Detroit Pistons (0-0) vs. Brooklyn Nets (0-0) When: 7 p.m. tonight. Where: Little Caesars Arena. TV: Fox Sports Detroit. Radio: 97.1 FM (Pistons radio affiliates). Last season records: Pistons 39-43; Nets 28-54. • Box score Game notes Projected starting lineups: Pistons: G Reggie Jackson, G Reggie Bullock, F Stanley Johnson, F Blake Griffin, C Andre Drummond. Nets: G D’Angelo Russell, G Caris LeVert, F Joe Harris, F DeMarre Carroll, C Jarrett Allen. What to watch for: It’s the season opener for most of the NBA. Pistons-Nets isn’t exactly top of the marquee, but both teams should think the game is winnable. It's the debut of new Pistons coach Dwane Casey. Key matchup: Drummond will have his hands full with Allen, a second-year shot-blocker with springy hops. Injury update: Johnson (sore foot) is questionable. Carroll is struggling with a sore ankle. Meet the Pistons:What each player needs to prove in 2018-19 More:Winning will help pending Pistons free agents get payday More:Blake Griffin, fully healthy, out to silence doubters Twitter updates Live updates for mobile users.<doc-sep>Tonight, it counts for real. The Detroit Pistons ran back largely the same squad they finished the season with but hope that the addition of a new voice in Dwane Casey and a new emphasis on quality looks and high-efficiency shots will guide them to success. That attack will be led by Blake Griffin, Andre Drummond and Reggie Jackson with supplemental shooters including Reggie Bullock, Luke Kennard and strong, athletic wings in Stanley Johnson and Glenn Robinson III. Game Vitals When: Wednesday, Oct. 17 at 7 p.m. Where: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, Michigan Watch: Fox Sports Detroit Analysis The Nets already bested Detroit 110-108 in overtime, but that game didn’t count and the Nets are even more depleted now than they were then. Allen Crabbe sprained his ankle in that game and is out, joining DeMarre Carroll and Shabazz Napier. Joining those three rotation mainstays could be Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, who missed the entire preseason with an abductor strain. The Pistons, meanwhile, are mostly healthy. Detroit brought along Reggie Jackson and Blake Griffin slowly through the preseason and they are good to go tonight against the Nets. Detroit is expected to be without Johnson, who is battling a toe issue. For those on the start GRIII bandwagon anyway that isn’t too much of a concern, but it did seem as if Casey was leaning toward starting the incumbent Johnson. Who gets the shot in the rotation in Robinson’s place as he moves into the starting lineup is an interesting question. Detroit could lean into its surplus of perimeter-oriented guards and give Luke Kennard more run or serious minutes to Langston Galloway or even find some time for Jose Calderon and have Reggie Jackson play off the ball. It seems that whichever player is most willing to take 3s, the more likely Casey is to give you some time in the lineup. Casey’s “shot matrix,” which favors 3s and at the rim looks has already been internalized by non-shooting players like Ish Smith, Johnson and Drummond, but Casey might prefer to more natural 3-point shooters on the floor. On defense, Detroit needs to be able to control the boards with the Nets big men hampered. They will also need to do a better job checking D’Angelo Russell than they did in the preseason, and if Ed Davis gets 25 rebound then I might just disavow this team completely. Projected Lineups Pistons Reggie Jackson, Reggie Bullock, Glen Robinson III, Blake Griffin, Andre Drummond Nets DeAngelo Russell, Caris LeVert, Joe Harris, Jared Dudley, Jarrett Allen Question Does Andre Drummond attempt a 3 tonight? Does he make a 3 tonight?<doc-sep>The Brooklyn Nets open their 2018-19 season Wednesday night in Detroit, and the depth that was seen as a strength when the team gathered for training camp three weeks ago will be tested right away. Allen Crabbe and DeMarre Carroll were both declared out on Tuesday, along with guard Shabazz Napier. Crabbe sprained his ankle during a preseason game in Detroit 10 days ago. Napier has been bothered by a hamstring issue and did not appear in a preseason game. Carroll missed the final two preseason games, and coach Kenny Atkinson announced that the veteran forward had undergone a procedure on his right ankle Tuesday. "It was bothering him a little and he practiced a little and felt good and then yesterday, he didn’t feel right and went and got an MRI," said Atkinson. "Again, it was one of those things – do I keep going back and forth or do I take care of this right now and get the procedure done and we determined that collectively with him and our medical team. Best course of action, we think." As of Tuesday's practice session, it was still to be determined if Rondae Hollis-Jefferson would play. The incumbent starting forward missed all four preseason games as he worked his way back from an adductor strain. REBOUNDING CHALLENGE Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and DeMarre Carroll were the Nets' top two rebounders last season, and the Pistons would seem to be a matchup in which Brooklyn could least afford to be without them. Detroit's Andre Drummond led the NBA with 14.2 rebounds per game last season, putting up two 20-rebound games against the Nets and averaging 14.8 points and 18.5 rebounds against Brooklyn. Detroit doubled down on its frontcourt with last January's trade for five-time All-Star Blake Griffin, who averaged 21.4 points and 7.9 rebounds while splitting his season between the Pistons and Clippers. "Drummond and Griffin are two of the best big men in the league in terms of offensive capabilities, defensive rebounding, offensive rebounding," said guard Joe Harris, who echoed Kenny Atkinson's point that rebounding was a team emphasis. "It's a test for us. It's not Jarrett Allen against Drummond. It's not Jared Dudley against Griffin. It's about us being able to team rebound and being able to keep guys off the glass collectively and that's the test really for us. Just being able to set our presence there in the paint and prevent second-chance opportunities." Allen had a strong preseason performance against the Pistons with 17 points, nine rebounds and four blocks in Brooklyn's overtime win. "Aggressive. Assertive. Let it all hang out," said Atkinson. "You've got to have kind of a head first mentality. If you let them be the aggressor you're going to be in trouble. I think we always say that the more aggressive team has the advantage. So the more aggressive player will have the advantage. I've been very pleased with that aspect of the game in the preseason. He's been aggressive, assertive." ROLLING WITH RODI? Kenny Atkinson went deep listing off the options at the four spot if Rondae Hollis-Jefferson is out. Carroll was a prime option there too. Making the list was 20-year-old rookie Rodions Kurucs. The second-round draft pick made an impression with his energetic preseason performances. "Fearless," said Atkinson. "I think with the fearlessness, we're going to have to take a few mistakes. I think he could turn it over a few times. I think in the Knicks game he took a couple questionable shots ... a jab, jab three in the corner which we didn't love. But then I think of all the good things he did. Like his energy, how he gets after it on the boards. How he runs the court, how he cuts, how he slashes. Definitely we've seen a ton of good. We're going to have to accept some mistakes along the way." Kurucs was the first name to come from Caris LeVert as well, when asked about players that surprised or impressed him during training camp. "I didn’t know anything about him, really, coming in. but just kind of how hard he plays, his feel for the game, being in the right spots and things like that, he’s definitely somebody fun to play with," said LeVert. "He caught my eye from the first day he came in it seemed like a week or two after the draft or something like that. We kind of saw that he can be really special.” REAL GAMES, REAL ANSWERS It's tip-off time for the Nets after a busy offseason that saw nine players added to the 17-player roster. "How do we jell? How we do fit? How do the pieces fit? Preseason was one thing," said Atkinson. "We saw a lot of different lineups and a lot of different guys playing together. This is the real deal – figuring that puzzle out, how we adjust our rotations. It’ll be good to get some information." For all the new faces, there is a core of eight returning players that have spent the last year together. Seven of them are 27 years old or younger. They have young players with experience, looking to take the next step. Two members of the 2015 draft class, 23-year-old Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and 22-year-old D'Angelo Russell, are entering their fourth NBA seasons. “I just want us to put it all together," said Russell. "The sooner the better. I keep saying that we have the pieces. There’s nothing more like being prepared for anything coming your way. I feel like our preparation has been better than ever. I think we’re prepared for anything to come our way.”<doc-sep>Welcome back everyone! I know we had previews for the preseason games and content all summer long, but it is officially basketball season, and that is cause for celebration! By the way, my name is Jason and I’ll be doing the previews all year, it’s going to be a ride. There will be ups. There will be downs. There will be “From The Vault” videos you save in a tab on your browser and forget to delete for three years. There will be jokes only like seven of you will get. I’d love it if one of us cried at some point (probably me). Regardless, follow me on Twitter and say what’s up, we’ll be talking Nets all season long. Speaking of the Nets, they’re opening this one up in the home of Motown and hoping to take down the Pistons and get themselves off to a 1-0 start. Every team is full of hope at this point in the year, and there’s nothing better than having that hope validated with a win in the very first game of the season. 1-0. It looks so fresh, so clean. Everything is easier when you win that first game, so let’s hope the Nets get it done in Detroit. Where To Follow The Game YES will have this one at 7 pm ET Wednesday night and WFAN will finally begin broadcasting on the radio as well. It feels so good having a real Nets game to look forward to all week. I cannot believe how excited I am. Injuries DeMarre Carroll spent Tuesday at the Hospital for Special Surgery, undergoing surgery on his right ankle. No word on how long he’ll be out, but he’s certainly out Wednesday. Allen Crabbe (ankle), Shabazz Napier (hamstring), and Alan Williams (ankle) have been declared out as well. They’re likely to be back soon. The “good” news? Rondae Hollis-Jefferson may play! After several practices, he’s questionable and a game-time decision. The true glue guy on this roster, Rondae is missed anytime he’s out. It would be great to have him back grabbing boards, guarding four positions, and endearingly clanking threes a couple of times a game. (He’ll get better at shooting eventually! I swear!) Other than RHJ’s former Arizona teammate, Stanley Johnson, who’s day-to-day with a toe injury, the Pistons are healthy and ready to go. The Game Detroit is in that class of Eastern Conference teams that aren’t necessarily “bad,” but are for sure not anyone’s definition of “good.” They’re probably better than teams like the Hornets, Cavaliers, Bulls, and certainly the Knicks, but are worse than a lot of other teams. No one’s excited to watch them play on any given night, but they won’t be embarrassingly incompetent. Okay, maybe the Knicks will be. A couple of them might even grab a playoff spot. I bring up this group of teams because I think the Nets are ready to move into their territory this season and that’s a good thing. From an on-court standpoint, it’s fun to win 35+ games and be kind of competitive. But the Nets aren’t in cap space hell like most (all?) of those teams mentioned. So, their time in that tier might be short-lived as they move on up in the world. This is all to say: The Nets can beat the Pistons. If the new coterie of Nets big men can hold off Andre Drummond and Blake Griffin, the backcourt will do enough damage to put them over the edge. That is what happened when these two played in the preseason. It’ll also be fun to watch Kenny Atkinson’s early season rotation take form; expect some significant Levert-Russell time in this one. D’Angelo put up a game-high 25 points against the Pistons in preseason and that doesn’t sound fluky against a guard rotation of Reggie Jackson, Luke Kennard, and Langston Galloway. He could have a big opening game. Player To Watch As Nets fans, I’m sure every time we see a dude like Andre Drummond on the schedule it sends shivers down our spines. Big, lumbering centers who like to grab copious amounts of rebounds tend to feast on the Nets, or at least have in recent years. It’s never fun to watch. He’s also an offensive force when the pick-and-roll with Jackson is working. The dude averaged 15 points and a league-leading 16 boards last year. Jarrett Allen, Kenneth Faried, and Ed Davis are going to have their work cut out for them in this one. Maybe if they do that trench coat thing like Vincent Adultman where they stand on each other’s shoulders they can just grab the rebounds before Drummond has a chance to. We’ll see. From The Vault In honor of the Nets starting off the 2018-19 campaign in Detroit, here’s an old Motown record (and vine reference) that really encapsulates how I felt waiting all these months for basketball to come back. As always, enjoy. Whoo boy, this season is going to be so much fun.<doc-sep>
DETROIT, MI - OCTOBER 8: a general view of the Detroit Pistons logo during the game against the Brooklyn Nets during a pre-season game on October 8, 2018 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images) Can veteran Jose Calderon find a new role with Detroit Pistons? by Travis Gibbs The Detroit Pistons host the Brooklyn Nets in their season opener at Little Caesar’s arena. Here is what you need to know before watching. The Detroit Pistons open up their 2018-2019 regular season schedule at home against the Brooklyn Nets tonight. The Pistons finished 39-43 last season and missed the playoffs. The Nets finished 28-54 last season. Both teams are looking to get back to winning ways this season. The Nets are led by point guard D’Angelo Russell. He was Brooklyn’s leading scorer last season. Blake Griffin was Detroit’s leading scorer last season. The Pistons have won their last three opening home games to start the regular season. In their all-time record of head to head matches, the Pistons lead the series 106-69 over the Nets. The two teams played four times last season. The Pistons won three out of four of those games. Injury Report The Brooklyn Nets are currently banged up. Tonight, they will be without three of their key contributors. DeMarre Carroll, Allen Crabbe, and Shabazz Napier will all be sidelined for the team’s season opener. Crabbe had that nasty ankle roll against the Pistons during the preseason. Carroll underwent a procedure on his right ankle. Napier is dealing with a hamstring injury. The Detroit Pistons are almost completely healthy as a team right now. Stanley Johnson is questionable tonight because of a toe injury. It’s not been said who will start in his place if he’s not able to go tonight. Glenn Robinson III is an option. Playing a bit smaller with Luke Kennard at shooting guard and moving Reggie Bullock to small forward is a possible option as well. Game day Information: TV: Fox Sports Detroit Radio: 97.1 FM (Pistons radio affiliates). When: 7 p.m. ET Where: Little Caesars Arena Other links from around the internet: