NBA Finals and Pre-Draft Camp

NBA Playoffs

Currently, the Detroit Pistons lead the Los Angeles Lakers, 2-1, in the NBA Finals. This weekend's games will drive out the battle between the two teams -- despite Malone's injury, on the offense are Wallace, Bryant and Shaq.

Post staff writer Greg Sandoval was online Friday, June 11 at 2:30 p.m. ET to talk about the NBA finals and the pre-draft camp held in Chicago to assess potential NBA players among college athletes.

Editor's Note: Washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions.

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Greg Sandoval: Hello from Chicago,

Sorry I'm late. Let's get started.

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Adelphi, Md.: Hi Greg,
Do you see the Lakers having any chance of winning this series now? I know that sounds backwards, but the Pistons defense is just too much for them in my opinion. The Lakers played aggressive defense in game 2, but they cant do it every game. The Pistons have done it for 82 games, plus the entire playoffs, so it's nothing new to them. What's your opinion?

Greg Sandoval: Oh my!

What a difference a day and a crushing defeat make. The invincible team is getting its hand handed to them by the hungrier Pistons. The Lakers looked utterly stumped by Detroit's defense. Don't look now, folks, but we got us a series.

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Washington, D.C.: I suspect that most sports journalists are expecting a response from the Lakers in the next couple of games, in the form of renewed focus, teamwork, and intensity. Personally I don't see it. These Lakers are not a well developed team. They don't appear to like each other, they don't complement each other well, and they overrely on superstars ala the pre-championship Bulls. Their coach, as great as his credentials may be, appears nearly asleep on the sidelines while his team dies a slow death. Where's the emotion? Where's the desire? The Pistons, meanwhile, are the perfect antidote. What's your new prediction, now that you realize that the Pistons have the heart and the talent to beat these Lakers? Pistons in 5? In 6?

Greg Sandoval: There's nothing like a good whipping to get the blood flowing. The Lakers appeared asleep, comatose really. I don't know if I expect a great response but that's certainly what the Lakers need. Their confidence is likely shaken. They have to establish their offense again.

They need to find a second scorer in the low post. They need to find someone else to shoot from the perimeter. In other words, the Lakers need someone other than Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant to shoot when the other two are covered.

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Baltimore, Md.: Hi Greg,
What do you think the impact of next year's Lakers roster will be if they lose this series? Will Kobe be more enclined to stay, considering it might give him something more to prove? I am relatively young, and the thought of this Lakers dynasty losing in the finals is foreign to me. The only other dynasty I've seen is the Bulls, and they never lost once they got to the championship. I'm not old enough to have seen how losing in the finals affected the psyche of the Celtics dynasty when they lost to the last Lakers dynasty.

Greg Sandoval:

A defeat would likely spell doom for the unit. Nothing attracts winners like playing with other winners. If the Lakers are upset, the blame will be shifted around but much of it will likely fall on Karl Malone and Gary Payton, both of whom are likely to leave regardless of the outcome.

From Kobe's position, what would entice him to stay if they lose? He's won three championships as a Laker. This series, should they lose, prove that he and Shaq can't do it by themselves. He would have to wait to see who the Lakers acquire to build around him and he can do that somplace where Shaq is not.

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New York: As dominant as the Pistons have been, I refuse to believe the Pistons are the favorite until they have won four games. Something tells me the Lakers are not going to get rolled over. There is too much pride, talent and experience on that team to get embarrased again.

Do you concur? - Alfred

Greg Sandoval: Well, the Pistons are not the favored team. The Lakers were an overwhelming favorite. But after last night's debacle I can understand why people would think the positions were reversed.

I must admit that there is a part of me that believes that the Lakers enjoy drama. A dramatic come-from-behind victory in the series would make for a great storyline. This is the kind of backdrop that creates legends and the prospect of becoming one might stir the Lakers into action.

Or else what we saw last night was really just the Pistons dismantling an inferior team and will slice through Los Angeles in the next two games. We'll see.

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Washington, D.C.: Okay, as a supreme Laker Fan today has been the pits. I ask you, do you see any kinks in the Pistons armor that the Lakers can exploit? I figure the Lakers need to make quicker passes and run the break like the Nets, maybe spread out the offense, or maybe just pray for mercy. Your thoughts?

Greg Sandoval: You make some good points. The Lakers' seemed disconnected about where they want to move the ball. They weren't getting open. Much of that has to do with the Pistons defense but it appeared they their plays were poorly designed.

The only weaknesses I can see are the ones that have been there all the time. Get the ball into "Big Daddy." Shaq shot only two foul shots. The Lakers must attack the one area of the floor where they clearly dominate, and that is at center. Shaq should finish with no fewer than 30 points and 15-to-20 trips to the free-throw line. Of course the Lakers could take some of the pressure off Shaq if they got Malone going in the block.

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Oakton, Va.: Alot of people questioned Dumars passing over Carmelo Anthony and taking a chance on Darko Milicic, thinking that he was set at small forward with Prince... I think Prince has shown that Dumars was right... not only is Prince playing well, but I don't think Carmelo could be playing the D (on Kobe) or making some of the plays that Prince has. Do you agree?

Greg Sandoval: Tayshaun Prince is an emerging star. His named comes up at the predraft camp in Chicago a lot. Nobody thought he was a player because of his body. "Too skinny and too weak," said the scouts. He averaged 10 points a game this season and made some enormous plays (you couldn't have forgotten the block he made on Reggie Miller in the last round).

Scouts are saying that Prince is a lesson in measuring players by asking the most relevant question: "Can the kid play in the NBA or not?"

Ever here of Nikoloz Tskitishvili, Melvin Ely, Marcus Haislip Curtis Borchardt? They were picked higher than Prince was with the 23rd pick.

Cut Dumars' slack, even if Milicic doesn't pan out. He's been right with his moves more time than not and even Jerry West has flubbed a few.

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Louisville, KY: Hello,

What is the impression among experts about Sebastian Telfair's liklihood for success in the NBA? I understand he is a marketing dream and a really nice kid, but I also hear he's not ready for prime time.

I'll concede my bias too...I wanted him at Louisville.

Greg Sandoval: It might turn out that he should have stayed. Some scouts have said that he's too small to cover anyone and that he hasn't progressed enough since in the past two years. Others say that they can see him growining with the game because of his remarkable quickness and canny ability to find open men. The only certain thing about Tefair is that he's no LeBron James, which is what the hype said he was. Naturally, there's going to be a let down with some scouts.

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Washington, DC: Enough with the Laker questions!;!; Let's talk about the draft. Who looks good in Chicago, and who doesn't?

Greg Sandoval: As you wish. Some scouts liked 6-11 Drago Pasalic, from Croatia, who scored 21 points on 10 of 15 shooting and 13 rebounds in a game yesterday. Some scouts liked his shooting touch and toughness.

Others who have fared well at the predraft camp are Andre Emmett from Texas Tech and Bernard Robinson from Michigan and Dunbar High school in Washington DC

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Long Beach, Calif.: What is the one player the Pistons could add next year that would make them the odds on favorite to dominate next year? Would it be a point guard? How about Gary Payton?

Greg Sandoval: I'm assuming your kidding. Chauncey Billups has done a great job leading the Piston's attack. He can score and is a great defender.

The Piston's could benefit by a obtaining a true center. But again, they think they do have one in Darko. Time will tell.

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Boston, Mass.: Hello,

I have a comment and a question. First, I don't seem to want to watch the finals this year. For the past couple of years, the NBA finals have been a let down. Maybe because I unfairly compare this to the NCAA National Championship. Have you experienced this as well?

Greg Sandoval: No, the finals have been busts the past four or five years and it's easily explained. Whoever the Eastern Conference sent to do battle with the Lakers or San Antonio Spurs got demolished.

But this year, we may be in for a treat, a closely contested final. Who'd have thought?

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Greg Sandoval: That's it for me.

Thank you all chatting with me. Take care

GS

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