Detroit Pistons come up short in Orlando SL title game

The Detroit Pistons battled back from a double-digit first half deficit and a five-point deficit in the final minute but were unable to close in overtime.

The Detroit Pistons completed an impressive run at the Orlando Summer League with a runner-up finish after falling 87-84 in overtime in the championship game against the Orlando Magic White squad. After dominating through most of the first four games of the summer against the likes of the New York Knicks, the Orlando Blue team, the Indiana Pacers and the Miami Heat, the Pistons met their match on Friday against the hometown White team.

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The Pistons trailed by double-digits in the first half before rallying furiously to take small leads several times in the third and fourth quarter behind the strength of outstanding efforts from Henry Ellenson, Lorenzo Brown and Stanley Johnson.

Ellenson led the game in scoring with 22 points on 7-of-19 shooting and added two three-pointers in seven attempts. He added 11 rebounds and played 36 of a possible 40 minutes.

Lorenzo Brown added 16 points on 7-of-11 shooting and 2-of-3 from three-point range. He also had six steals and four rebounds and played 36 minutes.

Stanley Johnson had 21 points on 8-of-19 from the floor and 3-of-7 from three-point range, including a three that trimmed a final-minute five point deficit to two as the Pistons rallied late to force overtime. He added five rebounds and hit both of his free throws and played just shy of 38 minutes.

The Pistons will leave Orlando with some new questions to ask.

Perhaps prime among them focus on whether Lorenzo Brown should be the team’s third point guard. Unless they plan on handing those reigns to second-round draft pick Michael Gbinije (who missed the summer league with an ankle sprain, opening the door for Brown to come in and impress) or re-signing Steve Blake or some similar barely serviceable point guard to the roster, Brown seems like a great bet to make the team in that capacity.

Stanley Johnson spent the week of summer league focusing on his weaknesses rather than his strengths, and it was clear by some of his poor shooting numbers as he has reworked his shot this offseason, but he had the ability to flip the switch and turn it on when his team needed him. When Johnson needed to be the best player on the floor, he was the clear-cut best player.

Next: Where do the Detroit Pistons sit in the Eastern Conference?

Worth noting, when Johnson wasn’t the best player out there, Lorenzo Brown sure looked like he was.

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