Game Preview: Detroit vs. Toronto
By Dan Feldman
Date: Jan. 21, 2009
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Detroit record: 23-17
Toronto record: 16-27
Detroit probable starters:
Rodney
StuckeyAllen
IversonTayshaun
PrinceAmir
JohnsonRasheed
Wallace
Toronto probable starters:
Anthony
ParkerJoey
GrahamJamario
MoonChris
BoshAndrea
Bargnani
Spread: Detroit -5.5
Outlook: Finally, the moment you’ve all been waiting for.
Piston coach Michael Curry will start a larger lineup, and Richard Hamilton will come off the bench for the first time in nearly seven years.
It almost seems like an eternity since these teams met. With both holding 3-0 records, Detroit beat the Raptors earlier in the season.
The Pistons, who have three star-level guards, have struggled to find an identity. Toronto, which has lost six in a row, could be facing its own lineup controversy.
Jermaine O’Neal is set to return from injury tonight. But the Raptors already have Chris Bosh and Andrea Bargnani up front.
Anthony Parker has played well lately for Toronto, but Rodney Stucker is the bigger type of point guard that could slow him.
Curry appears to have the Pistons ready to match up with a big team, like the Raptors, just in time.
Also, be sure to check out Raptors Republic’s preview of the game.