RSS Pistons Team Notes

[Detroit Pistons]

Pistons vs. Bulls final score: Isaiah Stewart’s career night carries short-handed Detroit

The Detroit Pistons entered tonight with three starters missing, including a late scratch of superstar lead guard Cade Cunningham. While Cunningham, Jalen Duren and Tobias Harris sat in street clothes, the Pistons played a little street ball in a 108-93 win over the Chicago Bulls.

It was always destined to be decided by chaos ball, but that clearly wasn’t the game plan early on for Detroit. In the first half, the Pistons executed a slow, conservative game plan. Essentially, it was bring the ball up the floor, feed Isaiah Stewart inside, and let the big man put in work against tissue soft Nikola Vucevic.

Honestly, it worked pretty well. For Stewart, anyway. He scored 17 points in the first half and had a career-high 31 points by the final whistle. But the lethargic pace seeped into Detroit’s defense, and it just wasn’t clicking. Detroit entered halftime with a 52-50 lead, and neither side was asserting itself. The Pistons were thankful for Beef Stew and Chicago needed Ayo Dosunmu to do all the heavy lifting with 15 points through two quarters.

Detroit went down quick in the third quarter as Chicago started hitting shots and Detroit looked more and more dysfunctional. Chicago eventually stretched the lead to seven and then Detroit decided conservative just wasn’t working. They turned to chaos.

And when you want some chaos, you take the shackles off of Ron Holland and Daniss Jenkins. The fourth quarter belonged to the bench for the Pistons. Detroit held Chicago to 16 points in the final frame and Jenkins went from his traditional role of explosive scorer to maestro with the ball in his hands.

Jenkins had 15 assists off the bench for the Pistons, the most since Ish Smith in 2017. He also had six rebounds, just one turnover, and on a night when he was just 1-of-6 from the floor, he was a plus-20. He was the juice Detroit needed to put this game away.

Holland, meanwhile, played ferocious defense, and it seemed to wake up the rest of the nasty dog crew on the bench. Javonte Green suddenly locked in, and he started getting deflections, steals, and transition buckets seemingly at will. He finished with 11 points and four steals.

On a night when the team was short-handed, the Pistons’ depth shined through again. Little-used rookie Chaz Lanier got some minutes tonight, and even he delivered. He entered tonight playing 141 minutes, almost all in garbage time.

He entered early in the third quarter tonight and promptly hit a three. He hit another a few minutes later. He even hit a middie after hard closeouts. It was his first night playing more than four minutes since mid-November when the Pistons’ injuries were at their worst. He ended up playing 12 minutes of real game action tonight and finished with eight points. He was a critical component to another Pistons win. It’s just that kind of season in Detroit.

The win was the fourth in five games for Detroit. Their home stand continues Saturday when they play the Los Angeles Clippers. Detroit will be looking for a bit of revenge since the Dec. 28 loss at the hands of the Clippers where Kawhi Leonard dropped a career-high 55 points.

Source: https://www.detroitbadboys.com/detr...rts-career-night-carries-short-handed-detroit

 

[Detroit Pistons]

Under the Hood: That’s a lot of Beef

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

Firing on All Cylinders

It was a career night for Isaiah Stewart – he finished with 31 points, three rebounds, one assist, one steal, and two blocks in 31 minutes of play. He was a beast down low yesterday as Nikola Vucevic had trouble providing any resistance at the rim against Stew.

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He even added a couple long balls, too!

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Transmission Trouble

Ausar Thompson continues to be his dominant self on the defensive end, but it’s the offensive end where he’s still finding his footing.

Over the last six games, he’s averaging nine points on 46% shooting with two assists and two turnovers per game – those turnover numbers are creeping up lately.

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There were a couple possessions last night where I thought we could’ve generated a better shot than the one he decided to go up with.

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We’re going to see some variance in his shot selection as he continues to figure out his place in the halfcourt offense.

Mechanic’s Note

Daniss Jenkins had a whopping 15 assists last night where eight of them came in the fourth quarter alone.

Blink and you’ll miss it, but this was my favorite pass of the night – I don’t have a clue how he found Chaz Lanier for this wide open three-pointer.

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Source: https://www.detroitbadboys.com/pistons-videos/48951/under-the-hood-thats-a-lot-of-beef

 

[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. Submit your question to the comments section here or on X/Twitter to @TheRealWesD3 and/or @blakesilverman.

Join us live on Saturday afternoon for the show where we’ll discuss the Pistons’ week of games. Just how impressive was the dominant win over the Knicks? And how about Isaiah Stewart’s night against the Bulls? Do you think the Pistons should make a marginal move at the deadline or somewhat of a splash? Or do nothing at all?

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: Saturday January 10 at 2 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 Discussion: Game Time, TV, Odds, and More

An unpleasant development as we approach tipoff between the Detroit Pistons and the Chicago Bulls — star point guard Cade Cunningham is out with a wrist injury. The injury was noted by the team, but officially listed him as probable on the 12:45 p.m. injury report. By the 1 p.m. update, he was listed as questionable. By 6:15 p.m., he was listed as out. It isn’t entirely clear when he sustained the injury, but some noted instances where it could have happened during Detroit’s blowout win over the New York Knicks. Cunningham scored 29 points in 29 minutes, and there was no sign he was pulled for being less than 100 percent. Jaden Ivey will get his first start of the season in his place. Ivey has played progressively better, but on a slow rise, since returning from injury this season. He also hasn’t been incredibly ball-dominant. It will be interesting to see how he performs leading the starting offense tonight against a struggling Chicago defense. Jalen Duren and Tobias Harris also remain out, and Isaiah Stewart and Paul Reed will once again start in their place. The Bulls are also not the paragons of health as they will be missing Josh Giddey, Coby White and a pair of reserve bigs in Zach Collins and Jalen Smith.

Game Vitals​

When: 7 p.m. ET
Where: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, Michigan
Watch: Fan Duel Sports Network Detroit
Odds: Pistons -10

Projected Lineups​

Detroit Pistons (27-9)​

Jaden Ivey, Duncan Robinson, Ausar Thompson, Paul Reed, Isaiah Stewart,

Chicago Bulls (17-19)​

Tre Jones, Kevin Huerter, Isaac Okoro, Matas Buzelis, Nikola Vučević

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

 

[Detroit Pistons]

3-man Fastbreak: Rolling into the new year

The Detroit Pistons’ winning ways didn’t stop with the calendar resetting, as the team has won four of its last five games and holds a four-game lead over the Knicks at the top of the Eastern Conference.

Let’s dive into some takeaways from Detroit since the New Year began.

1. One time for Beef Stew​

Is it too much recency bias to say Isaiah Stewart is the second-most impactful player on this team?

The sixth-year big man poured in a career-high 31 points on 14-of-17 shooting in Wednesday’s win over Chicago, serving as the focal point on both ends for a Pistons squad missing several key contributors. Everything Detroit wanted to do ran through Stewart — physically, emotionally, and tactically.

Stewart’s minutes and traditional counting stats may never put him in the All-NBA conversation given how his role is currently constructed, but he remains the heartbeat of what this team wants to be. His 2.1 blocks per game rank third in the league — and to put that in perspective, he’s averaging more blocks than Evan Mobley while playing roughly 10 fewer minutes per night.

Considering how seamlessly he’s slid into a second-unit role and how much his overall game has grown, it’s hard to believe Stewart was a full-time starter just a few seasons ago. His first taste of playoff basketball should be appointment viewing.

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2. Bing Bong!​

What was billed as one of the marquee matchups of the regular season between two Eastern Conference heavyweights turned into a one-sided demolition. Detroit sent a loud message to the visiting Knicks on Monday night, cruising to a 121–90 victory.

Despite missing starters Tobias Harris and Jalen Duren, the Pistons leaned fully into their depth and defensive identity, holding the fourth-ranked offense in the league to a season-low point total. New York never found a rhythm as Detroit dictated terms from the opening tip.

Whether this game was a true preview of a potential playoff matchup is hard to say. The Knicks were also without Josh Hart, and it’s fair to question the level of intensity they brought on a random January night.

What is clear, though, is that Detroit had this one circled. This matchup is personal now. It feels increasingly inevitable that these teams are on a collision course for the postseason — and they’ll see each other next on February 6 back at Little Caesars Arena.

---

3. Ivey’s future​

For all the success Detroit has enjoyed this season, the lingering question inside the locker room remains Jaden Ivey — specifically, how he fits into the current rotation and, more importantly, into the franchise’s long-term plans. The conversation remains polarizing, but it is something that is unavoidable at this point.

With Cade Cunningham sidelined by a wrist injury against Chicago, Ivey drew the start, but finished the night playing fewer minutes than Ron Holland II, Jevonte Green, and Dennis Jenkins. He was largely absent during crunch time as the Pistons pulled away, while rookie Chaz Lanier took on a bigger late-game role.

There have been flashes of high-level play since Ivey’s return from injury, but the consistency hasn’t matched expectations. He hasn’t fully emerged as the secondary creator next to Cunningham that many believed Detroit would need down the stretch of this season — and beyond.

With the trade deadline now less than a month away, it’s a situation worth monitoring closely if Detroit were to make a big(ish) move.

Source: https://www.detroitbadboys.com/general/48973/3-man-fastbreak-rolling-into-the-new-year

 

[Detroit Pistons]

Pistons vs. Clippers final score: Fourth-quarter meltdown costs Detroit

The short-handed Detroit Pistons missing three starters and a key backup were winning by double-digits for the majority of a rematch against the Los Angeles Clippers on hot early shooting from Duncan Robinson and a tenacious defense that turned plenty of turnovers into ample easy baskets. The script flipped in the fourth quarter, however, and the Pistons missed shots, committed dumb fouls and turned the ball over 10 times. That meltdown saw a 14-point lead turn into a 98-92 loss.

The Pistons played without starters Cade Cunningham, Jalen Duren, Tobias Harris, and backup big man Isaiah Stewart. That created opportunities for two two-way players, and tonight the results were mixed. Daniss Jenkins committed several key turnovers in the fourth quarter and hit just one of his three three-pointers. Tolu Smith was just 1-of-7 from the floor, but did his 7-of-8 from the foul line to go with 14 rebounds. But both struggled on D late in the game, and it proved costly.

Detroit started hot, with Duncan Robinson hitting three after three en route to 20 first-half points. The Clippers decided they had just about enough of Detroit’s best (only?) shooter burning them, and made a concerted effort to not allow Duncan another easy shot. He didn’t score in the second half.

And Pistons shooters not named Robinson were 3-of-28 from deep.

Despite the offensive struggles, it looked like the Pistons were in line to take this one courtesy of their defense, which remains one of the most dangerous in the league.

A Caris LeVert steal led to a thunderous windmill dunk from Ron Holland in transition to give the Pistons an 84-70 lead with 9:37 in the game. All Detroit needed to do was stay locked in on defense and eliminate any mistakes on offense. They did just about the opposite.

In the next 64 seconds, the Clippers had scored seven points. A Jordan Miller three 70 seconds later cut the lead to two.

Detroit had no answers for Kawhi Leonard (26 points) or John Collins (25), and while they forced James Harden into a tough 4-of-20 shooting night, he was able to coax his way to the free-throw line like we know Harden can. he was 1o-of-11 from the charity stripe and scored 19 points.

It became simply too difficult for the Pistons to run a functional offense once they couldn’t rely on the Clippers turning the ball over. With all the attention on Robinson, it left Jenkins, LeVert and Javonte Green to try to create for themselves. We know LeVert with the ball in his hands is always an adventure, and I’d wager Jenkins had never had to deal with so much defensive attention focused on him at the NBA level.

It was a bummer to see the lead crumble away, but I suppose it shouldn’t be a huge surprise that the Pistons couldn’t close this one out. The Pistons don’t play again until Thursday against the Suns. Hopefully by then Cunningham and Duren can return to the lineup.

Source: https://www.detroitbadboys.com/detr...l-score-fourth-quarter-meltdown-costs-detroit

 

[Detroit Pistons]

The Pindown: Jalen Duren, All Star?

Wes and Blake hop in to record right before the Pistons rematch against the Los Angeles Clippers to continue their New Year’s Resolutions for the roster. What should Cade aim to improve? How far will this group go in the playoffs? And how should Langdon seek to continue to position this roster for success? They dive into the big question from fans — do the Pistons even need to make a big trade? And, finally, the guys discuss why a potential Jalen Duren extension will not be as back-breaking as those post-rookie maximum contracts Andre Drummond and Deandre Ayton were.

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/48989/the-pindown-jalen-duren-all-star

 

[Detroit Pistons]

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

The Detroit Pistons are looking for a bit of revenge as they host the Los Angeles Clippers tonight at Little Caesars Arena. The Pistons suffered a 112-99 loss on Dec. 28 courtesy of the Clippers. It was their first double-digit loss since the fourth game of the season. In that game, Clippers star forward Kawhi Leonard scored a career-high 55 points. That revenge is going to be hard to come by, however, because, despite a couple days off, the Pistons injury report is ugly. Cade Cunningham is out again, missing his second straight game. He joins starters Jalen Duren and Tobias Harris, who are still nursing injuries. But that’s not all. Isaiah Stewart, one of the heroes of Detroit’s win against Chicago on Thursday, is also out with an illness.

That leaves Detroit’s power forward possibilities a bit in shambles, at least if you’re looking for any sort of reliable offense. Ausar Thompson and Ron Holland might split the power forward minutes while Paul Reed and two-way big man Tolu Smith handle center minutes. Or maybe we’ll finally see Isaac Jones, a little-used center claimed off waivers from the Kings earlier this season. We might also see Bobi Klintman handle some of the forward minutes. If the Pistons want to win, someone is going to have to play the hero, and it’s probably going to be someone you never expected. My money is on a Holland chaos game with some perimeter shot-making.

Game Vitals​

When: 7:30 p.m. ET
Where: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, Michigan
Watch: Fan Duel Sports Network Detroit
Odds: Pistons -1.5

Projected Lineups​

Detroit Pistons (28-9)​

Jaden Ivey, Duncan Robinson, Ausar Thompson, Ron Holland, Paul Reed

Los Angeles Clippers (14-23)​

James Harden, Kris Dunn, Kawhi Leonard, John Collins, Ivica Zubac

Source: https://www.detroitbadboys.com/detr...lippers-discussion-game-time-tv-odds-and-more

 

[Detroit Pistons]

V., a Detroit Pistons superfan and DBB OG shares a message

Message from the Editor: The following was written by Detroit Bad Boys user V., who you should all be familiar with. He is one of the longest-tenured and most vital members of our community. — Sean

As those who know me personally are aware, I’ve been fighting Stage 4 cancer the last almost 5 years.

While the labs had shown some success with the most recent treatments, thing went south really quickly last weekend. As I told Joe, it returned while quaffing a few cold crews and a couple of Red Bulls along the way.

I entered hospice care yesterday. I’m not sure how much time I have left, it could be a few days, it could be longer. My partner will let Joe know of my passing.

I am comfortable and lucid and probably will be until my passing.

A couple of things that are important to me:

1) Please don’t reply until this makes the main page (pretty sure it will).

2) Both myself and partner (she) are well off financially. If you want to remember me, there’s a couple of charities that you can donate to, but it is absolutely not necessary. I’ll list those soon.

You need to do this on your own. I know that there are a couple of you with good intentions, but please do not substitute what you think is right for my wishes.

I apologize in advance if I sound harsh about this, but I need to be clear in the most unambiguous terms possible.

Source: https://www.detroitbadboys.com/gene...an-and-dbb-og-shares-message-to-dbb-community

 

[Detroit Pistons]

Four trades I would do if I was Trajan Langdon

With the trade deadline only a few weeks away, there will be plenty of discussion surrounding what the Detroit Pistons should do at the trade deadline. In past years, it has been about acquiring bad contracts with assets attached as the team looked to stock their cupboards with more draft picks.

This year is different.

The Pistons currently sit at #1 in the Eastern Conference at 28-10 with a 3.5 game lead over the #2 New York Knicks. They rank 10th in the league in offensive rating (116.4) and 2nd in the league in defensive rating (109.7). Their net rating of +6.8 ranks fifth. All this to say – this team is GOOD.

So, do the Pistons really need to take a swing at the deadline?

My answer to that question is “yes.”

This team desperately needs players who can shoot the long ball as Detroit is bottom-five in the league in three-point attempts. They have players that can shoot, but can’t defend, and players that can defend, but can’t shoot. It’ll be up to Trajan Langdon to determine how hard he’s going to swing once he steps up to the plate.

I did my best to get creative with these trades and to come up with proposals that aren’t common in the Pistons’ space. There is one common trade that I wanted to touch on, and one at the end that I’m sure will be controversial. All trades were done using the Spotrac trade machine.

Whether Trajan wants to bunt or wants to go for the fences, here are four deals I would do if I was running the Detroit Pistons:

Bunt-Single

In this first trade, Detroit takes advantage of their $14.1M trade exception from the Dennis Schroeder sign-and-trade this past summer. Detroit could absorb the contract of any player making less than $14.1 million without needing to send a player back. In this case, more roster moves would have to occur to open up a roster spot, along with an extra move if the team brings up Daniss Jenkins full-time.

Max Christie has 2.5 years left on his deal, though, it’s most likely 1.5 years given he has a player option of less than $9 million in his final year. Max is having a career-best year with 12.3 PPG while shooting 44.1% from deep on 5.4 attempts per game. Three second rounders seems like a fair deal for a cheap 3-and-D shooting guard.

Ground-Rule Double

Guess who’s back?

Maybe Trajan is still in “acquire assets” mode if he isn’t ready to make a big swing yet. Perhaps there’s a way that he can thread the needle of becoming a better team while also picking up extra assets.

Portland attaches a 2028 Milwaukee first-round pick to Jerami Grant as Detroit does them the favor of getting off Grant’s expensive deal with Tobias Harris’ expiring contract. Jerami has become the second-fiddle behind Deni Avdija for the Trail Blazers and his injury history is a legitimate concern. Jerami would be on the books for 2.5 more years as I don’t see him declining his $36 million player option in 2027-2028.

Despite coming off the bench at times for Portland, Grant can still play. In fact, he’s becoming quite the knockdown shooter. Jerami is averaging 20 PPG while shooting 38.9% from deep on 6.4 attempts per game, and that’s exactly the type of scorer this team could use at Power Forward.

With the possibility of Milwaukee going full-rebuild soon, is that first-round pick enough to entice Detroit to take on Jerami’s deal?

Stand-Up Triple

This is the common trade I had to touch on because this is as far as I would go in terms of what I would give up for Michael Porter Jr. If Brooklyn asks for anything more, I walk.

Let’s talk about MPJ on the court: he’s averaging a career-high in points, rebounds, and assists at 25.9 PPG, 7.5 RPG, and 3.4 APG. He’s shooting 40.4% from deep on an insanely high 9.4 attempts per game. That efficiency at that volume would do absolute wonders for the spacing on this Detroit team. MPJ would instantly become the best three-point shooting forward the team has had in quite a while – maybe ever?

It’s the off-the-court stuff that Trajan will have to determine if MPJ could hamper the gritty culture that’s being built in Detroit. If he believes MPJ would buy in, go get him.

Grand Salami

I know, I know…I KNOW.

Ausar Thompson should make an All-Defensive team this year and he’s solidified himself as one of the best perimeter defenders in the NBA. There’s no doubt that he’s playing a massive part in Detroit being ranked as the second best defensive team in the NBA. He’s a fan-favorite and rightly so.

Trajan Langdon drafted Trey Murphy III in 2021 when he was the GM of the New Orleans Pelicans. He’s having a career-best year from both a production and efficiency standpoint. He’s averaging 21.9 PPG, 6.2 RPG, and 3.5 APG while shooting 50.2% from the field, 38.9% from deep on 7.8 attempts per game, and 90.8% from the free throw line.

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An extra part that has to be included when discussing a TMIII trade is his contract. He’s in the first year of his 4-year $112 million deal and is only making $25 million this season. For comparison, Tobias Harris is making $26 million this year. There are no player options and Trey will make $31 million in 2028-2029. Any team that trades for TMIII instantly has their Small Forward of the future for the next 3.5 years.

Ausar Thompson will start his second contract in 2027-2028 when Trey is making $29 million. With that in mind, how would an Ausar extension compare to Trey’s? Is the expectation that Ausar will be worth more than $30 million per year at that point?

I’ve been vocal with my offensive concerns surrounding Ausar, but replacing him with Trey Murphy III in the starting lineup would transform the spacing on the team and present a playstyle we’ve yet to see in the Cade Era. If there’s a top target on Trajan Langdon’s list, it should be Trey Murphy III.

Well, DBB, what say you?

Source: https://www.detroitbadboys.com/pistons-rumors/49004/four-trades-i-would-do-if-i-was-trajan-langdon

 

[Detroit Pistons]

Pistons vs. Suns preview: Surprising Suns visit Detroit for only time this season

If I told you that the Pistons would be 28-10 and the Suns would be 24-16 when they met for the first time this season, you would think that I am crazy. That is the reality of this matchup as two of the NBA’s most pleasant surprises face off for the first time this season.

Obviously, the Suns have Devin Booker, but if you talked to anybody in the league, most would tell you that this was going to be a transition season for the Suns as they moved on from the Bradley Beal and Kevin Durant debacles that ended in them missing the playoffs last season.

For the Pistons, many thought they could build off of what they did last season, but I don’t think even the most optimistic supporters of the team saw them as the 1 seed in the East with a 4-plus game lead as we approach the Trade Deadline in a few weeks.

Both of these teams are examples of the value of depth and playing hard as opposed to having a team full of Superstars, and it should be a fun matchup.

Game Vitals​

Where: Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, MI
When: Thursday, January 15 at 7 pm EST
Watch: Fan Duel Sports Network Detroit (for now)
Odds: Pistons (-6.5)

Analysis​

The Pistons have had 4 days to stew on their loss to the Clippers on Saturday, as they blew a double-digit 4th quarter lead with 4 regular rotation players out. Losing that game isn’t all that shocking given how the Clippers have played recently and the fact the Pistons were short-handed, but it was mainly how it was lost that is disappointing. The Pistons were plagued by turnovers in the 4th quarter as they were unable to run any productive offense down the stretch without Cade Cunningham.

Lucky for the Pistons and unlucky for the Suns, Cade Cunningham is no longer on the injury report so he should play. Jalen Duren, Tobias Harris, and Isaiah Stewart are all probable, so if one or two of them play the Pistons will be back to mostly full-strength.

The Pistons depth has been tested a lot this season and has always been up for the task, but it will be nice to face a surprisingly good Suns team at mostly full health.

The Suns are led by Devin Booker obviously, but the biggest reason for their above-expectations start to the season has been the play of Dillon Brooks. He was the smaller headline piece of the Kevin Durant trade, but he is averaging career-highs pretty much across the board. He sports averages of 21.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.7 assists, but most importantly he is doing it on much better efficiency for his standards with a 46/35/84 shooting line. He also brings his usual solid defense and toughness.

The biggest surprise for the Suns has been the emergence of Collin Gillespie. The biggest issue with the Suns during the post-Chris Paul era has been the lack of a true point guard. They have tried Devin Booker there and signed some veterans that could not provide the level of play they needed. Gillespie has been able to stabilize the point guard position a bit and allow Devin Booker to focus on what he does best, which is scoring and being a secondary creator on offense.

I wouldn’t call the Suns as deep as the Pistons, as there are very few teams in the NBA that are, but they do have solid depth with players like Grayson Allen, Jordan Goodwin, and Ryan Dunn. The fact that the Suns were able to pretty much overhaul their roster in one offseason into at least a mid-tier contender in the West is nothing short of impressive. That is even without their top 10 pick, Khaman Maluach, barely playing.

I normally don’t talk about the coaching matchup in games, but this game features two of the leaders in the clubhouse for Coach of the Year with JB Bickerstaff for the Pistons and Jordan Ott for the Suns. It was viewed as a bit of a weird hire since Ott has connections to Michigan State and Suns’ owner Mat Ishbia, but all indications are that they made the right hire. You really don’t think that coaching matters until you see a team like the Pistons turn things around so quick after hiring JB Bickerstaff and then seeing the same thing with the Phoenix Suns.

The Suns were not “bad” last season, but anybody that watched them knew they were a heavily flawed team and you saw that by them not making the playoffs. They are probably still a little flawed in terms of being a top-tier contender, but they definitely have more staying power and that has a lot to due with the job Ott has done this year.

Devin Booker is on the injury report as questionable with an ankle injury, which could be a huge development for the Pistons. Just like the Pistons are with Cade Cunningham, the Suns rely a lot on Devin Booker to make the tough shots and create the tough offense for him, so if he does not play it will make this game much easier for the Pistons. I wouldn’t look past the Suns though, they play hard just like the Pistons do and that can lead to teams staying in the game regardless of who they have playing.

The Pistons have had a few days to rest and get healthy, so hopefully they can come out re-engaged and cruise their way to a win to get them back on track.

Lineups​

Detroit Pistons (28-10): Cade Cunningham, Duncan Robinison, Ausar Thompson, Tobias Harris, Jalen Duren

Phoenix Suns (24-16): Collin Gillespie, Devin Booker, Dillon Brooks, Royce O’Neale, Mark Williams

Question of the Day​

Should Tobias Harris be a starter upon his return from injury or should the Pistons start Isaiah Stewart?

Source: https://www.detroitbadboys.com/detr...-suns-visit-detroit-for-only-time-this-season

 

[Detroit Pistons]

Pistons vs Suns final score: Detroit gets a scrappy win against Phoenix

The Detroit Pistons had a mini-All Star Break in their schedule as tonight was their first game in five days and only their second in the past eight days. It was enough time to get rest for their injured starting five as Tobias Harris and Jalen Duren would return to join Cade Cunningham, Duncan Robinson, and Ausar Thompson in the starting lineup.

It wasn’t pretty at times on the offensive end, but as they’ve done all season, the Detroit Pistons battled for all 48 minutes. In the end, they were rewarded with their 29th victory this season in a 108-105 win over Phoenix.

Detroit came out looking like that five-day rest served them well as they got off to an 11-3 start. Ivey added a quick eight points off the bench, but a 13-3 Phoenix run to end the first quarter had Detroit down 32-23.

The Suns were able to extend the lead to 15 early in the second quarter, and JB Bickerstaff had to call two timeouts to fire up the team as you could hear his anger through the broadcast’s microphone. It took about an hour and a half to get through the first half as their were plenty of reviews for flagrant or technical fouls.

Cade was playing sloppy and seemed like he had some rust to shake off, so JBB was able to find his second quarter spark off the bench from Daniss Jenkins and Ron Holland as they helped lead Detroit to a 17-5 run. They at least had built a little momentum going into the half despite the Suns leading 63-56.

Although he only saw five minutes in the first half with all of them coming in the first quarter, Jaden Ivey continued his impressive shot-making in the third quarter. He was creating open looks in the midrange and managed to knock down three of his five attempted long balls. Duncan Robinson and Tobias Harris both steadied the offense and Detroit was able to bring it to a one-point game by the end of the third quarter.

A Jaden Ivey three-pointer tied the game at 94 early in the fourth and a few possessions later a Tobias Harris midrange fadeaway gave the Pistons the lead. Detroit showed why their defense is their biggest strength as they would go on to hold Phoenix to 15 points in the final frame.

A Cade Cunningham hook in the lane pushed the Detroit lead to four with two minutes left, and Cade would pump fake Dillon Brooks into his sixth personal foul. JB Bickerstaff closed the game with Ron Holland and Ausar Thompson on the court with Cade, Tobias, and Duren and it proved to be the right idea – from 3:09 left in the game, they only let up two Phoenix points before Grayson Allen hit a desperate three-pointer with three seconds left.

It was a team effort on both ends tonight and six players contributed with double-digit points. There were too many missed threes, missed free throws, and turnovers for a team coming off that much rest. Cade struggled shooting 3-for-16 with five turnovers, but he was still able to create for his teammates with 11 assists. He had a lot of good looks, but they just didn’t fall tonight.

Duncan Robinson led the way with 19 points and four threes while Tobias Harris and Jalen Duren each added 16 points. Duren had even more rebounds with 18 and Harris added some quality buckets when the team needed them. Ron Holland was his scrappy self with 11 points and nine rebounds. He needs to hit those free throws, but he held his own out there as he had no problem getting physical with NBA-villain Dillon Brooks.

The Detroit Pistons are now 29-10 and they will take on the 9-32 Indiana Pacers on Saturday night at Little Caesars Arena. It’ll be the battle between the top and the bottom of the Eastern Conference.

Go Stones.

Source: https://www.detroitbadboys.com/detr...re-detroit-gets-a-scrappy-win-against-phoenix

 

[Detroit Pistons]

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

The Detroit Pistons used their extended layoff to get healthy — Cade Cunningham, Tobias Harris, Jalen Duren, and Isaiah Stewart are all back in the lineup tonight to face the Phoenix Suns in a home matchup at Little Caesars Arena. The Suns aren’t so lucky. They will be without their best player, and best Michigan native who got away, in Devin Booker, who is dealing with swelling in his ankle.

The Suns join the Pistons as one of the most pleasant surprises in the NBA this season. Phoenix was thought to be in soft rebuild or reset mode following moves that sent out veterans Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal this offseason. Jalen Green, the big return in the Durant deal, hasn’t even suited up this season for Phoenix. But that hasn’t stopped them from winning 24 games this season, finding themselves solidly in the playoff race, and fielding a quality offense and defense in a stacked Western Conference. The Pistons, meanwhile, find themselves sitting atop the East. With less than a month before the trade deadline its a wonder whether either of these teams will push some chips in to make their position a bit firmer, or even take a step up the contender ladder.

Game Vitals​

When: 7 p.m. ET
Where: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, Michigan
Watch: Fan Duel Sports Network Detroit
Odds: Pistons -7.5

Projected Lineups​

Detroit Pistons (28-10)

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

Phoenix Suns (24-16)

Collin Gillespie, Grayson Allen (boo), Dillon Brooks, Royce O’Neale, Mark Williams

Source: https://www.detroitbadboys.com/detr...vs-suns-discussion-game-time-tv-odds-and-more

 

[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. Submit your question to the comments section here or on X/Twitter to @TheRealWesD3 and/or @blakesilverman.

Join us live on Friday night for the show where we’ll discuss the Pistons’ week of games. What, if anything, should the Pistons do at the trade deadline? Would you be willing to part with Jaden Ivey, Tobias Harris or any other rumored trade candidates? Is Jalen Duren a lock for the All-Star game?

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: Friday January 16 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 Pacers Discussion: Game Time, TV, Odds, and More

If this game has high drama, the Detroit Pistons have likely done something very, very wrong. Detroit, which eked out a win despite nearly the entire roster playing a subpar game against the Phoenix Suns on Thursday, looks to rebound tonight against the 10-win Indiana Pacers. Indiana has the worst record in the Eastern Conference and is tied with Washington and New Orleans for the fewest wins in the NBA. And even by their subpar standards in this gap year, they aren’t going to be their best selves this evening at Little Caesars Arena. Indiana will be without Pascal Siakam, Andrew Nembhard, TJ McConnell, Bennedict Mathurin, and Aaron Nesmith tonight. Siakam, Nesmith, Nemhard, and McConnell all played last night in Indiana’s win over New Orleans. Siakam and Nesmith are officially getting the night off for rest while Nemhard and McConnell are being held back for injury management. That four-some represented 66 of Indy’s 127 points against the Pellies. Jay Huff scored a career-high 29 points in that game, and I guess he’ll need to be even better tonight.

Speaking of being better, I hope Detroit’s returning veterans are able to deliver a better showing than they were able to against the Suns. Phoenix’s aggressive, handsy defense gave them fits all game, and nobody looked in rhythm. Despite the double-double, I’d wager it was Cade’s worst game of the season. He is just returning from a wrist injury, and will reportedly try a different style of wrap tonight. It’s not just that Cade missed, shots, though he did do that (3-of-16). It is that his decision-making was downright awful. He continually dribbled into the teeth of the defense without a plan, he didn’t clock defenders in passing lanes, he coughed the ball up with little resistance, and he didn’t create many advantages. That was probably the first game this season where it felt like he wasn’t dictating anything on the offensive end. Against Indy’s b-team, I’m hoping Cade is aggressive, is firing early and often. I want him to keep shooting even if the shots aren’t falling early. He’s got to either get more comfortable with whatever condition his wrist is in, or he needs to sit out a few more games until he is truly healthy.

Game Vitals​

When: 7:30 p.m. ET
Where: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, Michigan
Watch: Fan Duel Sports Network Detroit
Odds: Pistons -15.5

Projected Lineups​

Detroit Pistons: (29-10)​

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

Indiana Pacers: (10-32)​

Quentin Jackson, Ben Sheppard, Johnny Furphy, Jarace Walker, Jay Huff

Source: https://www.detroitbadboys.com/detr...-pacers-discussion-game-time-tv-odds-and-more

 

[Detroit Pistons]

Pistons vs. Pacers final score: Detroit takes care of business in blowout win over Indy

The Detroit Pistons took care of business against an undermanned, overmatched Indiana Pacers, blitzing Indy 121-78. It was the fewest points the Pistons had surrendered since a 116-77 win over the Charlotte Hornets in 2015. It was the 10th time in the 3-point era the Pistons beat a team by at least 40 points. JB Bickerstaff joins Chuck Daly as the only coaches in Pistons history with at least three wins of 40 or more points. Bickerstaff did it three times in 122 games.

There wasn’t much to analyze in this one as the Pacers were down their six most important players, with several guys resting on the second half of a back-to-back. Without the likes of Pascal Siakam, Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith, TJ McConnell, and Bennedict Mathurin, the Pacers simply couldn’t generate any offense.

A Jalen Duren free throw with 5:07 left in the first quarter put Detroit up 24-2. The Pacers hit a couple shots, and Detroit let its foot off the gas a bit, but the game kinda went like that the whole time. At halftime, it was 59-25. By the midpoint of the third quarter, Cade Cunningham and Duren went to the bench permanently, and there was a lot of garbage time for a lot of reserve players to show their stuff.

The Pacers were held to 35% from the floor and 22% from three. Detroit had a 34-9 advantage in points off of turnovers. It was an ugly game.

The only downside for the Pistons was that it was clear early on the refs had no interest in dragging out the game any more than necessary and swallowed their whistles. Detroit did their typical bulldog, attack-the-basket offense, and it was rarely rewarded with free throws regardless of contact. That meant a lot of empty trips down the floor.

The Pistons were led by a trio of players with 16 points: Cunningham, Duncan Robinson, and Javonte Green, who were all 4-of-6 from three. The only player in a Pistons jersey to play past the 24-minute mark was Ron Holland. The Pacers were led by Jarace Walker, who scored 13 points on 12 shots.

Detroit gets a rest day and then hosts the Boston Celtics back in Detroit for a game with more stakes, and one certain to be much closer.

Source: https://www.detroitbadboys.com/detr...kes-care-of-business-in-blowout-win-over-indy

 

[Detroit Pistons]

3-Man Fastbreak: Quiet and consistent

The Detroit Pistons opened 2026 the same way they closed 2025 — winning in a variety of ways and anchoring everything with elite defense. Injuries over the past few weeks failed to slow their momentum, and now the Pistons are back to full strength ahead of a tough stretch against Boston, Houston, and Denver to close out the month.

1. Threats in the East?​

Opening the floor: who poses the biggest threat to Detroit in the postseason — and can the Pistons capitalize on what many view as a “gap year” in the conference?

Detroit currently holds a 4.5-game lead over Boston, which has cooled off after a scorching December. The Pistons have taken two of three from the Celtics, with all three games decided by single digits. The wild card is Jayson Tatum’s Achilles recovery — whether he could return at all, and whether Boston would even allow it. The contrasting styles of these teams would make for a fascinating playoff series.

Then there’s New York. Detroit dismantled the Knicks in their lone meeting so far, but you’d expect a much sharper response in future matchups. Below them, Toronto — whom the Pistons haven’t yet faced — along with Philadelphia, Orlando, and Cleveland all linger as dangerous middle-tier threats in a tightly packed East.

2. Deadline looming​

With less than a month until the NBA trade deadline, there’s little consensus among fans or media about how — or even if — Trajan Langdon will approach roster changes.

There seem to be two main schools of thought consuming fans’ minds: swing for a bigger name or stand pat. But there’s also a middle ground Langdon could easily land on, similar to last season’s Dennis Schröder acquisition — a move that paid dividends during Detroit’s strong finish despite a first-round exit.

Detroit needs shooting, but they’ll be careful to add someone who won’t disrupt the culture or identity they’ve built. It’s hard to envision them sacrificing young assets for a moderate upgrade, but could a name like Tobias Harris surface in that type of deal? And what kind of draft capital would Langdon be willing to throw into a deal?

3. Duren back​

Jalen Duren returned for the first time since New Year’s Day and immediately made his presence felt, posting 16 points, 18 rebounds, and two blocks — including a momentum-swinging rejection late in the fourth quarter.

After a roaring start to the season, injuries slowed Duren in December, when his averages dipped to 16.5 points and 9.5 rebounds, down from November marks of 21.5 and 12.6. Still, it feels far more likely that his early-season production represents the real version of his trajectory rather than a hot stretch.

At just 22 years old, with multiple areas of his game still developing, there’s no clear ceiling on what Duren can become — and that uncertainty will loom large as future contract discussions approach. The Pistons are just happy to have him back at full strength.

Source: https://www.detroitbadboys.com/general/49033/3-man-fastbreak-quiet-and-consistent

 

[Detroit Pistons]

Pistons vs Pacers preview: Dominate the paint

You’d think a matchup with the best and the worst teams in the East should be easy pickings. It might be for the Detroit Pistons, but the Indiana Pacers are playing much better basketball over the last two weeks.

This will be Detroit’s fifth home game in a row as they are 4.5 games in front of the second-seed Boston Celtics (we’ll see them Monday, I did not think they’d be here in the standings in October).

Boston and Detroit have been a back-and-forth matchup this season, but Detroit shouldn’t overlook the fiery Pacers. Their record doesn’t show it, but the Pacers are similar to those handsy Phoenix Suns in how they go for it every possession.

Game Vitals​

When: 7:30 p.m. ET

Where: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, Michigan

How: Fan Duel Sports Network Detroit

Odds: Pistons -12.5

Analysis​

The Indiana Pacers are the 30th-ranked offense and 20th-ranked defense for the season. Not great to say the least. Over the last seven games, the Pacers are 12th in both and have a plus-2.5 net rating, good for 11th in the NBA.

It’s no surprise the team that made the Finals last year is in this spot after losing Tyrese Haliburton, paired with all the nagging injuries this year, but even as the L’s pile up, Indiana has the personnel to turn it up on a given night.

I thought we’d get more from Andrew Nembhard overall this year, but he did torch the Miami Heat for nearly 30 points a few nights ago. Pascal Siakam plays hard regardless of the circumstance and remains an underrated ball player.

Go down the line, and you’ll see plenty of hard hat players in Indy: T. J. McConnell, Johnny Furphy, Aaron Nesmith, etc. The Pacers get their hands on offensive loose balls and lock down the 3-point line. They allow tons of shots at the rim, and that’s one area Detroit can bust this game wide open.

While Indiana allows the fifth most shots at the rim, Detroit takes 36.6 percent of its shots at the basket (3rd). Detroit has streaky finishers, but they punish you with volume at the rim. Not to mention they burn teams in transition, juicing their points in the paint.

Jay Huff is an athletic, lengthy, disruptive rim protector, but Indiana loses all of that when he goes to the bench — it should be a field day for Pistons drivers. Cade Cunningham leads the charge as a driver and overall. The Suns made it a priority to slow him down, but Cade still impacted the game as a passing savant.

Phoenix could not contain Jaden Ivey in limited minutes. He scored 15 points, burying three triples while sporting a 93.8 true shooting percentage in only 17 minutes. That was a scoring explosion, yet he only played that little in a game where Detroit desperately needed baskets.

Tobias Harris was a huge factor in that win and will be moving forward. He’s still a post-up possession ender who’s making the most of his opportunities. Harris is third in the league in post-up PPP (1.32). He’s been special on the block.

That skill set could be put to use even more if he were the first option coming off the bench with Isaiah Stewart starting. That change may not happen now, but I’d keep my eyes glued to that situation because it could be beneficial for all parties involved.

It’s another home game for Detroit, and they look to keep their foot on the gas and deliver a good offensive performance. Indiana isnt great, but bad teams get up for elite teams every night. Handle business here and get ready for a top-of-the-conference showdown on Martin Luther King Day.

Lineups​

Detroit Pistons: (29-10)

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

Indiana Pacers: (10-32)

Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith, Johnny Furphy, Pascal Siakam, Jay Huff

Question of the day​

If you could add one Detroit Pistons player from the past to this roster, who ya got?

Source: https://www.detroitbadboys.com/detr.../pistons-vs-pacers-preview-dominate-the-paint

 

[Detroit Pistons]

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

The Detroit Pistons get the national spotlight on one of the NBA’s signature nights, facing the Boston Celtics on Peacock and NBC, helping to cap off the league’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day slate of games. One topic of conversation tonight will likely be a lot of attention paid to Cade Cunningham and Jaylen Brown, who were both named starters for the Eastern Conference half of the All-Star team bracket. Tonight also pits the top two teams in the Eastern Conference as Detroit enters the midway point of the season with a 4.5-game lead over the second-place Celtics.

Detroit is coming off of a 42-point drubbing of the Indiana Pacers. It’s important to stress, however, that those Pacers weren’t even the actual Pacers — they were missing their top six players — and even if they were at full strength, the Celtics are certainly not those Pacers. Boston has been playing great this season. The Celtics have the second-best offense in the NBA and they will face a Pistons team with a second-ranked defense. The two teams are tied in net rating this season, both at 7.6 points per 100 possessions better than their opponents. It has the making of be a heck of a fight.

Game Vitals​

When: 8 p.m. ET
Where: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, Michigan
Watch: Peacock and NBC
Odds: Pistons -2.5

Projected Starters​

Detroit Pistons (30-10)​

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

Boston Celtics (26-15)​

Peyton Pritchard, Derrick White, Jaylen Brown, Sam Hauser, Neemias Queta

Source: https://www.detroitbadboys.com/detr...celtics-discussion-game-time-tv-odds-and-more

 

[Detroit Pistons]

Cade Cunningham named All-Star starter

Cade Cunningham will be an All-Star starter for the first time in his career. Cunningham, who was a reserve All-Star last year, received enough votes to be one of the top-5 starters in the Eastern Conference. Cunningham will be Detroit’s first All-Star starter since … ugh … Allen Iverson in 2009.

There was little question Cunningham would get the nod, as he was one of the first in the Eastern Conference to rack up more than a million fan votes, and his support never waned in subsequent ballots. He’s also the lead guard on the Eastern Conference’s best team, and is averaging 25.9 points and 9.6 assists for the Pistons.

NBA All-Star starters in the Eastern Conference are:

• Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons
• Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks
• Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers
• Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics
• Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks

NBA All-Star starters in the Western Conference are:

• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder
• Luka Doncic, Los Angeles Lakers
• Steph Curry, Golden State Warriors
• Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs
• Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets

The All-Star game will take place on Feb. 15 at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles and be broadcast on NBC and Peacock.

It’s been quite the come-up for Cunningham the past two seasons. During his first year, the Pistons won just 23 games, and he finished a distant third in Rookie of the Year voting behind winner Scottie Barnes and runner-up Evan Mobley.

His sophomore year was derailed by a hip injury that sidelined him for all but 12 games while his team sputtered to just 17 wins. His third year was the disastrous Monty Williams year and another last-place finish.

At the time, folks were wondering if Cunningham was just a tall complementary player without the juice to be the first option on a competitive team. By 2024, Cunningham’s star had faded to the point that if you look at a list like ESPN’s 25 under 25, he was ranked all the way at 13th. The 12 players ahead of him?

LaMelo Ball, Scottie Barnes, Alperen Sengun, Jalen Williams, Evan Mobley, Tyrese Maxey, Tyrese Haliburton, Chet Holmgren, Franz Wagner, Paolo Banchero, Anthony Edwards, and Victor Wembenyama.

What a difference two years can make. Troy Weaver and Monty Williams are shown the door, and their replacements Trajan Langdon and JB Bickerstaff instantly right the ship. The Pistons put quality veterans and shooting around Cade, and he blossomed. The team was the first to triple its win total from one season to the next, and they made the playoffs.

This year, they have set their sights considerably higher, and at the midway point, they find themselves the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference with a 4.5 game lead over the Boston Celtics.

The format of the All-Star game will look different yet again this season. There will be three eight-man teams — two with U.S. players, one with international players — and they will compete in a round robin format.

The games will be short, and the rosters will be big — eight players suiting up for 12-minute games. So who actually gets to play will be interesting, confusing, and challenging.

The All-Star reserves will be announced later, and Jalen Duren has the inside track to get his first All-Star nod. That would give the Pistons multiple All-Stars for the first time since Richard Hamilton and Ben Wallace did it in 2007-08. It is also likely that JB Bickerstaff will be named the coach of one of the All-Star teams.

Source: https://www.detroitbadboys.com/pistons-news/49061/cade-cunningham-named-all-star-starter