Tag: Detroit Pistons

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Blake Griffin, Detroit Pistons leader keeps the team focused

Embed from Getty Images Blake Griffin dispelled any rumor during the NBA trade deadline saying he was happy in Detroit. If there was any doubt they can be put to rest. Blake Griffin is the Pistons unquestioned leader.

“Being the 6th or 7th seed is absolutely nothing to be proud of. We tricked off two months of basketball.” That was Blake Griffin on the recent success of the Detroit Pistons.

On one hand it sounds like he is slamming his team. Which is was. On the other hand it sounds like he is trying to keep the Pistons focused. He is. You see by letting the team and media know that the Pistons played two bad months of basketball, they have somehow managed to climb back into the playoff picture.

That is what a good leader looks like. Acknowledging where they have been while keying in on where they want to be and are going. on Jan. 29 with the Pistons 7 games under .500, mired in bad play, Griffin offered this:
“I don’t know how many games back we are. Can’t be more than 2½, three. So that’s a solid 10 games of basketball and some losses from a team that’s right ahead of us.”

Again letting everyone know the sky was not falling and there was still time to salvage the season. Check.

It is almost as if the trade deadline brought a focus that was missing. It also seemed to bring team chemistry that had bee absent all together. “As players, you’ve got to trust the front office,” Griffin said shortly after the team  picked up Thon Maker for Johnson and rookie Svi Mykhailiuk and a future No. 2 pick.

Blake Griffin said “My message to our guys is, like, what have we done? We’ve had a good stretch. A lot of teams have had good stretches.” Griffin has embraced his role as team leader and brought a new found focus to the Detroit Pistons.

Leaders are a dime a dozen. But when it’s authentic, it’s pretty easy to spot. Which is why Griffin stands out.

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The Detroit Pistons could make some noise in the playoffs

Embed from Getty Images The Detroit Pistons, have only been to the NBA playoffs once in the past nine seasons. The Pistons are clearly a flawed basketball  team.  But they can bolster their playoff chances by simply continuing to play the way they have in recent weeks.

Ranking 29th in the NBA in both effective field goal rate as well as true shooting percentage through February 1. Since Feb. 2, though, the club has jumped into the top five leaguewide in both categories. A big change of pace for the Pistons to be sure. The team has found it’s footing.

In the early part of the season the Pistons relied too much on Blake Griffin. Over the past month the Detroit Pistons are more balanced. Andre Drummond has looked better than ever simply by getting back to the basics near the rim also  Reggie Jackson has finally found some consistency and has found his shooting touch.

While no NBA team scores fewer fast break-away points that Detroit, it comes as a somewhat pleasant surprise that the team is actually shooting better since trading Reggie Bullock. That does not usually work that way when the best shooter is traded.

One thing that also hurts the Pistons is a real lack of depth at key positions. All it takes is a cold night shooting the ball and Detroit would be unable to recover. One thing remains, Detroit has at 87% playoff probability. The team also has an easier path to the playoffs thanks in large part to a softer schedule coming down the stretch.

The Pistons’ defense has been solid all year.  Pistons could reach the playoffs at below .500 and still be favored in the first round. The defense and Griffin, Drummond and Jackson give Detroit a solid 3. These three players would also mean Detroit would have a real chance to advance to the second round.

For a team up against the salary cap that would be a major accomplishment.

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Detroit Pistons Luke Kennard finds his groove

Embed from Getty Images No longer in a starting position, Detroit Pistons Luke Kennard has become a super sub and given strength to the Pistons bench. Detroit fans argue that he’s a better shooter than Wayne Ellington and slightly better defense than starter Bruce Brown.

Basketball is about the best 5 starters on the court. However, the Detroit Pistons and head coach Dwane Casey seem to be on to something. By taking the starting role away from Kennard his play has actually improved.

The way Casey has run the teams he has coached he puts an importance not only on the starters but as well as a transition to the second unit. To which the coach has identified Luke Kennard as the player he wants to spearhead and lead the second unit.

In most cases the NBA’s sixth man of the year could be a starter. That is what Dwane Casey is looking for. The fact the he picked Kennard is actually an honor and not a demotion from starter to second wave leader.

In the last six games, Kennard has averaged 13.5 points while hitting 53% on 3-pointers. That is what his new role calls for. Kennard has met the qualifications. There is something else that should be noted.

While Kennard does not start games. He has been on the court at the end of games more often. That speaks volumes to how the Pistons view Luke. As a facilitator and a glue guy who can and is counted on. The fact that Kennard is on the court during critical stretches speaks to his growth as a player. Both offensively  and defensively.

Early in the season Kennard was  playing lazy, did not seem ready for games. He admitted that coach Casey gotten on him about his effort. That is where the change came from.

Dwane Casey came to Detroit known for getting the most out of his players. When you are an NBA Coach of the Year you tend to know what your doing. Now in tinkering with Luke Kennard, Casey has shown that under his  tutelage a player can give more.

Dwane Casey’s record of developing young players is second to none. Just ask second year player Luke Kennard.

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Do not look now but the Detroit Pistons are surging

Embed from Getty Images It was a sluggish, difficult December and January for the Detroit Pistons. Once February rolled around it is almost like a switch was flipped. Suddenly the Detroit Pistons look playoff ready.

The Detroit Pistons are hot again. As in how they started the 2018-19 NBA season. Hot as in this is a great time to get hot and on a roll. After what looked like would be a disappointing season. Suddenly the sun is out and things have brightened up in the Motor City.

After the NBA trade deadline was over the Pistons suddenly had something they desperately lacked, team chemistry. The Pistons biggest weakness was their bench. Now suddenly they are getting critical points solid minutes and good defense from a unit that was bad at best. A very good sign.

Winners of 6 of their last 7 games, The Detroit Pistons have surged to 7th place in the Eastern conference. Trailing the New Jersey Nets by a game and a half for 6th place. The Pistons need to continue to take steps forward. They have taken more than enough back during December and January.

The top 8 teams are headed to the 2019 NBA playoffs. Which is suddenly a real possibility. This does come with some caution. Detroit is doing this against weaker teams. The real test comes against better teams.

Daring to look ahead to the playoffs if the season ended today the Pistons would draw the Toronto Raptors. A team that Detroit matches up very well against. Still the playoffs are a ways away. There are many games still to be played.

The Pistons need to stay focused.

 

 

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A recent poll at the Detroit Free Press has the Detroit Lions winning a title

Embed from Getty Images The Detroit Free Press polled the four professional sports beat writers and asked which team would win the next championship for the city. The Detroit Lions were the winners.

As I read the pros and cons for each team winning a championship I looked at the state of all four teams. When I broken them down this is what I found.

The Detroit Pistons are a wreck. Stuck with bad contracts and a team that by and large has hit their ceiling. The team is years away from being a serious playoff threat let alone making it to the NBA Finals. The plan is to build around Blake Griffin. That is a start.

The Detroit Tigers are in mid rebuild. There is talent in the minor leagues. Serious talent. But most of the prospects are going to have to hit their ceiling and some are going to have to out play their projections. Still the Tigers are close to being competitive again. About 3 years.

The Detroit Red Wings are coming to the end of their rebuild. The Wings are set to win for a while. This is going to be a nasty hockey team. First they need to get into the playoffs and get their brains beat in. That is how it works in hockey. Young teams need to learn how to win the post season play. The Wings could make a playoff push next season. Even as bad as they have been. Young players have taken huge steps forwards and the Red Wings will have a league high $20 million in cap space.

Then we have the Detroit Lions. Rebuilding since 1957. Ask any Lions fan it is not a joke. It is how they view the team. For some strange reason the NFL is a league that sees teams turn around seemingly at the blink of an eye. L.A. Rams anyone? The Detroit Lions are actually a team that is 3-5 players away from becoming a very good team. Right tackle, edge rusher, tight end, wide receiver, backup running back and the Lions will be good.

So which team is in the best title position? The Tigers and Red Wings are set up for long term success. The Pistons need a direction. Leaving the Detroit Lions as the team that should bring the next championship to the city. I can not believe I just put that down.

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Former Detroit Pistons great Ben Wallace up for the NBA Hall of Fame

Embed from Getty Images Big Ben Wallace, Detroit Pistons legend and a player who’s number 3 hangs about he court since it was retired received a call from the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Telling the big man he was a finalist.

Ben Wallace, a dominant defensive big man who played nine of his 16 NBA seasons with the Detroit Pistons. The prime years were spent in Motown. Wallace was a key player in the Detroit Pistons 2004 NBA championship.

Ben  was a four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year, four-time NBA All-Star.  He also led the league in rebounds twice and once for blocked shots. He played with the Pistons from 2000 to 2006 and again from 2009 to 2012 Ben Wallace retired at age 37.

Wallace, attended college at the small university of Virginia Union. He is now part owner of the Grand Rapids Drive. The Drive is the Detroit Pistons’ G League affiliate. So he is still around the game he loves. Wallace is often in Detroit and seen at Pistons games.

During his Detroit playing days as one of the elite defensive players in the NBA Ben Wallace’s teammates coined a slogan for their center. “Fear the Fro.” As Wallace played with a huge afro. The term simply meant at some point in the game Wallace would do something to swing momentum in the Pistons favor.

He would watch. He was would study teams players. Then he would shut them down. “Fear the Fro.” He was so dominant he once blocked Shaq and Kobe Bryant in the same game during back to back shots. Bring Pistons fans to their feet.

No matter that Ben went to a small college. He was a big time talent. One that the city of Detroit still loves. An artist painted a Ben in action. It hangs at Little Caesars Arena. Home to both the Detroit Red Wings and Pistons.

It is the only art of a Pistons player. That includes Pistons greats Isiah Thomas, Joe Dumars, Vinnie Johnson and others. That is what Ben Wallace means to Detroit.

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The Detroit Pistons need to cut ties with Langston Galloway

Embed from Getty Images The Detroit Pistons recently sent guard Reggie Bullock to the L.A. Lakers for a second round draft pick and guard Svi Mykhailiuk. Former  Pistons Head Coach/President of Basketball Operations Stan Van Gundy handed Langston Galloway a three year 21 million dollar deal.

For three seasons Langston Galloway has been a massive disappointment. That can not be understated. He wears flashy shoes, but that does nothing for Galloway’s game. This is year three and Langston Galloway has reached a career low 32 percent shooting. He has mastered the brick with authority.

His new career shooting low comes on the heels of last seasons at 34 percent shooting. Not a good look for someone who was handed a 21 million dollar deal to make shots. This is a small sample of why Van Gundy is no longer in Motown.

At 6’2″ Langston Galloway lacks the size to help out much defensively. Making him worthless. The Detroit Pistons, were not going to resign Langston after the season and should just cut bait with him now. He is a wasted roster space.

He is blocking Mykhailiuk a player who has a great shot from playing. Perhaps, Galloway’s greatest  defensive block since coming to Detroit. The other night against Boston, Galloway had a -14. Woeful!

Plus/ Minus in basketball is the average impact in terms of net point differential per 100 offensive and defensive possessions. It is hard to come to any reasonable conclusion why Pistons coach Dwane Casey left Galloway in the game.

While Svi MyKahailiun and Khyri Thomas two of the Detroit Pistons better shooters played exactly zero minutes. It is rather head scratching. The Detroit Pistons are eyeing the playoffs.

I will go on record now and say there will be no playoffs as long as Langston Galloway has more playing time than players who can actually help the team. Those players are on the bench. It has grown increasingly frustrating with the Pistons fan base who see this.

Dwane Casey needs to wake up and needs to do it before it is too late.

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Detroit Pistons make solid moves for the future while still eyeing the playoffs

Embed from Getty Images Detroit Pistons executive Ed Stefanski was brought in to Detroit for two reasons. To help the team get out of bad contracts handed out by Stan Van Gundy and help groom a new general manager.

The 2019 NBA trade deadline has come and gone. The Detroit Pistons made  few moves to help their cause. The team traded guards Reggie Bullock and Stanley Johnson freeing up salary cap money.

In each case the Pistons received both players (Svi Mykhailiuk and Thon Maker) as well as draft picks. Stefanski, did a very solid job as he began a lengthy process of re-shaping the Detroit Pistons roster.

The team then released Henry Ellenson and added Wayne Ellington from the Miami Heat. The Heat are going nowhere. While the Detroit Pistons have won three in a row to climb within one game of .500 as well as back into the playoff picture.

Ellington fits what Detroit is trying to do this season. Get into the post season. Ellington is a 10 year NBA veteran. At 31 years old still has a lot left in the tank and a lot to give a playoff hopeful team.

He is averaging 8.4 points per-game as well as 1.9 rebounds and is shooting 37% on 3-pointers in his 25 games with the Miami Heat. It is his veteran leadership that Ed Stefanski and the Pistons covet.

The signing of Ellington is a smart move for a Pistons team in need of leadership from anyone not named Blake Griffin. Griffin simply can not do it all. The deal also makes sense as Ellington is playing on an expiring contract.

Detroit will most likely let him walk after the season while cashing in on the draft pick and get younger, more athletic and further un the salary cap.

The Pistons may look to make other deals after the season. This will allow them to do what Stefanski and owner Tom Gore said they were looking to do. Build around Griffin.

It will take some time. But it is a start. While no one knows what Stefanski’s vision is for the future. It is easy to see that it is not bad contracts with players with a low ceiling and limited ability. To move on from Stan Van Gundy.

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Detroit Pistons trade Reggie Bullock to the L. A. Lakers

Embed from Getty Images The Detroit Pistons issued a statement that the team would like to build around Blake Griffin. They did not say they would be adding players at the trade deadline this season. The key word is BUILD.

Last night the Detroit Pistons traded guard Reggie Bullock to the L.A. Lakers for guard Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk and a 2021 second round draft pick. A trade that was met with anger from Pistons fans.

Mykhailiuk is a rookie and has some offensive upside. He is in the first year of his three-year, $4.6 rookie contract. A team friendly deal for sure.

Bullock, in the final year of a contract that expires at the end of this season is making $2.5 million. So cashing him in for a high draft pick was a wise move for the Detroit front office.

The Pistons have taken $1 million off of their tight salary cap so that helps out some. Detroit seems to be refocusing their attention to next season and beyond. Which is the right path to take.

Losing Bullock hurts the Pistons this season. Much like when the Detroit Lions traded wide receiver Golden Tate during the season hurt them. Like the Lions the Pistons are looking down the road. Surrendering any playoff thoughts this season.

That is what fans need to do. As unpopular as that is. The fact is the Detroit Pistons  roster was not working. There needed to be a change of direction and philosophy. That appears to be the thought process with this trade.

This is not a flashy trade. But it does not need to be. It needs to be a gain future asset trade. That is exactly what it is. With that this season has and is being sacrificed. The Pistons need to make more deals. Which some NBA experts believe the team will do.

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Detroit Pistons owner Tom Gores speaks about the direction of the franchise

Embed from Getty Images At 21-28 the Detroit Pistons season has been rough. There is talent on the roster. Team chemistry seems to be an issue. With only Blake Griffin playing consistent basketball, Owner Tom Gores finally spoke.

 

“We have to look at all possibilities — that’s just the way it is. Not specifically with those guys, but in general,” Gores said. “Our responsibility, in general, is to move this team forward; we have to look at everything.’

 

Gores also insisted he has not lost faith in the team. But he also acknowledged The team may need to make changes as the NBA trade deadline is approaching. Leaving fans to scratch their heads. If Gores still has faith why make moves?

 

“We want to win. Nothing’s changed; we want to make the playoffs,” Gores said. Another off the cuff comment. His team is under .500 and he is still talking playoffs? How about the team gets to .500 first? Set small goals first.

 

The Detroit Pistons are currently in a  8-21 stretch. Needless to say that is just about abysmal. Gores was asked if he would be willing to trade Andre Drummond and or Reggie Bullocks. His response was they will   “look at all possibilities.” Which is a bit surprising as for years the Pistons have tried to put players around the talented Drummond.

 

Clearly Tom Gores has not given permission for the team to tank for a high draft pick. He feels the Pistons window is now. In some aspects that is that is well and good. In some aspects that is somewhat delusional. In order for the Pistons to have any shot of the playoffs the roster needs to be overhauled.

 

Fan favorites need to be shipped out. It is nothing personal. It simply is not and has not worked. On paper the 2018-19 Detroit Pistons looked and still look like they are a playoff team. But team chemistry is everything in sports. The Pistons have a severe lack of chemistry and it is showing on the court and in games.

 

The blame is equal. Head and assistant coaches, players something is not working. It is time for the Detroit Pistons to take an honest look at themselves and figure things out.