This Bucks franchise really did so much right in a short period (draft Giannis, identity Khris Middleton, revive Brook Lopez)
and then just fail everything since - every draft pick a failure (RIP DJ Wilson), can’t find any free talent (look at all the guys Memphis has found for instance)
Obviously the first part was enough to get a title but they have a 29 year old all timer and they’re just awful despite him putting up a 32/12 with 5 dimes and a block
I don’t think he is to blame, I’m just surprised at how close he was that far away from the hoop. It’s not like fontecchio is prime Klay Thompson.
He’s only 13 games into his NBA career. I don’t think this will be a Nick Anderson-like moment. He was 12 out of 13 from the line, up until that moment. I expect he’ll bounce back.
Even better would be a feed. There’s a good Pistons feed now. I guess this board is my Um hoops feed.
Can you link the Pistons feed tyvm?
Pistons 2-0 NBA Cup feel the fever
kind of amazing what DDV would mean to that team. but yeah all the players even plausibly rotation caliber have been missed picks or picks never made. miserable stuff.
If you told me that the Pistons would have as many wins as the Sixers and Bucks combined in mid November, I would’ve laughed in your face. And here we are…
https://x.com/statmuse/status/1858317182087594107?s=46&t=SywsRwjImAPP0DFzyXGjwg
https://x.com/statmuse/status/1858316340915994647?s=46&t=SywsRwjImAPP0DFzyXGjwg
https://x.com/statmuse/status/1858317466969010544?s=46&t=SywsRwjImAPP0DFzyXGjwg
Finally got a blowout win.
How many wins would put JB Bickerstaff in the Coach of the Year race?
42 at a minimum?
I don’t think it’s ever been won by a coach with a losing record
(Hubie Brown and Doc Rivers both won at 41-41)
A lot since Atkinson in Cleveland has started 15-0.
Just putting this here as I’m looking at other NBA stuff for my alumni post:
The Pistons are now 16th in net rating (this is, despite the improvement in record, only 1 spot growth from 2 weeks ago). They are now at -0.5 (which is an improvement of about a point and a half), and sit pretty equidistant betwee the top of the league (+12.2, Cleveland) and bottom (-13.2, Washington)
They are 22nd in offense (up 3 from two weeks ago) - 21st in eFG (down 4), 27th in to% (up 1), 12th in offensive rebounding (flat), 29th in free throw rate (down 4)
They are SIXTH in defense (an improvement of 7 from last week) - 7th in eFG (up 7 spots), 26th in turnovers (up 1), 3rd in rebounding (down 2), 15th in free throw rate (up 4 spots)
That defensive jump is obviously pretty notable, sixth in the league is waaay better than I’d have expected from this group. One thing that jumps is that the defense is about 7 points/100 possessions BETTER when Stewart is on the floor than Duren. Obviously, Duren has missed some time lately and Stewart has played more, and the defense has improved in that time. Is that because of the two? IDK, just pointing to the trend (I do think there is something to it, as they play arguably the most important defensive position)
Less rosily, both starting guards and both centers have monstrous TO rates (a center at 24.4% turnover rate (where Duren is) is just preposterous. Stewart at 16.5% is still high.
But I think we see the JB fingerprints on the defense. This is last year’s team, minus the minutes of absolute incompetence (Hayes, Wiseman, Bagley) plus…some Fontecchio, Hardaway, Beasley, Harris. Fontecchio is perfectly fine defender, as is Harris, Hardaway and Beasley are poor. This is pretty impressive growth.
Stewart is a far superior defender to Duren. He’s shorter and doesn’t have a big vertical, but he has a 7-4 wingspan (combine measurement) and a much higher defensive IQ. Stewart is also better in space so if he gets switched onto a guard/wing he can survive.
I’d also say Detroit’s defense has improved a ton because Cade is actually playing good defense. He had 22 blocks total last season and is already at 15 this year through 15 games.
I believe, even though he’s missed the last 3 games, that TIMMAY is still leading the league in charges taken.
I’ve seen Tek get blown by a lot this season. Overall, something seems a little off with him, but we’re still early in the season.
That is without Ausar guarding the team’s best perimeter defender. It’ll be interesting to see once Ausar is back up to speed conditioning wise, but I expect him to take all of the Ron Holland’s minutes plus some other player’s minutes for defensive purposes.
I think Fontecchio will be the odd man out, unless he starts hitting the 3. Neither Ron or Ausar can hit the J, but they, along with Stew, are our 3 best defenders.
JB seems to see Fontecchio as Tobias’s backup. One of the two is usually on the court but almost never both to my recollection.
btw, I usually look at Adjusted Net Rating and the Pistons are 17th there. If they can cut down on turnovers and start drawing more fouls, they could host a play-in game.