• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Curry makes coaching debut as Pistons host Pacers

Oct 29, 2008 - 10:14 AM Indiana at Detroit 8:00 p.m. EDT

AUBURN HILLS, Michigan (Ticker) -- The Detroit Pistons' postseason failures ran Flip Saunders out of town, and now Michael Curry takes over the reigns of a perennial contender.

Curry makes his coaching debut on Wednesday when the Pistons host the revamped Indiana Pacers in the season opener for both teams.

Detroit has been the model of consistency in the Eastern Conference, having reached the postseason seven straight years. In that span, the Pistons have won four Central Division titles and reached the Conference Finals six straight times.

However, they have lost in that round the last three years. Last season, Detroit went 59-23 before falling to the eventual world champion Boston Celtics. That prompted president of basketball operations Joe Dumars to fire Saunders and replace him with the inexperienced Curry.

The 40-year-old was an assistant under Saunders. He takes over a veteran-laden team that is looking to bounce back after yet another playoff let down.

Led by Richard Hamilton (17.3 ppg) and Chauncey Billups (17.8 ppg), the Pistons figure to contend once again. Billups, who was nearly traded in the offseason, will be spelled by sensational second-year pro Rodney Stuckey (7.6 ppg).

Meanwhile, the Pacers are coming off a 36-46 campaign that facilitated an off-season overhaul. Indiana dealt injury-prone, All-Star forward Jermaine O'Neal to Toronto for point guard T.J. Ford, Rasho Nesterovic and rookie center Roy Hibbert.

The Pacers also acquired veteran guard Jarret Jack from Portland and drafted guard Brandon Rush. There are some familiar faces, though, as forward Danny Granger (19.6 ppg) and Mike Dunleavy (19.1 ppg) are back.