Playoffs Are Here!

For the Sixers it’s “Same Time, the Next Year.’’
In just a few hours they return to the Wachovia Center to face Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic dead even in the series, with the next two and three of the next four to be played here.
Precisely the scenario they found themselves in a year ago after splitting in Detroit. They proceeded to blitz Chauncey Billups, Rip Hamilton and his friends, 95-75 in Game 3, then had the Pistons on the ropes, leading by 14 points in halftime of Game 4.
But the fairy tale upset ended there, as Detroit climbed off the deck to not only take that one, 93-84, but close out the series in convincing fashion, 98-81 and 100-77.
So have the Sixers learned from the experience. One thing, coach Tony DiLeo will emphasize is that just because they’re home before what figures to be passionate fans, they still have to go out and win the game themselves. Those fans alone can’t do it for them.
That’s something the Bulls discovered Thursday night, while getting destroyed at home by the Celtics after playing so well while earning a split in Boston. ``We’ll mention it to them and talk about being like Dallas, rather than Chicago,’’ said DiLeo, referring to the Mavs’ romp over the Spurs. ``We have home court, but we can’t rely on it just because it’s home court.<
``We still have to go out and play.’’
From the start, it was evident they had gotten the message.<