7:30 PM ET
Milwaukee: 26-29 (10-20 road)
Margin: +0.3 ppg (-0.6 last 25%)
Last 10: 5-5
Pistons: 27-24 (14-13 home)
Margin: -0.4 (-1.8 last 25%)
Last 10: 3-7
Oppo research:
Let me guess. This matchup didn't win the fan vote for tonight's NBA TV matchup. In spite of Detroit's recent failings, they have consistently had Milwaukee's number. ESPN reports that there are no major injuries heading into tonight's game, but I'm pretty sure Michael Redd, Andrew Bogut and Luke Ridnour are all sitting this one out.
That leaves a team that should be easily beaten, especially given their 10-20 road record. But when has that has been no impediment this season. Michael Curry has proven that he can lose any game. Never lose faith.
The last time these teams met, Detroit watched as Ramon sessions dropped 44 points and forced the game to overtime. That was ugly, but we got the W, nonetheless. I would expect something similar this evening.
The Drama:
Let's see if we can set the record for biggest 4th quarter lead blown.
Keys for Detroit:
Rebound: Please?
Stop Sessions: Milwaukee does not have the tools to beat this team. Detroit needs to focus on making sure Sessions cannot get to the basket and the free throw line. It's not like he's Kobe Bryant.
Get some help from the bench: Of late, the bench has been an absolute dud. Spellcheck has been aggresively bad on offense. Maxiell has been hit or miss. And, now that Amir is on the bench for some reason, we will need to get some production from him.
Question of the game:
Is Joe really sitting on this team as the trade deadline expires? Look at the substitution patterns. A DNP tonight might have more gravity then we think.