Can Pistons and Cavs Rekindle Rivalry?
By J.M. Poulard
Essentials
- Teams: Detroit Pistons (6-23) at Cleveland Cavaliers (18-11)
- Date: December 28
- Time: 4:30 p.m.
- Television: FSD
Get in the Game
The Detroit Pistons will try to rekindle their past rivalry with the Cleveland Cavaliers when the teams face off this afternoon at the Quicken Loans Arena.
Granted, none of the Pistons players – or coaches and GM – who faced off against the Cavs during the 2005-07 postseason runs are still with the team, but let’s not let that get in the way. Detroit shares a division with Cleveland, and perhaps that could be the impetus for some healthy competition despite the fact these teams appear headed in different directions.
Head coach and team president Stan Van Gundy has already publicly stated that Detroit will seek to “aggressively develop younger players”, which is typically a sign that a franchise is willing to take its lumps in an effort to give the youth in-game reps.
That runs counter with the Cavs, who are trying to win a championship. Cleveland certainly has talent, but it’s an incredibly flawed unit. The pieces don’t fit quite yet on offense despite the top-four league ranking. The Cavs haven’t figured out whether they’re an interior team, perimeter squad or small-ball unit.
Anderson Varejao is going to be sidelined for the remainder of the season with an Achilles injury, which further compounds Cleveland’s identity crisis. Thus, the Cavs will shift styles during games, and it tends to confuse the players themselves. Kevin Love starts games out inside but then stops getting touches on the block as the game unfolds.
Instead, he gets relegated to the perimeter where he watches Kyrie Irving, LeBron James and Dion Waiters operate in pick-and-rolls or isolation sets. Still, the trio of Love, Irving and James is supremely gifted, and that alone allows them to pour on points against opponents despite an inconsistent “structure.”
If the Cavs had a great defense, they could mitigate the lapses on offense, but that’s hardly the case. Cleveland’s defense vacillates between competent and atrocious from one half to the next. Part of the problem stems from the fact the personnel is fairly limited on this front, but the bigger issue is the mindset.
The 82-game grind can certainly wear on players, and superstars aren’t immune to regular-season lulls. This was widely evident when the Cavs played on the road Friday night against the Orlando Magic.
Cleveland appeared to be going through the motions until Magic forward Tobias Harris elbowed LeBron and offered a few choice words after the fact. ESPN.com’s Dave McMenamin relayed that it lit up a fire under James, who then proceeded to singlehandedly take down the Magic with a fourth-quarter eruption.
LeBron’s play against Orlando will likely enhance the legendary status of King James, but utilizing an on and off switch is a dangerous proposal, especially for a Cleveland team that is still figuring out what it is.
As a result, the Pistons should get a chance to do some damage in this game, especially on the interior with the tandem of Andre Drummond and Greg Monroe. The absence of Varejao coupled with the passive attitude of the Cavs has left them exposed inside the paint, and the Pistons should win that battle.
Winning the contest will come down to how much of a sizable advantage Detroit can create in the game.
Injury note: Kyrie Irving is probable with a knee contusion, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
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