For one fleeting half, fans of the Detroit Pistons finally got some watchable basketball.
The Pistons exploded for 66 points in the first half against the Philadelphia 76ers and showed some signs of growth and promise.
But let’s not get it twisted, there are no moral victories in the NBA and the Pistons still lost the game and showcased many of the same glaring flaws.
The shooting was still atrocious, even though hitting 30 percent from long range was actually an improvement. The Pistons continue to miss wide-open shots and their numbers on such attempts are actually mind blowing.
The Pistons are still laying enough bricks to build a new Palace, but there were good things as well. Isaiah Stewart did an admirable job on Joel Embiid and held him in check for most of the game.
The Pistons reduced their turnovers, didn’t get killed on the boards and won the free-throw battle handily.
Once this shooting finally comes back to normal (please tell me it will), the Pistons are doing enough else to win games, and there were some promising signs that the offense will get there soon.
Detroit Pistons: A short glimpse into the future
The Detroit Pistons played their best half of basketball last night, scoring 66 points in the first half and giving us a glimpse of what this team will look like in the future. Let’s ignore the fact that they only scored 32 points in the entire second half.
The Pistons shot the ball well, got out in transition, made the extra pass and looked really good at times in the first half. Cade, Killian and Jerami Grant were breaking down the defense, the ball was moving a lot more on offense and the Pistons finally got some easy buckets.
If you squinted hard enough you could see what this team can be in a year or two when these players have some more experience. People forget that most players don’t really show who they are until their 3rd or 4th year in the league and the Pistons start three 20-year-olds, so this is a work in progress.
But I was so happy to see some signs of life last night and finally get a glimpse of the bright future we’re waiting for.