Magic-Pistons Preview
By BRETT HUSTON, STATS Writer
The Detroit Pistons didn't have any problems knocking the underdog Orlando Magic out of the playoffs the past two seasons.
The way they're playing right now, the Magic look like anything but a postseason long shot.
Orlando will try to extend its longest winning streak since April 2006 to eight games on Monday night at the Palace of Auburn Hills, where the Pistons have dominated the Magic in recent years.
Detroit (17-11) swept Orlando in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs in 2006-07, then needed five games to knock out the Magic in the conference semifinals last season. The Pistons won all five games at the Palace in those series, part of a 12-1 home stretch against Orlando since April 6, 2004.
But when Detroit meets the Magic (24-6) for the first time this season, it will see a more experienced - and discernibly better - team. Orlando has gone 24-4 since dropping its first two games, and has won 11 of its last 12, with the only blemish a last-second loss in Phoenix.
The Magic have won seven in a row - their longest streak since winning eight straight from March 31-April 15, 2006 - and they've done so in dominant fashion. Orlando's average margin of victory during its streak has been 15.9 points, and it rolled to a 118-94 victory at Minnesota on Saturday.
Hedo Turkoglu, Rashard Lewis and Jameer Nelson all scored at least 20 points and the Magic broke open a relatively tight game in the fourth quarter, putting up 39 points in the final 12 minutes.
"In order to be a great team, you can't let up,'' said Dwight Howard, who's averaging a league-best 13.6 rebounds. "I like the way we came back. We held together and came out with a good win.''
The Magic attempt more 3-pointers than every team but the New York Knicks, and they connect on 38.0 percent from beyond the arc, seventh in the league. In their last four games though, they've hit 53-of-113 (46.9 percent), led by Lewis (13-of-26) and Turkoglu (9-of-17).
"(Turkoglu) should be in the 3-point contest,'' Howard said. "He presents a lot problems for the defense. When he's hot he's tough to stop, especially late."
Orlando has built its winning streak entirely against the Western Conference, and hasn't played a game against an Eastern opponent since losing at Boston on Dec. 1.
The Pistons, meanwhile, have won three in a row, and they got through their most recent game without leading scorer Richard Hamilton, who aggravated a groin injury in a 90-88 victory over Oklahoma City on Friday.
With Hamilton sidelined Saturday at Milwaukee, coach Michael Curry's opted to go with a taller lineup instead of his three-guard rotation, and the Pistons got at least 16 points from four different starters and won 87-76.
Amir Johnson was the lone starter who didn't score in double figures, but the 6-foot-9 forward made a difference inside. He grabbed 11 of the team's 53 rebounds as the Pistons held the Bucks to 30.4 percent shooting.
"When we have the bigger lineup, obviously we're better defensively,'' said Tayshaun Prince, who scored a game-high 19 points. "It's kind of pick and choose. Sometimes you are going to need the offensive side, but more importantly you're going to need the defensive side.''
Hamilton's status for Monday's game is uncertain, but if he's out, the Magic won't miss him. Hamilton scored 23.6 points per game last postseason against Orlando, averaging 31.5 points in games 4 and 5.
View Profile
View Forum Posts
Private Message
View Blog Entries
View Articles
Reply With Quote
Visit Homepage
Originally Posted by WTFchris
win tonight it'd be the first time 
Bookmarks