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.
