Game 66/82: Pistons (23-43) @ C’s (41-24)

Posted by Brian Robb on Mar 15, 2010 674217 commentshttp%3A%2F%2Fcelticshub.com%2F2010%2F03%2F15%2Fgame-6682-pistons-23-43-cs-41-24%2FGame+66%2F82%3A+Pistons+%2823-43%29+%40+C%27s+%2841-24%292010-03-15+19%3A47%3A55Brian+Robbhttp%3A%2F%2Fcelticshub.com%2F%3Fp%3D6742

Detroit at Boston
8:00 P.M. EST.
TD Garden
Local TV: ESPN/CSN

Offensive Efficiency:

Boston: 106.8 points/100 possessions (17th)

Detroit: 104.5 points/100 possessions (23rd)

Defensive Efficiency:

Boston: 102.3 points allowed/100 possessions (1st)

Detroit: 109.6 points allowed/100 possessions (21st)

Probable Detroit starters:

Tayshaun Prince, Rip Hamilton, Will Bynum, Jason Maxiell, Jonas Jerebko

Detroit Injuries: Rodney Stuckey and Chris Wilcox are out. Ben Wallace is questionable with a knee injury, but he hasn’t played for last 6 games, so the smart money has him sitting out again, to give Maxiell more run/help the Pistons tank.

Thumbnail: The Celtics come back home for the 2nd game of a back to back, to face the lowly Pistons, who have started to put up a lot of points offensively, since the insertion of Will Bynum in the starting lineup. A younger, athletic team, the Pistons, on paper should be the exact kind of matchup the C’s have problems with on short rest. I’m going to forgo the regular preview format today, because well quite frankly, neither of these teams deserve the type of extended analysis for this game, that we pride ourselves on here at Celtics Hub. I mean, it’s doubtful the Celtics or Pistons will be putting a strong effort in this contest tonight….why should I? In all seriousness though, let’s break down a few things to look for tonight.

* Putting Up Points

It’s the one thing that Detroit has been doing well lately, and a lot of it is thanks to the insertion of the speedy Will Bynum in the starting five once Rodney Stuckey went out after his fainting incident in Cleveland. Jason Maxiell has also stepped up lately at the 5 spot in Ben Wallace’s place, giving this team more scoring punch down low, averaging 10 points and 9 boards a game in his last 10.

Overall, their offensive efficiency jumped by 0.8 points since the last time these teams met 2 weeks ago, an impressive feat in that short of a time span. The Celtics better be ready to match buckets with this crew tonight, if they don’t want to put in the work on the defensive end.

* Defensive Backslide

While the offense has improved lately for the Pistons, it’s been a bit of a double edged sword as their defense has regressed just as much, if not more in the past 2 weeks. They have given up 99+ points in 6 of their last 7 games and their defensive efficiency is down a full point in the past 2 weeks…..also an impressive feat in that timespan, but for the wrong reasons. The C’s will have their way offensively with this team, if they want to tonight, but whether they will be fazed by another lackadisical effort and slow start is a legitamate question.

* Detroit still has a little heart left

They were down 28 against Atlanta and closed it to 9 points in the 4th, before losing by 12 on Saturday evening. Still not great, but there is enough young guys on this roster right now playing so they won’t be throwing in the towel and getting complacent.

* Road woes

They’ve won one game on the road (in Sacramento) in the last month. Good news for the C’s.

* Ben Gordon is sucking

No really, it’s kind of pathetic. Averaging 9 points on 38 percent shooting in his last 10 games. I know, he has injury problems that are likely still lingering, but man the Pistons are throwing away money on this guy.

* Kwame Brown should be getting some playing time tonight.

That’s always fun to watch.

Prediction:

I just re-watched the Cavs game. It’s amazing how competent this team looks at time when they want to, yet how flat out careless they are. This team doesn’t give a s*it right now, no matter who they play. The good news for them is, there is really no way they should lose this game. The bench can’t play any worse than they did yesterday, so barring a repeat performance by them, C’s take care of business if they show up on the defensive end. They will when it counts to avoid the boos.

Celtics 103, Pistons 94