DETROIT, MI – Do you believe in the Detroit Pistons’ improbable start to the season? They opened the year with one of the toughest 10 game stretches in the NBA. But survived the gauntlet which has energized the interest of even fringe fans.
A consistent hustle, physical defense and ultimately winning has renewed fan interest and caught the attention of the basketball world.
But there’s still those echos faintly in the darkest corner of every Detroit Pistons fans mind ringing: ‘Is this real?’
The team would probably be offended at the assertion, but fans have been offended by over a decade of subpar basketball based on Detroit’s standard.
Who wants to get their heart broken?
Largely it seems supporters have bought in what new coach JB Bickerstaff is selling. And so is his team as evidenced by their improved defensive rating, which ranks in the top 7 of the NBA. Last season the Pistons performance on defense was bottom of the bucket.
Just a season ago the Pistons brought in Monty Williams, another coach that was associated with having turned around a team in a season. Unfortunately things didn’t go as planned as the team flatlined under his leadership, which created more questions about the young core than before his hiring.
Despite the team having things to clean up, it’s been clear to see the Pistons are a better team with a direction.
During the season kickoff media event, Bickerstaff spoke several times about the importance of having a process. At first I paid little mind to figuring out if there was more to the perceived ‘coach speech’. Often times the battle is won at media, but the war lost, making it more difficult to take at face value.
But the words of Bickerstaff have rung more and more true as the season has progressed.
Traits normally associated with the powerhouse Detroit Lions, is how the Pistons want to be identified.
“We want to play gritty,” Bickerstaff said. “We want to play physical, hustle and with grit.”
Pistons and Adversity?
And so far, so good. But it doesn’t mean the positive days will always come, without the negative. Which raises the level of importance of how the Pistons respond after a loss.
Last season, one bad night could’ve blossom into an extended losing streak with little hope in sight. But to this point Pistons have proven able to bounce back from a loss or two.
The Pistons record sit’s at 7-9 after an uncharacteristic low energy loss to the Chicago Bulls. They made strides to keep pace all night but just couldn’t muster enough to come through in the end.
Pistons big man Jalen Duren was the center of attention versus the Bulls, pun intended. That could be a good, or a bad thing depending on your perspective.
“Just didn’t execute and our energy wasn’t all there,” Duren said. “We were flat, but no excuses.”
”We have to be better.”
Duren finished the game with 15 points, 22 rebounds and 2 blocks for a massive double-double. But observers remarked on his defense needing to improve as Bulls center Nikola Vucevic scored 29 points. He also grabbed 12 rebounds and knocked down 6 of 8 shots from three point land.
To be fair, the Bulls shot 46 threes in the game hitting 23 of them for a blistering 50% from three. This has been an Achilles heal of the Pistons defense that they must figure out. Defending around the perimeter has given them fits, especially when facing stretch power-forwards and centers that can shoot.
In a prior loss, Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez also scored 29 points and shot 5 of 8 from three. He, like Vucevic, continued to get free around the perimeter to knock down seemingly every big shot.
This is a concerning trend, but one I’m driven to believe they will learn from and eventually fix.
“As a team we are grinding, but we have to execute the game plan,” Duren emphasized. “The coaches had a good game plan and we have to do it.”
The Pistons started the season 0-4 and fans started to check out early, but the team refused to fold. Since then the Pistons have a 7-5 record, even with the loss to the Bulls, and have had a physical paint defense to thank for it.
My initial thought is pondering how much the paint attention might be effecting the perimeter defense. At this juncture early let downs like versus the Bulls serve as the perfect teaching moments.
This will be the key to a season where learning how to win is the main objective. The Pistons have played most their schedule tough and competitively which is appreciated by the fans. But winning is the ultimate goal.
“Tonight wasn’t our night,” Duren exclaimed. “But this is a team (Pistons) that can compete with any in the league.”
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Photo Credit: Brandon Dent – Woodward Sports Network