Even though Darko Milicic and Grant Hill return to Detroit to take on their old team, I don’t expect this series to create too much of a buzz. The Pistons took all four regular season meetings and this playoff series will read the same way.
How are we supposed to muster any kind of hype for this series when it’s one of the biggest first-round mismatches I’ve seen in quite some time? The Pistons have better shooting guards, better wings and better postmen on the offensive and defensive ends of the ball. I especially hope Chauncey Billups has a field day with Orlando’s smaller guards. Jameer Nelson has struggled defending point guards all season, even points that don’t even come close to Billups’ ability. Chauncey will be able to photograph Nelson, standing 6 feet on a sunny day, anytime he wants.
If the Magic had any angle to do anything against the Pistons, it was with their twin tower approach playing Milicic and Dwight Howard together in the frontcourt. But Darko’s injury could completely embarrass the Magic on the inside, forcing Hedo Turkoglu and Trevor Ariza to play beyond their size. None of these guys have a chance to try to win C-Web, Rasheed Wallace, Antonio McDyess or Nazr Mohammed. This superior front line could very well see the Pistons return to the NBA Finals.
Orlando’s best chance for a win in this series will be if the Pistons come up flat after a couple of easy wins because they aren’t interested. That’s how Milwaukee took a game from Detroit last season in the first round of the playoffs. However, that Bucks team was clearly better than this Magic team and this Pistons team is on a mission after missing the NBA Finals last season after making the trip the previous two years.
I wish I had better news for you Magic fans, but I’m sure you’re more pessimistic than I am about this first-round series, especially with the way the season has panned out after a positive start.
If there’s anyone out there who thinks Dwight Howard can carry the Magic on his back, watch these Pistons veterans frustrate him with their smart, physical play. This young guy is quite the talent, the only real bright spot for the Magic really, but he needs a better supporting cast and some more time to develop his offensive game before he can unseat some of the elite greats in the league. nba.
Did I mention it already? Oven pistons.
