Tag: Detroit Pistons

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Detroit Pistons vs Milwaukee Buck series preview

Embed from Getty Images The good new is the Detroit Pistons fought through inconsistent play and injuries to make the NBA Playoffs. The bad news is the Pistons drew the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round. Let’s see how they match up.

The Detroit Pistons, 1989, 1990, 2004  NBA Champions are back in the playoffs for only the second time this decade. Blake Griffin averaged 24.5 points, 7.5 rebounds with 5.4 assists. Andre Drummond averaged 17.3 points, NBA leading 15.6 rebounds, 1.7 steals with 1.7 blocks per game.

The Pistons shooting 34.8% from 3-point range, Luke Kennard 39.4% Wayne Ellington 37.3% lead the team from the 3-point arch.

The Detroit Pistons lost all four games to the Bucks during the regular season. Milwaukee is one of the best transition teams in the NBA. Detroit must protect the ball if they any shot for an upset. The Bucks are the best at taking the ball from opponents.

1971 NBA Champions, the Milwaukee Bucks hold a big advantage ove Detroit in this series. Milwaukee ended the season with the fourth best defense in the league. Giannis Antetokoumpo lead the Bucks with 27.7 points, 12.5 rebounds and 6 assists.

The Bucks were the best from 3-point land as well. Malcom Brogdon lead the Bucks with a 42.6% shooting from beyond the arch. Tony Snell was second on the team at 39.7%

The most telling stat, the Milwaukee Bucks have an otherworldly net rating of +8.6 per 100 possessions, the best in the NBA.

The Detroit Pistons made the playoffs, I just can not see any possible way they advance to the second round.

Series prediction: Milwaukee in 5

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The Detroit Pistons would need a total meltdown to miss the playoffs

Embed from Getty Images The Detroit Pistons are cold again. As high as the sixth seed last week, the Pistons are now an eighth seed.  The good news is it would take total collapse for the team to miss the playoffs.

Blake Griffin has missed three games in a row due to a sore left knee. The Pistons have lost two games in a row. But, it really is not that bad. The Detroit Pistons are looking for their second playoff appearance in the past decade. Which would please owner Tom Gores who did not want to begin a rebuild.

A weak remaining schedule gives the Pistons the old “punchers chance.” Detroit, Brooklyn Nets, Orlando Magic and Miami Heat are in a battle for the last three playoff spots. It will be fun coming down to the finish line.

The Pistons hold tiebreakers over the Magic and Heat. With four regular seasons left Detroit is in the drivers seat. So much so the Pistons have a 99% chance at making the playoffs, with Orlando at 95%, Brooklyn 78% and Miami 25%. So the Pistons have really good odds.

So it really would take an epic collapse against teams under .500 for the Pistons to miss the playoffs. The Detroit Pistons need to begin to play better in order gain some momentum heading into the postseason.

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Remembering the Detroit Pistons Bad Boy’s

Embed from Getty Images The 1989 Detroit Pistons  gathered for its 30 year NBA Championship  reunion celebration this past weekend. “The Bad Boy’s” were back in Motown. The last 1980’s Pistons legacy is about much more than the blood they drew – and spilled  with brutal physicality.

The Bad Boy Detroit Pistons team lead by Isiah Thomas, is a team that would rather run through you than around you. Yet they had a clear mission, Thomas proudly remembers the Pistons as a team that had to deal with race and wasn’t afraid to fight against social inequality.

The race issue started during the Eastern Conference finals in 1987, when Pistons versus Celtics suddenly became about black versus white. Former Piston Dennis Rodman said Larry Bird was overrated due to his skin color after Boston eliminated Detroit in Game 7, Thomas fueled the controversy by saying if “[Bird] were black, he’d be just another good guy.”

Those late 80’s Detroit Pistons defense overshadowed their offensive capabilities. Center Bill Laimbeer and Rick Mahorn were considered to bethe baddest boys of them all.  It is a safe bet much of Dennis Rodman’s antics later in his career can be attributed to his time under the tutelage of Rick Mahorn during their time together in Detroit.

While Laimbeer would literally fight tooth and nail during his time with the Detroit Pistons, and was the baddest of the “Bad Boys.” He was rough, dirty and everything that we loved and others hated. Bill and his antagonistic demeanor and physical play were the source of countless on-court altercations.

Much to the delight of Pistons fans. They were rough. They were tough. They were two time world champions. They were “The Bad Boy’s.”

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Could Detroit Pistons Svi Mykhailiuk move to point guard

Embed from Getty Images Pistons coach Dwane Casey is toying with the ideal of developing Svi Mykhailiuk into a point guard to maximize his big 6′ 8″ frame. Which would give the player and team an advantage over the rest of the NBA’s point guards.

Casey stated “It gives you length on defense and you can see defenses better.” The prototypical NBA point guard is 6-6, 6-7. The Detroit Pistons pan is to have Mykhailiuk  join the teams offseason developmental program.  Casey is in favor of putting players in position to succeed.

Pistons fans an local Detroit media are asking “If he’s so talented, why isn’t Mykhailiuk in the Pistons rotation, already.” Fair enough. The fair answer is  Svi Mykhailiuk  was not fully acclimated with the Los Angels Lakers, is not prepared to make the switch while the Pistons are in the middle of  trying to get into the playoffs.

It is said that while watching Mykhailiuk go through pregame drills, an Eastern Conference scout told reporters Svi projects to be a dead-eye shooter and a playmaker. That is good news for Detroit.

Pistons front office will get their first prolonged look at Mykhailiuk at point guard during Las Vegas Summer League action in July. One thing is for sure is Mykhailiuk brings toughness.  He does not back down from other players or situations.

“This summer’s going to be a big one for my development,” Mykhailiuk said. “It’s started right now, even if I don’t play. I’m getting in a lot of extra work before games and even on days off. I just got to work on my all-around game.”

The good news for the Detroit Pistons and their fans is Svi Mykhailiuk sounds as though he is embracing the switch to point guard. This could be a good thing for the organization. It could also be a good thing for the player. As he evolves his game some more. He will see more playing time.

 

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Thon Maker has been a solid addition to the Detroit Pistons

Embed from Getty Images Sometimes for a variety of reasons a player drafted by a team does not fit in well. That was the case for the Milwaukee Bucks, Thon Maker.  The former first round draft pick never found solid footing in Milwaukee. He was acquired last month by the Detroit Pistons.

Thon Maker, made his NBA debut October 30, 2016, against ironically enough the Detroit Pistons. He would record one rebound in the game. A pretty disappointing debut for a top 10 draft pick.

Having struggled to find his game Maker had his minutes greatly reduced. Reduced to the point that Thon Maker, a player who had and still has all the tools to be a top NBA center, was no longer a starter for the Milwaukee Bucks.

February 7, 2019 Maker was shipped to the Detroit Pistons. “He’s been great.” That is what Blake Griffin recently said. Thon Maker plays with great energy. It lifts the team when he enters the game. Playing behind Griffin, Maker has found a home.

It is somewhat baffling Milwaukee would give up on the 22 year old after just two and a half season. While Maker does play out of control at times and should be limited to dunking the ball and the occasional 3-point attempt. Maker’s defense has been solid.

A change of scenery has been just what the Doctor ordered. “The young man is hungry.” Detroit coach Dwane Casey said. It is not like Detroit and Casey’s system was the magic potion that suddenly ignited Maker’s play.

Rather it seem like it has been a culmination of things. First off Thon Maker was not a Detroit Pistons first round draft pick. Secondly, Maker has indeed found a home in Detroit coming off the bench during the second shift. So the pressure of not starting is not there.

Dwane Casey, is known as a coach who has a firm understanding of his players and the team dynamics the players fit into. In the case of Thon Maker, Casey has done it again. Putting the big man in position where Maker can both excel and help the team.

Thon Maker’s all-around play has helped the Pistons playoff push.

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Detroit Pistons turnaround may be Dwane Casey’s best job yet

Embed from Getty Images Here we stand,  a little more than  two disastrous months , and Detroit Pistons head coach Dwane Casey has turned the Pistons into a playoff contender. The Pistons bottomed out at seven games below .500 in early February. Even as losses piled up there were signs that the team’s offense was beginning to turn the corner.

The once left for dead, the Pistons are two games over .500 now and in possession of the East’s No. 6 seed. Making it a real possibility Detroit makes the playoffs for just the second time in the past 10 seasons.

Last season Dwane Casey won NBA coach of the year with the Toronto Raptors.  While Casey likely will not repeat that honor this season. Detroit Pistons fans can see exactly why he is a very good head coach. Casey’s positivity has been huge too.

The Pistons shot 33.1%  from the 3-point line in their first 50 games, last in the NBA. They’ve shot 39.2%  in their last 20 games, first in the league. With the team getting more production than just Blake Griffin.

What has happened to spur the Detroit Pistons turnaround? Look no further  than  the Pistons  the bench. Starting the season this unit was awful to put it kindly. The first 50 games of the season Detroit was -1.2 plus/minus, averaging 33.3 points per-game.

Now Detroit are at 0.7 plus/minus, while averaging 40.6 points per-game. Due to the fact that Dwane Casey has been far less rigid than his predecessor, Stan Van Gundy. Casey rides hot players and tinkers with his rotation.

Through it all,  Casey has brought this bunch of Detroit Pistons back into the thick of the playoff picture. A far more difficult task than the one he had last season in Toronto.

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The Detroit Pistons look like they will end the cities playoff drought

Embed from Getty Images Detroit has not seen a professional sports team in the playoffs since 2016. The city has produced eight championships since 1984. No Detroit team is close to winning a championship. These are sad days in Motown.

The Detroit Tigers have not been in the post season since they were swept in 2014 by the  Baltimore Orioles. Now coming off the second consecutive 98 loss season the Tigers are still in rebuild mode.

In 2015 the Detroit Lions lost to the  Seattle Seahawks, in the wild-card round.  In 2018 the Lions finished 6-10, but have their sights on the 2019 playoffs after a solid free agent signing period and a top ten draft pick. That is enough to give Lions fans hope.

The Red Wings will miss the playoffs for the third year in a row. While the Wings are closer to returning to competitive hockey, they are still a couple years away from being a serious Stanley Cup threat. Yet they are getting better that is the good news.

That leaves the Detroit Pistons. The Pistons currently hold the 6th position in the East.  The Pistons are likely to be a one round playoff team, certainly if they face Milwaukee or Toronto,  in the East it could very well be the case.

The Pistons fought through a sluggish January and February and the team opted not to tank and go into a rebuild. That could have perhaps sent some fans over the edge. The team now is looking at a playoff spot under first-year coach Dwane Casey.

The Detroit Pistons have not won a playoff game since 2008. While it does not look good at the moment, if the team can somehow slide into the 5th spot in the East, they would have a more favorable match up. Best case, Detroit draws Indiana in the first series. Otherwise, it will be a quick post-season for the Pistons.

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The imortance of Ish Smith to the Detroit Pistons

Embed from Getty Images Ish Smith missed games due to a groin injury. During that time he was a vocal leader on the Detroit Pistons bench. In fact he would cheer for 19 games due to the injury. Detroit went 5-14 with Smith out of the lineup. The Detroit Pistons are a better team with Ish Smith on the court.

26-14 that equates to a .650 winning percentage. That is the Detroit Pistons record when they have Ish Smith at their disposal. Now healthy, the Pistons are on a 12-4 run with Smith back.

He lacks size and is not a very imposing looking player. At 6 feet and barely 175 lbs, Ish Smith bounced around the league. Playing on 10 different teams in 9 seasons. His last contract was a three year deal with the Detroit Pistons.

It has been a God-send for both player and organization. Ish provides the Pistons with a energy off the bench. When he comes in the Pistons play more up-tempo. The team feeds off of Smith’s play.

Offense, defense, the Pistons can count on Smith for doing both well on game days. Head Pistons coach Dwane Casey said “He both sets the tone and changes the way we play when he’s out there.”

Averaging 8.7 points, 3.5 assists with 35% three point shooting are far from great numbers. Sometimes, as in the case with Ish Smith numbers deceive. You see, the energy and all-out style of play Smith brings that is what his teammates feed off of. That is his value to Detroit Pistons basketball.

The numbers do not lie. Since coming back after a prolonged layoff, Both Luke Kennard and Langston Galloway have suddenly turned red-hot for the Pistons. That is because they come off the bench with Smith.

Blake Griffin offered high praise for a guy with modest numbers “he makes our second unit, it is hard to guard his speed.” So big numbers be damned, Ish Smith has the intangibles the Pistons need. The greatest is just being on the court.

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Tanking was not an option for the Detroit Pistons

Embed from Getty Images Ed Stefanski blocks all negatives out. Social media, talk sports radio, news papers, t.v.. That turned out to be good news for the team Stefanski oversees. The Detroit Pistons.

Ed Stefanski, has a belief in the Detroit organization. The Pistons winners of 12 of their last 15 games are the product of Stefanski’s faith. Even though the noise outside was screaming for a teardown and total rebuild.

There are two thought processes, if you tank you win. If you do not there is a good chance the team will be stuck in mediocrity. The Pistons took an educated chance and went with not tanking.

Stefanski, sought advice from Sachin Gupta the Pistons assistant general manager and a person who is widely considered around the NBA as a analytic specialist.

They saw that some of the teams players who struggled if the first half of the season were due for a breakthrough. It is a daring place to venture. If wrong the Detroit Pistons season would have ended very poorly.

The calculated move has paid off. Struggling players are red hot during the Pistons turnaround. It has been well documented the moves the Pistons made during the trade deadline.

The team has also been greatly helped by star Blake Griffin who takes his role seriously. He wants to help the Pistons get back to the playoffs. Griffin was asked about the Detroit front office and his role. “I am not a general manager, I am a player. I focus on my job, the front office focuses on their job.”

Fair enough. But from the time Griffin took over as team leader, the team, front office and coaching staff all seemed to find a unifying consistency.

One more point Ed Stefanski, does not like the idea of tanking. Ever. “I do not believe in losing games to get better draft picks, I want to compete every night. I want to win every game.”

As long as Ed Stefanski has a say in the Motor City, it is a safe bet Detroit will never tank. They will kick, scream and fight. Just the way Stefanski likes it.

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Detroit Pistons Reggie Jackson is enjoying a revival

Embed from Getty Images At the trade deadline rumors swirled that the Detroit Pistons were looking to move Reggie Jackson and the Pistons were  five games below .500 at the time. Jackson was thought to hold the key for Detroit.

During the first 46 games of the season, Jackson’s numbers were ho-hum to put it nicely. 14.1 points, 4.1 assists, 34 percent on 3-pointers and 40 percent on field goals. Nothing to write home about to be sure.

After a pep-talk of sorts with Blake Griffin and head coach Dwane Casey, Jackson’s confidence seemed to come back.  The Pistons are enjoying revival as a team, it seems no coincidence after Jackson picked up his play.

In the past six games, Reggie is averaging 19 points, shooting 43% on 3-pointers, with 37 assists and only five turnovers. Those numbers are  similar to his 2015-16 season, when he helped lead the Pistons to the playoffs, with 18.8 points and 6.2 assists.

Reggie Jackson had battled through some leg issues. He seems to have finally moved past the injuries and his play if reflecting what the Detroit Pistons have thought since they drafted him. Reggie Jackson can be a difference maker.

While a healthy Jackson is important equally as important is that Reggie has seen a jump in his play and production after he was paired alongside Blake Griffin. While the pairing has not always gone smoothly, it has improved of late.

Injuries gone Reggie Jackson has no restrictions. He can play a more up tempo game. The Pistons are at their best when Reggie is shooting the ball. Casey has spoken to Jackson about shooting more and passing less.

The success of the Pistons rides in large part on Reggie Jackson’s shoulders. When he is healthy, when he is locked in Detroit is a dangerous basketball team.

When is is less than 110%, when he passes too many times, when he does not take open shots, the Detroit Pistons suffer. His play lately has come a a key time. During the stretch run and possible playoff run.