How can the Boston Celtics take advantage of the Detroit Pistons?

The Boston Celtics will face the Detroit Pistons on Monday, Jan. 19, as the two teams with the best records in the Eastern Conference give us a potential preview of the 2026 Eastern Conference Finals. Both Boston and Detroit are exceeding preseason expectations, and neither will want to lose a game that could help build an advantage in the current standings.

One thing Joe Mazzulla’s team will need to fix is how they control the defensive glass. In three games against the Pistons this season, Boston has given up a combined 52 offensive rebounds. Detroit isn’t a particularly good offensive team. They rank in the bottom twelve for shots at the rim, in the mid-range and from deep, per Cleaning The Glass. However, Detroit is very talented at winning the possession battle, and that is what Boston must look to shut down.

During a recent episode of the “Celtics Chronicle” podcast, host Adam Taylor was joined by Ku Khahil of “Locked On Pistons” to preview the upcoming game between Boston and Detroit. The duo dove into the Pistons’ strengths and weaknesses, along with how the Celtics could look to exploit any holes it finds in Detroit’s defense.