# Pistons v. Lakers-- Place your bets, place your bets! **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 2, 2004, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pistons-v-lakers-place-your-bets-place-your-bets/248218 "2004-06-02T05:36:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2004, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pistons-v-lakers-place-your-bets-place-your-bets/248218/1 "2004-06-02T05:36:04Z")
I wanna say Pistons in 7, but I’m honestly just praying it’s not Lakers in 4. I also hope Tayshaun Prince doesn’t try to block a Shaq dunk. He seriously might lose an arm. Alright, alright…Pistons in 7. ---
**Author:** ![Yeticus\_Rex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a698b9/32.png) [@Yeticus\_Rex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yeticus_Rex)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2004, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pistons-v-lakers-place-your-bets-place-your-bets/248218/2 "2004-06-02T05:40:55Z")
Lakers in 5, and I am truly being generous here…but win or lose, I’ll pick Detroit out-rioting LA this year… ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2004, 10:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pistons-v-lakers-place-your-bets-place-your-bets/248218/3 "2004-06-02T10:20:21Z")
If the Lakers bring their rope-a-dope act out east, Detroit will hand them their asses in a paper bag. They sleep-walked through the T-Wolves series, doing everything but scoring points for the opposition. A truly boring playoff series. If LA brings the ‘A’ game, it could be a seven-game series, with Detroit taking it. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2004, 10:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pistons-v-lakers-place-your-bets-place-your-bets/248218/4 "2004-06-02T10:47:36Z")
Detroit is a very determined team - and Rasheed owes LA some big payback - and I’ve never seen a team win while seeming to care less than the Lakers. If they take games off, they’ll lose them- the Pistons play too much defense for LA to win by showing up. I figure that gives Detroit one game, maybe two. Can they win two or three games against the Lakers when they do play well? That’s a very tall order. Who can guard Shaq (if he feels like trying)? I guess they’ll need Rasheed Wallace, Campbell, Okur and maybe even Milicic for the fouls. Who can guard Kobe? Nobody. One or two of those pantented Detroit stretches of offensive narcolepsy in any given game will kill them. They did that a bunch of times against the Pacers and usually survived. Won’t work this time. I remain a Phil Jackson fan, but I’ve really come to dislike his team. I almost wish they’d win just so he can retire and I can hate them without feeling any conflict about it. (Of course, if they win this year, Kobe and several of the other players probably bolt.) I guess I’ll be rooting for Detroit, but I don’t think I can see them pulling this off. The other thing I hate is agreeing with that obnoxious Stephen A. Smith on ESPN. But I think he’s right- LA in six. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2004, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pistons-v-lakers-place-your-bets-place-your-bets/248218/5 "2004-06-02T21:31:15Z")
C’mon people! This is the NBA Finals, no one’s got an opinion?? I stand by my Pistons in 7. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2004, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pistons-v-lakers-place-your-bets-place-your-bets/248218/6 "2004-06-02T21:36:50Z")
LA in 6, maybe 5. I hope Malone pulls an Artest on 'Sheed. ---
**Author:** ![litost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c4cdca/32.png) [@litost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/litost)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2004, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pistons-v-lakers-place-your-bets-place-your-bets/248218/7 "2004-06-02T21:37:59Z")
I’m too depressed from my Pacers bowing out to make any predictions for the finals. That said, I want both the Lakers and Pistons to lose. ---
**Author:** ![litost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c4cdca/32.png) [@litost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/litost)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2004, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pistons-v-lakers-place-your-bets-place-your-bets/248218/8 "2004-06-02T21:44:01Z")
You guys saw Hamilton either elbowing Artest in the stomach or hitting him in the nads? The commentators said it looked inadvertent but apparently Rip has a habit of banging into people (getting into their heads as well). Artest should have flopped, writhing in pain… instead he was looking at the refs shocked that they didn’t call anything and right then Rip runs RIGHT INTO Artest and pulled off a marvelous acting job. He has learned a lot from Reggie. 🙂 Of course, Artest lost his control and held his elbow high but this reminded me of what Red Auerbach said about refs always penalizing the retaliator, not the agressor. Anyway, I don’t believe that was the turning point. We had two easy chances to tie the game. And, I’m with you. Rasheed is a grade A clown. ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2004, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pistons-v-lakers-place-your-bets-place-your-bets/248218/9 "2004-06-02T22:00:23Z")
Lakers in 5, 6 tops. If a super-charged Kevin Garnett and the T-Wolves, with home-court advantage to boot, couldn’t get past them, the Pistons ain’t gonna either. ---
**Author:** ![imthjckaz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/imthjckaz/32/3223_2.png) [@imthjckaz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/imthjckaz)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2004, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pistons-v-lakers-place-your-bets-place-your-bets/248218/10 "2004-06-03T01:05:19Z")
The Lakers in 6. I would say Lakers in five or even a sweep, but sometimes the Lakers attention span costs them a game or two. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2004, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pistons-v-lakers-place-your-bets-place-your-bets/248218/11 "2004-06-03T01:34:11Z")
Lakers in 6. They’ll drop 2 because they weren’t paying attention. Detroit doesn’t stand a chance. On preview… **what imthjckaz** said. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2004, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pistons-v-lakers-place-your-bets-place-your-bets/248218/12 "2004-06-03T01:45:01Z")
Larry Brown is too good a coach to let LA play the game they want to. It will be hack-shaq from beggining to end. And the pistons will win at least one because of Shaq’s crappy free throws. They will win one more because the Lakers just don’t care enough to play every game. If Rip and Tayshon get hot they may win another one. So Lakers in 6 or 7. But I want Detroit to win. please please please. ---
**Author:** ![drm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e57/32.png) [@drm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drm)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2004, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pistons-v-lakers-place-your-bets-place-your-bets/248218/13 "2004-06-03T01:58:22Z")
If I recal, they split the season series so I think the Pistons will take a few. I guess it really all depends on the Lakers. The pistons will play their game, as much as it bores me, and the Lakers will get caught up in it a few times while in Detroit. The Lakers have Shaq, Detroit doesn’t. The Lakers have Offense, detroit can’t even spell it. Lakers in 6. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2004, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pistons-v-lakers-place-your-bets-place-your-bets/248218/14 "2004-06-03T02:29:35Z")
> [@litost](#): > > right then Rip runs RIGHT INTO Artest and pulled off a marvelous acting job. He has learned a lot from Reggie. 🙂 Yeah, that’s what happened. Artest didn’t put a forearm in his face or anything. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2004, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pistons-v-lakers-place-your-bets-place-your-bets/248218/15 "2004-06-03T02:29:53Z")
The teams did split their series, each winning a game. In those two games, Detroit averaged 97.5 points; LA 95 points. Without Rasheed, so the Pistons _can_ score. The defense-strong Spurs held the Lakers to under 90 in 4 out of 6 games in the post-season. If the Spurs’ defense can do that, so can the Pistons. And though the Pistons may have had a hard time putting points on the board against Indy, I credit that to the Pacers’ strong defensive game-- a better defense than the Lakers. As far as shutting down Shaq, Corliss Williamson said it best: “We’ve got about six guys over 6-foot-10. Six times six is 36, so that’s 36 fouls we’ve got.” 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2004, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pistons-v-lakers-place-your-bets-place-your-bets/248218/16 "2004-06-03T02:46:03Z")
Their roster says they have four - and one of them is Darko Milicic. :eek: And Ben Wallace and Prince are 6’9. I love Prince, but he’s a stick figure. They can’t really put him on Shaq. If the Wallaces get into foul trouble on Shaq, that really hurts Detroit. Here are the Piston big guys: 41 Elden Campbell C-F 7-0 279 31 Darko Milicic F-C 7-0 245 13 Mehmet Okur C 6-11 249 22 Tayshaun Prince F 6-9 215 3 Ben Wallace - C F-C 6-9 240 30 Rasheed Wallace F-C 6-11 230 The Pistons don’t have a single player within 50 pounds of Shaq, who’s listed at 340. I’m sure they’ll sure Campbell a bunch, but actually after him, they barely have anybody within _100 pounds_. So they can foul him a lot, but I don’t think they can keep him from dunking on them because they won’t be able to keep him away from the basket. This is provided Shaq feels like playing hard, and I’m not saying that’s a given. ---
**Author:** ![Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimmy_Chitwood)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2004, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pistons-v-lakers-place-your-bets-place-your-bets/248218/17 "2004-06-03T02:47:49Z")
Lakers in five. Where to begin? Hack-a-Shaq doesn’t work, and neither does turning a series into a bunch of football games, provided the other team has talent. The Pistons can’t match up with Kobe, so he’ll get off. They can’t afford to foul out the Wallaces every game, so they’re going to have to run a double at Shaq. Doubling Shaq means you pick your poison and leave somebody open on the perimeter, and hope they don’t beat you from there. Sound familiar? (It should, since it’s been happening in the playoffs for the better part of a decade). Shaq gets the ball, either makes a move or kicks it out to Kobe, Kobe does his thing or reposts Shaq. Shaq feels the double, he finds Rush or Fisher or Kobe or even George, they go 10 or 12 for 25 from downtown between them, Pistons have to decide between committing the double and letting Shaq get his. Same old song and dance. The Pistons win by holding teams under 70, but you can’t do that when Kobe’s good for 30 by himself, and Shaq’s gonna get his 20 and 10. For the Pistons to win, they pretty much have to keep Shaq _and_ Kobe under 25 each, then they have to be able to score themselves. It just isn’t going to happen. Great offensive talent beats great defensive talent. ---
**Author:** ![Toddly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/22d042/32.png) [@Toddly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toddly)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2004, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pistons-v-lakers-place-your-bets-place-your-bets/248218/18 "2004-06-03T04:18:36Z")
I’m not a huge fan but Detroit will loose in 5. If it goes 6 I will be surprised. I think Shaq will be motivated enough to get them there and Kobe is the best player in the league. IMO ---
**Author:** ![LuckyMe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e36b37/32.png) [@LuckyMe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LuckyMe)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2004, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pistons-v-lakers-place-your-bets-place-your-bets/248218/19 "2004-06-03T04:41:09Z")
Pistons in 6. Lakars don’t have the fire. They are gonna go in under estimating this east coast team and they are gonna get put on there backs. Detroit is the best defensive team the league. they are gonna do what the Ravens did for the NFL, show defense is a must. Also, Sheed and Larry Brown got some revenge they need to exact. ---
**Author:** ![litost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c4cdca/32.png) [@litost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/litost)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2004, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pistons-v-lakers-place-your-bets-place-your-bets/248218/20 "2004-06-03T05:23:36Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Yeah, that’s what happened. Artest didn’t put a forearm in his face or anything. :rolleyes: I mentioned that in my post. I didn’t condone what he did. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pistons-v-lakers-place-your-bets-place-your-bets/248218.md?page=2)