If defense wins championships, these two teams are the standard-bearers. The San Antonio Spurs ranked No. 1 this season in fewest points allowed and the Detroit Pistons ranked No. 2.
Tim Duncan and Ben Wallace generally are regarded as two of the league’s best defensive players, Gregg Popovich and Larry Brown each have been named Coach of the Year in the past five years and there are numerous X-factors. Each was a preseason favorite in their conference, and now they meet starting Thursday in San Antonio. Here’s a look at how they match up:
WHO HAS THE EDGE?
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Playoff stats
POINT GUARD HT. WT. MIN. PTS. REB. AST.
DET. Chauncey Billups 6-3 202 39.1 18.0 4.1 6.6
S.A. Tony Parker 6-2 177 36.9 18.7 3.1 4.8
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Neither is a pure point. Parker is a jet, maybe the quickest point in the league, though not a particulary good perimeter shooter. Teams have had success zoning the lane against him. Billups is a big-game clutch performer who was Finals MVP last year.
EDGE: PISTONS.
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Playoff stats
SMALL FORWARD HT. WT. MIN. PTS. REB. AST.
DET. Tayshaun Prince 6-9 215 41.6 14.7 6.9 3.6
S.A. Bruce Bowen 6-7 200 33.9 4.8 2.9 1.4
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Prince is an excellent defender with his long arms and angular moves, but Bowen is the league’s best individual defender. Bowen will move to shut down big scorers, but is only an occasional three-point scorer. Prince is a developing scorer with big-game possibilities.
EDGE: PISTONS.
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Playoff stats
CENTER HT. WT. MIN. PTS. REB. AST.
DET. Ben Wallace 6-9 240 38.8 9.8 11.7 38*
S.A. Nazr Mohammed 6-10 250 23.1 8.1 7.0 17*
*Total for playoffs
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Wallace was the league’s Defensive Player of the Year for the third time in four years, but may not score even as much as midseason pickup Mohammed, who replaced Rasho Nesterovic in the starting lineup.
EDGE: PISTONS.
THE BENCH
The Pistons got Elden Campbell back, who might give them some minutes on Duncan and primarily rely on Antonio McDyess, Carlos Arroyo and Lindsey Hunter, the latter two poor scorers. Nesterovic will see more time in this series, which will be slower. Robert Horry is the big X-factor again. The Spurs often use him as perimter power forward with Duncan moving to center, and few have hit more big playoff shots than Horry. Brent Barry will hit shots when teams double down on Duncan, Beno Udrih can hit a three and Glenn Robinson is familiar with the East and also could be a surprise.
EDGE: SPURS.
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Playoff stats
SHOOTING GUARD HT. WT. MIN. PTS. REB. AST.
DET. Richard Hamilton 6-7 193 43.6 21.3 3.9 4.9
S.A. Manu Ginobili 6-6 205 32.5 21.8 5.8 4.3
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Different type of players, but the engines that drive both teams’ scoring. Hamilton is a constant motion player with one of the best midrange games. Ginobili is a fearless driver with surprisingly good three-point range. He and Parker don’t match the defense of their backcourt rivals, but are brilliant in transition.
EDGE: SPURS.
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Playoff stats
POWER FORWARD HT. WT. MIN. PTS. REB. AST.
DET. Rasheed Wallace 6-11 230 33.2 14.7 7.4 27*
S.A. Tim Duncan 6-11 260 36.5 24.9 11.7 37*
*Total for playoffs
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Duncan is the game’s best all-around big man. Wallace wavers, both with his unchecked emotions and unusual desire not to be involved in offense frequently because he doesn’t like the pressure and responsibility.
EDGE: SPURS.
COACHING
Larry Brown vs. Gregg Popovich
Conventional wisdom generally gives Hall of Famer Brown the edge over just about any coach. The Pistons survived on their experience, but it almost seemed like Brown was an outsider with the controversy over his pursuit of the Cavaliers’ presidency. Popovich, a Brown disciple, is a defense-first coach. No team gets back better in transition and responds to its coach as well.
EDGE: SPURS.
CONCLUSION
The teams split in the regular season, though Duncan didn’t play in much of the loss after suffering his worst sprained ankle. The Spurs showed they can adjust styles. The Pistons have to beat you down.
PICK: SPURS IN SIX
