<div align="center"> <span style="font-size:24pt;line-height:100%">@</span> December 7, 2006 - 8:00 pm ET<span style="color:#FF0000">Game on TNT</span></div><span style="color:#3333FF">Detroit Pistons</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">(11-7)</span><span style="color:#FF0000">PG</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">Chauncey Billups</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">SG</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">Rip Hamilton</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">SF</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">Tayshaun Prince</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">PF</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">Rasheed Wallace</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">C</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">Nazr Mohammed</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Key Bench Players:</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">Antonio McDyess, Flip Murray, Jason Maxiell, Carlos Delfino</span><span style="color:#000099">Dallas Mavericks</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">(13-5)</span><span style="color:#3333FF">PG</span> <span style="color:#000099">Jason Terry</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">SG</span> <span style="color:#000099">Devin Harris</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">SF</span> <span style="color:#000099">Josh Howard</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">PF</span> <span style="color:#000099">Dirk Nowitzki</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">C</span> <span style="color:#000099">Erick Dampier</span><span style="color:#3333FF">Key Bench Players:</span> <span style="color:#000099">Jerry Stackhouse, DeSagana Diop, Anthony Johnson, Greg Buckner, Austin Croshere, Deaven George</span> Injury Report<span style="color:#FF0000">DET:</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">Lindsey Hunter will not play (sore right achilles)</span> Who To Watch Out For<span style="color:#3333FF">Chauncey Billups</span><span style="color:#FF0000">Season Stats: 17.8 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 8.5 apg</span><span style="color:#3333FF">Rasheed Wallace</span><span style="color:#FF0000">Season Stats: 13.2 ppg, 9.8 rpg, 2.0 bpg</span><span style="color:#3333FF">Rip Hamilton</span><span style="color:#FF0000">Season Stats: 22.3 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 3.3 apg</span><span style="color:#3333FF">Tayshaun Prince</span><span style="color:#FF0000">Season Stats: 16.6 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 2.8 apg</span><span style="color:#000099">Dirk Nowitzki</span><span style="color:#3333FF">Season Stats: 24.3 ppg, 9.9 rpg, 2.9 apg</span><span style="color:#000099">Josh Howard</span><span style="color:#3333FF">Season Stats: 16.9 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 1.6 apg, 1.3 spg</span><span style="color:#000099">Jason Terry</span><span style="color:#3333FF">Season Stats: 14.7 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 4.2 apg</span> Rookie Watch <span style="color:#FF0000">DET:</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">Will Blalock</span><span style="color:#000000">Overall Selection: 60</span><span style="color:#FF0000">Season Stats:</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">Has not played.</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">DAL:</span> <span style="color:#000099">Maurice Ager</span><span style="color:#000000">Overall Selection: 28</span><span style="color:#3333FF">Season Stats:</span> <span style="color:#000099">1.3 ppg, 0.4 rpg</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">DAL:</span> <span style="color:#000099">Jose Barea</span><span style="color:#000000">Overall Selection: Undrafted</span><span style="color:#3333FF">Season Stats:</span> <span style="color:#000099">0.4 ppg, 0.4 rpg, 0.4 apg</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">DAL:</span> <span style="color:#000099">Pops Mensah-Bonsu</span><span style="color:#000000">Overall Selection: Undrafted</span><span style="color:#3333FF">Season Stats:</span> <span style="color:#000099">1.0 rpg (1 game)</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">Detroit's X-Factor</span><span style="color:#3333FF">Nazr Mohammed</span><span style="color:#FF0000">Season Stats: 6.9 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 1.2 bpg</span><span style="color:#3333FF">Nazr has not played consistantly this year at all. He's going to have to bring something pretty close to his A Game today against a very tough/strong frontline in Dampier/Diop/Dirk.</span><span style="color:#000099">Dallas's X-Factor</span><span style="color:#000099">Erick Dampier</span><span style="color:#3333FF">Season Stats: 9.3 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 1.2 bpg</span><span style="color:#000099">Damp has been playing great ball as of late, he really needs to keep it up tonight. Detroit is finally starting to get into a groove. In the past 5 games, Damp has been averaging about a double-double, he needs to do that again tonight.</span> <div align="center">Key Matchup vs. <span style="color:#3333FF">Rasheed Wallace</span> <span style="color:#000000">vs.</span> <span style="color:#000099">Dirk Nowitzki</span></div><span style="color:#000000">Sheed has not had as good of a season as expected thus far, and Dirk has been the same old Dirk. When Sheed is on the top of his game, he's an All-Star caliber player. He needs to defend Dirk well tonight (easier said than done, huh?) and he needs to get his confidence back by knocking down some shots. As for Dirk, we all know what he's going to bring every single night.</span> CelticBalla's Extra Thoughts/NotesDetroit is coming off a terrible home loss to Portland (88-85). That's embarrassing, and they will be looking to redeem themselves from that stinker. CelticBalla's PredictionI see Dallas winning this one. They are at home, and Detroit is really still trying to find themselves. They have been much better lately, but they aren't the same fierce Detroit Pistons anymore. I think Dallas is the best team in the NBA, and they should win tonight. I think Jason Terry is going to have a big game.
nice preview with the pictures and stuff, looks like something I would do.but for the pistons, they are struggling-losing two straight (to POR and CHA of all teams) from an 8 game win streak after starting 3-5.the pistons will not be as streaky as they have shown this year. as Joe Dumars said in an article I read, <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>"We are definitely not playing our best basketball yet," said Dumars, Detroit's president of basketball operations. "That's not a bad thing, though. If you want to compare it to something, last year at this time, we were playing our best basketball. You don't want to peak too soon. You don't want to end up playing your best basketball in November and December."</div>he's right if you think about it that way. as for tonights game, here are my matchup summariesPG Harris v. Billups-Billups is going to have a tough time keeping up with Harris' speed at the Point. chauncey is going to have to stay at his pace on offense as well.Advantage: HarrisSG Terry V. Hamilton- a good speed matchup. both of them have deadly shots, but rip is more quick on offense than terry. JET is going to have a tough time just like all of the other defenders rip has to face. Advantage: RipSF Prince v. Howard- Both are quick on both sides of the ball. Advantage:NonePF Sheed v. Dirk- this all depends on what kind of game they have shooting, but Sheed has to play good D against Dirk for the whole game.Advantage: NoneC Mohammed V. Dampier- Dampier is a good player at home and Nazr has not been all that great matching up with other centers. I, personally hope Nazr has a great game but...Advantage: DampierBench- The Pistons have alot more scoring options with Delfino, Dyess, and flip murray, but the Mavs have a good defender in Diop, and also have one of my all-time favorite pistons in JStackhouse, but he isnt as good a scorer as he once was in Mo-Town.Advantage: PistonsMY Game prediction: it will be close the whole way through and I think Tunovers will kill Dallas-just a guess. and Sheed puts Dirk on Lockdown. Pistons win 99-93.Leading scorer: Sheed 22 pts---Howard 21Leading Rebounder: Sheed 11 rebs----Dampier 11Leading passer: Billups 9 ast----Terry 8might seem wierd but I got detroit winning an important road game to get back on track.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (PN13 @ Dec 7 2006, 11:37 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>nice preview with the pictures and stuff, looks like something I would do.but for the pistons, they are struggling-losing two straight (to POR and CHA of all teams) from an 8 game win streak after starting 3-5.the pistons will not be as streaky as they have shown this year. as Joe Dumars said in an article I read, he's right if you think about it that way. as for tonights game, here are my matchup summariesPG Harris v. Billups-Billups is going to have a tough time keeping up with Harris' speed at the Point. chauncey is going to have to stay at his pace on offense as well.Advantage: HarrisSG Terry V. Hamilton- a good speed matchup. both of them have deadly shots, but rip is more quick on offense than terry. JET is going to have a tough time just like all of the other defenders rip has to face. Advantage: RipSF Prince v. Howard- Both are quick on both sides of the ball. Advantage:NonePF Sheed v. Dirk- this all depends on what kind of game they have shooting, but Sheed has to play good D against Dirk for the whole game.Advantage: NoneC Mohammed V. Dampier- Dampier is a good player at home and Nazr has not been all that great matching up with other centers. I, personally hope Nazr has a great game but...Advantage: DampierBench- The Pistons have alot more scoring options with Delfino, Dyess, and flip murray, but the Mavs have a good defender in Diop, and also have one of my all-time favorite pistons in JStackhouse, but he isnt as good a scorer as he once was in Mo-Town.Advantage: PistonsMY Game prediction: it will be close the whole way through and I think Tunovers will kill Dallas-just a guess. and Sheed puts Dirk on Lockdown. Pistons win 99-93.Leading scorer: Sheed 22 pts---Howard 21Leading Rebounder: Sheed 11 rebs----Dampier 11Leading passer: Billups 9 ast----Terry 8might seem wierd but I got detroit winning an important road game to get back on track.</div>1. Dirk > Sheed. You kidding? No advantage there?2. I think Terry and Billups will be matched up for the most part, Harris is going to have to chase Rip all over the place.3. Pistons bench better than the Mavs bench? You must be joking.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticBalla32 @ Dec 7 2006, 01:07 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>1. Dirk > Sheed. You kidding? No advantage there?2. I think Terry and Billups will be matched up for the most part, Harris is going to have to chase Rip all over the place.3. Pistons bench better than the Mavs bench? You must be joking.</div>1. Both will light it up on offense. Neither has great perimeter defense, and both are shooters.2. Agree3. PN13, what are you thinking? Stackhouse is still great. They have Mo Ager, Anthony Johnson, and Austin Croshere as well. Mavs bench beats ours. Although, McDyess is better than any player on their bench.Also PN13, how do you give the advantage to Harris over Billups. That's crazy.CB32, Lindsey Hunter is out.I am going with my gut and saying Pistons pick up their act and get a win on the road. It will be a great game, but I predict a monster game out of Rasheed.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticBalla32 @ Dec 7 2006, 01:07 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>1. Dirk > Sheed. You kidding? No advantage there?2. I think Terry and Billups will be matched up for the most part, Harris is going to have to chase Rip all over the place.3. Pistons bench better than the Mavs bench? You must be joking.</div>Please excuse PN13 he is still a bit bias...This is going to be a hell of a game. If the Pistons come of of the gates strong and fired up I can see us pulling this one out on the road. This is a huge game for us, one of the biggfest of the season. In my season preview I believe I had this game as #2 most important for us. Last year we got smoked in Dallas by 40 points on the road to end our undereated streak, this season we need it as a morale booster, and to imporve our record. On top of that we need to prove to ourselves that we can go into the Western Conference Champs homefloor and get a win.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (SunnyD @ Dec 7 2006, 04:15 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>1. Both will light it up on offense. Neither has great perimeter defense, and both are shooters.2. Agree3. PN13, what are you thinking? Stackhouse is still great. They have Mo Ager, Anthony Johnson, and Austin Croshere as well. Mavs bench beats ours. Although, McDyess is better than any player on their bench.</div>OK, I respect that, but at the end of the day, Dirk is one of the best players in the league while Sheed is a struggling boarderline All-Star. Sheed is a good player, don't get me wrong, and I love him, but he's just not Dirk. Sheed is a pretty good low-post defender, but Dirk can get shots off over anybody.About the Mavs bench, don't even factor in Maurice Ager yet, he isn't in the rotation. But you have Diop, Stack, Anthony Johnson, Croshere, Greg Bucker, Deaven George, etc. A lot of key contributors and excellent role players. Outside of McDyess (who has really struggled offensively) and Murray, Detroit doesn't reall have any consistancy off the bench at all.<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>CB32, Lindsey Hunter is out.</div> :happy0144: Thanks man.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (SunnyD @ Dec 7 2006, 03:15 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>3. PN13, what are you thinking? Stackhouse is still great. They have Mo Ager, Anthony Johnson, and Austin Croshere as well. Mavs bench beats ours. Although, McDyess is better than any player on their bench.</div>Is McDyess really better than Stack? Only things he does better are rebound and block.He gets fewer minutes too, but I'm sure that'll even out by the end of the year, too. We've used Stack a lot because of Howard's injury.
This has been a horrible game decisions by Avery is this game. Why is Harris guarding Billups and not Hamilton? Why is Dallas going small with Dirk at center? Frustrating game.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (mavsfan1000 @ Dec 7 2006, 10:05 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>This has been a horrible game decisions by Avery is this game. Why is Harris guarding Billups and not Hamilton? Why is Dallas going small with Dirk at center? Frustrating game.</div>That's nothing, just be thankful Doc Rivers or Sam Mitchell isn't coaching your team. But yes I do agree that Harris should definitely be the one chasing Rip around. Overall, though, this has been a pretty sloppy game for Dallas. Something needs to click, and Dirk NEEDS to start to getting involved offensively.
That game was mostly terrible execution. I guess some blame rides on Avery, but Christ. Some of the shot selection was awful. Harris taking a 3-point shot towards the end? Dirk fadeaway 3? A lot of the shots were forced, too many turnovers, etc.
