The Detroit Pistons can’t lose against the Charlotte Hornets

The Detroit Pistons will take on the Charlotte Hornets tonight in a battle of the two worst teams in the Eastern Conference.

After Houston won two in a row, the Pistons currently hold the worst record in the NBA, with the Hornets just 1.5 games ahead of them in the standings.

The good news about one tanking team playing another is that there really are no losers, as the loss helps the tank and a win gives your squad bragging rights against the other, well… losers.

The Detroit Pistons won the first meeting this year in an overtime thriller that featured less defense than the McDonald’s high school All-American game, and we can probably expect more of the same tonight. If you are betting, hammer the over.

Most fans of the Detroit Pistons would be happy with a loss in this one, but not getting embarrassed at home like they did against the Rockets would be nice, and a rare victory wouldn’t be the worst thing. Here is how the Pistons can do it.

Detroit Pistons: 3 keys to “victory” over the Charlotte Hornets

Contain the guards

This will be a good test for rookie Jaden Ivey, whose defense has often resembled a matador on the perimeter. He will have to stop Terry Rozier and/or LaMelo Ball from living in the lane with impunity so the the bigs aren’t constantly put under pressure to come off their men and leave them open for dunks.

The Hornets’ guards combined for 48 points and 13 assists in the last meeting.

Contain the Plum

Former Piston Mason Plumlee had 18 rebounds the last time these two teams played, 11 of them on the offensive end. This has been a huge problem for the Detroit Pistons this season, especially since Dwane Casey decided to move Isaiah Stewart to the bench. The Pistons won the battle of the boards last time, with Stewart and Jalen Duren combining for 30 rebounds, so it will be interesting to see if coach Casey returns to his two-big starting lineup tonight.

Dominate the battle of the benches

The Pistons’ bench was a huge factor in the win over Charlotte, as they outscored the Hornets’ bench by 20 points behind a 27-point effort from Alec Burks. But Burks has since been moved to the starting lineup, putting Killian Hayes on the bench, where he has not been nearly as effective. Hayes went off for 25 points, eight assists and seven rebounds vs. the Hornets back in December, but will he and Burks be able to swap spots and do it again? Considering the Hornets have two guards who love to penetrate off the bounce, this might be a good time to put Killian back in the starting five to try and get him going and slow down Ball.