After winning game one in their series against the Magic, the Detroit Pistons will need to keep on pumping on the gas or pay the price of splitting at home and having to go to Orlando tied 1-1.

Players Stepping up

Chauncey Billups has looked like the clutch, dominant point guard we all know and loved the past few games in the playoffs. His most recent performance netting him 19 points with 7 assists along with only one turnover. He is most vital to the Piston’s success, being the self-honored leader of the club and taking charge late in games. If the Pistons want to win tonight, Billups will have to best that performance in the previous game.

Stepping in and starting for Antonio McDyess, Jason Maxiell has become a giant baby eater grabbing lots of rebounds and being a force on the defensive end. He needs to keep playing solid D on Dwight Howard and keeping him out of the paint and force him to the perimeter where he is not as comfortable.

Flip on the Rise?

Flip Saunders needs to keep his rotations and adjustments going; he has been solid at that so far in the playoffs. He has kept Jarvis Hayes’s butt glued to the bench where it belongs, and has given Aaron Afflalo extended minutes. I for one however would like to see Walter Herrmann used more tonight to provide strength and quickness as well as a solid slashing presence to attack the Magic defense.

Kaptain’s Keys

1. Keep the man named Dwight Howard from getting easy baskets

The Pistons last game kept Dwight Howard to a lowly 12 points on 5-11 shooting. They forced him to go outside where he is less effective than being inside where he can rack up the dunks. This will be the major factor of winning tonight.

2. SHEEEEEEEEEEED!!!!!!!

Rasheed was a non-factor last game, only hitting 3 shots and barely grabbing any rebounds. He just looked so out of focus last game, and he needs to bounce back and keep working in the paint where he has dominated this post season. No technicals either, two more and he’s suspended for a game.

3. Just go out and play

We all know it, these Pistons like to take it easy once in a while. Well, this is no time to get complacent. They have to maintain focus all throughout the 48 minutes, and send the Magic a message that the Pistons are locked and loaded and are aimed to win.

“He’s only a three”

Another interesting thing to look for tonight is if Rashard Lewis and Theo Ratliff make the court at the same time.  If you can recall, Ratliff was grabbed and thrown by the forward Lewis towards the end of the game on Saturday.  The next day, words were exchanged by Ratliff and Jason Maxiell of the Pistons, and Rashard Lewis and Dwight Howard of the Magic.  To sum it up, Ratliff called Lewis a “three”, or in other words weak and small compared to Ratliff who is a center.

Lewis responded with saying that Ratliff only plays 5 minutes a game basically calling him a scrub.

Ratliff’s teammate Jason Maxiell took a shot at Dwight Howard saying he has a weak lower body and he’s all upper body.  Howard flatly denied that.

It is definitely a game to watch, be sure to tune in on TNT at 7:00 EST.

Go Pistons!

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