Game 18 Preview: Blazers vs. Pistons
A Look at the Pistons
The downturn in defensive prowess means that a team which was once a near-unstoppable machine is now looking beatable. You have to play well to do it, but it can be done. Indeed, the onus is now on
The one area where
The main offensive threat for
After the four core players the Pistons run out guys like Amir Johnson, Kwame Brown, Rodney Stuckey, and Jason Maxiell. All of them are serviceable. None of them are particularly inspiring. Most of them shoot well. The big guys rebound well. They’re decent role players and they know their jobs. Stuckey and Johnson can occasionally surprise you. But as a whole they’re not going to win games for you like the Big Four.
If you come out soft or unprepared the Pistons are going to hand you your hat and send you on your way with a convincing loss. But if you go hard at them, prosecuting your own game instead of bowing to theirs, you have a chance. Respect them enough to take them seriously, but not so much that you fear them. They’re not that team anymore.
Keys to the Game
1. Three-point shooting is going to be an interesting stat today. The Blazers are very good at shooting them…in fact depend on them to keep the offense running smoothly.
2. The Pistons are 3-2 in games when Allen Iverson had the sole scoring lead. One of the ways to make this team less effective is to keep its crucial players from getting involved. I actually like Iverson scoring a bundle in this game to the exclusion of Prince, Hamilton, and Wallace. If the latter three are disengaged or frustrated
3. Our centers versus whoever
4. Despite what we said above about
5. The Blazers must take care of the ball to avoid giving the Pistons easy points.
6. When in doubt, run and drive.
Final Thoughts
This will be a tough road trip. One of the keys to our winning record in the last trip was winning the early games, thus taking the pressure off. This would be a fantastic win today…another “Blazers have arrived” type victory. It won’t be easy because or
You can enter the final
--Dave (blazersub@yahoo.com)
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5 comments
Comments
im tipping the blazers by 4
if allen iverson has issues getting to practice, he may have issues with the game starting at 12 :)
by Yawnie on Nov 30, 2008 1:00 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
oh wait
is that 2pm central time? im not in the US so i always forget this kind of stuff :(
by Yawnie on Nov 30, 2008 1:01 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
I won't be too dissapointed
if they lose this one but please for the love of god beat NY and Washington!
by neutroticblazerfan on Nov 30, 2008 3:38 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
WOW!
Love the new format for the picks pool and all of the stats. Crazy good stuff!
"I saw him in the face" Sergio's quote on the latest alley-oop to Rudy.
by blazermaniac32 on Nov 30, 2008 8:33 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

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