A 2-1 series lead means nothing. The very nature of playing three is that one team has to win and the other not. Teams often come back from a 2-1 and the probabilities are insignificant. A 3-1 lead, however, is statistically significant and both Orlando and The Sixers are aware of that.
So far the determining factor in the Sixers winning is what our non-primary scorers do. Thad, Andre and Andre are able to score pretty much at will and effectively cancel out Orlando's starting 5, or close to it. The additional points need to come from Willie Green and the bench. In the game they lost, the bench gave us nothing- under 10 pts. In the games we won, the bench contributed enough points so we were in it at the end.
Williams and Marshall are the two that can put up the most points, unless and until they are willing to play Speights. Ratliff and Ivey may contribute a few, but they're not offensive players, and neither is Evans. Since they are up 2-1, I doubt that Dileo is willing to even try playing Speights for extended minutes.
I expect this game to be very highly contested. Orlando has to win this game to keep their hopes alive. Phila. needs to win this game to keep home-court advantage and maintain control in the series. It will be interesting to see what if any changes SVG can make to get his team going. The Sixer's strategy is frustrating Orlando. Dwight is getting his and then some, but none of the other starters are producing at a level to offset what the Sixers are doing. Staying at home on outside shooters is the right way to defend this team, they don't have great one on one moves and are pretty ordinary if they aren't open. Howard can score 36 and the Magic still won't win. The thing is, I don't think Orlando has the talent or ability to play any other way. They won 59 games this season with this style, but it doesn't work against Philadelphia.
I think the year of experience will benefit the Sixers. They were in this same situation with Detroit last year and got blown out of their own building. This time, they clearly know what is at stake, and they are not satisfied with just being in the playoffs. They know the winner of this series plays either a hobbled Boston or a humbled Chicago. They know this means a possible trip to the EC finals is open to them now. So far the team has acted the right way this season, pleased to win games, but not satisfied at all. They know they are good enough to beat Orlando in this series and that all the prognosticators who didn't pick them were wrong. Time to step up Sixers.