More often than not, there is no definitive turning point in a competitive series. It’s a see-saw that rocks back and forth, the winner the one whose end is up when the final buzzer blares. Not so this series. The first three minutes of the second half of Game 4. That’s when the Pistons, down 2-1 at the time and trailing by 10 points at halftime, blitzed Philadelphia, taking the lead and never looking back. They played the same way to start Game 6, going ahead 10-0 and never letting the 76ers within sniffing distance. Over the two full games from the halftimes of games 4 to 6, the Pistons outscored Philadelphia 206-152, dominating with coldblooded offensive execution that prevented the offensively challenged 76ers from creating scoring opportunities in transition. Rip Hamilton and Chauncey Billups were dominant as the Pistons shot 58 percent to close out the 76ers and set up a second-round series with Orlando – the team they swept in last season’s first round – that starts Saturday night at The Palace.

In Game 5, Hamilton and Billups played to the ability at the same time for the first time in the series, outscoring Philadelphia’s backcourt of Andre Miller and Willie Green 41-21. Their dominance was even more pronounced in Game 6. Through three quarters – by which time the Pistons had long since decided the outcome – Billups and Hamilton had combined for 43 points and 12 assists on 17 of 25 shooting; Miller and Green’s numbers were 17 points and two assists on 6 of 21. Hamilton finished with 24 points and five assists, shooting 9 of 14; Billups with 20 and seven, shooting 8 of 11, 3 of 5 from the 3-point arc. It was Hamilton’s hot start, with Billups helping to set him up, that established the theme of the night.

Tayshaun Prince didn’t have to do the heavy lifting offensively that he was asked to do earlier in the series when Billups was having trouble finding his groove, but when he was asked to score he did so – he was 5 of 6 to finish the series 44 of 67. But Prince was again valuable in every facet of the game. He again kept the lid on Andre Igoudala, who scored 16 points but only managed seven shots and didn’t get his teammates involved, dealing just one assist. Prince’s 12 points came with even rebounds and four assists. Prince was also a key weapon in dealing with Philadelphia’s full-court pressure, acting as a release valve when the 76ers ganged up on Billups.

There was little to fear in this one after the early barrage, but Philadelphia cut it from 20 to 12 early in the second quarter. That would have been a big deal if Billups or Hamilton had picked up a third foul. They both picked up two late in the first quarter because of ill-considered plays by Hamilton. A bad pass by Hamilton led to a Philadelphia fast break that forced Billups to pick up his second foul, then Hamilton picked up his second by committing an offensive foul by barreling into the defense while working for the last shot of the quarter. It didn’t cost the Pistons, but it could have opened the door to a Philly comeback.


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