The Pistons Pulse: Sunday (Jan. 29th) EPISODE #50 LIVE RECORDING
5 HRS AGO - The Pistons Pulse Podcast w/Bryce Simon of MotorCityHoops & Omari Sankofa II of The Detroit Expand
5 HRS AGO - The Pistons Pulse Podcast w/Bryce Simon of MotorCityHoops & Omari Sankofa II of The Detroit Free Press The Pistons Pulse is brought to you by The Detroit Free Press and is co hosted by Bryce Simon of MotorCityHoops and Omari Sankofa II, Detroit Pistons beat writer for The Detroit Free Press.
Omari and I are excited to announce that for our 50th episode of The Pistons Pulse we will have a live recording on the Detroit Free Press youtube channel.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppPR5XxP0vA
Please join us on Sunday, January 29th at NOON ET time as we record a very special episode of the podcast. Omari and I will be recapping the past week of Detroit Pistons basketball and continue to look ahead to the NBA Trade Deadline. But what this episode is really about is YOU, the listener, and the chance to get your questions answered in real time through the Detroit Free Press YouTube comments.
Drop a comment or question in the chat and Wes Davenport, our amazing producer, will put it Collapse
Pistons vs. Nets preview: Pistons seek bounce-back win against KD-less Nets
1 DAY AGO - Photo by Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images
A well-rested Pistons team play the Nets on Expand
1 DAY AGO - Photo by Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images
A well-rested Pistons team play the Nets on the second night of their back-to-back. The Detroit Pistons will make their fourth trip to New York on the season for their second meeting with the Brooklyn Nets.
The team from the Motor City enter the night looking to make amends for their pitiful 150-130 shellacking at the hands of the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday night. After giving up a season-high 49 first quarter points — two shy from the NBA’s record — Detroit should be eager to set the tone defensively.
After being dealt one of the league's more unfavourable schedules—the Paris Game resulted in a front-loaded calendar—the Pistons will travel to Brooklyn with two days of rest, while the Nets play for the second night in as many nights.
Game Vitals
When: 7:30 pm ETWhere: Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New YorkWatch: Bally Sports DetroitOdds: Pistons +9
Analysis
3 Things to watch:
Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Collapse
Pistons vs. Bucks final score: Milwaukee drops 150 points on Detroit in blowout loss
3 DAYS AGO - Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
Detroit was blown away by Milwaukee in the first Expand
3 DAYS AGO - Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
Detroit was blown away by Milwaukee in the first quarter and never recovered on Monday The Milwaukee Bucks are great.
The Detroit Pistons are bad.
Traveling home from Paris was hard.
Killian Hayes and Isaiah Stewart were hurt.
But the Pistons’ early effort in their 150-130 shellacking on Monday was unacceptable.
There’s only one place to begin: the beginning of this god forsaken game.
The Pistons, playing for the first time since their loss to the Bulls in Paris last week, were out of it before the midway point of the first quarter. They trailed Milwaukee by 20 points five minutes in, and 30-plus points at various points in the first half.
Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 20 of his 29 points in that opening quarter, helping to bury Detroit before they even had a chance to get their sea legs.
The Pistons really weren’t that horrendous after — offensively, at least. They outscored the Bucks in the latter half of the second quarter and then Collapse
NBA Draft: Assessing the state of Troy Weaver’s draft picks
3 DAYS AGO - Photo by Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images
As the NBA calendar edges closer to the Expand
3 DAYS AGO - Photo by Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images
As the NBA calendar edges closer to the league’s unofficial turning point—All-Star Weekend—the Detroit Pistons once again find themselves toiling in the basement of the standings. The Pistons currently have the second-worst record in the NBA, with only the 10-win Houston Rockets below them in the standings.
As demoralizing as watching back-to-back-to-back 20-win seasons has been for Piston fans, the primary goal for Troy Weaver upon assuming his front office role was to accumulate top-tier talent, without committing money long-term.
The best way to do this—lose A LOT of games and build through the Draft.
By loosing a ton of games, Weaver has been able to select 11 rookies combined across the past three NBA drafts. He’s been lauded by fans for his draft day tactics with the Pistons GM never one to be shy of a head-turning transaction in order to attain “his guy.”
The question becomes are any of Troy Weaver’s guys “the guy” or Collapse
Film Don’t Lie: Evaluating Every Killian Hayes 3-Point Shot
5 DAYS AGO - Photo by Catherine Steenkeste/NBAE via Getty Images
Where is Hayes best at knocking down Expand
5 DAYS AGO - Photo by Catherine Steenkeste/NBAE via Getty Images
Where is Hayes best at knocking down jumpers from behind the arc? Killian Hayes has taken a step forward this season with his overall offensive production. Whether that is to a satisfactory level is still a debate but the improvement is undeniable.
In a small uptick of minutes per game, Hayes has improved his points per game and assists per game while keeping his turnovers at just two.
If we eliminate the first 11 games of the season, where Hayes unquestionably got off to a cold start, the improvement really shows itself. Even after a couple of rough outings in his last two, 6-of-27 from the field and 1-of-11 from the 3-point line, Hayes is averaging over 12 points and 6.6 assists per game on 42% from the field, 34% from the 3-point line and 83% from the free-throw line in the 34 games since.
While 34 games is far from a full season, those numbers would be far and away better than what he put together last season in his 66 Collapse
Pistons vs. Bulls GameThread: Game Time, TV, Odds, and More
7 DAYS AGO - Photo by Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images
Victor Wembanyama is sitting courtside Expand
7 DAYS AGO - Photo by Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images
Victor Wembanyama is sitting courtside watching this game, and so should you Are we ready for tens of thousands of adoring fans to cheer for Detroit Pistons starting point guard Killian Hayes? Because it’s happening tonight inside Accor Arena in Paris, France. This is the Pistons facing the Chicago Bulls, and the action is being broadcast on Bally Sports Detroit and NBA TV.
There are plenty of luminaries involved, from Pistons legend Ben Wallace to almost-certain No. 1 overall pick Victor Wembanyama. The fans are certainly excited:
The line for Pistons-Bulls three hours before the game pic.twitter.com/gO1TpNPJ31— James L. Edwards III (@JLEdwardsIII) January 19, 2023
Let’s go.
Game Vitals
When: 3 p.m. ETWhere: Accor Arena, Paris, France Watch: Bally Sports Detroit, NBA TVOdds: Pistons +6
Projected Lineups
Detroit Pistons (12-35)
Killian Hayes, Jaden Ivey, Bojan Bogdanovic, Isaiah Stewart, Jalen Duren
Chicago Bulls Collapse
NBA Draft: The Pros and Cons of Drafting Scoot Henderson for the Detroit Pistons
1/18/2023 - Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images
Does the consensus lock of Scoot Henderson Expand
1/18/2023 - Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images
Does the consensus lock of Scoot Henderson at No. 2 still apply with a crowded Detroit backcourt? We’ve hit a somewhat sluggish point in the NBA season as All-Star ballots are released and the outlook of most teams have become clearer. For the Pistons — you can call it déjà vu— but their playoff hopes have been slashed before the new year even began. For NBA Draft junkies, that means it’s another early spring.
Since news broke that Cade Cunningham would miss the remainder of the season with a left shin injury, the inevitability of a full development/tank (whatever you want to call it) season was underway, despite some pre-season hopes for a possible play-in bid.
The disappointment behind the loss of the top overall pick in 2021 was only pacified with the increased hope of landing what some are calling the best prospect since LeBron James in Victor Wembanyama with the top overall pick in 2023. The Frenchman’s freakish mystique Collapse
The Pistons Pulse: Why are the Detroit Pistons so Bad on Defense?
1/17/2023 - The Pistons Pulse Podcast w/Bryce Simon of MotorCityHoops & Omari Sankofa II of The Detroit Expand
1/17/2023 - The Pistons Pulse Podcast w/Bryce Simon of MotorCityHoops & Omari Sankofa II of The Detroit Free Press The Pistons Pulse is brought to you by The Detroit Free Press and is co hosted by Bryce Simon of MotorCityHoops and Omari Sankofa II, Detroit Pistons beat writer for The Detroit Free Press.
Omari and I take a look at the past week’s slate of games for the Detroit Pistons that started out with a blow out loss at the hands of the Philadelphia 76ers before a surprise come behind victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Pistons would follow that win up with a 6-point loss at the hands of the Pelicans, a game dominated by Jonas Valanciunas, and a 13-point loss at the hands of Julius Randle and the New York Knicks.
In the second segment of the episode we take a deep dive into the Piston’s defensive woes throughout the entire course of the year. Where do the Pistons rank in opponents points per game? Opponents paint points per game? Opponents points in each individual quarter? Collapse
Pistons vs. Knicks GameThread: Game Time, TV, Odds, and More
1/15/2023 - Photo by Brian Sevald/NBAE via Getty Images
The Detroit Pistons play today and I’ve got Expand
1/15/2023 - Photo by Brian Sevald/NBAE via Getty Images
The Detroit Pistons play today and I’ve got some good news and bad news as they gear up to face the New York Knicks. The good news is the game is at 1 p.m. ET, which means the lowly Pistons won’t take up an entire evening. Second bit of good news — Isaiah Stewart is available to play! OK, now the bad news. It turns out that while Stewart is back in action, Bojan Bogdanovic is listed as questionable with a non-Covid illness.
If Stewart is back and Bojan is out, it’ll be interesting to see what Dwane Casey does with his lineup. Does he start Stewart at center with Nerlens Noel as his backup or doe she continue to weaponize Hamidou Diallo as the defacto big man in bench units. If he starts just Stewart that means someone else needs to start alongside Saddiq Bey at one of the forward spots. That could be Isaiah Livers or even Kevin Knox, I suppose. I hope he throws caution to the wind and starts both Stewart and Noel and lets the bench Collapse
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Pistons vs. Nets final score: Balanced team effort leads Pistons over Kyrie Irving Show in Brooklyn
15 HRS AGO - Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images
Irving scored 40 points, but the Expand
15 HRS AGO - Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images
Irving scored 40 points, but the Pistons notched a much-needed road win on Thursday Int he NBA, you’re not as bad, or good, as you looked the previous night.
Every team wins in this league. Some (a lot) more than others but, over an 82-game season, you’re going to see good teams beat up on bad teams, and then bad teams surprise some good ones and beat ‘em.
Sound familiar?
Coming off an embarrassing loss to the Milwaukee Bucks earlier this week, the Detroit Pistons looked like a new team against Kyrie Irving and the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday.
They played defense. They tweaked the starting lineup. And, surprisingly, they won, beating the Nets 130-122 behind 25 points from Saddiq Bey at Barclays Center.
From the opening tip, the Pistons looked engaged and ready to go — a big change from their last time out. Give Jaden Ivey credit: he was the catalyst.
Starting alongside Alec Burks for the first time this season, Ivey looked very Collapse
ESPN Game Previews: Stars are out (with injury) as Brooklyn faces Philly
2 DAYS AGO - Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images
Grizzlies face the Warriors, and both teams seem to Expand
2 DAYS AGO - Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images
Grizzlies face the Warriors, and both teams seem to hate each other National games are when Pistons fans, dying of thirst wandering the desert of irrelevance, can finally witness some quality basketball. Is that the case tonight? Well, even a game that is potentially missing both Joel Embiid and Kevin Durant will serve up much more talent than the Pistons can throw on the floor.
Durant, of course, has been out for a bit with a knee sprain, but he seems like he’s inching closer to a return around the All-Star break. Embiid missed the Sixers’ previous game and is listed on the injury report with left foot soreness. With Durant out, Kyrie Irving is racking up the second-most field goal attempts in the NBA at 24.4 per game. That trails only his former running mate and fellow star desperate for some help LeBron James. Even as the only offensive option in Brooklyn, Irving is still shooting 46% from the floor and nearly 40% from three. But Collapse
Pistons vs. Bucks GameThread: Game Time, TV, Odds, and More
3 DAYS AGO - Photo by Brian Sevald/NBAE via Getty Images
Pistons dust off the old basketball and get Expand
3 DAYS AGO - Photo by Brian Sevald/NBAE via Getty Images
Pistons dust off the old basketball and get back onto the court The injury report is not doing the Detroit Pistons any favors. As they prepare to take on the Milwaukee Bucks, it appears Milwaukee’s two best players, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton have been upgraded to probable. Pistons starting point guard Killian Hayes, meanwhile, is out with a shoulder contusion.
That means Detroit’s top two point guards entering the season — Cade Cunningham and Hayes — are a no-go and the team is likely to rely on rookie Jaden Ivey to play the lead initiator and slot Saddiq Bey next to him in the back court.
When Hayes was suspended for three games, Ivey started at point guard and averaged 12 points on 36% shooting and 30% from three. He also averaged more turnovers (4.7) than assists (4.0). That was against Chicago, Minnesota and Detroit. Tonight, he’ll be matched up with Jrue Holiday. Good luck, rookie.
Game Vitals
When: 7 p.m. Collapse
Pistons vs. Bucks preview: Returning home from Paris to face the Bucks
4 DAYS AGO - Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
The fun is over and now it’s time to get back on the grind of Expand
4 DAYS AGO - Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
The fun is over and now it’s time to get back on the grind of the NBA schedule. I am sure the Pistons had a great time in Paris, but everybody watching that game did not have a great time. They were blown out by the Bulls in front of Killian Hayes’ friends and family. They now return home after only playing that one game last week to face a Milwaukee Bucks team getting back to full health.
Despite missing players like Khris Middleton and other rotation players at various points this season, the Bucks have managed to hang around the top 3 of the Eastern Conference pretty much throughout the season. It is because of Giannis Antetokounmpo, although he has been out the last few games and is probable to return today.
The Bucks have always been a nightmare matchup for the Pistons since Antetokounmpo has made his rise to stardom and it really doesn’t matter who has or has not been playing for the Bucks.
This game was already looking tough for the Pistons, Collapse
DBB on 3: Midseason impressions on the Pistons
7 DAYS AGO - Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
As we cross the halfway (and some) mark of the Expand
7 DAYS AGO - Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
As we cross the halfway (and some) mark of the 2022-23 season, the DBB crew answers some burning questions The final stretch of yet another dismal Detroit Pistons season is upon us.
It’s been a tough watch at times — ok, lots of times — this season as the Pistons have sunk once again into the bottom of the standings. On one hand, that has put them in position to tank their way into prime position to land prized prospect Victor Wembanyama. On the other, it’s been a tough season to watch as a fan and observer of this team.
Anyways, let’s dive into it!
1. There are a cavalcade of reasons why the Pistons are at the bottom of the standings yet again, but who are two veterans that have impressed you most this season?
Sean Corp: Alec Burks is a clear No. 1 for me simply because I am almost certain he will be back with the team next season, and he fits in so seamlessly into a quality role even when the team gets Cade back. No. 2 is Isaiah Collapse
How Hamidou Diallo is thriving at the 5
1/19/2023 - Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images
With numerous injuries to the front court, the 6-foot-5 Expand
1/19/2023 - Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images
With numerous injuries to the front court, the 6-foot-5 Diallo has stepped in and provided the Detroit Pistons major minutes as the smallest-ball center The Detroit Pistons season hasn’t quite gone to plan, to put it mildly. A never-ending injury report has plagued the roster for much of the season, with coach Dwane Casey only having a fully outfitted roster on a handful of occasions.
With injuries come inconsistency, and inconsistency quickly becomes instability, and that is a recipe for losses, lots of them.
On the flip side, a poor bill of health often forces coaches to think outside the box, to get creative with lineups in ways that stretch beyond their comfort zones. Injuries also give players once outside the rotation and at the end of the bench an opportunity to grasp a role normally not available to them.
There has been many nights through 47 games where Casey has had to remix his lineup to accomodate for injury. However, on Jan. Collapse
NBA Draft: If the Pistons land the second pick, you take Scoot Henderson and figure out the rest later
1/18/2023 - Lucas Peltier-USA TODAY Sports
Scoot Henderson has star potential but his fit is anything, Expand
1/18/2023 - Lucas Peltier-USA TODAY Sports
Scoot Henderson has star potential but his fit is anything, but perfect for the Pistons. Does that matter? The Detroit Pistons appear to be on a crash course for another top-5 pick in the NBA Draft. If the ping-pong balls fall the Pistons’ way, the team will be rewarded with a potentially generational talent in Victor Wembanyama. But what if the Pistons get the No. 2 overall pick?
Victor Wembanyama is one of the most intriguing, high-upside players to hit the NBA draft in a long time. He will be picked No. 1 overall regardless of the team that lands the top pick in the 2023 draft.
Behind Wembanyama, Scoot Henderson, the ultra-bouncy guard, is generally considered the second best player in the class and in a tier of his own.
Then, there’s the rest of the field, which typically is ranked something like this:
Victor Wembanyama, F/C (everything)
Scoot Henderson, G
Brandon Miller, F
Amen Thompson, G
Nick Smith Jr., G
A cursory glance at the Collapse
DBB Podcast: Don’t Mind If We Hamidou
1/16/2023 - Ben and Laz talk about the week in Detroit Basketball Hey everyone! This is Laz Jackson of Detroit Expand
1/16/2023 - Ben and Laz talk about the week in Detroit Basketball Hey everyone! This is Laz Jackson of Detroit Bad Boys, and on this week’s podcast, Jack Kelly, Ben Gulker, and I talk about your 12-34 Detroit Pistons. Ben and I discuss Hamidou Diallo’s huge impact on the team playing small, Nerlens Noel staying ready, me getting myself in trouble tweeting about Jaden Ivey, and how Killian is going to play in Paris.
As always, we appreciate your continued support of the podcast, and the best way to do that is to share, subscribe, and leave comments - please leave comments on this discussion post on Detroit Bad Boys, that’s the best way for us to have the conversation we want to have around the podcast.
Thanks for listening, y’all. Enjoy the podcast: Collapse
Pistons vs. Pelicans final score: Comeback comes up short as Pistons fall, 116-110
1/14/2023 - Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
The Pistons looked dead in the water until Hamidou Diallo Expand
1/14/2023 - Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
The Pistons looked dead in the water until Hamidou Diallo happened. The Pelicans entered this game without Zion Williamson, which didn’t really matter since the Pistons were without Isaiah Stewart and Jalen Duren once again.
Against the Timberwolves on Wednesday, Nerlens Noel’s defense was a huge part of the comeback, but that was not the case today. He didn’t have an answer for Jonas Valanciunas, a player who probably weighs close to 60 pounds more than him.
Despite not being able to stop Valanciunas, the Pistons hung tough in the 1st quarter as they only trailed 32-28 after 1. It helped that Bojan Bogdanovic couldn’t miss, literally, as he was 6-of-6 in the quarter.
New Orleans started to take control of the game in the 2nd quarter. The Pistons kept the game closer than it should, but with no backup center and a few bench pieces missing, it was bound to happen. They would enter halftime trailing 59-50.
Tell me if you have heard this before, Collapse
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Pistons vs. Nets GameThread: Game Time, TV, Odds, and More
18 HRS AGO - Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images
Killian should be back, but Livers and Stewart are Expand
18 HRS AGO - Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images
Killian should be back, but Livers and Stewart are questionable Killian Hayes is back after missing the game against the Milwaukee Bucks. Despite missing just one game, Hayes hasn’t technically played since the Detroit Pistons faced the Chicago Bulls a week ago in Paris. He struggled in that game, and his defense and playmaking were missed against the Bucks, despite Jaden Ivey’s fine showing there.
It’s not all good news as Detroit gets ready to face the Brooklyn Nets tonight. Both Isaiahs, Livers and Stewart are questionable with an ankle sprain and shoulder soreness, respectively. The Nets are still without Kevin Durant and Seth Curry is listed as questionable.
The Pistons have lost seven in a row to the Nets, but the last one was only by three points! Another close game would be a nice balm after the absolute shellacking Detroit took at the hands of the Bucks.
Game Vitals
When: 7:30 pm ETWhere: Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New YorkWatch: Collapse
The Pistons Pulse: Keith Smith Joins the Podcast!!
3 DAYS AGO - The Pistons Pulse Podcast w/Bryce Simon of MotorCityHoops & Omari Sankofa II of The Detroit Expand
3 DAYS AGO - The Pistons Pulse Podcast w/Bryce Simon of MotorCityHoops & Omari Sankofa II of The Detroit Free Press The Pistons Pulse is brought to you by The Detroit Free Press and is co hosted by Bryce Simon of MotorCityHoops and Omari Sankofa II, Detroit Pistons beat writer for The Detroit Free Press.
Omari and I are honored to be joined this week by the amazing Keith Smith of spotrac, CelticsBlog and the Front Office Show which can be found on all of your podcast platforms. There is nobody better to discuss the NBA salary cap and trade deadline than Keith.
We begin the episode by taking an overall look at the current Detroit Pistons roster construction and cap situation. We take a broad look at where they are as the trade deadline approaches and what their goals and mentality should be. We also take a peek into the future with the Pistons offseason and even further down the road with pending extensions AND the new CBA and salary cap rise.
We then get more specific with the Pistons trade Collapse
NBA Trade Rumors: Insight on the Detroit Pistons asking price for Bojan Bogdanovic, Alec Burks
3 DAYS AGO - Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images
It seems increasingly likely the Detroit Pistons have a Expand
3 DAYS AGO - Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images
It seems increasingly likely the Detroit Pistons have a quiet trade deadline The Detroit Pistons are a bad team and no deal at the NBA Trade Deadline is going to change its season. The Pistons are also in year three of a rebuild, and I don’t think any deal would appreciably change their long-term outlook. They’re going to have a high pick in a seemingly loaded 2023 NBA Draft, and they can’t afford to screw it up.
I mention this because I need people to be prepared for the likelihood that the Detroit Pistons not only fail to make a seismic deal at the deadline, they might not make any deals at all.
Now, if I had to put my chips on the table, I say they will more likely than not do something, but I also take them at their word when it is reported that the Pistons front office has a stance of needing to be blown away by an offer in order to move players like Bojan Bogdanovic, Alec Burks or Saddiq Bey.
In his latest trade rumor roundup for Collapse
DBB Podcast: 2023 Mailbag!
4 DAYS AGO - Ben and Laz answer your questions about the Pistons before the trade deadline Hey everyone! This Expand
4 DAYS AGO - Ben and Laz answer your questions about the Pistons before the trade deadline Hey everyone! This is Laz Jackson of Detroit Bad Boys, and on this week’s podcast, Ben Gulker and I talk about your 12-36 Detroit Pistons. It’s a mailbag episode, so Ben and I answer your questions about Bojan Bogdanovic’s trade market, what this team is capable of defensively, and what to do with Wemby if we’re lucky enough to get him.
Thank you to all of you at DBB who submitted questions, we got to everyone who asked a question on last week’s podcast post. We appreciate the input into the pod, and I think Ben and I gave satisfactory answers to your questions.
As always, we appreciate your continued support of the podcast, and the best way to do that is to share, subscribe, and leave comments - please leave comments on this discussion post, that’s the best way for us to have the conversation we want to have around the podcast.
Thanks for listening, y’all. Enjoy the podcast: Collapse
Pistons vs. Bulls final score: Killian Hayes struggles, Zach LaVine shines as Bulls easily best Pistons
7 DAYS AGO - Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images
Nobody did much of anything well for the Detroit Expand
7 DAYS AGO - Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images
Nobody did much of anything well for the Detroit Pistons, and that is becoming far too common When the highlight of your game was a photo of your general manager getting a good long look at Victor Wembanyama, you know it didn’t go your way. Pretty definitively, nothing went the Detroit Pistons’ way in their 126-108 loss to the Chicago Bulls in Paris.
It’s not that the Detroit Pistons wilted in the spotlight of a signature overseas game. It’s that under the bright lights, they played about as dull as could be. Nothing stood out as impressive or a signature building block.
There was no dynamic offensive ball movement, no imposing defensive presence. There was nobody on the team who wanted to carry this struggling team on their back and will them to victory. There was a lot of driving, minimal passing, and sometimes the ball went in, and most of the time it didn’t.
The Pistons shot 40% from the floor and 23% from three. All those Collapse
Pistons vs. Bulls preview: Detroit seek win abroad in Killian Hayes’ homecoming to France
1/19/2023 - Photo by Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images
The Pistons get the international Expand
1/19/2023 - Photo by Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images
The Pistons get the international spotlight, and we’re all rooting for a huge coronation party for the new and improved Killian Hayes The Detroit Pistons play host the Chicago Bulls this later today, however, this won’t be you’re typical 7:30 p.m. tip-off at Little Caesars Arena. Instead, this afternoon’s contest will be played more than 4,000 miles away in Paris, France.
While the NBA has allowed each team as much rest time possible to combat the travel—the Pistons and Bulls each play only one game this week—the circumstances is still far from your regular Thursday night in the NBA.
The change in time zone coupled with the fact the Bulls struggle to dispatch of sub-.500 teams, makes tonight a winnable game for the Pistons.
On the injury front, Detroit will be without Cade Cunningham (shin) and Marvin Bagley (hand). After finding his passport, Jalen Duren is now with the team and has been listed as questionable.
Chicago will Collapse
Jalen Duren isn’t in France with Pistons because he lost his passport
1/17/2023 - Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images
The youngest player in the NBA has never been more the Expand
1/17/2023 - Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images
The youngest player in the NBA has never been more the youngest player in the NBA The Detroit Pistons were hopeful that starting center Jalen Duren would be available for Thursday’s game against the Chicago Bulls being played in France after the rookie sat the previous five games with an ankle injury. One big problem — Duren isn’t in France with the Pistons. It seems that the 19-year-old rookie lost his passport and couldn’t travel with the team.
That news comes from The Athletic’s James L. Edwards III, who reports that the Pistons are currently working on the issue and hoping to get him to France in time to play in Thursday’s game.
30yo James and just-turned 19 JD having passport problems… same man pic.twitter.com/ntdaZKLYE7— James L. Edwards III (@JLEdwardsIII) January 17, 2023
Perhaps it is a good time to note that despite being a starter in the NBA and standing 6-foot-10 and 250 pounds, Duren is the league’s youngest player and Collapse
Pistons vs. Knicks final score: Julius Randle gets 40 and 15 as New York is too big for Detroit
1/15/2023 - Photo by Brian Sevald/NBAE via Getty Images
Pistons too small, too slow to keep pace with Expand
1/15/2023 - Photo by Brian Sevald/NBAE via Getty Images
Pistons too small, too slow to keep pace with New York’s star players The Detroit Pistons were clearly not ready to deal with the New York Knicks’ defense and Julius Randle’s offense, and by the time they got up to speed, it was too late. The Pistons fell 117-104 as Randle had a game-high 42 points, 15 rebounds and four assists.
He was walking into clean jumpers, hitting insane step-backs with a hand in his face, passing out of double teams, and hitting glassers with ease. Randle had the answer no matter what Detroit did, much like he has in Detroit’s three previous losses to New York this season.
The story of the game, Randle aside, was how the Pistons started the first and fourth quarters. Detroit came out a step slow, disinterested in working their way into quality shots, and unprepared to deal with New York’s size.
New York ended the first quarter up 39-22, and it figured to be a laugher. But Detroit managed to fight its way Collapse
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