BSJ Live Coverage: Celtics at Pistons 3:00 p.m. - Opening Day in the NBA

BOSTON CELTICS at DETROIT PISTONS

Location: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, MI

Game time: 3:00 p.m.

TV: NBC

Radio: 98.5 The Sports Hub

Preview: The preseason was a perfect appetizer. A chance to dip your toes back into basketball. But now, it's time to dive into the deep end. Basketball is fully back.

In the first game of the NBA season, the Boston Celtics will take on the Detroit Pistons at 3:00 p.m. on a Tuesday. Why isn't the first game of the year in a primetime slot? No idea. But here we are.

Detroit was the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference last year and will be looking for more after their second-round exit. Meanwhile, the second-seeded Celtics are hoping to do the same after getting bounced in Round 1.

This should be a defensive clash. However, both sides made moves this summer to shake up the way they play on both ends.

Last season: The Pistons owned this matchup last season. Boston went just 1-3 against Detroit, and its lone victory was a three-point win at home.

Defense was key for the Pistons. They deployed the likes of Ausar Thompson and Jalen Duren to really bother the Celtics' offense. But offensive rebounding was their best weapon.

In four games against the Celtics, the Pistons averaged 15.3 offensive boards. That's more than any other team in the league grabbed against the Celtics.

Maintaining focus on the defensive glass will be crucial for Boston this year, as will diversifying the offense to get around Detroit's ball pressure.

Summer changes: Neither team looks wholly the same heading into this year. Obviously, the Celtics changes have been well documented, but what about the Pistons'?

Well, Tobias Harris is gone. In his place is John Collins. It could end up being an off-ball upgrade on offense, but defensively, that's going to hurt the Pistons.

Detroit also traded Isaiah Stewart, who was a huge part of its defense last year. They added Isaiah Joe, who will undoubtedly help their offensive flow.

There were a bunch of smaller moves as well. Caris LeVert is gone. Taurean Prince and Gary Harris in. Rookie Ebuka Okorie added. It seems the Pistons wanted to focus on getting better on offense.

One fun play: The Celtics cannot get beat on the offensive glass in the same way they did last year. The Pistons were bigger, stronger, and looked like they wanted it more.

Look at how bad the Celtics' effort was on this play. Cade Cunningham drives to the basket, Neemias Queta and Derrick White contest, and everyone else just watches.

Hugo Gonzalez doesn't crash. Payton Pritchard doesn't crash. Jaylen Brown makes a half-hearted effort. Detroit gets an easy board. This cannot happen this season.