Hart

The Pistons need a point guard.  Cade exhibits some point guard skills but not enough to be a full time point guard. 

How long is Monty going to ride this thing with Killian out there?

I just don't get Cade's turnover problem right now.  Maybe it's just a bad stretch that will work itself out.  But man is it frustrating.  

Really missing Duren.

Looked to me like our Shaedon Sharpe problem was Ivey's fault.  Ivey just doesn't have the will to play hard on defense.  

6 minutes ago, buddha said:

how can you say anything about sasser right now?  he plays 10 minutes a game against the other team's bench or in garbage time.

wiseman plays and has more fouls than points.  sounds about right.

5 assists and 0 turnovers in the first half.  Give him minutes and see what happens.  

They got to get Killian out of the game and Sasser in the game.  Killian is playing awful.

It's hard to believe we are not better with Sasser out there.  He takes a lot of the ball handling pressure of Cade and Ivey, thus making us less turnover prone.  He can shoot it.  And he is a pest on defense.  

Killian better enjoy his minutes while he can.  There is no way he sticks in this rotation when everyone is healthy.  

More evidence tonight that Cade's outside shot has made a big leap this year.  

I like this offense in the early going.  Less reliance on Cade to create and more reliance on ball movement.  Wonder if it's a coincidence or if Monty is try to take some of the pressure of Cade.  

Based on the box score, the first thing that jumps out at me is Cade's turnovers.  If he were an elite offensive player, I could live with a higher turnover rate.  But I don't think 5, 6, 7 turnovers a game is going to cut it unless he scores closer to 30 points per game and still averages 8 assists.  

At least he continues to shoot well from three.  

I am not old enough to remember young Ewing.  But I definitely remember old Ewing as a skilled post up center who could face the basket as well.  

He's some combination of these guys.  He does have the explosiveness like McDyess and Kemp.  I think he will be a better passer than both of them.  And he probably has more upside as a rebounder than both of them as well.  Webber did not have the explosiveness of Kemp or McDyess but was a really good passer.  I doubt Duren reach's Webber's level as a passer but I am hopeful he can get somewhat close.  

6 hours ago, Shinzaki said:

Just watched the second half on Ballys.com....this is a fun team to watch right now.  If Duren can develop any kind of offense away from the basket...look out.  Thompson could be great if he improves his shot. As he is now...great defender and rebounder...moves the ball well too. Lots of value in that

I have always loved the Webber comparison for Duren and I often find myself wondering what kind of player Webber was at the same age when I watch Duren.  I don't remember Webber having much of a jump shot at Michigan.  Given that Duren was over 60% on free throws last year and is over 70% in the early going this year, I do think he will eventually develop a nice mid range jump shot.  

22 minutes ago, buddha said:

monty williams making a big difference already.

and james wiseman has played ZERO minutes this season.  no wonder theyre playing better.

There is not really a spot for Saddiq on this team with Burke and Ausar playing well but I still hate that trade.  I guess if Duren were to go down with some sort of injury, that the only scenario I would be happy to have Wiseman instead of Saddiq. 

Thompson is SO good on defense.  Watching him move his feet is a thing of beauty.  

If there was any thought of Killian having a breakout season, that's been put to rest pretty quick.  

For being such a good passer, Cade makes some of the dumbest passes.  Might just be taking unnecessary chances.  Another 8 assists and 6 turnovers tonight.  

Ivey, Cade, Burke, Ausar, and Duren looks like a hard lineup to defend.  We are moving the ball well.  

I don't really want to see Lavine go for 60.  

9 hours ago, NYLion said:

Cade is a far better decision maker. He's a little loose with the ball at times but so is Ivey but as a floor general, I much MUCH prefer Cade to be the primary ball handler.

d

 

Ivey and Cade have similar turnover rates 80 games into their career.  Both have turnover issues that need to get fixed.  But I think Ivey's path to improvement is easier than Cades because he is so athletic.  Time will tell.  I do believe Cade can provide a lot of value and be a very good player even if he is not the point guard.  

7 hours ago, Betrayer said:

What a fun game to be at!

 
Bottom line for me is this is a different team on defense from last year. The effort and physicality is so much higher. I’m seeing Stew and Duren make defensive plays and then celebrate and flex at the Pistons bench. Haven’t seen stuff like that since the Wallace days. Absolutely love it.

With the youth in this core, they’re still a few years from competing, but it’s good to see an identity finally being built.

Offense is a struggle at times, especially when Cade spends the game in foul trouble, but I love the attention to defense.

Obviously, turnovers are a problem, but we’re dealing with 5 guys under 22 in their second game in a new system. It’ll be ok.

Have to get Burks in the starting lineup for Killian. If you haven’t watched the Vecinie breakdown posted above, you should. They need that shooting threat and also a vet who can draw a foul and calm things down. 
 

Have to give Monty props. This looks like a different team so far. Also, I see him making in game lineup adjustments as opposed to just following a script. I have criticism here and there, but just seeing a coach try to make adjustments is refreshing. 

Makes you wonder why Casey couldn't get even a fraction of this effort on defense.  It's definitely a culture change that permeates up and down the roster.  When you have your teammates busting their butt to stop the other team, it's pretty hard to be lazy and not try on defense.  We'll see how it long it lasts if we start losing a lot but I agree Monty deserves a lot of credit for getting us to this point.  

I don't want to over-react to Cade too much either way after these very different first two games.  We should know within the first couple weeks how much he has improved.  But I do think Ivey is a much more natural fit as the primary ball handler.  It's so much easier for Ivey to break down a defense.  And I think you are starting to see the culture of defense rub off on him.  

Do not like Ivey coming out of the game at all.  Get him back in there.  

This is getting ridiculous.  I don't know what the record for turnovers is in a half but we might threaten it.  

This is a really interesting style of basketball the Pistons are playing.  Very little firepower on offense but a ton of effort on defense.  At least with the starting five. 

Killian has to be smarter on defense.  He's a good defender with a tendency to pick up cheap fouls.

We have to start protecting the ball better.  One easy way to help mitigate our lack of shooting is not to turn the ball over.  5 turnovers already halfway thru this first quarter.