Detroit Pistons: 3 interesting statistics after loss to Spurs

The Detroit Pistons lost with their “can’t lose” lineup against the Spurs. With half the roster sidelined with injury, the Pistons went with three rookies and 20-year-old Sekou Doumbouya in the starting five.

When you are a rebuilding team and can start four young guys, you really can’t lose, as they are getting key developmental minutes even though the team took the L.

It wasn’t a banner night for the Pistons, who failed to score 100 points, something that has happened far too often this season.

The Detroit Pistons have a lot of similar players (more on that later) and are going to have these types of nights until they find a few guys who can shoot consistently.

On a night when offense struggled, I took a look at some numbers that stood out to me.

Here are three interesting statistics that emerged from the loss to the Spurs.

Detroit Pistons: Free throws

The Pistons’ bench got the game within three points in the fourth quarter before the Spurs ultimately put it away, but the Pistons were really undone by their pathetic free-throw shooting.

Detroit went just 13-of-22 from the line for 59.2 percent. You won’t win many games when you give away this many points at the line.

This wasn’t just a one-night anomaly. The Detroit Pistons are 21st in the NBA in free-throw shooting this season, and have at least eight players who shoot below league average from the line.

Both Jerami Grant and Saddiq Bey are excellent, but most of the Pistons’ regulars are not, including Mason Plumlee (67 percent), Isaiah Stewart (66 percent), Josh Jackson (72 percent), Hamidou Diallo (67 percent) and Tyler Cook (47 percent, ouch).

It’s unacceptable for a professional basketball player to shoot less than 75 percent from the free-throw line and it is something Detroit needs to improve if they want to make a leap as a team next season.