Pistons vs New York Knicks
Game Breakdown
Pistons - 98 - 128 L
Cade, Ivey, THJ, Harris, Duren
Laying an absolute egg at home right now, this is the first one of the season but it is BAD…..Sunday is a big game for this team because Nets are a game most would chalk up as a chance to get a win (and it is) but that team is sneaky .500 right now and has the #6 offense in the NBA behind Schroder and Thomas
Bridges on Cade, Hart on Ivey and Anunoby on Harris was not what I was expecting them to do matchup wise
Bridges on Ivey and Anunoby on Cade was my prediction
First action of the game is an off the ball action for THJ to get a C&S 3P but Brunson actually defends nicely
They then hunt Brunson, get the switch, draws the double and gets a good look for THJ (missed)
They seem to really like the flex action ATO
LOVE the 3rd quarter ATO where they bring Cade off the weakside stagger, knocks this one down
Watch for teams to deny this and see if we can get an Ivey to Cade lob connection on the backdoor
TURNOVERS, TURNOVERS, TURNOVERS
Not just Cade and JI but everyone is taking their turn
I feel like the offense is stagnant
It is either isolation plays or someone holding the ball while a shooter runs off ball action
Would like to see the ball moving more side to side in sync with the off ball actions
Let Cade and JI drive offense and Harris, THJ, Duren, Fontecchio, Beasley, etc. just be play finishers in whatever capacity is best for them…feel like the vets are feeling a little bit too much like they have to create the offense
They seemingly went to the 5 man DHO stuff when Stew came in for Duren which doesn’t make sense to me because Duren is the one of the two that would be better at that
Although, the passing didn’t exactly shine in this game but I don’t think DHO stuff is Stew strong suit
You can’t be this aggressive in passing lanes that allow backdoors AND be 30th in the NBA in steals
If you are going to be aggressive, fine, but then you need some of the payoff that goes along with the risk
Transition defense has been AWFUL to start the game and against the team ranked 30th in PACE
Completely blow a Spain PnR coverage between THJ-Sasser-Duren and this is not the defensive engagement we have seen thus far this season
DUREN continues to make nice short roll reads in the PnR
And then throws a just careless weakside skip right to Anunoby
Has another one in the 3rd quarter
DHO keep and TOUGH finish over KAT, nice start for him offensively
And then…..kind of nothing
Impact is not being felt AND some pretty rough ball screen defense possessions
Gives up straight line drive to KAT to start the 2nd half
Looks like JB is going to send a message after KAT gets a clean look from 3P on the very next possession and sub him out for Stew
THJ with a rough start
Couple missed 3PAs and a bad TO in transition
Back to back games where he has taken a charge
HARRIS knocks down first mid range jumper but turns it over on first mid post isolation
Takes a quick transition 3PA, I am just not sure I am a fan of his shot diet right now
In fairness, I probably wouldn’t be so harsh if he was shooting more efficiently
We do see him playing minutes at the 5 for the first time this season, I believe
He does have very active and accurate hands defensively
BEASLEY a little more willing to attack inside the 3P line than what I thought we would see from him
Not a lot but it is more than the past few years of his career, does theoretically help to keep the defense more honest (but not when you are shooting 30% from 2P - right at 50% for his career)
Also seems like way more of his attempts are coming off the dribble than I anticipated for him, even from 3P
And to back that up he has the most corner 3PM in the NBA since ‘20-21, I guess those are more of what I thought we would see the majority of his shots being
CADE hasn’t got anything going so far but I think the defensive effort is still there
Has a nice block on a Brunson mid range pull up jumper
Shot is short, sooooo many misses short
Finding his scoring a little bit in the 2nd quarter
Getting to his spots and putting the ball in the basket
I do like seeing him out physical defenders this year
I do think he has been very active and engaged on the DREB in the first half as well
STEW with a rough start defending KAT has had back to back very good possessions
I like seeing him at least attempt a couple 3P
He does continue to show off impressive rim protection
I don’t think the raw numbers do it justice
HOLLAND continues to stay aggressive
Did not think the 3P% would be THIS bad but right now he is a complete non floor spacer
He does look more comfortable with the transition attack and finish to start the 2nd quarter BUT eventually the scouting report will be out about the right, left euro and teams will start anticipating it
Has a nice HC drive through second phase contact in the 2nd quarter as well
Follows it up with a TO on his next drive but does continue to play and forces a steal defensively
SASSER getting a first half rotation as the game is already out of hand
IVEY….I am almost to halftime and haven’t made a single note, not a good sign for his game
Did not get to see him on Brunson as much as I was hoping
3P continues to fall
Needs a bounce back game on Sunday vs the Nets like he had on Wednesday vs the Sixers
Kind of feel like he is playing for the foul at the rim instead of just playing to finish
There are times to do that but it’s a little too much
FONTECCHIO, yes, stop overthinking it and trying to do too much….catch and shoot, catch and shoot, catch and shoot
Then play hard defensively and grab some rebounds
Via ESPN.com
Knicks
Brunson, Hart, Bridges, Anunoby, KAT
They are 30th in PACE coming into the game but they seem to be pushing it a little bit here early
There defense is very physical and really pushes Detroit outside the 3P line
The spacing for this team is awesome, there is NEVER a defender in the lane or around the basket
And they do a great job cutting into that space
I think teams are going to have to start daring Josh Hart to shoot
BRUNSON has done a REALLY nice job chasing THJ around these off the ball screens early in the game
He has also had a couple perfectly timed off the ball cuts
He’s an all around good off the ball mover for being such an on ball player
And now is doing what he does in terms of drawing fouls, getting to the lane and then knocks down a couple dribble 3P….having himself quite the quarter
Shooting 50% from the 3P line right now this season
ANUNOBY provides such a physical presence on both ends of the court
KAT 4th most 3PM all time by 7’+
Has shown some real versatility with his offensive game
Obviously, stretches the floor but used him as a hub at the top of the key
Had a finish at the rim, downhill drive
AGGRESSIVE on the OREBs
Honestly, he has looked the most uncomfortable with post ups
SIMS immediately providing some nice rim protection for them off the bench
MCBRIDE shows off his value in about a 5 second sequence
Navigates weakside stagger to get the steal and then C&S 3PM on ensuing transition offense
BRIDGES with the most corner 3PM in the NBA since ‘20-21
The “new” jumper seems to be okay, especially from the corner
HART didn’t really seem overly involved in the offense in the 1st half
Via ESPN.com
Thanks Bryce, that was a tough one. I appreciate the box score, usually have it in a different tab...love that it's expandable to full page. Hardest working man in the bball business!