Pistons vs Golden State Warriors (preseason)
Game Breakdown
Pistons - 93 - 111 L
Cade, Ivey, Beasley, Harris, Duren
Giving up MULTIPLE OREBs early in the game
Continuing later into the 1st quarter
Really nice ICE possession between Cade-Duren where they force the ball where they want and BOTH get hands in the passing lane
Leads to TO and Ivey transition layup
Seems like the defense has been okay and forced some TOs but the offense can’t get anything going
Been one good game, one bad game trend through 4 games
And now they are letting Hield and Waters going crazy from 3P line to end the 1st quarter
3P barrage continues into the 2nd quarter
I realize it’s the 3PM that are the difference in the game but I feel like they are somewhat coming from the fact that Detroit can’t keep them out of the lane with drives or cuts
And now they are just making EVERYTHING, Kuminga even hits 2 with a contest
Some of the off the ball miscommunication on switches has shown up as well
2/15 vs 11/19 from 3 in the first half (start of 4th when both teams REALLY subbed the end of the bench it was 4/23 vs 16/32)
You are just really, really losing the math game even if you are 16/28 from 2P
The game in a nutshell mid 3rd quarter
Beasley gets a wide open 3PA in transition after a really nice defensive possession from Duren and misses….Warriors go the other way and Kuminga knocks down his 3rd 3P on a transition C&S
1/15 from the 3P Line for Beasley, Harris, THJ and Fontecchio
TO issues show up in the 1st half (10)
The guards are at fault for some but also some mishandling from the bigs
HARRIS immediately shows off that ability to exploit advantages beyond just C&S
Attacks Kuminga closeout and finishes with left hand
Struggled from the field since then
Does struggle to stay in front in a Melton isolation
Fwiw, Cade gives up a similar drive later in the possession
Has a couple nice defensive playmaking with a dig on a drive and block at the rim
Another one with a great off ball rotation and steal from the weakside
Gets a 3PA block on a nice closeout
DUREN with a beautiful weakside block on above straight line drive from Melton
5:25 1st quarter is a really nice defensive play
Helps on Podz drive (Cade got beat) and then able to recover and contest shot attempt with verticality
3:15 2nd quarter Cade has to do a better job navigating the screen but Duren completely turns his hips which makes it so hard to contest the lob pass to the rolling big
Happens again in the 3rd quarter
Gives up drive to TJD (second time) BUT continues to play and makes a nice block that leads to transition bucket
IVEY 3PM at 8:50 1st Quarter is exactly the one he has to make
Knocks down another one mid 3rd quarter
Cade-Duren PnR and Cade throws the weakside corner skip
Good seeing him use a little floater as well
Made a few bad decisions, hasn’t been his best on ball game from the preseason
Goodness, what a mid range jumper from the baseline
His confidence in that jump shot seems to be at an all time high (hopefully this can carry over into the regular season)
CADE mid post isolation is something I support BUT seems like he has gotten it poked away a few times just in the preseason
Next one he loses primary defender but gets blocked by low man (TJD)
Hits the hook over Hield….
I think he needs a counter to the hook
Shows off the floater again early in this game
TOO LOOSE WITH THE BALL
Two of his better drives and finishes to end the 1st half
Gets a couple more buckets at the rim and mid range jumper to start the 2nd half, it is good to see him get his scoring going a bit
Wish there were some more 3PA/3PM mixed in
Might be too little, too late BUT he REALLY has it going from the field right now
TOUGH finish off the backboard going to his left
FONTECCHIO off the bench again in this game….potentially going to be his role come the regular season?
STEW gets some love from the Warriors announcer for “having the best nickname in the NBA”
Rough start offensively with a TO and couple missed shots
Will be interesting to see how he looks in DHO, operating from the elbow, etc. looks for him if he is asked to do it like we have seen from Duren
Has a really, really nice multiple action possession early in the 2nd quarter that ends with a roll and finish off a pass from Holland
THJ continues to not make shots
BEASLEY in the same boat tonight, from 3P
Awesome pass and relocation to start the 2nd half to get a decent look but can’t knock it down
HOLLAND with an awesome on ball possession at 9:30 2nd
Gives up an advantage on drive but continues to play and dig rolls off the offensive player
Another example where he has to figure out the finishing in this league
Great attack of Anderson but gets blocked at the rim BUT stays with it and gets the finish
A couple really, really nice on ball defensive possessions vs Moody
Warriors
Podziemski, Melton, Moody, Kuminga, TJD
PODZIEMSKI playing with really, really good pace in the ball screen
Really enjoy watching the pace he plays with in general and seems like the game has really slowed down for him
Love his footwork
Couple really bad passing decisions
Probably going to lead the league in charges drawn again this year
Think he has attempted to take 3 in the 1st half (1 successful)
MELTON showing ability to attack downhill
Has REALLY pressured the paint
AND made some plays, couple really nice lobs to TJD
Absolutely AWESOME OREB and mid air assist to TJD
I think he has been really, really good the entire 1st half
LOONEY with another mid range jumper
Has such active hands defending in the ball screen as well
HIELD continues to just be a flat out bucket from beyond the 3P line
The shot making is just ridiculous
WATERS comes in and does the exact same thing
TJD has had some AWESOME rim protection
KUMINGA shoots from the 3P line like he does in this game (even the confidence) and he is going to make another jump this year