Pluto had an article earlier today . Basically, the Cavs did what he said to do. They guarded the outside shot and made them put the ball on the floor.
http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/sports/basketball/nba/cleveland_cavaliers/14571206.htm
What can the Cavaliers do to beat the Detroit Pistons?
I posed that question to a veteran NBA coach and an executive who have faced the Pistons often in the regular season and the playoffs during the past few years.
For obvious reasons, they asked me not to use their names, but they would be known to most basketball fans.
The coach began by saying the Cavs won't beat the Pistons, at least not in the series.
The Pistons are too experienced, too focused. The Cavaliers are too young in terms of playoff experience.
They just don't have what it takes to win four games from a team such as the Pistons.
``But they can win a game or two,'' the coach said. ``At least, they can play much better if they begin to look at the Pistons a little differently.''
Here's how he broke down the the best-of-seven series, which the Pistons lead 2-0 heading into today's 5 p.m. game at Quicken Loans Arena.
His approach dealt with what the Cavs can do defensively, which is the coach's specialty.
Numbers don't lie
Most teams guard the hoop, allowing the Pistons to shoot from the outside.
It's conventional defense, but it doesn't work against the Pistons.
They shot 43 percent on 3-pointers vs. the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round, and are at 53 percent vs. the Cavs.
In the regular season, they shot 38 percent on 3-pointers, best in the Eastern Conference.
• The approach: When the Pistons spread out of their offense with players behind the 3-point line, guard them tightly.
Don't sag off.
Don't double-team down low.
The Pistons' offense does not have a strong inside game.
More numbers
In the first two games, the Cavs have outscored the Pistons by a stunning 84-46 margin in the paint. They have outrebounded the Pistons 88-78. If you saw only those two numbers, you would believe that the Cavs were controlling the series. That's because you don't understand the Pistons: They are an outside team first.
• The approach: Rasheed Wallace is the only Pistons player who will post up inside, and he usually likes to take a turn-around jumper. He even prefers to shoot outside. Don't double-team Wallace when he gets the ball in the post, because he'll throw it out to a guard for a jumper.
Real numbers
In the playoffs, Chauncey Billups has taken 83 shots and nearly half (41) have been 3-pointers. Yes, he will drive to the basket, but not a lot. Billups makes defenders worry too much about his drives, which allows him to take jumpers.
• The approach: ``It's so hard to get this message across to players,'' the coach said. ``But everyone (needs to) just stay on their man. Their offense is designed to get open jumpers. These guys make open jumpers. As coaches, we drill it into our players to stop the drive, don't give up layups. But force them to drive, take them out of their comfort zone. Billups is not a strong finisher driving to the basket.''
And still more
The Cavs have not stopped the 3-pointer, yet they consistently have fouled the Pistons. They have attempted 60 free throws to 40 for the Cavs.
• The approach: ``This is what drives you crazy as a coach,'' the coach said. ``The fact is: They are a veteran team, a winning team, they play smart, they get calls. They also get good defensive position. If you watch them in slow motion, they will guard you all the way to the hoop, then back off at the last second rather than foul you. Lots of guys miss layups against them worrying about getting their shots blocked or getting fouled. Just keep going strong to the basket on them.''
Ben Wallace's numbers
In the regular season, Ben Wallace shot 51 percent from the foul line. In the playoffs, it's 6-of-20 (30 percent).
• The approach: The coach believes that you don't deliberately foul him until the second half, and if you do, then do so on several possessions. Don't try it once or twice. See if Wallace will start to miss and make Pistons coach Flip Saunders take him out of the game. Only do it when behind, and then stick to it. In the final two minutes, you can only foul a player with the ball; otherwise, the player gets two shots -- and his team gets the ball out of bounds, too.
Hidden numbers
The Web site
www.82games.com keeps track of what happens after timeouts. The Pistons rank third in defense (stopping opponents) in the first two plays after timeouts. The Cavs? Last at 30th. When it comes to scoring after timeouts, the Pistons are 13th, the Cavs 22nd. In their overall ratings, the Pistons ranked fifth in efficiency after timeouts; the Cavs are 26th.
• The approach: The Pistons consistently score after timeouts, and they consistently stop their opponents. More attention has to be paid in getting good shots on inbounds plays, and in stopping the Pistons. The coach said Saunders has ``one of the biggest and best playbooks in the league.''
The bottom line
The Cavs are getting beat on 3-pointers (25-9 in favor of the Pistons) and at the foul line, where the Pistons have a 45-30 advantage in free throws. ``You try to limit their 3-pointers and their free throws,'' the coach said. ``You continue to go hard to the hoop on them, try to draw some fouls. I'm not saying any of this is easy, but most teams have to change their defensive approach to have any chance against the Pistons.''
