Can the Pistons get the turnovers under control?
Last season the Pistons did a pretty good job of protecting the ball, turning it over 13.4 times per game. That mark was good for a respectable 8th in the NBA. Against the Pacers, however, the Pistons were far too loose with the ball. They turned the ball over 20 times, with rookie Stanley Johnson leading the way with six turnovers, followed by Ersan Ilyasova with four, and Spencer Dinwiddie and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope both with three.
We’re certainly looking at the result of a brand new team playing at a competitive tempo for the first time being the cause of the high number, but it’s a point of caution that the Pistons can’t be getting into poor habits that expose them to an undue number of turnovers.
The Pistons may have a more talented roster than they have had in a few years, but one of the things that makes a good team, well, a good team, is being able to take care of the ball. The Pistons are not good enough to overcome excessive turnovers, so keep an eye on how that develops against the Nets.