Rodney Stuckey starts for well-rested Pistons against Philadelphia 76ers

Essentials

Teams: Detroit Pistons vs. Philadelphia 76ers

Date: Jan. 8, 2011

Time: 7:30 p.m.

Television: Fox Sports Detroit

Records

Pistons: 11-24

76ers: 15-21

Probable starters

Pistons:

• Rodney Stuckey
• Ben Gordon
• Tayshaun Prince
• Charlie Villanueva
• Ben Wallace

76ers:

• Jrue Holiday
• Jodie Meeks
• Andres Nocioni
• Elton Brand
• Spencer Haws

Las Vegas projection

Spread: Pistons -2

Over/under: 193

Score: Pistons win, 97.5-95.5

Three things to watch

1. Well-rested Pistons

The Pistons last played Tuesday, and in games after at least two days off, they’re 4-4. How telling is that statistic? We’ll learn more tonight, but there’s evidence for and against relevance.

Three of the wins came against the lowly Clippers, Wizards and Raptors. (The other came against the Hawks.)

The last two such losses were close contests with the Jazz and Bulls, the latter of whom the Pistons took to overtime. (The other two came against the Clippers and Celtics.)

Two of the Pistons key players – Tracy McGrady and Ben Wallace – seem like they’d benefit from the extra rest.

2. Rodney Stuckey returns to the starting lineup

Rodney Stuckey will make his first start since a stomach ailment hit him last week. Tracy McGrady’s strong play this season will keep the pressure on Stuckey in his return to an expanded role.

JK asked in the comments while I was out of town about the Pistons’ record since the Chauncey Billups-Allen Iverson trade relative to Stuckey playing. I caution from putting too much stock into this, because there are a lot of other variables, but:

• When Stuckey plays: 65-116 (.359)
• When Stuckey doesn’t play: 12-6 (.667)

3. Playoff implications!

Believe it or not, if the season ended today, the 76ers would make the playoffs.

With a win, the Pistons would sit just 2.5 games back from the eighth seed.

Pregame Reading

• In his game preview for Detroit Bad Boys, Mike Payne says the 76ers are prone to penetration. Maybe Stuckey returining will prove useful, after all.
• Mark Ginocchio of NetsAreScorching analyzes the potential Carmelo Anthony trades.
• Why exactly is John Hollinger bashing Ben Gordon?

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