Pistons vs Phoenix Suns (preseason)
Game Breakdown
Pistons - 97 - 105 L
Cunningham, Ivey, Beasley, Fontecchio, Duren
Empty side PnR to start the game
Seems like this is a VERY integral part of the plan offensively this season
See another version of this in secondary transition after a MADE basket from the Suns
This one is a Handoff Keep between Cade and Ivey (referenced multiple of these from the first preseason game as well)
See another example on the Cade poster dunk
Holland-Stew paired together entering the game again in this one
Turnovers a little bit of an issue the entire first quarter and the offense just doesn’t seem to have the same flow that it had in game one
Some pretty good possessions midway through the 2nd quarter where the ball gets moving
DUREN gets another elbow DHO action and assist early in the game
This is another action that looks to be a staple
Gave him credit for his screening last game but gets called for a couple illegal ones to end the 1st half
These contribute to make his turnover numbers look worse in this game than they actually were
Continues to be a force on the OREBs
Do think he looked better in ball screen coverage this game as he played a lower drop compared to closer to at the level against Dame and the Bucks
CADE defensive energy has been so good thus far in the preseason
Really hope we see it continue into the regular season. I remember scouting him and thinking he had real potential as an all around difference maker on both ends
Has an awesome isolation block on Booker
Have seen the mid post isolation a couple times in the 1st half
Has struggled with some of the finishing around the rim through these first two games
Not sure we have seen the floater that he mentioned during media day
FONTECCHIO with a couple nice looking 3PM, hopefully he can replicate what we saw last year
One of the catch and a smooth looking one of the bounce
The effort level is very good defensively but you could tell in this game that he just isn’t capable of really lockin in on wings/forwards as good as KD (this would be the argument for those wanting to see Ausar, when healthy, in the starting lineup in some capacity)
HOLLAND jumper still looks fluid enough to me but not able to convert his first C&S attempt
It looks like he is going to be able to pressure the lane BUT can he figure out the finishing and decision making when he gets there
Multiple attempts blocked in this game
8:53 4th he has a really nice finish as he just plays through the contact AND this is a great example of being an “advantage exploiter” by attacking the unsettled defense as opposed to making the one more pass like we have often seen him do thus far
Best drive of the night is 5:00 4th where he uses a secondary defender navigation dribble to keep his drive into the lane and eventually gets fouled and to the FT line
See another great example of his ball moving and quick decisions on the perimeter early 4th quarter on the Moore 3PM
THJ has not been able to find the shooting touch at all thus far
Finally gets one to fall to start the 2nd half, you know he isn’t going to lose confidence or be shy
IVEY with a couple REALLY tough jump shots off the bounce to end the 1st quarter to go along with quite a few paint pressures
Those two possessions somewhat highlight the difference in the games though as the ball didn’t have much movement and shot attempts came out of true isolations
Has thrown some really really nice passes
Feel like he is playing extremely confident and free right now
Cutting off the ball well (one gets Duren a finish and one gets himself a layup)
Has been VERY aggressive and active BUT…
See him miss a couple of those layups that you feel like he just has to learn to put the right touch on to finish
One of which leads directly to 3PM on the other end which seems to always happen when you miss a layup on your end
STEW with two really nice rim protections already in the 1st half
Defended a PnR lob and then contests another one on pass and attempted finish by roller (at least worth noting this is vs Plumlee and rookie Ighodaro)
Nice looking PnP 3PM, jumper continues to look the way we saw last season…just has to prove it on more and more volume and in value situations to really garner that gravity
STEVENS with a great weakside off the ball cut for a catch and finish
Has a really nice recovery block on the defensive end
BEASLEY defensive energy and intensity is showing through again in this game even if it isn’t quite as productive/impactful
SASSER gets first minutes late in the 3rd quarter and immediately stops the Suns run with a transition 3PM
MOORE continues to take advantage of his opportunity
REED jumper is……not textbook….but able to knock down a trail C&S 3P
Suns
Jones, Beal, Booker, Durant, Plumlee
Running some fun ball screen actions with different combinations of the “big 3”
They get so many “bail out” buckets from their stars simply making shots on possessions where they don’t really breakdown the defense
DURANT is such a cheat code in the mid range
Pretty solid Detroit defensive possession to start the game and he just hits a silly fadeaway jumper over his left shoulder
He is so good, so smooth
BOOKER and BEAL both have made some really, really nice passes early
BOOKER making some ridiculous mid range shots over contests as well
PLUMLEE left hand free throw is just something I can’t ever get over, insane to me that a professional basketball player changed the hand he shot with during the middle of his career
DUNN knocks down a corner C&S 3P immediately entering the game and it looks pretty fluid
If this kid knocks down corner 3PAs he is going to be a STEAL with the way he plays defense
Attacks a closeout on his next corner catch and his drive eventually leads to an open KD 3PM
You can see the defensive potential with the way he is defending on the ball vs Cade
Has another one in secondary transition where he rips the ball out of his hands….
Which he follows up with a transition 3PM
His hands are VERY accurate and active
HE LOOKS REALLY, REALLY GOOD
IGHODARO is very good in the short roll because of his ability to hit the floater AND make the necessary passing reads