Game Preview: Detroit at Indiana

Date: Jan. 13, 2009

Time: 7:00 p.m.

Detroit record: 22-14

Indiana record: 13-25

Detroit probable starters:

PG- Rodney Stuckey

SG- Allen Iverson

SF- Richard Hamilton

PF- Tayshaun Prince

C- Rasheed Wallace

Indiana probable starters:

PG- Jarrett Jack

SG- Stephen Graham

SF- Danny Granger

PF- Troy Murhpy

C- Roy Hibbert

Spread: Detroit -1

Outlook: Last night’s loss to Charlotte may have been anomaly. Maybe it was just an off night. Maybe small ball will work.

Maybe.

Piston coach Michael Curry will start five men with heights of 6-foot-5, 6-foot-0, 6-foot-7, 6-foot-9 and 6-foot-11. And people will call that group small.

With the little lineup, the Pistons beat Indiana by four in December.

Stuckey, Iverson and Hamilton combined for 66 points and 25 points. The Pistons scored 114 points.

Granger scored 42 points on Hamilton.  Troy Murphy had a double-double matched up with Prince at power forward. Detroit was outrebounded by 10. The Pacers scored 110.

All in all, what you’d expect from the small ball lineup. And the Pistons only beat last-place Indiana by four.

Detroit seems to have three matchup problems tonight. Prince on Murphey, Hamilton on Granger and Iverson on Graham. If the game goes well, I’ll feel better about small ball.

If not, then it’s probably time for a change.