When considering all of the problems the Detroit Pistons have right now, one that has become glaringly obvious over the last couple of games is that this team is selfish.
The Pistons failed to get to 20 assists as a team for the second game in a row, and are now just 28th in the NBA in assists this season.
The team doesn’t help on defense, doesn’t hustle and doesn’t have any “glue guy” type players who sacrifice themselves on defense or make the extra pass on the other end.
The two scorers in the starting five (Bojan Bogdanovic and Jaden Ivey) are isolation players who often play as if they are wearing horse blinders when they get the ball. Ivey had many such plays last night, hoisting bad shots again, driving into defenders and in general playing “me first” basketball on his way to 4-of-15 shooting.
— Ku (@KuKhahil) December 24, 2022
You can somewhat forgive young players for not yet knowing the nuances of team play, but the Pistons’ bench veterans are even worse.
The entire bench tallied four total assists last night, and it was just more of the same, bad isolation shots, no ball movement and no communication on defense.
Saddiq Bey, Marvin Bagley III, Alec Burks and Kevin Knox are black holes on offense who rarely pass, often hold the ball, can’t beat anyone off the dribble and take a ton of difficult shots because of it. This group had one assist between them last night, but took 25 shots, making seven of them.
I am one of the most optimistic fans you will find, but even I have to change the channel when this bench comes in, as they are just a sad, selfish bunch of isolation chuckers.
The Detroit Pistons are not a fun team to watch, as they rarely function as an actual team but just a collection of players who happen to be wearing the same uniform.
So who is to blame for this mess?
Detroit Pistons: A new culture is needed
There is plenty of blame to go around for the Pistons’ utter lack of team play. Part of this has to go on Troy Weaver, who put together a roster of one-dimensional isolation scorers and failed to get a single veteran player who can defend.
Part of it goes on the injury to Cade Cunningham, as he was the glue holding this whole thing together and would likely be holding his teammates more accountable for this stuff. But let’s face it, they weren’t good when he was in there either.
You can point the finger at coach Casey, whose team has regressed defensively and who can’t seem to find the right combination of players who can/will gel as a unit.
Sorry for the negativity, but I expected this team to at least play hard, scrappy and selfless basketball this season, and so far that has not happened.
I know this is a rebuilding year, but what exactly are the Pistons building here? This team is not really a “team” at all, and needs a big change in culture if they are going to turn the corner as a franchise. This isn’t just about talent, the Pistons have to find some unselfish players who are happy and proud to do the little things, play defense, make the extra pass and generally play like they care.
They need a Josh Hart. They need a Herb Jones. They need 3-4 Marcus Smarts or Dillon Brooks. Hell, I’d take 11 Jose Alvarados over what this team is currently offering. Give me some Detroit players, give me a Dennis Rodman or a Tayshaun Prince. Selfless team play has been the foundation of every successful Detroit team, and this ain’t it.
When Troy Weaver is tweaking the roster in the offseason, this needs to be a priority, as right now the Detroit Pistons are a joyless team that doesn’t play together or really look like a team at all.