NOTE-I will be away from the 23rd december til the 29th. So thats why this is being posted now. I won't have any internet access while I'm away during this time either. I will still be keeping updated with this and all the other games though. Indiana Pacers(12-11) @ Detroit Pistons(12-11) Streaks Pacers: Won 1 Pistons: Lost 1 Head Coaches vs. Probable Starters PG: vs. Jamaal Tinsley/Chauncey Billups SG: vs. Reggie Miller/Richard Hamilton SF: vs. James Jones/Tayshaun Prince PF: vs. Jeff Foster/Rasheed Wallace C: vs. David Harrision/Ben Wallace 6th Men vs. Fred Jones/ Antonio McDyess Players to Watch vs. Foster: 10.5 Points, 13.20 Rebounds Wallace: 10.3 Points, 2.1 Assists, 12.10 Rebounds, 1.53 Steals, 2.80 Blocks Injury Report Indiana Pacers Anthony Johnson Austin Croshere (doubtful) Stephen Jackson-Suspended Jermaine O'Neal-suspended Ron Artest-Suspended for the season Detroit Pistons Ronald Dupree Smush Parker Carlos Delfino Game Analysis This is the first meeting since the terrible brawl that ended Ron Artest's season, suspended Stephen Jackson for 30 games and Jermaine O'Neal for 25 games. Heading into the NBA season when the schedule came out, not many would of thought the main headline of Pacers v Pistons could get more attention than the Lakers v the Heat with the return of Shaquille O'Neal to L.A. However this is a game people will be turning into purely because of what happened at the palace on the 19th of november. It all started with a harmless drinking cup, by the end of the night players were dragged to the locker room while fans were hit with many blowing punches from the 3 Pacer stars. With Drinks, Popcorn, food and even chairs being thrown at the Pacer players as they excited the court into the locker room on what has to be discribed as the worse incident in all of sports. Question is will Pacer fans be in the christmas spirit in welcome the Pistons to Indiana on this great hoilday? don't count on It. I wouldn't blame any Piston fan who is worried about traveling to Indiana for this match-up. It's a game that the Pistons players will need to treat as just a game in a long 82 game season, they can't look at who is suited up for the Pacers as obviously there isn't alot of talent on that roster with their 3 main starters missing. Pistons will need to stay focused and come ready to play. The crowd will be on their backs the whole game, I would imagine Ben Wallace will be the less welcomed member of the Pistons. The game will be clear, get the ball inside and attack the Pacers lack of quailty inside. They have a rookie in David Harrision starting, in reality he is no match for the Wallace brothers or even Mcdyess. Take It to him strong. Jeff Foster is also having a good season but he isn't a shot blocker either. The one guy who had to step up his game for the Pacers to get through this difficult time was point guard jamaal Tinsley. Which he has certainly done so, Tinsley is averaging 16.6 points, 4.6 rebounds and 7.6 assists per game. Since the big 3 have been suspended Tinsley has been averaging 20+ points, 5 rebounds and over 9 assists per game. He is also shooting close to 40% from three-point land. He is taking over the leadership role but more importantly leading them to wins. A 5-9 win/loss record isn't bad considering the predictions many people were giving them when David Stern issued the suspensions. Tinsley will again be depended on to score over his season averages while keeping Pistons point guard Chauncey Billups in check at the other end. Chauncey Billups last years finals MVP is having a good season averaging 15.9 points, 4.6 rebounds and 6.1 assists per game. While shooting 40% from downtown. Although his play has dipped somewhat since averaging 21, 6 and 7 in the first 10 games of the year, he has still been an effective part of the Pistons team even when they have struggled. His play is so important in Pistons winnining games, when he struggles the team is normally not that successful. He has changed his style for the good of the team, which happened last year when he was forced to become more of a pass first guard instead of a shoot first guard. The point guard spot will likely decide the game in my mind, two very good point guards who are having two of their best seasons even If the FG% doesn't suggest that. Billups will need to get guys involved early and dominate from the get go. The Pacers legend known as Reggie Miller is now back and the Pacers are sure glad to have him back in the line-up. Miller who has missed much of the first part of the season because of injury has showed no real after effects of his injury where he has averaged 17.1 points per game while shooting over 43% from the field. An area which is surprising is the fact he is only shooting 28% from three-point land, which he must be dissapointed about due to the fact he is a career 40% shooter from downtown. His job will be simple for this game, shoot the ball well and get involved early offensively. The Pacers will need all the offense they can get against this very tough minded Pistons defense. They struggled scoring in last years playoffs and If the Pistons show the energy on D as they have been recently, Reggie may have to carry the Pacers on their backs. However will he be able to do that and defend Rip Hamilton? I'm sure Reggie won't want to chase Rip around from those screens. Rip Hamilton is once again the Pistons leading scorer averaging 20.2 points per game along with 3.8 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game. He will be the go to guy on saturday, the Pacers couldn't stop him in last years playoffs where he averaged over 24 points per game including 35 in game 5 in Indiana. Rip will have the advantage whoever will be guarding him. With Artest obviously out, Reggie Miller, James Jones or Fred Jones will be forced to guard Hamilton coming off those screens which will cause alot of problems. Pistons will need to get him involved early and get their guys in foul trouble, in terms of depth the Pacers don't much as much talent. With their bench players now starting, the bench depth won't be as strong as It normally would be. Drawing fouls will be part of the game plan for Hamilton and the Pistons. Rip has been getting to the line in double fiqures many times this year, the same should happen again on saturday. James Jones is expected to get the starting spot at small forward, Jones is in his 2nd NBA season has turned some heads with his performances filling in for Ron Artest where he has averaged 7.9 points while shooting over 41% from three-point land. His job will be to hit the open shots when they come to him and defend the Pistons Tayshaun Prince and maybe even Rip Hamilton. The Pacers will need produce out of every position but mainly this one. Tayshaun Prince made a name for himself during the finals when he held superstar Kobe Bryant to 38% shooting which helped guide the Pistons to their first title since they won back to back titles from 89/90 season. Prince has the long arms to defend everyone he guards. He is also doing a good job everywhere else. Prince is averaging 11.6 points, 6.3 rebounds and around 1 block per game. He has remained at a high level defensively along with improving his offensive game. He will be depended on to defend likely Reggie Miller, Fred Jones and even James Jones from lighting up the scoreboard. You may even see him on Jamaal Tinsley If needed. Jeff Foster will play a key role at the power forward position, he will be going up against two time all-star Rasheed Wallace who is known as a good defender. So any easy points Foster can produce will help the Pacers against the tighing Pistons interior defense. As mentioned before, Foster is averaging 13.2 rebounds per game and is doing a good job on offense and defense in giving the Pacers chances to win games. One on one I don't think anyone can stop Rasheed Wallace but Foster can give Sheed problems and will need to force him to shoot the jump shot, which he can tend to do. If that shot is on though, there's no real hope. Although Wallace has struggled this year partly due to injury but he is starting to get back to the level he was at last season. Defensively is where Wallace has struggled until the past few weeks. Foster must have a strong game If they Pacers are to contend. Rasheed Wallace as mentioned above struggled to start the season due to injury in his lower back. Which really effected not only his defense but his offense. That was a big reason why the Pistons defense was so poor to start the year. Although his shooting is not where It should be % wise, he is becoming more of a threat defensively and has been getting quite alot of blocks the past few games and doing a decent job on the boards. Sheed will need to bring his A game on christmas day, he has the skills to destroy whoever the Pacers put on him in the post. No one can guard him one on one anyway, although the Pacers do play good team defense I truely don't believe they will play him straight up, he will have his way with Foster on the low block, Sheed will need to take advantage of that match-up and attack early. David Harrision could be in for a long night being matched up against Ben Wallace the two time defensive player of the year. Harrision only a rookie has had a great season after being forced into the starting line-up after Jermaine O'Neal got suspended. Harrision has averaged 7.9 points and 3.8 rebounds per game in 22 minutes per game. Harrision selected in last years draft with the last pick of the first round from Colorado. Harrision will need to give Ben as much problems as he can, draw some fouls on the offensive end and try and not let Wallace dominate the boards defensively and offensively. Harrision will likely be in real a rough night, he will need to play Ben strong and play with no fear. Ben Wallace is once again having another great season, averaging a double double with 10.3 points and 12.1 rebounds a game along with almost 3 blocks per game. He again is making a claim for defensively player of the year for the 3rd time. Wallace who has missed some games, 2 because of a death to his family while also missing 6 games after being suspended due to the brawl. Ben will be as always be depended to control the paint and make It difficult for the Pacers to score inside. He will again be looking to dominate the boards on both ends of the floor. His offensive game has improved and If he manages to get to his season average, scoring will be far easier for the Pistons. Game thoughts This is a game where there will be alot of emotions flying, the fans will be into the game and so will the players. Pacers should be motivated to win this game considering what happened at the palace. They will have the crowd behind them and I'm sure will be on the Pistons back during every offensive set the Pistons run. The Pistons should also be up for this game, the last thing they want to happen is to get embarassed and lose to a team who is without their best 3 players. Certainly after they beat a Pacers team in the playoffs last year who have alot more talent than this current group has. Saying all that though, I wouldn't be at all surprised If this game is close, purely because of the way things happened at the palace. The emotions As I mentioned with be high and the Pacers will want to make a statement that no matter who is missing they can still win, with that said you can't really go against the Pistons in this one. They are full stength (only missing Carlos Delfino) while the Pacers are badly shorthanded. The Pistons have no excuse If they lose this game, If they do, you can count on the whole world laughing at them but also the stick Pistons fans will get. Pistons are the defending champions for a reason and must prove It on saturday, the champion defense has seemed to return which should mean a Pistons victory. Enjoy the game
nice preview. I see Indiana fans taking the high road (hopefully) as far as the game should go it should be an easy pistons victory as long as they play 2 whole halves. Watch out for foster though i predict he'll have a huge game maybe 20 points 15+ boards. I hope ben's ankle will be alright.
terrific preview. i see my pistons takin this one by at least 7 points. the pacers just don't have men to guard rip and the wallaces. ben will have a career night on scoring.
Latest news The arbitrator has reduced Jermaine O'Neal's suspension to 15 games, which means he will play on saturday in this game. Although the NBA can challenge the ruling and take this to court where It would be settled. Which means JO would not play in this game. Have to see what happens in the next few days in what David Stern decides to do. With JO back this changes the preview abit but I don't really have time to change It.
Nice preview AllNet. Personally I think your gonna see the biggest booing of a team ever. The Pacers are gonna play hard against the Pistons so they should try and match their intensity. Having Jermain O'Neal will greatly increase the Pacers chances of winning but the way they've been playing and shooting the ball lately I'd take the Pistons to win this one by 5.
I say the Pistons will win this one. But expect to see the fans get into this one. I think they'll boo the Pistons every possesion. I'm glad to see O'Neal back in action. Hopefully this will be a close game going down to the wire, I want to see a couple good competitive games on Christmas. I think Miller will have an exellent scoring game and go for 20 in this game.
The Pistons are struggling to find its championship form even at full strength while the Pacers are suspension or injury depleted. I can only do a take-a-guess prediction rather than analysis-based because there are some factors that will play in this game that I don't think noone can really pre-analyse: - The fans are going into it, for sure, I mean really the Pacer fans are going to strike fear into the Piston players, just the way the Piston fans did to the Pacers. How well are the Pistons going to respond to this? Will the hecklings and tauntings get into their heads and make them nervous OR will they be fired up instead? Which team will show up? - Will the Pacers play on emotions or just play with cool heads and get what's most important, the "W"? You never really know until you see them yourself during the game, but taking away those factors, and if Jermaine O'Neal really makes it back in time, and with the Pistons still struggling (championship hungover?) and playing away at possibly their season's most hostile arena, I'll have to take the Pacers by 7.
^ Is he? For sure? I thought I heard Dave Stern might be stepping in at the last minute to stop that from happening? Is it true?
Reggie Miller is having a great game,also that dunk by Fred Jones was impressive, Foster is a killer on the boards!
The Pistons did a nice job of not letting the fans get to them and making their free throws, but the last minute or so was quite a scare of Detroit. I am thoroughly impressed with the Pacers' fans behavior. Nothing was taken to the extreme and there was minimal booing. That alone is a slap to Pistons' fans' faces.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Piston fans are much better than Pacer fans.</div> Care to elaborate?
I'd say Pacer fans are class... I couldn't say the same to Piston fans. I'm surprised the Pacers lost, I thought they would be ready for this and considering the Pistons had been sputtering, the Pacers should have taken this game. But the Pistons did a great job of being prepared coming in. It was a nice game.
Care to explain why the Pacers should of won when the Pistons led basically all game and have a stronger team? People talked about how Pacers will be ready and motivated for this game but fail to realise the Pistons's emotions were high heading into this game as well. They were embarrassed at the palace on november 19th, Pacers won the game by 15 on the Pistons homecourt. All people remember on that day was the brawl when infact should realise the Pistons were hurt by that game.
