Let me first get this out of my system:

Maybe it was the absence of Rodney Stuckey's 28-percent shooting. Maybe it was the presence of Corey Maggette, who turned it over four times and fouled out in 21 minutes (okay, maybe not). Maybe it was Kyle Singler in the starting lineup, a "shooting guard" who actually put the ball in the basket (16 points on 50-percent shooting). Maybe it was stevenyc's bold pre-game prediction. Maybe the Pistons were simply just due, and that's really the best explanation.

"We felt like, as a team, this was long overdue," Monroe said.

The Pistons dominated the paint, outscoring the Sixers there 42-28 and outrebounded them 57-38. Greg Monroe had 19 points, 18 rebounds and 6 assists (6 turnovers). Brandon Knight added 15 points, 7 assists (2 turnovers) and 7 rebounds in a point guardy effort.

The player of the game was probably Singler, though, and I'm basing this off the advanced statistic of mentions in the game thread -- 42 -- and that's not counting indirect references to him being an accountant. 13 of Singler's 16 points came in the paint and he continues to play basketball like he studied at Duke -- he's so smart, s-m-r-t.

Pistons can start a little winning streak by beating the Magic on Friday back at The Palace. It should be a real nail biter.