NOT JUST YET

Maybe the NBA should hold off on printing Boston's invitation to the NBA Finals just yet. The Pistons tore through Florida like it was still hurricane season, whacking an Orlando team bent on vengeance for the 8-0 record the Pistons laid on the Magic in last year's regular season and playoffs. The 116-92 win on Friday came on the heels of their season-opening victory at Miami and gets the Pistons off to a great start - especially considering they were severely shorthanded in both games. Rip Hamilton missed his second straight game after the birth of his son and Lindsey Hunter and Rodney Stuckey also sat again. It was an especially delightful win for the Pistons given that Orlando had put "8" up on their bulletin board to signify last year's Detroit dominance and Magic star Dwight Howard had said Orlando wasn't going to just try to beat the Pistons, but to "destroy" them. The marketing them in Orlando this year? "The Time is Now." Uh, maybe later.

FLIP SAUNDERS: "We played how we've been - great intensity, shared the basketball, played well. We caused some mismatch problems, moved (Tayshaun Prince) over to the one and played off him a little bit. It was a good trip."

The story of the game in Pistons red, white and blue

- Saunders said Rasheed Wallace didn't have a bad practice all through the preseason. Well, two games into the regular season, he hasn't played a bad one yet, either. And he was a lot better than that Friday. Wallace finished with 16 points, seven rebounds, three blocks and two steals, but the numbers - as usual with Wallace - only paint part of the picture. His blocks on the man-child, Howard, were jaw-droppers. He got his hands on countless loose balls and altered shots all night.

SAUNDERS: "Sheed's been great. He's been like this all through training camp and he's carried it through."

Blue Collar - The one guy who seemed likeliest to be traded when last season ended was Flip Murray, but Joe Dumars is happy he thought that one through right about now. Given their critical backcourt shortage, Murray was nothing less than a lifesaver in the Florida sweep. And he was especially good against Orlando, giving the Pistons 19 points and five assists in 28 minutes. Murray was so good that when Chauncey Billups (18 points, seven assists, six boards) went to the bench at the end of the third quarter with the Pistons protecting a 13-point lead, the idea was to sit him three or four minutes and get him back in there. Billups, who played 39 hard minutes at Miami and 30 through three quarters at Orlando, never had to get back up.

WALLACE: "Flip came in and did a good job at the point, even though that's not his natural position. He came in and distributed the ball pretty well and he took advantage of mismatches, as well."

Red Flag - The Pistons have been among the NBA's top defensive teams against opposition 3-point baskets under Saunders, but Orlando made 8 of 18 from behind the arc - the only thing that enabled the Magic to hang around as long as they did. Orlando started out 5 of 7, including 3 of 3 from journeyman shooting guard Keith Bogans. And those numbers don't even reflect the six free throws Rashard Lewis sunk after being fouled by Jarvis Hayes and Wallace in the act of shooting.

Pivotal plays, frozen moments and lasting images from the rout of Orlando

Whatever They Want - One night after groping for offense against Miami, the Pistons got pretty much whatever they wanted against Orlando. Their 64 first-half points were more than they scored in any half last season - more remarkable given that they were without Hamilton, their leading scorer the last four seasons. Billups took diminutive Orlando points Jameer Nelson and Carlos Arroyo to the hole, Tayshaun Prince (17 points, six assists) posted up to exploit mismatches, Wallace powered it at Rashard Lewis and Jason Maxiell (nine points, four boards, two blocks) abused Hedo Turkoglu.

Enter Amir - Though he's still working through residual pain in his Achilles tendon as a result of the sprained ankle suffered in training camp, Amir Johnson made his season debut with just under five minutes to go Friday night. The expected rust was in evidence, but so was the eye-catching athleticism. A basket, four boards and two blocks - that's an awfully busy five minutes.

Odds and Ends - Rookie Arron Afflalo was guilty of three first-quarter turnovers - two of them when he inadvertently stepped on the sideline while holding the ball. No, the NBA court isn't smaller than what Afflalo played on at UCLA. ... The Pistons took a 19-point lead early in the third quarter with a 10-0 run, but Orlando whittled it back to 10 and was charging when Jarvis Hayes made two big baskets late in the third, a tough deuce and then a triple, finishing with 11 points, six boards and two steals. ... The 2-0 road start gives the Pistons their best such start since 1975. ... Antonio McDyess was much more in sync than in the opener, finishing with 12 points and seven boards and doing a nice job on Howard when Wallace wasn't guarding him. ... The Pistons, Saunders said, were calling Hamilton "Wally Pipp" in the locker room after the game, a reference to the Yankees first baseman who sat out a game and never regained his job. Some guy named Gehrig took it.

A little perspective on the 2-0 start

What does it say about the improved depth Joe Dumars provided his coaching staff that even down four players, three of them who figured to be rotation staples, that the Pistons' bench still outscored Orlando's 45-17 even though the Magic were at virtually full strength? Too early to draw lasting conclusions, maybe, but Saunders has to be thrilled at the versatility he has now that Hayes is on board, Murray looks fully rehabilitated after his disappointing debut season in Detroit and Jason Maxiell is making his mark. Wait until Stuckey and Johnson hit their stride.

SAUNDERS: "The thing that's been impressive for us is we've made a lot of runs with Jarvis Hayes, Flip Murray, Afflalo, Maxey - those people on the floor. Our main guys are doing what they're supposed to do and our other guys have come in and done what they're supposed to do. Jarvis hit two huge shots. Every time you have success, you gain more confidence not only in yourself but your teammates in you.