Under the Hood - it’s time to see what’s really going on inside this Pistons team.
We’ll be starting a new article series this year to dive a little deeper into Pistons games to highlight the successes and struggles of your favorite team. By having a season-long series, we hope to build on our impressions of the players and coaching staff to give you a better viewing experience of the action on the court.
Firing on All Cylinders
Usually players are given more of a green light in the preseason to try new things before the season starts, and last night had a few possessions of players growing their game.
First, I really enjoy seeing a play drawn up that involves Ron Holland. Jalen Duren sets an off-ball screen for Duncan Robinson, and he curls off the screen towards the rim. As Duren rolls with him, Robinson could have the ability to throw the lob to Duren if it’s open. Instead, Holland’s defender is helping on the Duren roll, and Robinson finds Holland in the corner for an open three.
To move onto Ron’s Vinson Brother, Ausar Thompson, this clip shows how far Ausar has already come as an on-ball offensive player. No longer is he stuck in the corner thanks to He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, but he’s handling the ball in the pick-and-roll and creating offense. When he realizes he can’t get all the way to the rim, he stops for a short midrange shot off the glass.
This last clip might be the one that got me the most excited last night as it felt like I was watching Bam Adebayo Jr grow in front of my eyes. Duren gets the ball in the high post, turns to front his defender, and puts the ball on the floor to get into the paint. Jarrett Allen is a good defender and doesn’t let Duren get all the way to the rim, but JD gets in his bag of tricks to turn and hit a short fadeaway jumper. Smooth.
Transmission Trouble
Cleveland is really, really good on defense.
It’s led by DPOY-candidate Evan Mobley alongside Jarrett Allen, and Tobias Harris felt their wrath last night.
He makes a great cut in the first clip, but Allen contests the first shot, only for Mobley to contest the second and for neither shot to go in. Duncan Robinson was wide open in the corner, so perhaps a pump fake on the second attempt and a pass to Robinson would’ve been better, but I know that’s easier to see from my computer chair than standing in the paint in front of two seven footers.
Again, another good idea from Tobias. He has the smaller Lonzo Ball on him in the post and he wants to attack the mismatch, but Mobley is just too long and too athletic as he’s able to help from the weakside in time.
Last, here’s another great action involving Tobias. He tries to attack Donovan Mitchell, runs a dribble handoff with Duncan Robinson, and Duncan finds Tobias on the roll. Jarrett Allen rotates over to contest and blocks Tobias’ dunk attempt. I think these clips highlight how athleticism plays a strong role on the court, and as someone who was born just a few weeks before Tobias, I am also feeling a decline in my own athleticism.
Mechanic’s Note
Detroit sat Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey, Caris LeVert, and Marcus Sasser last night, so they were left with one point guard on the roster in Daniss Jenkins. Even if they were playing a good defensive team, the offense struggled in the halfcourt. Without Cade’s pick-and-roll game, the team had trouble trying to create offense if it wasn’t on the fast break.
The team had 24 total turnovers, and according to StatMuse, Detroit never had that many turnovers in any game last season. At one point, there was a lineup on the court that had Ausar playing point guard next to Lanier, Holland, Green, and Stewart. But, since it’s preseason basketball, why not throw that lineup out there and see what happens?
The offense was supposed to struggle this game, and it did.