4/29/26 7:00PM RD1 GM5 Magic (3-1) @ Pistons (1-3)

[buddha]

the refs knew the assignment.

[buddha]

much better effort.

on the worrying side, it took cade being superman to win the game.  

[Deleterious]

 

[Betrayer]

Two best players showed up big time for the Pistons to get this one, but it wasn't easy.

How long into the offseason before JB realizes they have a PF using his strength to score 45 on us and he hasn't put Stew on him once?

[Deleterious]

One of the most ridiculous rebounds I have ever seen.

 

[Betrayer]

In any other timeline without Wemby in the league for Ausar's whole career, he'd win multiple DPOYs.

Edited Thursday at 01:53 AM by Betrayer

[buddha]

10 minutes ago, Betrayer said:

Two best players showed up big time for the Pistons to get this one, but it wasn't easy.

How long into the offseason before JB realizes they have a PF using his strength to score 45 on us and he hasn't put Stew on him once?

stew switched on to him in that last sequence.  you know, the one where banchero couldnt get a shot off?

but yeah, lets try lavert or harris again.  that worked.

[GalagaGuy]

Orlando was 16-30 at the FT line.  Had they shot 80% they win.   Pistons are going to get smoked in Game 6.  

[Sports_Freak]

5 minutes ago, GalagaGuy said:

Orlando was 16-30 at the FT line.  Had they shot 80% they win.   Pistons are going to get smoked in Game 6.  

IDK, the Pistons still haven't played their best game and they've won 2. I wouldn't bet against them. Win Friday and come home for a game 7. At least make it interesting.

[buddha]

down 5 with 1 second left and toronto calls timeout to call a play.

are you kidding?

[buddha]

13 minutes ago, GalagaGuy said:

Orlando was 16-30 at the FT line.  Had they shot 80% they win.   Pistons are going to get smoked in Game 6.  

youre forgetting the part where orlando sucks.  the pistons arent great, but they can definitely beat this orlando team.

[Hongbit]

26 minutes ago, buddha said:

youre forgetting the part where orlando sucks.  the pistons arent great, but they can definitely beat this orlando team.

 

32 minutes ago, Sports_Freak said:

IDK, the Pistons still haven't played their best game and they've won 2. I wouldn't bet against them. Win Friday and come home for a game 7. At least make it interesting.

I’m not saying there’s no chance but it’s very, very slim they win on Friday.

The reason is that despite Orlando being a tough matchup, JB refuses to make any changes or adjustments in order to maximize their chances to win.  He’s taken the foolish approach of playing their game and focusing just on themselves thinking that’s good enough to win.  There’s very little adjustment for their opponent.  The same rotations, the same sets, same defensive assignments.    There are buttons he can press to counter what the Magic is doing but he’s such a bad coach in game that he’s incapable of doing anything different. 

[NYLion]

2 hours ago, buddha said:

much better effort.

on the worrying side, it took cade being superman to win the game.  

But it also took Paolo being Superman to keep those guys in the game. It evened out between the two.

Regardless, I wouldn't say that this win inspired much confidence since Duren was still largely a no show and the bench still isn't bringing much but they're alive still so we'll take it.

[Deleterious]

They pay Cade to be Superman.  

[casimir]

9 hours ago, Sports_Freak said:

IDK, the Pistons still haven't played their best game and they've won 2. I wouldn't bet against them. Win Friday and come home for a game 7. At least make it interesting.

Maybe they have played their best games and they just so happen to have been regular season games?  Maybe they simply punched above their weight enough that they stumbled into a top conference seed?  Nobody had them in this position before the season started.

[Tigeraholic1]

10 hours ago, Deleterious said:

One of the most ridiculous rebounds I have ever seen.

 

How many minutes did Ausar play in game 1? I will take my answer off the air. 

[Sports_Freak]

2 hours ago, casimir said:

Maybe they have played their best games and they just so happen to have been regular season games?  Maybe they simply punched above their weight enough that they stumbled into a top conference seed?  Nobody had them in this position before the season started.

True. And these are reactions fans can have...dismay that they didnt bring in just the right player(s) at the trade deadline that turned them into championship favorites, at some undisclosed cost. And total negativity that there's no way they can ever win (dont forget people saying we would go winless when Cade was injured). Or we could stay positive, forget the stats and reality and just enjoy a professional basketball team that only 2 season ago won only 14 games. At that time, I would gladly have been happy with a 60 win season and being down 3-2 in the first round. I guess I just prefer to stay positive, until the games start. Then I have my typical negative knee-jerk reactions. 😅😅

If the Pistons somehow win Friday night, all the pressure will be on Orlando for a game 7 in Detroit.

[buddha]

On 4/29/2026 at 9:53 PM, Hongbit said:

 

I’m not saying there’s no chance but it’s very, very slim they win on Friday.

The reason is that despite Orlando being a tough matchup, JB refuses to make any changes or adjustments in order to maximize their chances to win.  He’s taken the foolish approach of playing their game and focusing just on themselves thinking that’s good enough to win.  There’s very little adjustment for their opponent.  The same rotations, the same sets, same defensive assignments.    There are buttons he can press to counter what the Magic is doing but he’s such a bad coach in game that he’s incapable of doing anything different. 

 

On 4/29/2026 at 9:16 PM, buddha said:

youre forgetting the part where orlando sucks.  the pistons arent great, but they can definitely beat this orlando team.

point for me.