Cleveland Cavaliers vs.  Detroit Pistons

Place:  The Palace at Auburn Hills in Michigan
Time:  7:30 p.m. EST
TV/Radio:  NBA-TV, WTAM 1100 AM

Projected Cavaliers Starting Lineup:

PG: Darius Miles
SG: Ricky Davis
SF: LeBron James
PF: Carlos Boozer
C:  Zydrunas Ilgauskas

Cavaliers outlook:  The preseason debut of LeBron James and the Cavaliers under new coach Paul Silas.   Silas is experimenting with Darius Miles as the primarily ballhandler bringing the ball up the court, something that failed last year, in an attempt to get what Silas believes as his best perimeter trio on the floor in James, Davis and Miles.  The Pistons and primed and ready to test the James of which James says he is ready.   The starters are expected to play about half the game with most of the players on the training camp roster getting a good look.

Cavaliers Injuries:  SG DaJuan Wagner (sore knee) and SF Ira Newble (patella tendinitis) did not make the trip to Detroit are both out. 

Projected Pistons Starting Lineup:

PG: Chauncey Billups
SG: Richard Hamilton
SF: Tayshuan Prince
PF: Ben Wallace
C:  Elden Campbell

Pistons outlook:  The Pistons are debuting their own heralded rookie and new head coach in Darko Milicic and Larry Brown.   The Pistons made changes to their 50 win Central Division champion roster jettisoning key veterans Cliff Robinson and Michael Curry in trade and letting Jon Barry walk in free agency in an effort to make room for their young players.  The Pistons want to run more under Brown using the offensive strengths of their periemter players.  Supposedly, the Piston veterans won't play much tonight and even though Larry Brown wants to protect their prized teenager Milicic is expected to see ample action tonight. 

Pistons Injuries:  C Mehmet Okur (sprained ankle) is doubtful for tonight.  SG Bobby Sura (back), SG Hubert Davis (hamstring) and C Zeljko Rebraca (heart) are not expected to play.