Deeeeeeeeetroit Basketballllllllllllllllll

The Pistons are in town tonight. Great!This is just what the Grizzlies needed to see during a 4 game losing streak. Things I'll be watching for tonight:

1. Who defends Richard Hamilton when he runs around all of those screens? I'd make it Rudy Gay. While he can't keep up with Hamilton speed wise, he can make up with his length.

2. Will Darko step up against his former team? A lot of the guys on the Pistons team acknowledged that Larry Brown destroyed this kid's psyche. Darko's post defense has been better than most of us thought it would be. Here's betting Darko shows up tonight. If he doesn't, the Grizzlies will definitely be looking at a 15pt loss.

3. If you put Rudy on Rip then who guards Tayshaun? This is a problem Iavaroni will face tonight. There's no way Navarro or Miller can guard this guy on the perimeter or in the post. Maybe Ivy goes with Rudy on Tayshaun and tries to get Kinsey some minutes tonight to defend Rip? We know Kinsey is a better perimeter defender than JCN or MM.

4. Can Kyle Lowry defend Chauncey Billups in the post well enough so the Grizz don't have to double team? We know Stoudamire can't so if he plays 30+ minutes then it's probably a Grizz loss.

5. Tayshaun Prince is one of the few guys in the NBA who's length matches up to Rudy Gay's. Prince will more than likely defend Gay. If Rudy gets shut down (which happens to guys defended by Prince), then MM and JCN will need to step it up.

The Grizz aren't a great defensive team and you will need to play good defense to beat Detroit. Darko has to be better than usual on the inside and Lowry has to be better than usual on the perimeter. If they spark the defense, then the offense gets out and running.

This is always one of my favorite games every year at FedExForum. The Pistons fans are out in full force with their "Deeeeeetroit Basketbaaaaallllll" chants.

Grizz snap the skid tonight 107-103.

P.S.
Coach Iavaroni,

Don't even try to play Casey Jacobsen against these guys tonight. It's not worth it. Only bad things will happen. Abuse is what will ensue if Jacobsen enters the game and since I know you like him so much, you can't want that for your boy.