Detroit Pistons Can’t Buck Losing Streak

Detroit Pistons-86, Milwaukee Bucks-98

Jonas Jerebko-C

Jerebko’s stats aren’t very impressive (one-point one-rebound), but as usual he played harder than everyone on the floor and the ball movement was noticeably better on offense when he was playing. His defense was also solid on Ersan Ilyasova.

Kyle Singler-D-

Singler continues to be the Pistons best spot up shooter which is a scary thought given he only shot 3/10 from the floor tonight. Even with a below-average shooting night, it looks like Singler is starting to take over Caldwell-Pope’s minutes.

Greg Monroe-B+

Just another solid night from Mr. Reliable, 15-points and 8-rebounds on 7/10 shooting.

Caron Butler-C+

Caron has been fairly consistent this season and his performance tonight wasn’t any different, 4/9 shooting for 8-points.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope-F

2/9 shooting, six-points, three-fouls, 2-assists. What’s worse is O.J. Mayo had a field day against Caldwell-Pope scoring 17-points on the night.

Typically when Caldwell-Pope’s shot isn’t falling he is still valuable, because of his defensive presence–not tonight.

Maybe the Pistons should take Brandon Jennings’ advice and shoot more in practice.

Josh Smith-B

The good Josh Smith showed up and he nearly got a triple-double with 11-points (4-10 shooting), 8-assits, and 10-rebounds. His shot selection was excellent too.

Andre Drummond-A+

Drummond looked like a man among boys scoring 23-points along with 10-rebounds. This is the center we all expected to see in 2014. Now fingers crossed that he can keep it up.

D.J. Augustin-B+

Offense actually played better under Augustin than Jennings. He set Drummond up with almost a half a dozen alley-oops and his pass/shoot combination helped everyone else in the offense get easier shots. I’d like to see Augustin continue to get starts over Jennings to see whether or not he can keep it up.

Speaking of point guards, it makes me sick watching Brandon Knight go off for the Bucks. I wish the Pistons could have a mulligan on that trade.

Spencer Dinwiddie-C-

Dinwiddie looks like a rookie, but that’s not a big deal at this point. He should get more comfortable as the season goes on and as he adjusts to the speed of the NBA. He also had a nice three-pointer in garbage time.

Joel Anthony, Cartier Martin- I

Both Anthony and Martin receive an incomplete grade after playing only one minute in the game

Stan Van Gundy-D

Van Gundy didn’t play Spencer Dinwiddie much in the second half despite being one point guard short thanks to Brandon Jennings’ thumb injury and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope didn’t see a minute in the fourth.

I get that Van Gundy wanted to put his most competitive unit on the floor in Smith, Drummond, Monroe, Augustin, and Singler, but keeping Caldwell-Pope on the bench in a 10+ point game doesn’t make any sense to me.