Clippers vs. Detroit - Game Preview and Open Thread

Note that from Dec. 28 through Jan. 4, ClipperSteve is enjoying the Holidays with his family and away from his computer.  As such, this preview does not go into much detail.  Please add pertinent information in the comments for your fellow Citizens.

2008/2009 NBA Regular Season
	vs.
Staples Center
January 4th, 2008, 12:30 PM
KTLA, Channel 5
Probable starters:
Baron Davis	PG	Rodney Stuckey
Eric Gordon	SG	Allen Iverson
Al Thornton	SF	Richard Hamilton
Zach Randolph	PF	Tayshaun Prince
Marcus Camby	C	Rasheed Wallace

The Back Story:

• First Meeting of the season.
  

The Big Picture:

The Pistons were undefeated when they traded Chauncey Billups for Allen Iverson.  They've been about .500 since.  Of course, the Pistons have been so dominant against the Clippers in recent years, it really shouldn't matter who is playing for them.  But there are some interesting subplots here.  Like Rodney Stuckey.  Of course I couldn't let Citizen Jax be the guest-recapper on this game, or he would spend the whole time writing about how the Clippers should have drafted Stuckey instead of Al Thornton in 2007.  There's also the fact that the Pistons are 0-6 in Sunday games this season, and today is... SUNDAY SUNDAY SUNDAY!  Detroit has also been playing pretty small lately, with Rasheed Wallace at the 5 and Tayshaun Prince at the 4, which could give the Clippers bigs some problems.  But the matchup to watch is Eric Gordon defending Iverson.  When the Nuggets beat the Clippers in the second game of the season, Iverson led a furious second half Nuggets comeback and no one could contain him.  But Gordon was not yet in the rotation, let alone the starting lineup, and he clearly has the best chance of any Clipper to stay in front of Iverson.  Let's see how he does.  By the way, no visiting fans in Staples (with the exception of Laker fans, for obvious reasons) are more obnoxious than Piston fans.  If someone in your section starts to yell 'Dee-troit Bas-ket-ball' after a Clippers turnover, you are encouraged - nay, required - to put a sock in their mouth.

• Get the Pistons perspective at Detroit Bad Boys.