Predicting the series
Game 1: Dec. 1, 5 p.m. at Little Caesars Arena
Game 2: Dec. 28, 8:30 p.m. at AT&T Center
Leading up to each game, both the Pistons and Spurs will be coming off of one day’s rest. However, the Pistons presume to have easier games just prior to both matchups as they play the Hornets and Wizards before the first and second matchups, respectively, while the Spurs face the Clippers and Mavericks, respectively. If the Pistons can take care of business in those two prior games, they could be the more rested team heading into each matchup.
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While the game will filter through the star players for each team, the game could come down to how well the supporting cast for each squad plays. Last year, the Pistons role players failed to show up.
The additions the Pistons made this offseason in Tony Snell, Derrick Rose, and Markieff Morris should provide the much needed contributions that were lacking last year. The absence of Ish Smith during the first matchup between these two teams was especially significant, making the presence of Rose and Tim Frazier all the more important.
While Dejounte Murray will be an added talent for this Spurs team, they could struggle to find the balance of spacing necessary for DeRozan and Aldridge to remain as efficient as they were last year. Yet, Murray’s addition could mean a more difficult offensive matchup for the Pistons. The give and take on each end of the floor that surrounds the return of Murray and the loss of Bertans should allow for close, low scoring matchups between these two teams.
Prediction: A series split 1-1 with each winning at home
This is the 25th preview in Piston Powered’s season preview series, 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
Memphis Grizzlies
Miami Heat
Milwaukee Bucks
Minnesota Timberwolves
New Orleans Pelicans
New York Knicks
Oklahoma City Thunder
Orlando Magic
Philadelphia 76ers
Portland Trail Blazers
Phoenix Suns