Pistons vs San Antonio Spurs

Game Breakdown

*Special Situations*

• *The download I got had “technical difficulties” where the game cut out from the final 4 minutes of the 3rd through the first couple minutes of the 4th*

• Tremendous 1st half that is followed by a great start to the 2nd half and the lead is extended to 30 early in the 3rd quarter

  • 5-0 run from the Spurs right after this draws a timeout from JB

  • I love that he is QUICK to recognize some of these potential runs and tries to get out in front of them before they get into double digit runs

• Detroit gets a little lackadaisical on both ends but especially defensively as Spurs start to make shots and they have slowly got this thing under 20

  • Looks like Detroit was able to stop this comeback attempt during the portion of the game I missed (see above)

• Regardless of opponent, this team has come a long ways by being able to rest Cade Cunningham in back to back games and come away with two victories

  • And those wins are very important considering playoff seeding situation they are in

  • That seeding situation got even more interesting with the unfortunate Damian Lillard news on Tuesday (all thoughts and prayers that he is okay and recovers safely)

• Now they hit a stretch of 9 games to end that season that features 8 games vs teams that are either solidified in the playoffs AND/OR fighting for seeding

  • Of course, some of these teams could end up resting players but should make for a competitive stretch of basketball leading into the playoffs

  • Hopefully, with the rest Cade has gotten this team will be as healthy (sans Ivey) as you could hope for the stretch run

  • AND they get two days off before starting that run on Friday

Pistons

• Schroder, THJ, Ausar, Harris, Duren

• OFFENSE

  • They have to start slipping off some of these Beasley off the ball screening actions and getting easy looks at the rim

    • Use his gravity to create good looks for others

  • Ausar-Duren connection in full force in the 1st half

  • 5-2 ball screen with THJ setting it for Duren

    • We continue to see some version of this (5-1 happens as well) for Duren just about every game

• DEFENSE

  • If there is one complaint through the 1st half it seems like they are getting worked over a little more than you would expect on the DREBs

    • Spurs are barely a top 20 OREB% team

• AUSAR with a transition “post” catch and finish for the first bucket of the game

  • This brings up something I hadn’t thought of…..with him HANDLING the ball so much in transition it takes away him running the floor and being a play finisher…actually might be nice to balance that a little more with his athleticism

  • Then gets a PnR roll man rep with a nice finish around the contest

    • Think they have run this action 3 or 4 times just in the 1st half

  • Causing some real defensive disruption in the 2nd quarter

  • Do continue to see examples where he has to really tighten his handle

  • Overall, really good game from him after some recent struggles

• DUREN with a big time lob finish over Biyombo

  • He really has great hands in these situations even when there is a contest from the defender

  • His interior passing, especially to Ausar, has been ELITE (for a big) in the 1st half

    • Man, the HC passing has been really good

  • Getting a little toooo aggressive with his shot attempts in the 3rd quarter

• HARRIS, after I called out his closeouts last game, has an AWESOME one on Johnson that results in a steal and FTs after the transition foul drawn

  • In fairness, to me (haha), he gives up a pretty bad one in the 3rd quarter to Barnes

  • Has hit Duren a couple times with lob passes

  • Filling up the stat sheet!

• BEASLEY gets a WIDE OPEN C&S 3PM and Mitch Johnson IMMEDIATELY calls a timeout

  • Continues to do more and more inside the 3P line as teams try to run him off of it

  • Multiple drive and scores in this one

• SASSER with a C&S 3PM

  • Comes off a Harris mid post isolation

  • Patented jab stepback 3PM….you KNEW it was coming if you watch Sasser play at all

  • Couple tough drives and finishes

    • The second here in the 2nd quarter we really impressive through traffic

  • I will say, even as he is filling up the scorebook….you see some of the issues with him playing as the primary initiator of the offense

    • There is a nice ball screen read with the skip to the weakside corner

• STEW just forces misses

  • I think this is more impressive than the actual blocks and at this point it’s not just a “guys have missed shots” thing….he is forcing misses and this low % around the rim with how he defends

  • Always gives his chest, always has his hands playing with verticality, great timing and it consistently makes for a difficult attempt

  • You know he is feeling himself when he has a behind the back AND between the legs dribble in the same game

• HOLLAND picks up where he left off with a tough finish off the backboard that shows great touch, body control and ability to take contact

  • Always has that one possession very game where he is just a little overzealous with how aggressive he is

  • Another C&S 3PM

    • 3 games in a row with a make after going over a month without a single make

• WATERS III started his Pistons career 1/8 from the 3P line and ever since that has really found his jumper in these late game minutes

• PAUL REED MID RANGE JUMPER!!!

  • He never lets us down (I know he missed)

  • But we get a 3PM!!

Spurs

• Paul, Castle, Vassell, Barnes, Biyombo

• CASTLE getting the primary offensive initiator role even with Paul on the court

  • Has been aggressive in the 1st quarter but not overly fruitful where he has been on a really good stretch

  • No hesitation on a couple C&S 3PAs that are missed and multiple ball screen attacks into the lane

  • Man, he just hasn’t really been able to create any separation or space from the on ball defense thus far

  • Much like we talk about with Holland…he does not waver in his confidence

    • Has come out in the 3rd quarter and continued to be aggressive and is now finding ways to put the ball in the basket

  • Plays at his own unique pace and very physical

  • Not sure he has had the defensive impact in this game that I was expecting from him in his rookie season

• VASSELL being extremely aggressive to start the game

  • 3 3PAs in the first couple of minutes…knocks down 2 of them

  • 36% on the season on good volume

  • Goodness, he is not hesitating and already has 3 now

    • And I believe they have all been C&S

  • Then he gets to his sweet spot with the mid range pull up jumper

• BARNES has done exactly what they needed from him offensively (when healthy)

  • 48% on corner 3PAs for the season

• PAUL hands are so good defensively

  • Wow, still so good with this

  • I know the buyout rules have changed in terms of what teams can bring those players in but I am still slightly surprised that didn’t happen with him after the Wembanyama injury

• WESLEY comes in and bangs back to back jump shots

  • Not necessarily what he is known for, especially not from the 3P line

  • He does always intrigue me with his physical tools

• MAMUKELASHVILI can shoot that thing

  • Over 40% on the season