The Pistons (29-12) will in Orlando to take on the Magic (25-17) at the Amway Arena. Tip off is 7:00 pm est and can be viewed locally on TV20.

Magic Snapshot
Home record: 9-8
Last game: 1/19 (Sat) W 101-94 Vs. Portland
Last 10: 4-6
Injuries: Tony Battie (torn left rotator cuff), Jameer Nelson (strained tendon, right foot)
Last meeting: Nov. 2nd Pistons (116) @ Magic (92)

This game might be just what the Pistons need to get back on track. Our guys are 5-5 in their last 10 and are struggling to find their rhythm against sub .500 teams. The Pistons played unreal in the last meeting which was all the way back on November 2nd (the 2nd game of the season). The Pistons hit on a season high 58.9% of their shots, even without the services of their leading scorer Rip Hamilton who was celebrating the birth of their son. That game also marked the 9th consecutive win over the Magic (including playoffs). The Magic didn’t sulk though, they’ve got the third best record in the East to date.

Former Piston Carlos (Mr. Dribbles) Arroyo will get the start for injured PG Jameer Nelson. We’ll also get a look at former ‘Stonz reserve Maurice Evans who was traded by the Lakers earlier this season for Trevor Ariza.

Also see:

• Third Quarter Collapse: Tonight’s Game: Orlando Magic vs. Detroit Pistons
• Orlando Magic Blog: DET/ORL preview

• The Free Press has a throwback (1987) Mitch Albom piece on Bill Laimbeer for your reading enjoyment. It’s also accompanied by two EXCELLENT Laimbeer photo galleries for you old school Bad Boy fans (like me).
• Chuck Daly: On the loss to the Knicks, Rodney Stuckey and more. Speaking of Big Daddy Rich, Flip Saunders needs two more Pistons victories to move ahead of Ray Scott (146) into second place behind Daly (467).
• Here’s a 12th hand blogger’s account of Tayshaun allegedly having a mean streak towards autograph seekers
• Keith Langlois charts and compares the young careers of straight out of high school class of ‘05ers Amir Johnson and Andrew Bynum

Former Piston clippings:

• Darko officially a bust? Chad Ford says YES
• Darin Ham’s journey continues in the D-League
  

  “In Detroit, that was the greatest team experience of my life,” Ham said.”We had a close-knit group of guys who had overcome adversity, and we came together and did something that no one expected us to do.”

• Mateen Cleaves update
• Chris Webber (as a matter fan mandatory obligation ONLY) status update

Could you see Ron Artest in Piston’s red, white and blue? He can. Chris McCosky of the Detroit News writes that you should expect Sacramento to trade Artest while he has value because he’s already talking about opting out at the end of the season and leaving the Kings empty handed. McCosky says that Ron told Indianapolis reporters that he sees Detroit being a potential anchorage for his services. Artest even claims he has a fan base here in the Motor City:

“Especially when you’ve got a lot of fans,” Artest said before Friday’s game. “I used to read a lot of the blogs and a couple people said they wouldn’t mind seeing me play in Detroit. That’s like a big turnaround from those days. That’s a big turnaround and you’ve got to be proud of that.”

Anyone have an idea which blog(s) he’s referring to? If he does have a fan base here they must not have been able to make the game last Friday because he still gets booed with every touch of the rock at the Palace.

There’s never been a question that Ron has the talent to be one of the very best players in the NBA. He’s a great defender with the offensive game to match. But, be honest, this guy is one of the biggest head cases in perhaps the history of professional sports. Who the hell asks for a month off to focus on producing a rap album when you’re on a team that is inline to compete for an NBA title? Then there’s the brawl which I don’t have to outline for anyone as to his involvement. He’s receives the longest non-drug, non-betting suspension in league history (73 games) for his part in the melee which basically killed the the Pacers chances for a title as he was an intricate part of that team. Then, fast forward to his return the next season, after his teammates welcome and accept him back with open arms he asks for a trade??

Since being traded to the Kings in ‘06 he’s ran hot and cold. He’s yet to go into anymore crowds but he’s had plenty of off the court misdeeds to keep his legend growing (like jokingly? threatening to kill teammate Bonzi Wells if he didn’t re-sign in Sacramento).

Would Detroit fans accept the “Tru Warier”? Depends. If he keeps his mind right and balls I think any fan base could warm up to him. For better or for worse we’re a very forgiving society. Remember this guy is a former Defensive Player of the Year (2004) and has a career averages of 15 points and 5 rebounds per. Who wouldn’t want that on their team?

My biggest concern in trading for him is guarding against meltdown. Artest makes $7.8 mill and and has a player option to bump that up to $8.4 next season. Also, he believes he’s underpaid, he might have a case if his name wasn’t Ron Artest. So, by my estimation you have to give up a key piece or a host or future key pieces. It’s easy to say package Brezec, Herrmann, and Murray, but would Sacramento even want them when they would surely field more lucrative offers from other teams.

If it works out the Pistons are holding the Larry O’Brien at season’s end and to this point Ron has just been misunderstood. If it doesn’t, well see the Pacers post Artest. Another thing that would play against it would be Flip Saunders. He’s not really got a reputation for tapping into player’s ardor for the game. He’s more a less a good coach, not a leader of men…but I don’t want to get off onto a Flip Saunders’ tangent.

It’d be a tough risk/reward type call for Joe to make. But I, for one, have complete and total faith in Joe if on any deal he pulls the trigger on. I’d say he’s earned it.