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Last time we played the Pistons, I characterized the game as a match-up between Allen Iverson and Manu Ginobili. At the time I believed the cognitive dissonance between Iverson’s score-first mentality and the Piston’s traditionally team-oriented style of play would give the Spurs a unique opportunity to “let the Pistons beat themselves.”

Although we suffered an 89-77 loss in which AI had 19 points, I think the approach stays the same. But in order for this to work, the Spurs are going to have to do a far better job preventing penetration then they did against the Knicks on Tuesday. Iverson will be intent on getting to the rim. The key to tonight’s game on the defensive end will be turning his dribble drives into mid-range fadeaways.

On the opposite end of the floor, we need to be equally as intent on getting to the rim. In our first game against Detroit, we took 24 3-pointers. We only made 6. Against a defense like Detroit’s it is imperative that we consistently produce high percentage shots for 48 minutes. Because Manu will be out for the next 2-3 weeks, that begins and ends with Tony Parker. Parker played poorly against the Knicks on Tuesday but I have no doubts that he has the ability to turn it around tonight in Detroit.

The game starts at 8 Eastern/7 Central. Go Spurs.

Further Reading:

48 Minutes of Hell: Match-Up of the Night: Ginobili vs. Iverson

Timothy Varner: “When he’s mad…”

Pistons Coverage: Piston Powered