The Detroit Pistons are looking to climb the Eastern Conference standings and taking care of business against the Cleveland Cavaliers would go a long way.
The Detroit Pistons took care of business against the Cleveland Cavaliers last season, and have the opportunity to do more of the same this season.
This is the sixth season preview in Piston Powered’s September series that takes a look at how the Pistons stack up against all 29 NBA teams.
Detroit won last year’s series 3-1 with a pair of double-digit wins, a double-digit loss and a seven-point win. They’ll need more consistency and should be able to with the added depth.
Let’s take a quick look on last season’s series.
In the series-opening 110-103 win, Andre Drummond was dominant with 26 points and 22 rebounds. Not to be outdone, Blake Griffin scored 26 points and grabbed 10 boards. Detroit was a highly-efficient 52.6 percent from the field and 39.3 percent from 3-point range. Cleveland had nine turnovers and four scorers off the bench in double figures, led by Kyle Korver’s 21 on 7-for-10 shooting and 4-for-7 from 3-point range.
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Drummond and Griffin were dominant again in a 113-102 win, dropping the Cavs to 2-13. Drummond posted a 23 and 16 line with Griffin adding 21 points, 12 rebounds and five assists. Reggie Bullock was 4-for-7 from 3-point range and added 21 points. Detroit cleaned up the turnovers, keeping it to 10. Cleveland again had six players in double figures.
Detroit was dominant in the series-clinching, 129-93 win. This time it was the guard play of Luke Kennard, who scored 26 points off the bench while shooting 6-for-7 from 3-point range, and Reggie Jackson, who was 9-for-11 from the field and hit all four 3-point shots for his 24 points. Detroit had a 51-33 edge on the glass.
Cleveland avoided the sweep with a 126-119 win. Detroit still show the ball well, hitting 40.9 percent of 3-pointers thanks to Wayne Ellington, who scored a team-high 25 points and hit 7-of-13 three’s. But the Pistons couldn’t slow down the Cavaliers, who shot 58.2 percent from the floor and went 11-for-22 from 3-point range. They had seven scorers in double figures, led by Collin Sexton’s 27 and Cedi Osman’s 21 points.
Let’s take a look at Cleveland’s offseason.