Magical Night for The Pistons

The Storyline:
The Magic having lost their last eight meetings withe The Pistons were on a mission. Dwight Howard proclaimed he wanted to "Crush Them", they even went so far as to put the #8 up on the bulletin board in their locker room for inspiration.

Well the fairytale for the Magic didn't quite come true. The Pistons made it 9 in a row with a convincing 116-92 win in Orlando.

Key Points:

• Richard Hamilton didn't make the game, but will play in the home opener on Sunday.
• Arron Afflalo again started in Rip's place, playing well in his 25 minutes on the floor. He did get Flip Saunders a bit heated when he turned the ball over a couple of times trying to knock down a three in the corner and stepping out of bounds. He finished the game with 8 points.
• Dwight is a Monster, he makes everyone on the court look just tiny. The sound the ball makes when he dunks with authority is deafening.
• Chauncey Billups was Mr. Big Shot with 18 points on 6-for-10 shooting with 7 assists a steal and six rebounds. Did I mention he was perfect from the line?
• The Prince of The Palace Everywhere started out the night just where he left off in Miami. Tay put up 17 points on 6-for-9 shooting with a blocked shot and 6 rebounds. He's also been playing point when Chauncey is on the bench, something I begged to see more of last season when Lindsey was out and Flip didn't look comfortable at the one.
• Sheed, well he was the Player of the Game with 16 points, 7 rebounds and 3 blocked shots. I'm telling you, he's committed to dominating on both ends of the floor.

Photo/Getty Images

• Mr. Wallace was having a blast all night and being quite chatty. He was talking and taunting all night. "The ball don't lie" and "you can't guard me" could be heard for miles. Great thing about it.... no techs.
• Jarvis Hayes came up with some nice baskets and rebounds for that matter. He's looking really scrappy and comfortable on D. I am a bit concerned at his shot selection at times, I hope that changes.
  
• Amir Johnson got a few minutes after it was clear the Pistons had put the game out of reach in the fourth quarter. He had 2 points, 4 rebounds and a blocked shot in just 5 minutes on the floor. Noting but good things to come when we are talking about Amir Pistons fans.
• Nazr 4 points and 3 rebounds in 8 and a half minutes. Like Amir, that's a job well done in very short minutes.
  
• Sheed threw down a dunk with so much authority that I thought he'd get a tech for it.
• Mr McDyess was solid and is starting to heat up. He had 12 points on 6-for-11 shooting with 7 rebounds. That jumper of his is just so pretty.
  
• Didn't I tell you I was on the Flip Murray Bandwagon (by the way I told him that too, and I have video). Flip led the team with 19 points on 8-for-14 shooting with 5 assists, a blocked shot and 3 rebounds. And a breakaway dunk that had Mr. Blaha on the edge of his seat.

Photo/Getty Images

• Arroyo still loves to drive the lane and put up circus shots.
• Game Highlights so you can see a little Sheed domination.
• "I'm out there to play smart, defend and not turn the ball over," Afflalo said. "I am trying to do some different things until my game comes a little further along."
• The game was close during the first half until The Pistons started to pull away in the second quarter putting up 36 points. They held the Magic to just 14 fourth quarter points.
• The Pistons shot lights out, 58.8% from the floor. Honestly though, they played even better on the defensive end.
• "Those guys were tremendous," Billups said of Rasheed Wallace and Antonio McDyess. "To have to open up the season and play those two beasts down there, they did a phenomenal job. They really contested Dwight, blocked his shot and made him make tough shots."
• Rebounding war won, 42-34.
• Maxiell is getting better and better each game. He's so much fun to watch, he just doesn't seem to miss.
• Sunday is the big day, I can't wait for the fire!