Comments on: Rashard has a little Chauncey in him

By: Birdman

Birdman — Mon, 12 May 2008 12:33:38 +0000

Personally, I actually think that playing Lewis at power forward makes a lot of sense for the Magic. It’s given the Pistons some trouble matching up offensively, and I’m not sure how many teams really can take advantage of Lewis playing a larger, post-up player. Few teams have the luxury of playing two skilled bigs, so just sticking Lewis on the less talented one and have Howard defending the low-post scorer can work. I honestly don’t think that any other team could be successful with Lewis at the 4, but Howard is such a tremendous rebounder that it is less of an issue than on any other team.

By: Ben Q. Rock

Ben Q. Rock — Mon, 12 May 2008 07:15:50 +0000

Sauce– Otis and Stan have both said they didn’t plan on Lewis playing out-of-position as much as he has. They signed him before Battie tore his rotator cuff, and I suspect the initial plan might have been to ship Turkoglu out so Lewis could start at the thre. Battie’s injury changed all that, and altered the course of Hedo’s career as a result. There’s a chance the Magic could trade him, but I rather doubt it. I think they’d be just as happy with a Jameer/Hedo/Rashard/Tony/Dwight starting lineup. Four guys 6′10″ or taller. Nice (although Battie is a non-factor offensively, moreso than even Evans).

By: Sauce1977

Sauce1977 — Mon, 12 May 2008 07:11:51 +0000

I like the Magic. They’re well-balanced for a team, offense and defense. Stan Van Gundy’s one of the better coaches in the league. He’s better than Jeff, his brother, if one had to choose between the two. Dwight Howard will be a better Shaq with better defense if he keeps working on his game. If Dwight stays healthy, few teams would want to face him 5 years from now, most likely.

What I don’t like about the Magic . . . and I can actually say I respect them again, something I haven’t felt since before the Grant Hill Magic era . . . Rashard Lewis. 3 playing the 4. Bad idea, but Stan’s gotta do whatever the GM conceives. I’m not an Otis Smith fan. Rashard WAS overpaid. That’s the kind of contract someone gives to LeBron, not Rashard. And the Magic bid against themselves. I don’t know how hard it is to realize half the teams in the league can’t outright sign players to more than mid-levels due to being over the cap . . . mind-boggling. Other things I don’t like . . . Jameer’s obviously a bit mental. Good young point guard, but not good enough. Hedo? Pick a 3, and get rid of the other. Either Rashard, or Hedo. When Battie? comes back, I don’t really see that much of a difference. But the biggest hole, and this is also a problem for Utah, New Orleans . . . murky 2-spot. Mo Evans sucks. He’s an undersized 3, can’t move with the ball well, can’t pass it well, can only finish well. You can get away with Jameer/Carlos if you have a REAL SG. Mo Evans won’t cut it. Must find an upgrade. Yesterday.

By: Jameer has a little Rasheed in him | Detroit Bad Boys

Jameer has a little Rasheed in him | Detroit Bad Boys — Mon, 12 May 2008 03:45:55 +0000

[…] gave Rashard Lewis a pass for his comments, but as Rasheed Wallace knows, you can only play the “guarantee card” before people […]

By: JackDutch

JackDutch — Mon, 12 May 2008 03:40:40 +0000

the home team dominance in this round has been absurd. since we’re talking endlessly about point differential, i’d like to see the point differential between home teams vs road teams thus far. not only are the home teams winning, they’re KILLING.

let’s hope it keeps up at least thru tuesday.

By: kevin s.

kevin s. — Mon, 12 May 2008 03:14:40 +0000

Quick note:

Pistons’ road record during playoffs: 3-2

Rest of NBA: 9-48

By: kevin s.

kevin s. — Mon, 12 May 2008 01:49:28 +0000

The point differential is tough to measure in this case, since the Pistons have played two games without their best player, and the Magic were +14 in the chaotic minutes following.

If we are looking to an indication of quality, why not simply make an apples to oranges comparison of each team’s regular season? I would also note that Hedo has returned to his normal, average self during the playoffs this year, which takes your big three down to a big two.

By: Rob G

Rob G — Mon, 12 May 2008 01:22:38 +0000

GODDAMNIT! “In addition, he was frustrated when he WAS guarded by the smaller Rip”

This on a post where I brag about my grammar! Pride cometh before the fall.

By: Rob G

Rob G — Mon, 12 May 2008 01:21:28 +0000

Frankly, the talent argument is moot when you look at positions. Perhaps a case could be made that the Magic are equally or more talented than the Pistons (a case I don’t agree with, but let’s assume it for the moment). I would argue that this talent is highly mitigated by the starting roster and the roles expected of these players. Having Rashard at the 4 seems to be a big mistake. He doesn’t play as tall as he is (6′10”). That is, he doesn’t rebound particularly well, nor can he defend other power forwards when they post up. In addition, he was frustrated when he guarded by the smaller Rip (6′7”). He plays more like a 6′5” player. So, even though the Magic have a tremendous center, they lack that other big who can bang down low OR pull up for mid- to close-range jumpers. This situation is further exacerbated by the undersized Nelson. Given that basketball is a five on five sport, having a liability like a 4 who can’t rebound trumps talent in a heartbeat.

(And grammar freaks, feel free to check that over, but I’m willing to ‘Guaran-Sheed’ that it is perfect!)

By: Boney

Boney — Mon, 12 May 2008 00:31:55 +0000

The point spread being only 2 does not prove much of anything. Considering that Detroit won by 19 (in convincing fashion in the 2nd half), by 7 in Game 2 (it came down to the end)… Sure, Orlando won by 25, but that game was tight in the 3rd quarter (cut it to 4 after being up what, 20?). We also know Detroit has a history of not playing well in Game 3s, and to cut the lead that close without their General? Amazing.

They won by 1 yesterday, in a game they had no business winning. I called it early in the 2nd quarter, someone needed to plant a Magic on the ground for Detroit to win. Detroit got physical in the 2nd half, and that’s the reason why they won.

When Orlando isn’t hitting 3s (11 in game 3, 7 straight in Game 2) they’re not that good. Detroit is more talented because not only can Prince play the point (whereas Lewis and Hedo cannot), but because they can clamp down on D when it matters. You know the trap and the zone is coming from Detroit, the only thing is you can’t stop the turnovers. They’re not the best shooting team on the floor, but when old man Hunter is on the floor there is no let up on the defensive end as there is when Arroyo is on the floor and Nelson is getting a rest.

By: Ben Q. Rock

Ben Q. Rock — Sun, 11 May 2008 23:25:22 +0000

I appreciate those words and your readership, Forty. Obviously, I’m biased toward the Magic, but I try not to let that cloud my judgment.

By: Ben Q. Rock

Ben Q. Rock — Sun, 11 May 2008 23:24:08 +0000

I’d take Prince over Billups, but that’s fairly solid. I’ve grown to appreciate Prince a LOT in these playoffs. He’s an excellent player, yes, but I also like the way he conducts himself in interviews. A consummate professional for whom I have the utmost respect.

By: Forty

Forty — Sun, 11 May 2008 23:23:29 +0000

By the way, Ben, I liked how you handled the clock situation a lot on your site. And the blog in general is excellent. I’ll be reading 3QC next year before every Pistons-Magic game. And I don’t think this is the last time we’ll see each other in the playoffs (and unfortunately, I think the clock is ticking on how much longer we can hold you guys off - Dwight is straight up ridiculous. The only guy I’d rather build around is LeBron. It’s very close with Paul, and that’s it.)

By: Forty

Forty — Sun, 11 May 2008 23:17:45 +0000

Also, just for a thought experiment re: talent, I think here’s how the draft (irrespective of current contract situation, which would put Lewis WAY lower) would go. Howard (far and away #1)
Billups
Prince
Lewis
Wallace (have to question how many more productive seasons he has)
Stuckey (Hamilton and Turk are solid, but Stuck has a very high upside — I’d take a chance on his next 10 years over Hamilton/Turk’s guaranteed next 4)
Hamilton
Turkoglu
And then SEVERAL of our players go next before you get to Nelson

By: Ben Q. Rock

Ben Q. Rock — Sun, 11 May 2008 23:16:21 +0000

LB: The two-game differential is vastly more important in deciding the series, yes. But the two-point differential illustrates how close the teams are in terms of talent (although, as Forty notes, that’s a fairly small sample size).