The Detroit Pistons got a much-needed win over OKC last night behind a sizzling second half in which they turned up the defensive intensity.
The Pistons still shot the ball terribly, but luckily so did the Thunder, so the big difference in the game was that Detroit dominated the battle of the boards with a 58-46 edge overall.
Detroit plays small with 6-foot-9 Isaiah Stewart at center, so fans might be surprised to find out that the Pistons are 12th in rebounding overall in the NBA even though they’ve been missing big men all season.
The reason they are in the top half of the league even though Marvin Bagley III, Jalen Duren and Nerlens Noel have all missed time is because of their guards, as Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey are two of the best rebounding guards in the NBA. The two combined for 22 rebounds last night with 11 apiece.
They are currently averaging 11.4 rebounds per game combined, which is 3rd overall in the NBA for backcourts, impressive considering Cade is in his second season and Ivey is a rookie.
There is a very good chance that they will lead all backcourts in rebounding this season, which is crucial for the Detroit Pistons.
The Detroit Pistons are small
At some point this season the Pistons will hopefully have their full complement of bigs, but as of right now, they have the undersized Stewart starting at center and just rookie Jalen Duren (who just returned from injury) coming off the bench.
Stewart is holding his own and is currently the 14th leading rebounder in the NBA, but he needs plenty of help other than just Duren. None of the Pistons’ forwards are great rebounders, so those duties have fallen on the guards, and they have stepped up.
Cade Cunningham is averaging 6.5 rebounds per game after last night and Jaden Ivey is up to 4.9 per game on the season. They are the reason Detroit has been able to hang on the boards, which is important when the defense is struggling, as defensive rebounds close out possessions.
The guards pulled down 18 defensive rebounds last night, which kept OKC from getting second chances and helped the Pistons’ struggling offense.
Guard rebounds create early offense
At this point in the season, the Detroit Pistons are not a very good offensive team in the half court. They need as many fast breaks as they can get, and getting early offense allows them to get good looks before the defense sets up.
Both Cunningham and Ivey can grab those boards and start a one-man fast break, which is crucial for the Pistons even if it doesn’t lead to a dunk. By forcing the defense to scramble, Detroit can get better shots in transition and early half court offense, which is something this young team needs.
The Pistons only had nine fast break points last night, but there were plenty of times when Cade or Ivey grabbed the board and pushed the pace, which led to kick outs and open shots (they didn’t make a lot of them) that were better than the looks they’d get in the half court.
This can be a weapon for Detroit, so the guards need to continue to grab those defensive rebounds and push the pace every chance they can. There is a good chance Cade and Ivey will lead the league in guard rebounding this season, which will not only help their defense but help them get better shots.