Detroit Pistons vs. Boston Celtics Preview 11-9-2022

The Detroit Pistons will take on the 7-3 Boston Celtics tonight in a clash between Eastern Conference foes.

The Celtics are coming off a three-game winning streak against playoff-caliber powerhouses, such as the Bulls and Grizzles. The Pistons pulled off an impressive comeback against the Oklahoma City Thunder despite allowing Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to go off for 33 points. Detroit has had issues containing opposing teams' number-one options all season. If the Motor City stands any chance in tonight's matchup, Dwayne Casey must make the necessary adjustments to provide damage control upon the Tatum-Brown duo.

How To Watch:

When: 7:30 PM EST

Where: TD Garden, Boston, MA

TV: Bally Sports Detroit

Tatum Trouble

Jayson Tatum has been unstoppable, averaging 31.2 PPG (5th in the league). His early season struggles in the 21-22 campaign are far in the rearview mirror, and since then, he took his team to the NBA Finals and completely redefined his young career. His scoring rampage this year has been no different, boasting a Player Efficiency Rating of 27.33, 49.8 FG%, and 37.0 3P%. Undeniably, he has the intangibles to wreak havoc upon any team in the league, and as Tatum takes the next step in his career, very few players can nullify his talents. 

Tonight, this will likely be Saddiq's assignment, and though Bey has added plenty of muscle over the offseason, simply putting a body on Tatum will not always get the job done. Expect Bey to have less of a role on offense and expend more energy on the defensive end. This will open up additional scoring opportunities for Cade and Ivey, who could use big games to gain confidence and momentum. 

This one may not be close and could get ugly fast, but this Detroit team has a way of rising to the occasion against proven teams and keeping games competitive. Ultimately, Cade's performance and ability to quarterback against the league's 4th best defense will determine how close this game is.