Pistons’ defense lapses somewhat as their offense goes through the roof
By Tim Thielke
You thought the Pistons missed the playoffs? Not at PistonPowered.
We’re honoring the 10th anniversary of the 2004 NBA championship team by examining each postseason game on the corresponding 2014 date. We’ll look back at Detroit’s performances, detail our memories of that time and provide insight from the players and coaches who were Goin’ to Work every single night.
So, stick with us this “offseason.” I have a hunch these Pistons will be playing into June.
| Chauncey Billups, PG 37 MIN | 6-10 FG | 6-6 FT | 3 REB | 9 AST | 3 STL | 0 BLK | 3 TO | 19 PTSBillups had his best offensive game of the series, along with just about every other Piston. But he also got outplayed by his counterpart, Damon Jones. | ||
| Richard Hamilton, SG 35 MIN | 10-17 FG | 4-4 FT | 2 REB | 6 AST | 2 STL | 0 BLK | 2 TO | 27 PTSRip played a very good game on both sides of the court, buoying Detroit with three triples and keeping Desmond Mason in check. | ||
| Tayshaun Prince, SF 37 MIN | 8-11 FG | 0-0 FT | 4 REB | 3 AST | 1 STL | 1 BLK | 1 TO | 17 PTSI know I’m focusing oddly much on what the Pistons’ opponents did, but everyone’s shot was falling for Detroit. However, Prince was the biggest reason the Bucks couldn’t keep pace. Michael Redd had 12 points, 14 missed shots, and 4 turnovers. | ||
| Rasheed Wallace, PF 37 MIN | 7-14 FG | 5-5 FT | 9 REB | 3 AST | 0 STL | 3 BLK | 0 TO | 20 PTSThe Bucks replaced Brian Skinner in the starting lineup with Keith Van Horn. Van Horn couldn’t guard Rasheed on the block, so he did a good job of placing himself there early and often. When he went out to the perimeter, his results were much more hit or miss. | ||
| Ben Wallace, C 44 MIN | 1-7 FG | 5-6 FT | 9 REB | 5 AST | 4 STL | 4 BLK | 2 TO | 7 PTSBen Wallace was Detroit’s lone starting offensive dud. But he mostly made up for it on the other end. Joe Smith was able to hurt the Pistons offensively, but Ben’s help defense on everyone else was fantastic. | ||
| Corliss Williamson, PF 9 MIN | 2-2 FG | 0-0 FT | 0 REB | 0 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 2 TO | 4 PTSWilliamson didn’t earn many minutes this time around, but he was determined to take advantage of them. He got a bit sloppy, but at least he hit his shots. | ||
| Lindsey Hunter, PG 17 MIN | 2-4 FG | 0-0 FT | 3 REB | 4 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK | 1 TO | 4 PTSHunter did a good job of ensuring the team didn’t drop off too much when Billups or Hamilton came out. | ||
| Mehmet Okur, C 14 MIN | 4-6 FG | 0-0 FT | 2 REB | 0 AST | 0 STL | 1 BLK | 1 TO | 8 PTSMemo shot well but was a complete defensive dud. He gave up more than he put up. |
8 MIN | 1-1 FG | 0-0 FT | 0 REB | 1 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 3 PTS
James flirted with an incomplete…
Darvin Ham2 MIN | 0-0 FG | 0-0 FT | 1 REB | 0 AST | 0 STL | 1 BLK | 0 TO | 0 PTS
…Ham genuinely earned one.
, Head Coach
This was not a very Larry Brown sort of game. So I’m only giving him partial credit for the Pistons’ offensive explosion.
-Tim Thielke
From the front lines
The Pistons’ 109 points in Game 4 were their most in a playoff game in 13 years. No disrespect to Tim, but maybe Larry Brown had something to do with it,
“Larry was an offensive genius,” said Dave Hanners, an assistant coach on the 2004 Pistons who now holds the same position with the Pelicans. “People think of him as a defensive coach, but he’s really an offensive coach.”
Hanners, who followed Brown to New York and then Charlotte, said the Bobcats ran more than 450 plays one year. Brown was certainly not afraid to experiment.
“He’d go through a ton of stuff to find what really worked,” Hanners said.
In Game 4, Richard Hamilton scored 27 points on 17 shots — the Pistons’ highest-scoring game of the 2004 playoffs to that point. Maybe Brown found something that really worked.
-Dan Feldman
Up next
Feels good to get a comfortable win, doesn’t it?
The Pistons took a commanding 3-1 lead over a seventh-seeded Bucks team that has given them a surprising battle.
Balance has always been the Pistons’ game, but when the starters are scoring 90 points — an even and balanced 90 at that — they’re really tough to beat. Oh, and when they hold a prolific scorer like Michael Redd to 5-for-19 shooting they’re pretty tough to beat, too.
This is the kind of game the Pistons needed at this point. They scorched the nets, shooting 57 percent and held the Bucks’ main offensive options in check.
Possible late-round series against teams like, say, New Jersey and Indiana aren’t going to be so reliant on one scorer.
But the Pistons still need one more win over Milwaukee before we can start talking about the Nets, right?
-Brady Fredericksen