Inconsistent Pistons Host Raptors
By J.M. Poulard
Essentials
- Teams: Toronto Raptors (42-28) at Detroit Pistons (26-44)
- Date: March 24
- Time: 7:30 p.m.
- Television: FSD+
Get in the Game
As the Detroit Pistons prepare to host the Toronto Raptors tonight, one can only wonder if Detroit has already killed off most of its fan base given the night-to-night performances.
The Pistons dismantled a title contender on March 17 at home in the Memphis Grizzlies, only to fall flat on their collective faces the following night in a disturbing loss against the Philadelphia 76ers.
Anger, disappointment, chaos and disbelief ensue in the Motor City as a result of DEEEETROIT BASKETBALL.
So what happens next? The Pistons defeat the Chicago Bulls (will likely end up with home court advantage during the first round of the postseason) and the playoff hopeful Boston Celtics.
Exhale.
The Pistons behave like a mediocre team, which at times can be tough to swallow. They’re wildly inconsistent, which makes predicting the outcome of Detroit games an exercise in futility.
The lone constant anyone can take from these Pistons is their invulnerability when they hit threes. If Detroit makes it rain from long range, book the contest in its favor. When this team doesn’t, things get interesting.
Keep that in mind when the Raptors stroll into the Palace of Auburn Hills with their bottom-third defense.
It’s probably a good idea to bring up the fact that Toronto’s perimeter players believe in the abstract art of defense more so than the actual idea of playing it.
Truthfully, it’s odd.
I think it’s safe to say that fans would expect athletic marvels such as DeMar DeRozan, Terrence Ross and James Johnson to instil fear into the minds of opponents, but that’s just not the case. Johnson is the lone perimeter player in Toronto that provides resistance and plays with a chip on his shoulder defensively, and that makes him stand out for the Raptors.
The others often look like they’re going through the motions and can’t be bothered with the seemingly foreign concept of defense.
It’s part of the reason that Toronto is among the bottom-third teams in terms of protecting the paint and a slightly better-than-average unit when it comes to defending shots beyond the arc.
However, any talk revolving around the Raptors must include their best player—Kyle Lowry.
He’s a bulldog on the court and can be destructive at times defensively with his physical style and anticipation of plays. Furthermore, Lowry gives Toronto an edge the team simply doesn’t seem to have in his absence.
Indeed, most of Toronto’s passion stems from its fiery point guard. That last point is extremely relevant considering that Lowry is listed as questionable (back) heading into tonight’s contest. The Raptors aren’t bad without him, but it’s not like they’re juggernaut without the All-Star either.
As a result, I’m inclined to think that an absent Lowry makes it that much easier for Pistons guard Reggie Jackson to roam around and get the shots he desires.
Remember, Toronto’s defense isn’t the stuff to write home about (neither is the Pistons’ for that matter), which suggests that Detroit could have one of those games where they marry their interior game with long-range bombs.
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