Pistons vs Utah Jazz

Game Breakdown

*Special Situations*

• I know it seems so simple at this point but I LOVE the offense/defense subs at the end of quarters

  • Even run a nice action at the end of the 1st quarter that gets Beasley a decent look

  • Remember that play if they get in the situation in the playoffs

• I know it’s been talked about and highlighted a lot but the support from guys on the bench is always so impressive to me

  • Stew standing up for Duren defensive plays and drives to the rim

  • Cade, in this game, standing up and clapping as Holland makes an on the ball defensive effort vs fellow rookie Cody Williams

  • The vibes, and the fun, of this team is really cool to see and much deserved for those guys who had to struggle through all (or parts) of the last few seasons

  • Not to mention the lobs and other highlight worthy plays

• End of the bench comes in and GETS BUCKETS

  • Good for them for taking advantage of their opportunity to get on the court

• Love how they took care of business against two inferior opponents after dropping that game vs the Nuggets

• How cool is it that Pistons fans can be talking about post season awards, first round matchups and seeding down the stretch of the season as opposed to the NBA Draft or offseason plans

Pistons

• Cade, Beasley, THJ, Ausar, Duren

• OFFENSE

  • Really fun action to start the game where they use Beasley to Ghost and hold the weakside and then run Ausar as the roll man immediately after for the short roll catch and finish

    • The fun thing is they run the exact same action on the next possession and get a decent C&S 3PA for Beasley

    • I love that JB just runs these over and over until the defense stops it and they have secondary actions off of it

  • They do it with the second action they run as well

  • Every game we continue to see the growth of the Ausar-Duren passing to each other in ball screen situations

    • Such an important aspect for the offense if they are going to continue to play together

• DEFENSE

  • Get beat on an off the ball split action 3 minutes into the game

    • My other concern come BIG regular season games down the stretch and the playoffs is they struggle to get matched in transition at times

  • Here is an example of perimeter defenders HAVING to be more consistent with rotation box outs if the bigs (Duren, Stew and Reed) are going to aggressively contest shots from off the ball

  • Another example in the 2nd quarter….Ausar OR THJ has to make this box out

  • The overall disruption that I thought this team lacked early in the season has completely flipped

    • 13th in steals per game and 9th in blocks per game and the “eye test” you see it even more

• AUSAR nuanced finish around Kessler on the the first play of the game is great growth and understanding of rim protection

  • I know Sexton ends up scoring here (testament to just continued aggressiveness and a sick finish) but this ball screen navigation is PERFECT and I think his biggest area of growth on the defensive end

  • He has gotten beat off the bounce in a straight line a few more times in the 1st half than you would want to see

  • Cutting, rolling, etc. has been really nice here in the 3rd quarter outside of one possession where he cut right into Reed’s short roll spot

    • Putting on a display in the 2nd half of when and where to cut outside of that singular possession

• CADE continues to get C&S 3PAs

  • The nuance and pace he is playing at in ball screens is such an area of growth

  • LOVE the double shot fake in the paint that initially loses the first defender and then draws the foul on the second defender

  • Does a really nice job playing with that physicality and “bump” to create advantages vs defenders

    • For me, this might be the single biggest development in his scoring package this season

  • Mid 2nd quarter offensive possession shows what having an elite player does for you

    • Detroit gets NOTHING going, looks confused, messes up whatever action they are supposed to run BUT Cade simply points for a ball screen from Ausar and then casually knocks down a dribble 3P

    • You have to have a guy (at least one) that can bail you out in a few of these possessions every game

  • Have mentioned this before but Cade HAS to start reading this lob pass better

    • Early on people were solely staying home with the weakside shooter (THJ or Beasley) but more and more they are tagging on Duren as they have connected on the play

    • He doesn’t have to manipulate anyone, just read what decision that tag man makes and a couple times recently he has blindly lobbed it up and it’s been the wrong decision

  • Here is ANOTHER one in the 3rd quarter

    • This is a much tougher pass to make but elite level playmakers have to see it and make it

  • Most “casual” 25 points through the 3rd quarter you will see

    • Not in a negative way but he truly looks like he just chillin’....saving energy for the stretch run while still producing and helping his team blow a team out that they should blowout

• BEASLEY with an ELITE off ball relocation

  • Highlighted these in my recent breakdown of his 3P shot making, as well

    • Also highlighted his complete understanding of his role in transition off the ball where he SPRINTS to the corner and never to the rim (gets a 3PM 2nd quarter in exact scenario)

    • Of course, a few minutes later he runs to the rim in transition and catches the lob (never fails)....was an impressive lob finish

  • If you have 10 minutes or so I highlight recommend checking it out

  • The unwavering confidence is unreal

    • It does not if he just missed a shot or two, he is empowered to take the next one even it’s a one pass attempt in transition

  • How about a transition attack of the rim and finish

    • And then another dunk!!!

    • Where is this stuff coming from with him and THJ???

  • I also think he has been very engaged defensively in the 1st quarter

• DUREN continues to get his hips completely opened to the handler in too many ball screen defense situations

  • Continue to like the HC off the bounce stuff far more than the FC grab and go

  • Straight line attack of Filipowski that ends in a dunk

    • Take advantage of these bigs!!! Recognize the matchups and when he has the right one I love the attacks

  • This is some of the disruption I just don’t know that we had been seeing before this season

    • Behind the play but recognizes it as an opportunity to be disruptive and times it up perfectly with his LEFT hand

    • Up 18 in the 4th quarter, he turns it over and he sprints back in transition for the chase down block!!! (I just love this mentality)

  • Plays all 12 minutes of the 1st quarter

  • POSTER ON MARTIN JR!!!

    • What a pass from Cade

• SCHRODER raw box score numbers are not overly impressive to outside eyes but in the first few minutes of his rotation he does exactly what this team needs from him in non Cade minutes

  • For me, there is no question he has been a positive in his minutes so far with the team

  • Looks REALLY good when he is actually making jumpers also

  • He is ELITE playing along the baseline, so comfortable there (which isn’t easy) and if guys relocate or cut he is going to find them for an attempt

  • Did he just shoot the 1 foot 3P???

• THJ continues to show off some spring in those legs

  • Almost has a putback poster off a missed 3PA from Fontecchio

  • Really nice action to start the 2nd half that is designed specifically for him where he runs off back to back screens at the top of the key and he curls the second for an attempt at the rim

  • Definitely trying to get himself going here to start the 3rd quarter

• FONTECCHIO is a guy I have criticized the offensive PROCESS (not even the results, necessarily) but I don’t think he gets enough credit for his defense

  • I would say he is at least a slight positive on that end of the floor throughout this season….especially considering he is usually defending 2nd units

  • Knocking down some jumpers!! Let’s go!

• REED MID RANGE JUMPER HOURS!!!

  • Never fails

  • Always appreciate his energy and production…have come to really appreciate having this 3rd big on your roster

  • POSTER DUNK ON KESSLER!!!!

• HOLLAND continues to go about his business and provide impact with how hard he consistently plays

  • I also love these games that are out of range at the end and he gets a chance to show off some of the HC scoring ability

Jazz

• Collier, Sexton, Juzang, Martin, Kessler

  • Collier and Sexton have done a nice job pressuring the paint early in the game

  • This team is LAST in TOV% and it shows not just with the actual turnovers but how many of their passes are FAR off target

• JUZANG gets an action run for him to open the game and knocks it down

• COLLIER taking a very tough matchup with Cade but is absolutely competing here early on

  • He’s kind of interesting offensively but just struggles to actually put the ball in the basket

  • He does breakdown the defense at times

• SEXTON has actually been able to beat Ausar off the bounce a couple times early in the game which we know how impressive that feat is

  • Has another one where he just keeps attacking through some really good defense and has a same foot, same hand finish (see above)

  • Definitely been the biggest bright spot for them in the 1st half

  • His numbers look really good on the season overall

  • I know he is small but I think he is a very good player

    • I think he would be an awesome 3rd guard for a team to come off the bench and do the things we are seeing in this game

  • What is his future with this team?

  • He will be on a less than 20M expiring contract next season…would imagine some more competitive teams would be interested, right?

• WILLIAMS takes FOREVER to get that C&S 3PA off

• MARTIN one of those players that’s just really comfortable playing along the baseline

  • Fully understands the cutting, OREB, etc.

• GEORGE is super talented…I think he falls into that 3rd guard (6th man) role very nicely for his career

  • Love seeing the jump in his passing/decision making BUT I am still concerned that over the college and NBA sample we have he has consistently been efficient with his shooting %s

• FILIPOWSKI showing that he has some versatility with his offense

  • Hasn’t shot it great so far but gotten those attempts along with some stuff off the bounce attacking the rim

  • Hits a couple in the 4th quarter as Utah tries to make it interesting