Pistons vs. Lakers, 3.26.09

Matchup: Detroit Pistons (34-36) vs. Los Angeles Lakers (56-14)
Spread: Lakers -8
My Pick: Lakers by 12

Three reasons the Pistons will win:

1. Recent History. Including the Finals, the Pistons are 12-3 against the Lakers in their last 15 meetings.
2. Kwame Brown. Kwame did a great job defending Pau Gasol the first time these teams meet this season. He will need to repeat that performance for Detroit to have a chance.
3. Tayshaun Prince. Prince is as good as it gets defending Kobe Bryant. Prince has also had success offensively, averaging 21.1 points per game in his last nine games against the Lakers.

Three reasons the Pistons will lose:

1. Better. The Lakers are a much better team than the Pistons.
2. Healthier. The Lakers are a much healthier team than the Pistons.
3. Hotter. The Lakers are a much hotter team than the Pistons. While the Pistons have lost seven games in the past 20 days, the Lakers have not lost seven games in the past two months.

Update:
Final Score: Detroit 77, Los Angeles 92
Notes:

• Will Bynum was incredible. He gave the Pistons life by sparking a 26-5 second quarter run. In the second half, he continued to play well, but he had little help from his Piston teammates. Bynum finished with 25 points and 11 assists. Bynum now leads the Pistons with a 17.59 PER. That says as much about the Pistons as it does about Bynum.
• The offense of choice – give the ball to Tayshaun, get out of the way – was not a good one. The problem is that without RIP, AI, or Sheed, the Pistons lacked alternatives.
• The Pistons were outscored by 37 with Prince on the court.
• Kobe Bryant + Pau Gasol + Triangle Offense = Lots of open looks for every Laker. The Lakers did not shoot particularly well against Detroit, but that offense is unstoppable if their perimeter players are converting open shots.
• Jordan Farmar has taken a noticeable step back after an impressive sophomore campaign. Derek Fisher is a liability on defense. He couldn’t stay in front of Will Bynum. Quick guards like Chris Paul, Tony Parker, Rajon Rondo, and Deron Williams routinely abuse Fisher. Point guard play should be right next to interior defense (if Bynum is not at full strength) on the list of the Lakers’ biggest worries for the playoffs.
• With RIP and Sheed out and Prince and Stuckey struggling, the Piston offense was lacking punch, to put it mildly.
• On the first play of the second half, Antonio McDyess did his best to compensate for Rasheed Wallace’s absence. Dice was called for a foul on Lamar Odom which he disagreed with. After Odom missed the first free throw, Dice shouted “Ball Don’t Lie” twice.
• For those who prefer hearing Sheed’s protests and watching Piston wins, there is good news; Sheed and RIP are expected to return Saturday.