Pistons at Celtics
THE STORY: The Boston Celtics are 0-3 for only the fourth time in
the last 40 years. The previous three times, the Celtics finished below
.500. This start comes with a note from the doctor as captain Paul
Pierce has yet to suit up because of a bruised heel. Boston is one of
the older teams in the league and looked every bit its age in a sluggish
performance at New Orleans on Wednesday. Rajon Rondo got into early
foul trouble and the Celtics could not push the pace. The one positive
to come out of the 97-78 setback was that rookies Greg Stiemsma and
E’Twaun Moore got extended minutes. Boston will try to stop its losing
streak on Friday when it hosts the Detroit Pistons in its home opener.
The Pistons are struggling through a winless start as well, dropping
their first two games to division rivals Indiana and Cleveland. Detroit
averaged 84 points in the losses.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, FS Detroit, CS New England (Boston)
ABOUT THE PISTONS (0-2): The 105-89 home loss to the Cavaliers on
Wednesday gave a clear picture of a Detroit team in rebuilding mode. The
Pistons allowed Cleveland to shoot 57 percent from the floor and were
dominated on the glass 40-26. One piece of the rebuilding puzzle that
looked like a keeper was rookie Brandon Knight, who came off the bench
to scored 23 points on 10-of-13 shooting and chipped in a team-high six
assists.
ABOUT THE CELTICS (0-3): Rondo has been the star of the first three
games and Ray Allen (21.0 points) is scoring, but Boston has been weak
in the frontcourt and has yet to display the type of team defense that
has carried it in recent seasons. Starting center Jermaine O’Neal has a
total of eight points in three games and Kevin Garnett is averaging only
11.7 points. Pierce is unlikely to play on Friday, giving Sasha
Pavlovic and his 4.0 points average another start at forward.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Garnett has averaged 19.3 points and 10.3 rebounds in 35 career games against Detroit.
2. Pistons coach Lawrence Frank served as a Celtics assistant last season.
3. Boston has taken five of the last six meetings.