The Detroit Pistons didn’t beat the Miami Heat last night but there was plenty to be excited about for the future.
Jaden Ivey was cooking, ending the game with 30 points on just 15 shots while making 4-of-6 from the 3-point line. The long-range shooting has been a point of emphasis for Ivey and he has improved as the season has progressed.
When he is hitting those along with the mid-range shots, he is very difficult to stop,, which the Heat found out first hand last night. They threw everything they had at Ivey and still couldn’t slow him down.
Erik Spoelstra had high praise for Jaden Ivey after the game:
"“Did you see what he was doing to us before we started blitzing him?” Spoelstra asked. “He’s got so much speed and tonight he was hitting his 3s and his mid-range shots, which makes him even tougher. He’s a special young talent.”"
Ivey is now shooting 34.3 percent from long range on 4.6 attempts per game and over 38 percent on 5.5 attempts per game in his last 25 games. For those who still think Ivey isn’t a fit with Cade Cunningham and that the Detroit Pistons should have taken a “sharpshooter” like Bennedict Mathurin, Ivey is actually a better 3-point shooter. Mathurin is hitting just 32 percent on fewer attempts.
Ivey is better in nearly every facet of the game, and should be on the All-Rookie 1st team.
Speaking of rookies, Jalen Duren finally got a start last night, much to the delight of the fans who think his growth is being stunted by playing fewer minutes per game since the Pistons acquired James Wiseman.
Paul George will be happy to see the Pistons aren’t totally fumbling the bag here. Duren didn’t disappoint and dropped 20 points and 14 rebounds in 36 minutes while only missing one shot.
Most of Ivey’s seven assists ended in Duren dunks, so last night should give fans hope that this drought is going to be over soon. Troy Weaver hit home runs in the 2022 NBA Draft and I can’t wait to see the core trio playing together.
Detroit Pistons lottery odds: Mission accomplished
Detroit’s loss coupled with Houston’s unlikely win over the Nuggets last night ensured that the Pistons will end the season with the worst record in the NBA.
This gives them maximum 14 percent odds to land Victor Wembanyama and guarantees the they can’t drop any lower than 5th in the 2023 NBA Draft.
It’s been a long, grueling season at times, but it will be worth it if the Pistons can luck out and add a generational talent to an already promising roster this offseason.
After the game, Erick Spoelstra continued to heap praise on Jaden Ivey, and had one weird moment when he said that Ivey and Jimmy Butler both reminded him of players that he was very familiar with, but then he declined to say who those players are:
"“I’m not giving any hints — you’ll have to figure it out…”"
Michael Jordan? LeBron James? We’ll just assume one of those and move on, thanks coach!