The Detroit Pistons head to Houston to take on the Rockets undefeated since Reggie Jackson has returned! However with the Houston Rockets being the current best team in the NBA with the likely (and my pick) MVP, will they be able to continue that run?
As it happens the only time these teams met previously the Detroit Pistons actually emerged victorious on January 6th 108-101, the Detroit Pistons were without both Reggie Jackson and Andre Drummond. However the Houston Rockets were also missing James Harden.
This time the likely starters are:
Detroit Pistons: Reggie Jackson, Reggie Bullock, Stanley Johnson, Blake Griffin, Andre Drummond
Houston Rockets: Chris Paul, James Harden, Trevor Ariza, PJ Tucker, Clint Capela
Other than Jon Leuer for the Detroit Pistons, both teams are injury free. Chris Paul is listed as questionable after a hamstring strain, but that is normal practice immediately after an injury and his status hasn’t been updated as yet.
The Detroit Pistons will have their work cut out stopping the barrage of three-point attempts that this Houston Rockets team is notorious for. As well as that, the Houston Rockets also contain one of the most dynamic offensive players to ever play in the league, and whoever is playing defense against Harden (Stanley Johnson would be my guess), will definitely have their work cut out for them in slowing him down. I don’t know that it’s possible for that man to be stopped!
However the Detroit Pistons have the possibility of establishing themselves in the paint offensively with the likes of Griffin and Drummond, and that may be their way of combatting the devastating Rockets offense.
The smart pick would be the Houston Rockets. So I will be looking for the Detroit Pistons to be competitive and be looking at the way Reggie Jackson is playing after coming back from his injury.