Boston Celtics (2-1) at Detroit Pistons (0-3)
Tuesday, November 2
7:30 PM ET
Game #4, Road Game #2
TV:  CSNNE, FSD, LP 754/755
Radio:  WEEI,  WDFN
Palace of Auburn Hills  
Referees:  Bob Delaney,  Derrick Collins,  Violet Palmer  

The Celtics travel to Detroit to take on their long time foes, the Detroit Pistons.   Both teams should be well rested as the Celtics have been off since Friday and the Pistons have been off since Saturday.   Both teams are playing in the first of back to back games with the Celtics facing the Bucks at home on Wednesday while Detroit moves on to Atlanta.  Because of the back to back situations, both teams should be looking to get some quality minutes from their benches.   

The Celtics will be playing for the first time with Jermaine O'Neal in the starting lineup because Shaq stayed in Boston to rest his injured knee.  Hopefully playing with the starters will help Jermaine get his game back on track.  We should also get to see Semih Erden's debut as with Shaq out and a game the next night, they will need an extra big man.

The Pistons have some injury problems of their own with Rip Hamilton listed as questionable and Charlie Villanueva listed as a game time decision after minor injuries in their last game.  Replacing Hamilton with Gordon may be a blessing in disguise for the Pistons, however, since Gordon has been shooting 77% in his first two games while Hamilton has been struggling.  

Probable Starters
PGSGSFPFC
PG: Rajon Rondo 10.7 PPG, 16.7 APG, 2 SPG
SG:  Ray Allen  14.7 PPG, 2.3 APG,  .333 3P%
SF:  Paul Pierce  19 PPG,  8.3 RPG, 3.3 APG
PF:  Kevin Garnett 14.3 PPG, 11.7 RPG,  .3 BPG
C:  Jermaine O'Neal  1.5 PPG, 2.0 RPG, 1.0 BPG

Boston Bench Mob
Marquis Daniels
Glen Davis
Semih Erden
Luke Harangody
Nate Robinson
Von Wafer
Delonte West  (suspended)

Injured
Kendrick Perkins (knee) out
Avery Bradley (ankle) out
Shaquille O'Neal (knee) out



PG SG SF PF C
PG:  Rodney Stuckey  19 PPG,  8 APG, 0 SPG
SG:  Rip Hamilton  13.5 PPG, 1.5 APG, .600 3P%
SF:  Tayshaun Prince  13 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 2 APG
PF:  Austin Daye  5 PPG, 3.5 RPG, .5 APG
C:  Ben Wallace  4 PPG,  9 RPG,  1.5 BPG

Pistons Bench
Charlie Villanueva
Tracy McGrady
Jason Maxiel
Ben Gordon
DaJuan Summers
Greg Monroe

Injuries
Will Bynum (hamstring) out
Jonas Jerebko (Achilles)  out
Terrico White (foot)  out
Chris Wilcox  (hamstring)  questionable
Rip Hamilton (foot) questionable
Charlie Villanueva (ankle)  game time decision

Key Matchups  
 vs  
Rajon Rondo vs Rodney Stuckey
Stuckey is a scoring PG and so Rondo will need to defend him well.  Stuckey has a height advantage but Rondo has a quickness advantage.  Both are good rebounding guards.

  vs  
Kevin Garnett vs Austin Daye
Kevin Garnett will need to use his wiley veteran tactics and intimidation factor to dominate the Pistons' 2nd year player. 

Keys to the Game
Take Care of the Ball - The Celtics are still turning the ball over too much.  They must cut down on the turnovers and take better care of the ball.

Play 48 Minutes -  The Celtics are getting into the habit of slow starts and sluggish endings.   They have to play all 4 quarters.

Defense - The Celtics must get back to their defense first style.

X-Factor
Injuries
If both O'Neals are out, that makes the Celtics a bit thin up front.  The Celtics will need to depend on Semih Erden or Luke Harangody to give them quality minutes.  

Odd Fact
The Detroit Pistions were originally known as the Zollner Pistons, named after founder Fred Zollner, owner of Zollner Machine Works, which made pistons.

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