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Liqourish wrote:I say we start Stuckey/Afflalo/Jarvis/Amir/Sheed and let Chauncey/Rip/Tay/Max/Dice fight for backup minutes based on their production.

theBigLip wrote:Need to take a close look at CHildress in this game - he will be a free agent in the summer and he may just be the odd man out considering all the wing players Atlanta already has. He would look good as our backup SF

jab wrote:Too Late with this suggestion bstein14 already has Granger of Indy penciled in for that 'role'. Don't look for the link the Indy Mods locked that thread 10 minutes after someone on their board posted it.

Today will be the last time the Detroit Pistons face the Atlanta Hawks this season; that is, unless they meet in the playoffs. Playoffs? Atlanta Hawks? Yes, the team that often serves as the punch line for jokes about losing, has the seventh-best record in the Eastern Conference. That means if the season ended today, the Hawks would face the Pistons in the first round. Detroit returns home the following night to play an injury-riddled Indiana Pacers team that, like the Hawks, also has postseason aspirations. While a possible playoff preview might provide added intrigue, a number of Pistons said it won't impact their approach. "We've been successful against both of those teams," Detroit's Chauncey Billups said. "I look to continue that; I look to try and get these last two wins and close the break out." Detroit has won six of the past eight games at Atlanta, which includes a 106-95 victory Dec. 4. Despite their dominance, the Pistons expect the Hawks will not be an easy pushover. "Atlanta is going to be a tough game, an athletic team," Pistons coach Flip Saunders said.

Hawks All-Star guard Joe Johnson is averaging a team-best 20.8 points along with 5.2 assists and 4.3 rebounds. Atlanta also is getting solid play from forward Josh Smith, who is averaging career highs in scoring (17.8 points), rebounds (eight), assists (3.9), steals (2.0) and blocks (3.3). While the Pacers have had to compete without their core players often this season, they usually play hard enough and well enough to beat the Pistons at least once per season, evident by the Pistons seeking their first season sweep of the Pacers since the 1984-1985 season. A win against Atlanta would give the Pistons a season sweep of the Hawks as well. That hasn't happened since the 2000-2001 season."These are teams that have good offense and score," Detroit's Tayshaun Prince said. "I don't think we look at it differently, but the way we're playing, I'm sure we're going to try and set a tone early in the ball game and play the right way."

Here are the words said by former Michigan State guard and current Charlotte Bobcats coach Sam Vincent to official Leon Wood, which led Wood to giving Vincent a technical. "Try to get one (call) right!" Vincent said. "You missed the last five!" ... With games at Atlanta today and home to Indiana on Wednesday, Saunders gave players Monday off. ... Hawks guard Tyronn Lue is the godfather of Chauncey Billups' children. ... Atlanta coach Mike Woodson was an assistant coach on Detroit's 2004 NBA title team. Another assistant from that team, Herb Brown, has a similar role with the Hawks. ... Pistons rookie Rodney Stuckey has scored in double figures in four of Detroit's past five games. ... Tayshaun Prince has made eight of his last 13 3-point attempts.

The Pistons have two more games before the All-Star break, and both are against teams fighting for spots in the Eastern Conference playoffs.

The Atlanta Hawks, tonight's opponent, held the seventh spot Monday. Under the current standings, they'd face the Pistons in the first round. The Indiana Pacers, which the Pistons host Wednesday, were one game out of the eighth playoff spot.

But the Pistons don't plan on using these games to begin testing many playoff strategies, even against the Hawks, whom they'll see for the fourth and final time in the regular season."I think we'll approach it the same way," forward Tayshaun Prince said. "Indiana's played us good the couple games we've played them. We've done a good job against Atlanta, but these are teams that have good offenses that can score and athletic guys who can make plays. I don't think we look at it any differently, but the way we're playing right now, I'm sure we'll try to set a tone early in the ballgame."

Richard Hamilton was not with the team during their morning shoot-around because of what team officials described as food poisoning. It won't be known until shortly before tip-off tonight if Hamilton plays.

If he doesn't, the Pistons will likely start Arron Afflalo and move Flip Murray to the active roster. The Pistons are already short-handed in the backcourt, with Lindsey Hunter not making the trip.

Normally, I wouldn't think too much of it. But this game tonight is a huge, huge deal for the Hawks who have lost seven of the last eight to Detroit, and each of the three previous matchups this season.Former Pistons assistant Mike Woodson has made no secret about how important tonight's game is for his club which is the youngest team in the East. "I can't say it loud enough to my team," Woodson told me this morning. "There's a chance that, if we hold intact the seventh (playoff) spot, this is the team you're going to have to play. I don't want our guys feeling like they can't compete with anybody in the league, along with the Pistons."

The skinny: After winning three straight, the Hawks carry a two-game losing streak into the Pistons