Detroit Pistons Defeat Philadelphia 76ers, Orlando Magic Next Up

[Shame About Ray]

The Pistons face the Magic in the second round of the 2008 NBA playoffs. We asked the Locksmith to weigh in on who he thinks will advance.

The Detroit Pistons began their series against the Philadelphia 76ers with a nonchalant attitude, and in the first three games of the series the Pistons looked completely uninterested. After going down 2-1 in the series to a 76ers team that was beginning to believe, it was time for a wake-up call for Detroit. That wake-up call would come in the form of the return of Mr. Bigshot. Chauncey Billups had been struggling in the series and had not played like his nickname dictates. But Billups would return to form, and once Mr. Bigshot came back, the Pistons came back. Rip Hamilton began to get loose, Rasheed Wallace started to care and Tayshaun Prince was… well, he was still Tayshaun Prince. On the strength of hot shooting by Mr. Bigshot and Wallace, the Pistons began to take control of the series with firepower that the 76ers simply did not have the personnel to match. The “D” in D-Town returned as the Pistons locked up Philadelphia by holding them under 90 points for three consecutive games. Detroit would go on to win three straight games against the 76ers and close out the series in six. Detroit seemed to get its swagger back as the series progressed, but should the Pistons repeat the same apathetic and sloppy start they had against the 76ers in the second round against the Orlando Magic and Dwight Howard, it could be a quick end to their season and championship hopes.

> Bet on the NBA playoffs action in the Bodog Sportsbook!

Continued at BodogLife.com...