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When it rains, it pours.
For the last several years, the Pistons had been among the healthiest teams in the league. 16 games into the 2009-2010 season, the Pistons have suffered injuries to Richard Hamilton (ankle), Tayshaun Prince (ruptured back disc), and now Ben Gordon (ankle). Both Hamilton and Prince are day-to-day with no time tables for their return. Gordon is also day-to-day, but his injury isn’t as severe as Hamilton’s, so it’s not expected at this point that he will miss an extended stretch of games.
Though the Pistons are now on a 7 game slide initiated by a rough scheduling stretch against the best teams of the West, the Pistons rookies have stepped into the breach and are slowly finding their feet.
In a 117-91 loss at Phoenix on the final game of their 4 game West road trip, the Pistons fought both the up tempo Suns and fatigue. They simply ran out of gas as the game went on, but all 3 Pistons rookies provided solid contributions. DaJuan Summers came off the bench for 13 points, including going 3 for 3 from the three point line. Austin Daye had 8 points, 3 rebounds, and 1 assist off the bench. And Jonas Jerebko held down the starting small forward position with 9 points, 6 rebounds, and 1 assist.
In the Pistons 98-88 home loss to the Cavaliers, Detroit didn’t challenge Cleveland defensively in the first half, failing to switch out defensively in time to open shooters. They fell behind by 18 points at halftime to the score of 60-42. The Pistons turned up their defensive intensity and rallied to fall short. Rodney Stuckey had his best game of the season with 25 points, 6 rebounds, and 1 assist. He shot 8 for 16 and 8 of 8 at the free throw line. Austin Daye came off the bench to contribute 9 points and 3 rebounds. Jerebko had 4 points, 6 rebounds, and 1 assist. Most of his energy was spent guarding LeBron James, who had 34 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists. Jerebko kept LeBron on the perimeter fairly often, though, where LeBron hit 12 of 24 shots. It was an uncommonly good night on the perimeter for LeBron, but Detroit would rather see him away from the basket rather than taking up residence in the paint. Ben Gordon unfortunately sprained his ankle late in the second quarter on a drive to the basket, where he was fouled. He missed both free throw attempts and left the game with 9 points, 4 assists, and 1 rebound.
In the 104-96 home loss to the Clippers, Jonas Jerebko carried the Pistons with an NBA career best 22 points (including 12 in the 4th quarter). He also had 5 rebounds and 1 assist. Austin Daye started alongside Rodney Stuckey in the backcourt at shooting guard. He contributed 13 points, 5 rebounds, and 1 assist. Ben Wallace turned back the clock to haul down 16 rebounds (10 offensive) and chip in 5 points and 2 rebounds. Unfortunately, Rodney Stuckey, Will Bynum, and Charlie Villanueva all went cold in the 4th quarter and the Pistons were unable to get the stops they needed to close the deal on the Clippers, whom they led 54-47 and had beaten in 13 consecutive regular season games. Al Thornton (19 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists), Chris Kaman (26 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists), and Baron Davis (25 points, 10 assists, 5 rebounds) all had big nights. Before Blake Griffin went down, the Clippers were my sleeper pick to make the West playoffs. The Clippers have a good team this season and may yet turn things around—like Detroit.
The Pistons 7 game loss streak and current 5-11 record are disappointing, but when viewed through the long term lens of the future, the play of the rookies gives the franchise and fans reason to hope.
Ben Wallace thus far has been Detroit’s MVP, setting an example for the new team of the commitment and work needed to win a championship on and off the court. He has also found the Fountain of Youth since returning to Detroit, showing glimpses of his glory days with averages of 4 points, 9.4 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.3 blocks.
Of the Pistons rookies, Jonas Jerebko so far has been the most NBA ready. He came to Detroit after playing 2 seasons in high level basketball in Italy. He has been a defensive revelation, a solid rebounder, and a high motor energy a la David Lee. He has shown flashes of point forward ability along with a post game and a 3 point shot. Once he makes the adjustment to the NBA, Jerebko has the potential to be an excellent 2 way player. Austin Daye also comes with an inside-outside game, good passing game, and a high basketball IQ. Having played at Gonzaga University, he isn’t as advanced as Jerebko, but is making strides. DaJuan Summers has been putting in excellent work in practice and showing potential as well. He has a feathery shot from midrange to the 3 point line. And he has the build to bull past defenders and guard dominant small forwards.
Rodney Stuckey, whom many Piston fans are impatient with, is showing incremental improvement. He needs in particular to become a more efficient shooter, but is scoring better from mid range than close range. Once he corrects this, his scoring average will rise. Since being singled out as untouchable by Joe Dumars, Detroit media and fans have been endlessly scrutinizing Rodney Stuckey’s development. While he may not become a top 5 guard in the NBA, the Pistons can do worse than to have someone who’d rate among the top 20. He is developing into a fine perimeter defender and is among the leading guards in rebounds with an average of 4.9 rebounds per game.
Before the Cleveland-Detroit game, LeBron James stated to the media that he no longer sees the Detroit Pistons as a serious rival. I see his comment as being consistent with a character set that walked out on his teammates and the national media after the Cavaliers lost the 2009 ECF to the Orlando Magic, tried to suppress an average video of a dunk over him at a summer skills camp, walked out on children at another basketball camp after a 5 minute talk, and proposed that Jordan’s #23 be retired league wide without apparently realizing that the #6 he will adopt belongs to the NBA player with the most rings, Bill Russell.
LeBron James is undoubtedly one of today’s best players, but he is not a sports statesman, much less a champion and an NBA historian. Teams go through cycles of fluctuating success. The Detroit Pistons have the nucleus for a new contending team which is evident to those who look beyond current daily standings.
For all the adversity the Pistons are experiencing now, it will make them a better team when they do return to full strength. It’s all a matter of time.
What position will LeBron James be in when the new Pistons come of age?
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