NBA: Dallas Mavericks vs Detroit Pistons | 7 April, 7 AM

[Mary C]

POTENTIAL STARTING LINEUPS: 

DALLAS MAVERICKS: 

PG | Luka Doncic 

SG | Jalen Brunson 

SF | Reggie Bullock 

PF | Dorian Finney-Smith 

C | Dwight Powell 

 

DETROIT PISTONS: 

PG | Cory Joseph 

SG | Cade Cunningham 

SF | Saddiq Bey 

PF | Jerami Grant 

C | Isaiah Stewart 

 

 

Dating back to their last 5 matches up until February 2019, the Mavericks have established with the Pistons quite clearly who’s boss. This Thursday, is it time and time again for the Pistons to get beat? Or will the underdog rise from the ashes and have a ‘take that!’ moment for viewers and analysts alike? 

 

Home team Detroit Pistons are currently 14th in the Eastern Conference with 23-56; 13-26 home, and 10-30 away. Only 3 wins above and 3 losses less than the hopeless Orlando Magic, they might not be at the bottom, but they might as well be.  

 

The Mavericks, on the other hand, have clinched the playoff position in the West as they rank fourth out of the 15 conference teams. With a record of 49-30,  they are a win behind and a loss ahead of the Golden State Warriors. Winning this game would inch the Mavericks closer to replacing the Warriors for bronze and that motive would render them extra feisty for the upcoming match, or at least one would expect.  

 

There is an obvious power imbalance between the two teams, but if we look at their season’s averages per game, Detroit has a fighting chance on paper. The Pistons outdo the Mavericks in rebounds, assists, steals, blocks, turnovers, free throw percentage, points in the paint, second-chance points, and fastbreak points. Objectively, the Pistons have more power than we give them credit for. It would all boil down to how they would utilize that power on Thursday. 

 

In the end, we have to pick a side, and frankly, it doesn’t seem all too hard at the moment. Detroit’s point guard and lead scorer Cade Cunningham’s possible absence puts Detroit at an even more compromised position as he is categorized day-to-day as of late. Cory Joseph, Marvin Bagley III, and Luka Garza are all part of the injured ton while Dallas’ Luka Doncic is running around fervently. The Pistons were already disadvantaged against the Mavericks, but their injured players cement their inferiority for the game. With that, it’s the Dallas Mavericks for this one. Plus, they’re closer than ever to third. Would they really let the Pistons stop them now? 

 

7 AM, 7 April 2022. Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, MI.