Detroit Pistons: The positive and pathetic from the first 10 games
The Detroit Pistons have the worst defense in the NBA
The Detroit Pistons are a franchise whose success has mostly revolved around defense. The Bad Boys and Goin’ to Work eras were defined by tough teams who were smart and tenacious on the defensive end.
So far this season, the Pistons have looked like the Anti-Bad Boys, as they have arguably been the worst defense in the entire NBA.
Some of this is youth, as they are still learning how to play together, but there are also roster issues with Bey and Bogdanovic playing at the same time, a complete lack of rim protection and a defense that is simply letting up too many points, especially early and late in games, which is not a recipe for winning.
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Here is where Detroit ranks in some key categories:
- Defensive efficiency: 30th
- Opponent points per game: 28th
- Opponent’s average margin of victory: 30th
- Blocked shots: 28th
- Points in the paint allowed: 27th
- Opponent’s shooting percentage: 27th
- Opponent’s offensive rebounds: 25th
The Pistons are currently allowing 118.9 points per game and are losing by an average margin of 11.6 points, which is by far the worst in the league, more than two points more than Houston.
They are not stopping anything at the rim, allowing too many offensive rebounds and not challenging enough shots.
The offense hasn’t been great either, but until Detroit starts playing with intelligence and effort on defense, it really doesn’t matter. Defensive rotations and chemistry do take time to build, but it’s fair to question if the Pistons have the right personnel, as they still lack a wing stopper, which is arguably the most important defensive position in the modern NBA.
You expect young teams to be out of position and to blow assignments occasionally, but there has also been a noticeable lack of effort at times, which his unacceptable for a team trying to turn the corner. Eventually this is going to fall on coach Dwane Casey (fair or not), unless the young Pistons start showing some fire and improvement on the defensive end.