It's a Make or Miss League: Three Observations from Detroit's Disappointing Defeat to Brooklyn

The Detroit Pistons and Brooklyn Nets faced off for the third time this season, with a high-scoring contest being the result at the Barclays Center. Efficient offense and lackluster defense was the story of the night, but it Brooklyn who came away with the victory in the end, 125-112. The Nets have now won just two of their last eight games, with both victories coming against the Pistons.

First Observation: Detroit's Bench Carries in First Half

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While the Pistons scored an impressive 68 points in the first half, the majority of those didn't come from the starting unit. Derrick Rose and Andre Drummond continued to do their usual damage with the starters, big contributions from Reggie Jackson (17 points), Christian Wood (11 points) and Markieff Morris (10 points) led to Detroit's bench putting up 44 total points in the game's opening half.

Second Observation: Where's Sekou?

Following the incredible hype surrounding breakout rookie Sekou Doumbouya, the 19-year-old has struggled and continues to lose opportunity in Dwane Casey's rotation.

Tonight, Doumbouya played just seven minutes, easily the lowest since he became a consistent starter back in December. He finished the game as a non-factor, adding just a steal and turnover and finishing with a ghastly plus/minus of -20. With a stat line like that, it doesn't take too much digging to see why the rook was pulled early tonight.

For the sake of making the Pistons watchable again, I really do hope Sekou is able to turn it around soon and get back to his productive and exciting ways as the future of the rest of the roster hangs in the balance.

Third Observation: The Power of a Number Change

Following the tragic death of the legend Kobe Bryant, NBA stars throughout the league have not only been performing unbelievably well, but players wearing either number 8 or 24 have taken it upon themselves to change it in honor of the Black Mamba.

Tonight, both of those were true, as Brooklyn's elite sixth man and former Piston guard Spencer Dinwiddie - who recently changed his number from 8 to 26 - led both teams in scoring with 28 points on the night. The combo guard also added five assists as his play throughout the game helped orchestrate the Nets' victory over the Pistons

Markieff Morris, who switched his number from 8 to 88, had a nice game off the bench with 12 points and a season-high(!) four assists.

Image: Carlos Osario/Associated Press