Pistons-Bobcats Pregame

Richard Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince will be out again for the game tonight against the Charlotte Bobcats. Hamilton, who has a sprained ankle, has missed seven games so far and Prince, ruptured disc in lower back, has missed five. There is still no definitive date on the return of either.

Ben Gordon will start in place of Hamilton. Gordon has looked very good this season, averaging 24 points a game and shooting 47 percent. His matchup with Raja Bell will be key in this game. Bell is a very good defender and has had success against some marquee shooters like Kobe Bryant. If Gordon is getting making his shots tonight, the Bobcats will be in trouble.

Jonas Jerebko and Austin Daye will be filling Prince's spot, with Rodney Stuckey getting the left over small forward minutes. All three have shown the ability to defend small forwards, but Jerebko seems to have the best build to handle Charlotte's Gerald Wallace.

Pistons coach John Kuester will be having his first meeting with his former mentor Larry Brown. The two coached together in Philladelphia  and when Brown took the Pistons to their third championship in 2004. Both coaches share the same defense first philosophy, so look for the pace to be slow tempo with very aggressive defense being played by both teams.

First team to 90 points, if either team can get that high, will have a very good chance of walking away with a W.