Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Detroit Pistons

Place: The Palace in Auburn Hills in Auburn Hills, MI
Time: 8:00 p.m. EST
TV/Radio: FSN Ohio, ESPN/WTAM 1100 AM

Projected Cavaliers Starting Lineup:

PG: LeBron James
SG: Ricky Davis
SF: Jason Kapono
PF: DeSagana Diop
C:  Zydrunas Ilgauskas

Cavaliers Injury Report: SG Dajuan Wagner (right knee surgery) and PF Michael Stewart (knee tendinitis) are on the injured list.  PF Carlos Boozer (sprained ankle) is likely out for the game.

Projected Pistons Starting Lineup:

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

Pistons Injury Report: PG Chucky Atkins (knee strain), SG Hubert Davis (thumb) and C Zeljko Rebraca (back spasms) are on the injured list.

Key Matchups:

LeBron James vs. Chauncey Billups - Billups is turning into the star of the Pistons after finding a home in Detroit.  Billups in many ways is doing for Detroit what Baron Davis is doing for New Orleans.  He leads the Pistons in scoring and assists in addition to being the team's best three point shooter he is the best at getting to the free throw line.  Billups is hovering around 40% from the field but that belies his shooting ability and big shot capability.  Billups may be even stronger than Baron Davis but not as quick. He will use the dribble and his strength to get into the lane to draw contact and fouls.  The Pistons will run him through down and flare screens for outside and Billups will also step back off the pick and off the dribble to for jumpers.  Billups has a physical advantage over most PGs but over James.  The key will be for James to keep Billups in front of him or funnel him to the Cavaliers big men.  Breaking down early and easily causes havoc to the Cavaliers defense.  Offensively, James should be more aggressive when looking for his shot.  Teams have been packing it in against the Cavaliers making him settle for long jumpshots.  Going inside early even at Ben Wallace could help James get his outside game untracked. 

Ricky Davis vs. Richard Hamilton - Hamilton is simply one of the best midrange shooters in the NBA.  He is very good at coming off down screens hitting shots or curling into the lane and pulling up.  Hamilton is slight of build but he is pretty quick and moves well without the ball.  Not the greatest at creating his own shot he is still good enough to pump fake his man and dribble into open areas for his lethal midrange shot.  In the past the Cavaliers have overplayed Hamilton's shot and he has driven to the basket getting to the line against Cleveland more than he has against other teams.  Davis has to do a better job and fighting through screens and closing out on Hamilton.  If you are able to keep with Hamilton through the different screens the Pistons run him through then you are able to lessen his effectiveness.  Offensively, Davis was went slap nuts against the Pistons last year.  Detroit had no answer for Davis' athleticism and quickness with his outside game was on.  Davis, with the organization's eyes on him must remain within his game and the system.  Even though Detroit has more bodies to throw at him than last year Hamilton is still not a great individual defender and if the Cavaliers execute Davis can still get some good shots. 

The Cavaliers bench vs. the Detroit bench - The Pistons has been a strength for the team the past couple of years.  Elden Campbell starts at center but Mehmet Okur gets more minutes and is the team's second leading rebounder.  Okur is an active big man with good range on his shot out to 20 feet.  PF Corliss Williamson gives them an inside scorer but lacks size and has defensive problems.  PG Chucky Atkins is hurt but the Pistons are getting former Cavalier SG Bob Sura back in the fold after missing the beginning of the year with back problems.  Detroit reacquired PG Lindsey Hunter, a known Cavaliers killer, who has a history of killing them with timely dagger three pointers. 

Injuries and suspensions have really hurt the effectiveness of the Cavaliers bench.  PF Chris Mihm has been slowed by back spasms, C DeSagana Diop has been ineffective since a bout of plantar fasciitis and from being forced to start in place of injured PF Carlos Boozer.  SF Ira Newble returns after a one game suspension but he has been battling knee tendinitis and cannot find his shot.  SG JR Bremer continues to struggle and is currently down to 24% shooting from the field.  SF Darius Miles has been moved to the bench due to his inability to make outside shots and his decision making, shot selection and defense has been subpar at best.  PG Kevin Ollie brings a steady floor game and good man-to-man defense but isn't scorer.  It is inconceivable that NBA players will continue to shoot as bad as some of the Cavaliers have been.  With Boozer out and some of the starters in flux it puts even more pressure on struggling players like Bremer and Newble to pick up their production and give the Cavaliers something.  

When Cleveland has the ball: The blueprint to shut down the Cavaliers has become pretty simple.  Pressure the ball out front, pack it in playing man defense and play zone to force them to make outside shots and the Cavaliers are done.  Even with the inside presence of Ilgauskas opposing teams are denying him the ball and playing different defenses against him and limiting his shot attempts.  Despite shooting a career high 53.3% from the field he is fourth on the Cavaliers in FG attempts.  Rookie SF Jason Kapono has given Cleveland a lift with his ability to spread the floor but with the recent turmoil and starters in flux hasn't really reflected how his shot has helped the offenses' spacing.  Larry Brown has been an opponent of zone defenses in the NBA but has reluctantly put it into his own coaching philosophy because of its widespread use throughout the league so expect some zone by the Pistons against the Cavaliers.  Still, the staple of Larry Browns' defensive philosophy is good man-to-man defense so expect him to use Chauncey Billups and Lindsey Hunter to pressure the Cavaliers on the ball as well as Tayshaun Prince in some halfcourt or three quarter court traps.  Hopefully, with Ricky Davis back mentally and physically along with Jason Kapono getting more comfortable in his first real run as an NBA player they can hit some shots allow the Cavaliers to revert back to the team that was among the league leaders in FG% and assists.  LeBron James is much better when he is able to probe and penetrate defenses and find the open in creases or outside.  He needs space.  After the initial loss of Carlos Boozer the Cavaliers have picked up their rebounding once again and must continue against Ben Wallace.

When Detroit has the ball: Much like the Hornets the Pistons are a perimeter oriented team led by Billups and Hamilton.  Although new coach Larry Brown has tried to get more scoring out of All Star Ben Wallace but has came at the price of his FG%.  Wallace is down to 40% from the field.  C Elden Campbell can score from the post but is on the downside of his career and plays a limited role.  SF Tayshaun Prince gives the Pistons a little of everything with his 6'9 frame, long arms and ability to handle the ball, post up and knock down three pointers.  With Okur getting more playing time the Pistons are an improved rebounding team after a couple of "If Wallace didn't get it the other team did" years.  Detroit now regularly outrebounds their opponents.  Larry Brown has opened up the Pistons style of play a bit and are more apt to run of turnovers, blocks and missed shots.  Billups, Wallace, Hamilton and Prince can all get out on the break. 

Game outlook: The way the Cavaliers played the Pistons last year one could be hard pressed through the meat of those games to tell who was the 50 game division winner and who went on to have the worst record in the league.  But, in each game the Pistons, who were the better coached and better organized team prevailed.  The Pistons are a good matchup for the Cavaliers who are almost back to full strength.  The Cavaliers lost some stability with injuries and disciplinary problems and must work towards getting it back.  The Pistons aren't a team that has historically blown teams out so Cleveland has a good chance if they come to play of staying in the game well into the fourth quarter.