Tuesday NBA: Pistons (10-6) at Spurs (9-7)
What’s wrong with the Detroit Pistons? Their 96-85 loss to the Trail Blazers on Sunday was their third home loss this month by 10 or more points. Detroit suffered only two double-digit losses at home during the entire 2007-2008 regular season.
So, maybe it’s a good thing that Detroit is in San Antonio tonight, with the Spurs 4.5-point favorites on WagerWeb.com.
The Pistons have gone 6-6 since acquiring Allen Iverson, struggling to recreate the chemistry they enjoyed under Chauncey Billups, who was sent to Denver in the deal.
“It’s kind of like training camp right now,” Iverson said.
Against the Blazers on Sunday, all five starters recorded negative plus/minus ratings. Iverson was the worst at minus-28. Starter Tayshaun Prince didn’t get off the bench in the fourth quarter. Pistons coach Michael Curry said Monday that he expects his starters will continue to play fewer minutes than they are used to.
Iverson is leading the team with a 36.1-minute average and at 17.7 ppg, but he hasn’t played more than 31 in any of the past four games and is averaging just 13.4 ppg in the past five.
“I’m sitting more right now than I ever have in my career, and my rhythm isn’t there,” said Iverson, shooting 33.9 percent from the field in his last five games. “I’m missing shots that I normally knock down 110 percent of the time, and that’s all on me.”
Besides Iverson, shooting guard Richard Hamilton looks out of sorts without Billups. Through 16 games, Rip is averaging his lowest points per game since his rookie year.
San Antonio hasn’t been great lately, either. The Spurs shot just 38 percent (29-of-72) as they lost to Houston on Saturday 103-84 despite having stars Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili in the lineup for just the second time this season. Duncan scored 17 points, Parker 15 and Ginobili 11. It was the first time in 29 meetings the Spurs allowed the Rockets to pass the 100-point mark, and Houston didn’t even have Tracy McGrady.
The Spurs are 1-3 this season when allowing 100 points or more. Their only victory was by a 129-125 score in double-overtime at Minnesota. Detroit is 9-0 when scoring at least 100. The over/under for tonight’s game on WagerWeb.com is 184.
Duncan has been a bit off lately, averaging 15.5 points and 9.7 rebounds in the last six games while shooting 42.5 percent from the field.
The Pistons have won four of six meetings with the Spurs, including both last year.
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