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Pistons expect much different Laker team in game two
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-06-08 08:44
On a night when their top scorer struggled and Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe
Bryant combined for 60 points against them, the Detroit Pistons found a way to
fight through the hardship.
The Pistons solidified their defense and stuck to coach Larry Brown's game
plan, stunning the star-studded Los Angeles Lakers 87-75 in Sunday's opening
game of the National Basketball Association Finals.
Detroit Pistons
guard Chauncey Billups kicks out his leg as he celebrates a three-point
basket against the Los Angeles Lakers during Game 1 of the 2004 NBA Finals
at the Staples Center in Los Angeles June 6, 2004. Billups led his team
with 22 points as the Pistons took Game 1 of the best-of-seven series
87-75. [Reuters] |
"We know the Lakers like to
get out and play in transition and get involved in the high-flying attack,"
Detroit's Chauncey Billups said. "It is our job to try to control that and slow
it down when we get a chance."
The defensive-minded Pistons might be peaking at the right time in the season
but they are also cautious about reading too much into Sunday's victory because
they know the Lakers can play much better.
"That's not a typical Laker game," Brown said. "How many times are (Lakers)
going to score 75 points in a playoff game?"
Detroit Pistons
center Rasheed Wallace drives to the hoop past Los Angeles Lakers center
Shaquille O'Neal for two points during Game 1 of the NBA Finals in Los
Angeles, June 6, 2004. [Reuters] |
The Pistons
were all business at Monday's practice as they seek their fourth consecutive
playoff road triumph here Tuesday in game two of the best-of-seven series.
Brown ran the players through their drills at Staples Center arena, using
second-stringers in the roles of O'Neal and Bryant as they worked on
pick-and-roll plays.
Brown said watching the tape of Sunday's game made him realize that they are
a better shooting team than even he sometimes gives them credit for being.
"You are never as good as you think you are when you watch the film and
generally you are usually never as bad," said Brown, who registered his 82nd
career playoff coaching victory to pass K.C. Jones for fourth on the all-time
list.
"But the reason we won is we made shots. That got our defence a chance to set
up which impacted the Lakers."
Richard Hamilton is the Pistons' top scorer in the playoffs, averaging 21
points. But he scored just 12 on Sunday. Hamilton shot 5-of-16 and had six
turnovers.
With Hamilton in trouble offensively, the other Piston starters stepped up,
especially Rasheed Wallace, who had 14 points and eight rebounds in just 29
minutes of playing time.
"We had contributions from a lot of people," Brown said. "We shot 47 percent,
we rebounded the ball effectively and we had four turnovers in the second
half."
The Pistons are the best defensive team in the NBA and they showed why on
Sunday, snapping Los Angeles' nine-game post-season home winning streak.
"When we get our defense set, we are a tough team," Billups said.
Said Wallace, "Defence wins championships. You can go out there and score a
million points but if you are giving up a million and one then what good is
it?
"Defence is critical at this time in the series."
Billups expects to see a different Laker team on Tuesday, one with more
intensity and aggression. The series then shifts to Detroit for game three on
Thursday.
"I am sure they will try to push the tempo," Billups said. "They will make
adjustments, but we are going to stay consistent and not change too much.
"If they make adjustments that's OK because we are pretty good at making
changes on the fly during a game."
Billups was able to bottle up Lakers guard Gary Payton, holding the future
Hall of Famer to just three points on Sunday.
"He's got a lot of pride and for the past 10 to 12 years he's been the best
point guard in this league. But you know he's going to be playing a lot harder
(Tuesday).
"It felt good for me to play well and all that but it's a long
series."
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