Place: The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills, MI.
Time: 7:30 p.m. EST
TV/Radio: FSN Ohio/WTAM 1100 AM
Projected Cavaliers Starters:
PG: Jeff McInnis
SG: LeBron James
SF: Eric Williams
PF: Carlos Boozer
C: Zydrunas Ilgauskas
Cavaliers Injury Report: SF Jason Kapono (patella tendinitis) and C Ruben
Boumtje-Boumtje (ankle sprain) are on the injured list.
Projected Pistons Starters:
PG: Chauncey Billups
SG: Richard Hamilton
SF: Tayshaun Prince
PF: Ben Wallace
C: Mehmet Okur
Pistons Injury Report: SF Tremaine Fowkles (back spasms) and PG Lindsey
Hunter (strained MCL) are on the injured list.
Key Matchups:
Jeff McInnis vs. Chauncey Billups - Billups is the 2nd leading
scorer for the Pistons and one of the main guns of their offense. He is
big, athletic PG that can shoot the ball and gets to the line more than any
other Piston. Interestingly enough, Billups shoots better from three point
range than from the field. While a sub 40% shooter overall Billups leads
the Pistons at 43% from three point range. The Pistons will run him curls
and stagger screens for him for jumpers. He will also step back behind the
pick and roll and shoot a three as well as off the dribble and in transition.
More importantly, Billups takes the big shots for Detroit. He has won
several games on last second shots going back to last year. The Cavaliers
have done a great job on Billups the first two games between the teams. He
has gone 8-30 in FGs shooting 27% averaging 9.5ppg and getting the line for only
two attempts. Jeff McInnis wasn't with the Cavaliers in their two games
with Detroit and he must keep up the defensive effort against Billups.
Getting through screens and contesting Billups jumpers is always must as well as
staying in front him. Overall, Billups isn't shooting well this season so
if you take away the three point shot and keep him off the line he may struggle.
McInnis, was bitten by the turnover bug against Washington who were the first
team to really pressure the ball since McInnis joined the team and gave him a
lot of problems. Detroit will try and pressure the ball and McInnis must
be surer with his ballhandling and decision making. McInnis must remain
aggressive penetrating and make Wallace commit to help. The Wallace's man
scores the more Wallace thinks about coming to help with his usual abandon.
LeBron James vs. Richard Hamilton - While the Cavaliers have held
Billups in check the main gun for the Pistons Richard Hamilton has gone off.
Billups is averaging 31.5ppg in two meetings shooting 60% from the field going
to the line 23 times. Hamilton, one of the best midrange shooters in the
NBA, has hurt the Cavaliers by coming of screens and curls. When the
Cavaliers have overplayed his shot he has taken a couple of dribble to get
better position and has drawn fouls. Defensively, chasing players through
screens is an area where James has struggled. He must make the effort to
get through and properly close out on Hamilton. Hamilton isn't great off
the dribble but he is good enough to get to his spot and raise up.
Offensively, James has a considerable size and strength advantage or Hamilton
and outweighs him by about 50lbs. If Hamilton is the matchup instead of
Prince James must be aggressive and take Hamilton inside where he is no match
for him. James still has a tendency to shoot unnecessary jumpers when he
should be working to get closer to the basket. He must also look to
penetrate and look to draw Wallace's attention up the lane.
When Cleveland has the ball: The Cavaliers might invert their offense
against the Pistons. Whether it be James or Eric Williams Cleveland should
look to post up the slight Hamilton. Inverting the offense does a few
things for Cleveland. It forces the Pistons best offensive player to
defend and it will force Ben Wallace away from the basket if the Cavaliers big
men can make midrange jumpers. The Pistons although they have one of best
defenders in the NBA in Ben Wallace are prone to stretches where they don't play
solid defense. They have some individual defenders that you can go after.
DaJuan Wagner will see some better matchups in the Pistons 2nd unit than he has
seen in recent games and Cleveland will need his ability to break down defenses
when the Cavaliers halfcourt sets break down.
When Detroit has the ball: The Pistons offense revolves around their
backcourt of Hamilton and Billups. You slow them down and you have a very
good chance of beating the Pistons. Detroit is a perimeter oriented team
without a real post up game. Corliss Williamson will give them some
scoring inside but he is a part time player. The Pistons will get out and
run off of turnovers and rebounds. Tayshuan Prince has had an up and down
first season as a starter but is a skilled all around player capable of big
games if he gets involved offensively and takes more shots. The Pistons
have inserted Mehmet Okur in the starting lineup who is a good rebounder and can
stretch the floor with range out beyond 20 feet.
Game outlook: The Pistons are playing good basketball and have been
winning close games. They have won their last four games by a total of
eight points. The Pistons and Cavaliers have matchup well in recent years
with Detroit winning close well contested games. The Cavaliers have lacked
energy and a sense of urgency since James has returned from injury.
Although, the Cavaliers have been winning games the defense has slipped and it
caught up to them against a better team in Milwaukee on the road and they will
be facing an even better team on the road in Detroit. The Cavaliers will
have to start the game a lot of better and match the intensity better teams have
at home in order to steal a win on the road and continue to have playoff hopes.
