Philly series Game 1 on Sunday Night

At six, per the Freep. FINALLY, the playoffs are starting. Sunday,
Sunday, Sunday!!! -- Joe

On Thu, 17 Apr 2008 07:56:04 -0700 (PDT),
"jslater@NOutnet.utoledoSPAM.edu" <jslater@utnet.utoledo.edu> wrote:

>At six, per the Freep. FINALLY, the playoffs are starting. Sunday,
>Sunday, Sunday!!! -- Joe

Yeah, and how about the Pistons reserves beating up on the Cavs
reserves in the last game of the season? Marvelous!

Regards,
////
(o o)
-oOO--(_)--OOo-

"I had to stop driving my car for a while - - the tires got dizzy."
-- Steven Wright
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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Steve

"SkippyPB" <swiegand@nospam.neo.rr.com> wrote in message
news:rtse04t576a86djbthhjnmnsfboj1bt1i7@4ax.com...
> On Thu, 17 Apr 2008 07:56:04 -0700 (PDT),
> "jslater@NOutnet.utoledoSPAM.edu" <jslater@utnet.utoledo.edu> wrote:
>
>>At six, per the Freep. FINALLY, the playoffs are starting. Sunday,
>>Sunday, Sunday!!! -- Joe
>
> Yeah, and how about the Pistons reserves beating up on the Cavs
> reserves in the last game of the season? Marvelous!


I'd hate to read too much into that win. Both teams have had a playoff spot
tied up.

On Apr 17, 12:18*pm, "Hosmerica" <BigOneCom...@IveGotGas.com> wrote:
> "SkippyPB" <swieg...@nospam.neo.rr.com> wrote in message
>
> news:rtse04t576a86djbthhjnmnsfboj1bt1i7@4ax.com...
>
> > On Thu, 17 Apr 2008 07:56:04 -0700 (PDT),
> > "jsla...@NOutnet.utoledoSPAM.edu" <jsla...@utnet.utoledo.edu> wrote:
>
> >>At six, per the Freep. *FINALLY, the playoffs are starting. *Sunday,
> >>Sunday, Sunday!!! -- Joe
>
> > Yeah, and how about the Pistons reserves beating up on the Cavs
> > reserves in the last game of the season? *Marvelous!
>
> I'd hate to read too much into that win. *Both teams have had a playoff spot
> tied up.

The only thing to look at is the performance of our bench vs. the
benches of other teams. Even then, there are caveats: both teams had
their playoff spot wrapped up, as you say; we aren't going to see five
bench players on the court at any one time when the game is close
during the playoffs; and two guys who did very well last night,
Hermann and Afflalo, are less likely to see significant minutes than
guys who didn't do as well last night, Stuckey and Hayes.

Having said that, the bench has played well against the benches (and
sometimes starters) of other teams (admittedly, usually lesser teams)
not just last night, but over the course of the past in the past week
or two. Last year and the year before, when Detroit was resting its
starters down the stretch, the bench guys would often get killed.

The trick for Flip is to figure out which bench players to play when.
Again, he can't throw in a lineup of Stuckey, Afflalo (or Dixon or
Hunter), Hayes, Johnson (or Ratliff) and Maxiell at the same time for
a quarter or so. He'll have to figure who to integrate when, and with
whom. It could be a challenge, especially since Hayes is very
streaky; Johnson, Stuckey, Afflalo, and even Maxiell are pretty
inexperienced; and none of the bigs off the bench is a consistent
offensive threat (although Maxiell had a good game the other day).

But I feel much better about the bench than I have since '04. -- Joe

"jslater@NOutnet.utoledoSPAM.edu" <jslater@utnet.utoledo.edu> wrote
>
> The trick for Flip is to figure out which bench players to play when.
> Again, he can't throw in a lineup of Stuckey, Afflalo (or Dixon or
> Hunter), Hayes, Johnson (or Ratliff) and Maxiell at the same time for
> a quarter or so. He'll have to figure who to integrate when, and with
> whom.

The when and how long is a bigger challenge than the who. I think the
biggest questions seem to be whether Dixon gets much time and how much
time Maxiell gets facing much taller players. Otherwise, the subbing
seems pretty straightforward.

> It could be a challenge, especially since Hayes is very
> streaky; Johnson, Stuckey, Afflalo, and even Maxiell are pretty
> inexperienced;

Afflalo is solid and he has a pretty straightforward job. It will be
tougher for Stuckey when he subs at the point because that's a much more
challenging position, and he's going to be facing more situations where
the whistles have to be earned when he drives.

> and none of the bigs off the bench is a consistent
> offensive threat (although Maxiell had a good game the other day).
>
> But I feel much better about the bench than I have since '04. -- Joe

There's a lot higher basketball IQ on the bench than in recent years and
guys willing to stay in their roles.

On Thu, 17 Apr 2008 11:31:53 -0700 (PDT),
"jslater@NOutnet.utoledoSPAM.edu" <jslater@utnet.utoledo.edu> wrote:

>On Apr 17, 12:18*pm, "Hosmerica" <BigOneCom...@IveGotGas.com> wrote:
>> "SkippyPB" <swieg...@nospam.neo.rr.com> wrote in message
>>
>> news:rtse04t576a86djbthhjnmnsfboj1bt1i7@4ax.com...
>>
>> > On Thu, 17 Apr 2008 07:56:04 -0700 (PDT),
>> > "jsla...@NOutnet.utoledoSPAM.edu" <jsla...@utnet.utoledo.edu> wrote:
>>
>> >>At six, per the Freep. *FINALLY, the playoffs are starting. *Sunday,
>> >>Sunday, Sunday!!! -- Joe
>>
>> > Yeah, and how about the Pistons reserves beating up on the Cavs
>> > reserves in the last game of the season? *Marvelous!
>>
>> I'd hate to read too much into that win. *Both teams have had a playoff spot
>> tied up.
>
>The only thing to look at is the performance of our bench vs. the
>benches of other teams. Even then, there are caveats: both teams had
>their playoff spot wrapped up, as you say; we aren't going to see five
>bench players on the court at any one time when the game is close
>during the playoffs; and two guys who did very well last night,
>Hermann and Afflalo, are less likely to see significant minutes than
>guys who didn't do as well last night, Stuckey and Hayes.
>
>Having said that, the bench has played well against the benches (and
>sometimes starters) of other teams (admittedly, usually lesser teams)
>not just last night, but over the course of the past in the past week
>or two. Last year and the year before, when Detroit was resting its
>starters down the stretch, the bench guys would often get killed.
>
>The trick for Flip is to figure out which bench players to play when.
>Again, he can't throw in a lineup of Stuckey, Afflalo (or Dixon or
>Hunter), Hayes, Johnson (or Ratliff) and Maxiell at the same time for
>a quarter or so. He'll have to figure who to integrate when, and with
>whom. It could be a challenge, especially since Hayes is very
>streaky; Johnson, Stuckey, Afflalo, and even Maxiell are pretty
>inexperienced; and none of the bigs off the bench is a consistent
>offensive threat (although Maxiell had a good game the other day).
>
>But I feel much better about the bench than I have since '04. -- Joe

If the Piston starters play anywhere near like they're capable of
playing, we may see the entire bench in the 4th quarter in a couple of
games. The Pistons should win this series in 5 games, 6 at the very
most. But, you never know. It would be a good idea for the Piston
starters to remember what happened to Dallas last year. Could Philly
win this series? I guess anything is possible. They have played
outstanding basketball since the All Star break. But Detroit is by far
the better team, I just hope they don't overlook Philly. That could be
a disaster. The Sixers lost 4 straight going into the playoffs to fall
to the 7th seed. But before that they were very hot. They were 18-30
on February 4th and finished at 40-42, a record of 22-12 since the 4th
of February. Still, out west? Golden State finished 14 games over .500
and didn't make the playoffs, while 1 .500 team and 2 under .500 from
the East made it. It seems unfair.

Brian

Bottom line!!!

Phili's got nothin' to lose and will probably put it all on the line....

Making the play offs with the rag tail bunch they have might be
considered a season success by fans, but something about this team looks
as if they want more! They'll play hard and try to offer an upset or
two.

From our stand point we shouldn't take them for granite and hopefully
Saunders won't get beligerent should a table or two turn against us.
The only thing that could defuse this series is "emotional ghost" from
the past where a quiet riot went on against Saunders the last two
seasons. We have enough new ballers and new blood to defuse that and
keep the vets on the path and aimed at the goal. IT is still
unconceivable that we lost two championships because players silently
protested Flip's commitment to zone defense when they wanted to play
lone man to man.

At any rate, expect some early first half lead changes and then a blow
out just before the close of the first half! Detroit in four!

<rdjio@webtv.net> wrote in message
news:6191-480BD8A0-631@storefull-3215.bay.webtv.net...
: Bottom line!!!
:
: Phili's got nothin' to lose and will probably put it all on the line....
:
: Making the play offs with the rag tail bunch they have might be
: considered a season success by fans, but something about this team looks
: as if they want more! They'll play hard and try to offer an upset or
: two.
:
: From our stand point we shouldn't take them for granite and hopefully
: Saunders won't get beligerent should a table or two turn against us.
: The only thing that could defuse this series is "emotional ghost" from
: the past where a quiet riot went on against Saunders the last two
: seasons. We have enough new ballers and new blood to defuse that and
: keep the vets on the path and aimed at the goal. IT is still
: unconceivable that we lost two championships because players silently
: protested Flip's commitment to zone defense when they wanted to play
: lone man to man.
:
: At any rate, expect some early first half lead changes and then a blow
: out just before the close of the first half! Detroit in four!

Wow - you so smart !!!

On Sun, 20 Apr 2008 19:58:24 -0400, [email]rdjio@webtv.net[/email] wrote:

>Bottom line!!!
>
>Phili's got nothin' to lose and will probably put it all on the line....
>
>Making the play offs with the rag tail bunch they have might be
>considered a season success by fans, but something about this team looks
>as if they want more! They'll play hard and try to offer an upset or
>two.
>
>From our stand point we shouldn't take them for granite

Who is we? You on the team now? I think Detroit should take them for
all the granite (sic) they can get. If they are lucky there will be
enough to make fireplaces too.


>and hopefully
>Saunders won't get beligerent should a table or two turn against us.
>The only thing that could defuse this series is "emotional ghost" from
>the past where a quiet riot went on against Saunders the last two
>seasons. We have enough new ballers and new blood to defuse that and
>keep the vets on the path and aimed at the goal. IT is still
>unconceivable that we lost two championships because players silently
>protested Flip's commitment to zone defense when they wanted to play
>lone man to man.
>
>At any rate, expect some early first half lead changes and then a blow
>out just before the close of the first half! Detroit in four!