NBA Regular Season 2012-2013: Utah Jazz (19-19) at Detroit Pistons (14-23) -- Game 39

NBA Regular Season 2012-2013, Game 39:

Utah Jazz (19-19) @ Detroit Pistons (14-23)

#UTAatDET Game Stream -- Detroit Bad Boys -- Jazz vs Pistons coverage

Two young teams in two different directions

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The Basics:

Both teams played on the road last night, the Jazz losing to the Atlanta Hawks; the Pistons beating the Milwaukee Bucks. Detroit is #9 in fewest opponents PPG, and #15 in Def RTG. The Jazz are #11 in own PPG, and #11 in Off RTG. So it's going to be offense against defense. Historically the Jazz are 52-32 against the Pistons, and have taken care of business of late. While they are only 20-22 on the road, the last time I went to this matchup here in Detroit the Pistons won and broke the Jazz win streak. They only played once last season, and the Jazz won.

The Jazz will still be without Mo Williams, Marvin Williams, and Raja Bell. The Pistons' forward Corey Maggette missed last night's game in Milwaukee with flu-like symptoms. I may expect him to play tonight.

Detroit has a good young core in Greg Monroe (15.6 ppg, 9.1 rpg, 3.2 apg, 32.5 mpg), Brandon Knight (14.0 ppg, 4.5 apg, 3.7 rpg, 32.4 mpg), Andre Drummond (7.1 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 1.6 bpg, 19.7 mpg), Kyle Singler (8.4 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 1.0 apg, 27.6 mpg). They also have some guys in their peak who are playing productively like Rodney Stuckey and Corey Maggette. Detroit also boasts continuation from their championship years with Tayshaun Prince still on the team, along with guys like Jason Maxiell on the bench.

We have a good young core that isn't playing that much. We do have some guys in their peak who are playing productively, but only Paul Millsap is the only guy who remains from our years in the playoffs. We match up well with Detroit, or they with us. Their dribble penetration is better than ours. Our inside scoring is better than theirs. They play defense. We do not.

Game on in 2 hours.