Currently, they are doing so well in the pre-season. They are 4-0, and Diogu, Dunleavy Jr and Murphy have had double-scoring games. The factors that has contributed to this success are the hiring of new coach Jim O’Brien and the additions of former Laker Kareem Rush and former Magic Travis Diener.

The philosophy of O’Brien is an uptempo type of game. He wants franchise player Jermaine O’Neal to draw the defense, and pass the ball to the shooters. And they have a lot of players who can burn the rim from the outside. Both additions Diener and Rush are excellent three-point bombers. While big men Murphy and Dunleavy Jr can hit from rainbow territory as well.

There is a lot of excitement from the Pacers camp this season. And their new-found games and philosophies may be the gateway back to the postseason wars. At least now, a first-round appearance is highly probable.

The Pistons have gone to the Eastern Conference Finals four straight times, and have always been poised at the end game. Something they have learned after years of playing together. The Magic had no chance even before the series began.

All of Detroit’s regular starters all scored in double figures in all of their games in this first round series. All – Chauncey Billups, Richard Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince, Rasheed Wallace and Chris Webber. They are all veterans, and those four starters have played together for five straight seasons. They are used to playing together and they are unselfish. They are balanced and good. That’s hard to beat, especially for a young team like Orlando.

Detroit has one of the best back court duo in Billups and Hamilton. Prince can guard three positions from the two, three and four spots. He is the ultimate stopper of the opponent’s scoring leader. He is long, and is offensively sound as well. He is their silent assassin. Webber is a good perimeter shooter, a former All-Star, and can pass so well. Wallace is the ultimate mismatch. He is a nightmare for the opponent’s center. He brings so much range from the middle position coz he can shoot the three with consistency. And Detroit has the deeper team loaded with veterans. Veterans like Antonio McDyess, Dale Davis, Carlos Delfino and Lindsey Hunter.

Orlando’s Dwight Howard, perhaps the most athletic big man of today, was shackled offensively all throughout the series except for a gallant 29-point-17-rebound performance in Game Four. He had a measly eight-point game in Game Two. Orlando tried to climb back from an eleven-point fourth quarter deficit in the fourth game, butWallace hit a three, Webber made a hook, and Billups and Hamilton iced the game by making all six of their free throws and scored Detroit’s last 12 points in the game. Such clutch performance!

Detroit won 100-92 in Game One, 98-90 in Game Two, 93-77 in Game Three and 97-93 in Game Four.

Orlando bids goodbye to a promising and fruitful season. It was quite a run. They made the play-offs for the first time in the post-McGrady era. They’ll be back next year. They are a young team, and with every experience building-up, they will be a team to reckon with in the near future. But right now, it’s still Detroit’s time. (photos courtesy of yahoonba.com)

Wade may delay the surgery till after the playoffs, and may opt for a continued rehabilitation of his shoulder. But this could be risky, and it might backfire. One bad fall, and Wade’s career may be in jeopardy. I suggest, same as what Lebron James suggested, that Wade sit out the rest of the season, and undergo surgery now.

With Wade coming down, so do the hopes of the Heat repeating as champions. Let it be remembered that the man called “The Flash” single-handedly brought back the team to life in the Finals against Dallas, he, by his lonesome, brought the first ever NBA Championship to the city of Miami. Currently, they are gunning for the eighth and final seed of the East, gutting it out against New Jersey, Orlando and even New York. With Miami struggling this season, and with Wade carrying most of the load, the chances of Miami defending their title are very very slim, so do their chances of carving a backdoor way to the postseason wars. If ever they make it, there is a big possibility that they will face Detroit in the first round, and the Pistons are tough opponents. Their starting five is easily one of the best in the NBA. And without Dwyane, Miami isn’t that dangerous anymore.

I hope Wade makes the right decision. Miami should not risk Wade’s grave injury. The Heat will have to do without their superstar, and salvage every chance of competing well in the playoffs. They still have an outside chance of making it to the top four as they are only down 3.5 games behind the Washington Wizards in the Southeast Division. The other players like Jason Williams, Jason Kapono, James Posey and Shaquille O’Neal must bring their game to the highest level possible to compensate for Dwyane’s loss. They should, or it will be an early summer vacation for them.

Orlando is relatively a young team with four of their five starters being 25 years old and below, and the other one at 29. Their young guys have so much talent and promise. Dwight Howard is currently second in rebounding, averaging a shade over 12 a game. Jameer Nelson is the unsung team leader at the point guard spot. And the second over-all pick of that amazing 2003 draft, Darko Milicic, leads the league in blocked shots per 48 minutes, at a potential 3.6 an outing. Now many may have not taken notice at this young Serbian forward, who was once drafted ahead of young All-Star freaks Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and Josh Howard, but Milicic’s cynics are certainly keeping an eye on him now.

But the Magic are not looking on making the playoffs two or three seasons from now. They are set in making the playoffs this season, even with this young team, especially with come-backing coach Brian Hill guiding the way. It is important to note that Hill was the first and last guy who brought this franchise to the NBA Finals in 1994-1995. He had young stars (back then) Shaquille O’Neal and Penny Hardaway. They were swept by eventual champions Houston Rockets though.

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The Magic got their inspiration from their 16-6 finish last season, just falling short of making the playoffs, and ten games behind .500. One of the key factors was the injury to Nelson. They were 5-15 without Nelson. He could have made a difference if he were healthy throughout the season.

Grant Hill is also hoping to play most of this season. Except for a spectacular comeback bid in 2004-2005 where Hill played for 67 games, Hill has only played for 68 games since 2000. So far so good for Hill’s health this year as he is leading this young Orlando team to three games above .500.

But the Magic cannot rely heavily on Hill this time, and they need not to. Howard and Nelson are emerging stars, and so Orlando’s success depends on their games. Nelson has matured fast, and Howard has gained considerable experience last summer, being the youngest member of Team USA. He just needs to develop a pet move for him to become a consistent threat at the post.

Hedo Turkoglu, Tony Battie and Hill will provide the veteran leadership, experience and guidance for their younger teammates. Though they dropped their last game, 92-111, to the Dallas Mavericks, it was no indication that things will be this rough. Besides, Las Vegas-bound stars Dirk Nowitzki and Josh Howard came up with huge numbers, 33 and 25 points respectively, for the league-leading Mavericks.

Orlando still has a bright season ahead. I believe they will hover around the sixth and seventh spot in the East. No one should doubt me with that one. Hell, they even led the East for some time, during the start of this season. But the second round is too far-fetched for them right now. But they will reach the playoffs nonetheless.