Detroit Pistons look to improve in the East with a win over Cleveland
By Kevin Moore
The Detroit Pistons will look to pick up a win, traveling to Cleveland to take on a Cavaliers team who has been struggling all season.
Since coming back from the all-star break, the Detroit has won its last three out of four games. The Detroit Pistons currently sit in the seventh spot in the East with a 29-31 record.
Things are looking in the right direction for Detroit fans because if the season ended today, Detroit would be playing some playoff basketball. Detroit will need to make a strong second half push if they want to creep up in those standings.
This will be the first time that Detroit has faced Cleveland this year and the third overall meeting between the two teams. Here’s some good news, Detroit has won both previous match-ups against Cleveland.
The last game between these two came back on November 19th in which Detroit won 113-102.
The question is, can the Pistons continue to dominate the Cavaliers this season?
The answer is simple: yes they can.
With Cleveland struggling overall this season, Detroit can take advantage of that and that is what they have been doing. Andre Drummond had a big game in his last outing against Cleveland, finishing with 23 points and 16 rebounds.
On paper, Detroit has the better team, but we all know that you have to go out there and show up and play. Easier said than done right?
Dwane Casey will make sure that his team does not lose focus this game because this game is just as important as every other game from here on out. If you’re Detroit, you want to have that mindset of winning every game.
Blake Griffin has not been having the high scoring games in the last four games like he’s done before the all-star break. But, the Detroit has played more team basketball and other players have stepped up.
Against Cleveland, look for Griffin to be a little more aggressive than in previous games, but he will still look to get his teammates involved.
With Kevin Love back for Cleveland, they now have an offensive presence on the floor, which Detroit will need to contain.
That Griffin-Love match-up will be an exciting one to watch.
Who will step up from the bench from Detroit in this one?
Watch out for these players: Langston Galloway, Luke Kennard and Thon Maker. Those two have been playing good basketball as of late.
Galloway has scored in double figures the last three games, with his high being 17 against Miami. Kennard has been shooting the ball pretty good for Detroit and he had a big game in the win against Indiana, finishing with 19 points and hitting five threes.
If Detroit can play well from the first to the last quarter, it should be a good day for the Motor City Boys.
The Detroit Pistons will go into Quicken Loans Arena and leave with a win.