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Detroit Pistons seek fifth-straight win vs. Hornets

By Chris Crowder

Nov 20, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Detroit Pistons head coach Stan Van Gundy instructs his team as they play the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center. The Pistons win 96-86. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 20, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Detroit Pistons head coach Stan Van Gundy instructs his team as they play the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center. The Pistons win 96-86. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Detroit Pistons look to extend their winning streak to five games tonight against the Charlotte Hornets.

In Monday’s matchup against the Charlotte Hornets, the Pistons will likely be facing a team they’ll be fighting for a playoff with in the bottom of the Eastern Conference. Currently the Hornets (11-8) and Pistons (12-9) are tied for sixth in the conference, just a game and a half back of the leading Heat. With the majority of the season left to go, a lot can change, but if last season’s standings are any indication, the Hornets and Pistons will be close in the standings by this season’s end.

The Hornets are coming off of a win Dec. 5 win against the Chicago Bulls, a team that the Pistons also beat earlier in the season. The Pistons are also on the second half of a back-to-back stretch after they easily handled the Lakers, 111-91 on Sunday night.

Save this second matchup against the Lakers, Detroit has had a habit of not being able to beat sub-par to mediocre teams while coming out victorious against some of the top teams in the league. The Pistons have not been consistent in their execution in this aspect thus far.

For example, the Pistons have beaten the Cavaliers, Hawks, and the aforementioned Bulls. They stuck with the Clippers down to the wire and were just outmatched and faced too much talent in a valiant effort against the Warriors.

Meanwhile, the Pistons can also look sloppy and like a completely different product compared to their true potential. Take the losses to the Lakers, Kings, and Nets. Uncharacteristic losses are bound to happen over the course of an NBA season, but every win matters, especially since Detroit has playoff aspirations.

The Pistons are currently on a four game winning streak and will look to push that stretch to five on the road.

Starting point guard Kemba Walker is having the best season of his career so far, averaging over 18 points a game and leading his team to a respectable record in the tightly-contested Eastern Conference. The matchup between the former UConn standout and Reggie Jackson will certainly be exciting to watch.

The Hornets offseason acquisition, Nicholas Batum has been playing outstanding as well. He has an Eastern Conference Player of the Week under his belt from last month, and will provide the Detroit small forwards with a challenge on the perimeter.

Monday night’s matchup will be an interesting one, giving Pistons fans a good gauge of where their team is at against an evenly matched team. In this suddenly competitive conference, every game counts.

Starting lineups:

Detroit Pistons

Reggie Jackson

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope

Marcus Morris

Ersan Ilyasova

Andre Drummond

Charlotte Hornets

Kemba Walker

P.J. Hairston

Nicolas Batum

Marvin Williams

Al Jefferson

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