After going 0-4 on their most recent road trip, the Detroit Pistons (14-10) return to Little Caesars Arena tonight. Waiting for them are the defending champion Golden State Warriors (20-6). Detroit won the first meeting between these two 115-107 back on Oct. 29. Here are three storylines to keep an eye on in the rematch.
Judy Garland said it best, “There’s no place like home.”
For the Detroit Pistons, that’s certainly been the case this season. The Pistons are 8-2 at Little Caesars Arena in 2017-18. Compare that with their road record of 6-8, which includes four straight losses, and Garland’s words ring true.
There’s no place like LCA.
But there’s also no team like the Golden State Warriors, whom the Pistons will host tonight in front of a nationally televised audience. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. on ESPN.
Here are three storylines to watch out for.
1. Impact of Steph Curry’s absence
The Pistons should consider themselves lucky – somewhat. Detroit won’t have to worry about two-time MVP Steph Curry, who suffered a sprained right ankle against the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday night.
The point guard underwent an MRI, and will miss at least two weeks according to the Warriors:
Injury update: Stephen Curry underwent an MRI today in Charlotte, the results of which confirmed that he suffered a sprained right ankle in last night’s game at New Orleans. The MRI indicated that the ankle is stable and structurally intact. He will be re-evaluated in two weeks.
— Warriors PR (@WarriorsPR) December 5, 2017
Curry is averaging 26.3 points, 6.6 assists and 5.1 rebounds per game this season. The 29-year-old is widely regarded as one of the greatest shooters in NBA history. But unlike most high-percentage shooters, Curry has the ability to create for himself off the dribble.
Golden State has the No. 1 scoring offense in the league, averaging 117.8 points per game. Curry, like any point guard, is the man who initiates their up-tempo attack.
His absence should allow Pistons shooting guard Avery Bradley to breathe a sigh of relief. But only for a moment. The Warriors boast one of the deepest clubs in the NBA.
Bradley has the advantage over Curry’s probable replacement Quinn Cook. Which is why Stan Van Gundy will most likely have Reggie Jackson cover the backup point guard. Bradley will still be responsible for containing one of the best perimeter scorers this generation has ever seen.
Klay Thompson is no slouch. He isn’t the ball handler Curry is. But Thompson is just as deadly when it comes to shooting the basketball. He leads the Warriors in three-point percentage with 47.4.
2. Turnovers, Turnovers, Turnovers
The last time these two teams met, they combined for 38 turnovers in a regulation game. Detroit only committed 13, while Golden State finished with 25. If there’s one weakness for the Warriors, it’s their tendency to get sloppy.
Only the Los Angeles Lakers (17.3) and Philadelphia 76ers (17.4) average more turnovers per game than the Warriors (16.4).
Now, some of this can be attributed to their style of play. Golden State leads the NBA in assists per game with 30.9. The more passes you attempt, the more turnovers your prone to commit.
But sometimes, the Warriors can be quite lazy with their passing. The clips below provide a few examples.
On this possession, the Warriors have done a nice job drawing multiple defenders into the lane. This leaves their best shooters open on the perimeter. But weak passing leads to a missed opportunity.
Draymond Green receives a pass in the right corner. Denver Nuggets’ point guard Jamal Murray closes out on Green, and in turn, deflects a bad pass intended for Curry.
The ball gets to Curry, but the deflection gives the Nuggets’ defenders enough time to recover. With a man in his face, Curry kicks the ball out to Kevin Durant.
Durant has Thompson open on the left wing. He also has five inches on the closest defender, Gary Harris. Despite the size advantage, he throws a chest pass right into Harris’ hands. Denver recovers the loose ball, and Harris finishes with an easy layup in transition.
Durant (who averages 3.6 turnovers per game) should’ve made a bounce pass to Thompson, or even a pass off the dribble.
In this next clip, we see another lazy pass. Thompson is the culprit this time.
He receives the ball off a high screen and penetrates his way into the lane. All five 76ers are drawn inside as he picks up his dribble.
Thompson sees an open David West just inside the three-point line. He then tries to lob a pass over the taller Dario Saric. To no one’s surprise, Saric easily makes the deflection and Joel Embiid comes away with the ball.
Once again, a simple bounce pass would’ve sufficed. But another ill-advised mistake cost the Warriors an offensive possession. If the Pistons can play the passing lanes as well as they did in Golden State, they have a chance to sweep the season series.
3. Offensive rebounding
In their last four games (all losses) the Pistons have averaged just 8.5 offensive rebounds per game. That’s well short of their season average of 10.4, and it’ll have to change quickly.
Golden State ranks fourth when it comes to defensive rebounds per game, grabbing 36.3 a night. Durant (6.2) and Green (6.1) lead the Warriors in that department.
So Detroit’s forwards will have their hands full on the offensive glass. The numbers don’t bode well for them either. Harris and Stanley Johnson average a combined 1.3 offensive rebounds per contest.
Detroit relies heavily on one man, Andre Drummond, to rebound the ball on both ends of the floor. He leads the NBA in boards per game with 15.3. But the Pistons rank 23rd in that category as a team. When Drummond is on the bench, they struggle mightily on the glass.
Even in their Oct. 29 win over the Warriors, it was Golden State who had the rebounding advantage 40-37. That’s a very different outcome if the Warriors don’t turn the ball over 25 times.
More than likely, Golden State won’t commit that many tonight. The Pistons will have to find another way to limit the Warriors’ opportunities, while maximizing their own.