Game Preview: Detroit vs. New York

When

Date: March 11, 2009

Time: 7:30 p.m.

Records

Detroit: 32-30

New York: 26-37

Probable starters

Detroit:

Rodney

StuckeyRichard

HamiltonTayshaun

PrinceJason

MaxiellAntonio

McDyess

New York:

Chris

DuhonLarry

HughesWilson

ChandlerAl

HarringtonDavid

Lee

Las Vegas projection

Spread: Detroit -6.5

Over/under: 187.5

Score: Detroit wins 97-91

Statistical projection

Detroit offensive rating: 106.6

Detroit defensive rating: 107.1

Detroit pace: 87.1

New York offensive rating: 108.6

New York defensive rating: 110.7

New York pace: 97.3

Score: Detroit wins 100-99

Outlook

Missing Allen Iverson is one thing, but Rasheed Wallace is another. Detroit has just one other player taller than 6-foot-9 in 6-foot-11 Kwame Brown.

Luckily for the Pistons, neither of their next two opponent’s centers are oversized post players. David Lee is just 6-foot-9.

And it helps that the Knicks and Raptors aren’t just that good of teams. New York is  just 8-22 on the road, and Raptors Republic just posted Top Ten Colangelo excuses for the season.

These next two games are about surviving. And with Rip Hamilton at the helm, I like the Pistons chances of doing that.

UPDATE: Jason Maxiell will start in place of Rasheed Wallace, according to Dana Gauruder of The Oakland Press.