Detroit Pistons: It’s simple – Jerami Grant should be a NBA All-Star

The game against the Los Angeles Lakers showed the Detroit Pistons‘ Jerami Grant as an NBA All-Star level player. He deserves the honor, but that does not necessarily mean he will get it.

The Los Angeles Lakers are, statistically, the best defensive team in the NBA. Jerami Grant’s amazing metamorphosis from role player to elite scorer is no longer a surprise to teams, and they were ready for him.

In their first meeting in Detroit, the Lakers swarmed over Grant and held him to 14 points. But the strategy backfired, Grant tied a season-high with six assists and the rest of the team stepped up in a 15-point Pistons victory.

In the rematch, on February 6, at the Staples Center, LeBron and Company were looking to get revenge. The Lakers held a 17-point lead with 3:34 left in the third quarter.

A loss was expected (Detroit was a 13.5 point underdog) . The Pistons were playing the end of a back-to-back, and were missing three key players (Blake Griffin, Wayne Ellington and, officially still on the team, Derrick Rose). Plenty of excuses for a beatdown, if Detroit wanted to use them.

But All-Stars do not let their team just go quietly into the night

Grant, (with big time help from Josh Jackson) then led a rally that pushed the Lakers to the wall. The Lakers needed great plays in double overtime by Anthony Davis and LeBron James to pull out a  135-129 win.

Grant finished with a career-high 32 points, and six assists once again.  Coach Dwane Casey knew what an accomplishment that was (per Rod Beard)

"“He’s going against one of the best and smartest defenders in the NBA — bar none.” said Casey of Grant."

After the Lakers game, Jerami Grant was averaging 24.0 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.0 assists. He averaged 39% on three-point shooting. And of course, Grant is recognized for his tremendous defense.

James wanted no part of going against him. He kept calling for screens to get Grant away from him in the fourth quarter and overtimes.

With his big-time scoring ability combined with elite defense, Jerami Grant should be voted an NBA All-Star. Will he? That is a different  story. He is currently 10th in Eastern Conference frontcourt voting.

Coach Casey worries that the Pistons being 5-18,  probably does not help Grant’s chances (per Omari Sankofa II)

"“It’s good to see his hard work pay off if he is fortunate enough to get voted in,” said Casey. “I think he should be. He’s a very talented young man. I hope our record doesn’t hurt him in any way.“I hope the true basketball fans see his talent, see what he’s done, see what he’s doing as an all-around, not just a scorer, but an all-around basketball player … he’s doing his part, now we have to do ours as far as filling in around him.”"

The way it works, fans voting will account for 50 percent of the vote, while all current players and a media panel will account for 25 percent each.

Grant is in the Eastern Conference frontcourt category, which has the top three named starters. In the first round of results, Joel Embiid, Kevin Durant and Giannis Antetokounmpo were the three leading vote getters

After the starting five are selected, the coaches vote for the rest of the roster. That might be Grant’s best bet.

Coaches value defense, which Grant is excellent at. They also value efficiency on offense, which Grant also does well in. He does not just bomb away, his shots come in the flow of the offense. His offensive efficiency rating is virtually the same as when he was a role player, when he was not the focus of the defense.

And all, the NBA coaches know how difficult it has been to stop Grant, because they have not been able to. Except for the opener, Grant has scored in double digits ever Pistons game. In 19 of Detroit’s 23 games, he has scored at least 20 points.

He is an efficient high-scorer who can also pass and play great defense.

Jerami Grant is simply an NBA All-Star player.