It's Christmas in Detroit! What could be more festive? Gather around a barrel fire, drink some egg nog and malt liquor, and then pass out in an abandoned Chrysler LeBaron!
Like Detroit, the Pistons are going through a rough time right now — the difference being that it's not entirely the Pistons fault. Thanks in large part to a rash of injuries to key players Rip Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince and Ben Gordon, they've lost their last five games by scores between eight to 12 points. Keep in mind, however, that four of those games were on the road and the one home game was against the Lakers.
The Pistons are actually 8-5 at home this season, so they should be considered a threat even with the lost manpower. Before their loss to the Lakers, Detroit had won their last five games at home.
Start time: 7:00pm ET Channel: TSN2 Probable starting lineups Toronto: Jarrett Jack, DeMar DeRozan, Hedo Turkoglu, Chris Bosh, Andrea Bargnani Detroit: Rodney Stuckey, Chucky Atkins, Jonas Jerebko, Jason Maxiell, Ben Wallace
Five questions
1. Can the Raptors finally snap their 11-game losing streak at The Palace of Auburn Hills?
2. Will the Raptors have an energy edge because they're coming off two days of rest while the Pistons lost in Charlotte last night?
3. Is anyone else suspicious of Ben Wallace's revival at the age of 35? Check out his rebounds per 36 minutes (a stat that tends to decline as you age) over the past six seasons (including this one) starting with 2004-05: 12.2, 11.5, 11.0, 9.9, 9.9 and then back up to 11.6 this season. Verrry innnteresting. But I'm sure it's all from Hard work, Good genes and Healthy living.
4. I've never really thought about this before, but what kind of grown man calls himself "Chucky"? Anybody who dared to call me "Scotty" to my face would get punched right in the mouth... unless you're a girl... or younger and/or bigger than me.
5. Did you know that Amir Johnson recorded a special rendition of "Jingle Bells" with Rasheed Wallace, Jason Maxiell and Will Blalock in 2006 when he was a Piston? Well, if you haven't seen it, here you go.
