Saturday, January 17, 2009 on FS Detroit HD at 7:30 p.m.
SCOUTING REPORT: New Orleans arrives at The Palace in the same foul mood as the Pistons after getting whacked by 14 points at Cleveland on Friday night. The Hornets are sitting at 23-13, currently good for the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference, but questionable depth has them a little concerned about how they’ll stand up over the long haul. Chris Paul is having another All-Star season, averaging 20.7 points and 11.1 assists. David West (20, 7.1 rebounds) remains his most productive sidekick. Tyson Chandler’s numbers (8.8, 8.4 rebounds) are down significantly over last season, when he averaged 11.8 points and 11.7 rebounds per game. The Hornets have become one of the NBA’s top 3-point shooting teams, tied for third behind San Antonio and Orlando in percentage at .388. Their three most prolific shooters – Rasual Butler, James Posey and Peja Stojakovic – are all better than 40 percent shooters from the arc for a team that takes 19.3 triples a game. Butler moved in as the starting shooting guard when Morris Peterson hurt his knee a little more than a month ago. Peterson recently returned to the lineup but has played sparingly, not getting off the bench at Cleveland. Devin Brown has also been out with an ankle injury, though he is listed as day to day. Posey (9.6, 4.8 rebounds) is Byron Scott’s most reliable bench player, playing 28 minutes a game. Hilton Armstrong is the best frontcourt reserve, which is an area of deep concern. Second-year lottery pick Julian Wright’s contributions remain spotty. Antonio Daniels was picked up in a three-team trade that sent Mike James to Washington in December to give Paul a reliable backup and sometimes running mate.
PISTONS PERSPECTIVE: When the Pistons swept New Orleans last season, Rip Hamilton – not Chauncey Billups – was the player who did a magnificent job keeping Paul under control. In two games, Paul averaged 14 points and 10.5 assists while shooting under 40 percent. But Rodney Stuckey more than likely will be the one to guard him this time, especially if Michael Curry continues with the small lineup he’s used since Rip Hamilton returned three games ago. The Pistons have lost four straight, including the last three (Charlotte, Indiana, Oklahoma City) to teams well below .500. Offensive production, especially in the fourth quarter, has been the biggest red flag. But rebounding became a huge problem in the loss to Oklahoma City, which held a 52-35 advantage. Compounding the Pistons’ problems, Tayshaun Prince strained a groin muscle and Hamilton hyperextended his right elbow and their status for tonight’s game won’t be known until closer to tipoff. Stuckey is coming off a three-point, 1 of 10 night after scoring 30 at Indiana. Free-throw shooting also has cropped up as a problem with the Pistons now ranking 26th in the NBA. Iverson missed four straight during Friday night’s loss. The four-game losing streak is the longest the Pistons have endured in four years.
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