DETROIT PISTONS v ORLANDO MAGIC
Prediction: 4-2 PISTONS

Superman is in the house! Well, if there actually is one team that could very well limit Dwight, it would be the Detroit Pistons. They have 4 big guys, who can alternate and frustrate Howard, not to mention have 24 fouls between them to use. The key to this series is if Dwight can play at the level he was at in the first round. I don’t see him getting 20 rebounds anymore in this series, not to mention over 23 points. Yes, I’m seeing him get only around 18 to 22 points as the focus of the Pistons D will be on him. The only way he is going to hit over 23 points is if he makes his free throws, and I pray that he does. But this definitely is the worst team the Magic could go up against in a playoff series.

The regular season series was tied at 2 apiece, but is not going to be quite as relevant as these 2 teams have played at a totally different level in the playoffs. The trend though for those 4 games are the fact that Detroit was able to hold down Dwight to 8 points in one game, even if he had played 31 minutes! That is amazing, and is testament to how well the Pistons can defend if they really wanted to. There is a very big advantage also on the Pistons guard side, as Rip and Chauncey are going to rip Jameer Nelson and Mo Evans to shreds. So it is highly dependent on the Magic’s Big Three, and if they can have even just ONE guy off the bench to spark this team, maybe Bogans or Dooling. Otherwise, the series is going to be over in 5 or 6 for the Pistons.

There are many keys to this series for the Magic to win, and Dwight is on top of that list. He needs to take it to the next level, and get to hit at least 70 percent of his free throws. When it comes down to crunch time, the Pistons will use that Hack-a-Shaq for sure on him if he doesn’t, and the Magic will suffer if he can’t make them. I just realized that Shaq and Dwight are both called Superman, and they both can’t make free throws to save their lives hehe!

The other factors are definitely how well Rashard and Hedo play. They are the only consistent all-around players for Orlando, and their offense will be relied on very heavily. If the Big 3 can hit their numbers, and Rashard plays up to the level that he really can, and Hedo can perform at the high level that got him to win the Most Improved Player trophy this year, then the Magic have a chance.

Pistons First Round:
Detroit got rid of a very pesky 76ers team that brought them to 6 games, and if they didn’t, the Pistons may actually have a much harder time in the Second Round. They have Philly to thank for waking them up that early in the playoffs, as they will come in this series ready to play. Maxiell was a huge spark off the bench for them and started when McDyess broke his nose. Rip played very well also and waxed hot in that last game, though Billups was not himself. Sheed played great especially on the defensive end, and will still be a nightmare for the Magic as he can get out there and shoot that long ball. The Pistons showed that they have the most solid starting five in the league right now, Lakers coming in second, and have 2 to 3 guys off the bench who can immediately help them. Stuckey and Maxiell were very good in their series against Philly, though I’d like to think Jarvis Hayes will be a guy Flip needs to use to be successful in the Second Round.

Magic First Round:
The arena in Orlando looks amazing doesn’t it? With Dwight’s face plastered all over and on the big screen, the Magic marched to the 2nd Round with relative ease. As expected, everyone in a Raptor uniform not named Bosh, Calderon, or Ford, played like crap. And because they did, the Magic destroyed them in their series matchup. Dwight was a MONSTER, and I’m not sure if he averaged 25 points and 20 rebounds a game, but it was pretty darn close to that. He was simply unstoppable, and the Raptors were just reeling all series long.

Hedo played okay, but Rashard stepped it up, and that was key to note because it is about time. Lewis is an amazing player, if you remember his tandem with Ray Allen in Seattle, they wreaked havoc against other teams with their outside touch. But more importantly for Rashard, he knows he is more than capable of pulling down a ton of boards to help his team. And if he plays the way he did in the last 2 games of the 1st round, the Pistons are going to have a hard time stopping him and may give the Magic a chance.

MATCHUPS:

POINT GUARD: CHAUNCEY BILLUPS v JAMEER NELSON
Billups is going to destroy Jameer Nelson, mark my words. There is going to be a huge advantage for the Pistons in this position, as Nelson is too small and too inexperienced to guard a playoff savvy point guard like Chauncey Billups. Look for the Pistons to take full advantage of this spot, by even posting Billups on Nelson. If Nelson proves ineffective, the Magic need to realize that they need to change up on this end especially if Jameer’s offense isn’t going on. The minute that Nelson has no value in offense, they need to bring in Dooling or Bogans off the bench for a better matchup with Chauncey. That will pay off much better for them than have a liability in this position. The only way the Magic have a chance to upset Detroit in this series is if they can solve the guard disadvantage. Let’s see if they can figure it out before they get blown out of the building.
ADVANTAGE: PISTONS

SHOOTING GUARD: RICHARD HAMILTON v MAURICE EVANS
This is yet another huge advantage for the Pistons as Rip has been on fire. I see him running around good screens shooting very well again against this Magic squad, and it will be key to see if Mo Evans can finally do something in the playoffs. He is more than capable of the very mediocre games he plays every game as he can rebound, score, and defend much better than he has shown.

If Evans proves ineffective against Rip, they need to bring in Bogans or Dooling to keep pace. Otherwise, Rip will score 25 points a game at will, and if you mix that up with Chauncey doing the same in these guard positions, the Magic will be in deep trouble. Rip’s game is built around a consistent mid-range game, and what Evans needs to do is force him to take that long three that he suddenly has developed and loved. I’d take that gamble every day of the playoffs even if he makes them. I would prefer seeing Rip shoot a ton of threes, as they need to take Rip off his comfort zone and mix it up!
ADVANTAGE: PISTONS

SMALL FORWARD: TAYSHAUN PRINCE v HEDO TURKOGLU
Prince has been a very consistent player for the Pistons. Very quiet all throughout the regular season, Tayshaun turns it up when it matters in the playoffs. His value is his all-around game and he can drive other teams nuts with his length and defensive skills. A great player to even bring the ball up at point and save Chauncey the energy of having to bring up the ball on every possession, his value to the Pistons is right up there with Rip and Chauncey. I see Prince playing very well against the Magic, maybe score around 15 points a game, but the key is how well he plays D against Hedo. If he can limit Hedo’s numbers significantly, then the Magic don’t stand a chance.

Turkoglu has been named the Most Improved Player of the NBA in 2008. And rightfully so. He has been an all-star all year long and the Magic would not be where they are at without him. He has been clutch almost every game they had a tight one, and they usually came out with a win with the ball on his hands. For a player who has moved from team to team, Hedo has finally found a home in Orlando and is part of that very effective Big 3 with Rashard and Dwight. It is an effective combination because Dwight commands so much attention posting up that it frees up Hedo’s threes and penetration. And as smart as he is, he takes full advantage of that and has averaged amazing numbers all season long. His numbers are up there with the likes of Lebron and Caron in terms of all-around performance on all stat levels, and he will be key to the Magic’s success against the Pistons.
ADVANTAGE: MAGIC

POWER FORWARD: RASHEED WALLACE v RASHARD LEWIS
It’s going to be a dandy watching these 2 play in this series. I see the Pistons having a very hard time dealing with Rashard. As Prince can only defend Turkoglu or Lewis, no one is left to guard the other shooter. I don’t see how Sheed can come out and guard Lewis as he will drive in the lane and get the Pistons big guys in foul trouble. He is also an excellent free throw shooter and will be key along with Turkoglu in dismantling this Piston defense. If Rashard can get his game going early on and have it consistently be at that level and start helping on the boards, this will be a very entertaining series. I am hoping that the last picture I see in this series is that picture of Rashard on the left side raising his arm in victory. But alas, that is going to be a long hard road ahead.

Rasheed Wallace is the anchor to this Piston defense. Although I see him more defensive minded as the guards with have the brunt of the offense, his mentality and attitude towards the game will be something to keep an eye on. He can make and break this team, and his value in this series won’t be as pronounced I think. The Magic need to find a way to get his goat and get Sheed to fume and explode for those technicals. Those can change the face of this game especially if he gets suspended even for just a game.
ADVANTAGE: MAGIC by a hair

CENTER: ANTONIO MCDYESS v DWIGHT HOWARD
Superman is up against his kryptonite! The Pistons are going to bombard Dwight Howard with a myriad of defenders and frustrate him every single game. As Dwight’s free throws are not really a thing to behold, he needs to be able to play a smarter game. He is definitely going to be limited in terms of offensive production and what he needs to realize is that the Magic have a better chance if he can concentrate on playing good D instead of forcing it down low. He needs to be able to get his teammates the ball for easy two’s and three’s and play decoy. Dwight’s game is very polished but his passing is still in the works, and if he can realize the situation as early as the first game, his team will benefit more from it.

Anyone in a Piston uniform will guard and foul Dwight if necessary. There are no easy dunks for Howard anymore and his nirvana has ended in Toronto. It will be a nightmare for the Pistons centers, but they are bangers and they will relish the challenge of bringing down Superman. I think they will be pretty successful too.
ADVANTAGE: MAGIC

BENCH: Jason Maxiell/Rodney Stuckey v Keith Bogans/Carlos Arroyo/Keyon Dooling
Maxiell is again, going to be huge for the Pistons.  I’m pretty sure he will average around 8 boards a game here, and might even start in place of MyDyess.  As he has slowly developed into a real NBA player, Jason Maxiell will be the X-factor for Detroit.  The intangibles he brings on court, like his tenacity and rebounding, as well as his great positioning will spell trouble for the Magic.  In all this, Dwight is going to be tagged with a few fouls and may get him to sit down.  After Howard, there really isn’t anyone else except Adonal Foyle, and that guy down there, Mr Gortat, who will have his ass handed to him by the Pistons if ever he gets in the game.  Stuckey should be playing pretty well also spelling Billups from time to time, but if ever the Pistons get in a bit of trouble, I think Jarvis Hayes should play a pretty good role off the bench for them.  He may or may not play, but he should be a pretty good asset to have just in case.

Who is it going to be for the Magic to step up?  Someone needs to come off the bench and do something significant, otherwise this will be a short series.  With 2 huge disadvantages off the bat in the starting five, the Magic need to have someone from the bench with their head straight and get in the game and produce.  That can be Bogans, Dooling, Arroyo, and even Brian Cook.  Who it will be will be the big question.  If no one produces from here, the Magic can kiss their great season goodbye with a whimper.  The Pistons will take this in 5 games, or even sweep this unless the bench does something.  I pray the Magic will find someone here, but Arroyo should play plenty of minutes in case Jameer proves ineffective.  That Puerto Rican experience of his may prove to be an asset in this series if he is given the chance.  Bogans and Dooling hopefully play their roles to a tee and make this series pretty interesting.
ADVANTAGE: EVEN