Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

[Box Score] Ok, some measure of order has been restored. I thought the Pistons would win tonight, but not necessarily blow Philly out. I’m glad they proved me wrong! The series will go back to Philly tied at one game a piece.

This game extends the Pistons two year game two playoff winning streak to seven. More importantly though, it sends a message to the Sixers who gained a little confidence from their game one Palace victory. The Sixers still played hard, but this time it didn’t account for the disparity between the two squads. The Pistons didn’t allow it to. If they play any where near their capability as a team they’re too much for the 76ers, and that’s not a knock on Philly.

The Pistons were much more assertive from the start. They were running and hitting the glass, turning the tables on Philly. The Pistons won the board war 42-34. The defense also turned up holding Philly under 40% shooting for the game. The defensive rotation and helpside D was much better tonight. There would be no comeback after the Pistons started to pull away in the second half.

Like I mentioned in the preview the Pistons needed to find a way to score and they did. They were a bucket off of matching their game one total (86) by the end of the third quarter.

A lot of guys stepped up their effort from the first game. Tayshuan Prince was more aggressive. Dice had a much better game going for a 16 point 12 board double-double. Tay, Dice, and Sheed (11 1st qtr. points) scored 16 points each giving the front court a 48 point night.

Rip had a much improved game 2. After shooting 29% for his 13 in game one Ripster bumper it up to a game high 20 points on 56% shooting. Rip was also high in the game with 7 assists to go with 7 boards.

Mr. Big Shot didn’t have a great stat game but he played a nice floor game. Chauncey controlled the tempo. He could have easily joined his fellow starters in double figures but it wasn’t needed tonight. That’s the kind of thing Rodney has the luxury of picking up playing behind and learning form Chauncey. How to impact a game without stuffing the stat sheet.

Speaking of Rodney, he got back to the form he ended the season with as opposed to the mistake prone rookie on Sunday. Rodney gave the Pistons 12 (5/6 FG) off the bench to go with 4 helpers. A BIG improvement from game one.

How about the pleasant surprise we got in the 3rd quarter when Amir checked in for Dice? Love seeing the youngster getting meaningful minutes and producing. Amir was second only to Rodney in bench scoring with 8 points to go with 4 boards in just under 16, yes 16, minutes.

Going into game 3 I have to think Philly fans are wondering what’s with their leading scorer Andre Iguodala. Iggy has gone 5/24 so far in this series.  The Sixers fortunately didn’t need him to get game one but they’re going to eventually need his production to help their chances.

Time to get down to business and get home court back.

Via Atlanta Journal-Constitution:

“They were kind of loud at the beginning,” he said. “But a lot of these fans are bandwagon jumpers trying to get on this now. I played here last year, too. And I didn’t see three fourths of them. They’re for the team now and they might get a little rowdy but that’s about it.”

When asked if he thought they were fair-weather fans, joining the party only after the Celtics’ offseason trades that brought Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen to town, Bibby didn’t hesitate to pour more gasoline on the fire.

“You could say that,” he said. “I remember them having bags on their heads [last year]. It’s a different look. I guess that’s what happens when you win.”

Bibby and Josh Smith were the most noticeable targets of a small section of fans at TD Banknorth Garden Sunday. They got into a verbal sparring match with some of the crowd as they left the floor at the end of Game 1.

“It’s good that they know I’m here,” Bibby said. “It was just a little confrontation to get them involved a little bit. But they are fair-weather fans if you ask me.”

Mike Bibby is right, but what do you expect? The Celtics have not contended since before-before. That’s what happens when the home town team pulls off the biggest one season turn around in league history. The axles on the bandwagon really get a work out.

We seen a little of that around here when the Tigers went to the series two years ago. It happens. People like to align themselves with winners and it’s the die hards who’ve been there all along who have to suffer.

Boston has a pretty good rep of being a passionate and loyal sports town, but I have noticed a certain level of obnoxiousness creeping out of the Harbor this particular season. Hopefully the C’s can stay good for a few years so their fans can act like they’ve been there before.

The Pistons and 76ers resume their best of seven first round playoff series tonight at the Palace of Auburn Hills with the 76ers ahead one game to zero. The game tips at 7:30 and can be viewed locally on TV20 Detroit.

We should see a different Pistons’ team tonight. They’ve backed themselves into a wall the way they like to be, now let’s see them use it. Chauncey isn’t saying this game is must win and no, technically it’s not. They can’t be eliminated after two games but it would give the Sixers that much more confidence and incentive to keep their foot on the gas being up 2-0 on a team that most said they couldn’t hang with. I’m also pretty sure judging from reactions to game #1 a loss tonight would have a MAJOR effect on fan morale around these parts.

The Pistons definitely need to come out more aggressive. I think that starts with our All-Star backcourt. Those two need to look for their offense. Chauncey needs to get inside and force Philly’s hand.

The Pistons need to find a way to score on Philly. We’ve been held to under 90 in four of the five meetings with the Sixers. I think one place to start is concentration. Missing say five or so layups is just the way it goes sometimes, but when you blow fourteen layups that hints to being mentally out of sync to me. This what they’ve played for all season, now they need to act like it.

I don’t think we’ll blow Philly out. They do too many little basic things well to allow themselves to be blown out. But, there’s NO REASON for the Pistons not to head to Sheed’s city of birth without this thing all knotted up.

**This playoff game preview was brought to by the letter silent T and the number 2.