4/19/26 6:30PM NBA Playoffs Rd 1 Gm 1 Magic @ Pistons

[Tigeraholic1]

Little Caesars Areana - Detroit, MI

Watch: NBC

Regular season series 2-2

Edited yesterday at 12:15 PM by Tigeraholic1

[Sports_Freak]

I hope this long layoff doesn't affect the Pistons...

[Deleterious]

Not much to say.  Orlando is not a good basketball team despite their big blowout last night.  

On defense, they finished 11th which isn't bad.  But they don't have anyone that matches up well with Cade.  Suggs will get the bulk of that work, and he gives up a good 15-20 pounds to Cade.  Cunningham averaged 32/10/8 in three games against Orlando this season.  Nobody really matches up with Duren either.  Both guys should have a big series.

On offense, Orlando is a mess.  They don't even have a true PG on the roster.  They are one of the worst shooting teams in the league, 21st from the floor and 27th from three.  Banchero is probably the least efficient star in the entire league and loves the pull-up mid-range jumper instead of going to the rim.  Bane is fantastic and their best player IMO.  Ausar should get that assignment.  Zero shooting threat from the C positions, which is good for Duren.  The one thing Orlando does well is get to the line, first in the league this year.  Detroit fouls a ton so that is one thing to watch.  Expect a big discrepancy in free throw attempts this series.

Orlando's locker room is also a mess.  Almost everyone expects Mosley to be fired at the end of the season.  There were reports this week of Orlando's star player demanding the coach be fired or he would want a trade. 

Pistons in 4

[casimir]

5 hours ago, Sports_Freak said:

I hope this long layoff doesn't affect the Pistons...

I’ve had a Pistons layoff.  Busy with work.  The Tigers starting out a new season.  And really, not much for the Pistons to play for given the probable and clinched seeding of top team in the East.

Let that sink in for a moment.  Top seed in the East.  That’s crazy talk heading into this season.

[Sports_Freak]

2 minutes ago, casimir said:

I’ve had a Pistons layoff.  Busy with work.  The Tigers starting out a new season.  And really, not much for the Pistons to play for given the probable and clinched seeding of top team in the East.

Let that sink in for a moment.  Top seed in the East.  That’s crazy talk heading into this season.

Yeah, I guess they haven't played a meaningful game in a while. Getting to 60 wins was a goal (Amazing) but Orlando has been playing for their playoff lives. JB won't let his team come out flat, would he? I guess that's my main 1st round worry...

[DTroppens]

I'm going to wear my new Pistons shirt for the next three days non-stop. 🙂

 

Have my Pistons' flag in a side window to my house. It will be moved to a front window for the playoffs in about 10 mins.

[DTroppens]

6 hours ago, Sports_Freak said:

I hope this long layoff doesn't affect the Pistons...

I worry about that as well. But, maybe being at home will help get them in the mindset. But these are people - not robots. I wouldn't be shocked to see the Pistons fall to something like an eight to 12-point deficit sometime in the first quarter. They haven't played while their opponent has already competed in a playoff intense atmosphere.

[Sports_Freak]

Just now, DTroppens said:

I worry about that as well. But, maybe being at home will help get them in the mindset. But these are people - not robots. I wouldn't be shocked to see the Pistons fall to something like an eight to 12-point deficit sometime in the first quarter. They haven't played while their opponent has already competed in a playoff intense atmosphere.

Pistons haven't played a meaningful game since April 4th. Unless you count the last few games when they were going for 60 wins. Yes, the 1st quarter/half may see them shaking off the rust but I also wouldn't be surprised to see them blow away Orlando from the opening tip.

[Deleterious]

Uhhhhh

 

[Tigeraholic1]

 

[Betrayer]

23 hours ago, Deleterious said:

Not much to say.  Orlando is not a good basketball team despite their big blowout last night.  

On defense, they finished 11th which isn't bad.  But they don't have anyone that matches up well with Cade.  Suggs will get the bulk of that work, and he gives up a good 15-20 pounds to Cade.  Cunningham averaged 32/10/8 in three games against Orlando this season.  Nobody really matches up with Duren either.  Both guys should have a big series.

On offense, Orlando is a mess.  They don't even have a true PG on the roster.  They are one of the worst shooting teams in the league, 21st from the floor and 27th from three.  Banchero is probably the least efficient star in the entire league and loves the pull-up mid-range jumper instead of going to the rim.  Bane is fantastic and their best player IMO.  Ausar should get that assignment.  Zero shooting threat from the C positions, which is good for Duren.  The one thing Orlando does well is get to the line, first in the league this year.  Detroit fouls a ton so that is one thing to watch.  Expect a big discrepancy in free throw attempts this series.

Orlando's locker room is also a mess.  Almost everyone expects Mosley to be fired at the end of the season.  There were reports this week of Orlando's star player demanding the coach be fired or he would want a trade. 

Pistons in 4

 

The Pistons will win, but I'm not nearly that confident enough to call it a sweep.

Orlando has a lot of issues, but one of them has been health. With their core together they're definitely better than an 8th seed. Like you said, we put teams on the line the most and they get a really good whistle - bad combination. They're also a big lineup which negates one of our strengths. Who does Duncan guard? Suggs maybe, but do you really want him on the point of attack? Also, Duren averages near 4 turnovers against the Magic, which is double his average.

Orlando are reckless defenders. Every game I watch they're undercutting someone in the air or diving into someone's legs. As I said in the other thread, I watched Bane alone do both of those things against Charlotte. They're a dirty team defensively and I'm hoping we can get through this series healthy.

On the plus side, Tobias seems to come alive against the Magic and Cade has had some monster games against them this year after struggling against them in previous seasons.

You never know what Orlando team you're gonna get but I think this series will definitely go 5 and could easily go to 6.

[oblong]

I picked up a couple of nosebleeds for my me and my son tonight.  Only game this round I could probably make. 

[Deleterious]

24 minutes ago, Betrayer said:

 

The Pistons will win, but I'm not nearly that confident enough to call it a sweep.

Orlando has a lot of issues, but one of them has been health. With their core together they're definitely better than an 8th seed. Like you said, we put teams on the line the most and they get a really good whistle - bad combination. They're also a big lineup which negates one of our strengths. Who does Duncan guard? Suggs maybe, but do you really want him on the point of attack? Also, Duren averages near 4 turnovers against the Magic, which is double his average.

Orlando are reckless defenders. Every game I watch they're undercutting someone in the air or diving into someone's legs. As I said in the other thread, I watched Bane alone do both of those things against Charlotte. They're a dirty team defensively and I'm hoping we can get through this series healthy.

On the plus side, Tobias seems to come alive against the Magic and Cade has had some monster games against them this year after struggling against them in previous seasons.

You never know what Orlando team you're gonna get but I think this series will definitely go 5 and could easily go to 6.

They rarely use Suggs to initiate the offense, so I'm fine with Duncan guarding him.  

I know it isn't exactly a staple of the Pistons defense.  But as poor as Orlando shoots, a little zone now and then wouldn't bug me either.  

 

[Hongbit]

There will be one game this series where Desmond Bane goes crazy for 35+.  

There will be one game that Desmond Bane is in foul trouble and becomes a minor factor.
 

There will be one game that Desmond Bane will do something stupid and get ejected.

Pistons in 3

[Deleterious]

Bane has been added to the Magic injury report in the last hour or two.  Illness is the listed reason.  Still listed as probable though.