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Ex-Knick Frazier predicts Spurs-Pistons title rematch

Posted on: Tuesday, 18 April 2006, 18:20 CDT

By Larry Fine

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Walt "Clyde" Frazier, the Hall of Fame point guard who led the New York Knicks to NBA titles in 1970 and 1973, expects this year's playoffs to produce a rematch between San Antonio and Detroit in the Finals.

"Look for a little deja vu," Frazier said, predicting another showdown between the Spurs and Pistons.

"But look for a little twist this year because the Pistons have home court advantage and that might be enough to catapult them to the championship."

The Pistons, champions in 2004, lost in seven games to the Spurs in the 2005 Finals, dropping the finale in San Antonio.

Frazier, a TV commentator on Knicks broadcasts, eyed some potential surprises.

"In the Eastern Conference, the Nets could be a surprise team or the Cavaliers. Otherwise the Pistons are a clear-cut favorite," added Frazier, who said Miami was little more than a two-man team featuring Dwyane Wade and Shaquille O'Neal.

"Out West, I think Denver could be a darkhorse, the Suns, the Spurs, Dallas -- it's going to be very difficult. I'm going with the Spurs as the best all-around team with the best all-around player in Tim Duncan."

Frazier handicapped the playoffs that begin this weekend at a news conference on Tuesday announcing a tour of former NBA stars bringing the league's championship trophy to U.S. military bases and visiting with soldiers during the playoffs.

OLD SCHOOL

The one-time defensive stalwart said it made sense that tough-minded teams like Detroit and San Antonio were the elite of the NBA.

"In order to win you got to have old school basketball," said Frazier. "The Pistons and the Spurs. They play defense, they force you into a half-court game, a low scoring game. No running and gunning."

Frazier had to look outside New York for his playoff analysis since the Knicks are stumbling to the finish line in danger of losing 60 games in a season for the first time.

The 22-59 Knicks, who began the season with much fanfare after bringing in ex-Pistons coach Larry Brown for $10 million a year, finish the campaign on Wednesday against the Nets.

"If you look at it, it's inexplicable how this happened with so many talented players and a Hall of Fame coach. How this team could be so inept is really baffling," Frazier said.

Frazier said Brown preaches defense, but some of his players blocked out the message.

"Some of the players I think thought Larry was criticizing them too much in the papers and they seemed to tune him out," Frazier said. The Knicks have the most expensive payroll in the league at $125 million.

Source: REUTERS

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