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Boston Celtics (5-1) at Detroit Pistons (4-1)Sunday, November 8
6:00 PM ET
Regular Season Game #7, Road Game #4
TV: NBA TV, FSN Detroit HD, CSN HD
Radio: WEEI, WDFN
The Palace at Auburn Hills Probable Starting Matchups Point Guard Rajon Rondo vs Allen Iverson
Shooting Guard Ray Allen vs Richard Hamilton
Small Forward Paul Pierce vs Tayshaun Prince
Power Forward Kevin Garnett vs Amir Johnson
Center Kendrick Perkins vs Rasheed Wallace
Reserves Tony Allen
Glen Davis
JR Giddens
Eddie House
Leon Powe
Gabe Pruitt
Brian Scalabrine
Patrick O'Bryant
Bill Walker
Sam Cassell
Injuries:None
ProbableInactive Sam Cassell
JR Giddens
Patrick O'Bryant
Reserves Rodney Stuckey
Kwame Brown
Will Bynum
Walter Herrmann
Jason Maxiell
Arron Afflalo
Alex Acker
Walter Sharpe
Injuriesnone
Probable InactiveWalter Sharpe
Key Matchups vs
Rajon Rondo PPG 8.7 RPG 4.20 APG 7.0 EFF + 14.67
Allen Iverson PPG 20.0 RPG 2.80 APG 6.5 EFF + 17.75
This is Iverson's first home game as a Piston and he will be looking to make a good first impression. Rondo is going to have to be at the top of his game defensively if he wants to limit Iverson.
Honorable Mention Every other matchup. There are so many matchups between these two teams that are key that it is hard to pick just one.
Paul Pierce vs Tayshaun Prince.
Prince is long and at times has been able to dominate against Pierce. Pierce on the other hand can use his strength against Prince.
Ray Allen vs Rip Hamilton.
Both players move very well without the ball and both will have their work cut out for them defensively. Ray started wearing the shooting sleeve because Rip was clawing his arm apart.
Kevin Garnett vs Amir Johnson
This is the matchup where the Celtics have the biggest advantage. KG has a big experience advantage as well as a height advantage. The Celtics should try to go to KG to exploit this matchup.
Kendrick Perkins vs Rasheed Wallace
Perk has been on a defensive tear over the last 3 games in which he has blocked a total of 15 shots. This should be a good defensive battle.
Leon Powe vs Jason Maxiell
There was a fan voting thing this summer in which these two were against each other as the toughest player. Maxiell won only because the Piston fans were stuffing the ballot box. This should be a good battle off the bench.
Rodney Stuckey vs Eddie House
It was against the Pistons that Eddie seemed to struggle at the point when they trapped him every time he brought the ball up court. Stuckey is considered to be their point guard of the future and will give Eddie all he can handle on both ends of the court.
X Factor Road Woes
The Celtics are one of the toughest home teams in the league, but they have shown to be vulnerable on the road, leaving their defense and team play at home. If the Celtics play in this game like they do at home, they should come away with a win.