/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/60646583/usa-today-9965170.0.0.0.jpg)
The last time these two teams played, the Magic were in the middle of The Big Turnaround. Those four wins in five road games (plus a narrow loss to Memphis) were supposed to mark the start of what Orlando was always meant to be: a defense-first team that played hard, walled off the paint, and got just enough offense to win. After an early-season shellacking by the Pistons, a win in Detroit felt like real progress.
Fast-forward a few months, and "progress" is just about the opposite word you'd use to describe the Magic's season. Now, all they're playing for is trying to learn something about themselves: for example, learning how well Mario Hezonja plays power forward, an experiment that will continue with Jeff Green missing his second consecutive game.
Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy had high praise for former Magic forward Tobias Harris, lauding his consistency regardless of the role he played each night. Stopping him, and getting some tough-to-come-by shooting from the bench, will be keys to tonight's game.
The game will take place at the Amway Center at 7:00 PM Eastern time, and you can catch it on Fox Sports Florida, or on the radio at AM 580 Orlando.
Use this thread to discuss your in-game thoughts and comments.
Projected starters:
Detroit Pistons | Orlando Magic |
Ish Smith | Elfrid Payton |
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope | Terrence Ross |
Tobias Harris | Evan Fournier |
Marcus Morris | Aaron Gordon |
Andre Drummond | Nikola Vucevic |