RSS Pistons Team Notes

[Detroit Pistons]

Under the Hood: Game 11 vs Wizards

Under the Hood – it’s time to see what’s really going on inside this Pistons team.

Firing on All Cylinders

I’ve never made a Daniss Jenkins highlight reel before, but what a perfect time to do so.

We saw Daniss’ career-best play last night as he had 24 points, eight rebounds, three assists, and four steals. He had to play 34 minutes due to more than half the rotation sitting this one out, but he stepped up and nailed the (two) biggest shot(s) of the game to send it to overtime.

Let me make this clear: the Pistons do not win this game tonight if it wasn’t for Daniss Jenkins.

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Transmission Trouble

Yes, Cade had a 40-point triple double.

Yes, Cade is only the second player since Michael Jordan to have 40+ points, 10+ rebounds, 10+ assists, and 5+ steals in a game.

But, man – he missed SO MANY shots.

It felt like back in the day when it took Josh Smith 30 shots to get 30 points. Cade finished with 46 points on 45 shots, and he missed 31 field goal attempts – THIRTY-ONE!

Honestly, Cade should’ve had 60+ points in this one. He was letting everything fly with majority of the rotation sitting this one out, but he also missed so many bunnies at the rim that usually go in. Majority of his jumpers were short and hit the front rim, so it was clear he was gassed in this one. Take a look at his shot chart:

That’s a lot of red X’s!

Mechanic’s Note

Javonte Green deserves his own shoutout for his defensive play in overtime because he was everywhere. He didn’t shoot it well last night, but he had a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds. He also was only credited with two blocks, but I’m convinced he got a piece of CJ McCollum’s final shot as well.

Here’s the sequence that opened up overtime behind Javonte’s first block. What an effort by Jenkins to keep the ball in play and a great finish in transition by Cade.

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This next block to me is the most impressive. He absolutely skies in the air to get a piece of Alex Sarr’s jump shot.

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Again, he wasn’t credited with a block on this play, but he gave such great effort to provide help to contest CJ’s shot after he got Paul Reed in the air with a pump fake. In just a few seconds, he goes from in the paint helping Daniss to sprinting to the corner to help Paul.

Look at how jacked up he gets once Detroit settles with the rebound.

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Source: https://www.detroitbadboys.com/pistons-videos/48128/under-the-hood-game-11-vs-wizards

 

[Detroit Pistons]

3-Man Fastbreak: When is it too good to be true?

A seven-game win streak and the team’s best start to the season in two decades have fans thinking – what is the true ceiling of this team? And is this real life?

The answer to the latter is, yes, yes it is.

The Pistons have won in different ways throughout this win streak despite being down some key players. The constants who have been the driving force of winning continue to flourish, which means this can all be sustainable.

1. Physical defense carrying the torch​

Aside from what was somewhat of an outlier performance on the second half of a back-to-back, the Pistons’ defense has been a revelation this season. As a team, they rank second in opponent field goal percentage and blocks, third in turnovers forced and steals, and third in rebounding. The only categories where they sit near the bottom of the league are fouls per game (28th) and opponent free throws attempted (29th) — a testament to just how physical their defensive identity has become.

That identity started to take shape during last year’s playoff series against the Knicks, when Detroit proved that this brand of basketball could be part of a winning formula. What’s emerged now is a disciplined, bruising defensive group that sets the tone nightly — even if it means sending teams to the line more often than they’d like.

2. Cade for MVP real?​

The combination of individual brilliance and team success is what puts players in the MVP conversation — and Cade Cunningham’s start to this season has him firmly entering that territory.

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While his style doesn’t feel drastically different from last year, a closer look reveals clear growth. With the absence of a true secondary playmaker or scorer, Cunningham has looked more comfortable than ever. His turnovers have dropped significantly since the first week of the season, and he’s been double-teamed at one of the highest rates in the league. His 46-point triple-double in last night’s overtime win came amid a record-setting double-team rate — and he still found ways to dominate.

What makes Cunningham’s rise even scarier is the potential for further improvement once key teammates return from injury. His ability to adapt his approach based on the opponent is perhaps his most impressive trait — and it’s translating directly to wins.

3. Can Duren sustain this level of play?​

That Cunningham’s breakout has somewhat overshadowed Jalen Duren’s leap speaks volumes about how special both have been.

At just 22 years old, Duren is putting together a career season — averaging 19 points, 12 rebounds, and shooting nearly 65% from the field. His assist numbers have dipped slightly, but that’s largely a reflection of his increased aggressiveness around the rim. Once viewed primarily as a rim-runner, Duren is now showing flashes of a developing midrange game that could elevate his ceiling even further.

Not long ago, questions surrounded Duren’s defensive potential. Now, it’s his growth on that end that’s helped turn him into a complete big man — and a legitimate Most Improved Player candidate.

Source: https://www.detroitbadboys.com/detr...-man-fastbreak-when-is-it-too-good-to-be-true

 

[Detroit Pistons]

Pistons vs. Wizards final score: Daniss Jenkins delivers big shots late to secure an OT W

The Detroit Pistons had no reason to be in this game. On a second night of a back-to-back down six rotation players, and Cade Cunningham ailing and with zero legs. When they went down double digits to the Washington Wizards in the fourth quarter, you wouldn’t have blamed them for sitting their stars and resting up for the next game.

But that’s not the Pistons way. They are dogs, and they never stop fighting. When the Pistons needed points late it was the combination of their superstar Cunningam and two-way player Daniss Jenkins who delivered. A last-second corner three from Jenkins tied the game — on a sideline inbounds from Cade, natch. It was Jenkins’ 16th points of the fourth quarter and part of his career-high 24 points on the night in 33 minutes off the bench.

It was Detroit’s sixth fourth-quarter comeback of the season after trailing by double digits.

Jenkins was that second scorer the Pistons were desperate for, with Ausar Thompson and Caris LeVert joining Jaden Ivey, Tobias Harris, Isaiah Stewart, and Marcus Sasser out of action against the Wizards.

Cunningham gave the Pistons everything he had, and it was on a night he didn’t really have it going. He didn’t have any legs, and he was snakebitten at the rim. Cade had 46 points on the night, but he needed a mind-boggling 45 shots to make it happen. Cunningham had a triple-double on the night, and some dead legs and a sore tailbone thanks to hard Cam Whitmore foul for good measure.

On the Wizards side, veteran CJ McCollum gave the team everything he had in his attempt to stop Washington’s eight-game losing streak. He scored 42 points on a much more acceptable 25 shots. Alex Sarr also had a 15-point, 15-rebound double-double.

Jalen Duren had his own double-double with 19 points and 14 rebounds, but with so many offensive weapons out for Detroit, everyone had a hard time finding space to work, including Cade and Duren.

That messy offensive setting means the Pistons had to scratch and claw its way onto the scoreboard. They did just that. JaVonte Green had 11 points and 11 boards, including the game-sealing putback slam in overtime to give the Pistons a three-point cushion they needed to force the Wizards to play for a tie. Chaz Lanier played limited minutes but was able to can a couple important threes, and Paul Reed played with energy and solid defensive hedges to help protect Duncan Robinson from being hunted on defense.

They needed everything. Every crazy Cade shot, every unfortunate miss, every steal (16) and every second-chance point — they had 25 and a 10 point advantage over Washington. In a game this close, you can point to any one thing and say it was the deciding factor of the game.

It is, and it was, and it all led to a Pistons victory. Their seventh in a row. Now they get a rest day. Hopefully, Cade can rest his back and his legs and be 100% for Wednesday’s matchup against the Chicago Bulls. Hopefully, some of his injured teammates are able to join him on the floor.

Source: https://www.detroitbadboys.com/detr...ins-delivers-big-shots-late-to-secure-an-ot-w

 

[Detroit Pistons]

Pistons vs. Bulls GameThread: Game Time, TV, Odds, and More

Who is actually playing for the Detroit Pistons tonight? The Pistons were down six players in Monday’s epic overtime win over the Washington Wizards, and they face the Chicago Bulls tonight with a couple more names to add to the list — Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren are both listed as questionable. Cunningham with a hip contusion and Duren with a right ankle sprain. They join Ausar Thompson, Tobias Harris, Jaden Ivey, and Marcus Sasser, who are all out, and Isaiah Stewart, who is doubtful. They just don’t want to keep this seven-game win streak going.

The Bulls are not exactly paragons of health themselves. Josh Giddey, Cobey White and Zach Collins are all listed as out tonight.

Game Vitals​

When: 7 p.m. ET
Where: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, Michigan
Watch: Fan Duel Sports Network Detroit
Odds: Pistons -2.5

Projected Lineups​

Chicago Bulls (6-4)

Tre Jones, Kevin Hueter, Isaac Okoro, Matas Buzelis, Nikola Vucevic

Detroit Pistons (9-2)

Daniss Jenkins, Duncan Robinson, Javonte Green, Ron Holland, Jalen Duren

Source: https://www.detroitbadboys.com/detr...s-bulls-gamethread-game-time-tv-odds-and-more

 

[Detroit Pistons]

Under the Hood: Game 12 vs Bulls

Under the Hood – it’s time to see what’s really going on inside this Pistons team.

Firing on All Cylinders

Ron Holland had several quality defensive possessions to start last night’s game. Some of these plays are ones that won’t show up in the box score for him, but he’s making a defensive impact on the court.

His lateral quickness is what was most impressive. Watch as he’s able to beat Isaac Okoro to the spot as he slides to the right to stop Okoro in transition, and it then gives enough time for BBall Paul to make a play on the ball.

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Again, he’s able to beat Okoro to his spot – this is elite perimeter defense. He also has to avoid the Vucevic screen beforehand, but Ron does a great job staying in front of Okoro on this possession.

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I found a good off-ball defensive possession, too. It’s really good overall defense by Detroit, but I think Ron does a great job of spending enough time helping in the lane to try to take away the pass to the rolling Vucevic while also knowing when to get out. He saw the good defense in the paint and anticipated the drive-and-kick which made Tre Jones panic on his pass to the wing.

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Lastly, this is one of those defensive possessions that you will see in the box score. He once again beats a Bulls player to the spot as he forces Ayo Dosunmu into the quick turnover as he gets credited with a steal. Do you notice which player on the bench immediately stood up to cheer for him?

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Transmission Trouble

There’s still some up-and-down to Ron Holland’s offensive play, but that’s to be expected for the sophomore-year NBA forward that just turned 20 this past summer. There are still times where he gets tunnel vision while driving to the lane, forcing up a shot that wasn’t necessary.

With a late lead last night, I think I yelled “no, no, no!” at my TV when I saw him take this layup attempt way early in the shotclock.

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He’s shown the ability to get to draw fouls and get to the line, so I don’t think this take is as bad, and this is good defense by Vucevic. Daniss Jenkins cuts at the same time that Ron is coming around the screen so the lane gets a little clogged. He still gets the attempt to fall, but this could be one of those possessions where having a floater in his offensive bag could’ve been useful.

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Given his talent and ability, he should want to get to the rim. He’ll get better over time on these possessions as he learns when to drive and when to kick. You can’t really blame him for wanting to test his limits when he makes some drives to the rim look this easy:

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Mechanic’s Note

It’s BBall Paul time.

I had to make sure to give a shoutout and highlight reel for Paul Reed for the best NBA game of his career. Reed had 28 points, 13 rebounds, six assists, four steals, and a block in 31 minutes while shooting 11-for-13 from the field.

Is there a third-string center in the league that’s better than BBall Paul?

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Source: https://www.detroitbadboys.com/pistons-videos/48168/under-the-hood-game-12-vs-bulls

 

[Detroit Pistons]

Pistons vs Bulls final score: Detroit extends winning streak to eight

The Detroit Pistons have been without injured guards Jaden Ivey and Marcus Sasser to start the season. Tobias Harris joined them shortly after with an ankle sprain, and this ankle sprain somehow became contagious as Isaiah Stewart, Ausar Thompson, and Jalen Duren all caught one, too. Cade Cunningham also took the night off after his hard fall in Monday night’s win.

Look at this injury report:

Today's injury report. @HenryFordHealth pic.twitter.com/Dz7RMvr3GE

— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) November 12, 2025

Even with most of the rotation injured, Detroit’s third-stringers and G-Leaguers took it to the Chicago Bulls in route to a 124-113 victory. The Pistons rolled out a starting lineup of Daniss Jenkins, Duncan Robinson, Javonte Green, Ron Holland, and Paul Reed.

Detroit started the game off hot and never looked back – they led by 16 at halftime and pushed the lead to 23 with two-and-a-half minutes left in the third quarter. They let the Bulls chip away with a 21-2 run in the fourth to cut Detroit’s lead to one, but a Paul Reed and-one followed by a Ron Holland transition dunk stopped the bleeding.

Just like these Pistons have done all season, they answered back. A 23-10 run put the Bulls out of reach of the lead again, and Detroit’s bench would go on to beat Chicago by double-digits. It was a pretty impressive win tonight.

Paul Reed might’ve had his best game in his career as he finished with 28 points, 13 rebounds, six assists, four steals, and a block in 31 minutes. He shot 11-for-13 from the field, two-for-two from deep, and four-for-four from the line. He looked fantastic on both ends of the court and played with energy the entire night.

Duncan Robinson looked poised to take on the role of being the starter to let it fly with all the injuries, and he did not disappoint. He connected on seven of his ten three-pointers and had 23 points on an efficient 13 attempts. He made some pretty impressive movement threes that we haven’t really seen out of him too often so far this year.

Daniss Jenkins played a whopping 41 minutes as he replaced Cade Cunningham tonight as Detroit’s starting point guard. He continues to show he’s capable of contributing at the NBA level by adding 18 points, four rebounds, and 12 assists. We’ll see what the future holds, but at what point do you prioritize the last roster spot on Jenkins?

This was probably Caris LeVert’s best game yet in his short Pistons tenure, and he played like the sixth-man we knew from the JB Bickerstaff Cleveland days. He looked more comfortable as an on-ball creator against the Bulls defense and did a good job getting to the rim. LeVert shot 8-for-11 from the field for 17 points and also dished out five assists.

The newly 10-2 Detroit Pistons sit alone at the top of the Eastern Conference as they’re the first team to reach double-digit wins. Only the reigning NBA champions OKC Thunder have more wins than Detroit at the moment. This was a huge win against a divisional opponent that were one of their two losses earlier in the season. Most importantly, they did it behind the big performances of their veteran acquisitions and minute-deserving third-stringers.

Detroit’s four straight games at home continues with their third taking place on Friday night against Philadelphia followed by Indiana on Monday.

Go Stones.

Source: https://www.detroitbadboys.com/detr...score-detroit-extends-winning-streak-to-eight

 

[Detroit Pistons]

The Pindown | A Streak to Remember

After two incredible wins in a row, The Pindown is back to break down the Pistons’ exciting recent slate of games. After the thrilling win over the Wizards, how should we digest the wild game from Cade Cunningham? Plus, can the unsung heroes continue to guide Detroit through their injury woes? Blake and Wes also debate whether Jalen Duren or Jaden Ivey reaching their maximum potential would be most beneficial alongside Cunningham.

You can watch the entire episode on our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Want to hear your voice on the Pindown? Call ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠(313) 355-2717⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and leave your question as a voicemail! The guys will play your message and answer your question on that week’s episode! All we ask is that you keep your questions to under 45 seconds.

Source: https://www.detroitbadboys.com/detroit-pistons-podcasts/48153/the-pindown-a-streak-to-remember

 

[Detroit Pistons]

Pistons vs 76ers GameThread: Game Time, TV, Odds, and More

Every Detroit Pistons story starts with the injury report and ends with Detroit extending its winning streak. So I guess we’ll start with the injury report. Cade Cunningham, Jalen Duren, Tobias Harris, Ausar Thompson, and Jaden Ivey are all out for the Pistons. You might also recognize that as the entire planned starting lineup entering the season. Alas. Detroit will also be without Marcus Sasser. But the team is getting Isaiah Stewart back! So that’s something.

The Pistons have not just been surviving but thriving with their key players out lately. Tonight, they are attempting to win their ninth consecutive game.

The Sixers, meanwhile, will be without Joel Embiid and Paul George, but VJ Edcombe, the outstanding rookie, will be back in the lineup.

Game Vitals​

When: 7:30 p.m. EST
Where: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, Michigan
Watch: Fan Duel Sports Network Detroit
Odds: Pistons -5.5

Projected Lineups​

Detroit Pistons (10-2)​

Daniss Jenkins, Duncan Robinson, Javontae Green, Ron Holland, Paul Reed

Philadelphia 76ers (7-4) ​

Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, Kelly Oubre Jr., Trendon Watford, Andre Drummond

Source: https://www.detroitbadboys.com/detr...s-76ers-gamethread-game-time-tv-odds-and-more

 

[Detroit Pistons]

Pistons vs. Sixers final score: That’s nine in a row for Detroit

The Detroit Pistons did it again. They did it without all five players fans were penciling into their starting lineup in September. They did it despite a third-quarter collapse that saw them go from up nine to down 13. They won. Their ninth in a row. They beat the Philadelphia 76ers 114-105 and moved to 2-0 in NBA Cup play.

The Pistons were down Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey, Ausar Thompson, Tobias Harris and Jalen Duren. It didn’t matter. Not when you have Javonte Green scoring 21 points, Dannis Jenkins hitting a 52-point buzzer-beater at the end of the third to cut the deficit to two and breathe new life into Detroit.

Not when you have Isaiah Stewart and Caris LeVert each scoring 14 points off the bench and delivering key defensive stops and clutch fourth-quarter threes, respectively.

The Pistons, simply, did everything required to win. They fight, and even when knocked back on their heels, they never fold. They play as a TEAM.

Detroit had 32 assists on 41 made baskets. They forced 15 turnovers. They had 16 stocks (steals plus blocks). They had six players in double figures, and three of those players weren’t even necessarily expected to be part of their regular rotation — Jenkins (19 points, eight assists), Paul Reed (10 points, eight rebounds), and Green (21 points, nine rebounds).

That is in stark contrast to the Sixers, who relied heavily on the brilliance of backcourt superstar Tyrese Maxey and rookie sensation VJ Edgecombe. Both delivered. Maxey often looked impossible to stop, whether he was bombing from deep, hitting tough runners or knifing his way to the rim. No matter the angle, no matter the defense, he made shots look easy.

At the same time, Maxey needed 31 shots to get his 31 points. The Pistons made his life as difficult as possible #!$ though he made plenty of things look easy, he needed to work his butt off to give his team a chance.

Edgecombe had some ups and some downs, but his skill level was easily apparent, and it is hard to imagine him not becoming a star in the NBA with how easy the game is coming to him in his first dozen career games.

The Pistons and Sixers played back and forth early on before the Pistons were able to turn some stifling defense into easy offense and stretch a lead that reached nine into halftime.

The third quarter was a different story. It was such a disaster it seemed like Detroit’s magical winning streak, despite being extremely shorthanded for so much of it, was destined to end at eight. By the midpoint of the third quarter, the Pistons had committed eight turnovers, scored five points, and turned a nine-point lead into a seven-point deficit. It was getting so ugly even Andre Drummond had dropped a pair of three-pointers on his former team.

It was clear the Sixers were determined to turn up the defensive pressure on an undermanned team that was playing over its head. Detroit took the punch, and instead of folding, they regathered their composure, decided to match their defensive intensity, and start moving the ball and trying to generate clean open looks.

The relentless, attacking Pistons scored their first five baskets at the rim and punctuated it with a Jenkins three to stretch their lead to 101-97. After some back-and-forth play, a nasty jumper from Maxey made it 103-99 Detroit, but a pair of back-to-back LeVert threes essentially put the game away for Detroit.

They did it again. I don’t know how, but I know why. Because as coach JB Bickerstaff said after the team’s last thrilling victory, there is something special brewing in the locker room.

The Pistons will have a chance to make it a 10-game win streak on Monday against the Indiana Pacers.

Source: https://www.detroitbadboys.com/detr...s-final-score-thats-nine-in-a-row-for-detroit

 

[Detroit Pistons]

Under the Hood: Game 13 vs 76ers

Under the Hood – it’s time to see what’s really going on inside this Pistons team.

Firing on All Cylinders

The summer acquisition of Duncan Robinson was seen as a replacement for Malik Beasley or Tim Hardaway Jr. After a slow start, Duncan is now shooting 43% from deep on seven attempts per game.

These makes aren’t easy either – he’s constantly running around screens and using dribble handoffs in Detroit’s offense.

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Shot clock running low? He can hoist up a good-looking dribble pull-up.

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And in the absence of other playmakers, he’s capable of creating his own shot, too.

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Even just the threat of him shooting it from deep can make an opposing defense scramble. Watch Andre Drummond have to commit to the possibility of Duncan shooting the ball after the handoff. Andre is forced out to the three-point line and opens up the lane for Reed on the roll.

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Same thing again on this next clip – these dribble handoffs with Duncan forces the defense to rotate because the opposing center is forced to guard the threat of Robinson shooting as soon as he touches the ball. Once Duncan hits Reed on the roll, it’s a 4-on-3 advantage for Detroit to get a bucket.

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Transmission Trouble

Bobi Klintman has seen some NBA minutes early this season due to all the injuries and it seems like he’s still trying to find his footing. He only played five minutes last night and entered the game late in the first quarter when Detroit had a 21-19 lead. JB Bickerstaff pulled him early in the second after a 19-10 Philly run.

He starts his time on the court forcing a rotation with a double team, but is a step slow on the boxout and ends up fouling his man.

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This is something that should get better with time and experience, but it looks like he’s another step slow on the communication with Duncan on whether or not they’re switching the off-ball screen. If they are switching, he needs to be higher near the three-point line to make sure VJ doesn’t get a shot off.

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This defensive possession is rough for the entire team, but Bobi plays a factor in it as well. To start, he’s in help defense and Paul Reed gets beat by Quentin Grimes, but it feels like he’s in too deep. It’s possible he’s expecting Ron to drop over to his man and I don’t think Ron’s in the best position either. This is one of those possessions JBB brings up in the film room to make sure everyone is on the same page.

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Offensively, I think he’s trying to figure out where he fits, and that seems totally normal for a player who’s seeing real NBA action for the first time.

I’m on the opinion that you should stay spaced out along the three-point line if you start the possession in either corner. I think it’s easier for a young player to feel more involved when they’re moving around the court, and I can understand wanting to score closer to the rim if you aren’t extremely confident in your jump shot.

There were two possessions that where I noticed Bobi cutting or moving away from the corner when I thought he should’ve stayed there and spaced the floor instead. The first is when he made his sole field goal of the night at the end of the first quarter.

I believe even stronger that you should stay in the corner when your team is running the pick-and-roll mid-possession. Don’t come towards the rim where there’s already a clogged up paint when you could be open for a corner three-pointer. He still gets the layup to fall, but I want to see him stay corner here.

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Just a minute or two later, it happened again. He starts to move away from the corner while there’s already a roll threat. Bobi’s defender drops down to help take away Reed on the roll, yet Bobi goes with him.

You can see Duncan read the first look to Reed and then over to Bobi, but the pass to Bobi becomes more difficult to make since he shortened the distance his defender has to cover. If he stays in the corner, he may have had an open three-point look.

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Mechanic’s Note

Okay, that was a lot of clips so let’s keep this last section simple.

Daniss Jenkins the last three games:

• 20.3 PTS
• 5.0 REB
• 7.7 AST
• 2.3 STL
• 24-for-51 from the field (47.1%)
• 9-for-16 from deep (56.3%)
• 4-for-4 from the line (100%)

Is Daniss Jenkins the first diamond in the rough that Trajan Langdon and the front office has found in their Detroit tenure? Is this their Jose Alvarado?

Also, add this to all the other clutch three-pointers he has made recently:

View Link

Source: https://www.detroitbadboys.com/pistons-videos/48208/under-the-hood-game-13-vs-76ers

 

[Detroit Pistons]

Pistons vs 76ers preview: Activate the defensive chaos

The Detroit Pistons and Philadelphia 76ers are squaring off yet again for the second time in less than a week. Detroit muscled its way to victory in the first matchup behind a suffocating defensive team effort.

With Cade Cunningham, Jalen Duren, and Isaiah Stewart questionable and Ausar Thompson out tonight, Detroit will lean heavily on its chaotic fly-around hounding defensive style to force turnovers and get out to the races.

The defense needs to be especially sharp since Detroit’s facing Tyrese Maxey, who, along with Cade Cunningham, has arguably been the best guard in the East.

Even if the Pistons are undermanned, they’ve shown the ability to stay in games with the next man up. Their recent breakout playmaker is proving he belongs in the NBA full-time.

Game vitals​

When: 7:30 p.m. EST
Where: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, Michigan
Watch: Fan Duel Sports Network Detroit
Odds: Pistons -5.5

Analysis​

Defense is the key for Detroit to move to 2-0 in the Emirates NBA Cup standings tonight. They trot out athletic wings that zip side to side and behemoth paint beasts who don’t allow paint shots. Per cleaning the glass, only 29% of opponents’ shots are at the cup against the stranglehold Pistons defense (9th).

Watch Pistons games with FanDuel Sports Network free for 30 days​

• First 5,000 using the code SBNFALL30 get a free month
• Never miss a Pistons game. Stream all season long with FanDuel Sports Network

Even without Ausar in the lineup, Ron Holland and Javonte Green are junkyard dog defenders who impose their will every possession with activity and ball pressure.

Matching up with Maxey will be a challenge for both, but they should embrace guarding elite players. Maxey is creating his own shot and playing off the catch. Half of his field goals are unassisted.

Maxey uses Harden-esque side step 3s that have him shooting 44% on 9 3s a game. His volume from 3 is near the top of the leaderboard (tied for 2nd with 44 made 3s). The playmaking for others’ leap in Maxey’s game should be noted. He’s scoring efficiently at an All-NBA rate and making the game easier for VJ Edgecombe, Quentin Grimes, and Kelly Oubre Jr.

If Ron Holland is the primary there, he needs to be aware of Maxey and his crafty ability to draw some fouls. The Pistons have an elite defense and foul a bunch.

Teams have a 29.3 FT rate against Detroit, which is 30th in the league. Ron plays his fair share in that. His 5.2 foul percentage ranks in the 8th percentile. Beyond foul trouble, you want to see Holland be a bit more assertive offensively if the lead guys are out.

Philly isn’t the most physical team attacking the rack with Joel Embiid out. Most of their shots aren’t coming at the rim. They rank 15th in team drives per. Maxey can exploit this Pistons fouling flaw, but Philly overall might not be able to.

The process of things will be different if Cade is out there, but Daniss Jenkins is showing he can contribute as a ball handler or off the ball. After shredding the Wizards primarily off the ball, Jenkins dished out 12 assists against the Bulls. His tape was littered with filthy off-hand passes, live dribble reads, and pocket passes in traffic.

Five of those 12 assists went to Paul Reed, who holds down he fort if Duren and Stew can’t suit up. Reed was shooting, dunking, and euro-stepping all over the Bulls. The energy he brings to the team is contagious.

Duncan Robinson’s shooting is stabilizing. The last time he was depended upon like he is now was in 2021, when he averaged over 30 minutes a game and shot 40% from 3 on 8.5 attempts. His 3-point percentage is even better so far this year (42.9% on 7 3PA), and Detroit is counting on it. Robinson plays better when he becomes an important employee at work.

All in all, Detroit is in a great spot at 10-2 despite the warts that have been pointed out. They’ve handled business early. That will be valuable down the road.

Projected Lineups​

Detroit Pistons (10-2)​

Cade Cunningham (questionable), Duncan Robinson, Javontae Green, Ron Holland, Jalen Duren (questionable)

Philadelphia 76ers (7-4) ​

Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe (questionable), Kelly Oubre Jr., Trendon Watford, Andre Drummond

Question of the Day​

How confident are you that Daniss Jenkins is a true contributor in the NBA?

Source: https://www.detroitbadboys.com/detr...vs-76ers-preview-activate-the-defensive-chaos

 

[Detroit Pistons]

Submit your questions for The Pindown: A Detroit Pistons Podcast

Send in your questions now for this week’s episode of The Pindown: A Detroit Pistons Podcast to discuss everything Pistons free agency. Submit your question to the comments section here or on X/Twitter to @TheRealWesD3 and/or @blakesilverman.

Join us live on Thursday evening for the show where we’ll discuss the Pistons’ week of games. Just how far do you think this team can go? Will Daniss Jenkins remain a part of the rotation when Jaden Ivey returns? What do you credit the hot start most to?

Plus, The Pindown has a phone line where you can leave a message and hear your voice on the show. Call (313) 355-2717 and leave us a voicemail with your question. Please try to keep the message around 45 seconds or less so we can fit everyone into the show.

The podcast will be uploaded to all audio platforms the following morning.

The Pindown: A Detroit Pistons Podcast Vitals:​

When: Thursday November 20 at 7 p.m. ET

Where: Detroit Bad Boys YouTube Channel

How to submit questions:

• Detroit Bad Boys Website: Comment section of the weekly Pindown episode articles.
• Call (313) 355-2717 and leave us a voicemail with your question. Please try to keep the message to 45 seconds or less.
• Twitter: @detroitbadboys, @blakesilverman or @therealwesd3
• YouTube: Chat section of The Pindown live recording — Subscribe here

As always, leave any questions or topics you want to be discussed in the comment section below.

Source: https://www.detroitbadboys.com/detr...ons-for-the-pindown-a-detroit-pistons-podcast

 

[Detroit Pistons]

Pistons vs. Bulls preview: Heavily-injured Pistons look to extend winning streak

It is only fitting that once the Pistons have put together a good team that has successfully risen to the top of the Eastern Conference that seemingly every player on the team has gotten hurt at the same time. Being short-handed worked out against the Washington Wizards on Monday in a thrilling overtime victory, but the Pistons might be even more short-handed with Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren also on the injury report now.

Be careful while walking today, as you might roll your ankle like every single rotation player on the team seems to have done.

The Pistons take on a Chicago Bulls team that is much better than the Washington Wizards but also much better than anybody thought going into the season. It looked like their opening night victory over the Pistons was just a fluke, but they rode that into a 5-0 start to the season. They have since dropped 4 of their last 5 games, but they played some close games against some good teams during that stretch, like a 6-point loss to the Cavaliers and a 4-point loss to the Spurs.

A fully healthy Pistons team would probably have a tough time against the Bulls, but the version the Pistons may be trotting out tonight is going to have a tough time. At least we get to see the debut of their new “City Edition” jerseys.

Game Vitals​

Where: Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, MI
When: Wednesday, Nov. 12 at 7 pm EST
Watch: Fan Duel Sports Network Detroit
Odds: Pistons (-2.5)

Analysis​

Both Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren popped up on the injury report after their thrilling win over the Washington Wizards on Monday. For Cunningham, it is a left hip contusion from the fall he took on the “hard foul” by Cam Whitmore in that game. Duren is yet another ankle injury for the Pistons. Both were initially listed as Probable, but Cade has since been downgraded to questionable which makes me think he is not going to play.

Ankle injuries are nothing to mess with, but with how many players are already out and with ankle injures at that, I would assume at least Duren plays at this point. The Pistons are going to need him if they have any hope at stealing this one

The Pistons current injury report is as follows: Ausar Thompson, Jaden Ivey, Marcus Sasser, and Tobias Harris are all OUT. Isaiah Stewart is listed as doubtful, so he is very likely OUT. Cade Cunningham is questionable, which given what questionable has been this season for the Pistons and the fact he was downgraded, means he is likely OUT. Jalen Duren is probable with an ankle injury.

Luckily, Caris LeVert should be back so the Pistons at least have another warm body that isn’t a G-League player.

Josh Giddey is a game-time decision with an ankle injury for the Bulls, which could give the Pistons a little bit of hope, but I am think he will play. It should be noted that I do not have any sources to confirm this, it is just a feeling based on how every team seemingly has their best players return from injuries against the Pistons.

If Cunningham is out, I would expect Daniss Jenkins to get the start given how well he played on Monday. The 2-Way guard had a breakout game with 24 points, including two 3s in the final 4 seconds of the game, one of which sent the game to overtime. He is pretty much the only point guard on the roster at this point if Cunningham is out, so he is in-line for a ton of minutes as well.

It is difficult to do much analysis on this game given how many players could be out. If Duren does play, he will have to do a much better job guarding Nikola Vucevic on the perimeter, as that is something he has always struggled with but was particularly bad at on opening night. Vucevic is having a bit of a bounceback season for the Bulls, which has been a big reason for their solid start.

The biggest reason for the Bulls start has been Josh Giddey, who could actually find himself in the running for the All Star game with his current play plus the fact that it will now be USA vs. the World. Giddey sports averages of 21.4 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 9.3 assists while shooting 39% from beyond the arc. I am not sure how sustainable the shooting is for him, as that has been his weak point in his career, but he has been far and away the best player on the Bulls.

The Chicago Bulls have surprisingly solid depth, which is another reason for their solid start. Guys like Jalen Smith, Patrick Williams, Kevin Huerter, and Ayo Dosunmu are all having very solid seasons off the bench for the Bulls. Some of those guys were starting for the Bulls even just last year so now having them on the bench shows the improvement of the Bulls roster at the top.

The Pistons have proven the value of depth this season as well, and their depth will once again be tested tonight. Let’s see if they are up for the challenge like they were against the Washington Wizards.

Lineups​

Chicago Bulls (6-4): Tre Jones, Josh Giddey, Isaac Okoro, Matas Buzelis, Nikola Vucevic

Detroit Pistons (9-2): Daniss Jenkins, Duncan Robinson, Javonte Green, Ron Holland, Jalen Duren

Question of the Day​

Do you have concerns with the Pistons injuries lingering throughout the season or are they just fluky things that pop up during the season?

Source: https://www.detroitbadboys.com/detr...injured-pistons-look-to-extend-winning-streak

 

[Detroit Pistons]

Pistons vs Pacers final score: Winning streak hits double-digits

Detroit’s lengthy injury report was a tad shorter with tonight’s return of Jalen Duren, though, other starters Cade Cunningham, Ausar Thompson, and Tobias Harris would continue watching from the bench. The depleted rotation hasn’t slowed down the Pistons so far and tonight would be no different.

After making the NBA Finals last season, the Indiana Pacers are seeing quite different results this year without injured Tyrese Haliburton and veteran Myles Turner. As Indy looks for their second win, Detroit’s depth continued its recent shine over the past week or so as Indiana really couldn’t keep it close all night to the tune of a 127-112 Pistons victory.

That’s 10 straight wins.

The recent story of Daniss Jenkins’ NBA-level play hit new levels with a career-high 26 points. He shot 52% from the field and had eight assists as Detroit’s starting point guard once again. Based on his play over the past couple of games, it’ll be really interesting to see where he fits when everyone is healthy as this team has a weakness as the backup point guard spot.

The power of friendship https://t.co/5fUXswvBog pic.twitter.com/7mBnUrdNOL

— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) November 18, 2025

Jalen Duren picked right up when he had left off prior to his ankle injury. He was the most dominant big on the court and Indiana had nobody that could compete with him. He had a game-high 31 points and 15 rebounds shooting 12-for-13 from the field as his athleticism was on full display – he made a couple jumpers again, too. JD was the first player since Dwight Howard in 2010 to have 30+ points and 15+ rebounds on 90%+ field goal percentage.

The reactions say it all… JD IS A DAWG https://t.co/ZLdUn4rfgH pic.twitter.com/k76fPi2pxH

— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) November 18, 2025

Javonte Green had his second consecutive game with 20 or more points as he shot 7-for-11 from the field and made all five of his free throws. Duncan Robinson and Isaiah Stewart each made multiple three-pointers while Ron Holland saw 31 minutes of hustle that found him six rebounds, two assists, one steal, and two blocks.

Tonight’s game was the first of a back-to-back as Detroit will play again tomorrow night in Atlanta at 8PM EST. The Pistons are now 12-2 and have won 10 straight games to lead the Eastern Conference.

Go Stones.

Source: https://www.detroitbadboys.com/detr...final-score-winning-streak-hits-double-digits

 

[Detroit Pistons]

Under the Hood: Game 14 vs Pacers

Under the Hood – it’s time to see what’s really going on inside this Pistons team.

Firing on All Cylinders

Jalen Duren returned from injury last night to a monster game of 31 points and 15 rebounds while shooting 12-for-13 from the field. He’s continuing to expand his range away from the rim and even started last night’s game with a turnaround midrange shot.

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He even showed off his handle a little bit shortly later on this dribble pull-up. I know JD has gotten compared to Bam Adebayo before, but is Bam even putting it on the floor like this?

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Even if he’s expanding his game and looking to add a jumper to his offensive bag, he’ll always have his ability to dunk on people.

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Transmission Trouble

Detroit shot 26% from deep and 73% from the line, but those inefficiencies didn’t matter when they shot a high 55% from the field and had 66 points in the paint.

This team won’t out-shoot you from three-point land, but they’ll wear your down with physicality over 48 minutes. It has proven to work so far this season, however, I can’t say I’m not a little worried as I think of playoff time.

There’s the Ivey injury, the Beasley situation, and all the injuries the team is currently dealing with to contribute to their shooting struggles, but I do believe this team needs to be better from deep. Hopefully those contributions come from the players already on the roster, but it wouldn’t surprise me to see a roster shakeup to bring in more shooting around Cade.

I think this team would struggle in a playoff series against teams like Cleveland or Milwaukee without having more consistent threats from deep.

Mechanic’s Note

Daniss Jenkins is now averaging 21.8 points and 7.8 assists over his last four games while shooting 49% from the field. He looks extremely competent in the pick-and-roll and looks like he can handle backup point guard minutes when Cade sits.

I love the one-handed steamers he throws to open shooters.

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He’s also capable of making a pocket pass to a rolling big.

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And even when the pick-and-roll is guarded well, he can still keep his eyes up to find a cutting teammate.

View Link

Source: https://www.detroitbadboys.com/pistons-videos/48253/under-the-hood-game-14-vs-pacers

 

[Detroit Pistons]

Pistons vs. Hawks final score: Gritty Detroit grinds out another win

With Cade Cunningham and Ausar Thompson back in the lineup, the Detroit Pistons were able to survive a late surge from the Atlanta Hawks to win 120-112 on the road, and on the second night of a back-to-back no less.

Cunningham scored 25 points and added 10 assists after missing three games to injury, while Jalen Duren continued his dominant streak with 24 points and eight rebounds. Ausar Thompson had six points and three blcocks in 23 minutes off the bench after being lost for four games to injury.

The Detroit Pistons were looking tired in the fourth quarter. After three quarters of solid execution and stout defense, the shots stopped falling and the legs were looking dead on both ends of the floor. The Pistons had a 16-point lead with under a minute to go in the third quarter that dwindled all the way down to one with 6:50 left in the fourth.

The Pistons went 2-of-11 to start the fourth and every solid defensive possession was wasted as Detroit kept surrendering offensive rebounds and second-chance points to the Hawks. When a Dyson Daniels layup made the game 99-98 Detroit, it looked like the Pistons might have finally run out of gas.

Then Detroit did what it’s always done during this amazing winning streak. It found another gear. The next three minutes are really a microcosm of what makes this Detroit team tick — what makes it special.

Dannis Jenkins, starting alongside Cade, picked Daniels’ pocket near midcourt and cruised in for a transition slam dunk to bump the lead back up to three. On the next possession, the Pistons forced a shot clock violation and scored on a Duncan Robinson layup. On the following possession, Duncan Robinson got a steal, and Jalen Duren earned himself a trip to the free-throw line. On the following possession, Jalen Johnson got his shot swallowed by Ausar Thompson, which led to another Duren score in the paint, and then blocked a Daniels layup. Jenkins took the ball into the paint and found a cutting Ausar Thompson for an easy dunk at the rim.

Suddenly, a one-point Detroit lead ballooned to nine with 3:48 remaining. For those counting at home, that was five consecutive Atlanta possessions that ended as follows — steal, shot clock violation, steal, block, block. And the Pistons scored points on every ensuing possession.

That is how you grind out a win even when you’re dead tired on a back-to-back. That is how you win 11th straight. That is how you earn yourself a No. 1 seed in the East.

Source: https://www.detroitbadboys.com/detr...l-score-gritty-detroit-grinds-out-another-win

 

[Detroit Pistons]

Under the Hood: Game 15 at Hawks

Under the Hood – it’s time to see what’s really going on inside this Pistons team.

Firing on All Cylinders

Cade Cunningham returned to action last night and led Detroit to their 11th straight victory behind 25 points, six rebounds, and 10 assists in 34 minutes. It wasn’t an incredibly efficient night for him, but he showed up when it mattered the most to make sure the Hawks couldn’t claim the lead late in the game.

He hit a clutch turnaround fadeaway from the midrange to put an end to eight straight Atlanta points with just over a minute left.

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He followed that up on the next possession with a strong finish at the rim to extend the lead to six. The way he controls his body in the air to still get a quality attempt at the layup is extremely impressive.

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Transmission Trouble

As mentioned before, tonight wasn’t an efficient night for Cade. It took him 23 shots to get his 25 points as he shot 44% from the field and 14% from three. Unfortunately, he’s shooting 43.6% from the field on the season along with a career-low 27.5% from three on a career-high 6.7 attempts per game. It’s not great that Cade is seeing his worst efficiency from deep on his highest volume yet.

It was his first game back after missing a few after the Cam Whitmore foul, and if you watch last night’s misses, none of them looked like bad attempts to me. They’re all shots that I would expect him to take again in the flow of the offense.

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Frankly, the one he did make seemed like the toughest attempt of them all. These are all shots I want Cade to take – they just didn’t fall yesterday.

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Mechanic’s Note

Daniss Jenkins over the last five games:

• 20.2 PTS
• 4.0 REB
• 7.6 AST
• 2.0 STL
• 50% from the field
• 44% from deep

Trajan Langdon might’ve found his first diamond in the rough in his Detroit tenure. Not only has Jenkins looked like an NBA-level player over the past two weeks, but he looks like he needs to be a part of the rotation.

He shows such veteran awareness even as a two-way player. He relocates along the perimeter to make himself available to his teammates. He’s fast enough to attack mismatches against big men. He knows when to cut into the lane for an open layup or when to take it coast-to-coast against a weak defender.

He’s the best version of a backup point guard that they’ve got. Per 36 minutes, here are the top four assisters on Detroit:

1. Cade: 9.7 AST
2. Daniss: 7.2 AST
3. Caris: 6.4 AST
4. Ausar: 3.9 AST

View Link

Source: https://www.detroitbadboys.com/pistons-videos/48287/under-the-hood-game-15-at-hawks

 

[Detroit Pistons]

3-Man Fastbreak: New expectations

An 11-game win streak has the Detroit Pistons sitting comfortably atop the Eastern Conference in a still very young season, and they remain arguably the best story in the NBA right now.

It’s wild to think that just two seasons ago, this same young core set an NBA record with 28 straight losses. The turnaround has been a testament to the work JB Bickerstaff has done in creating an environment built around winning, accountability, and an identity fans can finally latch onto.

Here are three more points from the week that was:

1. What’s the Ceiling?​

How long does this have to last before this stops being a “cute” early season story from a young team? What the Pistons have done over the last few weeks—while shorthanded—has only reinforced the idea that the culture is real and sustainable. Watching them, you can feel the collective buy-in, the defensive edge, and the nightly grit.

Detroit’s floor has clearly risen. But how high has the ceiling climbed? Is an Eastern Conference Finals appearance still a dream, or is it inching toward a legitimate expectation?

It may take more time to fully answer that, but the fact that we’re even asking those questions before December speaks volumes. Once the roster gets healthier and the rotations stabilize, we’ll get a clearer look at just how far this can go.

2. Who Deserves More Minutes?​

One of the big preseason concerns was how the bench would hold up after losing several key reserves. Few could have predicted the level this group has risen to—keeping the Pistons afloat and thriving, despite a wave of injuries.

Case in point: Detroit dominated Chicago in a game where the starting lineup was Dennis Jenkins, Duncan Robinson, Ron Holland II, Paul Reed, and Javonte Green. Three players who barely factored into the rotation early on, a second-year reserve, and Robinson—who would be coming off the bench if Jaden Ivey were healthy. That’s culture on display.

If anyone has earned additional minutes, it’s Green and Reed. With the Pistons near the top of the league in most fouls committed, their physicality and energy will be needed throughout the season, regardless of who’s available.

Jenkins is the most fascinating case. With Ivey and Marcus Sasser playing similar roles, his path to a larger opportunity isn’t clear—but his play absolutely warrants consideration. How the guard rotation settles once everyone returns will be something to monitor closely.

3. The NBA Middle Class Is Unhinged​

Maybe it’s partly the way Detroit has won some of these shorthanded matchups, but it feels like the league is deeper than ever. A team missing multiple starters used to be drawing dead five or 10 years ago. Now? The talent pipeline is so strong that second-unit or fringe rotation guys can keep teams afloat on any given night.

In the Pistons’ case against the Bulls and 76ers, culture clearly played a major role. Their bench didn’t just fill minutes—they attacked those games as opportunities, both individually and collectively, to simply go win.

I’d still like to do a deeper dive into how teams across the league fare without their top players over extended stretches, but it really does feel like the landscape has shifted. The NBA middle class is deeper—and more dangerous—than ever.

Source: https://www.detroitbadboys.com/general/48296/3-man-fastbreak-new-expectations

 

[Detroit Pistons]

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Source: https://www.detroitbadboys.com/gene...oit-bad-boys-will-have-activity-notifications

 

[Detroit Pistons]

Pistons vs Hawks GameThread: Game Time, TV, Odds, and More

The Detroit Pistons are looking to extend their NBA-best 10-game winning streak tonight as they face off against an Atlanta Hawks team that has won five straight. Both teams are excelling while missing significant firepower. Atlanta guard Trae Young has missed nine consecutive games, and the Hawks have gone 9-2. The Pistons have been missing pretty much everyone here or there, and are on that aforementioned 10-game streak.

Both teams have weathered the storm thanks to stout defense. The Pistons and Hawks rank third and fourth, respectively, in defensive rating over the past nine games. Atlanta does it by leading the league in steals in that span (Detroit ranks second), and Detroit does it by sealing off the paint, allowing opponents to score just 42.2 points in the paint per game. That is the third best in the NBA (Atlanta ranks sixth, allowing 45.1 points).

The injury report is getting slightly less heinous for the Pistons. Cade Cunningham, Ausar Thompson, and Tobias Harris are all listed as questionable. Caris LeVert, Marcus Sasser, Bobi Klintman, and Jaden Ivey are out.

Game Vitals​

When: 7:30 p.m. ET
Where: State Farm Arena, Atlanta, Georgia
Watch: Fan Duel Sports Network Detroit
Odds: Pistons -1.5

Projected Lineups​

Detroit Pistons (12-2)​

Cade Cunningham (maybe), Duncan Robinson, Ausar Thompson (maybe), Tobias Harris (maybe), Jalen Duren

Atlanta Hawks (9-5)​

Dyson Daniels, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Zaccharie Risacher, Jalen Johnson, Onyeka Okongwu

Source: https://www.detroitbadboys.com/detr...s-hawks-gamethread-game-time-tv-odds-and-more