De-troit Bas-ket-ball ain't what it used to be. The woeful Detroit Pistons(0-4) roar in from the Motor City to take on the Atlanta Hawks (4-0) at the Highlight Factory. Both teams will be playing in the second of back-to-back games in the Wednesday night matchup.
"Starvin'" Marvin Williams poured in 22 points and Al Horford added 16 points and 12 boards for Atlanta in a 100-88 demolition of the Lebron-less Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday night in Cleveland. Detroit dropped a 109-86 decision to the Shaquille O'Neal-less Boston Celtics in the Palace at Auburn Hills.
The Pistons are off to their first 0-4 start this millennium. Detroit, which is short on size and even shorter on talent, is off to its worst start since November of 1999. It may be without Richard Hamilton, who missed Tuesday's game with a sore right foot. Hamilton has averaged almost 20 points a game vs. the Hawks in Atlanta.
Atlanta rides a four-game home winning streak against Detroit into this one at the Bulb and has held the Pistons to an average of 86.2 points over that span. The Hawks also are starting to get a little bit of r-e-s-p-e-c-t around the league after their torrid start.
"Watch out Miami," the Associated Press' Tom Withers wrote after Tuesday's win over the Cavs. "The Atlanta Hawks could be gaining on you."
Six Atlanta players have averaged over 10 points a game, while Horford is averaging a double-double with 14.8 points per game and 10.8 boards. The Hawks are looking to start the season with five straight wins for the second time in three seasons.
Look for the Hawks to use their size and athleticism to challenge an injured Pistons team that is not terribly deep and dominate this one from start to finish.