Pistons-Magic Game Preview 1/18/05 Who: Orlando Magic and Detroit Pistons When: 7:00 PM ET Where: T.D. Waterhouse Centre <u><font size="3">Projected Starting Lineups</font></u> <font color="Blue"><u>Orlando Magic</u></font> <font size="1">(Steve Francis, Doug Christie, Grant Hill, Dwight Howard, Kelvin Cato)</font> <font color="Blue"> 6th Man</font> <font size="1">Hedo Turkoglu</font> <font color="Red"><u>Detroit Pistons</u></font> <font size="1">(Chauncey Billups, Richard Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince, Rasheed Wallace, Ben Wallace)</font> <font color="Red">6th Man</font> <font size="1">Antonio Mcdyess</font> <u><font size="3">My Prediction</font></u> For the Magic to win this game they need to make smart passes and don't make stupid fouls. Last game against the Pacers, they had 3 players foul out (Francis, Battie, Howard). They also need to make smart passes. Last game against the Pistons, they made stupid transition passes. They need to slow it down or just make smart passes during fast break. If they can do these things, I think the Magic will win 95-91. If they can't do these things I think the Pistons will win 91-86.
Good game preview. It's gonna be interesting how Johnny Davis adds Andrew Declerq into his rotation after he returns off the IL. I sure hope Declerq doesn't take anyone's minutes. I think the Magic can win this game if we continue our defensive intensity and cut down on TO's.
According to the Magic Pregame Notes, Hedo starts again and DC comes off the bench. I don't like that Hedo plays extensive minutes at SG, he also struggled in the last game and couldn't find his shot and Hamilton dominated us through the whole game, imho DC should start and shut him down. And yes, DeClerq is in and Kasun is out, hope DeClerq doesn't get too many minutes...
103-101 Great game. We showed great tenacity in this game to go down, then come back and then keep on it right at the end. DC definatly helped win this game big time, with a massive 4 steals and great 9 pts, and some nice plays. Hedo and Francis were awsome on offense, and really kept it going on there, but gotta say, loved DC's play this game, his D really did help!
