Detroit Pistons vs. Memphis Grizzlies 2019-20 season preview

Series prediction

Game 1: Jan. 24, 7 p.m. at Little Caesars Arena
Game 2: Feb. 3, 8 p.m. at FedEx Forum

The Pistons have no reason to lose either one of these games as they are the superior team in nearly every category. The Pistons have more All-Stars, more former MVP’s, better shooting, better shot creating, I could go on all day. Griffin and Drummond should be looking at that offensive-minded frontcourt and be licking their lips at an opportunity to drop over 20 points.

All of that being said, as we all know, the NBA is not about who you play sometimes but when you play them. The first of the two games come on Friday, Jan. 24 is the first game of a back-to-back for the Pistons with the second game being against Brooklyn. This would most likely mean that Griffin would miss one of these two games as the Pistons look to manage his load this season.

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If I were coach Casey, I would elect to have Griffin miss the Grizzlies game in favor of the game with playoff implications against Kyrie Irving and the Brooklyn Nets. A Griffin-less Pistons team will be a lot easier to beat so this will be a closer match.

The second game in Memphis will be the second day of a back-to-back. The day before, Monday Feb. 3, the Pistons take on the Nuggets in Detroit and that will be a tough game. The Pistons will be tired traveling down to Memphis, but they should be up for it as they have to win games like these against lesser opponents in order to get into the playoffs.

However, Memphis has to travel too of course. In this case, they don’t have to as the Grizzlies have two and one days of rest, more than the Pistons in each case. All of that being said I believe the Pistons and the Grizzlies will split the season series.

Prediction: Split 1-1

This is the 14th preview in Piston Powered’s September series that is taking a look at how the Pistons stack up against all 29 NBA teams. Here are the previews to date.

Atlanta Hawks
Brooklyn Nets
Boston Celtics
Charlotte Hornets
Chicago Bulls
Cleveland Cavaliers
Dallas Mavericks
Denver Nuggets
Golden State Warriors
Houston Rockets
Indiana Pacers
Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Clippers

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