Pistons vs. Bucks preview: Detroit hoping third time is the charm against Milwaukee

The Detroit Pistons are set to square off against the Milwaukee Bucks for the third time in 10 days. A lot of what we detailed in our previous previews still applies. The Bucks are still the best team in the Eastern Conference. The Pistons are still the worst team in the NBA.

Actually, technically, specifically, while the Bucks are No. 1 in the NBA in net rating, the Pistons are 28th. Somehow the Kings and the Wolves rank even worse. Milwaukee has actually delivered Detroit its two most lopsided losses of the season at 15 and 10 points, respectively (they have lost four games by 10 points somehow).

Game Vitals

When: 7 p.m. EST
Where: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, Michigan
Watch: Fox Sports Detroit
Odds: Pistons +10.5

Game Analysis

This one isn’t super complicated. Detroit has no answer for anybody, but specifically they don’t really have an answer for Giannis and his merry band of 3-point shooters. Detroit’s defense allows 38% from 3 so far this season and opponents unleash more than 37 attempts per game (that is good for the seventh and eighth worst marks in the NBA, respectively). The Bucks shoot 41.1% from 3 and attempt nearly 40 per game.

This is also a matchup of one of the best rebounding teams in the NBA (the Bucks, in case you didn’t guess) against one of the worst rebounding teams in the NBA (the Pistons, duh).

So, yeah, not a lot going Detroit’s way.

So it’ll be a chance to see if Blake Griffin can breathe a little more life into his game, if Jerami Grant can continue his torrid pace to begin the season, to see if the rookies Saddiq Bey and Isaiah Stewart can continue to impress, and, finally, to see if Sekou Doumbouya can scratch off a decent amount of minutes.

Projected Lineups

Detroit Pistons (2-8)

Delon Wright, Josh Jackson, Jerami Grant, Blake Griffin, Mason Plumlee

Milwaukee Bucks (7-4)

Jrue Holiday, Donte DiVincenzo, Khris Middleton, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Brook Lopez

Question of the Game

Tonight’s game seeing the Utah Jazz face the Washington Wizards has already been postponed because Washington can’t field the eight necessary bodies. The Wizards are Detroit’s opponent on Friday.

Will the Pistons vs. Wizards game scheduled for Friday actually happen?

If the answer is no, then the Pistons will next play Saturday against the Miami Heat.