DETROIT -- Five games into the season and the Detroit Pistons have their first win in the books. After carving out a comfortable lead ahead of the first half, the Pistons seemed destined to repeat the mistakes of their first four games.
This time though, they made a final push to close out and beat the Boston Celtics 96-93.
It was another strong defensive night for Detroit, which went on a seven-minute, 21-8 run in the first quarter. But committing 10 turnovers heading into halftime kept the Celtics very much in the game.
So even with the win under their belt, the Pistons (1-4) have already shifted their focus to learning from the game. Detroit will host Boston again Sunday afternoon (3 p.m., Fox Sports Detroit) and head coach Dwane Casey knows their opponent will bring it.
“We got to continue to build on what we did,” Casey said. “It’s one game, like when we lose it’s one game, and there’s a lot of learning, a lot of building to be done.”
Here are some takeaways from the game:
Bey makes most of his second career start: With veteran forward Blake Griffin in concussion protocol, the team had to move some puzzle pieces around. So it inserted rookie Saddiq Bey into the starting lineup for the second time this season.
He took the opportunity and ran with it, collecting 17 points, pulling down seven rebounds and adding two steals in the process. The 21-year-old played 30 minutes and converted five of his eight 3-point attempts, all while helping to limit the Celtics’ Tristan Thompson to just five points.
Bey got off to a hot start. When the Celtics chipped away at the Pistons’ lead in the third quarter, Bey’s hot hand kept them in the game.
“It means a lot to be able to play with my team and represent our organization,” Bey said. “We work hard every day. So whenever the opportunity is called, that’s how we try to appreciate everybody. So it is a blessing, a great opportunity, and it was good to play with my team.”
Action on the boards: During the offseason, Pistons general manager Troy Weaver made it a priority to acquire strong rebounders. It’s why he made a deal to draft rookie Isaiah Stewart and why he signed free agents Mason Plumlee and Jahlil Okafor.
All of that is coming into play as the team scored 12 points off of 12 offensive rebounds compared to the Celtics who scored just four points off seven offensive boards.
Plumlee and Stewart played a massive role. Plumlee ended up pulling down a season-high 16 rebounds, four of which were offensive boards. Three of Stewart’s five rebounds came on the offensive end.
“Both those guys are men,” Casey said. “They’re tough guys on the boards, they’re relentless. That’s who we have to be right now until we get our offense clicking, out shots falling.”
The two currently rank in the top 10 for their solid performances through the first five games. Plumlee on average pulls down 11.2 total rebounds per game and is currently tied for ninth with Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton and Orlando Magic center Nikola Vucevic.
Stewart for his efforts currently sits tied with Brooklyn Nets center Jarrett Allen and Philadelphia 76ers center Tony Bradley atop the league in offensive rebounds with an average of four per game.
Leaning into defensive identity: Detroit continues to count on its defense, especially as it irons out its offensive struggles.
“I thought our defense carried us,” Casey said. “They still shot 47 percent but in the stretches we needed defensive stops we got them. That’s who we have to be each and every night until we get our offense clicking and our shots falling the way we want them to.”
In Friday’s win, Detroit limited Boston to 93 points, the fewest amount of points the Celtics have scored this year. The Pistons limited the Celtics’ top 3-point shooters, with Jayson Tatum making just three of his 11 attempts and Jaylen Brown sinking just one of his seven tries.
The Pistons also held the Celtics scoreless for the final 4:15 of the game. Celtics head coach Brad Stevens gave the Pistons credit for packing the paint and forcing his team to make jumpers.
More: Pistons stymie Celtics in the final minutes to preserve first victory
The Link LonkJanuary 02, 2021 at 10:21PM
https://www.mlive.com/pistons/2021/01/takeaways-from-pistons-hard-fought-win-over-celtics.html
Takeaways from Pistons’ hard-fought win over Celtics - MLive.com
https://news.google.com/search?q=hard&hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US:en
No comments:
Post a Comment