Arron = 20 min = win

The formula is almost 100%

Awesome game by Sheed. A defensive gem. Also, this was a game where Sheed should have been living on the 3-point line and he made ORL pay and opened up the game for us a bit.

Stuck with a very solid performance again. His consistency is really impressing me.

And AI had one of those games where he fit in perfectly. He only forced it when we had no other options and he converted on a decent percentage.

Of course Dyess was solid as heck too. He and Amir had 15 rebounds in 44 combined minutes. About the same rate a Howard.

When you out free throw the Magic 29-14, it is a big accomplishment. And we got ripped off on some calls too, so even better.


Only criticisms are 1) that Sheed should not have taken a tech when we were only up 2 and actually got the rebound anyway and 2) it took some pretty difficult 3's for us to maintain the lead (not sure if this win is duplicatable). But otherwise, a great win against a strong team without Rip. We never actually lost the lead once we had it, although they tied us briefly.

The best part about all of this though, is that we held another team to a low score. 2 nights in a row that we will probably have the best defense in the NBA. MC, big ball works. Starting Amir works. Gotta bench a great player, so I'm feeling for ya.

__________________
You can never have perfect introspection: because if you could, then you could determine what you were going to do ten seconds from now, and then do something else.

I think we'll be fine with Rip's offense back against them. We really needed outside shooting to loosen up the middle, but managed to get away with it this game with some lucky shots, and good defense.

edited to add; we are lucky Pietrus wasn't able to play. He would really test the size of the guards we had out there.

And Curry basically admitted in the post game that Sheed with one big doesn't work. Looks like the stage is being set for "the benching"

Joe has got to make a move with one of these SGs. Stuckey's ability to run the point combined with 2 bigs that defend is a winning combo. Plug in Tay's versatile game, a scorer at the two, and we're talking.

If we go back to starting small ball at any point this season, it will only confirm that the Pistons organization cares way more about coddling egos/selling tickets, than they care about actually competing for a title.

Make a move Joe. AI/Rip does not work. AJ/Sheed does.

VERY, very good point. Instead of critisizing MC keep it in mind that MC's hands are tied: MC MUST start AI because of AI sells tickets.

Hey LP, any chance you can tell me the url for this board?

I usually go to REALGM.com, but they have something called ORL Magic Zone which you can probably get by googling. I don't know how good that one is.

I can't help reading it. Their fans are absolutely hysterical.

edited to add; here's the link for the zone board

Orlando Magic Forum - Forum Powered by eve community

I'm off from school. I have alot of free time LOL

Watched this one from the cavernous confines of a r&s book bar, so I may be a little off, but I thought the boys did a good job, particularly on D.

I thought Amir was fairly solid on D despite the fouls, and of course Dice did well. Sheed's defense these last 2 games have been very good/great (the T was bad though). This starting lineup seems to be working despite AI's weaknesses on D. One of TGRH/AI should come off the bench for the betterment of the team. Tay was solid, as was Stuckey. I'm loving not having to watch small ball right now; hopefully we don't go back to that when TGRH returns. TGRH's groin for MVP?

Oh yeah, Jameer Nelson is still a you know what in my book.

Thank you. I agree with you. Magic fans hate us so much it's hilarious; I remember a poster on some board kept calling the Pistons dirty thugs and kept saying we got away with 100000000000 fouls in the playoffs last year. Orlando area newspapers write up some pretty harsh/funny stuff too.

Maxiel's foul on the Lewis 3-pointer was one of the dumbest fouls of the NBA season. First, he left Lewis open after he had already hit 5 3-pointers. Then, he slams into him after he drains the three. Just an amazingly stupid foul. Luckily, it didn't cost the Pistons the game.