The Detroit Pistons are right back at it tonight, as they will take on the Hornets in Little Caesar’s Arena on the second game of a back-to-back.
Both teams are off to a 3-1 start and are doing it in similar ways with timely 3-point shooting and by winning the battle of possessions.
That has been a point of emphasis across the NBA so far this season, as teams are playing faster than ever, crashing the offensive boards and getting up a ton of shots. For the Pistons to get back on track tonight, they need to do those things better than Charlotte.
The battle of offensive rebounds could decide Pistons vs. Hornets
Both the Pistons and Hornets will be missing two key players tonight, but both teams have moved on without them. Detroit will be without Jalen Duren and likely Isaiah Joe, while the Hornets are missing Coby White and sharpshooter Kon Knueppel.
It’s the Duren absence that will be felt by Detroit, as the Hornets have been very good on the boards this season with Moussa Diabate and Naz Reid cleaning up the misses. The two combined for 13 offensive rebounds in their recent win over Washington.
The Hornets are currently 4th in the NBA in offensive rebounds per game, which is huge for them, as they have plenty of guys who can shoot (even with two shooters out) and kick-outs off offensive rebounds tend to lead to wide-open looks.
The Pistons have played a similar style, as they are 10th in the league in offensive rebounds per game and are also getting plenty of kick-out 3-point opportunities off them.
Paul Reed and John Collins will have their hands full keeping the Hornets off the glass, but they have to close out possessions with defensive rebounds and not allow the Hornets to get multiple looks.
This is especially tough when teams are jacking a ton of 3’s, which often lead to long rebounds, so the Pistons need everyone from Cade Cunningham to Ausar Thompson to chip in on the boards, seal their man, and not try to leak out early before the ball has been secured.
Last night’s loss to the Knicks showed how important offensive rebounds can be, as neither team shot the ball well, but the Knicks grabbed 19 offensive boards and ended up taking more field goal attempts and free throws because of it, which is not usually a recipe for victory.
You can expect a fast-paced game tonight in Detroit, but it will come down to which team can better control the glass and win the battle of possessions.
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