May 6, 2008...1:05 pm
Thoughts on Magic-Pistons
Last night I was able to catch the end of the Magic-Pistons game. Some thoughts:
–How many games have the Pistons won in the last five years with clutch free throws? They’re one of the only teams that, when they have a two possession lead with anywhere under two minutes, make you feel like changing the channel because the game’s over. Look at the free throw scoring and free throw shooting of Billups and Hamilton in 82games.com’s “clutch” statistics from this season. These are measured when in the fourth quarter or overtime with less than five minutes less and neither team is ahead by more than 5 points.
Billups
By FG FGA FG% FTM Pts
48 Minutes 9.1 19.9 0.457 18.2 38.5
FTM FTA FT% FTA48 PTS48
42 46 91.3 19.9 18.2
Hamilton
By FG FGA FG% FTM Pts.
48 Minutes 9.6 18.8 0.512 10.1 31.6
FTM FTA FT% FTA48 PTS48
22 24 91.7 11 10.1
The number of points they get off of free throws is just silly. For Billups, free throws make up almost half his scoring average in these situations. Hamilton’s free throws are a shade under a third of his points. Also consider that Billups, being a point guard, handles the ball the most in these situations and that Hamilton is the best in the league at getting open off screens whenever he wants to. This tandem is the Jonathan Papelbon of the NBA. The fact that Detroit loses any games with a two-possession lead going into the final two minutes astounds me.
–In my article about finding reasons to dislike another team I didn’t write about the despicability of the opposing team’s home PA announcer or its fans. Detroit is tops in the league for both. The whole DEEE-TROOOIT BAASSS-KET-BALLLL chant should’ve ended after they upset the Lakers and not a second later. It was the “Cowboy Up” of the PA system. As for their fans, a picture should suffice.
–Seeing if Orlando gets any lift from their home crowd will be interesting. For every Orlando home game I watched this season, I remember being really disappointed by the noise level and atmosphere. Maybe they’ll come out of the woodwork for the playoffs. It happened in Atlanta.
–Prediction: Detroit in 6
Orlando takes Game 3 at home then Detroit wins a close Game 4. The series goes back to Detroit and they have one of their patented “intensity is overrated” games. They lose, get angry, end the series in Game 6 in Orlando.
Leave a Reply