The Detroit Pistons were one of the best rebounding teams in the NBA last season, finishing 5th in total rebounds per game and 3rd in offensive rebounds per game.
With Jalen Duren out for most of this season so far, those numbers have taken a dip, as the Pistons are using combinations of undersized centers in John Collins and Paul Reed. Detroit is currently 23rd in the league in total rebounds and 19th in offensive rebounds.
You’d expect those numbers to return to the norm once Duren returns, but in the meantime, the Pistons keep winning, despite losing the battle of the boards most nights, including in last night’s double overtime win over the Wizards.
Part of it has been the brilliance of Ausar Thompson, who is leading the Pistons in rebounding this season, averaging just under nine per game. He grabbed another 11 last night on his way to his first triple double, and the loud (and wrong) fans who were whining about his big contract have gone awfully silent.
Thompson has grabbed double-digit rebounds in three of his last four games and has really stepped up to keep the Pistons’ collective head above water while their best rebounder is out.
But it hasn’t just been about Thompson, as the Pistons are making up for those lost possessions by taking better care of the ball.
The Pistons aren’t turning it over as much, which helps offset the rebounding
The Pistons lost the rebounding battle again last night to the Wizards but made up for it by taking care of the ball, only turning it over 11 times against 28 assists.
This has been a theme of late, as the Pistons have turned it over just 12.5 times per game over their last six and are currently 8th in the NBA in fewest turnovers per game after finishing near the bottom of the league in that category last season.
Last night’s highlight was Cade Cunningham, who (in case you didn’t see this 800,000 times on social media today), became the first player to log over 50 points and 10 assists without turning the ball over.
JB Bickerstaff has gone small and clearly made an effort to keep more ball handling on the floor, and it has paid off, with more passing, movement and less of Cunningham trying to do everything by himself.
The possession game has become a big part of NBA strategy, and if you aren’t winning on the boards, you have to find other ways to keep opponents from getting more shots. The Pistons are doing it by taking care of the ball, limiting their turnovers and making every possession count.
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