AUBURN HILLS -- What a first half it has been for the Detroit Pistons.
Rodney Stuckey is the new leader at point guard. The team dealt for Allen Iverson, the "superstar" player for which fans have been clamoring. Key returners such as Tayshaun Prince and Richard Hamilton are slotted in different roles.
Add in a slew of injuries and a killer road schedule for rookie coach Michael Curry, and the first half of this season has been one of the most daunting for the Pistons in recent years.
"We have gone through a lot of stuff this year already," said Detroit's Antonio McDyess, who was traded to Denver on Nov. 3 as part of the Chauncey Billups for Allen Iverson trade. He later was re-signed by the Pistons after the Nuggets bought him out.
"Hopefully we got all that stuff out of the way, and can just worry about playing basketball and winning games."
Although Detroit's 24-17 record is fifth-best in the Eastern Conference, players and coaches agree it should be better.
"We expected to be a little better record-wise," Curry said. "But we are where we are."
But the Pistons have no intention of staying there for long, and their track record indicates they will rebound from their slow start.
Detroit has won more second-half games than first-half games in four out of the team's past five seasons. The lone exception came in 2005-06, when Detroit jumped out to a 36-5 start before finishing with an NBA-best 64-18 record.
To play better, Curry thinks it is just a matter of developing a steady playing routine.
"We're looking at the second half to be a lot more consistent," Curry said. "I think we've sort of identified how we're going to play, and who's going to play. Barring any major injuries, I think we can be pretty consistent the rest of the way."
"We just have to keep playing our game, that's all," Stuckey said. "We're getting better. We're not there yet, but we're getting better."
One of the keys to second-half success will be Hamilton's play off the bench.
Curry has ditched the three-guard starting lineup, and now Hamilton is fulfilling the sixth-man role. Fourth-year forward Amir Johnson has been re-inserted into the starting lineup.
Barring an injury, Curry does not anticipate any future changes to that starting lineup.
The Pistons also must do a better job of protecting their home court.
Detroit has a 13-7 home record this season, which is the same number of home losses suffered all of last season.
"And that's where some of our worst losses have been, too," McDyess said. "Anytime you lose, it's bad. But losing games to teams you know you should beat, at home ... those are the ones that really hurt
Dallas' super sub
Curry's decision to make Richard Hamilton a sixth man is similar to what has happened to Mavericks guard Jason Terry.
Terry, who started 78 percent of the NBA games in which he has appeared, is averaging a career-best 20.2 points per game this season while coming off Dallas' bench.
Curry said he has not looked to Terry's situation for pointers.
"I know how to use Rip," Curry said. "Just run Rip off picks ... what he's done his whole career.
"Maybe the fact that Jason Terry is doing it and he's embraced it, he's done it for a while. He's effective at it right now. But we envision Rip being just as effective in his role."
Odds & ends
Tonight's nationally televised game will have a 7 p.m. start, which is earlier than the usual start time for Friday night games at The Palace. ... Former Pistons coach Rick Carlisle now coaches the Mavericks. ... These two teams have split their regular season series each of the past five seasons. ... In their last meeting, the Pistons defeated the Mavs 90-67 on Feb. 3, 2008. The 67 points were the fewest ever allowed by Detroit against Dallas.