Game 1: 76ers @ Pistons 4/20

[The Guilty Party]

@


Game Time: 6:00PM EST
TV: TNT
Radio: ????

Series Schedule
Game 1 Apr. 20th @ DET: Sunday @ 6PM
Game 2 Apr. 23rd @ DET: Wednesday @ 7:30PM
Game 3 Apr. 25th @ PHI: Friday @ 7PM
Game 4 Apr. 27th @ PHI: Sunday @ 7PM
Game 5 @ DET: TBD
Game 6 @ PHI: TBD
Game 7 @ DET: TBD

Probable Starters



It's playoff time and so national tv here we come!! When I think about this game, I sort of think back to the 2001 NBA Finals. We went into that series feeling great about the fact that our team made it there but we were going up against a Laker squad that hadn't lost a game in the playoffs so we were big time underdogs. We took game 1 in LA and shocked the world (I say the world because I was at a tiki bar in Jamaica watching the game the on a fuzzy set and they were shocked, Mon!). Anywho, I don't see us winning this series but I could see us coming in and stealing game 1. That said, I'm not confident about that feeling hence...

My Prediction: Pistons by 5+



Eastern Conference Playoff Match-ups

[1]Boston Vs. [8]Atlanta: Series Tied 0-0

[2]Detroit Vs. [7]Philadelphia: Series Tied 0-0

[3]Orlando Vs. [6]Toronto: Series Tied 0-0

[4]Cleveland Vs. [5]Washington: Series Tied 0-0

Western Conference Playoff Match-ups

[1]LA Lakers Vs. [8]Denver: Series Tied 0-0

[2]New Orleans Vs. [7]Dallas: Series Tied 0-0

[3]San Antonio Vs. [6]Phoenix: Series Tied 0-0

[4]Utah Vs. [5]Houston: Series Tied 0-0

[carlos1223]

Whyy is Wille Green starting instead of Thad? We will lose each game by at least 20 points if he starts

[underpressure]

I don't believe we have any real chances in the first game. Detroit wants to prevent us from any surprises or any false hopes. I believe our chances stand much better if we go into the second game since they might underestimate us a little bit.

[The Guilty Party]

Is anyone on this board picking the Sixers to win this series???

[fofofo]

Playing young guys and getting out and running are the two things that are very hard to do in the playoffs. If there is a slight hope it is that the Pistons come out a little flat or complacent or uninspired and we get a split out there. I hope for that '98-'99 kind of feeling when Theo was here and we surprised the Magic, gotta go look up the game summaries for that series, that was a return to the playoffs just like this year. Let's go Sixers.

[Johnny Broad-Street]

I wouldn't go so far as to say I pick the Sixers to win, but I wouldn't be surprised if we did.

The Pistons are beatable.

[barkley34]

I think we lose in a hard fought close game. Low scoring like 89-86.

[PrimeTime21]

Can anyone remember a few years ago in Iggy's first year in the first round against Detroit, Philly came out on fire and gave them a little scare early on but Detroit came back and won? I can see that happening again in the first game.

[dbodner]

Yeah. I remember. Then willie green short-armed a free throw at the end of game 4 that could have tied it up 2-2. Hopefully history doesn't repeat itself.

[barkley34]

Can anyone remember a few years ago in Iggy's first year in the first round against Detroit, Philly came out on fire and gave them a little scare early on but Detroit came back and won? I can see that happening again in the first game.

Yeah, we jumped on them early in that one. I remember AI saving the ball to Iggy who threw down a reverse 2 hand jam.

[eyeatoma]

-= original quote snipped =-



Yeah, we jumped on them early in that one. I remember AI saving the ball to Iggy who threw down a reverse 2 hand jam.

Close to commercials...good times...

[The Guilty Party]

If I remember correctly, Iguodala got a breakaway dunk off of the opening tip. It started so good but I also recall the series ending with Kyle Korver throwing up an off-balance, one-legged, 30 foot 3 pointer that came nowhere close to going in.

[tk76]

Can anyone remember a few years ago in Iggy's first year in the first round against Detroit, Philly came out on fire and gave them a little scare early on but Detroit came back and won? I can see that happening again in the first game.

I see this game following a similar flow. Heres' my detailed prediction:

The Sixers start hot and running and pull out to an eight point lead. Then the Pistons re-group and the game slows down. By half the Pistons will be up by 3.

The Pistons will open the 3rd with a big run against Green/Evans and be up by 10+.

They sixers will make a run in the late 3rd/4th when Lou and Young are put in, but then the Pistons hold on to win somewhat comfortably by 8 pts.

[PrimeTime21]

I hope we don't have to see much of Evans in this series, except for matching up against Maxiell.

[IggyTheBEaST]

Is anyone on this board picking the Sixers to win this series???

Sadly no.

I would have picked them against the Cavs, Wizards or Raptors. Detriot, Boston and Orlando are the toughys.


Obviously there are upsets, but here is how it should pan out:

Boston Advances against hawks

Wash and Cle will be close

Boston beats the winner of that series

Orlando beats Toronto

Detriot Beats us

Pistons prob beat the Magic

ECF is Pistons vs Celtics

[SendEm]

Hopefully Reggie Evans can step his game up to that level he has shown in the past as being a guy that can have a 18+ rebound night. We haven't seen that much this season.

[UptownPhilly]

Is anyone on this board picking the Sixers to win this series???

I'll take the Sixers in 7. We've gotten this far with all odds against us.
No one expected us to make the playoffs. We were projected to be one of the worst 3-5 teams early in the season.

We're the underdog, no need to let the experts keep us in the slums.

[STChaser]

I really think that we're capable of winning this series but I don't think we will. The reason I think we lose to Detroit, is that we've regressed lately and have looked totally out-of-sorts. During our streak, we were literally out-hustling our opponents. I haven't seen that kind of effort in several games now and the few flashes I have seen of it have been too little, too late - often in the 4th quarter of games where we've basically taken the first three quarters off, see Cleveland and Charlotte.

Now, I am HOPING that this latest drop off was just a result of guys being satisfied that we'd made the playoffs and coasting a bit, but I really have my doubts. Mo (or someone) needs to motivate these guys and get them back on track ASAP. Iguodala needs to step up and become the vocal leader once more (I've seen a drop-off in his on-court leadership lately), Sam needs to bring the same work ethic with him that he had in the beginning of the season, Carney needs to re-discover his 3 point shooting, and Thaddeus needs to increase his effort defensively (I've noticed a slight drop-off here as well). Perhaps if these things all occur, we have a shot at being the spoiler.

STChaser

[Sixercise]

Mo' probably won't start Thad at SF, but i want to see him play extended minutes there if we even have a legit shot at the Pistons....he's the only one on the team who can match Prince 'span-for-'span.

[Dedicated_76ers_fan]

TNT: We tried to avoid it, every network did. But we cannot. The suprise 7th seed at 40-42, but should be 41-41 is the Philadelphia 76ers against the Detroit Pistons. I'm here with Marv Albert and Reggie Miller as we bring you the keys to the game for both teams.

Marv Albert: Experience for the Detroit Pistons, hit your shots get back on defense and don't allow Philadelphia to get easy buckets. Also they've got to use their wing men to full advantage Tayshaun Prince will be able to blow by Carney at any point and Willie Green doesn't have the size or speed to match up with Richard Hamilton.

Reggie Miller: For the Philadelphia 76ers they need to realize that they have some half-court scoring. No one is better at blowing by their man and getting a layup then Andre Miller. Samuel Dalembert is one of the best at catch and dunk situations. And Thad Young has an excellent post game. Establishing themselves in the paint will be the key for this young 76ers team to steal game one.