News Pistons Team Notes

[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:

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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
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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.

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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

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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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[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

 

[Detroit Pistons]

The Pindown: 11 Games & Still Rolling

The Pistons are absolutely rolling! And The Pindown is here to break down exactly why that is. Spoiler alert — it’s Jalen Duren. It seems that Duren has taken a star leap, so Wes and Blake dive into exactly why he has been so dominant and what it means for the team moving forward. Did Duren unlock the two-big lineups? Is he a future All-Star? They also discuss the amazing play of Daniss Jenkins, why the NBA Cup matters for the Pistons and give some love to Javonte Green and Caris LeVert. Special shout out to Gregoire Wagner, DreamScapper00 and SilverLiningBlack for the great questions we missed — we’ll plan on hitting on these next episode!

We’ve got you covered for all this and more in this week’s episode!

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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/48342/the-pindown-11-games-still-rolling

 

[Detroit Pistons]

Jaden Ivey assigned to Motor City Cruise as return nears

Jaden Ivey is being assigned to the Detroit Pistons’ G League affiliate, the Motor City Cruise, one month following surgery on his right knee. The move is the closest indication yet when the young guard might finally be ready to return to regular-season basketball following a broken fibula that sidelined him on Jan. 1.

It is unclear what his timeline looks beyond that or how much actual game action the Pistons will want Ivey to play with the Cruise before they call him back up to the Pistons for his official season debut.

Ivey appeared in just one preseason game for the Pistons before being sidelined with right knee soreness, which eventually led to arthroscopic surgery. Ivey scored seven points in 13 minutes of action in his one preseason game.

While there is no way to say for certain how Ivey injured his right knee, it is not uncommon for a player to deal with an injury on an unrelated part of their body as part of overcompensating as part of their recovery from another injury. It wouldn’t surprise me if Ivey put too much strain on his right knee as he was getting back into shape during his recovery from his broken left fibula.

His impending arrival is coming at an opportune time for the Pistons, who are riding a 10-game winning streak entering Tuesday’s game against the Atlanta Hawks and sit atop the Eastern Conference.

Jalen Duren is having a true breakout season, adding several ingredients to his offensive game and playing a much better brand of defensive basketball. Cade Cunningham hasn’t necessarily discovered his perimeter shot, but he’s getting to the line at the best rate of his career and has a career-high assist-to-turnover ratio.

The Pistons are sorely in need of a couple of things that Ivey can provide — namely some high-level self-creation, a good dose of ball handling, and some additional shooting. We know that Ivey, one of the fastest players in the league, can get his own shot. He is a capable ball-handler and was being pegged as the team’s defacto backup point guard in a rotation with Cade Cunningham and Duncan Robinson and Caris LeVert. He also showed an incredibly improved perimeter jumper last season before his injury.

That doessn’t mean all those elements will be immediately apparent, but Ivey could be a piece that helps cement the Pistons as one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference. He’s fought long and hard to get himself back on the court. Now, the time has nearly arrived.

Source: https://www.detroitbadboys.com/pist...assigned-to-motor-city-cruise-as-return-nears

 

[Detroit Pistons]

How does Daniss Jenkins’ rise work with Jaden Ivey’s return to the Pistons?

The toothpaste, as they say, is out of the tube when it comes to Daniss Jenkins and the Detroit Pistons.

After another big game — 26 points and 8 assists — against the Indiana Pacers on Monday night, I’m not sure you can take the second-year guard out of the rotation. Normally, that’s a great thing. It means a nobody has become a somebody, and that’s exactly what Jenkins has done.

He’s taken advantage of a huge opportunity and he’s run away with it. In my meaningless opinion, he’s earned a fully, guaranteed NBA deal.

However, just sticking him permanently into the rotation isn’t that simple. Jaden Ivey is set to make his long-awaited regular season return in the next few weeks.

My question is, how does this net out?

Don’t get it twisted, this a good problem for head coach J.B. Bickerstaff.

Ivey and Jenkins are different players. Jenkins is more point than shooting guard. He’s not a pure point guard, but he runs the offense and can score when he has the opportunity. I think he fits perfectly off the bench and should fill a role similar to what Dennis Schroder occupied last season.

Ivey is different. I always chuckle when folks say he can just slide in as a point guard.

That’s not him, at least not in the traditional sense. He isn’t a guy who will run your offense. He’s an aggressor, an attacking guard who can score. He showed great improvement as a shooter in his 30 games last season, and was playing the best ball of his career before the injury.

But he wasn’t a particularly strong scorer outside of his spot ups. He hadn’t yet figured out how to take his elite speed and athleticism and use it to score inside the arc at a high rate. Maybe that was the focus this summer and he comes back looking like a complete, three-level scorer.

That doesn’t make this rotation any easier to figure out in the meantime.

Let’s start at the top. The opening night starters — Cade Cunningham, Duncan Robinson, Ausar Thompson, Tobias Harris and Jalen Duren — have been bad, boasting a -11.9 net rating in 59 minutes together. Due to all of the injuries, it remains the Pistons’ most-used lineup, but when you replace Tobias with Isaiah Stewart it yields their best lineup with a 16.6 net rating in 41 minutes.

It’s hard to see Bickerstaff breaking that up when it’s helped fuel Detroit’s 12-2 start to the season.

Dive a little deeper and nearly every three-man lineup that’s excelled has had Robinson and Cade in it.

Having one of the best pure shooters on the floor with one of the best players in the NBA is #good. I don’t see how you can break up that backcourt.

Jenkins is going back to the bench once the Pistons are healthy. That’s his best role anyway.

So, do you start Ivey? Can you?

Removing Robinson and his gravity as a volume three-point shooter will create issues of its own. Stewart and Ausar represent the Pistons best defensive pairing and I don’t think you break that up. Duren and Cade aren’t going anywhere, which brings us back to Ivey.

He probably gets eased in off the bench, but I’m not sure how he gets back with the starters when everyone is healthy. I’m sure that isn’t what his reps want leading up to restricted free agency, but the Pistons are too good to shake things up like that right now. Even if Ivey has made his own Duren-like jump and we just haven’t seen it yet, he still may be best suited off the bench.

Remember, James Harden came off the bench for some great Thunder teams. Now he’s a future Hall of Famer.

This isn’t a shot at Ivey, it’s a credit to the success the Pistons have had.

Maybe the solution is bring Jenkins and Ivey off the bench together and removing Caris LeVert from the rotation for now? Bickerstaff has historically been a coach with a 9-man rotation. He deviates when the team struggles, but by and large, he’s not going to play more.

That’s probably not fair to LeVert, who is quietly playing well right now and making $15 million as the Pistons big offseason add, but that’s show biz, babyyyy.

It’s an interesting problem for a team with the best record in the Eastern Conference.

The Pistons’ vibes are immaculate, and Jenkins has earned a chance to play.

Ivey hasn’t done anything to lose minutes and is too good to not utilize in a big way.

I’m excited to watch it all unfold.

Source: https://www.detroitbadboys.com/detr...e-work-with-jaden-iveys-return-to-the-pistons

 

[Detroit Pistons]

Pistons vs. Bucks final score: Detroit win streak hits 12 as Ivey, Harris return to lineup

Two seasons ago, the Detroit Pistons hit rock bottom. The hiring of Monty Williams was an immediate disaster, the team lost a franchise-record 28 games in a row, and only won 14 total by season’s end. Tonight’s 129-116 win over the Milwaukee Bucks was Detroit’s 14th of the season, meaning the Pistons equaled their win total from two seasons ago, only 16 games into the season.

Speaking of a tough history these Pistons are trying to move beyond, they have struggled mightily against the Bucks, even by their lowly standards. They entered tonight’s game losing 25 of the past 26 contests between the two franchises.

Tonight was different because this team was different. The Pistons dominated for the majority of the game, leading by as many as 29 points before some hot perimeter shooting from Milwaukee made it closer than it needed to be.

The Pistons shot the lights out — from everywhere but the free-throw line. This might be the rare NBA game where a team shot better from the field (62.8%) than they did from the charity stripe (62.5%). They also made the majority of their three-pointers (53.3%).

Cade Cunningham led the Pistons with 29 points, 10 assists, and eight rebounds. But the real story of the night was the return of two MVPs — very important Pistons.

Jaden Ivey played in his first game in nearly a year, scoring 10 points on 4-of-6 shooting in 15 minutes off the bench. Tobias Harris also returned after a nine-game absence and didn’t miss a beat. Harris scored 18 points and had five rebounds and four assists. Jalen Duren added 19, 6, and 5 as he continues a breakout campaign that surely has him topping the list of centers for All-Star consideration in the Eastern Conference.

It should also be mentioned that Duncan Robinson fit in beautifully around all the returning talent, and hit five of his six three-pointers.

The Milwaukee Bucks were led by the pesky and dangerous young Ryan Rollins, who was always engaged on defense and scored 24 points, and in a variety of ways.

Detroit won the game because it did what it does best — it owned the paint. Whether it was Duren power and spin moves, Cunningham knifing his way inside, or smart cuts from a Harris or Ausar Thompson.

It’s been beautiful to see all season, and it’s beautiful to see this win streak keep going. Maybe they can exorcise all their demons and get a win streak this season to match their losing streak from two years ago. Nah, that’s crazy. But I would have told you a 12-game win streak was crazy too. So we’ll just enjoy the ride.

Source: https://www.detroitbadboys.com/detr...treak-hits-12-as-ivey-harris-return-to-lineup

 

[Detroit Pistons]

Under the Hood: Game 16 at Bucks – Ivey’s Return

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

Firing on All Cylinders

Jaden Ivey returned to the court for the first time since he fractured his leg last season. He played for 15 minutes and finished with 10 points, one rebound, two assists, and one steal.

His first points came from a transition layup where he got to show off his speed and finesse that we’re all used to – and it’s got to be a little sweet for him to finish this over Cole Anthony.

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His second bucket was a catch-and-shoot three from Cade showing he’s still confident in that jumper from last season.

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The third bucket was nice, and he showed us something we don’t always see. He’s running a pick-and-pop with Javonte Green, takes a second to get the defense moving, and creates an open midrange stepback jumper. Maybe Cade taught him this one?

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His final bucket was another transition layup, this time coming from Jalen Duren running the break.

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Ivey’s first assist came from a drive-and-kick possesssion, finding Caris LeVert on the wing after getting into the paint against the Bucks defense.

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His second assist came from a screen set from Tobias Harris and Duncan Robinson. As Ivey watches the defense react, he throws a one-handed lefty steamer to Duncan for an open three.

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Transmission Trouble

He only missed two shots and they were both threes. The first one was a wide open look that he should shoot every time, and it’s almost from the exact same spot where he made the three above.

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We miss a little of the beginning of this clip, but he attempts a side step three after a Stew screen. It’s an aggressive shot, but one that I’m happy to see him confident to take in his return to action.

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He had only one turnover and it was from this offensive foul. Though, I’m not sure this is even a good call as he tries to draw contact from AJ Green.

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Mechanic’s Note

JB Bickerstaff and his coaching staff came up with a pretty cool play that they showed at the end of the first half.

It starts with a Duren screen near halfcourt along with a pass to Ivey from Cade. With Cade’s man now behind him, he takes off around Ivey while Ivey gives it back to Duren. Duren ends up with a great angle for an immediate bounce pass to Cade for an open dunk.

It’s a great action to use Duren’s passing ability while also pulling the opposing center away from the rim. This is just another example as to how JBB has been getting Cade more looks off-ball. The broadcast gave us a great angle for this set, too.

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Source: https://www.detroitbadboys.com/pistons-videos/48361/under-the-hood-game-16-at-bucks-iveys-return

 

[Detroit Pistons]

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

The Detroit Pistons are still riding their best winning streak in nearly two decades, and they are getting healthy. That doesn’t mean their rash of injuries are behind them, but some key players are nearing their return. Tobias Harris and Jaden Ivey are both listed as questionable for tonight’s game against the Milwaukee Bucks. That is the first time this season Ivey’s status has risen above being “Out.” The Pistons will definitely be without Bobi Klintman and Marcus Sasser, but the rotation is starting to fill out and Detroit’s depth should make them able to weather that storm. It hasn’t stopped them yet, after all.

Milwaukee’s injury report is shorter, but more dire. That is because all-everything player Giannis Antetokounmpo is out with a left abductor strain. They have lost four of five and two of those were absent Giannis. We will see how they plan now that they know their star will be out for a period and the team has to build an offensive identity without him.

Game Vitals​

When: 8 p.m. ET
Where: Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Watch: Fan Duel Sports Network Detroit
Odds: Pistons -8

Projected Lineups​

Detroit Pistons (13-2)​

Cade Cunningham, Duncan Robinson, Ausar Thompson, Tobias Harris, Jalen Duren

Milwaukee Bucks (8-8)​

Ryan Rollins, AJ Green, Kyle Kuzma, Bobby Portis, Myles Turner

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

 

[Detroit Pistons]

Pistons vs. Pacers Discussion: Game Time, TV, Odds, and More

I don’t want to go so far as to call this a trap game for the Detroit Pistons, but the Indiana Pacers always manage to force a slight sense of discomfort. Yes, they are incredibly injured, yes, their offense is a mess. But they still have Pascal Siakam, who seems to always perform well against Detroit, and they have players who force steals, and I have been following the Pistons for far too long to not be concerned about turnovers despite the progress the team has made this year.

That progress includes the fact that the Pistons are looking to match a franchise-best winning streak of 13 tonight against the Pacers. And the fact that the previous two iterations of the Pistons, who won 13 straight, went on to win NBA titles.

Head coach JB Bickerstaff has promised that we will continue to see expanded rotations tonight — perhaps even 12 players as the lineup approaches full health. There will likely be a minutes restriction on Jaden Ivey, maybe a slighter one for Tobias Harris, and the coach wants to keep rewarding the bench guys who have powered this winning streak — guys like Daniss Jenkins, Javonte Green, and Paul Reed.

Game Vitals​

When: 7 p.m. ET
Where: Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Indiana
Watch: Fan Duel Sports Network Detroit
Odds: Pistons -10.5

Projected Lineups​

Detroit Pistons (14-2)​

Cade Cunningham, Duncan Robinson, Ausar Thompson, Tobias Harris, Jalen Duren

Indiana Pacers (2-14)​

Andrew Nembhard, Bennedict Mathurin, Ben Sheppard, Pascal Siakam, Isaiah Jackson

Source: https://www.detroitbadboys.com/detr...roit-pistons-vs-indiana-pacers-fan-discussion

 

[Detroit Pistons]

Under the Hood: Game 17 at Pacers

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

Firing on All Cylinders

This year’s Detroit Pistons team has officially surpassed the amount of wins from the Monty Williams season, but did it in only 17 games.

Detroit won their 13th straight last night and Cade led the way with 24 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists in 36 minutes of action. The beauty of having a 6’6” All-NBA point-guard is his ability to consistently get to spots on the floor where he’s most comfortable to get a shot up.

We’ve seen this move before, but he pulled this half-spin jumper out of his bag twice last night to create the space for an open midrange.

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His ability to get a shot up from anywhere on the court really shines in the clutch as he continued to grow his fourth quarter resume last night.

First, Cade hits a right-handed cross into a dribble pull-up after Jarace Walker misses on the steal attempt.

“You reach, I teach.”

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Second, I was really surprised to see Indiana not send a double-team at Cade late. He’s able to get Ben Mathurin switched onto him after a Caris LeVert screen, and then he walks him down from beyond the three-point line to right into the lane. Cade is too big and too skilled for Mathurin to be able to contest that right-handed hook.

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Transmission Trouble

I wouldn’t exactly say this is troubling, but let’s talk about the rotation.

Last night, 11 guys played – four of them played between 8-12 minutes. Those four guys are Holland, Ivey, Jenkins, and Green. The previous game against Bucks, the rotation was also 11 guys with those same four playing between 12-17 minutes.

Ivey’s minutes will obviously increase, but at the expense of who? Jenkins has proven himself worthy of the backup point guard role while RoHo and Javonte are good energy bench pieces. Is the coaching staff expecting Jaden to start next to Cade eventually? Do they plan on keeping Duncan as a starter?

JB on sticking with a 12-man rotation: “In my mind it’s just the right thing to do to continue to give guys opportunities to play … we hope in the long run it pays dividends because we won’t have to wear guys out.”

— Omari Sankofa II (@omarisankofa) November 24, 2025

We’ll have to keep an eye on the rotation as Ivey gets caught up to speed, but after seeing JBB use a 9-man rotation for most of his Cleveland and Detroit days, it’ll be interesting to see what the end of the rotation looks like over the next several games.

Mechanic’s Note

Jaden Ivey played 12 minutes and had 12 points, three rebounds, and one assist while shooting 5-for-10 from the field with two threes. He looks comfortable out there.

His first three was a long ball assisted by Jenkins against an Indiana zone defense.

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He found a dunk in transition from Caris LeVert.

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He had a crafty transition layup around Jay Huff.

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Last, he had this nasty step back three against TJ McConnell. Ivey calls for a screen from Cade, then creates space away from TJ to knock down the corner three. You can see and hear Cade hyping him up after the shot goes in.

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Source: https://www.detroitbadboys.com/pistons-videos/48394/under-the-hood-game-17-at-pacers

 

[Detroit Pistons]

Pistons vs. Pacers preview: Detroit can’t stop, won’t stop

The Detroit Pistons are looking to make history — the kind of history champions are made of. Detroit enters tonight’s contest against the Indiana Pacers riding a 12-game winning streak. Only two other teams in franchise history have won 12 consecutive games in a season, and they both won NBA Titles.

The 2003-04 Pistons won 13 in a row from December 27, 2003, to April 1, 2004. That means it covers both the pre- and post-Rasheed Wallace addition that powered the Going to Work Pistons to their lone NBA championship. The 1989-90 Pistons had a winning streak of 12 and a winning streak of 13 in the same season. That was also the year the Bad Boys won the back half of their back-to-back ships. The 1989 Pistons, for those curious, maxed out at a nine-game winning streak, and won 16 of 17 during their title run.

I’m not saying these Pistons are destined to win a title, but I am saying we’re going to have to start having some conversations pretty soon.

To add a little poetic note to tonight’s game, as Keith Langlois points out, the Pistons will be fighting for their 13th consecutive win, two years to the day, against the same opponent where they suffered their 13th straight loss. Part of Detroit’s franchise-record 28-game losing streak.

Game Vitals​

When: 7 p.m. ET
Where: Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Indiana
Watch: Fan Duel Sports Network Detroit
Odds: Pistons -10.5

Analysis​

The story of the Indiana Pacers this season is as simple as it is sad — injuries have decimated their potent offense and it is really hard to get wins if you can’t generate a way to get baskets. They enter tonight 2-14 having lost nine of their past 10 games, and just one of those losses being of the single-digit variety. That is because in their last 10, Indiana sports the worst offense in the NBA at a paltry 106.2 points per 100 possessions. Their defense doesn’t rank much better (27th).

The one thing the Pacers can do is get themselves to the free-throw line, and that ability is even more potent now that Bennedict Mathurin is back in the lineup. The Pistons, it should be noted, also foul at one of the worst rates in the NBA. The Pacers foul nearly as much as they receive, and Detroit has been much better about getting itself to the charity stripe this season. That could be a recipe for a long slog of a game.

This could also be a game where Jalen Duren could dominate. Indy relies on a rotation of Isaiah Jackson, Jay Huff, and Tony Bradley at center. No team surrenders more defensive rebounds than the Pacers, and Indy is near the bottom in opponent points in the paint per game. Duren’s eyes should be very wide in this one.

Projected Lineups​

Detroit Pistons (14-2)​

Cade Cunningham, Duncan Robinson, Ausar Thompson, Tobias Harris, Jalen Duren

Indiana Pacers (2-14)​

Andrew Nembhard, Bennedict Mathurin, Ben Sheppard, Pascal Siakam, Isaiah Jackson

Question of the Game​

As a Pistons fan, do you have it in your heart to feel bad for the Pacers and their fans this season? They’re not hateable, but they are the Pacers, so ….. ?

Source: https://www.detroitbadboys.com/detr...vs-pacers-preview-detroit-cant-stop-wont-stop