HoopsHype.com Columns

Questions from a casual basketball fan
by Eddie Johnson / June 13, 2005

I have been reading all the articles concerning the beating the Spurs have been laying on the Pistons in the first two games of the Finals. Most writers and broadcasters depend on stats to validate their assessment of a series, which they should do. But I would like to take a different angle. Imagine that I am
sitting next to a casual fan that rarely watches an NBA game unless it's the Finals. You know, the crossover fan whose real love is hunting and fishing, but once a year will sit down and watch the playoffs. The kind of fan you hate to sit next to because they keep asking questions about different players and why this and why that.

His first question would be: How did Detroit make it back to the Finals?

Well, let's see. My response might be that they are the luckiest team in history when it comes to the opposition having key injuries during a playoff run. Jermaine O'Neal of the Pacers played basically with just one arm in the conference semifinals and Dwyane Wade went down with a bad back with his team up 3-2 in the conference finals.

I thought they were a great defensive team?

Yes, they are. But great offense will always overcome great defense when it is committed and has a variety of weapons to attack you with – and the Spurs have plenty.

Yeah, they do. Man, that Ginobili is unstoppable. Why is he so good?

It's hard to guard someone you can't catch. I don't think he even knows what he is going to do. He looks out of control, so I guess that's his secret. The defense tends to think he can't make that shot or get a pass through traffic. But time and time again, he gets it done.

Why does he flop so much? I think that's so phony.

Yeah, me too – but he is good at it. He does whatever it takes to win while also irritating fans in the process. He might be the first flopper in the history of the game that legitimately gets fouled 90 percent of the time.

I thought that Tim Duncan was the man on this team, not Ginobili.

.Oh he is, don't fool yourself. Manu would not be the Manu we are seeing if it wasn't for Duncan. Duncan makes everybody better because of his ability to read defenses and play unselfish. The Pistons have no answer for him.

Didn't I hear that Ben Wallace was the Defensive Player of the Year?

Yes, but didn't you hear me say that great offense will overcome great defense if it has a variety of attacks? Well, Tim Duncan is the best post player in the league and can also take you on the perimeter – shooting jumpers in your face as well. Wallace is at his mercy because he is not strong enough in the post and he gives up height on the perimeter. That's why the Defensive Player of the Year has been relegated to guarding Nazr Mohammed, who has outplayed him as well.

I always see Robert Horry when I watch the playoffs. It seems like he is always in the Finals.

Yes, some people have all the luck. I played 17 years and sniffed the Finals four times, but lost in the conference finals every time. I hate him.

You are just kidding, right?

No, I do really do hate him – but in a respectful way. Horry and Steve Kerr are the two most fortunate individuals to ever play in the NBA. They saw things us other players didn't see. Horry has found a way to play with the best players in history. He won two titles with Hakeem Olajuwon in Houston, three in Los Angeles with Shaq and Kobe and now he is two games away from winning his sixth with Tim Duncan.

Who is the Pistons' best scorer?

Well, it was Richard Hamilton, but he is a little occupied right now. Why? He has put on some added weight – and his name is Bruce Bowen.

I saw Rasheed Wallace fall on the floor in Game 2 and he was kicking his feet like a spoiled baby. He did not get a technical foul. What's up with that?

Hmmm. Well, all I can say is, that's Rasheed. The officials have a much longer rope for him because they expect him to act that way sometimes, but Rasheed has to start playing much better if his Pistons want to come back in the series.

I thought Larry Brown was the best coach in the league.

Yes, he is in a lot of people's minds.

Well, how come his team has been outscored by 41 points and outplayed overall in the first two games of the Finals?

Let's say Gregg Popovich has done a better job so far at getting his team to play better. But the series is not over and Brown is notorious for making adjustments and getting his team back on track.

What do you think of the series and how will it end?

I think the Pistons are a tired team from being pushed to limit the last two seasons and it has finally caught up to them. Plus the Spurs are just too good. The Spurs have too many weapons for the Pistons to contend with. I think the series will end in Motown in the fifth game.

Now let me alone!

Eddie Johnson is a regular contributor to HoopsHype.com

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