Interview with Need4Sheed.com on the Pistons-Celtics Series
May 20, 2008
Natalie over at Need4Sheed.com does an excellent job of covering all things Sheed-tacular and the Detroit Pistons team. You should especially visit to see the podcasts and the videos. Technologically-speaking, she’s far ahead of most of us bloggers. I asked her to answer a few questions about the upcoming series and she graciously agreed to spare some of her time.
1. Does it really matter if Maxiell or McDyess starts, and which one do you think matches up better with Perkins/Garnett?
It matters, but not all that much. Dyess and Maxiell each bring something different to the game. With Dyess you get constancy and boards, with Maxiell you get a beast that can block shots, come out of nowhere for a putback and take on the biggest defensive assignments you can throw at him. Each brings a spark as soon as they hit the floor.
I expect Sheed to be on Garnett for much of the game and probably Dyess and Ratliff when he’s resting. Maxiell can do a number on Perkins if he has to.
2. Tayshaun Prince has been playing well in the play-offs, and few have noticed. But does he traditionally guard Paul Pierce well? And do you think that he can continue his hot shooting against the Celtics?
Tayshaun will get Pierce and should be able to contain him. Pierce got the better of the match during the regular season but Tayshaun wasn’t playing nearly as well when the two teams met. This is a Tayshaun Prince who looks confident and ready to take on anything that is thrown at him. He will have to make Pierce play both ends of the floor and that bodes well for Tayshaun, who has put up the best playoff numbers of his career.
3. Is Billups quietly losing his hold on the starting job? Oh, Stuckey is still not the facilitator that Chauncey is, for sure. But Chauncey is once again shooting poorly from the field (barely 40%) while playing average point guards like Andre Miller and Jameer Nelson. I think Chauncey’s injury was a blessing in disguise.
I couldn’t disagree more. Chauncey’s numbers don’t really tell the whole story. I admit he had a rough time with Miller in the first part of the Sixers series, but stepped up his game. Chauncey may not have been Mr. Big Shot to start off the playoffs but he was sorely missed. Stuckey played great in game 5 against The Magic, but he still makes rookie mistakes. Thankful we have Stuckey and Hunter but I’ll take Billups on the floor no matter how bad he’s shooting, he controls the team and the tempo.
4. It’s decided now, but who would have been a better match-up for the Pistons in your eyes, Celtics or Cavs?
Matchup wise I think the Cavs would have matched up a bit better with Detroit. The Pistons would have had home court and The Pistons and their fans would have like to get a little revenge. Detroit let one man beat them last season and I think they figured that out.
Now that we have Boston I’m confident that Detroit has what it takes to get to The Finals. Boston is a great team, but now that we can see their flaws, the task doesn’t seem all that daunting.
5. How big does Rasheed Wallace have to play to get the job done against The Celtics?
That’s the great thing about Detroit, they don’t need a huge game, or series for that matter from any one player to dominate. What Sheed needs do is concentrate on Garnett, something that he does better than anyone. If fact if you ask Kevin who plays him the hardest, his answer is Sheed. And there is nothing more Sheed likes is to stop an elite power forward, just ask Timmy.
Thanks Natalie! If you liked this interview, visit Need4Sheed.com for more insight on Detroit Basketball.
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12 Responses to “Interview with Need4Sheed.com on the Pistons-Celtics Series”
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Thanks for this, Need4Sheed is one of my favorite blogs to read. That site is a must-see for any Pistons fan.
what a useless article
McDyess was the unsung hero of the Orlando series. His hustle, defense on Howard, and timely plays at the end of games was the difference. In the one point win against Orlando where tay drained the last shot and Hedo missed his, it was a spectacular offensive rebound between four Orlando defenders that all owed Tay the opportunity for the shot… McDyess will have to do the same for Detroit to beat the Pistons
haha brendo… you must be a Cavs fan.
I think the key to this series is the 2nd unit from both teams. We won’t see much of the 2nd unit from Boston because I feel like Detroit’s A and B teams could cause so many problems that Doc will resort to keeping his dogs in the fight longer in order to not lose control of these games.
I think the continuing growth of Maxiell and Tayshaun will set the tone in this series. For far too long Tay has been the 5th wheel on this team, but he has shown the ability to step up when others don’t step at all (2006 Eastern Conference Finals, 2007 Playoffs). For all of Detroit’s struggles and mental lapses, you’ll find a solid game that night by Tay.
Maxiell just needs to keep eating those babies…
Boney is correct about Tayshaun. Especially this playoffs-if the Pistons lose it will not be because of him. He is the type of player, while not a Kobe or Lebron type, that will instantly make your team better.
I keep looking at the match-ups…and wondering if Detroit sweeps this series. Oh, the league would never allow it, but go position by position, bench by bench, coach by coach. I find that Detroit has a clear edge everywhere except perhaps Prince vs. Pierce or Garnett vs. Wallace. And in both those cases, Pierce and Garnett will be facing top defenders. Ugh, I’m not a Pistons fan, but I can’t see the Celtics mounting much of a challenge.
The Pistons have proven their mettle against the so-called dream team of the NBA, and let me go on record as a die-hard, rabid Pistons fan from waaaay back.
However the Playoffs are about two things, in this order, match-ups and coaching, and you know that coaching affects the match-ups. The one weakness I see on the Pistons side is Coach Flip Saunders.
If he sticks his fu*#ing thumb in his mouth, krinkles his forehead, and starts pacing back and forth, while experimenting with rotations that have no rhyme or reason, Pistons fans should be very, very afraid. That man sucks!!!
McBias, what are you thoughts now, after game 1? Go Celts!
^haha, Mark, I’m already eating crow breast as we speak–and given three more games like that one, I’ll be eating crow wing, head, and feet next! Looks like the Celtics advantages at the two positions I mentioned (Garnett and Pierce) are more than enough right now.
Ok, let me gett his straight, you’re thinking that the Celtics can now take the series because they did what they were supposed to do…win at home?
Look It wasn’t a blow out, the Pistons stayed competitive, Chauncey hasn’t played in a game in over a week, so Stuckey got more minutes than he’ll probably see down the line.
Detroit didn’t HAVE to win Game 1, but the Celtics did. We all know when it comes to winning on the road, they’re suspect, and the Pistons aren’t. They just need to take one game in Boston and this series is over, it doesn’t matter if it comes in game two, or game five.
Chauncey exploits every one of Rondo’s weaknesses, Sheed can handle Garnett. Ray Allen has not shown any indication that he’s going to get hot, as a matter of fact, his confidence is shot to hell, we don’t have to worry about whether he’ll make shots, he won’t even take em.
And as for the two positions, Pierce and Garnett, yeah they’re playing well, but the math is simple, anyone knows five beats two any day.
So slow ya roll dawg, this is the Playoffs and the Pistons never win pretty. They like it this way, cause as we say in the D, if it ain’t rough it ain’t right!
Watch for the Pistons to do a better job controlling the tempo in Game Two, we need a slow grind it out half court game, so the defensive pressure will definately get kicked up a notch, and I expect Chauncey to be a little more aggresive next time out.
Told ya……..
Mark,
How do you feel about Game 2?
(in the words of Paul Pierce)
LET ME HEAR ITTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT