Game Tips at 7:30 P.M. EST
Boston Celtics: 31-9 (19-3 home)
Detroit Pistons: 15 - 26 (4-17 road)
The Situation:
The last time these two teams met, the Pistons scored a surprise victory. This time, though, the Pistons are on the road, and you can hardly bank on Kevin Garnett getting injured again.
The Celtics, though, are a mixed bag on the front line. Garnett is just returning from injury, Perkins is still a couple of weeks away. Jermaine O'Neal is out, and Shaq is always a question mark.
Other than that, this is about as tough as it gets. The new-look Pistons are certainly playing better of late, but it's hard to see how Monroe gets a shot off against the Celtics defense. Worse, Ben Wallace remains out with injury.
It's also quite unlikely the Pistons will hit 67% of their three point shots again.
If the Pistons are going to be competitive, they'll need the good McGrady to show up, and will have to win the perimeter battle handily. Pairing McGrady and Ben Gordon makes quite a bit of sense against the tandem of Rajon Rondo and Ray Allen.
Oh, also, the Anthony trade is dead. That's not a big deal at all, though, so don't discuss it in the comment section.
Question of the game
Seriously? After all that, no trade? If I were Denver, I'd trade Anthony to the Bobcats out of spite. He really screwed them. As much as we all like to hate the Darko pick, do you think we win that championship with that guy whining from the bench? Larry Brown would have gone to prison, having scraped off that ghastly moustache with a razor blade.
For those with bad knees