Utah Jazz (14-12) @ Detroit Pistons (15-11) When: Sunday 21 December, 6:00pm (ET) Local TV: KJZZ, Fox sports Det. National TV: NBALP Key Stats Jazz road record: 3-9 Pistons home record: 8-4 Standings: Jazz 9th Western Conference (.538) Pistons 4th Eastern Conference (.577) Last games: Jazz 99 @ Boston 96, Pistons 75 @ Indiana 80 Last met: Teams have not met this season Probable starting lineups Jazz/Pistons PG: Carlos Arroyo/ Chauncey Billups SG: Deshawn Stevenson/ Richard Hamilton SF: Matt Harpring/ Tayshaun Prince PF: Andrei Kirilenko/ Ben Wallace C: Greg Ostertag/ Mehmet Okur Coach: Jerry Sloan/ Larry Brown Key Bench Players Pistons: Chucky Atkins, Corliss Williamson, Zeljko Rebraca Jazz: Raja Bell, Raul Lopez, Jarron Collins Injuries: Jazz- Michael Ruffin, Keon Clark Pistons- Hubert Davis, Darvin Ham, Lindsey Hunter Keys to the game Jazz 1. Matt Harpring. Andrei Kirilenko, the Jazz's leading scorer is going up against Ben Wallace so he can't be expected to score much. Harp has Tayshaun Prince so he needs to score more than usual. 2. Pistons backcourt. Chauncey Billups and Rip Hamilton could easily combine for 40 points so Arroyo and Stevenson need to play good defense. 3. Ben Wallace. Big Ben could really hurt the Jazz, Utah win games with their rebounfing, Ben Wallace is one of the best rebounders in the NBA so AK47 has to play an awesome game or Tag has to get 12 or more boards for a rebouding advantage. Pistons 1. Don't let someone from the Jazz step up. In thier last game it was Deshawn Stevenson and they won. When they win, someone from the Jazz will of played good. It is most likely to be Harpring in this game. 2. Andrei Kirilenko. He can do everything, and is the most important to the Jazz's success. Ben should be able to limit his points and rebounds and he will have to. 3. Deshawn Stevenson. Got 16 points in the first quarter against Boston, but his defense isn't the greatest. Detroit needs to limit his points to under 10, and Rip needs to look to score on him. Key Matchup- Andrei Kirilenko vs. Ben Wallace Prediction-The Pistons have to many scoring threats, despite the Jazz defense and should limit the already low Jazz scoring. Pistons by 8.
I see the Pistons winning this game. However I do believe it will be close. I look forward to seeing 2 of the best shot blockers in the league have their way with each other's teams. That should be fun to watch. I think teh Pistons will limit the Jazz point, yet I think the Jazz will do a good job limiting the Pistons as well. As for rebounds, I think it will be pretty even, seeing as though the Jazz are the best at keeping teams from rebounding. I think the rebouding statistics will turn out pretty evenly. My prediction: Hard fought game and pretty low scoring, 87-82 Pistons ---------- Not too great of a start..... 19-31 after 1 36-48 Pistons at the Half ---------- Uh thanks KJ............. So much for keeping it close. Jazz got beat by 21. I will be back later with my analysis on this dreadful game <font size="1">Edited by KJ</font>
