With Dwight Howard no longer in Orlando, the 6th-seeded Magic look more like a double-digit seed in our theoretical NBA 3 on 3 Tournament, presenting a major opportunity for the Detroit Pistons.
NBA 3 on 3 Tournament Round One -- Orlando Magic Vs. Detroit Pistons
Howard is obviously a huge loss for Orlando, but what's more amazing is how little the Magic got in return. One of the players who arrived from Denver will be among the three representing Orlando, as Arron Afflalo joins Jameer Nelson and another new arrival, Gustavo Ayon. Yes, you read that right.
The Pistons counter with Rodney Stuckey, Jonas Jerebko and Greg Monroe. Stuckey could actually be quite good in a 3 on 3 setting, and Monroe is a very skilled big man while Jerebko can contribute in a few different ways, so the Pistons don't look too bad on paper. Compared to the Magic, they look darn good, despite being the 11 seed.
Let’s see what our panel of experts has to say.
- Tom Ziller, SB Nation NBA, Sactown Royalty -- Detroit wins 14 of 20
- Andrew Sharp, SB Nation NBA -- Detroit wins 13 of 20
- Steve Perrin, SB Nation NBA, Clips Nation -- Detroit wins 16 of 20
- Frank Madden, Brew Hoop -- Detroit wins 13 of 20
- Adam Francis, Raptors HQ -- Detroit wins 13 of 20
- Overall probabilities -- Orlando 31 percent; Detroit 69 percent
Expert Comments:
What a draw for Detroit! -- Ziller
These contests really serve as a brutal reality check for teams. I can't say I was thrilled when I saw my Wizards were stuck with Trevor Ariza and Nene rounding out their top three, and remembered those are actually our three best players, and ... Well, seeing Orlando's trio made me feel better. -- Sharp
This really brings it home, right? Arron Afflalo was the centerpiece of a trade for Dwight Howard. Wow. -- Perrin
Ugh, Orlando might have the worst entry of any team in the tournament. Detroit dispatches them fairly easily. -- Francis
The Bottom Line
The panel has the 11th-seeded Pistons at 69 percent to win any single game with the Magic, but that’s not an upset so much as a commentary on the sad state of the Magic. The Pistons are going to be a mess next season -- but they’re in much better shape than the Magic.
The Magic are pretty big underdogs, with a less than one-in-three chance to win any one game, and a less than one-in-four chance to advance. They’ll be looking for some random help in the form of dice rolls of 31 or less.
Who do you think would win this showdown?
The results will be posted later this afternoon.
For a complete look at the SB Nation 3 on 3 Tournament, check back with this StoryStream.
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