The Detroit Pistons, having successfully dealt with Michael Jordan in the Eastern Conference playoffs, will have to change their defensive strategy against Portland when the NBA Finals start Tuesday night.
The Trail Blazers have one of the best and best-balanced starting fives in the NBA, in marked contrast to the Jordan-dominated Chicago Bulls.Portland also will have big adjustments to make.
Phoenix, the Trail Blazers' opponent in the Western Conference finals, were an offensive-minded team, perfectly willing to win by simply outscoring the other side. In the Pistons, Portland will face a team that takes justifiable pride in its defense.
etroit Pistons
Dennis Rodman, 6-8 forward - The NBA's Defensive Player of the Year, from Southeast Oklahoma State, will battle Jerome Kersey, from Longwood College, the Blazers' leading scorer in the playoffs. Rodman isn't a big scorer, finishing in double figures in only two of his last eight games.
James Edwards, 7-1, forward - Edwards' forward position is primarily for defensive purposes. On offense, he fills the traditional center's role of post-up player. Edwards was brilliant in the second round against New York, averaging 19.4 points with a career playoff high of 32 and keeping Patrick Ewing in foul trouble.
Bill Laimbeer, 6-11 center - Detroit's man the opposition loves to hate. Laimbeer has size and strength and gets good rebound position on defense, but stays outside when the Pistons have the ball. He possesess a very good outside touch and keeps an opposing big man from staying close to the basket for rebounds.
Joe Dumars, 6-3 guard - Dumars was the Most Valuable Player in last year's Finals, averaging 27.3 points against the Los Angeles Lakers. He did not score 20 points in any of the Pistons' first eight playoff games, then had 20 or more in five of seven games against Chicago, including 31 in Game 2. He joined Rodman on the NBA's All-Defensive team.
Isiah Thomas, 6-1 guard - Thomas had his best playoff game of the year in Game 7 against Chicago with 21 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds. Has been a consistent performer, leading the team in scoring in the regular season with an 18.4 average
Vinnie Johnson, 6-2 guard - The third member of Chuck Daly's three-guard rotation. Dumars and Thomas are the starters and most consistent scorers, but Daly will not hesitate to play Johnson in crunch time if he's hot. Lately, he's been cold, going 0-for-10 in Game 6 against Chicago and scoring less than 10 points in five consecutive games. Before that, Johnson had four consecutive double-figure games.
Mark Aguirre, 6-6 forward - Former All-Star with Dallas who has accepted a supporting role for the sake of playing with a championship contender. Like Johnson and John Salley, you'll see Aguirre in the game ahead of starters at crunch time on occasion.
John Salley, 6-11, forward-center - After four seasons, Salley already is the Pistons' all-time playoff leader in blocked shots. He came off the bench for 14 points and five blocks in the series-clinching game against Chicago.
Here are the key players from each team:
Detroit Pistons
Dennis Rodman, 6-8 forward - The NBA's Defensive Player of the Year, from Southeast Oklahoma State, will battle Jerome Kersey, from Longwood College, the Blazers' leading scorer in the playoffs. Rodman isn't a big scorer, finishing in double figures in only two of his last eight games.
James Edwards, 7-1, forward - Edwards' forward position is primarily for defensive purposes. On offense, he fills the traditional center's role of post-up player. Edwards was brilliant in the second round against New York, averaging 19.4 points with a career playoff high of 32 and keeping Patrick Ewing in foul trouble.
Bill Laimbeer, 6-11 center - Detroit's man the opposition loves to hate. Laimbeer has size and strength and gets good rebound position on defense, but stays outside when the Pistons have the ball. He possesess a very good outside touch and keeps an opposing big man from staying close to the basket for rebounds.
Joe Dumars, 6-3 guard - Dumars was the Most Valuable Player in last year's Finals, averaging 27.3 points against the Los Angeles Lakers. He did not score 20 points in any of the Pistons' first eight playoff games, then had 20 or more in five of seven games against Chicago, including 31 in Game 2. He joined Rodman on the NBA's All-Defensive team.
Isiah Thomas, 6-1 guard - Thomas had his best playoff game of the year in Game 7 against Chicago with 21 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds. Has been a consistent performer, leading the team in scoring in the regular season with an 18.4 average
Vinnie Johnson, 6-2 guard - The third member of Chuck Daly's three-guard rotation. Dumars and Thomas are the starters and most consistent scorers, but Daly will not hesitate to play Johnson in crunch time if he's hot. Lately, he's been cold, going 0-for-10 in Game 6 against Chicago and scoring less than 10 points in five consecutive games. Before that, Johnson had four consecutive double-figure games.
Mark Aguirre, 6-6 forward - Former All-Star with Dallas who has accepted a supporting role for the sake of playing with a championship contender. Like Johnson and John Salley, you'll see Aguirre in the game ahead of starters at crunch time on occasion.
John Salley, 6-11, forward-center - After four seasons, Salley already is the Pistons' all-time playoff leader in blocked shots. He came off the bench for 14 points and five blocks in the series-clinching game against Chicago.
Portland Trail Blazers
Jerome Kersey, 6-7 forward - Kersey is one of the keys to the Trail Blazers' success, improving his regular-season scoring average of 16.0 to a team-leading 21.3 in the playoffs. But he will have his hands full in the Finals against Defensive Player of the Year Dennis Rodman. Kersey thrice has reached his playoff career high of 29 points, once against Dallas and twice against Phoenix finals.
Buck Williams, 6-8 forward - Williams, who emerged from the doldrums of eight years in New Jersey to rejuvenate his career in Portland, is the Blazers' leading rebounder in the playoffs with 9.3 per game, including an average of 10 against Phoenix. Six times in the playoffs, he has double figures in rebounds and points in the same game. He played 49 minutes without a turnover in Game 7 of the series against San Antonio, second best in NBA playoff history. Also a member of the NBA's All-Defensive team with Rodman.
Kevin Duckworth, 7-0 center - His comeback from a broken right hand in Game 7 against San Antonio may have saved Portland's season. The injury has knocked his scoring average down to 11.9 from his regular-season norm of 16.2, but he had 18 in series-clinching victory over Phoenix.
Clyde Drexler, 6-7 guard - Twelfth in the NBA's Most Valuable Player voting and Portland's leading scorer in the regular season at 23.3 points, Drexler is struggling in the playoffs, averaging 19.8 on 40.9 percent shooting. A return to form against Detroit's tough three-guard rotation is essential.
Terry Porter, 6-3 guard - Like Kersey, Porter has stepped forward as a big-time performer in the playoffs, averaging 21.1 points, an increase of 3.8 from the regular season, to offset Drexler's decreased production. Porter has been particularly effective from 3-point range, shooting 44 percent from long range. He scored 74 points and had nine 3-pointers in Portland's victories over San Antonio in Games 5 and 7.
Drazen Petrovic, 6-5 guard - Half of Portland's rookie tandem, with Cliff Robinson, off the bench. He played only nine minutes in Game 6 victory at Phoenix, but scored 11 points on 5-for-7 shooting. His playing time was limited against Phoenix because of a bruised left thumb.
Danny Young, 6-4 guard - Backs up Porter for 10-15 minutes a game. Blocked a shot from Mike McGee to save Portland's two-point victory in Game 1 against Phoenix. But he had 0-for-8 and 0-for-5 shooting games against the Suns.
Wayne Cooper, 6-10 center-forward - Back spasms has limited his time in the playoffs, but can provide a defensive spark as a shot-blocker. Needs quality minutes against Detroit's frontcourt depth. He enables Duckworth to play tough without worrying too much about fouls.
Cliff Robinson, 6-10 forward - Robinson provided vital relief when Duckworth and Cooper were out with injuries against San Antonio. Had 20 points and eight rebounds in Game 6 against the Spurs.