The Pistons Magic play is a popular basketball strategy used by the Detroit Pistons. It involves a series of coordinated movements and actions designed to confuse and outmaneuver the opposing team. The play begins with a quick pass to the point guard, who then dribbles towards the basket. As this is happening, the other four players on the Pistons team will spread out and create passing lanes. This creates confusion for the defense, as they are unsure who to guard or where the ball will go next. This strategic movement allows the Pistons to create scoring opportunities and take advantage of the defense's disarray.
Through all the weirdness and stoppages that Sunday’s 128-102 home win over the Detroit Pistons brought, the Orlando Magic’s hopes of qualifying for the play-in tournament are still intact.
John Raoux AP Orlando Magic s Franz Wagner 22 , attempting a shot against Detroit Pistons Jalen Duren, right, led the starters with 16 points, 8 assists and 5 rebounds in Sunday s home win. 14 points and 9 rebounds in 23 minutes and Markelle Fultz 11 points and 6 assists in 24 minutes were among the starters who scored at least 10 points.
This strategic movement allows the Pistons to create scoring opportunities and take advantage of the defense's disarray. The Pistons Magic play requires precision and teamwork, as each player must be on the same page and make split-second decisions. When executed effectively, this play can be a game-changer and lead to a successful offensive possession.
Magic dominate Pistons to keep play-in hopes alive
John Raoux / AP Detroit Pistons'' James Wiseman (13) looks for a shot as he is guarded by Orlando Magic''s Wendell Carter Jr., left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, April 2, 2023, in Orlando, Fla.
John Raoux/AP Orlando Magic''s Franz Wagner (22), attempting a shot against Detroit Pistons'' Jalen Duren, right, led the starters with 16 points, 8 assists and 5 rebounds in Sunday''s home win.
Show Caption By Khobi Price | Orlando Sentinel PUBLISHED: April 2, 2023 at 10:11 p.m. | UPDATED: April 24, 2023 at 2:26 p.m.Through all the weirdness and stoppages that Sunday’s 128-102 home win over the Detroit Pistons brought, the Orlando Magic’s hopes of qualifying for the play-in tournament are still intact.
The Magic’s victory, their sixth win in eight games, brought them to 34-44 on the season — a 12-win improvement over last year’s record with four more regular-season games to play.
“Very pleased,” Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said. “They did a really good job of taking on that challenge. We challenged them before the game saying how we have to start games. Our guys did a great job of that defensively as well as offensively sharing the basketball.”
But results from other Sunday matchups made every Magic game for the rest of the regular season must-wins to keep their play-in hopes alive.
First: the Toronto Raptors (39-39) beat the Charlotte Hornets 128-108 to ensure the Magic couldn’t finish the season higher than No. 9 in the Eastern Conference standings.
Second: the Chicago Bulls (38-40) came back from a 15-point halftime deficit to beat the Memphis Grizzlies 128-107.
The Magic remain four games behind Chicago for the No. 10 seed in the East, but Orlando’s “magic” number is now one, meaning the Magic would be eliminated from play-in contention with the Bulls’ next win or the Magic’s next loss.
They made sure that didn’t happen Sunday, pulling off a dominant victory in front of an announced attendance of 19,431 people — the fourth-largest in team history.
Detroit Pistons’ James Wiseman (13) looks for a shot as he is guarded by Orlando Magic’s Wendell Carter Jr., left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, April 2, 2023, in Orlando, Fla.
The Magic jumped out to a 20-8 lead early in the first quarter and didn’t let up at any point, taking a 34-29 lead going into the second.
Even during a second quarter that featured multiple stoppages because of shot- or game-clock malfunctions, the Magic maintained focus. The first half lasted 1 hour and 16 minutes. Most first halves are less than an hour long.
Orlando outscored Detroit 29-15 and 28-24 in second and third quarters, respectively, making the final quarter essentially extended garbage time after taking a 91-68 lead going into the fourth.
The Magic’s offense was once again well-balanced, with Jalen Suggs leading the way with 18 points (5-of-9 shooting, 4 of 6 on 3s).
Eight players scored in double figures, with the Magic having 30 assists on 43 field goals and tying a season-high 17 3-pointers.
“We have a lot of weapons on this team,” guard Cole Anthony said. “When we get out there and just play very selflessly, it’s fun. We defended. Happy we got the dub, on to the next one.”
Franz Wagner (16 points, 8 assists and 5 rebounds), Paolo Banchero (14 points, 9 rebounds and 3 assists), Wendell Carter Jr. (14 points and 9 rebounds in 23 minutes) and Markelle Fultz (11 points and 6 assists in 24 minutes) were among the starters who scored at least 10 points.
Anthony (17 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists), Goga Bitadze (13 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists in 18 minutes before fouling out) and Moe Wagner (11 points in 18 minutes) scored in double figures off the bench.
Chuma Okeke (3 points) was in the rotation and played 11 minutes, his most playing time since Feb. 14. Two-way wing Jay Scrubb (2 points, 1 rebound) made his Magic debut and Michael Carter-Williams made his season debut late in the fourth.
The Pistons (16-62) were led by Killian Hayes’ 20 points and 7 assists.
The Magic will play back-to-back games against the Cleveland Cavaliers Tuesday and Thursday at Amway Center to close out their regular-season home schedule.
This article first appeared on OrlandoSentinel.com. Email Khobi Price at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter at @khobi_price.
Detroit Pistons’ James Wiseman (13) looks for a shot as he is guarded by Orlando Magic’s Wendell Carter Jr., left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, April 2, 2023, in Orlando, Fla.
It is a staple of the Pistons' offensive arsenal and has become a trademark of their style of play. Whether it's a quick basket or an open three-pointer, the Pistons Magic play often results in positive outcomes for the team..
Reviews for "The impact of trades and signings on the Pistons and Magic"
1. John Doe - 2 stars - I have to say I was quite disappointed with "Pistons magic plays". The show lacked originality and creativity. The tricks performed were ones that I have seen numerous times before in other magic shows. The stage setup was basic, making it difficult to see some of the smaller tricks from the back rows. Overall, I was unimpressed with the performance and would not recommend it to others.
2. Jane Smith - 1 star - "Pistons magic plays" was a complete letdown. The magician seemed disinterested and lacked enthusiasm throughout the entire show. The tricks performed were poorly executed, and there were several moments of awkward silence that made the audience feel uncomfortable. Additionally, the show seemed disorganized, with no clear flow or theme. Save your money and skip this one.
3. Tom Johnson - 2 stars - I had high hopes for "Pistons magic plays", but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The magician relied too heavily on gimmicks and flashy props, rather than showcasing genuine skill and talent. The tricks were predictable and lacked the element of surprise. The pacing of the show was off, with too much time dedicated to irrelevant banter and not enough to the magic itself. Overall, I found it underwhelming and would not attend another performance.
4. Sarah Thompson - 1 star - I was extremely disappointed with "Pistons magic plays". The magician lacked charisma and failed to captivate the audience. The tricks were unimpressive and felt repetitive. Additionally, the show was filled with unnecessary and outdated comedy that fell flat. It's safe to say that this was a wasted evening, and I would not recommend it to anyone seeking quality magic entertainment.
5. Robert Davis - 2 stars - "Pistons magic plays" was a mediocre show at best. The magician seemed to rely on cheap tricks and props to create the illusion of magic, rather than showcasing genuine skill. The performance lacked creativity and innovation. The audience was left feeling unimpressed and disconnected from the show. Overall, it was an average experience that left me wanting more.