No Chauncey looked to be a big problem in the first half. The offense didn’t have much flow. We also missed Chauncey on the defensive side of the ball. Rodney Stuckey, who started for Billups got himself into foul trouble early not being able to react quick enough to the more veteran Magic guards.

Luckily for Stuckey there’s a 14 year veteran PG who was activated for the game. Lindsey played really well when you consider his age and just how much he hasn’t played this season. He was tenacious as ever and helped to keep the Pistons in the game.

It kind of looked like with out our floor leader we were going to have to concede a second loss to the Magic in Orlando and prepare to go back to the Palace and hold serve.

Things started to turn around in the second half. The Pistons started the third down by 11(44-55), and not too long into the quarter the deficit grew to 15. That’s when the team that Pistons’ fans love emerged. The Pistons defense started clamping down. A 15-0 run put Detroit even with Orlando at 63 and we again had ourselves a ball game.

The Pistons were able to contain Dwight Howard all night. The Piston defenders did a great job of pushing Dwight away from the basket and not letting him get any close looks. Howard scored a personal playoff low 8 points, with no field goals after the first quarter, to go with his 12 boards.

The fourth quarter was a good old fashion playoff battle with the lead going back and forth. Rasheed (16 pts) who was invisible in the first half combined with Rip (32 pts) and Tayshaun (17 pts) to help carry the Pistons.

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If you take a spin around the net and hit up all the Pistons hot spots you’ll be able to get your Chauncey Billups hamstring fix. To sum it all up Chauncey’s still sore and isn’t sure about his availability for tomorrows game #4. The man in charge of CB’s hampered hamstring, Arnie Kander, is a bit more optimistic about the situation.

Chauncey seems to be more hesitant to give his status because this is his first hammy tweak so he doesn’t have any reference for recovery time. Either that or it’s a bit of playoff gamesmanship. Pulling Orlando’s leg, so to speak.

Arnie is quick to point out all the bright sides. The injury happened slowly as opposed to say a sprinter getting the same injury at high speed. AK says it’s more of an overstretch than a pull. Another good sign is that Chauncey’s level of discomfort has stayed consistent where it would be more ominous if the pain got worse.

Also since the Pistons had two days between games 3 and 4 there’s more time for Arnie to work his magic mojo:

“MRIs won’t tell you anything,” Kander said.

“You can tell more by your hands and by palpitations. The fibers (in the leg) felt great, they were together. He was walking normally last night and this morning. If he feels as good in the morning as he did last night, that to me is tremendous.”

Kander said he would administer treatments that “Chauncey’s never seen before, a lot of stuff he isn’t even going to be able to spell.”

This isn’t confirmed but I think Kander is going to go a little old school Okinawa on Big Shot. The hands rubbing and warming, the nasty tea, roots, berries, the whole nine. The Cobra Kai Orlando Magic won’t know what hit ‘em.

Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images

[Box Score] The stars were all aligned for Orlando last night. Chauncey slips, does some crazy splits and strains his right hamstring just four minutes into the game. Rasheed Wallace is limited to just 28 minutes because of foul troubles. The Magic find their home court very conducive for their shooting touch as they hit 54% from the field, including 46% from beyond the arc. Rashard Lewis comes alive after two subpar games at the Palace scoring a game high 33 (5 ast, 6 rbs).

Even though the Pistons fought hard it was just too much at once to overcome.

From what I’ve read the Pistons are hopeful Mr. Big Shot will be able to go in game #4, but will be listed as day-to-day. Chauncey’s status is most likely going to lead to the activation of Lindsey Hunter or Juan Dixon, or possibly both. It’ll also be the perfect spot for Rodney Stuckey to really step up and make a name for himself. Tayshaun Prince (22 pts, 7 rbs) would also be a guy to keep your eyes on because of his propensity for increased production when we’re down a starter.

Allen Einstein/NBAE via Getty Images

At half time it looked like we were lining up the Magic for a second straight blow out victory but a flurry of three pointers in the third quarter got the Magic back into the game.

The game was tied at 29 at the end of one, but then the Pistons turned up the D and started to pull away in the second holding the Magic to 11 points in the quarter and taking a 10 point lead into half time.

Orlanado got back into the game in the third by going to their bread-and-butter, the long ball. After connecting on just two of their fifteen three point tries in game one the Magic hit eleven of the twenty-six they attempted in game two, seven of them coming in consecutive fashion in the third.

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The Pistons and Magic continue their best of seven second round playoff series tonight at the Palace of Auburn Hills. The Pistons lead the series one game to none. Game tips at 7:00 EST and will be a nationally televised TNT game.

Allen Einstein/NBAE via Getty Images

Plenty to look forward tonight after the game one drubbing the Pistons gave the Magic. The two teams have begun taking some verbal stabs at each other. That’s what it’s all about. That’s the pride and competitiveness kicking in. We didn’t get that in the first round because Philly knew they were good, but not as good as us and we in turn respected them because they played so hard. Now, you’ve got a team in Orlando that feels they’re ready to take what the Pistons have.

For the Pistons tonight the recipe has to be the same. Crowd their 3-point shooters and stay tight on Howard down low. Speaking of Howard I’ve not heard anything else about his bruised thumb so I assume he’s ok.

For an Orlando slant check out Third Quarter Collapse

D. Lippitt/Einstein/NBAE via Getty Images

When reading over the game quotes it seems like the Pistons were in the collective heads of the Orlando Magic. It’s only one game in and they’re already whining about how physical Detroit plays. Reminds me of the politicking Phil Jackson and the Bulls did in 1991.

Here’s Dwight Howard on the Pistons D:

“We know they’re going to be physical, pushing and holding, and we have to expect that.

Stan Van Gundy on the the Pistons defense of Howard:

“They play him the most physically of any team, it’s hard for him to get great position, he always has bodies on him, they are always pushing him and he has contact on every play which kind of takes him a little off balance. They did a very good job of this tonight, and I also think they do a pretty good job of keeping him off the glass particularly in the second half.”

Hedgey also said something to the effect that the Pistons have been playing this way for so long and they’re allowed to get away with a lot of things when he was interviewed by Pam Oliver at the half. Didn’t he do a lot of complaining back in ‘05 as the Heat’s head man as well?

I think it’s a mistake for them to start with the Detroit is too physical talk. As savvy as the Pistons are you don’t think they’re going to play on the Magic’s frustration? The Pistons will have this young Magic team trying to prove they’re not soft more than they’ll be trying to prove that they’re not the same team they broomed last year.

That’s the kind of cerebral intimidation the Bad Boys thrived on. It’s a Pistons tradition.

Photo by D. Lippitt/Einstein/NBAE via Getty Images

What a start to the second round. I was a bit concerned in the first half that we were playing so well but not able to pull away, but it turned out it was just the Magic doing whatever they could just to stay in the game and they would eventually wear down under the pressure of the Piston’s defense.

The second half was all Pistons as they outscored the Magic 48-30 leading the way to a series opening blowout win.

The Detroit defense was exceptional. We did a great job of crowding them on the perimeter. The Magic averaged over 30 3-point attempts a game in the first round vs. Toronto, but last night they only got off 15 and made only 2.

Props to the Pistons big men for making Dwight Howard (12 pts, 8 rbs) look less like Wilt Chamberlain and more like, um I don’t know, just someone who isn’t nearly as dominant. I was surprised to see the Pistons open up with Jason Maxiell on Howard and Sheed out on Rashard Lewis since Rasheed is the noted Superman stopper. Maxy more than held his ground though, I was impressed. I like how Flip threw different defenders on Howard. The combos of Maxy, Dice, Sheed and later Ratliff seemed to really bother Howard. Even though Howard was unable to extricate his game from the Pistons bigs the Magic still need him to have a shot at the series so you know Magic fans are sweating his thumb he bruised (somehow) in the third quarter.

Chauncey Billups, as expected, played a great game overpowering . He really motored the Pistons early scoring 14 and dishing out 5 assists by halftime. Mr. Big Shot finished with game highs in points (19) and assists (7) in just under 33 minutes none of which were in the 4th quarter.  Richard Hamilton combined with Billups to give Detroit’s starting backcourt a 36-11 scoring advantage over Orlando’s Nelson and Evans.

The Pistons have now won 8 straight playoff games against Orlando dating back to the opening round of the 2003 playoffs.

[Box score]

The Pistons and Magic start their best of seven second round playoff series tonight at the Palace of Auburn Hills. The game tips at 7:30 EST and will be a nationally televised TNT game.

The first round took us all by surprise. Hats off to the 76ers, but I’m glad we got our act together after halftime of game four and finally started playing some Detroit Basketball. Let’s hope it’s here to stay so we don’t have to deal with the drama that goes along with the Pistons playing below their capabilities.

Now, on to round two where we’re set to play the Magic who dispensed the Toronto Raptors in 5 games.

I’m really confident about our Pistons in this round. We matchup much more favorably than we did to Philadelphia’s runners. Despite the season series being split at two games a piece we have a history of having Orlando’s number which includes sweeping them out of last years playoffs.

Rasheed Wallace plays his best against the best. Dwight Howard has been the best. He averaged 22 points and 18 boards against the Raps, but don’t expect him to do that against Wallace who plays perhaps the best D on Dwight in the league.

You also have to like our backcourt of Billups and Hamilton against Orlando’s Jameer Nelson and former Piston Maurice Evans. With the way Tayshaun has been playing it doesn’t bode well for the Magic’s Hedo Turkoglu, although Hedo gives Tayshuan a much different defensive look than Andre Iguodala did.

Looking into the crystal ball I’ll take our guys in 6. GO PISTONS!

• Round 2 schedule
• Jason Maxiell will continue to start, bringing Antonio McDyess off the bench

If there was ever a haircut that screamed “hey, look at my stupid haircut” Samuel Dalembert has it. He could at least done one of those frohawk fades like Amare Stoudemire sported at the World Championships over the summer. That thing on Sammy’s head is a mess.

Photo: Reuters

Philadelphia’s Samuel Dalembert, sporting a mohawk of sorts, said Willie Green’s barber in Detroit gave him the unique hairdo, complete with “LJ” and “SD” shaved into both sides of his head. “The SD is for strong defense,” he said. “The LJ is for a loved one.” Reggie Evans seemed to pity his teammate. “Willie, that’s your fault,” Evans said. “He’s going to be on the bloopers.” (AP)

I just hope this doesn’t have a adverse effect of barbershop commerce in the D. The economy is flumped up enough.

Photo by Allen Einstein/NBAE via Getty Images

It took us five games to do it, but we’re finally in the driver’s seat in this series. [Box score]

Ok, If the Pistons can promise to play this way for the rest of the series then I’ll pretend the first four games never even happened and just consider us up one game to none in a best of three.

Let’s take a look at how PN-stradamus’ keys to getting the win related to the action last night.

• Make shots: How does 58% shooting grab ya? You think the Pistons have a pretty good chance to win at that kind of clip? Me too. The execution was crisp and the floor spacing allowed the Pistons to get good looks at the cup and most importantly they knocked ‘em down. How about 27 assists? We know how unbeatable this team is when they 25 or more assists. In the games we’ve won we’ve averaged 25.6 assists per, and the games they’ve lost they’ve only averaged 17. And again, if we’re executing and making shots Philly can’t turn the game into a track meet and that does wonders for our defense (i.e. 12 blocks, 8 steals, and Philly shoots 42%)
• Take care of the ball: Well, 17 turnovers is more than we averaged through 82 regular season games. We’ll have to do better on that. To our credit though Philly is one the better teams at forcing turnovers.
• Not just Tay: This is a good one. Like I hinted to, we’re a better team when our main scoring threat isn’t Tayshaun Prince. Tayhshaun had a very respectable 17 points on 8/14 shooting, but it he wasn’t just scoring to keep us in the game. He was an option that Philly had to contend with along with Rasheed (19 pts, 6 rbs, 6 blks), Rip (20 pts, 5 rbs), and the player of the game Chauncey Billups who had a 21 point, 12 assist double-double. It was mighty reassuring to see Big Shot doing 14 points and 5 assists worth of damage in the first quarter. Last night should keep Chauncey’s harbingers at bay for a while. The Bench stepped up as well. They didn’t put huge numbers on the board, but they played great in support of the starters. Stuckey did a good job of finding open teammates for easy bucktets. I particularly enjoyed Arron Afflalo’s effort. Depsite his limited minutes in this series he was ready and came in and did whatever was needed to help the team.
• Urgency: It was there. The Pistons jumped on the Sixers early and often. They were up by 14 after one and had a lead of 26 at one time. They never got lazy and took the foot off the accelerator.

The Pistons and 76ers resume their best of seven first round playoff series tonight at the Palace of Auburn Hills with the series tied at two games a piece. The game tips at 7:00 and can be viewed locally on TV20 .

With the series tied at a game a piece what we basically have is a new 3 game series with 2 games at the Palace. The Pistons are one of the better home teams in the whole league but they cannot rely on that especially against the Sixers who own a regular season and playoff win on our floor.

Here’s some of PN’s keys to winning Game 5, and the series for that matter:

• Make shots! It sounds simple right? If it was we might not have a tied series after 4 games played. Executing the offense and hitting open looks is the key to slowing down Philly’s running attack. If they’re not beating us down the floor off errant shots we’ll be able to better counter our defense to whatever they want to do in the half court set.
• Take care of the ball: We’re turning the ball over much to much in this series. Every time we’re lazy with passing or trying to force the ball the Sixers end up burning us. It’s very frustrating because it’s an area we usually have no problem with, win or lose.
• Not just Tay: Tayshaun has been the man and it’s scary to think about where we might be if he hadn’t. But, we’re not our best when Tayshaun is carrying the offensive load. He should be a threat but not the main attraction. Tayshaun feeds off everyone else’s play. He fills in the gaps. We need guys like Rip, Rasheed, and Chauncey bringing more consistency. We also need the bench to pick it up. They’ve been given opportunities, but have not risen up the way they did over the last month of the regular season.
• Urgency: No more trying to stay close in the first half and trying to blow by in the second half. It’ll be too late. From the jump we need to capitalize on all opportunities to put Philly in the rearview. The more they hang around the more confidence they build and before you know it good players like Dalembert, Miller, and Reggie Evans are playing out of their skull and it’s too late to stem the tide



If you were wondering, it sounds like Maxiell will again get the start and McDyess will come off the bench. This is a move I was campaigning for back in November. Maxy is eventually going to be the starter. As for Dice, read his quote and you can decide which he prefers.

“Coming off the bench is what I’m comfortable doing,” McDyess said.

“Starting? It’s just a routine thing. I feel like now, I get in there … when I start, I feel like a robot sometimes. But when I come off the bench, I feel I’ve got to step up and make something happen.”

I don’t watch the national broadcasts if I don’t have to, give me Blaha over everyone. So if you weren’t watching TNT’s coverage you probably missed Chris Webber’s take on the Pistons. Luckily The Starting Five has us covered:

Webber on the lack of intensity by the Detroit Pistons: “(The Pistons) are really nonchalant and that’s why I felt we lost last year (in the Eastern Conference Finals). It sounds crazy, but they could care less. That locker room is crazy, disciplined and unruly. Disciplined because they police themselves, they are all veterans, they know they’ve got to be in bed, they know they’ve got to work hard, I’m not talking about on the court. They come from a coach like Larry Brown, they look at him like the epitome of basketball, and they feel they can wait until the last game or the championship and they won’t lose. I’m not saying it’s right, but that’s how it is.”

He’s probably not winning over any of his teammates from last season over with those remarks, true or not. I always thought what goes on in the locker room stays there? The Pistons can be nonchalant, and it has come back to bite them but so did signing Webber. He really underpreformed in that Cleveland series as our starting center. He wasn’t the reason the Pistons lost, but he was definitely a contributing factor.

It would have been nice for him to have just a little more loyalty for the guys he was in the foxhole with. I guess he’s bitter we didn’t pick him up (thank God!).

Again, click over to The Starting Five if you tuned in to the TV20 broadcast, because they’ve also got Kenny Smith’s take and Charles Barkley’s bash on the ‘Stonz.

Through most of the first half I thought I’d be writing a eulogy to our roundball heroes. They looked like they were doing all they could just to keep from being blown out, again. They were down by 14 at one point and I was just sighing thinking what the hell is going on as the Pistons are struggling to score, shooting 38% from the floor. But then they started to pick it up towards the end of the half, turning up the defensive intensity.

The same quarter that was the Pistons undoing in the last game was the catalyst to renewed hope for the Pistons playoff success. The Pistons woke up in the third quarter and turned a 10 point deficit at halftime to an eight point lead by the end of the quarter outscoring Philly 34-16.

The reason the Pistons turn it around in the second half in my opinion is very simple, THEY MADE SHOTS. The only way they Pistons are going to be able to beat these upstart 76ers is to avoid offensive lulls. If they execute (with an emphasis on taking care of the rock) and make their open looks Philly is unable to get out and run and in turn we’re able to set up our defense.

We needed Rasheed to step up and he did. He was fired up after being T’d up in the second for arguing an offensive foul where Reggie Evans flopped. Sheed was actully pretty close to getting himself tossed. I’m glad he didn’t because he made the Sixers pay from beyond the arc hitting three triples in the quarter. Sheed rectified his 2 point game 3 performance with a spirited 20 point 10 board double-double.

The other guy we who got a measure of redemption for the game two nights prior was Mr. Big Shot. Chauncey scored 18 and dished out 7 assists and finally looked like the better PG in his matchup with Andre Miller. It was great to see Chauncey actually look for his game when the opps were there. The Pistons need his scoring and swagger, they feed off of it.

C-Bill’s backcourt mate started out slow but picked it up in the second half scoring 18 of his 20 points. Rip rounded his scoring out with 7 helpers and 5 boards.

Oh, and there’s this other guy who played pretty well last night too. How about a standing O for Tayshaun Prince? If there was ever such thing as a two game MVP Tay would be unanimous choice for the Philadelphia games. Last night: lead all scoring with 23 (11/12 FG), grabbed 6 boards, and 4 thefts. His two game field goal tally is 19/21, 90%!!

It’s not just Tay playing steadily on the offensive side. He’s continued to keep Andre Iguodala’s struggles an ongoing saga for the Sixers. Tay’s long arms are in Iggys head every time he goes to hoist. He’s taking bad shots, either fading away or rushing his jumpers. Tay’s held Iguodala to 10.5 points per on 22% shooting.

While were handing out awards let’s give Mr. McDyess a purple heart! Dice showed us his warrior side coming back strong two days after getting his sniffer broken. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen the Dice man more animated. His 10 points and 4 boards off the bench were pretty inspirational.

(Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)

NOTES: Chauncey Billups passed Joe Dumars (1,752) for third on the Pistons all-time playoff scoring. He trails Rip Hamilton and Isiah Thomas (2,261)…Jason Maxiell got the start for McDyess…Pistons had 15 offensive boards…Box score

Bogging it out: Sixers4guidos - Sixers blow a unique chance (Pistons 2, Sixers 2)… PistonPost - DET: 93, PHI: 84 - The Roller Coaster Ride Continues…Detroit Bad Boys - Pistons pull even with Philly…Slam Dunk Central - Prince Leads Pistons Past 76ers 93-84, Series Tied 2-2… Recliner GM - 76ers vs. Pistons Playoff Series: Philly BLOWS Game 4

The Pistons and 76ers resume their best of seven first round playoff series tonight at Philadelphia’s Wachovia Center with the 76ers up 2 game to 1 on the Pistons. The game tips at 7:00 and can be viewed locally on TV20 Detroit, and nationally on TNT.

It’d be pretty aimless to try to break down what went wrong in game three and what the Pistons need to do to insure that doesn’t happen again. That game would have been an embarrassment if it were played in the preseason, let alone the playoffs.

The game plan for today should be to WAKE UP! Stop trying to wait for game #7 of Finals and start playing every game like it’s for rings. That’s what the rest of the teams still playing are doing! Get the split in Philly and make this a best of three with home court advantage. For that to happen we need our two most dynamic players. Chauncey Billups and Sheed Wallace have to step up.

Antonio McDyess update: Chris McCosky says in his Detroit News Blog that Dice is probable tonight. Miggidy-Dice is by his own admission not in any pain one day removed from having surgery to reset his broken nose. If Dice is out there he’ll be wearing a protective mask. In the same blog entry Chris says expect to see more of the Pistons youth in attempt by Flip Saunders to counteract the 76ers energy.

From Chris McCoksy’s Detroit News blog:

Antonio McDyess, who broke his nose in the third quarter Friday, had his nose reset this morning in an operation at Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak. The surgery , performed by Dr. Gene Rontal, was deemed a success.

The plan is for McDyess to fly back to Philly either Saturday night or early Sunday. His status will be determined most likely after shoot-around Sunday, but the team is listing him as questionable.

It is the third time he’s broken the nose, and the seond time he’s broke it in Philly. Andre Iguodala appeared to swat him inadvertently with the back of his hand.

If McDyess can’t play, Flip Saunders said Jason Maxiell, Theo Ratliff or Amir Johnson could start. Maxiell seems like the logical choice, but Saunders worries about early foul trouble. Thus, Ratliff could get the call.

Will Dice be our third masked man?   Broken schnozolas are no fun, and will most likely effect his play if he’s cleared.