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.