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Will the lake show bounce back? Yes, but not enough to cover the number.
Detroit Pistons +8
The Pistons beat the Lakers by DDs, and are getting the exact same number? I'll take it. I figure as long as Detroit stays steady with their gameplan (solid defense, ball control offense) then they'll have a shot to keep up with LA. The moment Detroit tries to match LA shot for shot, 3 for 3, they'll dig themselves into a huge hole. They're smart enough not to play into the Lakers hands like that. Hopefully Rasheed Wallace can stay out of foul trouble here, having him on the court for his athleticism and size is huge for Detroit. I read somewhere that part of the Piston gameplan was to concede that Shaq and Kobe will get their numbers (which they did), but to instead fully minimize the output of the other players (Malone, Payton, Fisher). If that's true, then it worked to near perfection and I hope they stick to it. As long as they can continue to hinder the role players, the Laker offense will continue to look lost and out of sync. Rip Hamilton needs to have a better shooting game though and I expect he will. He's led them all throughout the playoffs folks, I don't expect him to suddenly flake out just because there's a guy named Kobe on him. I hope Detroit takes better care of the ball in the 1st half, not to mention make their FTs from the start. Had they done those 2 things in the 1st half of game one, they probably would have led at the break. I do expect Malone to have a better game, the guy is still a great player and he'll probably do better than his 2-9 FGs, but I'm not expecting a whole lot of improvement. The Pistons did a great job of forcing him outside and taking some long jumpers. Honestly, I do expect the Lakers to play with a certain sense of urgency because they can't afford to go to Detroit down 0-2. Detroit on the other hand must learn from their game 4 falter with the Indiana Pacers, in which they allowed the Pacers to bull-whip them and tie the series up. The Pistons must realize that they are capable of beating this Laker team again, and that it was no fluke. I slightly expect the Lakers to win SU but I love the Pistons to cover the +8. This game will be tight folks, not a DD win for either team in game two.
UNDER 169
A lot of people, and I mean A LOT appear to be on the OVER, but I'll wager the under. People are saying Malone, Payton, Fisher, and Hamilton should all have better games and score more, thus making it an easy over right? Well, I actually see it as a balancing act. I doubt Shaq will go 13-16 from the field, nor 8-12 from the FT line again. Also, I find it a bit hard to believe the Pistons will shoot 46.2% from the field as a team again. I think they'll drop down a bit to maybe 41% which means more missed shots. The Lakers should do better than their 39.7%, but against this Piston defense...I'm looking at about a 41.5% clip. I think things will balance out a bit here, with it all staying under.
Again for shits and giggles my score prediction is Pistons 79 - Lakers 84
Detroit Pistons +8
The Pistons beat the Lakers by DDs, and are getting the exact same number? I'll take it. I figure as long as Detroit stays steady with their gameplan (solid defense, ball control offense) then they'll have a shot to keep up with LA. The moment Detroit tries to match LA shot for shot, 3 for 3, they'll dig themselves into a huge hole. They're smart enough not to play into the Lakers hands like that. Hopefully Rasheed Wallace can stay out of foul trouble here, having him on the court for his athleticism and size is huge for Detroit. I read somewhere that part of the Piston gameplan was to concede that Shaq and Kobe will get their numbers (which they did), but to instead fully minimize the output of the other players (Malone, Payton, Fisher). If that's true, then it worked to near perfection and I hope they stick to it. As long as they can continue to hinder the role players, the Laker offense will continue to look lost and out of sync. Rip Hamilton needs to have a better shooting game though and I expect he will. He's led them all throughout the playoffs folks, I don't expect him to suddenly flake out just because there's a guy named Kobe on him. I hope Detroit takes better care of the ball in the 1st half, not to mention make their FTs from the start. Had they done those 2 things in the 1st half of game one, they probably would have led at the break. I do expect Malone to have a better game, the guy is still a great player and he'll probably do better than his 2-9 FGs, but I'm not expecting a whole lot of improvement. The Pistons did a great job of forcing him outside and taking some long jumpers. Honestly, I do expect the Lakers to play with a certain sense of urgency because they can't afford to go to Detroit down 0-2. Detroit on the other hand must learn from their game 4 falter with the Indiana Pacers, in which they allowed the Pacers to bull-whip them and tie the series up. The Pistons must realize that they are capable of beating this Laker team again, and that it was no fluke. I slightly expect the Lakers to win SU but I love the Pistons to cover the +8. This game will be tight folks, not a DD win for either team in game two.
UNDER 169
A lot of people, and I mean A LOT appear to be on the OVER, but I'll wager the under. People are saying Malone, Payton, Fisher, and Hamilton should all have better games and score more, thus making it an easy over right? Well, I actually see it as a balancing act. I doubt Shaq will go 13-16 from the field, nor 8-12 from the FT line again. Also, I find it a bit hard to believe the Pistons will shoot 46.2% from the field as a team again. I think they'll drop down a bit to maybe 41% which means more missed shots. The Lakers should do better than their 39.7%, but against this Piston defense...I'm looking at about a 41.5% clip. I think things will balance out a bit here, with it all staying under.
Again for shits and giggles my score prediction is Pistons 79 - Lakers 84
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