Game Preview: Detroit Pistons vs. Houston Rockets
By Dan Feldman
Essentials
Date: Dec. 12, 2009
Time: 8:30 p.m.
Television: Fox Sports Detroit
Records
Detroit: 11-12
Houston: 13-10
Probable starters
Detroit:
PG |
SG
SF
PF
C
Rodney
Stuckey
Richard
Hamilton
Jonas
Jerebko
Jason
Maxiell
Ben
Wallace
Houston:
PG |
SG
SF
PF
C
Aaron
Brooks
Shane
Battier
Chase
Budinger
Luis
Scola
Chuck
Hayes
Las Vegas projection
Spread: Detroit +5
Over/under: 189
Score: Houston wins, 97-92
Statistical projection
Detroit offensive rating: 106.2 (19th)
Detroit defensive rating: 107.2 (17th)
Detroit pace: 87.9 (29th)
Houston offensive rating: 107.1 (15th)
Houston defensive rating: 105.6 (13th)
Score: Detroit wins, 97-96
Outlook
The good news for Detroit: Trevor Ariza is suspended for tonight’s game after he connected with a forearm to Toronto’s DeMar DeRozan.
The bad news: Rick Adelman’s complaint about the Rockets’ schedule being too tough doesn’t apply to this game – at least not directly. Tonight’s game is the first of four sets of back-to-backs in the next four weeks. So, Houston still should be good to go tonight.
The questionable news: Ben Gordon and Will Bynum will be game-time decisions, according to The Detroit News’ Ted Kulfan.