On Tuesday in Detroit, the Los Angeles Lakers look to, once again, get their season on track.
Following up on an impressive victory over the Eastern Conference leading Toronto Raptors, the Lakers look to win their second game in a row. For the Lakers, the road has provided a more comfortable environment than home. The Lakers arrive at the Palace at Auburn Hills winners of two of their last three road games.
The Detroit Pistons are not a good team. They've lost eight games in a row and are one of the few teams that have misfired on their start worse than the Lakers. Shockingly, the Pistons have more losses and fewer wins than the Lakers.
Despite playing at home, the Pistons have lost their last three contests by an average of 11 points per game. Brandon Jennings continues to be the Pistons' leading scorer with 16.4 points per game, and players like Josh Smith, Greg Monroe and Andre Drummond lay the foundation for a good team on paper.
With reserves like Caron Butler and D.J. Augustin, the Pistons should not be as bad as they are.
But based on their record, the Pistons are the worst team in the Eastern Conference not named the Philadelphia 76ers, who are still without a win.
For the Lakers, Tuesday night starts a three-game road trip that offers LA at least two good looks at victories. After the stop in Detroit, the Lakers will arrive in the nation's capital to play the Washington Wizards, who currently have a better record than the Chicago Bulls, Miami Heat and the Cleveland Cavaliers. Playing on the second night of a back-to-back, the Lakers should have a difficult time stealing that game.
"I'm going to be ready and get my guys ready and lead the road trip." a focused Kobe Bryant said on Sunday night. "I want to stay mad. It helps me play better."
The Lakers end their road trip with a rivalry game in Boston against the Celtics on Friday. The Celtics have as many wins as the Lakers, so that is a winnable game.
On Tuesday, the Lakers and Pistons tip off at 4:30 p.m. Pacific Time.
