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Magic-Pistons Preview

Jan 4, 2016 - 2:22 AM It's not too early to think about the Eastern Conference playoff picture, with early surprises like the Orlando Magic and Detroit Pistons looking like improved teams.

Magic coach Scott Skiles, however, warned his team that it needs to improve its defense to make the postseason a reality.

His club is trying to salvage the finale of a three-game trip Monday night in its first meeting of the season with a Pistons team that has cruised to three straight wins in this series.

Orlando (19-15) has missed the playoffs three straight seasons and Detroit (18-16) has done so for the previous six. Both may end those droughts, and their three-game season series could prove to be decisive with these teams a game apart in the standings and the Magic currently holding the No. 7 seed.

Even though more than half the season remains, Skiles is concerned after his team fell 103-91 at Washington on Friday and 104-79 to Cleveland the next night. The coach normally wouldn't conduct a practice after a back-to-back set, but chose to do so the day after those efforts.

"When we talked to the guys this morning about if we have any intention of playing in the postseason or having a chance of winning a series, generally you don't win a (playoff) game 120-111,'' Skiles told the Magic's official website. "You might win one game, but generally it's 96-91. If we don't understand that now, there won't be a postseason anyway."

The coach said he may re-insert Victor Oladipo into the starting lineup. Oladipo, averaging 12.4 points, has come off the bench the last 20 games.

Skiles may have no choice since starting point guard Elfrid Payton missed Sunday's workout with ankle issues that have plagued him throughout the season. Payton has played in all 116 games since entering the league.

Oladipo played point guard as a rookie in 2013-14.

"It was tough at first in the beginning when I was a rookie trying to figure it out," he said. "But now I have to be (ready) because some guys are hurt and I have to step in and play that role."

The Magic talked Sunday about how defending the Pistons' pick-and-rolls with Reggie Jackson and NBA leading rebounder Andre Drummond will be critical.

Detroit enters after losing its fourth in five games with Saturday's 94-82 defeat at Indiana. The Pistons matched their lowest point total and had a season-low three 3-pointers on 20 attempts while shooting 35.5 percent overall.

"We shot only 35 percent and anytime you shoot with that percentage, you've not going to win many games," said Drummond, who had 11 points and 18 boards.

Jackson made 5 of 19 shots for 12 points, his lowest total in a 12-game stretch in which he is averaging 20.8.

The Pistons are slowly working Brandon Jennings back into action. The guard is averaging 6.0 points in three games off the bench since returning after rupturing his left Achilles last January.

"I just tell the guys when we come in as a second unit that we are going to push it," Jennings said. "We are so dangerous in the open floor when we push it down the court and get easy baskets."

Jennings had 24 points and 21 assists the last time he faced Orlando, which won the first 2014-15 meeting and lost the next three by an average of 15.7 points.