Game #31: Magic @ Pistons Dec. 29th 7:30 p.m.

[Force9024]

Games like this is when you need a veteran like Joe Smith to come in for those who didn't see the fit.. But yeah Turk tried to do too much when we were down 5 and decided to take it himself post up and do the fall away shot.. Ah well only 1 game.. 24-7.. No big deal.. Just have to start another streak.. Jameer didn't show up too good for us tonight and that was the difference..

[UCFJayBird]

Streak was bound to end sooner or later, might as well end against a good team on the road. Hopefully the Magic take out their frustration on Chicago on Wednesday and start another good streak. Just sucks, I was hoping the Magic could keep it up long enough to gain some ground on Cleveland, but they're playing just as good really.

[UCFJayBird]

oh yea, and we're still on track to win 63 games.

[zerp]

Pistons are more physical than Magic.
McDyess-Wallace-Maxiel more physical and can shot >>>>> Howard-Gortat-Battie.
Very difficult for the Magic against this team.

[Force9024]

Pistons are more physical than Magic.
McDyess-Wallace-Maxiel more physical and can shot >>>>> Howard-Gortat-Battie.
Very difficult for the Magic against this team.

Agreed.. And this is why I'm all for a Joe Smith trade.. Having Howard/Battie/Smith/Gortat to throw at the Pistons would help alot.. I hope something can be done soon with that.. We need tweaks to further place us in the playoffs.. I really think Joe Smith can help out play wise and character wise..

[Last Guardian]

Pietrus was looking good early too, he may have made a difference.

[vagnermagic]

Frustrating.

After all the good teams we beat, we still can't beat the Pistons. That's annoying.

[MitchellUK]

Meh. Wouldn't expect to win when Dwight was shut down for an entire half, Hedo went ice cold after a good start, and Meer decided tonight was the night he was going to play like the Jameer Nelson of the first couple of games of the season, with foul trouble added for good measure. I am not sure why he was so deferential throughout - maybe it was SVGs gameplan to use him off the ball, but either way, he didn't look involved.

Pleasing aspect - we were still competitive despite all the above problems, which was mainly down to some good defense. If we had rebounded better and prevented extra possessions, we could have left with a win.

[J_Magic]

We actually need Peaches healthy. What a shame he went down early...he brings much needed athletism from the guard spot. How long will Bogans be in the starting lineup?

[mhectorgato]

Well we can see what we need to do in the future. As zerp brought out, their front line plays so tough and physical.

Hopefully in the future games, our guys come out with a playoff mentality from the start instead of starting it at the half.

They are just a tough tough tough team to beat.

[AgEnT50]

Pistons are more physical than Magic.
McDyess-Wallace-Maxiel more physical and can shot >>>>> Howard-Gortat-Battie.
Very difficult for the Magic against this team.

24 - 7 >> > > 18 - 11

[Typhoon20]

Turk and Shard played great...whenever we dug ourselves in a hole they put us back on our feet. They kept respoding to the Pistons time after time, but at the end of the game they started to miss...shame.

I will never like Nelson as a PG, never have liked his game as a PG and never will.
Everything is so dependant on his shooting, if it's there we have a shot, if it's not we're horrible.
For someone who doesn't play any D whatsoever he sure got into quick foul trouble.

Ah well..let's trade Turk. We need to sacrifice someone.

[Last Guardian]

Pistons are more physical than Magic.
McDyess-Wallace-Maxiel more physical and can shot >>>>> Howard-Gortat-Battie.
Very difficult for the Magic against this team.

Most of us are saying we need a Maxiell or McDyess type on this team. That is the missing piece to the championship puzzle. That and Dwight being more consistent offensively.

[MagicMadness]

Tank the season?

[magicman123]

nelson, hedo, bogans, and johnson almost went MIA in the 2nd half

[HeyIt'sMe]

Thought Howard should of had more touches down the stretch considering how well he was playing, but all in all, can't complain about the effort tonight. Pistons just made some clutch plays and got some lucky bounces.

[OrlandoMagic]

This loss has know knocked us down 4 spot in the power rankings. Behind teams such as Cavs, Lakers, Celtics, Spurs, Pistons, and Hawks... LOL

[MMFla]

I had a feeling that we would lose this game, hopefully we clean up the bad turnovers and take control the next games and get back on track. They are to good defensively we can't have the bad end of the game turnovers and forcing shots.

Hopefully MP comes back it was a tough fall he does a lot with his length and slashing. Hopefully the Pistons play the Lebronaleers or Boston in the playoffs.

[supwitheddie]

Ok well I tried to watch this really hard without thinking that the calls were one sided, but it just seemed like detroit was getting away with hack after hack. Howard was hacked on almost all if not every shot, and yet got barely any calls. To an extent I agree that detroit out hustled us at times but as a former player I can tell you when call after call is going against you it takes you out of the game mentally. No matter how good our shooters are if they are mentally frustrated they are not going to make shots.

It may not even be the officiating crew, because I notice it every time we play the Pistons. They are very physical, and they do foul a lot. The Magic are a "softer" team and usually do play cleaner. So the officials dont want to call everything they pick and choose the fouls committed by the Pistons, and call any little thing the Magic do. I think by fourth quarter we should have started making them pay for everything. If we are going to get called for petty BS lets really foul hard and bring up our physicality level to that of the Pistons. Continuing to play like the "Magic" against physical teams like Detroit is not going to help us get any foul calls.

[magicman123]

im still happy about this team, but we still need another pg and a quality big