NBA Playoffs Rd 2: Orlando Magic vs. Detroit Pistons

[King Taharqa]

(3) Orlando Magic vs. (2) Detroit Pistons
vs.

(3) Orlando Magic

PG - #14 Jameer Nelson - 6'0 190
St. Joseph's '04
10.9 PPG, 5.6 APG, 41% 3-PT


SG - #1 Maurice Evans - 6'5 220
Texas
9.1 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 39% 3-PT


SF - #15 Hedo Turkoglu - 6'10 220
None '00
19.7 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 5.0 APG, 40% 3-PT


PF - #9 Rashard Lewis - 6'10 230
High School '98
18.3 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 41% 3-PT


C - #12 Dwight Howard - 7'0 265
High School '04
20.9 PPG, 14.3 RPG, 2.2 BPG, 60% FG

Bench:
PG - #30 Carlos Arroyo
PG - #5 Keyon Dooling
SG - #7 J.J. Redick
SG - #10 Keigh Bogans
PF - #34 Brian Cook
PF - #8 Pat Garrity
C - #31 Adonal Foyle

Head Coach
Stan Van Gundy


(2) Detroit Pistons

PG - #1 Chauncey Billups - 6'3 202
Colorado '97
17.1 PPG, 6.9 APG, 92% FT, 40% 3-PT


SG - #32 "Rip" Hamilton - 6'7 193
UCONN '99
17.5 PPG, 4.2 APG, 44% 3-PT


SF - #22 Tayshaun Prince - 6'9 215
Kentucky '02
13.4 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 3.3 APG, 36% 3-PT


PF - #24 Antonio McDyess - 6'9 245
Alabama '95
8.8 PPG, 8.6 RPG


C - #36 Rasheed Wallace - 6'11 230
North Carolina '95
13.0 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 36% 3-PT

Bench:
PG - #10 Lindsey Hunter
SG - #3 Rodney Stuckey
SF - #9 Jarvis Hayes
PF - #54 Jason Maxiell
C - #42 Theo Ratliff

Head Coach
Flip Saunders

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This series is a toss up to me. With Detroit you never know what you're gonna get, and Orlando is a somewhat underrated ballclub. They've got great shooters in Hedo & Rashard Lewis, and Dwight Howard has developed into a monster down low. Rasheed & McDyess will have their hands full guarding him, but the Pistons guards have a mismatch advantage with Orlando's backcourt. For that reason, I'll take Detroit to win this one in 6 games.

[X-Clown]

I think this is the series that Dwight Howard elevates this game to the next level. I wouldn't be surprised to see Rasheed get frustrated and get ejected from one game because of it. I'll go with the upset, Magic in 6.

[Thomas146]

The Orlando Magic , as a professional team of NBA, is one of the major teams that has fans all around the world. It is quite normal if Orlando Magic tickets are so pricy or hard to find because such great teams tickets worth any price. It doesn’t matter if we pay a respected price for Magic tickets because we satisfy our eagerness to watch good games and more than that when we go to watch a game it’s because we love this team and we shouldn’t be mean.

[goodlay]

I like the Magic in this one.

[King Taharqa]

Detroit THUMPS Orlando 91-73

Orlando looked overmatched in this game. Detroit's bigs commanded the paint and neutralized Dwight Howard who only had 12 points and 8 rebounds. Chauncey Billups put up 19 points and 7 assists to lead the Pistons to a 1-0 lead in the series.

[Lonestar13]

if this were a battle of only post players Howard and the Magic would dominate, but since it's not the guards for Detroit are just too good, I pick Orlando but most likely it will be a sweep or over in 5 by the Pistons

[King Taharqa]

Detroit goes up 2-0

[goodlay]

I can't flip flop my choice, so Magic in 7.

[X-Clown]

KT, where's the Magic's win to make it 2-1 post?

[King Taharqa]

Originally Posted by X-Clown

KT, where's the Magic's win to make it 2-1 post?

I forgot to post it the other night, but Im about to watch the game today, so Ill be sure to update the series lead when its over.

[King Taharqa]

Pistons take 3-1 series lead

Led by Rip Hamilton's 32 points, the Chauncey Billups-less Pistons win 90-89 in Orlando. Hedo Turkuglu put up 20 for the Magic, but Dwight Howard was held to 8 points and 12 rebounds. The Pistons look to close the series out in Detroit on Tuesday.

[murphman13]

When they turn it up, Piston's defense is still incredible. With this extended rest, the winner of Boston/Cleveland slugfest will be in for a dogfight.

However, I am rooting for a Lakers/Celtics final (as most of us are) just for the mere spectacle of it.

[King Taharqa]

Yeah Flip Saunders has done a great job this playoff. He started off on the hot seat, but he's had Detroit playing the best ball of the playoffs so far. They're also the only team to win a road game in the playoffs.

[X-Clown]

Originally Posted by King Taharqa

They're also the only team to win a road game in the playoffs.

I'm guessing you mean in this round of the playoffs.