Pistons Battle with Hornets
By J.M. Poulard
Essentials
- Teams: Detroit Pistons (20-32) at Charlotte Hornets (22-29)
- Date: February 10
- Time: 7:00 p.m.
- Television: FSD
Get in the Game
The Detroit Pistons will try to rebound from its recent loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves when they take on the Charlotte Hornets on the road tonight.
The standings reveal that both teams are fairly close to each other in terms of record, although Charlotte is over .500 in its last 10 games (6-4) while Detroit is not (4-6).
Let’s now add some confusion to the matter.
The Hornets’ scoring differential (minus-2.1) is inferior to the Pistons’ (minus-1.8), and that net differential is typically a great indicator of success. Thus, one should be inclined to believe that Detroit’s season will surpass Charlotte’s, a team that currently resides in the No. 7 spot of the Eastern Conference.
Pistons fans might view this as good news, but things aren’t quite that simple. Much of Detroit’s point totals were accrued with Brandon Jennings, and he is now sidelined for the remainder of the campaign with an Achilles tear.
The Pistons can still get into the playoffs with some good fortune and good play, but the combination of both is a relatively tall task.
NBA.com offers that Detroit has defended at bottom-half level since January 1, and that just won’t suffice to get into the playoffs. The best defense in basketball during that stretch?
You guessed it: Charlotte.
The Hornets are stingy on both the wings and the interior, which allows them to remain in games late and then close them out.
Opponents have yet to figure out how to limit Al Jefferson, who is averaging 20 points per 36 minutes on 48.8 percent shooting from the field. He’s a stud low-post scorer who commands double teams, and that allows teammates to get open looks.
Granted, the Hornets aren’t exactly the Atlanta Hawks. Charlotte doesn’t quite swing the ball from side to side with elite shooters waiting to catch and shoot. Furthermore, the Hornets don’t have a single quality shot creator, and that often makes for bad results in terms of scoring.
Some might argue that Kemba Walker does just that with his 19 points and 5.3 assists per 36 minutes, but his 39.9 percent field-goal mark coupled with the fact he was diagnosed to miss six weeks with a knee injury late in January suggests the contrary.
Charlotte smartly traded away Gary Neal for Mo Williams and Troy Daniels today to help remedy the lack of playmaking and shooting, but these players likely won’t be available tonight against the Pistons.
As a result, Detroit should have an easier than usual time defending Charlotte, although one shouldn’t characterize it as a cakewalk.
The Hornets still have a capable and occasionally wild playmaker in Lance Stephenson, and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist is evolving this season into more than just an athlete and lockdown defender after reworking his shooting form, per Sports Illustrated’s Lee Jenkins:
“He is a long way from sniper status, yet he has shot 67.4% from the line and 52.0% from 10 to 16 feet, and defenders don’t abandon him anymore.”
The Hornets are a frisky bunch that few teams should take lightly. Sure they’re sub-.500, but Charlotte still competes hard and defends at a high level. Grantland’s Zach Lowe summed up this unit best:
“The offense still stinks — Charlotte ranks 29th in points per possession — but the Hornets are squeezing out just enough points to let their defense nudge them across the finish line.”
Be warned Pistons.
Read about the Hornets