The Detroit Pistons.... ('26 Playoffs Edition)...
- Thread starter B.A.R.
- Start date
A lot of reading...
A lot of thinking...
And some conclusions...
I've given credit to Orlando and they certainly deserve it. This is more like a 4-5 seed in this Eastern Conference than a play in team. Simply put, this happens in the NBA with the devaluation of the regular season. They are playing hard, smart and coach has an excellent game plan!
What's the Detroit issues? Well, we've known what would eventually get them for months now... Lack of shooting and no true secondary scorer. Listen, love me some "UNC" (Tobias) but he simply cannot be your #2 offensive weapon in order to be successful in the postseason.
So what is Orlando doing? They are packing it in! The lack of 3 point shooting has never been more evident. We really miss Malik Beasley here. Just looking at his SM, he misses being out there. Just a weird situation. He was cleared by the feds, apparently. The issue is the NBA is still investigating. I'm going to be hella pissed if/when they clear him as well. Also, Detroit probably around have re-signed or traded back for Shroeder if we're being honest.
Oh, and Timmy Hardaway Jr had a helluva season in Denver...
The list goes on.
The point is, Orlando is packing it in. This is making life harder for Cade and Duren. Less space is a bad thing in today's NBA. I saw someone liken this to 1970s NBA. I looked at several 'still' shots and it's maddening! But, it is working. Cade has less room to operate and subsequently is forcing passes at times... That's part of the turnover issue.
The lack of transition opportunities+less space inside is directly affecting Duren as well.
All that being said, they need to step up as all star players and adjust.
You'll notice Detroit did it's best work on Monday night when the bench unit with Beef Stew was in. That group had excellent +/- numbers when on the floor. The defense they bring is excellent. The issue is scoring.
So, what do I expect tonight? I said the other day I expect Detroit to win here and likely lost G6 back down here in FL. You have to think Detroit comes out with their best effort tonight. Orlando knows they have a home game in their hip pocket as well.
Would I lay 10 pounds? Oh gosh no. That's absurd even if Detroit wins 105-82 tonight. That's a wild tariff to be laying when a team struggles on offense like we do (in a postseason setting).
Live market + unders are probably the way to go IMO.
Detroit isn't out of this. As much credit as I've given to Orlando, let's not forget that they have some offensive lulls too. They tend to play a lot of one on one. There is some questionable shot selections at times too...
Bottom line, let's grab ONE win tonight and put some pressure on the Magic to wrap it up at home.
One step at a time and let's recreate some 2003 "Magic"....
A lot of thinking...
And some conclusions...
I've given credit to Orlando and they certainly deserve it. This is more like a 4-5 seed in this Eastern Conference than a play in team. Simply put, this happens in the NBA with the devaluation of the regular season. They are playing hard, smart and coach has an excellent game plan!
What's the Detroit issues? Well, we've known what would eventually get them for months now... Lack of shooting and no true secondary scorer. Listen, love me some "UNC" (Tobias) but he simply cannot be your #2 offensive weapon in order to be successful in the postseason.
So what is Orlando doing? They are packing it in! The lack of 3 point shooting has never been more evident. We really miss Malik Beasley here. Just looking at his SM, he misses being out there. Just a weird situation. He was cleared by the feds, apparently. The issue is the NBA is still investigating. I'm going to be hella pissed if/when they clear him as well. Also, Detroit probably around have re-signed or traded back for Shroeder if we're being honest.
Oh, and Timmy Hardaway Jr had a helluva season in Denver...
The list goes on.
The point is, Orlando is packing it in. This is making life harder for Cade and Duren. Less space is a bad thing in today's NBA. I saw someone liken this to 1970s NBA. I looked at several 'still' shots and it's maddening! But, it is working. Cade has less room to operate and subsequently is forcing passes at times... That's part of the turnover issue.
The lack of transition opportunities+less space inside is directly affecting Duren as well.
All that being said, they need to step up as all star players and adjust.
You'll notice Detroit did it's best work on Monday night when the bench unit with Beef Stew was in. That group had excellent +/- numbers when on the floor. The defense they bring is excellent. The issue is scoring.
So, what do I expect tonight? I said the other day I expect Detroit to win here and likely lost G6 back down here in FL. You have to think Detroit comes out with their best effort tonight. Orlando knows they have a home game in their hip pocket as well.
Would I lay 10 pounds? Oh gosh no. That's absurd even if Detroit wins 105-82 tonight. That's a wild tariff to be laying when a team struggles on offense like we do (in a postseason setting).
Live market + unders are probably the way to go IMO.
Detroit isn't out of this. As much credit as I've given to Orlando, let's not forget that they have some offensive lulls too. They tend to play a lot of one on one. There is some questionable shot selections at times too...
Bottom line, let's grab ONE win tonight and put some pressure on the Magic to wrap it up at home.
One step at a time and let's recreate some 2003 "Magic"....
divol
The Spurs can suck my manhood
Please... people here need to stop saying that Magic seed 3 or seed 4 in the East... They aren't.
You have strong 4 - Detroit, Boston, Cleveland and NYK. Then you can argue that Magic are 5th, but I think that Hawks have better case for that spot.
Sixers, Magic, Heat and Raptors are 6-9 positions... I would throw in healthy Bucks to that mix...
Magic have the worst Star of the team - Banchero, that somehow, one of the worst clutch players in regular season, manages to elevate his game come playoffs.
I fully agree about the shooting. I was thinking about it when Blazers played Spurs, that both teams will be eliminated, simply because they can't hit an open J if it's not a star on their team (Cade/ Avdija)...
Duren was voted before Avdija btw for most improved - showing how rigged this competition, but he still has a lot of growth to do. Stewart is the best Center for Pistons this series and Carter best Center overall this series... Hope Duren getting demolished by Cain won't sting for long
Pistons had a great season and I think they are a year ahead of schedule. This summer they need to add shooting, I assume that Cade, Duren and Thompson will have natural improvement getting one season older and next season they will much stronger.
That regardless of the fact that on paper they can still win the Magic this series. But it's not because Pistons that great, but because Magic are very mediocre team that wouldn't have came close to being in play-inn even, had they been in the West...
That's despite the fact that I like Magic btw, Bane and Wagner and others are great - but still... mediocre team, on amazingly mediocre Eastern Conference...
You have strong 4 - Detroit, Boston, Cleveland and NYK. Then you can argue that Magic are 5th, but I think that Hawks have better case for that spot.
Sixers, Magic, Heat and Raptors are 6-9 positions... I would throw in healthy Bucks to that mix...
Magic have the worst Star of the team - Banchero, that somehow, one of the worst clutch players in regular season, manages to elevate his game come playoffs.
I fully agree about the shooting. I was thinking about it when Blazers played Spurs, that both teams will be eliminated, simply because they can't hit an open J if it's not a star on their team (Cade/ Avdija)...
Duren was voted before Avdija btw for most improved - showing how rigged this competition, but he still has a lot of growth to do. Stewart is the best Center for Pistons this series and Carter best Center overall this series... Hope Duren getting demolished by Cain won't sting for long
Pistons had a great season and I think they are a year ahead of schedule. This summer they need to add shooting, I assume that Cade, Duren and Thompson will have natural improvement getting one season older and next season they will much stronger.
That regardless of the fact that on paper they can still win the Magic this series. But it's not because Pistons that great, but because Magic are very mediocre team that wouldn't have came close to being in play-inn even, had they been in the West...
That's despite the fact that I like Magic btw, Bane and Wagner and others are great - but still... mediocre team, on amazingly mediocre Eastern Conference...
Oh wow, what happened!?
skanless13
Fly, Eagles, Fly!
I just have little faith that Detroit can put 2 games together, and I’m guessing Wagner will be back.