This is the part where I tell you not to overreact to the Detroit Pistons’ opening night loss to the Chicago Bulls because it’s only one game, but I’d also be lying if I said there weren’t concerns, as just about all of the offseason fears were realized last night.
The Detroit Pistons can’t shoot!
We spent all offseason talking about this and the Pistons did nothing to allay those fears last night. They shot just 44 percent from the floor, 29 percent from 3-point range and 69 percent from the line, which doesn’t get talked about as much, but the Pistons missed eight free throws in what turned out to be a four point loss.
I wrote about their free-throw shooting, but it’s a problem and will continue to cost them close games if they don’t get it sorted.
Newcomer Duncan Robinson missed all five of his attempts from long range, so it didn’t take long for fans to start wondering how that Malik Beasley investigation is going. Isaiah Stewart led the team with two 3-pointers, which pretty much says it all about their night shooting the ball.
The Pistons half-court offense stinks!
It sure did last night, especially after Jalen Duren went to the bench with two quick fouls. Prior to that, the Pistons had run back to back plays for lobs and Cade Cunningham looked unstoppable.
But Duren picked up two cheap fouls, went to the bench, the Bulls called a timeout, and when they came back, went on a 17-2 run that essentially sealed the game.
Everything was clunky in the half court and the Pistons looked completely lost every time Cade Cunningham didn’t have the ball. This is a work in progress, so I’m not as concerned about this, but the lack of spacing in the half court is already evident, it will just come down to whether the Pistons can overcome it.
The Pistons still miss Jaden Ivey!
I’ve talked a lot about how the Pistons have to move on without Ivey at this point, but that doesn’t mean they don’t need him, which was obvious last night.
The Pistons need a second guy who can create his own shot and score, which is something they just don’t have. Ausar Thompson had some moments last night, and did finish the game with seven assists to just one turnover, so that was a bright spot, but I wouldn’t say he looked comfortable running the offense at all.
Speaking of running the offense.
The Pistons’ point guard situation is dire!
At one point last night, JB BIckerstaff ran out a lineup featuring Javonte Green, Duncan Robinson, Ausar Thompson, Ron Holland and Jalen Duren.
What.
I thought we’d get a heavy dose of Daniss Jenkins after his strong preseason, but instead we got this lineup without a point guard and it was predictably awful.
I get that JB is more comfortable using the veteran Green, but they need someone out there who can run an offense when Cade is out. They had to cut his rest short last night because this group was getting killed, so hopefully we’ll see some Jenkins in the next game.
Jalen Duren still can’t defend without fouling!
This is a real concern, as the Pistons’ half-court offense went to pot when Duren had to leave the floor.
The bright spot is that Stewart and Holland were awesome off the bench, but the starters were not. Tobias Harris looked slightly cooked defensively and only shot the ball 4-of-12. Duren only played 20 minutes because of foul trouble, so it wasn’t a banner night for the Pistons’ starting frontcourt.
This all adds up to a whole lot of nothing if the Pistons come out and perform well against Houston, but with a tough opening schedule, these are concerns that will remain until the Pistons prove that they are not issues.