Game Preview: Detroit vs. Cleveland, Game Three
By Dan Feldman
Essentials
Date: April 24, 2009
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Television: ESPN and Fox Sports Detroit
Records
Detroit: 39-43
Cleveland: 66-16
Series: Cleveland leads, 2-0
Probable starters
Detroit:
Rodney
StuckeyRichard
HamiltonTayshaun
PrinceAntonio
McDyessRasheed
Wallace
Cleveland:
Mo
WiliamsDelonte
WestLeBron
JamesAnderson
VarejaoZydrunas
Ilgauskas
Las Vegas projection
Spread: Detroit +5.5
Over/under: 178.5
Score: Cleveland wins 95-83
Statistical projection
Detroit offensive rating: 107.4 (21st)
Detroit defensive rating: 108.0 (16th)
Detroit pace: 86.7 (29th)
Cleveland offensive rating: 112.4 (4th)
Cleveland defensive rating: 102.4 (3rd)
Cleveland pace: 88.7 (25th)
Score: Cleveland wins 92-87
Outlook
Don’t count on the home-court advantage providing much for the Pistons tonight.
Detroit is one of two playoff teams to have a worse home record than its opponent’s road record (Philadelphia is the other). The Pistons are 21-20 at home, and Cleveland is 27-14 on the road (Orlando’s road record is just three games better than the 76ers home record).
And the Palace might be filled with plenty of Cavs fans.
I think the most drama tonight will watching the Pistons atempting to try just hard enough to not embarrass themselves, but not to hard that they push back their vacation with a return to Cleveland for a game five.
- Tonight’s game is available on ESPN 360.