The Detroit Pistons play too hard to tank and I love it
The Detroit Pistons are supposed to be tanking for a top pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, but someone forgot to tell their players, who are giving max effort.
The Pistons are still near the bottom of the East (though inexplicably only 3.5 games out of the playoffs) but play like every game is the Finals.
This has driven some fans nuts, as they want to see Detroit lose more games to increase the chances of landing one of the potential stars in the next draft.
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But these Pistons are not going to lay down for anyone and personally, I’m loving it, even if it means their lottery odds are slightly reduced.
The culture is changing in Detroit behind the strong play of some retread veterans and two rookies who defend and hustle all over the floor.
Detroit Pistons: Jerami Grant and Mason Plumlee are playing like All-Stars
One of the reasons the Pistons are finding it difficult to tank is that veterans Jerami Grant and Mason Plumlee have been playing out of their minds.
Grant is nearly a lock for the Most Improved Player award if he keeps this up and Plumlee just keeps getting better, even dropping a triple double on the New Orleans Pelicans in the Pistons’ most recent win.
Not only are they playing well, but they play smart, selfless basketball and never take a play off.
This may reduce their lottery balls but these two are teaching the young guys how to play the right way, which may be more valuable in the long term.
Detroit Pistons: These rookies don’t want to lose
Saddiq Bey and Isaiah Stewart have played inspired basketball of late and do not look like two guys who are comfortable with losses.
This is a good thing! The last thing a team wants is for their young players to go through the motions during a “tank” season, picking up bad habits along the way.
The fact that these two rookies refuse to do that shows that Troy Weaver made the right call when he chose them in last year’s draft.
Do you really want guys who are comfortable losing just so you can get a 5 percent better chance at a top pick? I don’t.
These Detroit Pistons are still losing and still likely on their way to the lottery. But they play too hard to tank, so if they do end up with a top pick, they are going to go down fighting.
Hopefully Detroit will be rewarded by Lottery Karma for not laying down, but either way, I love what is happening in the Motor City.
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