The Official DETROIT vs MIAMI Thread

East's two top teams eagerly meet up to decide who's best. The season series was split 2-2, with each team nicking an away win.

time to breakdown the matchups

Shaq vs Ben Wallace

Advantage: Shaq
Despite a thigh injury Shaq, as always will have an advantage. The size of the advantage is an unknown quantity. It will depend on the state of Shaq's thigh, Ben Wallace' offense (has to be like last years Finals), if Shaq shows up to play (last year Ben outhustled him and Shaq looke dissinterested). Expect Shaq to actually get the ball this time around though.

Udonis Haslem vs Rasheed Wallace

Advantage: Rasheed Wallace
if Pistons are to win this matchup they need to capatalize on. Although Haslem is a good player with a defined role, Rasheed is too much to handle. The defensive task for Rasheed isn't as big as it was against Webber or JO but Haslem knows he's not a scorer and will scrap for boards.

Eddie Jones vs Tayshaun Prince

Advantage: Prince
Eddie Jones isn't the player he used to be, but he can still play defense and he can still score. That being said he's facing Prince a defensive powerhouse who's developed his offensive game. Prince could cause Miami problems by posting Jones up, something that he's started doing this season. Defensively Prince needs to make sure Jones doesn't get open looks.

Dwyane Wade vs Richard Hamilton

Advantage: Wade
Wade has turned himself into a superstar, carrying the team w/o Shaq. His challenge will be to chase the relentless Hamilton all over the court whilst also doing damage on the other end. Hamiltons task will be to slow Wade down, something he's capable of as long as he keeps him in front of him and dares him to shoot 3's. That's easier said than done because Wade has an attraction to the bucket. Hamiltons advantage on offense will be his height which will allow him to shoot over Wade. Expect both players to rack up points in a flurry.

Damon Jones vs Chauncey Billups

Advantage: Billups
Last years Finals MVP is gonna have another big series. He can abuse Jones like a rag doll and he shouldn't have problems defensively as long as he doesn't give Jones open 3's. Expect Billups to put aside Brown's "pass first" approach and take the game into his own hands.

Bench: Even
Neither teams bench is spectacular but both will be key to this series.



OUTLOOK: Miami will hope to get open looks for Jones & Jones. They'll also be looking to attack the Detroit big menDetroit will likely play man to man with only half assed double teams. They'll hope to get Wade working on the defensive end as well as Shaq. No doubt Detroit will throw Campbell, R&B Wallace, McDyess, a cup of beer, a coin and even Milicic @Shaq. This should be a long series with both teams capable of winning on the road.

Prediction: Detroit wins 4-3.

Miami 4-1, 4-2 at worst.

This will be a tough series indeed I reckon it will also have the potential to go to 7 games inwhich I see Miami getting the 4 wins, It will be close and rough.

Miami's rest has advantages and disadvantages

Defense will be a crucial factor

Cool heads and no rushed or forced shots will play a part on who preveil

Team work and not so much individual play will be essential.

I say 4-2 for the Heat.

Miami 4-3, Detroit is no pushover team, and Miami has beaten much easier teams in the previous rounds.

As much as i want Miami to continue the trend of 4-0 I think they will win this 4-2. Pistons offense just does not produce enough points in my opinion as they allowed Iverson to beat them and lost a couple to the Pacers. Miami has beent taking care of business and I feel they know what they have to do to reach the next round. They have 3 centers to go to so it should be ok. If Rasheed starts to become a pest, they can put Mourning at PF and let Doleac be backup C.
Wade just needs to keep a eye on rip as he loves to run around like a nut like reggie.

Miami will win if shaq and wade gets productive and if they get enough support from their teammates.

Last edited by dinocarlo on Sat May 21, 2005 2:10 am, edited 1 time in total.

this reminds me of last years NBA Finals where only me and Shane picked Detroit to win. I think people are overrating Miami a bit, the level of competition is about to increase. Detroit will be (should be) 100% focused unlike rnd 1 or 2.

i don't see Detroit winning just 2 games, so that means they gotta get 3 and in a game 7 i'd bet my sister that Detroit would win a Game 7.

Game 1 is monday (tuesday mornin Aus time)

Miami 4-2.

In the first matchup, it was Nov and Miami was still figuring things out, Wade was still figuring out his role w/ Shaq on the floor. At this point, Shaq got most of the touches and he simply abused Wallace with 24 points 17 rebounds 4 blocked shots 4 assists in a 1 point loss.

In the 2nd and only real matchup, both teams were full strength and Miami has figured out their offense. Wade went ballistic on the Detroit guards notching a Triple Double on them, 31-10-10 on 67% shooting.

In the 3rd matchup it was the last week of the season, Miami was already in "rest the starters" mode. Shaq DNP, and Wade played 20 minutes.


If Miami was centered around Shaq, i think the Wallaces would offer a great defense to him and slow him down enough to eek out a win, basically what happened in game 1.

However, Miami is focused around Wade relentlessly attacking and connecting with either Damon or Shaq for a 3 or dunk...and i can't think of 2 better people to feed to.

Simply put, Miami:
- league's best penetrating guard, connecting to
- league's best center
- league's best 3 point shooter

Throw in the fact that Mourning is now playing like his old self...did you see that swat of Arenas' dunk? And Arenas is far more athletic than either Rip or Billups.

The 3 big advantages Detroit has, and they need to show up huge for Detroit to win this series:
- Rasheed has to connect consistently on offense, every night...not just some nights.
- TP needs to get aggressive on both offense & defense
- Christian Laettner cannot win a NBA championship

Since LA couldn't beat Detroit, I hope Shaq's Heat does.

So many bandwagon picks. Anyway Detroit will win in five or six. Shaq is not healthy and may not even play in the first game.

So many bandwagon picks.

Scuse me? You better not be talking about me. Don't you dare doubt my loyalty to Shaq. I'll pimp smack you away.

I'll say Detroit because they have the best starting 5, even though the Heat have the best two players in the series. I don't know if Shaq is healthy enough to completely dominate in this series so I can't say and the Pistons know how to play Shaq because they played him pretty well last year.

Another reason why I want the Pistons to win is because of too many Miami bandwagoners and I know if Miami wins the championship this year, the bandwagon base will just blow up because of so many people going for the team This is how I want things to happen:

Option 1: Phoenix to beat Dallas and San Antonio and Phoenix win the championship

Option 2: San Antonio wins the championship

Option 3: Detroit wins the championship

Detroit in 7

Screw all you haters, Shaq will be Finals MVP.

So many bandwagon picks.

Scuse me? You better not be talking about me. Don't you dare doubt my loyalty to Shaq. I'll pimp smack you away.

Your loyalty to Shaq? Like I said bandwagon picks.

I'm predicting Detroit will win 4-2 or 4-3.

Miami played relatively easier opponents in the first round and in the semi-finals, and they might experience a shock while going against a defensive-minded powerhouse like Detroit. As much as I love Wade, he's not going to be enough if Shaq is going to be hurt for most of the series. If Shaq plays well, Wade plays sensational, and Damon Jones keep hitting the threes, then Miami might win the series, but I don't see it happening.

I agree with everything you said, Matt. If I had the time and effort to write up a long post about this series, that would have been word for word what I'd say. Although, you made one small error - the season series went to Detroit 2 games to 1. It's sort of irrelevant though because both teams play differently in the playoffs, and like maes said, there was hardly a 'solid' game between the two teams in the regular season. I can see Shaq being stopped by the Pistons, but whether or not they can contain Wade will be a MAJOR factor in the outcome...

this reminds me of last years NBA Finals where only me and Shane picked Detroit to win. I think people are overrating Miami a bit, the level of competition is about to increase. Detroit will be (should be) 100% focused unlike rnd 1 or 2.

If only I had been an active member this time last year, I would have totally been on your side. Pistons fan for life!

Your loyalty to Shaq? Like I said bandwagon picks.

Coming from a person that hasn't been around for long, or for that matter coming from someone that doesn't know shit about me, I'll just politely ask you to fuck off.

I'm not a Miami fan, I never said I was. That's what happens when you don't know shit & accuse me of bandwagonning.

-If Shaq is not 100% healthy then Miami Heats 4-3

-If Shaq is 100% then another swept Miami 4-0

-I'm very interested in the Wade-Hamilton matchup

-Mourning has done a great job so far replacing the injured Shaq.

-E Jones and D Jones has gotta hit the treys to help Wade out in case Shaq is not healthy.

-This series will put the Miami Heats at proved to see how good they really are.

-This series will be one of the ages!!!! mark my word!

Your loyalty to Shaq? Like I said bandwagon picks.

Coming from a person that hasn't been around for long, or for that matter coming from someone that doesn't know shit about me, I'll just politely ask you to fuck off.

I'm not a Miami fan, I never said I was. That's what happens when you don't know shit & accuse me of bandwagonning.

Well first of all since you claim to be a Shaq fan and not a Heat it does in fact make you a bandwagoner. Secondly any jackass can make 1000's of posts on an internet message board, that doesn't make you special. Finally why don't you just go and fuck yourself instead of trying to pick fights on the internet.

Settle Grettle.

Bandwagonner is when you jump the bandwagon given a certain team has commenced winning and you decided to shift your loyalties to that team based on the sole fact that they have started winning. I haven't shifted loyalties from team to team. I've supported my favorite player and that isn't called bandwagonning. If you knew what you were talking about I'd give you some credit but if you're too stupid for your own good there's not much I can do for you. As I explained, bandwagonner is a person that jumps on the teams bandwagon because they started winning. I've not done that, I'm a Laker fan & a Shaq fan. I'm a Laker fan first then I'm a Shaq fan. You assumed I was a Miami fan since they started winning, which just goes to show you don't know shit. Hell, I want Miami to win since LA isn't in the playoffs, had they been I wouldn't have been cheering for Shaq to kick LA's ass, please.

When did I bring up post count making someone special? Because you feel intimidated by the number of my posts and that the number of my posts lingers in the back of your mind doesn't mean I consider myself to be special. Don't let your insecurities dominate a post that's meant to put me down, that makes you look like an attention deprived child seeking some love and attention, and because I have a greater amount of posts you feel you need to defend yourself by calling me a jackass.

I'm picking fights on the internet? Bitch please, if I need to fight with someone I'd pick on someone with a greater mental capacity than yours. Why would I pick on somebody that starts defending himself by using "jackass's post alot, I don't so I'm not a jackass". The bitch slap comment was meant in jest, you're too much of a n00b to know when a person is joking and when a person isn't. My comment was in response to your bandwagon comment, which I stress is utter bullshit because you don't know shit. You don't even know the meaning of a bandwagonner.

Every person that is a fan of someone is a bandwagonner, you hear me? If you're a MJ fan while he was with the Wizards, you're a bandwagonner, if you're a Malone fan while he was with LA, you're a bandwagonner. It's illegal to be a fan of a person, as soon as he leaves your team you must stop being his fan.

Well first of all since you claim to be a Shaq fan and not a Heat it does in fact make you a bandwagoner.

No, it doesn't. My favorite player at the moment is Amare Stoudemire, but the Suns aren't my favorite team, and I'm not necessarily rooting for them to win it all. Just because I have a favorite team (Raptors) and a favorite player doesn't mean my favorite player has to be on the team that happens to be my favorite team.

You're stoopid Cyanide, you're a bandwagonner.

Some of you Heat fans neglect to remember EJ's defense on Carter he shut half man half amazing down (Andre Aldridge from NBA TV Daily calls him) and limited him to no dunks, if EJ can replicate that against prince or rip as well as be productive as he has been scoring wise the heat should get some easy close wins