The Pistons nearly climbed back from a 23-point deficit against the Bulls in their season opener. The Pistons starters struggled mightily and the offense in general looked dysfunctional, but Isaiah Stewart was a rare bright spot. Beef Stew was instrumental in the comeback and played a great game, finishing with 20 points and 10 rebounds.
Isaiah Stewart played his role perfectly
Stewart is not usually known as a big scorer, but he had to step up with Jalen Duren in foul trouble and the team struggling to get points on the board. He had a very efficient 20-piece, going 8/14 from the field and 2/2 from long distance. Stew has been working hard to bring the 3-point shot back into his game, although he didn't get as much opportunity to showcase it in the preseason. But he was ready to fire tonight and was actually the only Piston to make multiple threes.
As usual, Stewart also brought his trademark hustle and defense. Five of his ten rebounds were offensive, highlighting his relentless determination to get the ball. His physicality on the boards was needed, especially after the Bulls had a 30-15 advantage in rebounding at halftime. The Pistons were struggling to use the size that should make them such a potent defensive and rebounding team. But Stewart helped ignite a flurry of physicality throughout the team that sparked the massive fourth quarter comeback.
In addition to rebounding, Stewart's defensive playmaking stood out. He had four blocks in the game, and the Pistons frequently used them to kickstart the fastbreak. Not only was Stewart able to protect the paint, he was also able to help his teammates get some easy quick points the other way. Unfortunately, his willingness to contest every shot sometimes leads to him being on the wrong end of poster dunks, which happened in this game at the hands of Matas Buzelis.
Stewart is a perfect winning role player who never tries to do too much. The box score and advanced metrics certainly proved his value in this game, and he led Detroit with a +8 in his minutes. Between his production and clear impact on both ends, he was the Pistons' best player for long stretches and probably deserved to close the game. Notably, Stewart was also the only Piston with any hope of stopping Nikola Vucevic, as he is quick enough to stay with Vooch on the perimeter and strong enough to stop him in the post.
The Pistons disappointed mightily as a team in their season opener, but Isaiah Stewart can be proud of his performance. It was a rare offensive masterpiece from Beef Stew to go along with his incredible defense. If Stewart can maintain some of the positives he showed in this game, he will help contribute to a lot of Pistons wins this season.