The Pistons are still seeking their first playoff victory since the 2007-08 Eastern Conference Finals after falling 106-101 in game 1 to the Cavs on Sunday.
The Detroit Pistons looked good for much of the first three-and-a-half quarters in game one of the first round of the NBA playoffs on Sunday against the Cleveland Cavaliers, but deteriorated down the stretch in a 106-101 road loss against the experienced and playoff-hardened defending Eastern Conference champion Cavs.
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Normally one of the best teams in the NBA all season long in the clutch, the Pistons’ own inexperience hindered them as the offense bogged down late. Mental errors from Reggie Jackson and others (Aron Baynes, come on down) in the last couple minutes of the fourth quarter helped the Cavs pull away.
Jackson received a technical foul late in the final period after arguing with an official and shortly thereafter Baynes didn’t clear out quick enough for a Jackson iso against Kevin Love in order for RJ to actually get to attack before the shot clock expired. Admittedly, the offense often runs through the pick-and-roll, but with that matchup there was no need for Baynes to get in position for a PnR as Jackson could have taken Love easily off the dribble.
The Pistons had big highlights in this game, however, particularly in the first half when they took a 58-53 lead into the break thanks to blazing hot shooting from Stanley Johnson (3-for-3 from three-point range on the game), Reggie Bullock (2-for-2 from three) and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (4-for-8 from three). In fact, the Pistons shot a ridiculous 15-for-29 from long range in the game.
The Pistons were able to make life around the rim difficult for LeBron James on the defensive end, especially when Stanley Johnson was matched up with him, but they had no answer for Kevin Love and his outside shooting. Love has struggled at times on offense (and has always been a turnstile on defense) since joining the Cavs before the beginning of the 2014-15 season, but it appears that the perfect spot for him is matched up at center against Andre Drummond.
As Love tends to play a perimeter-heavy game on offense, Drummond is forced to come out of the paint to defend him, which opens up the interior for slashing Cavalier wings and makes it more difficult for the Pistons to come up with defensive rebounds. Indeed, Piston guards and forwards had difficulty corralling a number of long defensive rebounds that Drummond would normally have been in position for. As a result, the Cavs pulled in 12 offensive rebounds in game one.
The difficulties with that matchup continue on the offensive side for Drummond and the Pistons. Drummond is bigger and much stronger than Love, but isn’t strong enough on the ball and in the post to dominate him like most skilled big men would be able to. It’s no secret that Drummond is well below average in the post for a big man, which means that the Pistons aren’t going to be able to abuse Love down low.
In order for the Pistons to hang with the Cavs again in game two, they’re going to have to find a way to defend Love while being able to isolate and attack him on offense. They’re also going to need more foul-free minutes from Stanley Johnson on Lebron. Johnson played admirably, but picked up four fouls in 16 minutes. If he gets into quick foul trouble, the Pistons will have real problems containing James.
Oh yeah, and they’re probably going to have to shoot 50 percent from long range again with a high volume of shots. Should be easy.