PistonPowered
Fansided

3 takeaways from Detroit Pistons 119-110 win over the Indiana Pacers

By Spyros Papadakos

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - OCTOBER 23: Andre Drummond #0 of the Detroit Pistons gets interviewed after a game against the Indiana Pacers on October 23, 2019 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - OCTOBER 23: Andre Drummond #0 of the Detroit Pistons gets interviewed after a game against the Indiana Pacers on October 23, 2019 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 4
Next
Detroit Pistons
Detroit Pistons Luke Kennard. (Photo by Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Luke Kennard came out gunning

Last season, Kennard shot 6.7 three-point attempts per 36 minutes. Last night, he shot 9 threes in only 28 minutes of play. That’s the Kennard everyone wants to see, including Dwane Casey. he scored a career-high 30 points on 18 attempts to score (including free throws). That’s crazy efficiency.

We knew Kennard could make shots. That’s not the point. The important thing for Kennard this year will be to shoot it regardless of if his shot has been falling up until that point. He has to get it in his head that every shot is irrelevant to the last one.

Last night was a step in the right direction. His first shot came when Edmond Sumner decided to help one pass away. Kennard lost him with a minor re-allocation and only needed one step advantage to get this shot off.

We’re not used to Kennard starting games that way. He usually wants to handle the ball and probe to get some mid-range attempts. Coming off the bench ready to fire threes will be the most important thing for him this year.

With Rose and Drummond on the pick & roll, the Pacers have to send help defense from the weak side corner and Kennard does a fantastic job of selling the fake and sidestepping for an open three.

Those are the kinds of looks Rose will be feeding him all year and he can’t be turning them down for pull up twos or floaters. Well, he can make those too but these kind of threes are significantly more efficient shots for him.

In the second half, he went bananas, scoring 23 of his 30 points. Shots like this should be automatic for Kennard. He just can’t let defenders go under screens. Whether he misses…

…or makes it, he has to shoot the next one. If he wants to get to the next level, he has to establish himself as a lethal shooter and you can’t have that reputation if you’re not shooting that shot 100 percent of the time. That’s actually more important than his percentage.

They have to go over the screen every time. That changes their whole approach and opens up even better shots. Then Kennard made this beauty to cut the lead to three at the end of the third.

In the fourth quarter, he scored 16 points to put the Pistons in front and sealed the win with a three. He made a step back two against Miles Turner and then he made three consecutive threes on the same set.

Kennard sets a ram screen for Drummond, who then sets a high ball-screen for Rose. Then Kennard sets a back screen for Drummond, which constitutes the Spain pick & roll. The Pistons use that action three times and Kennard gets basically the same look every time.

That’s the Luke Kennard we want to see.

Home/Pistons News