It had been a bad day for the Detroit Pistons, with the announcement that rookie starting point guard Killian Hayes had a torn labrum in his hip, and is out indefinitely. The night was no better, as the Milwaukee Bucks basically cruised to a 130-115 victory.
In their first matchup on Monday, Detroit had lost, but made the Milwaukee Bucks work for the win. This time, the Bucks held just a three-point lead with a couple of minutes left in the first period, but that was the last competitive moment.
The Pistons never got any closer as Milwaukee pulled away to a 24 point lead by halftime.
Here are the Excellent (yes, there actually were a couple), the Good, the Not So Good and the Really Not So Good observations on the second Bucks contest.
The Excellent
Wayne Ellington: The 33-year-old veteran had been gathering dust on the Pistons bench. Then , he saw some action in Monday’s Bucks game, and did well.
The 6-foot-4 shooting guard took Josh Jackson’s (still out with an ankle injury) spot in the starting lineup. Milwaukee has two very good defensive guards in Khris Middletown and Jrue Holiday, but Ellington managed to score 12 points (on efficient 5-for-9 shooting) in 24 minutes.
If Ellington continues to play this well, he might earn a permanent spot in the rotation.
Saddiq Bey: The rookie out of VIllanova would normally be playing due to Detroit being in a youth movement, however Bey is getting minutes because he is earning it.
He exploded for 20 points, including going 6-for-10 on threes. Bey also grabbed 10 rebounds and three assists to just one turnover. Bey has looked good in spurts in the early going, but it was nice to see him do well throughout the game.
The Good
Jerami Grant: He would be in Excellent except a lot of his scoring came after the Bucks had kind of established control. Still, 31 point is 31 points. He also had 10 rebounds, which is good for him, as usually Grant is not a big, volume rebounder.
The Bucks are a good defensive team, so to put up 31 points (on 9-for-20 shooting, not bad) is an accomplishment.
Pistons backup center: Coach Dwane Casey has a bit of a dilemma, as both his backup centers are doing well. Neither really deserves to ride the bench.
Isaiah Stewart and Jahlil Okafor combined for 11 points and 10 rebounds in 25 minutes. Stewart provides energy and rebounding while Okafor is a legitimate low post scoring threat.
Since Stewart is 6-foot-9, he probably should get some time at power forward, but that is a very crowded position on the Pistons Blake Griffin, Grant and Sekou Doumbouya all are seeing time at the ‘4’.
Saben Lee: Talk about gathering dust! Lee played in three preseason games and that was last time he had seen the floor until Wednesday night. Putting that into consideration, the point guard out of Vanderbilt did well: He had four points and two steals in 12 minutes.
Lee had three turnovers, which you can chalk up to rust, but he showed speed and an ability to get to the basket. If Hayes is out long term, Lee might find himself a permanent spot in the rotation.
Svi Mykhailiuk: Usually, we praise the 6-foot-7 guard for his shooting, that is, after all, his main role. But we have come to give kudos to his passing in this game.
Without starting point guard Killian Hayes, and then Derrick Rose leaving in the second period with a knee contusion, there was a desperate need for someone to move the ball on offense.
With four assists, Mykhailiuk was second on the team (Blake Griffin had five). He also added eight points in 13 minutes.
The Not So Good
Sekou Doumbouya: In 13 minutes, the 6-9 forward, not only did not score a point, he did not attempt a shot.
After a promising preseason, one has to hope Doumbouya can turn things around.
Delon Wright: With Hayes, and then Rose, unavailable due to injuries, Wright was the only point guard remaining except for two-way player Saben Lee.
In 25 minutes, Wright had just three points and shot 1 for 8 from the field. He did have three assists to no turnovers. But, if Hayes is going to be out for an extended period, Detroit can not afford for Wright to be a non-factor.
The Really Not So Good
Pistons injuries: Detroit was without its starting backcourt in Hayes and Jackson, and then lost what is probably its top player in Derrick Rose to a knee contusion in the second period.
The Milwaukee Bucks are a tough out for the Pistons at full strength. To face them so shorthanded, was an almost impossible task.
Pistons -efense: No ‘D’ this game. Remember when Detroit had the No. 1 defense in the preseason? Well, that is why those games do not count.
Yes, Giannis Antetokounmpo is a load, but you at least have to make him work for it? The two-time MVP strolled most of the time into the lane for layups whenever he felt like it.
Not that the Pistons stopped anyone else on Milwaukee. The Bucks had 44 points (Yikes!) in the first quarter and then posted 38 more in the second for an 82-56 lead at halftime.
Yes, the Bucks were the more talented team, and the Pistons were hurting, but, what do they say about defense? That part is mainly effort. If true, there was not much effort expended on Wednesday.
Despite a 1-7 record, the Pistons had been entertaining. All their games were close. They were not winning them, but at least fans got to see a good battle. On Wednesday, that was not the case. From the opening whistle, Detroit simply was not in it.
Chris Paul and the 6-2 Phoenix Suns came to Detroit on Friday, so the schedule is not getting easier.