Morning Pistons fans, and welcome back to the Weekly Drive. The NBA season is here, and it started with a bang at Little Caesars Arena. We will get to that, how the Pistons looked, some predictions, and the Ron Holland problem. Here we go.
Game 1: Boston 113, Detroit 121
It didn’t look good early, but the Pistons found a way to claw themselves back into this game and pick up an impressive win. Javonte Green was huge down the stretch (more on him later), and Duncan Robinson caught fire from beyond the arc.
Robinson ended up with 21 points on 5/9 shooting from deep and, inexplicably, attempted eight free throws. He has never averaged even four free throws per game in any season. His shooting gravity is vital to Detroit’s offense, and it was on full display last night.
Detroit started the game shooting 4/22 from deep, but then went 13/20 the rest of the way. A 23-0 run in the fourth quarter stunned the Celtics, who were cruising for the first two-thirds of the game before cracking in half.
Cade Cunningham led the team with eight assists and looked like his usual, comfortable, self. After an All-NBA Season, Cunningham appears to have not missed a step.
Jalen Duren tied Cunningham with a team-high 22 points, adding nine rebounds and a block. In his first true action since signing the extension, Duren looked like himself — a good sign for the Pistons.
Opening Night/Day?
Anyone else conflicted on a 3:00 PM start time for the FIRST NBA game of the season? On one hand, that is a weird midday opener (noon on the west coast is odd) but also convenient for those of us working at a desk and (allegedly) a propped up phone while working.
Regardless, I am just glad to have the NBA back.
Ron Holland
It took a grand total of three minutes for head coach J.B Bickerstaff to zap Ron Holland of his court time yesterday, something that may irk the unassuming Pistons fan. The former fifth-overall pick logged just 2:45, missed his only shot, and had one rebound and one assist.
Then in came Green, who played over 17 minutes, shot 5/10 from the floor (all coming from 3-point land) for a total of 19 points. He was indispensable, and turned the tide of the game. Holland never sniffed the floor again after that.
It begs the question: what are the Pistons to do with him? It is only one game, and his upside is certainly intriguing, but Detroit may not be able to wait for that potential to come to fruition. His shooting gravity is not that of Green, and the Pistons rely on that to open up their offense. Bickerstaff will always gravitate to his veterans, and Holland may be the next casualty of that storyline (looking at you, Isaac Okoro).
Oh, did you not listen to the latest episode of the Palace of Pistons Podcast? That’s a shame. Here it is, and you’re welcome.
See you next week. Or maybe even after the next game, if I am feeling spicy.
Mike