Detroit Pistons and Pelicans face off in pivotal match

The Detroit Pistons look to end their three-game losing streak against a Pelicans team that has under-performed so far this season.

The Detroit Pistons and the New Orleans Pelicans have a couple things in common as they stumble into Sunday afternoon’s matchup.

1. Both teams are 2-3 in their last five games. An early December-game between two squads from opposing conferences is never a must-win.

It is another opportunity to build on winning basketball, or in their cases, establish it again.

2. Each team will highlight somewhat elite front-courts. The Detroit Pistons have the forward-center combo of Blake Griffin and Andre Drummond.

However, the New Orleans Pelicans feature a trio of Anthony Davis, Julius Randle and Nikola Mirotic that rivals any team’s post faction.

Of course it would be good for the Detroit Pistons to win against a premiere team like the New Orleans Pelicans. But, it would take more than Blake Griffin putting on a clinic.

Griffin is going to have to be special against the Pelicans’ front-court to keep the Pistons in the game but there are three keys that Dwane Casey will need to drive home in order for Detroit to be more than just competitive. They need the win.

Keep your head on a swivel

The New Orleans Pelicans are second in the league at 27.1 assists per game, just behind Golden State’s 28.0 assists. Anthony Davis is becoming a more dangerous and more willing passer which will put more pressure on the Pistons’ defense to keep their eyes open.

The Pistons are going to mirror the defense they usually see thrown in Blake Griffin’s direction.

Throw the book and the pages at Davis to force another player on the floor to beat you.

To combat the notion that the offense stops at him, the Pelicans are averaging around 45.0 percent from the field off his AD’s passes.

Needless to say, the game plan cannot be just to stop Anthony Davis, because the Pelicans have proven that they are able to be much more.

Shoot quick and with confidence

Pelicans’ bigs, meaning Mirotic, Randle and Davis are intimidating. But, even those giants can fall. After watching a few games featuring New Orleans, I saw a common denominator. Bad transition defense.

Davis is a great athlete, so testing those waters will be tricky. Quick pull-ups will likely be contested and paint shots almost impossible. But, in the pick-and-roll, even the best big men in the league are exposed.

Mirotic and Randle are not the best at coverage from the top of the play, at least that has not been their defensive direction recently.

If the Detroit Pistons can quicken the pace of play and keep New Orleans’ towers on their toes, that net could grow wider and wider throughout the afternoon.

This is where a player like Ish Smith would be perfect. Next up mentality dictates that Bruce Brown steps ups beside Reggie Jackson into the more significant role of ensuring that Detroit runs the floor.

They will be tasked with pushing the Pelicans’ defense to its brink with a head full of steam much of their playing time.

Bring Andre Drummond to the light

Andre Drummond is the Detroit Pistons’ most efficient scorer behind Blake Griffin. So, it is only right that he be asked to take some offensive pressure off Griffin’s back in this matchup.

The x-factor will be how Drummond is able to take advantage of the Pelicans’ exposed post defense.

New Orleans allows the league’s fourth highest opponent’s point average in the paint at 51.6 points a game. Only the Phoenix Suns, Sacramento Kings and New York Knicks allow a higher percentage.

Needless to say, this game is set up just right for Drummond to put up a pretty stat line.

The Detroit Pistons keep needing a win. Sunday afternoon should be it.

With the Philadelphia 76ers right after and teams like the Boston Celtics and the Milwaukee Bucks not far behind, the Motor City squad needs quick momentum change. Or things could get ugly.

Well, uglier.