No way do the Magic beat Detroit in a seven game series. Match ups like Howard actually wake Sheed up. It's the unknowns that he doesn't take seriously that give him trouble. Howard will get his, but he'll have to work. Sheed will also pull him away from the basket with the three ball.

The biggest problem the Magic have with Detroit is at point where Billups is too big and strong for Nelson or Arroyo. He abuses them in the post and they can't shoot over him.

Philly gave Detroit an early run because they have size at the point and length and athleticism at every position. That, and Detroit didn't realize the playoffs started yet. Philly's done now. Detroit didn't show up in game three, they quit after three quarters in game one, and took the first half off in game four. Other then that, they've thoroughly dominated Philly.

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Spock Jenkins of the Vulcan Jenkins'.

I agree that Detroit has a significant advantage at the point. But to me Howard seems to have more purpose in his game and I think he will dominate Wallace. I have also been impressed with the way Turkoglu and Lewis have been playing - I know they won't have it so easy against Prince & Hamilton, but I still see that as an even match up. It may come down to the benches - Magic's is shorter, but may have more impact. The series may well go to a Game 7.

(Of course, that assumes that the Pistons will get the job done against Philly...they're not there yet! )

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"I'd take the awe of understanding over the awe of ignorance any day." - Douglas Adams

Oh, Philly's done alright.

Wallace understands defensive positioning far better than Bosh or Rasho. Keep Howard more than five feet away from the basket and you've limited his offensive production (because he has no range) and you've greatly reduced his rebounding impact. Wallace and McDyess both shoot quite well outside of 15 feet to pull Howard away from the basket on defense. Detroit also has Ratliff, Maxiell, and Amir Johnson just waiting with 18 fouls to test Howards Shaq-like freethrow ability. The key here is limiting Howard. Clearly he can't be stopped. You only hope to contain him and get the rest of the team focused on trying to get him going which will take them out of their offense. If he is limited to 20 and 10 - I'll consider that a job well done as long as he's got to work for it.

I give Turkoglu and Lewis the edge in being able to shoot over Hamilton - but neither will be able to chase him around screens for an entire game on defense. Prince has the length to give either of them trouble on their shooting.

All that said - I'm glad you're a fan. It'll be fun to get some activity in this thread next round. I'm a fan of the Magic as an organization and like some of their players - they just aren't there yet. By the way - thanks for Ben Wallace and Chucky Atkins. Both those guys were a big part of the turn around in Detroit. To think we could've been paying millions to a guy spending the last five years nursing injuries. Can't imagine what that's like.

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Spock Jenkins of the Vulcan Jenkins'.

I'm an NBA analytical genius. Now if the Pistons can just stay awake for the rest of the series, they'll be all set. I hate winning by 19 in the first game, that's the kind of win that causes Detroit to lose focus.

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Spock Jenkins of the Vulcan Jenkins'.

I don't read too much into that win, other than it confirmed the significant advantage Detroit have with Billups. I was most surprised by how ineffective the Magic's bench was - they need to contribute more.

Today will be a better test.

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"I'd take the awe of understanding over the awe of ignorance any day." - Douglas Adams

Again the bench for the Magic was completely ineffective. Combined to shoot 1-7 from the floor (2-4 from the line) for 4 points, 4 boards and a dime.

Mind you, it helps when you are allowed to run a 6-second play when there's only 5.1 seconds on the clock...

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"I'd take the awe of understanding over the awe of ignorance any day." - Douglas Adams

Refs were in a no win on that one. The clock keeper was from Minnesota so it wasn't home cooking. If the clock was rolling, Stuckey looks up and shoots rather than making the extra pass so you can't know what the outcome would be. It would have been just as unfair to not count the basket as it was to count it. That was a heck of a shot no matter how much time is left and you can't just re-run it and expect to make it again. I'm just glad they won by more than three points to at least limit the controversy.

Howard had a heck of a game as did the three point shooters. Detroit was fortunate to survive. I only hope they close out on the shooters better in Orlando.

Orlando can beat Detroit - I just don't think they can do it four out of five times.

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Spock Jenkins of the Vulcan Jenkins'.

Yeah, I know - I was just teasing. The result of the game certainly did not hinge on that single play. In particular, I have been surprised at how ineffective the Magic bench has been.

I agree that a 0-2 obstacle is probably impossible to overcome. Magic needed to steal one of the opening two games in Detroit. By failing to do so, they're in too big a hole now to get out.

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"I'd take the awe of understanding over the awe of ignorance any day." - Douglas Adams

No Billups? No problem.

Up three games to one heading back to the 'D'. The question is do they sit Billups for game five and see if they can close it out, or do they play him and risk further injury?

Nelson seems to think it's going six games regardless, so Detroit might as well rest him.

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Spock Jenkins of the Vulcan Jenkins'.

Rest him. The Pistons have this series locked up, needing only one more win and with two games left at home. I think the C's and the Cavs will be locked at 2-2 going back to Boston, so that series will go for at least two more games, allowing Billups time to completely get over his hamstring strain.

Detroit will need him fit against Boston or the Cavs, more than they need him to close out against Magic.

Oh, and kudos to the Spurs. I thought that New Orleans would steal one in San Antonio, but the Spurs showed they really are a tough, quality squad.

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"I'd take the awe of understanding over the awe of ignorance any day." - Douglas Adams

Geez, Celts, what's going on? Where's that 31-10 road warrior spirit?

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They're just teasing you.

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The Devil offered me power. I told him I preferred aperture.

Yeah, I know, holy Moses, it's just Cleaveland after all...

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It's the power of the playoff choke^3. What to you get when you take three superstars that could never get it done in their entire careers and put them all on the same team? Combine that with Doc Rivers, and it's like a choke black hole! Doc Rivers was coaching Orlando when they had a three games to one lead on Detroit in the first round in 2003 and they choked that series away. You might recall Tracy McGrady saying, "It's nice to finally be in the second round." Doc also never had much in the way of playoff success in Atlanta running the point when he was teamed up with Dominic Wilkins.

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Spock Jenkins of the Vulcan Jenkins'.

Congratulations, Spock Jenkins - another conference final!

This mini-dynasty of yours takes me back to the Thomas/Dumas/Laimbeer days. That really was some team back then.

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"I'd take the awe of understanding over the awe of ignorance any day." - Douglas Adams

At the end Rip waved his wand and the Magic was gone!

WTG, Pistons!

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Deeeee-Troit Basket-baalllllll!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And we did it with one all-star point guard tied behind our back just to make it fair!

Speaking of Thomas. Rip Hamilton passed Thomas and is now the Pistons all time franchise leader in playoff points scored. Who would have thought?

Hopefully they can play with the same energy and passion in the conference finals that they did three years ago. At least they'll have a chip on their shoulder this time. Revenge against Cleveland or matched against the team with the better regular season record. Either way, it's the kind of motivation this crew needs.

Oh, and Stan VanGundy needs to quit trying to coach the refs in the media after the games. It just comes off kind of sad.

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Spock Jenkins of the Vulcan Jenkins'.

And the lead goes to Boston. Crazy how only one team has one road win in the entire second round.

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Spock Jenkins of the Vulcan Jenkins'.

And the series. Way to hang in there, Celts! Now for the Pistons.

And another Cleveland team goes home without a championship.

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Hopefully Detroit can come out motivated and firing. They've got among the worst records in the league with more than two days rest. Not that there is much of a sample size.

They went down two games to one to Philly after taking the last three weeks of the season off. They were hammered