Tipoff: Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland, 4:30 p.m.
Records: Cavaliers 18-11; Pistons 6-23.
TV: FOX Sports Ohio (Cavaliers Live pregame at 4 p.m.). Radio: WTAM 1100-AM, WMMS 100.7-FM; Cavaliers Radio Network.
Projected Starters
Pistons: Andre Drummond; PF Greg Monroe; SF Kyle Singler; SG Kentavious Caldwell-Pope; PG Brandon Jennings.
Cavaliers: C Tristan Thompson; PF Kevin Love; SF LeBron James; SG Mike Miller; PG Matthew Dellavedova.
Injury Report
Cavaliers: PG Kyrie Irving (sore knee) out; C Anderson Varejao (Achilles) out.
Pistons: None to report.
Dribbles
1. Irving is out with a sore knee, but it's not serious. More than likely, the Cavs figure they can beat the Pistons at home without him. By all indications, if this were a playoff game, Irving would play.
2. Then again, the Pistons are 1-0 since cutting ties with Josh Smith. As one team insider said, the decision to just waive Smith was "like a dark cloud lifted" from the franchise. Still, I'm a little surprised they didn't try harder to trade the guy. (He instead signed with the Rockets.)
3. If new Pistons coach/president Stan Van Gundy can figure out a way to get Andre Drummond and Greg Monroe to work, as well as BrandonJennings, the Pistons could be on to something. I know, we've been saying that for a couple years now and nothing good has developed. But most people around the Pistons feel like getting rid of Smith offers a new beginning.
4. As for the Cavs, before the season, I predicted they'd own a record of 19-11 after 30 games. A win here, and it will be one of the rare occasions in which I'm actually right about something. But they need to show up. They're without two starters (Irving and Anderson Varejao) and the Pistons are feeling a lot better than a week ago.
5. The Cavs have won 11 of their last 13 games against the East, and are 14-5 vs. the East overall. They allowed an average of just 37.5 points in the second half of their previous two games.
6. This is LeBron James' first game against his old rival since returning to the Cavs. Some say he's not as good as the first time around (2003-10). Van Gundy seems to feel differently.
7. Van Gundy on LeBron: "It's always a little bit different. I don't think he's lost much athleticism. He's always been a really smart guy and he's just learned more and more so I think he's just one of those guys like probably all of the really great ones who can beat you physically and can beat you mentally because he knows how to play the game."
