Orlando Media Gems on Magic Losses to Pistons

And they call this place "The Palace?"

For the Orlando Magic, who entered the building as NBA royalty, it's more of a prison.

There's simply no escaping their Detroit s. The Pistons did not resemble the same team that has bedeviled the Magic for years and years, but the result was no different.

The Magic were looking to become the first team in franchise history to start a season 4-0, and they had Vince Carter back in the lineup while the Pistons were missing stalwarts Rip Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince. Oh, and Magic antagonists Rasheed Wallace and Antonio McDyess are playing elsewhere.

It was set up on a tee for them, right?

Instead, the Pistons defeated the Magic for the 20th time in their last 25 regular-season meetings. Rich DeVos doesn't really own the Magic; the Pistons do. How do you figure it?

"The Detroit Pistons likely have expanded their fan base to Orlando.

Any Magic fans want to see their team face the Pistons in the playoffs?

Didn't think so."

"The Orlando Magic had everything working in their favor this time - or so it seemed.

The Magic were playing at home, and the other team was such a mess that Las Vegas was giving them 9 ½ points.

The visitors wobbled into Amway Arena with their longest losing streak in 14 years. They were playing without one star whose back and ego had been strained, and another who was grumbling, fanning controversy.

A set-up if there ever was one for the Magic. Right?

Uh, never mind."

"The other team on the floor was the Detroit Pistons. And, well, we all know what the Pistons do to the Magic, from regular season to postseason. They rough them up, puncture their self-esteem and move on to bigger game.

The Pistons read off the same old, yellowed script to defeat the Magic 93-85 on Friday night, their 16th win in the last 19 games against Orlando, including playoffs."

"'Eventually, you get tired of getting your butt kicked. It's like the kid on the playground whose getting beat up all the time and runs home,' Coach Stan Van Gundy said. 'At some point, enough is enough and he stands up for himself.'"

"Against a Detroit team known to play a rougher brand of ball, Howard and company brought their playground game with them for the most part.

The Pistons just brought more of it."

"I've never done any time in prison, but I would imagine that after getting my waffle snatched off my lunch tray for the 15th time, I'd finally find the courage to stand up for myself and fight back. You know, maybe stab someone in the ear with a fork, gouge out an eye - anything to forcibly negate the unending public emasculation. You might spend a month in the hole, but it'd be worth it.

The Magic have obviously not reached that point. Otherwise they wouldn't still be giving up the bottom bunk to the Pistons, a team whose chemistry problems fueled an eight-game losing streak and the benching of Allen Iverson.

Of course Orlando is always the answer for what ails Detroit."