http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs2008/columns/
story?page=ScoutingPistonsCeltics-Game5
By Mike Moreau
Scouts Inc.
The Boston Celtics will have two areas of defensive focus in their film study
and preparation for Game 5: Forcing Antonio McDyess to put the ball on the
floor and finding some help for Ray Allen on Richard Hamilton.
In Game 4, McDyess was allowed to catch and shoot his midrange jump shot at
will -- doing nothing more than taking a step to an open area and shooting
from a stationary position. The Celtics just cannot allow this to happen in
Game 5.
Kendrick Perkins is a key help defender for the Celtics, but he strayed too
far from McDyess in Game 4. McDyess struggles if he has to put the ball on
the floor, and he has shown in the playoffs that he will turn the ball over
if forced to pass. Expect Perkins, Kevin Garnett and P.J. Brown to share some
duties on McDyess and play him "dead on the catch" -- with their No. 1
priority to be in his face when he catches to make him dribble or pass.
To counter this move, look for the Pistons to isolate Rasheed Wallace in the
post in Game 5 and use him as a first option, as they did more often in Game
4. Knowing that the focus on McDyess will prevent Boston's other big man from
helping inside, Wallace will have a one-on-one battle in the post with more
room to work.
In Game 5, Boston also must use other defenders to help on Hamilton, who is
dominating his matchup with Allen. Hamilton is running Allen to death with
his constant flashing, cutting and posting, which not only frees up Hamilton
on offense but also wears Allen down and affects him on his offensive end of
the floor.
Allen tried to chase Rip and match him cut for cut in Game 4, which played
right into Hamilton's hands -- to which his 8-for-10 from the floor and
4-for-4 from the line will attest. In Game 5, the Celtics must use their big
men to jam Hamilton on his cuts, hit him with forearms, give him hip checks
and body shots to slow him up, reroute him and disrupt his timing. Look for
some hard fouls on Hamilton off the ball, especially from Brown and Glen
Davis, who have fouls to waste.
Plus, look for more pressure on Chauncey Billups from Rajon Rondo in Game 5.
The Celtics did this in their Game 3 win but got away from it in Game 4. With
Billups' speed and acceleration limited, Rondo can use his quickness to
pressure the Pistons' quarterback and disrupt entry passes and timing.
Detroit's defense in Game 4 was a swarming mass of blocked shots, tips and
deflections -- forcing turnovers and errant passes early in the game as the
Celtics played way too fast and threw the ball over, behind and at the feet
of receivers. The Celtics just could not match Detroit's early
aggressiveness, and their spacing and timing were completely disrupted.
Boston has had success in this series with Garnett and Perkins in the low
post, and look for the Celtics to establish Garnett inside early in Game 5.
This allows Perkins to roam and get to the offensive glass, and also allows
Garnett to use his passing skills, which are nullified if he shoots only
perimeter jump shots.
Perkins also has shown an increasing ability to score inside in post
isolations, and with Garnett a dangerous midrange shooter, Perkins can work
one-on-one inside -- much like the Pistons will do with Wallace and McDyess.
Detroit was much more physical defending the post-ups in Game 4 -- pushing
Garnett off the block and out to the post extended. Expect physical
confrontations on any attempted post-ups in Game 5, as KG will demand the
ball inside.
The Paul Pierce-Tayshaun Prince battle will be a key factor at both ends in
Game 5. Both players are fighting for every inch of space and contesting each
other's every move. With Prince able to contest Pierce's jump shots and
pull-ups with his length, expect Pierce to continue to drive and draw contact
-- trying to get to the foul line, which he did 11 times in Game 4. Pistons
defenders are still showing a tendency to buy shot fakes and jump into the
shooters, which Boston is sure to exploit in Game 5.
Prince's mechanics have broken down on his normally reliable jump shot; his
follow-through is inconsistent on open shots and his trajectory is being
changed by Pierce's effective contesting. Prince will also look to post and
use his jump hook, which Pierce is forcing him to shoot from further out on
the floor.
The Pistons had Rondo dribbling all over the floor in Game 4 but didn't allow
him clear paths to the basket. Detroit just kept backing up and setting up
road blocks in the lane, and Rondo was indecisive and reluctant to shoot from
15-18 feet, did not attempt a 3-point shot and shot only one free throw.
Better spacing and timing will help open up Rondo's driving lanes, and look
for high screen/roll action to help Rondo turn the corner and take away some
of the lane congestion. He will also look for the drag screen early in the
shot clock, blowing through the traffic between the circles to get to the
paint and create.
With control of the series at stake, look for Boston to run more action that
includes all three of their best players -- with KG screening for Allen,
Garnett popping or posting after the screen and Pierce cutting off Garnett
for the handoff after the catch.
Game 4 was the most physical game of this series -- and expect Game 5 to take
the aggression level up another notch. Expect both teams to try to establish
defensive dominance early, which has been the key to winning in this series.
Look for the crowd to energize the Celtics and for their bench to play a big
role in this one.
PREDICTION: Celtics win Game 5
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I WANT TO STAND WITH YOU ON A MOUNTAIN
I WANT TO BATHE WITH YOU IN THE SEA
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UNTIL THE SKY FALLS DOWN ON ME
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