In another of our continuing series, five things to keep an eye out for tonight in the Magic-Pistons Eastern Conference Semifinals Game 5 this evening.1. That Better Be A Darn Good Guarantee: I hate guarantees. Hate them. I hate them more from slow, unspectacular sized, non-hyper-athletic point guards that have been a contributing factor to their team's need for a guarantee. So part of me kind of hopes Jameer Nelson gets served tonight, like he has all series. Which is odd, because I'd really like for the Magic to have made this into a series. I don't necessarily mind the intent behind guarantees, in fact I think confidence is an absolute necessity going into an elimination game. It's making it public that creates the issue. Because as laid back as the Pistons are about the matter, it's still another reason for them to swat the mosquito that the Magic have turned into on their trek through the playoff jungle. And every time Nelson misses a shot tonight, you can bet the Pistons faithful are going to remind him of his little blip.
2. 50/50, Win-Win: Chauncey Billups is 50/50 to play tonight. But since the Magic are about 0-2000 in things falling right for them in this series, I wouldn't bank too much on Billups taking the night off. Although, with as well as Rodney Stuckey has played in his absence, you have to wonder if the Pistons feel any urgency to get him back on the floor, especially with this series feeling so completely finalized. Billups has struggled this postseason in general, and it might do him more good to take the night off, see if the Pistons can finish up the Magic at home, and get some rest for the Conference Finals. If the Magic were to somehow pull off a mini-miracle and win tonight, it would just put them in better shape to put the foot to the throat in Game 6. It's pretty much a win-win situation for the Pistons.
3. I Didn't Know Superman Could Turn Invisible: Dwight Howard has been an abject failure this series. There's no other way around it. He's frustrated, letting his emotions get to him, not channeling it into anything productive. Game 3 was the prototype of what the Magic need from him every night. 20 points, 12 boards, and 6 blocks. Game 4? The Pistons decided to, you know, try, and Howard wilted. 8 points, 12 boards, 1 block on 3 of 12 shooting. Howard is seven feet tall. There is nor reason for him to go up after an offensive rebound and try and lay it in. He hasn't just dunked on the Pistons like he needs to. He seems unaware of his size differential and athletic superiority. The only way the Magic scrap back to Orlando after this game for Game 6 instead of vacation is if he has a monster game.
4. Ripcord Fun: Yeah, I know. I'm running low on the "Rip" puns. There's a reason for that. Rip Hamilton has been terrific, this series and almost every series, for the Pistons. Tonight, he has an opportunity to become the all-time leading playoff scorer for the Pistons, with a shot at most playoff games within sight. He's torched the Magic from the outside. He's torched the Magic in the paint. He's killed them with jumpers. He's killed them in transition. He's played great defense. He's kept his cool. If there is a single player that represents the Pistons amazing run with this core group of players, it may very well be Hamilton, who can lead the Pistons to the Eastern Conference Finals. Again.
5. Hedo Hero Horrible: Hedo Turkoglu has tried to put the team on his back in crunch time and has been magnificent in stretches. He's also failed to get the job done. There's a lot of talk about Hedo needing to not try and do so much and trust his teammates, but outside of Rashard Lewis, who will essentially have two Pistons with razorwire netting on him at all times in the last five minutes of the game, who's he going to turn to? That's the point when you need shooters, and the Magic backcourt has gone into epicFAIL in that regard this series. I'm all for Hedo keeping up the shooting, because he's the best chance the Magic have at this point, if there is one.
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