Game 13: Detroit Pistons @ Utah Jazz [Game Thread]

NBA Regular Season Game 13
	@
5-7 (2-5 away)		6-6 (3-2 home)
Energy Solutions Arena Jazz Blog:  SLC Dunk
November 21, 2009  9:00 PM ET
TV: Fox Sports Detroit PLUS  Radio: 950 WWJ
Probable starters:
Rodney Stuckey	PG	Deron Williams
Ben Gordon	SG	Ronnie Brewer
Jonas Jerebko	SF	Wesley Matthews
Charlie Villanueva	PF	Carlos Boozer
Ben Wallace	C	Kyrylo Fesenko

The Jazz have beat the Pistons in 17 of their last 19 meetings in Utah and the Pistons have not won there since March of 2005.  

Hopefully, the new-look Pistons can put an end to the misery that exists for the Pistons when they step foot in the state.  Luckily for the Pistons, they won't have to deal with former Piston, Mehmet Okur, who could have provided plenty of match up problems for the 'stons.  He will miss his third straight game due to flu-like symptoms.  

Detroit, of course, will be without Richard Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince again.  They've made slight progress in their recoveries, but it does not appear that they will be back this month.  Will Bynum sprained his ankle in LA, but played in Portland and is expected to play tonight. 

Detroit needs to take advantage of their couple days off and hop on Utah early by playing to their strengths.  And it seems they aren't at their best until they get three guards on the floor.  

Utah is averaging around 20 three pointers per game, so the Pistons will have to be conscious of the kick-back passes from the post and contest the Jazz shots.  The Pistons have done a good job keeping opponents field goal percentages low (and rank 4th in points against), but the Jazz are top half in scoring and shooting 36% from beyond the arc and capable of lighting up on any given night with Williams and Kirilenko.  

This should be a highly competitive game because these Pistons aren't going to walk into the arena scared and they'll be more focused on trying to end their current three game skid than any futility vs. Utah in the past.  And with Phoenix tomorrow (Detroit 0-4 on back-to-back's), Utah is their best bet of winning on this west coast trip. 

Tip off is 9 PM EST.