Dr. Jack's Breakdown: 76ers-Pacers
By Dr. Jack Ramsay
Special to ESPN.com
No. 5 76ers (49-33) vs. No. 1 Pacers (56-26)
 Hall of Fame coach Dr. Jack Ramsay provides analysis for ESPN on SportsCenter and NBA Today. Here he breaks down the playoffs for ESPN.com. The color analyst for the Heat, Ramsay's impressive résumé includes making the playoffs in 16 of his 20 seasons as coach and winning an NBA title with Portland in 1977.
Throughout the 2000 playoffs, Dr. Jack will break down each series from the backcourts to intanglibles. Look for his analysis from the first round all the way through to the NBA Finals.
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BACKCOURT
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EDGE
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It depends on whether Eric Snow plays, and he is expected to start Game 1. I think Reggie Miller will have to defend Allen Iverson because most teams put a taller defender on him. Iverson is much too quick for Mark Jackson. Miller will guard Iverson initially until Travis Best enters the game, and then Best will work him. I would guess that Philadelphia will play Iverson on Jackson, who will try and post Iverson. The 76ers will then have Snow defend Miller. Snow is a very good defender, and so is his backup, Aaron McKie. |
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FRONTCOURT
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EDGE
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Philadelphia has a solid defensive frontcourt. At big forward, Tyrone Hill will square off with Dale Davis. Hill is a better scorer, but Davis is stronger. At center, Theo Ratliff will be matched against Rik Smits. Ratliff is quick and agile, and Smits is neither. The best matchup will be George Lynch against Jalen Rose, who played a little skittishly in the last few games of the Milwaukee series. Lynch will get right on him, but Rose should have an advantage because he is quicker and can take Lynch outside or drive on him. The Pacers get the edge because of Rose.
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BENCH
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EDGE
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Both teams have strong benches. The Pacers primarily use Best, Austin Croshere and Derrick McKey, who is a solid defender. It was significant that both Best and McKey played down the stretch in Game 5 against Milwaukee while Jackson and Smits were on the bench. But Philadelphia's bench has Matt Geiger among the big guys; McKie, who started and had a huge game against Charlotte with Snow out; and Toni Kukoc, who is the X-factor. |
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INTANGIBLES
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EDGE
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| Indiana came within an eyelash of getting bounced in the first round. There may be a little advantage for the Pacers in playing quickly after finishing their series against Milwaukee. One day off is enough in the NBA. Meanwhile, the 76ers have been off since Monday. The time was off was critical in terms of getting Iverson and Snow rested up. In addition, I think Indiana's confidence was shaken in the first round, while Philadelphia is on a roll.
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PREDICTION
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| 76ers in 7. If the 76ers do win it, it will be because Indiana was not been able to defend Iverson and what he creates.
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