Detroit Pistons Lose Eight Straight

Andre Drummond-F

Just when we think Drummond is going to turn the corner he drops a stinker. 2-points on 1/8 shooting with 7-rebounds in 20 minutes. He had 3-fouls at half time.

Regardless of how bad he played in the first half, his lack of minutes in the second was shocking.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope-B

20-points by the end of the third quarter–16 of them coming in the third alone–on 7/11 shooting (3-5 fr0m the 3-point line). What was most impressive were the different ways he was scoring. He was hitting from catch and shoot, coming off screens, two-dribble pull-ups, in transition, and getting to the free throw line.

When Caldwell-Pope’s shot is falling he is fun to watch. The only reason his grade isn’t higher is because his fourth quarter was a complete let down as he missed all but one of his shots to finish with 23-points.

Brandon Jennings-C-

Jennings stat-line at the half looked nice with 11-points, 2-assists, and 3-rebounds. Unfortunately the stat-line wasn’t indicative of Jenning’s play. He was 2-10 from the field and hardly getting his teammates involved. He also missed badly on his two alley-oop attempts to Andre Drummond.

Jennings would finish with 22-points on 5/16 shooting with 6-assists.

Kyle Singler-C

Got the start over Greg Monroe and moved really well without the ball early in the game. He also had a decent night on defense with 3 steals and a block.

He’d finish with a modest 9-points with 4-rebounds and 4-assists.

Josh Smith-C+

7-points, 5-rebounds, 5-assists, 3-steals, 1-block at the half on 3/9 shooting with zero turnovers(!).

He’d just miss his fourth career triple-double with 14-points, 11-assists, and 9-rebounds. I wish I could give him a higher grade but he missed 12-shots on 6/18 shooting including two air balls.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Josh Smith the facilitator is a huge asset. If he isn’t in the Pistons’ plans for the future, his play of late may at least increase his value to other teams.

Fun Fact: Smith is actually forth among all starting forwards in assists at 4.6 per game.

Greg Monroe-C

13-points and 10-rebounds from Moose, but on 5/12 shooting (all point-blank range).

D.J. Augustin-C

Agustin, after starting the last three games, only received 12-minutes in Brandon Jennings return so it’s hard to give him much of a grade one way or the other.

Caron Butler-F

Received 18-minutes and scored 0-points.

Cartier Martin-C

Martin is slowly working his way back. In 13-minutes he scored five points.

Jonas Jerebko-C

6-minutes from Jerekbo isn’t enough time to give him a grade, but he still managed 2-rebounds and 2-assists.

Stan Van Gundy-F

Van Gundy mixed up the starting lineup against the Warriors giving Kyle Singler the nod over Greg Monroe. The ball movement was solid and Singler played so-so, but it made sense to mix things up against a dangerous Golden State squad.  Plus, the Pistons were at a seven game losing streak (now eight) and a change was needed.

Unfortunately, Van Gundy’s lineup change was about the best part of his coaching today.

He failed to get rookie point guard Spencer Dinwiddie on the floor at all –despite the rookie’s solid play–and his team failed to close out the second quarter as the Warriors increased their single digit lead to 53-40 at the half. Midway through the third quarter Van Gundy’s defense had already surrendered 74-points.

I really didn’t understand why Spencer Dinwiddie didn’t get to play at all or why Drummond didn’t get to see more minutes in the fourth.