<div align="center"> @ <font color="DarkRed">Philadelphia 76ers</font>(0-1)<font color="blue">Detroit Pistons</font>(1-0) <font color="blue">Place:The Palace of Auburn Hills</font> <font color="blue">Time: 7:30 PM est</font> <font color="blue">TV:NBA TV</font></div> <div align="center">Last Meeting: Sixers 85,Pistons 106</div> <div align="center"> Probable Starters <font size="1">(PG Allen Iverson, SG Andre Iguodala, SF Kyle Korver, PF Chris Webber, C Samuel Dalembert)</font></div> <div align="center">_________________________________________</div> <div align="center">Probable Satrters <font size="1">(PG Chauncey , SG Rip Hamiltion, SF TayShaun Prince, PF Rasheed Wallace, C Ben Wallace)</font></div> <font color="DarkRed">Philadelphia 76ers</font> <u>Keys to the Game</u> <ul><font color="Red">Consistency</font> On many occasions the 76ers have started games very strong, but seem to get weaker and weaker by the minute after they get off to that good start. We've seen it happen on a Sunday against the Celtics for example, and just recently after pulling out on a 16 point lead on the Pistons the 76ers end up loosing by double digits instead of winning by them. There are many reasons for this, which I will reach to later but the bottom line is the Sixers have to stay consistent throughout the game. If the 76ers could stay consistent on a regular basis, you would be surprised at what they could accomplish. When playing a great team like Detroit you have no choice but to stay consistent or the end result will be similar to what happened the last time the 76ers and the Pistons played. For the 76ers to be consistent they have to play as a team, and learn how to score in the half court offense. Philadelphia?s playing style is a run-n-gun type style but you can't rely on that for 48 minutes. Reason being is because most teams will adjust to that, especially the Detroit Pistons. [/list] <ul><font color="Red">Role Players/Bench</font> As many of you know, the 76ers had a 16 point lead in Game One, and were looking good against the Pistons starting five. The Pistons bench was different from the starters though, guys like Antonio Mcdyess and Carlos Aroyyo brought them back into the game. Both were active in the game, but both should be easily handled as well. Mcdyess has to many open jumpers and like most NBA players would, he made them, with that being said we need to contest every shot and make him take shots that he isn't comfortable with. He also got a couple of offensive boards on the Sixers as well, so they need to block him out and not let him be active on the glass. If the 76ers contain the Pistons bench then they will be a lot better off, because they won the game for the Pistons last time. Vice versa, the 76ers have to get some production from their bench. They need guys like Marc Jackson to produce inside and play tough, Aaron Mckie to play hard defense and help run the offense, and guys like Rodney Rogers and John Salmons to make the open jumpers. As for the role player?s part of the keys to the game, the younger starters like Korver and Iguodala need to step up their game. I understand both are new comers in the playoffs but we need both of them to contribute like they have been earlier this season. Without Kyle and Andre the Sixers team lag a part of their success and that hurt them in game once. [/list] <ul><font color="Red">Defense Down the Stretch/force turnovers</font> Philadelphia did a good job early in the game forcing the Pistons to turnovers and converting them to points. But as the game came on the 76ers were not forcing turnovers, or making defensive stops. As a result guys like Rasheed Wallace and Prince began to come on for the Pistons adding to the lead ever since they were up only two points at the half. Both of them got a few too many open looks, and playing the defending champions you cannot give up uncontested jump shots.[/list] <div align="center"><u>Key Players</u></div> <div align="center"></div> <font color="red"><div align="center">Sheed Wallace Projected Game Stats: 25 points 8 rebounds 4 assists Allen Iverson Projected Game Stats: 41 points 2 rebounds 6 assists</div></font> My Prediction: The 76ers showed in game one that the Pistons aren't flawless. You can make an argument that if Philly would have kept with it they could have very well pulled off a win in game one. It will be tough to defeat this team no matter what, because the Pistons are the defending champs. But if we want to win, AI is going to have to play huge, he'll have to dominate. I have a feeling AI will bring it tonight. The question is, will The Answer be enough? I think if Allen dominates tonight and they play as a team, the 76ers can pull it off, that does not mean it will happen though.
You sound real dubious in your predictions. Yes, Philly is going to have to play GREAT in order to win, but not perfect. Good preview btw. Well as for the game, it's going to be an up and down game, well at least late in the game. I see the Pistons taking early command throughout the first half, but the 76ers will eventually make a run late in the 3rd quarter and set the stage for a clutch shooting contest between Chauncey "Big Shot" Billups and Allen "The Answer" Iverson. But when everything is said and done, I think the rebounding department and points off of turnovers will be the biggest beneficiary to which ever team wins.
Argh! We got crushed again. The game was semi close at halftime but then as always, Detroit just closed the game and beat us with their depth. This game basically ran like last time except that we didn't have the big lead, Iverson wasn't shooting well, and neither was Webber. The role players sort of stepped up but it wasn't nearly enough for us to take it. Again, Korver and Iguodala seemed too tentative and out of sync to really have an impact while once again Dalembert had a pretty nice game. Kind of makes you think whether this team was ready. Well, we're going back to Philly for two games so I think the best we can do is extend this a bit longer. Hey, at least our young guys got some playoff experience.
We played pretty well but...their the Pistons. They`re are almost just too good to beat. The supporting cast really needed to step up and they did some of that, but not much. Now we go back to Philadelphia. I still have alot of hope for the 76ers and I think we can tie this series up. Whats this I hear about AI having a coin get thrown at him last night???
