(no subject)
"Kobe Bryant has shot 12-38 over the last 2 games." Look for that trend to continue, because despite Kobe's guarantee, the Lakers are losing tonight. Chauncey will be named Finals MVP and Los Angeles will become the 28th team to lose a series when down 3-1. Rick Fox said, "The Pistons remind me of the Lakers, the Lakers of 3 years ago." Damn straight.
Here are your game 5 starters.
Detroit Pistons
1: Chauncey Billups- Colorado
2: Rip Hamilton- Connecticut
3: Tayshaun Prince- Kentucky
4: Rasheed Wallace- North Carolina
5: Ben Wallace- Virginia Union
Los Angeles Lakers
1: Gary Payton- Oregon State
2: Kobe Bryant- Lower Marion HS (PA)
3: Devean George- Augsburg
4: Karl Malone- Louisiana Tech
5: Shaquille O'Neal- Louisiana State
Key Matchups
Tayshaun Prince vs. Kobe Bryant
Shaquille O'Neal vs. all Pistons players over 6'8"
Rasheed Wallace vs. Karl Malone
Analysis
If the Pistons play strong defense, contesting shots and making Shaq pass off the ball, the Pistons will come out victorious.
If the Pistons run the ball upcourt, forcing Shaq to run heavily, the 4th quarter will be a blowout.
If the Pistons let Kobe Bryant take open shots, Lakers come out on top.
The Los Angeles Lakers do not have a 3rd man to go to. Not only has no other player scored in double figures besides O'Neal and Bryant, but the so-called "future Hall of Famers" Malone and Payton have been non-existent.
The Pistons will try to coax the Lakers into taking early fouls, and in doing so, forcing Phil Jackson to put in scrub players such as Kareem Rush, Slava Medvedenko, Luke "The X-Factor" Walton, Bryan Cook and Horace Grant.
My Prediction: Detroit 86, Los Angeles 79