The Pistons were ABSOLUTELY TERRIFIC TONIGHT!!!!!!!!!!

darko had one turnover. 3 second call the guard should have shot the ball. the pass was just a thread the needle type of pass. they were costly though.

darko did what he did best and that's play defense. the only player to score on him was sheed. he checked tay, sheed, jmax, dice, dale davis. 1 field goal on him. darko basically shut down whoever he checked he just couldn't stop chauncey and rip. weak way to blame the loss on darko but cb and rip and flip had great games.

Watching Darko in extended minutes for Orlando for the first time tonight (I hadn't seen much of the Magic this year), I really am impressed with how Darko-colored the world looks through bball jay's eyes. He played 24 minutes, 4 pts, 5 boards. Not much passion, which is awfully weak when you're playing the team that (in Darko's view) failed to give him a fair shake for three years.

It should be mentioned that JMax actually played 17 minutes tonight; didn't do too much, from what I saw (just the 2nd half). Nazr only played 13 minutes.

Excellent point D4E. If he couldn't get up for this game, he never will.

this is one part of a double recap. the combined recap can be found here: http://www.pistonsforum.com/december...html#post62794 - Slippy

Is this where I am supposed to do my thoughts on the game? Well, I apologize for the delay. My long-winded sister-in-law in SC called just before the game was over and just got off the phone. I have dial-up with one phone line.

Anyway, going in, I figured there was not much advantage or disadvantage because coming home from a long road trip, your own floor is much like another away game. And all the news about CB not playing and Battie not playing and DMC starting, all came to naught. Just so much trash talk.

Anyway, right from the beginning, CB really kept the game in check, set the pace, and for most of the game, I did not know whether the defense on both teams was really good or whether the offense was very bad. I opted for the good defense.

The Pistons started out making 3s and the Magic could not make two footers. And where was Dwight for most of the first quarter. Piston D on him was really good, and stayed that way all night. He didn't score until 5 minutes left in the quarter and his first board came at 4 minutes.

Here comes Darko and the second unit, and in a minute, DMC had a bucket, a steal and a board. Good start and with the second unit in, (for most of the run) the Magic went from 9 down to 6 ahead. A 19-4 run with mostly the second unit in, with a starter or two.

Arriza is a good addition to the second unit, Darko played Dyce well, forcing a travel. Then he picked up a mystery foul; during all the replays no one could see a foul. But one was called on DMC.

Darako went out with the Magic +8 and in a couple of minutes, it was +2. And the Pistons were still keeping Dwight out of his game.

Both CB and Murray abused Jameer and I expect that to continue. He is just not a starting guard in this league. He is flat not big enough. But then when CB got another 3 and it looked like the Pistons were getting something started, Jameer answered with a 3, tying it up again. Sheed had a nice block and the Magic lead at half 44-40.

In the second half, they both still were showing good D, and neither could get much going. Jameer got the ball to Ariza on the break one time and I would have sworn it was Rip to Tay. Jameer is trying to force things too much rather than being a point guard and getting the ball to his teammates.

The Pistons also made a game out of abusing the Magic's lack of a perimeter defense. Sheed, CB, Flip all had uncontested perimeter shots all night and the Magic knew going in that the Pistons are a jump-shooting team. No reason why the Magic did not concentrate on that.

Carlos does the same thing. When DMC came in and got that lob, so pretty and so uncontested, I just cannot imagine why the Magic does not do more of it. With Dwight in the game or not, Darko is so open after the pick and rolls that if they would only call his number, the lobs are there for the taking. Do it until somebody stops it.

Carlos dribbled into trouble and tried a leaping, twisting shot that had no chance of going in while DMC was right there for the lob. When this happens so much, I just wonder what is going on.

Going into the 4th, it is just too much CB because he is so darned good and the Magic just have no answer for him.

Then, late, Rip is just indespensible. And to boot, in the last two Magic possessions, Darko screwed up. 3 second call and missed a pass. I guess he was just too surprised to catch it.

Bad floor spacing all night for Orlando didn't help and there was just no answer for Chauncey. And I wish the refs would not make any foul calls on Sheed during the entire game. It just pisses him off and he takes it out on the Magic. Just let him do whatever he wants and keep him happy.

Well, that's about it.

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Things appear to be at their darkest . . . . . . . . . just before they go totally black!!

Thanks lazy!

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Nov 13 LW Milan Lucic had an active night. He scored his first goal in eight games since his Oct. 25 hat trick and also pounded Michael Komisarek in a third-period fight. Lucic cut his hand in a fight with Michael Komisarek. "I'll be fine," he said. "(X-rays are) negative, but there's so many broken bones in there from before you can't really tell."

That was a great game summary, berbs. Much appreciated, since I didn't see any of the first half.

Postgame interviews with the coaches (see attached).

Attached Files

	flip120806.mp3 (3.40 MB, 5 views)
	hill120806.mp3 (2.09 MB, 14 views)

Maybe the intimidator got intimidated