Rookies and Ben Wallace Give Pistons a Lift

Pistons have three rookie forwards who have contributed at different times throughout the season.

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That was the case Thursday, when Jonas Jerebko, Austin Daye and DaJuan Summers each played a key role in a 101-99 upset of the Denver Nuggets.

Jerebko scored 12 points and had eight rebounds, while Daye scored seven points off the bench. Summers did a bit of damage on both the offensive and defensive end, hitting a key 3-point shot and then picking up an impressive steal while battling one-on-one with Nuggets star Carmelo Anthony.

“I was so proud of him, because I thought he gave us major minutes for a guy that had not played,” Pistons coach John Kuester said. “He did a heck of a job on Carmelo making that steal on him. I thought he did a solid job.”

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“We are actually deeper now because our younger guys are getting some minutes, stepping up and making plays for us,” guard Chucky Atkins said. “So, we are comfortable with having them. That confidence is growing with every game.”

Wallace aids rebound ranking
The Pistons are second in the NBA in offensive rebounding, and Ben Wallace has a lot to do with it.

Kuester said Wallace is playing “at an All-Star level,” but added that several others have helped put the Pistons among the league leaders in offensive rebounds.

“Jonas (Jerebko) especially does a great job of getting to the boards, and Charlie (Villanueva) also is a very good rebounder,” Kuester said. “I think when we’re at our best is when we get our guards involved in that, and (Rodney) Stuckey has also become a person that’s capable of getting a triple-double down the road.”