{"id":714813,"date":"2026-04-20T21:00:49","date_gmt":"2026-04-20T21:00:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/714813\/"},"modified":"2026-04-20T21:00:49","modified_gmt":"2026-04-20T21:00:49","slug":"the-magic-got-the-game-they-wanted-against-the-pistons","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/714813\/","title":{"rendered":"The Magic got the game they wanted against the Pistons"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Detroit Pistons have built a reputation of one of the most physical teams in the league, a strategy that’s led them to the top of the Eastern Conference.<\/p>\n

In their Game 1 loss to the Orlando Magic, Detroit was given a taste of its own medicine, not only by failing to match the physicality of the Magic but also by struggling to set the tone of the series in their own building. <\/p>\n

For an organization with the history of the Bad Boy Pistons, coming to terms with the harsh reality that Detroit was pushed around won’t be easy for the fanbase.<\/p>\n

On Sunday, though, it’s hard not to admit that Detroit seemed like they were playing the exact way Orlando hoped they would.<\/p>\n

And if head coach J.B. Bickerstaff doesn’t give his team the wake-up call they need, the Pistons could be the first team to fall victim to Orlando’s trap<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Pistons were pushed around in Game 1<\/p>\n

Entering this matchup, all the noise surrounding Detroit was the weaknesses on offense that could catch up to them.<\/p>\n

Could Jalen Duren be a viable second option? Did the Pistons have enough playmaking outside of Cade Cunningham? Were there enough shooters in the Motor City<\/a>?<\/p>\n

All questions that have yet to be truly answered, because the Pistons were pushed into playing the game within the game.<\/p>\n

Orlando’s game plan entering this series was to eliminate Detroit’s supporting cast and make their MVP candidate beat them.<\/p>\n

Despite Cunningham’s 39-point effort, it proved that even their best player dropping nearly 40 points won’t be enough to knock off a Magic squad that’s starting to play together.<\/p>\n

Orlando preferred this matchup all along<\/p>\n

Orlando didn’t seem like they truly wanted to clinch the No. 7 seed down the stretch of the regular season.<\/p>\n

The Magic lost to the Boston Celtics reserves and then put together a lackluster effort against the Philadelphia 76ers in game one of the NBA Play-In Tournament.<\/p>\n

Was it truly because of their inconsistencies that a lack of health contributed to, or was this Orlando’s plan all along?<\/p>\n

The options for Orlando to choose from were to take on the Celtics, who are now considered one of the most complete teams in the league with Jayson Tatum back, or challenge the Pistons, whose questions were amplified with an injury-riddled close to the season.<\/p>\n

It seemed the Magic chose option B, and up to this point, it seems like they set the perfect trap for the Pistons through one game of this opening round series.<\/p>\n

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