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[Box score] The Pistons will be playing in their sixth consecutive Eastern Conference Finals (opponent TBD) after dispatching the Orlando Magic in five games. The Pistons conference finals streak is the longest since the Los Angeles Lakers went to six straight Western Conference Finals from 1984-89.
Last night’s game five was a tight one, although many numbers pointed towards a Piston’s blowout. The Magic seemed to hit just enough shots to stay within striking distance, but in the end the Pistons just out muscled the Magic’s hopes of extending the series.
The Magic are a young upcoming team but right now the Pistons are too strong physically and mentally for Orlando to take the next step with their current group. They’re sure to have a busy off-season with a plethora of free agents on the roster, but they’ve got a nice nucleus with Howard, Hedo, and Lewis to build upon.
The Magic woes last night included committing 21 turnovers (12 off Pistons steals), 27 personal fouls, 57.1% free throw shooting, and again Dwight Howard being almost completely neutralized. Like I said, it’s amazing this game wasn’t a blowout.
Another game without Chauncey Billups gave a chance to further the maturation of Rodney Stuckey. Rodney came up big with clutch assists and drives late in the game. Stuck scored 15 points and dished out a team high 6 assists. Rodney also committed ZERO turnovers. The Pistons as a team actually set a new playoff record with a mere THREE turnovers the entire game, and none after the first quarter.
Tayshaun’s playoff defense legend continues to grow. Tay blocked a Hedo Turkoglu drive with under 25 seconds to play to help secure the series. The impressive thing about the block is that it wasn’t Tayshaun chasing down Hedo from behind. It was a straight face-to-face mano e mano mid air swat. The timing was a thing of beauty.
Richard Hamilton (31 pts, 4 stls) again stepped up his scoring to make up for the absence of Billups with another 30 point outing. Just as instrumental though was the Ripper’s guidance of Rodney Stuckey on the court. You could see Rip talking a lot to the rook through out the game.
Rip’s scoring output also propelled past Isiah Thomas on the Pistons all-time playoff scoring list.
Hamilton on returning to the ECF:
“It’s an awesome feeling for us to get the opportunity to play in the Eastern Conference Finals for six straight years, but it’s one of those things that we feel as though we’re supposed to. When the first round goes by we feel as though we’re supposed to win. The second one we’re supposed to win. That’s our confidence. We feel as though we have to make it there and we have to try to get back to the Finals. I thought the guys did an excellent job these first two rounds of playing hard and trying to get there.” Via Pistons.com
