Tampa Bay Sports Blog

The Pistons are still torturing the Magic and it has really become disturbing. The Pistons are not the same team that were perennial NBA Finals contenders of years past, but the Magic still can’t get over whatever it is that makes them struggle so much against the Pistons. Chauncy Billups is gone, Rasheed Wallace is looking like a shell of his former self and the Pistons defense has a lot more holes than it ever has. Allen Iverson hasn’t seen a minute of time against the Magic in the last two meetings yet, even with all of this, the Magic can’t get over on Detroit.

The fact is that the Magic still have no answer for Rip Hamilton and Teyshawn Prince. Hamilton has been the major killer against Orlando recently scoring 60 points in the last two against them. What also seems to be a huge problem is this, whatever adjustments the Magic make, the Pistons already have an answer. There is always someone else stepping up for them when needed. Rodney Stuckey, 1,000 year old Antonio McDyess, etc.

The one positive I guess we can take from all of this is that it appears to be getting closer. The Magic were in it until the final minute last night in Detroit and just couldn’t finish down the stretch. If the Magic can get their bench to step up a little more in future match-ups, they might be able to finally get it done. I do know one thing now though, I am hoping the Magic don’t have to face the Pistons in the playoffs this year.

Technorati Tags: Allen Iverson, Antonio McDyess, Chauncey Billups, Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic, Rasheed Wallace, Richard Hamilton, Rodney Stuckey, Teyshawn Prince

Yesterday I posted about how the Magic have been winning games and that people need to respect what they’re doing so far. I still think that’s the case, but I may have gotten crazy with the cheeze whiz in lumping them in with the Lakers and Celtics as far as being elite type. I still think they can do it, but last nights contest against Detroit showed that they still have some work to do. Detroit is not the same team that has beaten up on the Magic over the last few playoff seasons, yet they still have the intimidation factor over them. I talked about this back in November and it is holding true as we speak. Rashard Lewis showed last night that his new found backbone may not be temporary as he was the only real offensive force for the Magic. Jameer Nelson went cold as did Dwight Howard in combining for 27 points together. They both did their part defensively but the team couldn’t muster up enough offense to put Detroit away.

The Pistons contested damn near every shot it seemed like, especially in the fourth quarter, and the Magic just couldn’t get enough shots to fall in the end. They did show a more physical style than they have in past years and hung with Detroit much better in this sense. The Pistons spread the ball around nicely and Orlando did a decent job of contesting shots, but they need to find an answer for Antonio McDyess. McDyess was all over the boards in the fourth quarter and made some incredible hustle plays to keep things from getting away from the Pistons. The Magic bench was all but non existent and the final ended up 88-82.

There were some good things within the game, but we are at the point now where we need to win and not look for consolation within a loss. These are the games that the Magic need to outhustle and outshoot to get over the hump and into the elite. I’m not disappointed with them, they were due for a bad game after running off seven straight, but we need to see more fire in upcoming big games in order to keep this thing going.

Box score

Technorati Tags: Antonio McDyess, Boston Celtics, Detroit Pistons, Dwight Howard, Jameer Nelson, Los Angeles Lakers, Orlando Magic, Rashard Lewis