The PRE Report - January 12, 2010

Key Matchup

Atkins 23 4.4 0.6 2.3 .343 Games PPG RPG APG FG% 27 8.0 1.4 3.3 .432 Boykins Chucky Atkins, 35, and Earl Boykins, 33, are diminutive, journeyman point guards in the twilight of their NBA careers – hardly the kind of characters you’d expect to swing a game. But the Pistons seemingly can’t get a win without Atkins playing an integral role, and Boykins seems to have Detroit’s number. Washington signed the 5-foot-5 Boykins after the season started to support an injury-depleted backcourt. He did a lot more than that in his Wizards debut, delivering 20 points and three assists against the Pistons on Nov. 14. The encore was equally impressive: 18 points and four assists in another loss to Detroit on Dec. 6. Boykins shot a combined 52.2 percent from the field and was 11-for-11 at the free-throw line. The former Eastern Michigan standout is averaging a modest 8.0 points and 3.3 assists in 18.6 minutes per game. But he brings stability to a position that needs it with Gilbert Arenas presumably out of the picture. The Wizards’ front office seemed to recognize that fact Monday, guaranteeing Boykins’ contract for the rest of the season. There’s an irony in Boykins providing any sort of stability. The Wizards are his ninth NBA team in 11 seasons. Coincidentially, Atkins – on his eighth NBA team if you don’t count the Pistons twice – brings a comparable presence to the Detroit lineup. Atkins opened training camp as a long shot just to make the roster, but the Pistons are 4-4 when Atkins plays least 20 minutes, and 3-0 when he plays more than 30. The Pistons went 5-1 in Atkins’ first six starts, including Dec. 6 against the Wizards when he had seven points and five assists. Atkins played 34 minutes but didn’t start in Detroit’s last victory, collecting nine points and six assists against the Warriors Dec. 12. Since then, his role has diminished considerably as Rip Hamilton and Ben Gordon have returned from injury. He’s averaging 10 minutes in his last five games.

Embroiled in an embarrassing controversy with guns and gambling that has led to the indefinite suspension of their franchise player, Gilbert Arenas, the Wizards are “dealing with some distraction on a daily basis,” writes Michael Lee from the Washington Post.

Arenas was averaging 22.6 points and 7.2 assists when he was suspended by the NBA. Despite his absence, the contrite Wizards rallied in front of the home fans Friday to stun Orlando, 104-97.

Washington lost at home to the Hornets Sunday despite big performances from Antawn Jamison, who tied his season high with 32 points, and center Brandon Haywood, who had 14 points, 14 rebounds and four blocks. The 7-foot Haywood, an impending unrestricted free agent who has become an increasingly popular target for Pistons fans, is 13 for 13 over his last two games.

Former Pistons coach Flip Saunders has turned to Randy Foye at the point, finally maximizing the fourth-year guard. Foye is averaging 20.3 points and 5.3 assists in three starts since Arenas was suspended. Foye, acquired in the off-season from Minnesota, was averaging 8.4 points this season, half of his career-high 16.3 from last year.

The Pistons arrived in Washington this morning humbled by a 120-87 loss to the Bulls, the second straight game in which they trailed by at least 29 points. The Pistons, who are 1-7 on the second night of back-to-backs, are trying to avoid matching the 14-game losing streak that ended the 1979-80 season.

Searching for answers, coach John Kuester shook up the lineup again Monday, starting Chris Wilcox at power forward for the first time. Wilcox had 10 points and six rebounds, four offensive, in 27 minutes. But the only true bright spots have been the rookies. Jonas Jerebko returned to the starting small forward spot where he spent most of the season’s first two months; he had 15 points and a team-high nine rebounds, including five on the offensive glass. Austin Daye notched his second straight 18-minute, 10-point performance. It’s the first time the first-round draft pick has scored double digits in consecutive games. He’s shot 63.6 percent from the field (7-for-11) and grabbed 13 rebounds as well.

Despite owning the NBA’s third-worst record (11-25), two of Detroit’s 11 wins have come against the Wizards. The Pistons won in overtime at Washington Nov. 14, 106-103, and then held on for a 98-94 win at The Palace Dec. 6. The two Pistons who came up big in both victories, Rodney Stuckey and Charlie Villanueva, haven't been the same lately.

Stuckey has averaged 21.0 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists against Washington this season, but has been slowed by a right knee injury that happened against San Antonio. In the two games since, he’s combined to score 17 points on 31.5 percent shooting (6-of-19) with six assists and five rebounds.

Villanueva has scored 43 points in the first two meetings (team-high 21.5 ppg) on 45.0 percent shooting. He’s also had 5.5 assists and three assists. He missed nine of his 10 shots in Chicago, scoring four points.