The Pistons face the Bucks in what might be their biggest game since they faced the Bucks in the playoffs in 2019.
It feels weird hyping up a regular season basketball game in early-December, but the NBA created the In-Season Tournament to add some intrigue to regular season games and that is exactly what we are getting. Whoever wins this game locks in their spot in Vegas for the NBA Gold Cup knockout round. Whoever loses still has a shot, but there is a lot of math and other factors that will be laid out in the posts below.
Scenario 1 pic.twitter.com/wVcmmlZxLZ
— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) December 2, 2024
Scenario 2 pic.twitter.com/O4KnZFCrbT
— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) December 2, 2024
You got all of that? In summary, just win the game so we won’t have to worry about what other teams do.
I am not sure if the Bucks will take this game as seriously as this young Pistons team, but anytime you can get “playoff-like” experience for a young team, you have to take it. Hopefully both teams take this game seriously and let the best team win.
Game Vitals
Where: Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, MI
When: Tuesday, December 3 at 7 pm EST
Watch: Fan Duel Sports Network Detroit
Odds: Bucks (-4.5)
Analysis
The Bucks will be without Khris Middleton for sure, but Giannis Antetokounmpo is probable with a knee injury. Whether he plays or not will determine how seriously the Bucks are taking this game. If Giannis does not play, it does not mean this will be an easy win for the Pistons as they still have a healthy Damian Lillard along with Brook Lopez who always seems to torch the Pistons.
The injury report for the Pistons is looking the best it has all season as the only player who is listed on it is Bobi Klintman. However, that doesn’t guarantee that everybody plays as we saw on Saturday against the 76ers when Cade Cunningham was a late scratch. I would assume there weren’t nefarious intentions behind that decision given what the Pistons went through to get home for that game, but I guess we will see if the NBA decides to investigate that.
The last time these two teams faced off was a heart-breaker for the Pistons as Ron Holland bricked a couple of free throws at the buzzer after a questionable foul call to put him on the line in the first place. I guess you can call it karma.
The eventual overtime win for the Bucks sparked them to turn around their season, as they enter this game on a 6 game winning streak. During that streak, Giannis Antetokounmpo has been arguably the best player in the NBA, so if he is out, the Pistons definitely have a shot in this game. If he plays, I will just say “good luck.”
Giannis over the last 7 games:
59 PTS, 14 REB, 7 AST, 61% FG
22 PTS, 15 REB, 12 AST, 50% FG
20 PTS, 13 REB, 4 AST, 52% FG
41 PTS, 9 REB, 8 AST, 70% FG
37 PTS, 10 REB, 11 AST, 66% FG
32 PTS, 11 REB, 6 AST, 52% FG
42 PTS, 12 REB, 11 AST, 62% FGMVP numbers. ️ pic.twitter.com/CodPu8TtKy
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) December 1, 2024
The last time these two teams faced off, Damian Lillard was out due to concussion protocol, so this will be the Pistons first look at Lillard in a Bucks jersey this season. If they let him get hot, it could be a long night regardless of who is and is not playing for the Bucks.
The Pistons have been more consistent this season than the last couple years, but they still have their moments of crapping the bed. Hopefully they got that out of their system against the 76ers on Saturday and can come into this game fully engaged and ready to compete. The one constant for them during NBA Gold Cup Group Play is that they have been engaged and ready to compete every game which is why they are in the position that they are in.
The Pistons are the inferior team in most matchups, but if they compete on defense they can keep themselves in any game, which will be important in this matchup even if they do ultimately lose. They have a shot at making the Wild Card due to point differential as laid out above. Hopefully the moment isn’t too big for them and they can come out with a win and gain some valuable experience in the knock out round in Vegas.
The Indiana Pacers were a team in a similar boat to the Pistons last year and look what that experience did for them, as they finished their season up in the Eastern Conference Finals after losing in the Finals of the In-Season Tournament.
I am not saying the Pistons are bound for the Eastern Conference Finals, but any kind of high-level basketball experience you can get for a young team is invaluable for development.
Lineups
Detroit Pistons (9-13): Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey, Tim Hardaway Jr, Tobias Harris, Jalen Duren
Milwaukee Bucks (10-9): Damian Lillard, Andre Jackson Jr, Taurean Prince, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Brook Lopez
Question of the Day
What has been the most encouraging part of the Pistons season so far?