Detroit Pistons (6-7) @ Houston Rockets (6-9) Previous Games Pistons 90 @ Bucks 96 Nuggets 82 @ Rockets 76 Game Streak Pistons-Lost 1 Rockets lost 3 Head Coaches vs Larry Brown/Jeff Van Gundy Probable Starters vs Chauncey Billups/Tyronn Lue Vs Rip Hamilton/Tracy Mcgrady Vs Tayshaun Prince/Jim Jackson vs Rasheed Wallace/Maurice Taylor Vs Antonio Mcdyess/Yao Ming 6th Men Vs Elden Campbell/Juwan Howard Players to Watch Rip Hamilton/Tracy Mcgrady Keys To The Game <u>Detroit Pistons:</u> <ul>[*]Get the post game set up by getting the ball into Rasheed Wallace. He will be defended by Juwan Howard and Maurice Taylor, two very bad defenders. Rasheed on his game is very tough for anyone but when being matched up with with forwards like this should be able to score at will, he shouldn't have many problems. [*]The Pistons backcourt needs to get involved early. Chauncey Billups not only needs to score but look for the inside game first, the finals MVP will be looking to take advantage of the huge mis-match of quailty at the point guard spot when he will have to go against Tyron Lue. [*]Rip Hamilton needs to play his normal consistant game, getting open by using the screens. Attack the basket and get to the free-throw line [*]Bench play will also be very important, what the 2nd unit brings to the game will be key.[/list] <u>Houston Rockets</u> <ul>[*]Houston must find a way to give Tracy Mcgrady room to get open shots otherwise Tayshaun Prince will make life very tough. [*]Guarding Rip Hamilton and chasing him around screens is a must for the Rockets. [*]don't settle for outside shots,certainly with Ben Wallace not being in the middle. Get the ball inside first Get to the line and try to get some extra points, Yao needs to attack the Pistons and not settle for the jump shot[/list] Game Thoughts Both teams have really struggled to start the season, this is an important game for both. This is the Pistons last game without Ben Wallace and Carlos Delfino who's slashing abilty has been sorely missed will be back for tonight's game. He has been taken off the injured list. The main problem with Detroit so far has been defense and they need to get back to which made them successful. It seems there is a trend of only playing good D against the good teams and slacking off against the poor to average teams. With Mcdyess starting instead of Ben Wallace there is more of an offensive option than Ben Wallace being there but a defensively disadvantage. Rockets need to find Yao early, with Big Ben not still missing there is no reason for Yao not to be strong in the post. This game could go either way but I will give the edge to the Pistons, mainly due to the fact the Rockets are actually playing worse than the Pistons, even though I find that hard to believe. It is true.
Delfino was activated today and DC's on the IL. i hope delfino gets to play. we could really use some energy off the bench.
well, i hope i don't jinx anything, but this this is the FIRST TIME this season that the Pistons have lead after the first quarter!
This is how we play! From now on, this is how we play! There we go Pistons! Delfino came back shooting. McDyess is killing them. Can't wait to get Ben Wallace back and show the Spurs what a championship team plays like.
tonight was actually fun to watch. not just because we got the win, but because we played some great Piston defense. man-o-man, Dice looks awfully good.
Mcdyess was unstoppable in that 1st quarter and did a great job rebounding the ball, he was also pretty effective on the defensive end. Although the refs are seriously giving him no respect at all, he keeps getting called for soft fouls each game and all he is doing is playing straight up man to man defense. Ben Wallace returning on friday means Mcdyess goes to the bench and the way he is playing, thats a nice option to have. Carlos Delfino played really well tonight and hit some key baskets at different stages, you can tell he was missed. He brought an extra spark off the bench. Holding Houston to just 70 points shows they are playing defense but only when they want to, which is really frustrating. Big Ben is back on friday and what a time for him to return. Spurs/Pistons is going to be one hell of a match-up.
The credit for this Detroit win goes to Houston more than any Piston player. Had the Rockets played up to their potential, meaning defend to death, focused offense and 100% effort, the Pistons would be crying about a loss right now. Instead, Houston did not even look like they wanted to win this game and were willing to play catch-up all game long. A win is still a win though, so congrats to the Pistons for simply playing with more effort.
Actually I think It has far more to do with the Pistons simply being a much better team, even without Ben Wallace. So far this year the Pistons have slacked off against teams but they have stepped up against the teams with the big name players. I said It in pre-season Houston would suffer not having a good point guard or a good defensive power forward, they have basically got 90% of the 20 win Orlando Magic team and Yao isn't that great yet for them to improve that much.
^^Exactly. You can't possibly think Houston won this for us more than we won it for ourselves. We got what ever we wanted, we went to the basket, getting the foul calls, we played great defense, and we outhusled ya'll. I mean Tayshaun had 2 crazy blocks, and all that was because he hustled and didn't give up on the play. Those blocks were a reflection of how we played. And plus do you still think this was more Houston even after ya'll cut the deficit to 3, and then we just went away? This was just a great overall win for us, because we played with alot of effort and intensity.
