Detroit Pistons: Poor Defense Plagues Pistons in Loss to Boston Celtics

The Detroit Pistons display poor defense against the Boston Celtics as Marcus Smart highlights a 110-118 loss right before All-Star break.

The Detroit Pistons dropped their last game before All-Star break against the Boston Celtics 110-118 at TD Garden. It was a game where the Pistons found themselves trying to claw back with every possession as they lacked the ferocity at the beginning of each quarter to outlast the Celtics.

The Pistons were without fresh face Svi Mykhailiuk and Jon Leuer while the Boston Celtics sat Kyrie Irving, Terry Rozier and Aron Baynes.

It all collapsed in the third quarter. An easy Blake Griffin setup for Andre Drummond pulled the Detroit Pistons within three of the Boston Celtics, 54-57, yet the Pistons’ offense and poor paint defense kicked into effect and found the Celtics dropping shots to spearhead a run that would dig Detroit into too deep of a hole.

The lack of communication on the floor saw an unaware Reggie Jackson running to Gordon Hayward in defense of the corner three, leaving Griffin – who was sprinting to the same corner – with the responsibility of doubling back to defend Marcus Smart on the perimeter. It was indicative of several defensive possessions that helped land the Pistons another tick in the loss column.

As the Boston Celtics continued to switch smaller defenders onto Blake Griffin, the point forward took advantage of the mismatch and got physical.

But, after Griffin’s two free throw shots brought the Detroit Pistons within 10, another defensive miscue, where Ish Smith got caught on a Daniel Theis-screen, frees Smart up for another wide-open three-point attempt.

Of course to any Pistons’ fans chagrin, he sinks it.

By the end of the third quarter, the Detroit Pistons were daring Smart to shoot from distance. His 44.4 percent shooting from three-point field goal range and 16 points on the night says that he accepted the challenge.

The Detroit Pistons had to warm up to every quarter, at least it felt that way watching. Drummond’s foul trouble shuffled things a bit for Dwane Casey.

Anytime a top-five rebounder and walking double-double type of player has to hit the bench unexpectedly, the rotation will suffer. Thon Maker is going be aggressive on every play, but his offensive production and affect on the boards are not equal to Drummond’s value.

Drummond finished with 21 points, shooting plus-50 percent from the field and 62.5 percent from the free throw line. However, his solid stat line was not as effective as the box scores would translate.

Newcomer Wayne Ellington had a rough Wednesday night, hitting five of his 12 field goal attempts, but only three of his 10 three-point heaves.

If the arrival of Ellington is supposed to supplement the Detroit Pistons’ three-point shooting woes, that road may take a bit more time to travel. The 31-year old NBA veteran also needs patience on the defensive end, as he needs to figure out how to communicate with his teammates and get a better feel for their instincts as they do the same for him.

It’s too early to draw any conclusions about how he will ultimately fit with the Detroit Pistons, but time will provide those answers.

Blake Griffin tried to keep the Detroit Pistons afloat, scoring 32 points and tallying eight rebounds and five assists. The Boston Celtics, even without their all-star, proved the skill they have at the depth they have acquired it cannot be matched by Detroit, who just traded away arguably their most reliable three-point shooter in the starting lineup.

But, the Pistons know how much they do not have, which was signaled by their movement or lack thereof by the trade deadline. The team appears to be looking at a more realistic future. One that includes draft picks and solid trade and free agency acquisitions.

The Boston Celtics are just a reminder of what it will take to contend in the Eastern Conference and how far the Detroit Pistons still have to go before they arrive.