Projected Starters
Mavs
PG: Rajon Rondo 12.7 PPG, 8.2 APG, 5.8 RPG
SG: Monta Ellis 20.6 PPG, 4.4 APG, 2.4 RPG
SF: Chandler Parsons 15.6 PPG, 2.3 APG, 5.0 RPG
PF: Dirk Nowitzki 18.4 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 0.5 BPG
C: Tyson Chandler 10.9 PPG, 12.0 RPG, 1.3 BPG
Pistons
PG: Brandon Jennings 14.1 PPG, 6.3 APG, 2.7 RPG
SG: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope 12.1 PPG, 0.9 APG, 2.5RPG
SF: Kyle Singler 6.8 PPG, 0.9 APG, 2.4 RPG
PF: Greg Monroe 14.4 PPG, 9.1 RPG, 0.2 BPG
C: Andre Drummond 13.0 ppg, 13.2 RPG, 1.8 BPG
Addition By Subtraction
Keys to the Game
Battle of the Bigs: Andre Drummond has been an absolute monster of late. In last night’s victory over the San Antonio Spurs he scored 20 points and hauled in 17 rebounds. Tyson Chandler and company will need to step up against him. While Drummond is a big enough handful, the Pistons also have the services of Greg Monroe, who is more than capable of holding his own out there. He poses a significant match-up problem for Dirk Nowitzki, Charlie Villanueva, and possibly even Richard Jefferson if the Mavs go with their small ball lineup.
Rajon Rondo vs Brandon Jennings: While it is inevitable that Drummond and Monroe will get their points and rebounds down low, the Mavericks do have the defensive play of Rajon Rondo to hopefully slow Jennings down tonight. Jennings is capable of lighting up the scoreboard on any given night, but has been known to be a hit or miss type of player for most of his career.
The match-up takes place tonight at 7:30 CT at American Airlines Center and can be watched on Fox Sports Southwest.
(Photo: Eric Gay/Associated Press)
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