Blackman said:
You can only beat who you play, and 8-0 is 8-0..
I know, and Heat were rewarded the Wizards and Nets because they had the most wins in the East. They should have the easier road. It helps them get there but doesn't do squat in terms of preparing them to advance.
I would rather play an inexperienced (but talented team) in Wizards vs the Sixers who have Allen Iverson. A player who has lead his team to the NBA finals before.
Blackman said:
Have to disagree on the extra rest hurting the Heat in a big way. So you think the Heat are better off with Shaq at say 70% as opposed to the chance of him coming back 100%. ..
I said the layoff helps Heat in terms of Shaq but will hurt rest of team. If you are Dwane Wade and playing LIGHTS OUT, what is the last thing you want to do? Stop playing basketball for a while? I am just saying there is a negative with a positive in a layoff. If you are an old/veteran team with little bench, then extra days off are valuable.
Blackman said:
I do not question Shaq's conditioning this year and if he's healed I think he'll be ready
Shaq is in the best shape since he won his first title with lakers. He is in shape but he is not conditioned. He has not been practicing for a LONG time and has played in few games. This will hurt him against a team with BIG MEN! Especially big men who can run the court. I think Detroit fits this situation nicely.
Lets just say Shaq can get to 95% for next series. He won't be conditioned and he will be rusty. This is reality. You lose your conditioning when you sit out with injuries. You become rusty the longer you don't play. Shaq looked very very average in first 2 series of playoff. Both teams Shaq faced have CRAP big men. Does Detroit have crap big men? Same with Alonzo Mourning. Everyone is praising him for looking good agains Nets and Wizards. BIG DEAL!
Blackman said:
As for Wade he was huge in the first series against Kidd, Jefferson and Carter, and in the second series he did it against Larry Hughes (first team all NBA Defense) yet those numbers should not count? You highly underestimate the Nets, they are the 4th best team in the East in my mind, and Hughes' year speaks for itself. Maybe Wade just is this good?..
What big men do the Nets and Wizards have down low? That will answer your question. Wade is SUPER fast and athletic. He can drive past most defenders. The difference is who is down low to contest his shot? Pistons have players. Wizards and Nets don't. I am gonna go on a limb here and say Detroit plays better "team" defense than both the Nets and Wizards. So if Detroit plays better team defense and has big men down low who are excellent at contesting shots and moving there bodies, I think Wade is going to feel like he hit brick wall in this upcoming series. HE WILL NOT HAVE IT AS EASY! He may still get his pts etc. but it will be much more difficult AND his role players will have to also adjust to the team defense of Detroit. Something they have not seen yet in these playoffs. This is why playing the nets and wizards hurt the heat.
Blackman said:
inally the last point. Yes the Pistons are battle tested, and have three losses so far in the playoffs to show for it. That's a good thing? I'd much rather see a team blow through the first two rounds and show no weaknesses, which the Heat have done. Ultimately I do think they need a healthy Shaq, and the series will be razor tight if he is there, but just don't discount the fact that the Heat have walked to 8 straight wins -- that's what every team wishes they could do.
I'll bring up college football again and last years BCS National Championship game. OU did not play a team who was anywhere near USC's ability physically. Nobody as well coached as USC. Big 12 dous not have sophisticated offensive schemes to prepare OU for USC. Just like what I am saying with Heat to a certain extent. They have not played anybody in
"playoff basketball" not regular season basketball that prepares them for the Pistons. We talked mostly about Heat offense vs Detroit defense but Detroit will cause a lot of problems for heat with there multiple offensive weapons. How much time do the Heat have to adjust? Here is why I think home court for Heat benefits Pistons. Pistons can take one of the first 2 games. Then have crucial games 3,4, and 6 at home with series tied 1-1. Pistons can steal game on road early because Heat have to learn to adjust because they are not playing the Wizards and Nets. Games 1 and 2 are about feeling each other out and seeing what matchups works/don't. So why the hell would any team want games 1 and 2 at home vs games 3 and 4?
Wade and Shaq might be ok and not need so much time to adjust. But I am confident that the "other" heat players will need time to adjust in this upcoming series and this will hurt the Heat.
You would ather walk your way into the conf. finals. I much rather be battle tested for multiple reasons.
What is going to happen to heat if they lose game 1 and there first playoff game this year? Will there role players start losing confidence? Heat have not faced adversity! Pretty difficult to win a NBA Championship without facing adversity. Nobody knows how this Heat team will do when things are not going there way. Sweeping the Nets and Wizards did not help in this department.
Pistons can rely on last year and this year's playoffs.
