2012 Preseason: Raptors flip the script on the Pistons

After a 101-99 thriller on Wednesday night against Toronto, the Pistons showed the inconsistencies of a rebuilding team on Friday, dropping an 82-75 decision to the same Raptors.

This one was a much different contest all around, as both teams shot under 40% from the field and had more turnovers than assists. With all the missed shots, there were 86 total rebounds between the two teams (45 for Detroit, 41 for Toronto).

Detroit’s second unit of Jonny Flynn, Terrence Williams, Kyle Singler, Slava Kravtsov and Andre Drummond – two training camp invitees and three rookies – came out in the second quarter with a four-point lead, but after 11 turnovers, they found themselves down 39-34 at halftime.

There wasn’t much offense the rest of the way – the game was tied 58-all just a few minutes after the fourth quarter began – but the Pistons actually had a 68-67 lead after a Kravtsov fast-break dunk off a feed from Flynn. It wasn’t enough, however, as they went cold from the field and fell to 1-1 in the preseason.

Some notes from the game:

•  After scoring 10 points on five shots and 6-of-6 free throw shooting in his first game, shooting guard Rodney Stuckey led the team in scoring with 14 points but needed 11 shots. It might be that he’s still transitioning to the position, as last season was his first there, but he’ll need to increase his offensive efficiency as he is usually the second or third scoring option for the Pistons.
• Austin Daye didn’t play in the Pistons’ first game, and he might as well have missed this one too. He shot 2-of-11 from the field and scored just four points on the night. He also turned the ball over three times and fouled out in 27 minutes. One positive? He corralled nine rebounds. If Daye hopes to crack Lawrence Frank’s rotation this season, he’ll need to recapture the offensive abilities he has seemingly lost in the last year or so.
• Kyle Singler played just six minutes and didn’t take a single shot in the team’s 101-99 victory, but he was much more aggressive in this one. He didn’t shoot well (33%) to get his nine points, but considering he’ll likely be a fixture on the team’s roster for the future, showing an assertive streak on offense is a good thing.
• Detroit’s past two lottery picks, Greg Monroe and Brandon Knight, both had lackluster performances. Monroe scored nine points, blocked two shots and grabbed six rebounds, while Knight had five assists and five rebounds. They both played under 25 minutes each, something that won’t happen once the regular season starts, so it’s hard to judge their performances in this one.
• While he might not make the roster, Terrence Williams showed his athleticism and versatility against Toronto. He scored just two points on four shots, but he had five rebounds, four assists, three points and a steal, while committing just two turnovers. He must show more to steal a roster spot away, but this type of all-around game could help him along the way.
• After going 0-of-13 from the three-point line on Wednesday, the Pistons improved (if you can call it that) and shot 4-of-18 on Friday. Four made three-pointers in two games is a disappointing stat, and one that cannot continue for Detroit. Both Kim English and Khris Middleton didn’t play for the second-consecutive game; both should help with the team’s poor preseason shooting thus far.

Check back here after the game for a recap and follow our Twitter account for in-game updates!