The Pistons have given Cleveland a competitive series so far, but find themselves down 2-0.
Game One:
The young Detroit Pistons were clearly not intimidated by Cleveland, as they gave the Cavs everything they had from start to finish. Detroit kept it close throughout, specifically hurting Cleveland from behind the three-point line, shooting 15-29 from downtown, not usually a strong point for the Pistons. While Jackson and Drummond had relatively average games, Detroit received an uptick in production from other areas of their team. Marcus Morris and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope both had strong games, scoring 20 and 21 points, respectively. And the lowest scoring bench in the NBA delivered some big performances of their own in limited minutes, as rookie Stanley Johnson and third-year Reggie Bullock went a combined 5-5 from three, giving Detroit an unexpected scoring boost off the bench.
However, Cleveland’s Big Three could not be slowed down. LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Love scored 22, 31, and 28 points, respectively. The trio combined for 81 of their 106 points and no one on Detroit could find a way to stop them. The Pistons kept the game within reach right until the end, but the experience and talent of these Cavs proved to be too much to overcome, as Cleveland took game one 106-101.
Game Two:
The second game of the series started right where game one left off, as the Pistons showed no fear against Cleveland. They were with the Cavs every step of the way in the first half, and headed to the locker room only down by two points, 55-53. But the game was broken open in the third. With 7:30 left in the quarter, the Pistons held a 62-60 lead. By the time the quarter ended, Cleveland was winning 82-68, a 22-6 run that gave them a commanding fourteen-point lead. There was no comeback in the fourth, as Detroit couldn’t make any dents in the lead, eventually falling 107-90 and falling to 0-2 for the series.
Despite the loss, the Pistons’ starters were solid, as all five scored in double figures, including Drummond with 20 points. The downfall was with their three-point production. After shooting over 50 percent from downtown in game one, the Pistons made just four threes, shooting only 23.5 percent. Reverting back to their standard sub-optimal shooting, Detroit just couldn’t hang with Cleveland, who got the usual production from the big three but J.R. Smith also chipped in in a big way, scoring 21 points on seven threes. Cleveland shot over 50 percent from three this time, tying a playoff record with 20 made for the game, and there was no answer from Detroit.
The Good
You have to love Detroit’s attitude in this series. Reggie Jackson, the leader of this team, is only 26, and one of the few players with any past playoff experiences on the roster. The rest of the starting lineup is younger than him, and of their key reserves, Reggie Bullock is only 23 and Stanley Johnson is still a teenager. This Cleveland roster is largely the same one that went all the way to the Finals last year, so they have plenty of playoff experience, especially with each other. Detroit could easily show their youth and inexperience by coming out reserved and intimidated against the veteran-laden Cavs, but they haven’t been afraid at all and have given Cleveland everything they’ve got. The 19-year-old Stanley Johnson, constantly tussling with LeBron James in game one, has been a great example of the lack of fear in this team. Their efforts haven’t gotten them a win yet, but no one can say they look out of place in the Eastern Conference Playoffs.
The Bad
The Pistons haven’t done a good job of limiting any of Cleveland’s stars, LeBron James, Kevin Love, and Kyrie Irving. The biggest flaw in their starting lineup is the defensive abilities of forwards Tobias Harris and Marcus Morris. Neither is known for anything but their offensive skills, a problem when you are lining up against LeBron James and Kevin Love at the opposing forward spots. Stanley Johnson is an improvement off the bench, but they just haven’t been able to limit their production at all. James scored 22 in game one and 27 in game two. Love has posted double-doubles in both games, averaging 22 points. And Irving has had his way with Reggie Jackson, reaching 31 points in the first game and 22 in the second, both higher point totals than Jackson has put up. It’s easier said than done, but Detroit needs to contain this trio a lot more if they are to stand a chance going forward.
Looking Ahead
The Pistons will get their chance at home in games three and four, but they will still be coming into the games as the heavy underdog. They were at their best in game one when they pushed the tempo and pulled the trigger on threes. They shot significantly worse in the second game, but also attempted twelve less threes. With their defensive deficiencies, getting hot on offense and being able to match Cleveland’s production is most likely the best way of stealing a game at home. With the series on the ropes, Detroit also should give Stanley Johnson a lot more minutes, as he is by far their strongest defensive wing presence and has shot well from the field in the two games. Tobias Harris hasn’t made much of an impact this series, so giving Johnson the opportunity to step up could be beneficial now and in the future.
The Detroit Pistons find themselves in the two-game hole everyone expected them to be in, but if they can find their three-point shot again and find a way to limit at least one of the big three, they can still make some noise in the first round.
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