VS Series: 3-0 Pistons LeadDate: Saturday, April 28thTime: 3:00 PM ETTV: TNTAmway ArenaStarting LineupsPG: Chauncey BillupsSG: Richard HamiltonSF: Tayshaun PrincePF: Rasheed WallaceC: Chris WebberHead Coach: Flip SaundersPG: Jameer NelsonSG: Grant HillSF: Hedo TurkogluPF: Tony BattieC: Dwight HowardHead Coach: Brian HillInjuriesNone to report as of nowNone to report as of nowKey bench playersAntonio McDyessCarlos DelfinoFlip MurrayLindsey HunterJason MaxiellTrevor ArizaCarlos ArroyoDarko MilicicKeyon DoolingPat GarrityWhat the Pistons have to do1. Focus on winning.2. Keep playing the way they have been.3. See #'s 1 and 2.What the Magic have to do1. Do or die... enough said.2. Just bear down and play good basketball.3. Hope and pray for a win.Game preview: <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>By MARK LONG, AP Sports WriterORLANDO, Fla. (AP) -- The Detroit Pistons would like a little downtime, something they haven't enjoyed since the All-Star break in February.They know how to get it, too.Detroit needs to sweep Orlando and hope the Miami-Chicago series extends into next week."I would love it," guard Chauncey Billups said Friday. "I think it would be great for our guys to get some time off before the next series. I think we'll be thinking about that at the start of the game, trying to get the win so we can be blessed enough to get some time off.ADVERTISEMENT"I like to play, but at this point in the season, rest is very, very vital -- even if it's a week or 10 days."The Pistons, the top seed in the Eastern Conference, have beaten the Magic handily the first three games and essentially outplayed them at every position.If the trend continues in Game 4 on Saturday, the Pistons will have their first postseason series sweep since 1990, when the "Bad Boys" swept Indiana in the first round en route to a second consecutive NBA title."I don't think any of us really care about what's happened since 1990 and all of that," center Chris Webber said. "We just have to try to win and close this out. If we do that, we'll change history. If we don't, then we'll be in for a long series. We need to make sure we handle our business and close it out."Detroit has been good at closing out opponents in the postseason in recent years. Since the 2003 playoffs began, the franchise is 11-1 in series-clinching games. The only loss came at San Antonio in Game 7 of the 2005 finals."When we feel like we can get the series over with, we've been very aggressive and taken care of business," Billups said. "I'm expecting and hoping the same thing (Saturday)."Coach Flip Saunders said his veteran team seems to sense when opponents feel defeated, and then feed off it."Every time you're in a close-out-type situation, there's a point in the game where the other team starts questioning themselves," Saunders said. "It's human nature. Our guys have a pretty good sense of feeling that when that happens, we seem to jump on that."The Magic have lost all seven meetings with Detroit this season and have little hope of changing the outcome of the series, especially since no team in NBA history has overcome a 3-0 deficit.But Orlando would like to prolong the series -- and not let the Pistons celebrate a sweep here."It's tough," Magic guard Grant Hill said. "We've lost and really haven't played our game. We haven't played a good game, and it's disappointing. But we still have a game, and that's the most important thing. It would be great to at least get a win and take this back to Detroit."You have to tip your hat to them. They're taking us out of our comfort zone, making things difficult for us, capitalizing on our mistakes and just playing better than us basically."Indeed.Billups has been better than Jameer Nelson at the point. Richard Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince have been more effective than Hill and Hedo Turkoglu. And Rasheed Wallace and Webber have dominated Dwight Howard and Tony Battie in the post.The Pistons have focused on taking leading scorer Howard out of the game, doubling him nearly every time he touches the ball and rotating Wallace, Webber, Antonio McDyess and Dale Davis into the game to cover -- and often foul -- Orlando's All-Star center.The scheme has worked to perfection.Howard is 13-of-27 from the field, getting most of his baskets in transition and following offensive rebounds, and just 6-of-16 from the free throw line.Even when Howard has been able to pass out of double teams, Hill, Turkoglu and others have mostly failed to knock down open shots. Orlando is 8-of-21 from 3-point range.Without Howard and without much help, the Magic find themselves in a precarious position."I think the game will tell us a lot about our guys, collectively and individually, as to how we're going to compete," coach Brian Hill said. "Is everybody going to be out there playing with a sense of desperation? Or are some guys going to have a little bit more of a nonchalant attitude like the season is over? I think you find out a lot about guys when they're forced to perform in situations like this."Detroit already knows what to expect in this situation: a victory Saturday, a rare series sweep and then maybe some downtime."We're going to get to relax Sunday and Monday, hopefully, if we go in and do what we've got to do," Wallace said.</div>Game 4, Pistons looking for a sweep. Will Howard and Co. keep them away for one more game?My PredictionPistons 95Magic 90
great series by Detroit! They really have proven they are the best in the East. I look forward to seeing them play the Bulls next week! :worthy:
Just because they swept the Magic they proved they are the best team in the east? The Bulls are on the verge of sweeping the Heat, then doesn't that make them the best team in the east?
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jkidd51524 @ Apr 28 2007, 05:57 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Just because they swept the Magic they proved they are the best team in the east? The Bulls are on the verge of sweeping the Heat, then doesn't that make them the best team in the east?</div>LOL, thats the stupidest logic ever. Detroit was already the favorite and the best team in the East. They have just further solidified that.BTW:.........
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jkidd51524 @ Apr 28 2007, 02:57 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Just because they swept the Magic they proved they are the best team in the east? The Bulls are on the verge of sweeping the Heat, then doesn't that make them the best team in the east?</div>What I meant was people shy away from Detroit at certain times and overlook that they are one of the top teams in the NBA. Their entire roster is built for a title run. The Bulls are good, but they aren't as complete as the Pistons. That's why their series will be very interesting to see who really is the top dog. But for now, Detroit is the favorite and no one should think otherwise.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (MrBigShot_23 @ Apr 28 2007, 07:08 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>BTW:.........</div>copy cat! copy cat! copy cat! copy cat! copycat! copy cat!
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (MrBigShot_23 @ Apr 28 2007, 07:08 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>LOL, thats the stupidest logic ever. Detroit was already the favorite and the best team in the East. They have just further solidified that.</div>I was just making a joke at the comment made Hornets fan, I didn't mean that. But now I get what he is saying.
The Bulls are going to be tough dont get me wrong but its Playoff time AKA Piston time so I dont care how tough they are, Bulls, Cavs, Nets, whoever, the East is ours. but we're getting a lot of rest so that can only help us right now. it especially helps guys like Dyess, Davis, Chauncey, Sheed, Webber and re-fuels Rip.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>What the Pistons have to do1. Focus on winning.2. Keep playing the way they have been.3. See #'s 1 and 2.What the Magic have to do1. Do or die... enough said.2. Just bear down and play good basketball.3. Hope and pray for a win.</div>no offense dude, but those aren't exactly the most specific game keys I've ever seen.....
Kind of glad both us and the Bulls swept It gives us both some rest...we obviously need it more as we're quite a bit older and rely more on the starters. Plus I think teams that play a longer series usually have an advantage in Game 1 next round rather then sitting for a week.The Bulls are gonna be extremely tough though. If they win this round they should have no problem with the eastern conf finals .
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Combs @ Apr 30 2007, 06:29 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>The Bulls are gonna be extremely tough though. If they win this round they should have no problem with the eastern conf finals .</div>actually it exactly the same for the pistons Pistons or Bulls will represent the east in the Nba finals! Guarensheed
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (PN13 @ Apr 30 2007, 11:04 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>The Bulls are going to be tough dont get me wrong but its Playoff time AKA Piston time so I dont care how tough they are, Bulls, Cavs, Nets, whoever, the East is ours. but we're getting a lot of rest so that can only help us right now. it especially helps guys like Dyess, Davis, Chauncey, Sheed, Webber and re-fuels Rip.</div>I defiently agree. Were primed and up and running in the playoffs, just like 03-04. I can for sure see us taking this whole thing.That being said, I've said it since about mid-season, Chicago is our biggest threat. I dont think any other team really has a chance at us besides them in the East. It will be interesting to see how it plays out.
