Appears the Pistons have flipped the switch and started playing playoff basketball. They lead 84-62 at the end of the 3rd quarter
We all knew the Pistons would come back strong. They are a veteran team that doesn't panic. I fully expect them to take it in 5.
This is awesome. Pistons getting blown out by 76ers in the 3rd game of the playoffs. You know, if Detroit loses this series (that's a BIG if still), it should be considered a bigger upset than Dallas' meltdown last season.
I'd consider Dallas' meltdown bigger still, just because Dallas won 67 games, which is no easy feat. Detroit won 59, which is still really good, and Philly upsetting them would be huge.
That's a tough one. I mean, Dallas went 67-15. They should have SWEPT the Warriors, but the Warriors took them in 6, IIRC. 67-15, that's even better than Boston this season. On the contrary, Philly (and don't get me wrong, I am a diehard Philly fan) finished the season BELOW .500; Golden State could have gotten the third or fourth season (guesstimating) if they had been playing in the East. But since they're in the West they didn't even make the playoffs. Onto the REAL subject, Detroit getting blown away by Philly ... by TWENTY. Not one, not two, but twenty. The series goes 2-1, and I fully expect Philly to win the series. 4-2 is my prediction.
Although Dallas did win 67 games, there was a widely available belief that Don Nelson, GS' coach, knew many of Dallas' schemes and they matched up EXTREMELY well with Dallas. During the time, several writers published stories that said the Warriors will present a very big challenge to the Dallas team. Thus, Mavs losing didn't come as a complete surprise. A lot of us were waiting for it. As for Philly beating Detroit in a playoff series, it's absolutely unbelievable. Hell, I can't believe Philly is in the playoffs at all! There is no reason that a veteran club like Detroit should be trailing the series 1-2 after getting blown out by 20. Ask yourself: What's more likely, Dallas team with "Dirk the Choker" losing to a team that presents huge match up problems, or an established, supposedly gritty never say die team like the Pistons losing to an upstart Philly team that wouldn't have even been in the playoffs at the All Star break. P.S. I still think that DET will win the series, but I hope Philly beats them. At the same time, I don't think Dirk's label as "soft choker" is correct at all.
I'm sure they can pull it and come back and win it all even if they are 1-3 but what the Sixers have done is amazing. This is bigger than what the Warriors did last year. (imo)
The Sixers are playing like I wanted the Hawks to play. Loose basketball. While the Pistons were said to sweep the Sixers, the Sixers aren't looking at the Pistons like that. They are playing like they are higher seeded and they want to win. They don't care about how vet Detroit is, or how many championships they've won. The Sixers are playing to win it all.
