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April 17, 2009
With the playoffs finally here, we felt it would be beneficial to touch base with others that will be on the opposite side of our rooting interests to gauge their feelings on the upcoming series. Today, we are joined by Kevin Sawyer of Detroit Bad Boys to talk a little Cavs/Pistons.
WFNY– Most media I’ve seen aren’t giving the Pistons much of a chance. What would you say are the expectations of Piston fans about the series coming up?
Kevin Sawyer– That depends on the Pistons fan, obviously. The question is whether this team has another gear that we have yet to see. Any honest Piston fan, right now, has to concede the team is a substantial underdog.
WFNY– Has there been anything in their recent play that suggests an improvement is in store?
Kevin– Honestly, if you look at the last quarter of the season, Detroit lost a lot of close games, and brought leads into the 4th quarter. If I recall correctly, we’ve lost 12 of the last 16 4th quarters, and I think you could make a case that there is some luck involved.
WFNY– If they are losing close ones, and seeing leads evaporate is it a leadership issue?
Kevin– I think 4th quarter coaching has been an issue. If you look at the play-by-plays, we are giving up huge numbers at the beginning of the 4th quarter.
WFNY– Who is resting at the beginning of the 4th?
Kevin– It has been a mixed bag. Which isn’t a bad thing in and of itself. But the lack of set plays going into the 4th is problematic.
WFNY– The last time the teams met Detroit tried to push the tempo quite a bit. Is this a tactic that they employ often or was it specific to the Cavs? It seemed like they were trying to get early offense before the defense had a chance to set up.
Kevin– It is certainly not a tactic they employ often. Detroit was in the bottom three in pace factor, which is absurd given the personnel. I think it certainly plays to Detroit’s strengths.
WFNY– I like some of the young guys on your team- specifically Johnson and Stuckey. When you look back on this season, will you see it as a transition year?
Kevin– Depends on what happens in the playoffs.
WFNY– Fair enough.
Kevin– I think both players have a lot of talent. In Stuckey’s case, we saw him run into a wall, for whatever reason. In Amir’s case, his foul trouble has kept him off the court. Unfortunately, there isn’t an easy solution to that problem.
WFNY– What would you say would have to happen for the Pistons to pull off the upset?
Kevin– I think Detroit needs to force the tempo. Big Z remains your second weapon, and the transition game mitigates against that, I think.
WFNY– If Z’s hitting shots it certainly makes us tougher to beat, I’ll give you that. He spaces the floor when he is hitting the pick and pop.
Kevin– The Pistons need to engage the perimeter game. The Orlando thrashing was a product of great outside shooting. Of course, an uptempo style facilitates that.
WFNY– To win you will have to beat us in Cleveland at least once. How important is that first game?
Kevin– Not at all. I am willing to concede that game. Over the last several seasons, the Pistons have excelled in game 2, even against superior opponents.
WFNY– I would agree the goal would be to split- so you think the pressure is all on the Cavs in that opener?
Kevin– I think the pressure will be on the Pistons. Everyone knows the Cavs have had a great season. Everyone knows LeBron is great, and there are four other current or former all-stars on the squad (if my count is right). But the Pistons have been discounted in the press. For guys like Tay, Rip, Sheed, and Dyess, that’s going to weigh heavily. I think game 2 is the opportunity to catch the Cavs off guard, and put pressure on them.
WFNY– Before I let you go- give me a percentage. Chances the Pistons advance?
Kevin– 10%
WFNY– Wow. That number is lower than I expected.
Kevin– Facts are facts. The regular season spread between these two teams suggests 0% For the Pistons to win here would be a nearly unprecedented upset.
WFNY– Thanks Kevin, we’ll be chatting with you after the weekend I hope.
Kevin– I look forward to it, thank you for the time.
13 Comments
whoa i dont want to be that guy, but your new header graphic has got me more nervous than pluto’s article.
and is anyone else always surprised when you see lebron’s missing tooth?
I am not sure where he gets the idea that Z is our 2nd best weapon. MO and Delonte would be next after Lebron
How the hell is LeBron missing a tooth? He can afford a moon-rock implant, what’s he doing???
I am not sure where he gets the idea that Z is our 2nd best weapon. MO and Delonte would be next after Lebron
You might be right about Mo, but I don’t think you are about Delonte.
I think it’s fair to say that more plays are run that directly involve Z than West, do’nt you think? Not that he ends up scoring the ball in each of those plays, per se.
Take, for example, all the pick and pops run betwee LBJ/Mo/West and Z in any given game. Then, add to that the handful of post entries to Z in any given game. In all of those plays, I think it’s fair to say that Z is at least the 2nd option.
I don’t have any stats to back that up, so I could be wrong, but that’s what I’ve observed over the past couple years.
My worry is that they still have the veterans to get it done (Prince, Rip, Sheed)
That said, i really don’t think they have enough to sustain it to win a series.
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hey guys, sorry to be picayune b/c I normally love your photoshopping/graphic work, but I’m not crazy about the countdown header. I get an uncomfortable hubris vibe from it (I think this is a sentiment that can be distinguished as different than my Cleveland complex), plus, it’s not the most flattering picture of Lebron.
Wow, what a rarity in sports blogging! An intelligent and polite and honest exchange between rivals. Great job guys! As an ex-Clevelander living in Santa Monica, California, it’s great to get such fantastic inside hometown stuff as you provide. I go to you before the PD or ABJ.
Sorry Humboldt, but we refuse to succumb to that attitude. For years we’ve been scared of success in Cleveland, and it hasn’t helped us at all. This year, we’re embracing this run. Nobody is saying the Cavs ARE going to win the title. But we’re going to have some fun counting down the wins to that goal.
FWIW, the NBA puts big countdown banners right along the front of press row for every home team in the playoffs, so it’s really not any different than reiterating the fact that there’s 16 wins between this team and a title.
Also, beat Detoit.
Rock – your site, your call, I was just expressing a sentiment that goes back to the ancient Greeks ;). That said, I’d be careful not to break the world into “those who believe ” and “those governed by old attitudes”… having a sense of humility is not a bad thing, nor is it anathema to winning championships or any other kind of success.
Humility? What does that have to do with anything? Let alone, what does our banner have to do with arrogance or humility? We all want the Cavs to win the Championship, don’t we? Well, it takes 16 wins to do that. We’re just having fun counting down to it. I wouldn’t take a banner on a website so seriously. It’s not going to impact the outcome of any series.
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