Balanced effort and defense leads Pistons to win over Suns
By Tim Thielke
66. 100. 64. Final. 92
The Pistons rebounded nicely from their first loss of the season with a solid performance against the Phoenix Suns. While the Pistons could never pull away, they looked like the better team from start to finish. Detroit took their first lead on an and-1 by Ilyasova a little under five minutes into the game and never gave it up. They improve to 4-1, good for fourth in the Eastern Conference and tied for fifth in the NBA overall. No opponent has managed to score 95 points on the Pistons yet this year.
B. Reggie Jackson had arguably his best game so far this season. His floor vision still left a bit to be desired, but he was the best of the several not-quite-natural point guards on the floor in this one. Jackson especially carried the Pistons in the 4th quarter.. PG. Pistons. REGGIE JACKSON
A-. Until he adds something more to his game, KCP’s ceiling is probably a very good role player. But he really delivered on that role tonight, playing stifling defense and knocking down eight of his ten shots.. SG. Pistons. KENTAVIOUS CALDWELL-POPE
Marcus Morris was heavily booed by the Phoenix crowd–a bit of an odd reaction to a player the team chose to salary dump. It was unfortunate that he and his twin, Markieff, rarely guarded each other. But Marcus outplayed Markieff in this one and that was a significant factor in the Pistons’ win.. SF. Pistons. MARCUS MORRIS. B+
I don’t know what exactly the deal with Ilyasova is. Every game, he seems to play very well in the first quarter. But after coming out and subbing back into the game, he tends to be invisible until Van Gundy just pulls him for the remainder of the game. If that’s all Ilyasova can do, that’s still a valuable thing, but it would be good to know that he just has one good quarter in him every game.. PF. Pistons. ERSAN ILYASOVA. C+
C. Pistons. ANDRE DRUMMOND. B-. Drummond was again a beast on the glass. He’s looking like just about a sure thing to lead the league in rebounding this year. But his paint defense wasn’t quite as good as it has been the last couple games. And he very nearly gave the game away with his atrocious free throw shooting. After some very promising success from the stripe to open the season, this game brings his free throw shooting this year to 21-46, pretty much in line with the rest of his career.
C-. Stanley Johnson continues to shoot poorly. And he added some turnovers for good measure. But at least he (and the reserves in general) played good defense in this one to allow Detroit to build on the lead the starters created. And he definitely outplayed Van Gundy’s second choice for his draft slot, Devin Booker, who didn’t even get on the floor.. SF. Pistons. STANLEY JOHNSON
Steve Blake is apparently capable of hitting shots.. PG. Pistons. STEVE BLAKE. B
C+. Baynes didn’t do much, but he was more positive than negative.. C. Pistons. ARON BAYNES
C+. Tolliver filled in the Pistons’ rebounding deficit when Drummond sat. He didn’t hit many shots, but at least he was taking the right shots.. PF. Pistons. ANTHONY TOLLIVER
Pistons. STAN VAN GUNDY. B. The Pistons continued to play strong defense. Sooner or later, Van Gundy will have to figure out some offense, especially when Detroit plays a team that is very strong on the defensive glass. But in the meantime, he led the Pistons to yet another win as the underdogs this season.. Head Coach