him once again...

How do you guys know that KObe will guard Rip and not Prince, while George guards Rip? George is athletic. He can keep up with Rip. That way, Kobe wont use as much energy on the defensive end. (Even though Prince is still good)

I think this Pistons team reminds me a lot of the Knicks, just a few years ago. Outstanding defensive team. Championship calibre. Had many offensive options, despite not putting up a lot of points. The Pistons very well can compete, and make this a series. A few days ago, I said the Pistons wouldn't have much of a shot, but I gave it some thought. They certainly do.

Posted by NYKBocker:

This Detroit team definitely reminds me of the 94 Knick team.

Ewing = Rasheed
Oakley = Big Ben
Smith = Prince
Starks = Rip
Harper = Billups

I was thinking more along the lines of the 99 - 00 Knicks team. Rip = Houston. Spree = Prince on defense. Big ben = LJ, except better defender, worse offensive player.

Raweed isn't in Ewing's league though!