Pistons are giving Jaden Ivey the gift that Monty Williams took from him
The Detroit Pistons have started the 2024-25 season 0-2 and have four more tough games upcoming on the schedule, so it is bound to get worse before it gets better.
There has been plenty to be skeptical about, as the defensive improvement we are waiting for still hasn’t come consistently, particularly from the center position.
The offense has gone through long dry spells and relied far too much on Cade Cunningham, which you would expect early in the season but it also makes them predictable and easy to defend at times.
The perimeter defense has been bad, Simone Fontecchio looks awful and there has been inconsistency in areas where the Pistons need it most, namely Tobias Harris and their overall defensive effort. Bad teams can’t take plays off or have stretches where they lose focus or lack effort.
After 2 games, we need to talk about 2 Pistons players. After 2 games, we need to talk about 2 Pistons players. dark. Next
All that being said, it hasn’t all been negative, as the Pistons have mostly competed against two good teams, have gotten scoring from their guards and the blueprint for how this team can win games has been evident, just not consistently.
We are also getting exciting and efficient play from Jaden Ivey, who looks to be enjoying basketball again.
Jaden Ivey’s joy has returned in Detroit
Before I get into the good stuff, I have to point out that Ivey has still been very bad defensively. He gets consistently burned at the point of attack, which is odd for a guy with his quickness.
He can’t stay in front of anyone, doesn’t battle over or through screens and spends A LOT of time on the floor or arguing with the refs about a non-call while his man scores. We saw plenty of both in each of the first two games and those things have to stop.
But we’re also seeing something that we didn’t see from Ivey last season, which is more efficient basketball and more joy.
Last season was a slog for everyone, especially Ivey, who was yanked out of the starting lineup by high school coach Monty Williams (that’s not a dig, he coaches high school now) who never established a clear role for him.
Ivey seemed to be the only young player last season who was held to account for mistakes, and it looked to have an effect on him, as he never played with any sort of confidence, and looked scared to screw up.
He just looks more comfortable and free this season already in a more defined role where he is an off-ball scorer when Cade Cunningham is in the game and the lead ballhandler and attacker when he’s not.
He still needs plenty of work on the latter part, but Ivey showed last night that he can get to the rim consistently and finish. He hit 40 percent of his 3-point shots and looks far more confident in catch-and-shoot situations. His shooting form is drastically improved from last season, as he is pushing less from his chest, has a higher release point and much better follow through.
We should have seen all of these types of improvements offensively from Ivey last season, but Monty Williams stunted his development. We are seeing more of the confident, joyful Ivey this season through two games, even though the Pistons lost both of them.
He has to be more than a traffic cone on defense, but Ivey is getting there on the other end and at least doesn’t look joyless as he did for most of last season.
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