I wonder if Franz can’t help nearly as much playing next to Paolo bc he’s at the 3 and playing a lot more on the perimeter and on ball. So maybe they’re losing an elite help defender and not making it back on O bc Paolo’s not actually an efficient creator yet.
I think I already dropped this in this thread but Franz is 3rd in 3-year RAPM using Jeremias Englemann’s site.
Gotta be careful with RAPM ofc but the 29-year RAPM comes with standard errors and it’s pretty confident that Franz is an above average player and has him the 24th best player in that huge sample of NBA players.
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Honestly
A GIGANTIC part of it is that when Franz didn’t play with Paolo as the 4, the 4 was mostly Jonathan Isaac, who is a defensive MONSTER. So, I don’t think the defense up or down has to do with Franz or Paolo’s individual failings as much as it has to do with Isaac being a monster. When Paolo played without Franz, they didn’t have a 3 to put in the spot - you see Caleb Houstan who is sort of a 3, then a 3 guard lineup (Fultz, Harris, Suggs).
So I’m going around in circles here, but maybe the problem isnt’ the failings of any individual but that Franz only and Paolo only lineups have actually scored better than when they’re both there, and the “fit” just sort of sucks?
Like, the fact that they can play a defensive ace in Paolo’s spot and NOT get worse offensively whereas they basically have nobody on the roster (maybe they do now with Da Silva) to replace Franz, so the defensive drop is massive. Basically - the second of Franz/Paolo doesn’t actually incrementally add anything offensively and there is a way better defensive option at the 4 than Paolo. And further - the roster last year (which is the bulk of the data given they basically haven’t played together this year) was set up way better to survive no-Paolo minutes than no-Franz minutes.
So I’m modulating big time here, but I DO think that offensively they may not work well together, and Franz is a better defender, so…
Like, just points per 100 since the start of last year, including this years numbers:
Franz+Paolo = 1.104 pp100
Franz/no Paolo = 1.172 pp100
Paolo/no Franz = 1.139 pp100
It’s probably not good that you’re worse offensively when you play your “two best offensive players” together than each individually! (and again - interesting that Franz’s most common sub is a third guard, which you’d think would juice offense, and Paolo’s is a defensive stopper)
(I know I’m beating this topic like a dead horse)
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I’m just blown away by this run the Pistons are on. I expected them to do better with a healthier roster and a coach that is both competent and paying attention…but this has exceeded my expectations - especially once Ivey went down. I think winning for a team that has struggled for so long will be contagious and they have a chance to keep this momentum going - but I do expect them to come back to earth a bit since there are still a few too many holes in their roster and I’m not sure Cade can carry them as much as he has for another 50 games.
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They’re having a somewhat similar season to what the Tigers did this past year. Cade’s our Skubal.
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That’s a good analogy actually. All of Detroit pro teams have gotten entertaining lately…though I’m not sure any are particularly sustainable without some help.
Pistons are exactly in the middle of an 8 game stretch against teams that were (at the start of the stretch) over .500 (they’re 2-2 so far). I think .500 or better in this 8 game stretch would be an unmitigated large victory.
The rest of it:
@ Magic (who, as I’ve talked into the ground, are really going through it)
@ Cavs (yikes!)
@ Pacers (Revenge game)
Mavs
then they get to host the Bulls (lol) and back to two toughies - Hawks and Cavs in Detroit before an extended run of garbage - Sixers, Hornets, 2 against the bulls, Spurs)
They’ll be over .500 at the break, you’d think?
There are different variables between the two (Tigers weren’t the worst team in '23 and they didn’t have a coaching/GM overhaul) but in terms of starting a little slowly but then looking sneaky-good in the 2nd half of the season, they seem to be on that path.
It helps that the Tigers went unconventional with the starting rotation and bullpen usage. It throws off a lot of teams having to face the Tigers because you don’t know what to expect as a hitter. That being said, it worked for them and the bats did just enough to ride the hot streak into the postseason.
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Wemby doing Wemby things in Paris.
Hmm wonder how he’s doing to be refereed
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Ausar dismantling an offensive possession. Doesn’t look like he’s sweating.
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Good thing he’s nothing like Amen
https://x.com/nba/status/1882637404240273525?s=46&t=jUj8hnpLNmWF-GGBEHlVUg
Dude has the goat touch
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Franz with 23 in the 4th to beat the Pistons. Ausar was giving him fits, but then Tobias went out with a concussion and they had to switch him onto Paulo more. Game was a slog, lots of chippiness. Magic caught fire first and were able to build enough of a lead to hold the Pistons off down the stretch.
And people get upset at college refs.
https://x.com/nsitto2/status/1883341591148196268?t=GvcLdcd76FYocOpu--Wvaw&s=19
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The refs were really bad last night. JB got tossed about midway through the 4th quarter. The first tech sent KCP to the line and after he missed, I believe Bickerstaff channeled Sheed with a “Ball Don’t Lie!” (I definitely heard somebody say it) and that got him his 2nd tech, which seemed unwarranted. After that, he got his money’s worth with an F-bomb or two.
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