Dr. Gymbo
Legal Drug Dealer
- Joined
- Feb 15, 2009
- Messages
- 4,463
- Reaction score
- 6,572
- Points
- 113
(13-33)
@ (17-29)
Date: February 1st, 2013
Where: Palace of Auburn Hills, Detroit, MI
Time: 7:30 pm [EST]
[video=youtube;hg_TZk45b84]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hg_TZk45b84[/video]
Watch on Fox Sports Ohio with:
Listen on WTAM with:
Coaches
Byron Scott
vs.
Lawrence Frank
Presumed Starting Lineups (Updated 2/1/13 @ 11 AM EST)
Point Guard: Kyrie Irving
Shooting Guard: Dion Waiters
Small Forward: Alonzo Gee
Power Forward: Tristan Thompson
Center: Tyler Zeller
Shooting Guard: Dion Waiters
Small Forward: Alonzo Gee
Power Forward: Tristan Thompson
Center: Tyler Zeller
Vs.
Point Guard: Brandon Knight
Shooting Guard: Rodney Stuckey
Small Forward: Kyle Singler
Power Forward: Jason Maxiell
Center: Greg Monroe
Shaun Livingston
Wayne Ellington
Omri "Assfingers" Casspi
Chuck Jumpers "C.J." Miles
Marreese Speights
Vs.
Jose "Kyrie Kryptonite" Calderon
Will "Life Sized" Bynum
Jonas Jerebko
Charlie "Ryan Hollins' Bitch" Villanoeyebrows
Andre Drummond
Injuries
Anderson Varejao - Quad Muscle Split & Pulmonary Embolism
Daniel "Mr. Glass" Gibson - Right Toe Sprain
Luke Walton - Sore Left Foot/Ankle & Lack of Basketball Skill
Jose "Kyrie Kryptonite" Calderon
Will "Life Sized" Bynum
Jonas Jerebko
Charlie "Ryan Hollins' Bitch" Villanoeyebrows
Andre Drummond
Injuries
Anderson Varejao - Quad Muscle Split & Pulmonary Embolism
Daniel "Mr. Glass" Gibson - Right Toe Sprain
Luke Walton - Sore Left Foot/Ankle & Lack of Basketball Skill
Game Preview
Pistons-Cavaliers Preview
The Detroit Pistons are ready to welcome one veteran after saying goodbye to another.
Guard Jose Calderon could make his Detroit debut Friday night when the struggling Pistons try for a fifth consecutive victory over the visiting Cleveland Cavaliers.
Detroit (17-29) played like a distracted team Wednesday, falling 98-79 at Indiana for its second straight loss and fourth in five contests. Prior to the game, forwards Tayshaun Prince and Austin Daye were traded to Memphis as part of a three-team deal that sent Rudy Gay to Toronto in exchange for Ed Davis and Calderon, who was then dealt to the Pistons.
"(Pistons president Joe Dumars) felt horrible that it had to be right before the game," coach Lawrence Frank said. "This is the tough part of the business."
While Daye hasn't lived up to being the 15th overall pick in 2009, Prince spent his entire career in Detroit since being selected 23rd in 2002. He averaged 12.8 points and 4.7 rebounds during his career as a key role player, and was the last link to the Pistons' 2003-04 championship team.
"Trading a player like Tayshaun Prince, who has meant so much to our organization and contributed to our championship success, is never easy," Dumars said in a statement. However, Detroit receives some financial freedom by not having to pay the $15 million over the final two years of Prince's contract.
Calderon, meanwhile, has a $10.5 million deal that expires at the end of the season. His 11.1 points and 7.4 assists per game also provide a playmaking aspect the Pistons lack. "We've always had a high value on Jose," Frank told the Pistons' official website. "He's a tremendous competitor. It gives us flexibility moving forward, gives other guys an opportunity and see how they step up."
Calderon, who left Spain to sign with Toronto in 2005, took the news of the trade hard. "It's been my home for eight years," he said. "It's tough. The fans have been with me since Day 1." Though Calderon had 10 points and five assists versus the Cavaliers on Saturday, he's averaged 14.2 and 9.8, respectively, in his last six games against them.
Facing Cleveland (13-33) with Calderon in the mix could help the Pistons break out of a five-game slump in which they've averaged 88.6 points. They've allowed 106.8 per game in the last four.
The Cavaliers averaged 77.0 points on 34.2 percent shooting in dropping three straight to the Pistons before delivering a more competitive effort in a 104-97 home loss Dec. 8 in the most recent meeting. Highlighted by a 30-point performance in that contest, Detroit's Brandon Knight is averaging 23.0 and shooting 60.0 percent in six career games versus Cleveland.
Cavaliers star Kyrie Irving has totaled 47 points in his last two against the Pistons, but injuries have forced the second-year guard to miss the teams' last three meetings. Under the weather, Irving went 5 of 17 from the field for 14 points in Tuesday's 108-95 loss to Golden State that snapped Cleveland's season-high, three-game winning streak.
Irving, named an All-Star reserve, averaged 35.7 points and shot 61.2 percent in the previous three contests. "I just wasn't there in terms of my mental focus," Irving said. "That's no excuse. I tried to play through it, but my normal energy wasn't there."
Teammate Tristan Thompson has averaged 17.0 points and 10.6 rebounds in the last seven games. He's posted double-doubles in the last two trips to Detroit.
What to Watch:
1. Kyrie Bounce Back?: Kyrie has had problems against Calderon in the past. He lit up the Raptors the last time they faced off. Has he turned the corner against Calderon? Will Kyrie shake the last bit of this illness bug that has been hanging over him during the past few weeks and bounce back after a tough game versus Golden State?
2. Frontcourt Bigs Battle: This could be an interesting thing to watch here. Tristan has been on a tear. Will Maxiell be able to neutralize him in any way? Greg Monroe is not a traditional bruising, down-low center. He is more of passing, jump shooting big man. Could this play into Zeller's hands? We know Zeller has problems with centers that are much bigger than he is. It will also be interesting to see who takes the challenge and steps up against Andre Drummond.
3. Bench Scoring: Marreese Speights has been huge for the Cavs off of the bench. He alongside Wayne Ellington have provided needed depth and scoring. Now that C.J. Miles is back (sigh), will his volume bricking and general awful play cost the Cavs another game on the road? Will the Assfingered one lace up his shoes tonight and fumble a wide open layup attempt?
Gameday Booty: Forum Edition
http://www.thecompetitive.net/Forums/showthread.php?tid=4511 (Added link instead of pictures for those at work)
It's Game Time!
[video=youtube;9D4QIf4Ot7o]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9D4QIf4Ot7o[/video]
Go Cavs!!!