<font color="blue">Detroit Pistons (31-19)</font> @ <font color="Red">Philadelphia 76ers (26-26)</font> Time: 7:00 PM, EST Arena: Wachovia Center TV: CSN, NBALP (Free Preview) ____________________ <u>Last Meeting</u> Pistons 99, Philadelphia 95 ____________________ <font color="blue">Detroit Pistons</font> C- Ben Wallace F- Rasheed Wallace F- Tayshaun Prince G- Richard Hamilton G- Chauncey Billups Head Coach- Larry Brown ____________________ <u>Starting Five</u> <font color="Red">Philadelphia 76ers</font> C- Samuel Dalembert F- Corliss Williamson F- Kyle Korver G- Andre Iguodala G- Allen Iverson Head Coach- Jim O?Brien ____________________ <u>Key Match-up</u> <font color="blue">Chauncey Billups</font> v. <font color="Red">Allen Iverson</font> ____________________ Player(s) To Watch <font color="red">Allen Iverson - Philadelphia 76ers</font> [IMGl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/allen_iverson.jpg[/IMGl]<font color="Red">PPG: 29.9</font> RPG: 4.1 APG: 7.6 FG%: 41.3 % FT%: 81.2 % It?s no surprise that Allen ?The Scoring Machine? Iverson has been tearing it up as of late. Coming off a career best 60 Point game against the Orlando Magic, Iverson lit up the Knicks with 38 Points (10 Assists as well) on the following night and 31 of those 38 points coming in the first half. His tenacity getting into the paint is unmatched. There is not one player who has the tenacity he does when it comes to getting in the paint. From back to back 50+ point games to a 60 Point game, Iverson is starting to if not already established himself as the best offensive ?little guy? of All-Time. However, heading into this game he will relive what he called a ?nightmare?. Last time Iverson played the Pistons he referred to this team as being a nightmare on the defensive end when he got into the paint. With the Wallace & Wallace firm guarding the rim and Prince length being a problem, Iverson may have a very hard time scoring against this team. If he can?t get anything in the paint he has to rely on his jumps hot to fall down for him. Projected Stats: 34 Points , 8 Assists, 6 Rebounds, 5 Steals, 0 Blocks ____________________ <u>Keys To The Game</u> <font color="Red">Philadelphia 76ers</font> <ul><font color="Red">Quick Start For A.I</font> Against, this 2nd best defensive team in the league the 76ers must get Iverson off to a fast start on the offensive end. With the mediocre offensive players surrounding Iverson, they will have a hard time scoring against the Pistons. So that is why they must get their best offensive player off to a fast start and in which will eventually give them opportunities to get things rolling. Against this Pistons team, a player like Willie Green would be of much use. His ability to take his man one-on-one and ability to get into the paint will be of much value to the 76ers, but that?s only if he can get the minutes.[/list] <ul><font color="Red">Control The Tempo</font> The Pistons love playing the half court game, and the 76ers not being the best half court offensive team around, they need to get into the open court and keep pushing the ball. The Pistons transition defense is decent, but it will not be able to contain the 76ers on every fastbreak possession. So again, they need to look to push the ball and keep running. But before they do that they must do what their best at? And that?s?. [/list] <ul><font color="Red">Forcing Turnovers</font> In order to get into the open court you must make some stops on the defensive end, and what better way to do so by forcing the opposing team to cough up the ball. The 76ers are number one at forcing turnovers, so they must look to do what they do to every team and that?s but pressure on them (backcourt preferably) and have them cough the ball and ultimately get into the open court in which they can do some damage.[/list] __________________ Personal Prediction- This is going to be a good game. It will be one of those rollercoaster type games in which you don?t know who will win at the end. When it?s all said and done the team that made those hustle plays and the team which simply wanted it more will end up winning. The 76ers are at home and are coming off a big win against the Knicks last night, so the momentum will be on their side. Also, with Iverson tearing it up as of late and playing against his former coach Larry Brown for only the 3rd time since he left for Detroit look for Iverson to try and make Brown think twice about leaving Philly. Iverson will look to score and pass to show Brown how much he?s improved. So this going to be a hard fought game that will come down to the wire. Pistons 97, 76ers 94
This should be a good game. During this time of the season, every game is important especially in the Atlantic Division. Right now we need as many wins as possible to make us an above .500 team. Against the Pistons we should fare fine. The Sixers usually play well at home against Eastern conference opponents, but then again the Sixers have been pretty inconsistent all year as well. To beat the Pistons you have to out run them if you want to score inside. Also I think it's important for us to play well in the perimeter, we all know that the Pistons are a good defensive team but I believe are guys can take their guys off the dribble throughout the game; if they execute in doing that they should work the ball around the perimeter for open shots, that we need to knock down. That means guys like Korver, Iguodala, Allen Iverson, and all the other midrange (+) shooters need to step up in tonight?s game. Other then that I want to see AI have a well rounded game, that means I want to see him putting up the same production in the second half as in the first because I often see Allen having big first half?s, with a second half not near as effective. That same thing applies for the rest of the team as well, play with consistency! 76ers- 2/16 pregame injury report: <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Aaron McKie - Game-Time Decision, left ankle sprain Kenny Thomas - Game-Time Decision, low back strain Corliss Williamson - Game-Time Decision, low back strain</div>
