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Key Matchup (2008-09 statistics)

Stuckey 79 13.4 3.5 4.9 .439 Games PPG RPG APG FG% 82 15.3 4.9 5.3 .398 Westbrook I said the matchup between Rodney Stuckey and Grizzlies point guard Mike Conley would be intriguing. And it was. It was fascinating to watch Stuckey, the No. 15 pick in 2007, thoroughly dominate Conley, who went 11 spots ahead of him on draft night. Stuckey was chiefly responsible for holding Conley to 1-of-4 shooting for three points and three assists. He was also an efficient cog in the Pistons offense with 12 points on 6-of-10 shooting and three assists with just one turnover. Stuckey’s next task is another young point guard in Russell Westbrook, who was chosen over Stuckey for the USA Select Team - a snub Stuckey surely has not forgotten. Westbrook is dynamic scorer with out-of-the-gym athleticism, but has faced questions about whether he can run an offense in the half-court - an assessment that Stuckey has fought to change as well. Westbrook went a long way in that regard one game into his second season, dishing a career-high 13 assists against just two turnovers in the Thunder’s debut. He also had 14 points on 7-of-12 shooting and seven rebounds, making him a legitimate triple-double threat. Stuckey played just 27 minutes in the win over the Grizzlies, but will almost certainly log more minutes in light of Rip’s ankle injury. If Stuckey can replicate Wednesday’s performance over 40 minutes against Westbrook, the Pistons would have to feel very good about Stuckey’s progress to start his third season.

Ben Gordon might be in line for his first start with the Pistons just two games into the season, and it has nothing to do with his star outing at Memphis (7-12 FGs, 4-7 3FGs, 22 pts).

Rip Hamilton appears very iffy - officially he’s listed as questionable - for the home opener after spraining his right ankle late in Wednesday’s win. Head trainer Arnie Kander was going to evaluate the injury further after Thursday’s practice, which Rip spent on the sideline getting treatment. Rip’s own initial diagnosis: “hurtin’”.

“Hurts a little worse than yesterday when it actually happened,” he said, “but I’ve got Arnie so hopefully it will get better soon.”

Hamilton is taking the injury seriously because he’s unaccustomed to having such problems.

“I don’t have ankle sprains,” he said. “I think I’ve only had three my whole life so when I do it, when I know I twist my ankle, I know it’s pretty bad because I don’t do it. For me to have to leave the game, that’s always a concern of mine because I always try to finish the game.”

Having not yet heard Kander’s assessment, head coach John Kuester wouldn’t speculate about decisions he’d make if Hamilton were unable to go. The obvious choice would be Gordon, who started 76 games with the Bulls last year. Whether he starts or not, Gordon wants to make his Pistons regular-season debut in front of the home fans something special.

“The main goal is to just get a W but at the same time I know the fans want to see something spectacular,” Gordon said. “I’m just going to try to come out and play my game and hopefully that will be satisfying for the fans.”

A Gordon-Stuckey pairing would be an interesting combo against the Thunder’s starting backcourt of 6-foot-3 point guard Russell Westbrook and Thabo Sefolosha, a 6-foot-7, no-frills defender who complements the scorers around him. Hamilton, also 6-7, would have been a natural assignment for Sefolosha. Thunder coach Scott Brooks will have to make a decision on how to use him if Hamilton’s out.

If Wednesday is any indication, the Pistons should fair well against the Thunder, who like the Grizzlies have exciting scorers on the perimeter but little depth behind them.

The Thunder had just 11 bench points in their otherwise extremely impressive season debut on Wednesday, defeating Sacramento, 102-89.The Thunder scored 39 points in the first quarter - matching their quarter high from last season - and had 68 by halftime before easing off the gas.

“We have our hands full,” Kuester said. “They are well-coached, they’re an outstanding group of talented young athletes that get up and down.”

The frontcourt of Kevin Durant, Jeff Green and Nenad Krstic combined for 69 points, which could should a pose a formidable challenge for Detroit. The Grizzlies starting frontcourt of Rudy Gay, Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol accounted for 51 of Memphis’ 74 points on a combined 56% shooting from the field.

Of course, the Pistons weren’t exactly doomed by that performance, and Tayshaun’s constant pestering of Gay should give the Pistons as good a chance anyone to contain Durant, who posted 25 points 11 rebounds and four assists in the Thunder’s opener.

“I thought Tayshaun did a wonderful job on [Gay] defensively,” Kuester said. Gay attempted just 12 shots, scoring 16 points. “I was very impressed. Even the shots he did make were contested shots.”

With a lot of momentum coming off a near-flawless opener and the extra juice of playing at home for the first time, the Pistons should score when they need to Friday, whether Hamilton plays or not.

Pretzer’s Prediction: Pistons 99, Thunder 93 (Pistons: 1-0, Pretzer 0-1)

Kuester’s Quote: “I think having the opportunity to play in front of our crowd is always huge because I remember in ’04 what a great sixth man our crowd was during that season. That’s what we’re looking forward to this season also, that kind of excitement.”