SCOUTING REPORT: Toronto, like the Pistons, comes into tonight’s game with a perfect 3-0 record. The Raptors’ most impressive win was an 11-point decision in the opener at Philadelphia, where Elton Brand was debuting amid huge expectations for the 76ers. Chris Bosh has picked up where his level of play was during the Olympic games for the gold-medal winning Team USA, averaging 26 points and 10 boards. With T.J. Ford having been shipped to Indiana over the summer, point guard is now Jose Calderon’s job solely, and he’s off to an All-Star start, putting up 18 points and nearly 10 rebounds a game. The Raptors brought back Jermaine O’Neal from Indiana in the Ford trade and O’Neal holds the key to Toronto’s season. So far, he’s averaged 11 points and 7.3 rebounds. A Bosh-O’Neal frontcourt should be active defensively and be a formidable rebounding force. Toronto’s weaknesses are perimeter scoring and depth. Anthony Parker and Jamario Moon are the starters at shooting guard and small forward with Jason Kapono the primary backup. Andrea Bargnani, who so far has failed to live up to the expectations of being the No. 1 pick, is the primary frontcourt reserve because the O’Neal trade also sent Rasho Nesterovic to the Pacers.

PISTONS PERSPECTIVE: This will be the Pistons’ second game without Chauncey Billups, Antonio McDyess and Cheikh Samb – and Allen Iverson. Billups and Samb reportedly have not yet taken physicals mandatory to finalizing the deal, meaning Iverson will watch his first game with the Pistons on the bench. That could mean another opportunity for Will Bynum, who took advantage of backing up Rodney Stuckey Monday at Charlotte. After not playing in the first two games, Bynum closed out the Bobcats by scoring 10 of his 12 points in the fourth quarter, finishing 6-of-9 from the floor. A 6-foot scoring point guard from the Iverson mold, Bynum also showed he can create shots for teammates, dishing four assists. Without McDyess, the Pistons will spread his 20 minutes a game out with Kwame Brown first in line to benefit as he moves from No. 5 in the pecking order to No. 4. It also could provide another avenue for Curry to find a way to broaden the role of Walter Herrmann, capable of playing power forward against more finesse-oriented big men like a Bargnani.

Probable Starters

Prince Johnson Wallace Hamilton Stuckey Forward Forward Center Guard Guard Bosh Moon O'Neal Parker Calderon