John Loyer brings welcome passion, more-welcome victory to Pistons in debut

By Dan Feldman | Feb 11, 2014

San Antonio Spurs

100

Final Recap | Box Score

109

Detroit Pistons

Just an all-around strong game on both ends of the floor. Remember when Monroe looked engaged offensively and defensively early in the season? That two-way enthusiasm returned tonight. It almost seemed as if Monroe has a fresh start.

38 MIN | 4-12 FG | 4-4 FT | 6 REB | 2 AST | 2 STL | 1 BLK | 2 TO | 12 PTS | +9

Smith had a very impressive fastbreak dunk, but otherwise, he settled for too many jumpers. On a night so many of his teammates played passionately, Smith, who generally plays hard, faded into the background a bit. His defense was strong, though.

32 MIN | 3-11 FG | 2-4 FT | 6 REB | 0 AST | 2 STL | 0 BLK | 2 TO | 10 PTS | +16

It’s not Singler’s fault, but he’s a step slow defending shooting guards, and the Spurs took advantage. A cold shooting night doesn’t help either.

26 MIN | 7-10 FG | 0-2 FT | 9 REB | 0 AST | 1 STL | 3 BLK | 1 TO | 14 PTS | +5

Drummond was blocking shots with such ease, he was directing his rejections toward his teammates – even off the backboard once – to start fastbreaks. That’s some next-level defense (and offense).

32 MIN | 8-18 FG | 3-3 FT | 4 REB | 6 AST | 2 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 21 PTS | +15

Jennings tuned cold in the fourth quarter, shooting 0-for-4, as the offense stalled. But before that, he played with great flare. Jennings took some wild shots – and made them – while still keeping his teammates involved.

10 MIN | 0-1 FG | 0-0 FT | 2 REB | 0 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 0 PTS | 0

Jerebko, to his credit, played within himself. He’s getting comfortable in the rotation and not pressing. But if Jerebko playing within himself means so little production, maybe Luigi Datome deserves another chance at playing time.

16 MIN | 4-8 FG | 0-0 FT | 0 REB | 2 AST | 2 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 8 PTS | -6

John Loyer’s most notable change was Bynum’s return to the rotation. Bynum and Maurice Cheeks feuded against the Magic, and then Cheeks benched Bynum for the last two games. Well, Cheeks is gone now, so Bynum is back.

21 MIN | 3-7 FG | 2-3 FT | 1 REB | 0 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK | 2 TO | 9 PTS | -3

The Spurs’ sophisticated offense challenged Caldwell-Pope defensively, and he shot a woeful 1-for-5 on 3-pointers. Yet, Caldwell-Pope still salvaged a decent game. That’s no easy feat for a rookie who’s skillset has been limited for most of the season and a real credit to Caldwell-Pope’s competitiveness.

28 MIN | 7-13 FG | 6-8 FT | 4 REB | 3 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK | 3 TO | 20 PTS | -6

Stuckey was especially aggressive with the ball in his hands tonight. At times, he he definitely veered over the line of remaining in control, but that mindset helped him much more than it hurt him.

I have little idea what to make of Loyer after only one game, but I quite enjoyed watching him coach. I wrote about him at ESPN. An excerpt:

"Loyer — whose last multigame head-coaching stint was at Wabash Valley College — jumped into his new post with aplomb and a refreshing passion. He roamed the sideline, encouraging his players to run offensively and demanding they close on shooters defensively.The Pistons responded, playing with extra bounce while building a lead that peaked at 23 points over one of the NBA’s top teams."

"the Pistons have run through failed coaches: Flip Saunders (too offensively minded), Michael Curry (too inexperienced), John Kuester (too meek), Lawrence Frank (too rigid) and Cheeks (too terrible).Could Loyer be the just-right porridge?Despite Monday’s result, it’s doubtful. He hasn’t been a hot commodity on the coaching market and got this chance mostly by being in the right place at the right time.He came to Detroit with Frank in 2011 and, as a former Cheeks assistant in Philadelphia and Portland, stayed through the transition last summer. The Pistons reportedly also offered Lionel Hollins a spot on Cheeks’ staff, but the former Memphis Grizzlies coach turned them down, and they failed to add a logical successor for Cheeks.So Loyer, who’s respected for passion toward coaching, got the big opportunity in a season in which the playoffs are still realistic. In fact, the Pistons are now tied with the Charlotte Bobcats for the No. 8 seed.Wouldn’t it be something if Loyer, the byproduct of two failed regimes, becomes the coach who finally succeeds in Detroit?We can’t know what his future holds, but Loyer should feel good on his first night as an active head coach."