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[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

 

[Detroit Pistons]

Pistons vs. Celtics final score: Detroit cements status as best in the East

A showdown between one of the league’s top offenses facing one of the league’s staunchest defenses ended with defense winning out as a Jaylen Brown contested jumper bounced off the rim, and the Detroit Pistons outlasted the Boston Celtics 104-103 in front of a raucous Little Caesars Arena crowd.

It was a prize fight for 48 minutes, going back and forth with the Celtics hitting deep threes and Detroit’s defense creating running opportunities. It also featured two freshly minted All-Star starters as Cade Cunningham faced Brown. Brown won the matchup 32 points to 16, but Cunningham won the war.

Cade’s wrist is obviously still impacting his offense, and he was relatively selective with his shots. The ones he did take, beyond 15 feet anyway, were flat. But Cade played a brilliant facilitation game and attacked the rim when the opportunity presented itself. Cunningham had 14 assists and zero turnovers and was able to get himself to the line 10 times.

The belt for this one goes to Tobias Harris. The soft-spoken Detroit veteran played his best game of the season, with a team-high 25 points. He hit several huge threes on a night when Detroit struggled with its shot. The Pistons also called his number often, as they took advantage of size mismatches by feeding the power forward in the post to back down an undersized Celtics defender and get a clean look at his patented 10-foot turnaround jumper. Harris also delivered defensively, switching and playing solid help and man-to-man defense. It was Harris who got the assignment to guard Brown with 4.4 seconds remaining, with the entire arena knowing exactly where the ball was going as Boston looked for a game-winning shot.

Detroit also got a big boost from Jalen Duren early. He was nearly unstoppable inside with his face-up game, his deft footwork to create easy looks at the rim, and his rim pressure in the pick-and-roll. He finished with 18 points and nine rebounds

When the Pistons weren’t turning to Unc to patiently dissect Boston’s defense, they relied on their defense to create offense. The Pistons had a 19-4 advantage in points off turnovers and a 20-3 advantage on the fastbreak. Again and again, the Pistons had an answer for whatever Boston was able to throw at them.

Whether it was Brown’s all-around offensive brilliance or 11 combined threes from Sam Hauser and Payton Pritchard, Detroit never looked like a team that expected anything less than a victory when the final buzzer sounded. And they were right. Again. Because they put themselves in a position to rely on their defense for one final possession. And their defense was up to the task.

The Pistons team is imperfect. It’s clear they need more shooting. But it is also clear they have so many ingredients needed to deliver a championship. Tonight they faced off against one of the best teams in the league and came out on top. It’s just what they do.

Source: https://www.detroitbadboys.com/detr...re-detroit-cements-status-as-best-in-the-east

 

[Detroit Pistons]

The Pindown: Good Teams Win Ugly

As the title says, good teams win ugly. And the Pistons are a good team, folks! Wes and Blake hop on to break down the good, the bad, and the ugly from that narrow win against a better-than-expected Suns team. They break down why Jaden Ivey likely didn’t earn more minutes than he got against the Suns, and what he needs to do to stake his claim as the season moves on. The guys discuss a few trade deadline rumors, like Jaren Jackson Jr., and Wes explains exactly why he thinks the Pistons should steer clear. Finally, they dive into Ausar Thompson’s play this season: has he plateaued? What might it mean for his future in Detroit?

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/49039/the-pindown-good-teams-win-ugly

 

[Detroit Pistons]

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

The Detroit Pistons visit some old friends as they face the New Orleans Pelicans for a quick one-game road trip. Former Pistons champion Joe Dumars is the president residing over a controversial rebuild. Troy Weaver is his hand-selected right-hand man. Their reign got off to an inauspicious start when they traded a completely unprotected first-round pick (very bad idea) for Derik Queen (potentially a very good player). They currently have the worst record in the NBA, and Atlanta Hawks fans are scoreboard watching every night. Ideally, this would be another loss for the Pelicans, as Detroit is clearly the better team. But they are using tonight to give Cade Cunningham and Caris LeVert a night off. I swear, if anyone on the broadcast tries to give Troy Weaver credit for Detroit’s young core, I’m gonna lose it. .

Game Vitals​

When: 8 p.m. ET
Where: Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, Louisiana
Watch: Fan Duel Sports Network Detroit
Odds: Pistons -9.5

Projected Lineups​

Detroit Pistons (31-10):

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

New Orleans Pelicans (10-35):

Jeremiah Fears, Trey Murphy III, Herb Jones, Zion Williamson, Derik Queen

Source: https://www.detroitbadboys.com/detr...elicans-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 Saturday morning for the show where we’ll discuss the Pistons’ week of games. Just how impressive was the win over the Celtics? Is Jalen Duren a lock to become an All-Star and join Cade Cunningham? With relatively little chatter surrounding the upcoming trade deadline, will the Pistons make any move?

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 24 at 10:30 a.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]

Under the Hood: No Cade, No Problem

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

Firing on All Cylinders

All five starters finished in double-digits in last night’s win over the New Orleans Pelicans.

Daniss Jenkins – 17 PTS and 4 AST

View Link

Duncan Robinson – 15 PTS, 4 REB, AND 3 AST

View Link

Ausar Thompson – 12 PTS, 9 REB, 3 AST, AND 3 STL

View Link

Tobias Harris – 10 PTS, 6 REB, AND 3 AST

View Link

Jalen Duren – 20 PTS, 15 REB, 3 AST, 1 STL, AND 2 BLK

View Link

Transmission Trouble

In a game that didn’t feature Cade Cunningham and Caris LeVert, this felt like an opportunity for Jaden Ivey to get some increased playing time, but that didn’t happen.

JB Bickerstaff played 10 players last night and Ivey ranked 9th in minutes – only Javonte Green played less than him.

Ron Holland, Marcus Sasser, and Daniss Jenkins all played more minutes than Ivey.

It does feel like Ivey’s shot creation in the midrange has improved and his three-point stroke looks good, but his burst and explosiveness that made him such an intriguing prospect coming out of Purdue isn’t there anymore. Perhaps with more time it’ll slowly come back, but right now, he doesn’t have it.

As I watched last night’s game, it made me wonder: at this point, what does Ivey do that Sasser can’t?

There are more similarities to their game now than pre-Ivey-leg-break. Based on the depth at the guard position for Detroit, I think this is what makes Ivey expendable. Jenkins is more of a point guard, Sasser brings more offensive juice at a lower cost, and Green brings a 3-and-D look that no other guard on the roster can.

I think the writing is on the wall when it comes to Jaden Ivey’s future in Detroit.

Mechanic’s Note

This possession got me hype last night:

View Link

I’ve been a consistent criticizer of the spacing on this team, usually due to the lack of shooting from Ausar and Duren, but the blueprint is there for these two co-existing.

Ausar’s inability to shoot isn’t an issue if he’s the on-ball initiator on offense, especially when he’s going downhill. I’m confident in his passing ability to find JD for a lob or make the right read to an open shooter at the three-point line.

If you pause the video right before Ausar throws the oop, you’ll see Duncan and Ivey in the corners with Tobias on the wing, and they’re all ready to shoot while spacing the floor. This is a great possession that minimizes the weaknesses of Ausar and Duren while also giving them ample room to operate inside.

Source: https://www.detroitbadboys.com/pistons-videos/49092/under-the-hood-no-cade-no-problem

 

[Detroit Pistons]

Pistons vs. Pelicans preview: Quick road trip to New Orleans to face lowly Pelicans

The NBA season is long and I am aware that not everything with the schedule can be perfect, but it is strange to me that the NBA insists on doing these random 1-game road trips, especially to face a Western Conference team. Granted, New Orleans is not as far West as a team like the Lakers, but it is still a further trip than playing somebody in the Midwest.

With that being said, the New Orleans Pelicans are not a very good team, but this game feels like it could be a bit of a trap game given the above information. Plus, the Pistons are coming off a physical, hard-fought battle with the Boston Celtics on Monday.

This game could be used as a “rest game” for players that are clearly nursing injuries like Cade Cunningham. He is not currently listed on the injury report, so that may not be the plan, but as the Pistons have proven many times this season, they are equipped to win games against lesser teams without Cade.

The Pistons have also done a pretty good about not looking past teams that they are heavily-favored against for the most part this season, but this just feels like one of those games. The only time they seem to have done it is while on the road against a team from the West.

Game Vitals​

Where: Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, LA
When: Wednesday, January 21 at 8 pm EST
Watch: Fan Duel Sports Network Detroit
Odds: Pistons (-9.5)

Analysis​

The New Orleans Pelicans have been a mess this season. They have every incentive to win as many games as possible, given the fact they owe their first round pick to the Atlanta Hawks, but they just cannot seem to put things together.

They have dealt with injuries to players like Zion Williamson as they do every season, but for the most part, their main building blocks have been healthy this season. Trey Murphy III has played 41 games, even Zion has still played 29 games, and Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen have played in most of the games this season.

For tonight, the only regular rotation player for sure missing is Jose Alvarado, although they could also be without Herb Jones, who has missed the last few games and is a game-time decision.

Despite all of that, the Pelicans just have not been very good. If you look at their roster and even their bench, they have some solid players. Trey Murphy III has been great this season and is a popular trade candidate around the league. Zion Williamson has been his usual efficient self when he has played. Derik Queen has been fun and is one of the contenders for Rookie of the Year. Even Jeremiah Fears is having a solid year for a young rookie guard. Even old friend Saddiq Bey is even having a great year starting for the Pelicans in his return from a Torn ACL.

For whatever reason, the formula just has not worked. The team has talent, which is why I am concerned by a trap game due to the quick road trip, but things could also come unraveled and the Pistons blow out the Pelicans. You really do not know what you are going to get.

I mentioned it above, but based on the initial injury report I do not foresee it happening, but this would be a good game to give somebody like Cade Cunningham a rest. He has been able to impact the game offensively through his passing, but his wrist contusion he suffered against the Knicks has clearly been bothering him when it comes to shooting. He shot 4-of-17 in the win against the Celtics on Monday, but also had 14 assists and no turnovers.

He went back to the locker room towards the end of the game and had some ice on his ribs, so he is clearly beat up. That is life as a number one option in the league when you play with a team full of guys that are not anywhere near the level of threat offensively as you are, but it could also be beneficial to give him a rest with games against the Rockets and Kings still coming up this weekend.

Right now, the only player on the injury report for the Pistons is Caris LeVert with an illness. And if we are being honest, that is more of a positive than a negative given LeVert’s struggles this season. If he does not play, Daniss Jenkins will get his minutes, I would anticipate.

I think this game goes one of two ways, the nearly-full strength Pistons run the New Orleans Pelicans out of the gym early and get their starters a rest night, or they look past the Pelicans and end up in a dog fight to the final buzzer like they had to on Monday. The Pistons rarely get blown out due to their defense, but they have had some weird games against lesser Western Conference teams on the road like losing to Jazz and almost blowing a huge lead against the Kings just last month.

Lineups​

Detroit Pistons (31-10): Cade Cunningham, Duncan Robinson, Ausar Thompson, Tobias Harris, Jalen Duren

New Orleans Pelicans (10-35): Jeremiah Fears, Trey Murphy III, Herb Jones, Zion Williamson, Derik Queen

Source: https://www.detroitbadboys.com/detr...ad-trip-to-new-orleans-to-face-lowly-pelicans

 

[Detroit Pistons]

Pistons vs Rockets Discussion: Game Time, TV, Odds, and More

We get another Thompson Twin showdown, and the Detroit Pistons and Houston Rockets are collectively better than they’ve ever been, which means we might be in store for a heck of a game. The Pistons remain the leaders in the Eastern Conference, while the Rockets find themselves fourth in a competitive Western Conference at 26-16. The downside is that there seems to be a bug traveling around, and several Pistons are under the weather. Cade Cunningham and Ron Holland are both probable with illness designations and Caris LeVert remains out with an illness. Meanwhile, the Rockets are playing on the second night of a back-to-back after a hard-fought overtime loss to the Sixers yesterday.

Game Vitals​

When: 7:00 p.m. ET
Where: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, Michigan
How: Prime Video
Odds: Pistons -5

Projected Lineups​

Detroit Pistons (32-10)​

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

Houston Rockets (26-16)​

Amen Thompson, Josh Okogie, Kevin Durant, Jabari Smith Jr., Alperen Şengün

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

 

[Detroit Pistons]

Pistons vs Rockets preview: Twins battle during rivalry week

It’s NBA rivalry week, and twin vs twin has been deemed must-see TV. Ausar Thompson and the Detroit Pistons host Amen Thompson and the Houston Rockets tonight.

Detroit has zoomed through its schedule and built a comfortable lead over the field in the East. The Rockets are coming off a tough overtime loss to the Philadelphia 76ers last night. They need every W they can get with the West being so tight between the 4th and 7th seed.

Every game is crucial for Houston, but unfortunately for them, Detroit doesn’t take games off, and we want our twin to break the 2-2 tie between the Thompson brothers. This should be another fun national TV game.

Game Vitals​

When: 7:00 p.m. ET

Where: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, Michigan

How: Prime Video

Odds: Pistons -3.5

Analysis​

The masses wouldn’t believe you if you told them the Pistons would reach 30 wins before the Rockets this season. Yet here we are. Detroit is the one seed, best defense besides the Thunder, and has an All-Star starter. The Rockets can’t claim any of those feats.

The Rockets are the 4th seed out West and one of the few teams with a top-five offense and defense, but are they truly contenders?

I use and love numbers, but I can’t get behind the Rockets being a legit top offense, especially in a playoff setting. Houston is efficient from deep, but shoots the 3 even less than Detroit.

Reed Sheppard is their best volume shooter outside of Durant, but he could be unplayable in April. Sheppard has good hands and instincts, but he might get blown by more than anybody I’ve watched this season. Tari Eason is striking it from 3, but he’s definitely a you-have-to-prove-it’s-real type shooter who teams will leave open. The floor will shrink for them. Their outstanding offensive rebounding and Durant’s shot making is their saving grace.

Ball handler wise, who do you really trust on the Rockets? Detroit has some of these same issues (spacing, ball handlers), but at least they have an MVP-level creator on the roster.

As All-Time as KD is, that’s not his forte. A center like Alperen Şengün being the de facto lead ball handler could raise problems due to his lack of shooting. Teams will sag and clog up the spacing for Durant.

On the other end, the Pistons’ defense will translate to any basketball setting. The Rockets are 4th to Detroit’s 2nd, but there’s a 4-point swing between these groups. All elite defenses aren’t created equally.

A high-energy chaotic group that’s on a string travels. The communication travels. Deploying two top-flight Defensive Player of the Year candidates in Isaiah Stewart and Ausar Travels.

Ausar matches up with point guards 31 percent of the time per Bball-Index, but with the Rockets’ No. 1 option being Durant, we’ll see how JB Bickerstaff plays the matchup game. Amen is on the ball the most, but doesn’t operate like a modern point guard.

Jalen Duren and Stew will take the Şengün matchup. Şengün has struggled to finish at the cup. He’s shot a career high 68 percent at the rim, but that’s a lowly number for a big, and especially a “star” big. It won’t get any easier finishing with Detroit’s dawg pound members ready to bite.

Ausar might not have official access to the dawg pound, but there’s no doubt he’s a menacing defender. He’s an A+ all across the board on the perimeter (stats from 12/31/2025 but remain the same today).

Ausar Thompson's perimeter defense numbers are ridiculous pic.twitter.com/ZmrIR4K28V

— BBall Index (@The_BBall_Index) December 31, 2025

Amen hasn’t been that level of a defender, but he’s expanded his game a bit offensively. The shot is the shot, but Amen is 79% at the line (~11% jump). Ausar could take some pointers there, as his poor FT shooting could be something that keeps him off the floor in the postseason, no matter how elite a defender he is.

Shooting aside, point Ausar continues to be a fun wrinkle Detroit can sprinkle in when he’s aggressive. His whip passes become easier to make when he’s a threat to score, and defenders are forced to make a decision. We’ve seen him step up as a ball handler with and without Cade Cunningham, so the New Orleans Pelicans game was not surprising.

With Cade out today, we are seeing a lot more of Ausar Thompson on-ball

And he’s handling those duties extremely well

I think he’s a naturally gifted playmaker, and he’s done a great job staying aggressive with the ball in his hands and initiating the O pic.twitter.com/o9OOoIOb6A https://t.co/OKxKOQbt6R

— Point Made Basketball (@pointmadebball) January 22, 2026

The Pistons-Rockets “rivalry” had deeper lore when Jalen Green was a part of HTown. The history between him and Cade made for some anticipated matchups. That debate was settled long ago, but that hasn’t stopped Cade from putting his foot where it doesn’t belong when he matches up with Houston.

Who could forget last year’s slam when he dunked “on all them mfs heads“? Cade’s mentality is an under-discussed aspect of his greatness. He’s a gamer and lets opponents know he’s here to stay.

Detroit has an opportunity to make another statement on national TV. The New York Knicks and Boston Celtics got the belt in front of the whole NBA world, and Houston is next.

Lineups​

Detroit Pistons (32-10)

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

Houston Rockets (26-16)

Amen Thompson, Josh Okogie, Kevin Durant, Jabari Smith Jr., Alperen Şengün

Question of the day​

Who is the best spark plug on the roster?

Source: https://www.detroitbadboys.com/detr...kets-preview-twins-battle-during-rivalry-week

 

[Detroit Pistons]

Under the Hood: Previewing playoff possessions

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

Firing on All Cylinders

I was really impressed with Ausar Thompson last night. Houston started off the game by guarding him with center Alperen Şengün and giving him space if he had the ball away from the rim.

He misses the layup here, but he flashed to the middle when Cade was doubled and created a nice look at the rim with the spin move.

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If he couldn’t get to the rim, he used his patented midrange fadeaway over Şengün.

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And over Kevin Durant.

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And over Jabari Smith Jr.

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He had this great pass to Jalen Duren, too.

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Transmission Trouble

JB Bickerstaff played 10 guys in his rotation last night with Cade Cunningham back, but Caris LeVert still out. Cade played the most at 38 minutes while the four other starters, along with Stew and Holland, all played 24-26 minutes.

The three guys at the end of the rotation were Daniss Jenkins at 19 minutes, Javonte Green at 17 minutes, and Jaden Ivey at 14 minutes.

As we get closer to the trade deadline, I think it’s smart for the Detroit organization to brainstorm about their playoff rotation. JB Bickerstaff has 11 capable rotation players if you include LeVert, and that’s still leaving out guys like Paul Reed and Marcus Sasser.

JBB will most likely cut this rotation down to 8 or 9 guys once the playoffs start. Which of the 2-3 players at the end of the bench aren’t going to see the court in the postseason? Are those the players that could be used in a trade to find an upgrade elsewhere? How would those players feel about not getting minutes? Does any of this impact their deadline decision-making?

JB Bickerstaff and Trajan Langdon will have to figure that out together as we try to read between-the-lines of JBB’s minutes distribution.

Mechanic’s Note

Speaking of playoff basketball, I would expect to see Cade Cunningham get doubled plenty in the postseason. When he is, we’re going to need to see these kinds of possessions out of Ausar Thompson and Jalen Duren.

With Şengün guarding Thompson, Ausar sets a screen for Cade and receives the pass on the roll. He ends up with plenty of space to attack KD at the rim. My one complaint is that Tobias Harris is not already in the left corner before Ausar attacks because having two players in the corners gives Ausar options if the paint is too crowded.

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Here’s another possession where Houston doubles Cade, but this time he finds Duren in the short roll. Again, the floor would be spaced better if Duncan Robinson is in the left corner as both corners would be filled to give Duren passing options. Yet, Duren is still able to use his strength and athletic ability for a strong finish at the rim.

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These two possessions are fantastic examples as to why this team could use an additional shooter at the forward position. Two off-ball shooters at SG and PF would take the Cade and Ausar/Duren pick-and-rolls to the next level.

We’ll see in the next few weeks whether Trajan Langdon agrees.

Source: https://www.detroitbadboys.com/pistons-videos/49121/under-the-hood-previewing-playoff-possessions