The 14-21 #Pistons are in Toronto to take on the 16-17 Atlantic Division leading Raptors Wednesday night. Detroit, who have played awful basketball of late have won seven of the last 11 games against the Raptors.
The good: Candy, 70 degree weather and puppies. Oh…you wanted to know what was good on the Pistons end. Sadly it’s been difficult for me again to list what’s good in Detroit Basketball world. Maybe the possibility of Rodney Stuckey returning to help the Pistons off the bench.
The bad: The Pistons three-point shooting, shot selection, play-making, effort at times, should I go on? Detroit is on a season-worst five game losing streak and seven of their last eight. The Pistons have shown almost no signs of getting out of it besides the fact that they came back from a 17 point deficit against the Knicks. But a comeback doesn’t equal a win.
Keep an eye out for DeMar DeRozan who always seems to step up his game when he goes up against Detroit.
The unknown: Will Brandon Jennings wash away whatever has plagued him the last two games? Jennings has scored nine points in the last while missing 22 of 26 attempts, including 11 of 12 from 3-point range.
Injuries: Rodney Stuckey is listed as day-to-day with his shoulder injury.
Raptors: Tyler Hansbrough – doubtful
Fact: Greg Monroe averaged 22.3 points and 9.5 rebounds against the Raptors last season.
Stat: Andre Drummond now ranks second in the NBA in field goal percentage with 61.0%.
Tip off is at 7:00 pm and will be broadcast on Fox Sports Detroit . If you can’t catch the game on TV, catch it on the radio over at 97.1 The Ticket.
Y’know, I think this team might actually be worse than they were last season. Last year they started the season with eight straight losses and played roughly .500 ball through the next 24 games. That’s awful, but it’s much better than riding this bad of a losing streak this deep into the season with so many blowout losses to bad teams. And last year our young players were a year younger and those were Drummond’s first eight professional games. We might literally be the easiest team in any of the major sports to scout: “1) Pack the paint and dare them to hit a shot. 2) Win the game because they can’t.” This is one of the worst basketball teams I’ve ever seen. Too much talent that doesn’t fit, with the latest in a string of worthless coaches, and no urgency from ownership or the front office to do anything about it. I might actually die if there isn’t significant movement at the deadline.
I wonder what Cheeks is telling them during halftime break. 8-0 start for Raptors in the first 2:15 of 3rd qtr is really something bad, (yeah I don’t know how to describe that). A change of lineup in second half could shake things up, now that Stuckey is back we definitely need his contributions. Hopeful for a win in Philly.
If I have to endure this we better keep our first round pick
Cheeks played very player on the bench in last nights loss.
KCP had a good game. JOD will be gone if this keeps up all year long but that is what happens when the highest paid player in Piston history is having a off year. But hopefully we can keep our number 8 protected draft pick.
TBH i never really believed this team was meant to succeed. Just be good enough to save Dumars job. The team is split between 2 philosophies right now. On the one hand you have a big front line you can hang your hat on. On the other you have a coach known for coach guards and wants the guards to make all the plays. Phil jackson was a great big man coach because he himself was a big guy. But most coaches want a point guard system. So you can see Jennings thriving under this season assist wise but not shooting. I checked over the box score and we did outrebound rapters 54-38. We had as many defensive rebounds as they did total rebounds, and still lost.
Lets be clear. This team can put up points if they want to. Better than some of the best teams in the league. But with the Josh Smith thing, Will Bynum kinda getting thrown back in the mix and Andre Drummond seemly having a lot of off defensive nights, this team has some growing to do. I do think we will go on a win streak soon but I think they need one of those main guys like Jennings, Smith or Monroe to really will this team forward
Announcement: Until further notice all Pistons fans are allowed to go to the movies, do laundry or any other activities instead of watching this team. You are not a band wagon fair weather fan if you decide to quit watching this particular team and then only coming back when they are a bit better. We have paid our dues already. We do not need to watch anymore.
I have to admit I will not be following this advice. I can not help myself and will continue to watch this terrible team make a mockery being such a faithful fan of the pistons.
You have no clue how bad this team really is and how easy it is to defend. Pack the paint, dare them to beat you with a jumpshot. They CAN NOT do it and CAN NOT win. This is nothing to hang your hat one.
Think we’ll go on a win streak soon, do ya? What will it take to smother your optimism right out of you? I’m guessing literally nothing. 0-82 and you’d say they’re in a “slump.”
^I already knew that, but thanks for the confirmation. The scant few people who continue to go to games and support the ruination of a once-great franchise are the worst kinds of fans. True fans should be outraged at the reckless, blatantly poor decisions that have crippled this team and from which they might never recover if they come back next season with no draft pick, Stuckey walking for nothing in free agency and Monroe gobbling up 1/4 of our cap space. Nobody is facing the reality of how bad things are about to get. You ain’t seen nothing yet.
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This is now as ugly as last year. which is amazing.
the coach is better, the talent is better.
What is in the water in Detroit? What is going on??
Seriously. Need more shooting capability. numbers don’t lie. Face it Mo and Joe / you need to pick at the 4 – Moose or JS to start?
KCP needs another capable shooter to join him in the lineup. Harrelson and CV are not the answer – the issue is at the 2 and at the 3. Singler and Gigi are the answers on the current roster. JJ has better stats (and he’s my guy) than Gigi / but I’d say give him some serious minutes as his shooting in italy was serious! It just hasn’t transformed.
Time to value the ball, and penalise poor shot selection.
And as the bench isn’t performing much worse than the starters – make them work hard or sit them down. this it detriot basketball, and with their talent they should step up.
So Mo – have JS come off the batch as your seventh man after Stuckey (for now uncoil he grasps the severity of throwing away the ball and not playing hard), and start Gigi or Singler at 3.