76ers Blast Pistons, 95-75; They May Be Ignored but They Can't Be Denied

The third game of the first round series between the Detroit Pistons and the Philadelphia 76ers ended in predictable fashion with a resound 20-point 95-75 walloping.  Except it was Philadelphia that scored 95 not Detroit.

The Pistons have now officially lost home court advantage in the series and are down two games to one.

But the Sixers, who are not only doing the impossible but the inconceivable, get no love in their own home town. On the first sports page of the Philadelphia Inquirer were stories about the Flyers loss in the NHL Playoffs, the Phillies and the Eagles on the eve of the NFL draft.

The lone story on the Sixers concerned Larry Brown resigning as executive vice president of the team to seek out another coaching assignment,

Nothing on Rasheed Wallace coming back to his home town ironically to shift home court advantage back to the Pistons? Nothing on Reggie Evans coming off the the bench to ignite Philadelphia’s surprise resurgence? Nothing on why Maurice Cheeks didn’t get more endorsements for Coach of the Year?

Well, having been born and bred just a few blocks from Pat’s Steaks, I guess I can say in Philly ignorance is bliss.

Tonight’s game didn’t even begin with a full house, unusual for an NBA playoff even if it was an early 7:00 p.m. start.

But being ignored didn’t seem to bother the Sixers. They went right about their business, matching the Pistons shot for shot in the first quarter even though Andre Iguodala only had one bucket. Andre Miller and Samuel Dalembert picked up the slack as the quarter ended in a 20-20 tie.

The Sixers forged ahead in the second quarter and ended the half 4 points up at 44-40. McDyess left the game with only two points and a broken nose and did not return. Rasheed Wallace could only manage two points as well. His nose wasn’t broken but his spirit was. Mainly from the rugged defensive play under the boards by both Dalembert and Evans.

The Sixers exploded for 26 points after the break while their defense held the Pistons to just 15. They took the fourth quarter as well, 25-20.

Dalembert and Miller did most of the damage. Enough can’t be said about Dalembert’s excellent performance. He was high scorer for the Sixers with 22 points and grabbed 16 rebounds, five on the offensive boards.

Miller had 21 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists. Iguodala and Thaddeus Young both had 10 points. Evans and Louis Williams each had 9 and Rodney Carney added 8.

Richard Hamilton led all scorers with 23 points. Tayshuan Prince had 18. Wallace and Jason Maxiell could only manage 2 points and 5 rebounds each. The Pistons were out-rebounded 43-34. They also committed 23 turnovers to Philly’s 13.

For the Pistons, this looks terribly like last year’s Eastern Conference Finals against the Cavaliers. If Flip Saunders can’t inspire his team to play with more passion than they have shown so far, Larry Brown may very well find himself in Detroit next year.