Game Preview: Detroit Pistons vs. Toronto Raptors
By Matthew Way
In the second-to-last home game ever at the Palace of Auburn Hills, the Detroit Pistons look to keep playoff hopes alive as they host the Toronto Raptors.
The matchup at the Palace pits two teams going in completely opposite directions. The Toronto Raptors have won eight of their last 10 games, and are surging into the playoffs. The Detroit Pistons, meanwhile, have lost nine of their last 11 games and need to win their final five games to have any chance at the playoffs.
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The Raptors’ surge has come without its star point guard Kyle Lowry, who is questionable for tonight’s game. Taking his place as the primary ball handler has been shooting guard DeMar DeRozan, who has carried a heavy burden in Lowry’s absence.
Pistons fans undoubtedly remember DeRozan from his opening night performance, when he dropped 40 points on the Pistons as the Raptors blew out Detroit.
The last time the teams played, the Pistons had a bit more success against DeRozan, limiting him to 3-for-9 from the field, albeit in a losing effort for the Pistons.
The key to stopping DeRozan a few weeks ago was playing him physically: coach Stan Van Gundy called on Marcus Morris, rather than Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, to defend DeRozan and it worked very well. Morris’ larger stature limited DeRozan’s ability to both get off shots and get any space to create those shots.
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Morris will need to play a large role once again if the Pistons hope to close out their time at the Palace of Auburn Hills in a positive way.