SIXERS: Game Night: Pistons vs Sixers

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Friday, January 6, 7:00 PM at the Wells Fargo Center

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TV: Comcast SportsNet Radio: WIP Tickets | TV Companion

Doug Collins at Shootaround - 1/6/2012

Thaddeus Young at Shootaround - 1/6/2012

Sixers Shootaround - 1/6/2012

Doug Collins at Practice - 1/5/2012

After finishing a five-game Western Conference road trip with a 3-2 record, the Sixers, the only team in the NBA yet to play on their own floor, will play their home opener against the Detroit Pistons at 7:00 PM on Friday at the Wells Fargo Center. Philly is coming off their first consecutive wins of the young season, and they look to improve their record against a young Pistons team that has dropped their last two games.

Despite last season’s successes, Philadelphia struggled against the Pistons, losing 2 of 3, including one at home, with their only win coming against a short-handed Pistons team who were dealing with internal issues and only had six players in the rotation. Last year, the Pistons were able to shoot 41.9% against the Sixers compared to a 37.6% overall average, while the Sixers averaged nearly 7 more assists per game against Detroit than they did on the season.

With Rip Hamilton leaving through free agency, the Pistons now lean on Ben Gordon, Rodney Stuckey, and no. 8 overall 2011 Draft pick Brandon Knight. They average a combined 37.0 points per game, with Gordon leading the team with an average of 16.2 points. Second year big man Greg Monroe commands the frontcourt for Detroit, leading the team in rebounding at 9.3 per contest. Monroe is able to contribute on the offensive side of the ball as well by being the team’s second leading scorer at 14.7 points per game on a very efficient 58% from the field. In his last game, Monroe had a solid all around performance, tallying 19 points, 13 rebounds and 5 assists in a loss to the Bulls.

Pistons coach Lawrence Frank said after their Thursday practice that Rodney Stuckey (left groin) will be a game-time decision.

For Philadelphia, Jrue Holiday is coming off his best performance of the year, scoring a game-high 23 points, including 14 in the fourth quarter, and handing out a season-high 8 assists to help secure a win in New Orleans. Once again, the Sixers bench contributed over 40 points, led by Evan Turner’s season-high 21 points on 8-12 shooting. Spencer Hawes continued his great play as well with 17 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 blocks.

Both Philadelphia and Detroit have allowed their opponents to average 92.8 points per game (tied for eighth in the NBA). The difference between the them lies on the offensive end, where the Sixers are averaging 102.6 points per game (third in the NBA), compared to the 2-4 Pistons’ 86.8 a night (28 in the NBA). It should be a hard-fought match-up between the two young teams as the Sixers look to build a three-game win streak while Detroit tries to end their skid.