Can the Pistons even the Pacers season series amid their budding rivalry?
The Detroit Pistons ’ warts are becoming increasingly visible with Jaden Ivey out. We know teams are loading up on Cade Cunningham and willing to do anything to get the ball out of his hands.
That’s beside the point tonight. The Pistons need their get back on a chattering Indiana Pacers team that beat them a few weeks back. The aftermath restored the feeling of the 2000s Pistons/Pacers rivalry, but now it’s time for the Pistons to get revenge on the court with their play.
Game Vitals
When: 7 p.m. ET
Where: Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Indiana
Watch: Fan Duel Sports Network Detroit
Odds: Pistons +6.5
Analysis
“Don’t you play with Legos? ” was an instant social media classic when Isaiah Stewart chastised Pacers center Myles Turner in the postgame flurry. There’s nothing wrong with a hobby, but everything is fair game in the heat of a trash-talking moment. Indiana could say whatever they wanted because they got the dub, but here’s how the Pistons can even up the season series two a piece.
Usually, Cade’s dominating takeover ways would rank No. 1 on any Pistons’ keys to victory list, but Jalen Duren’s energy is just as important most nights. Detroit is a different team when Duren is active and making second-effort plays. Duren was one of the first players in the postgame fiasco with the Pacers in the last game. We need him flying all over the floor, looking to dominate the glass against a thin Pacers frontcourt.
Myles Turner is a great shooter, relatively speaking, and shot out of his mind the last time they played. The Pistons cannot afford to give up eight 3s to the Texas big man again. Duren and Stew must be alert and close out with discipline. Some of those 3s were a product of Turner catching fire, but both Pistons bigs need to back up the chatter from the January 16th outing.
The Pacers have a middle-of-the-pack defense, but they sell out to prevent three-point looks and are more willing to allow teams to shoot at the rim. I can see a healthy amount of Cade-to-Duren lobs tonight to challenge Turner/Pascal Siakam at the basket. Their on ball defense will be even more shaky if Andrew Nembhard is unable to go (back: questionable).
This iteration of Pistons basketball doesn’t have a high chance of winning if Cade isn’t in full form. It’s difficult to get off efficiently when there’s not another creator taking pressure off him, but he has proven he can thrive in these circumstances. They came up short in the Magic loss two games ago, but Cade went Super Saiyan against the No.3 ranked defense, bringing Detroit back into the contest.
Cade playing like a superstar is key, but so is the Pistons’ gritty defense, which has been in the top five over the last 10 games per PivotFade. Ausar Thompson still has a minutes cap, but his importance on the non-glamorous side of the floor can’t be overlooked. He’s special (5th in D-EMP ) and will be a thorn in Tyrese Haliburton and Bennedict Mathurin’s side tonight. His missed time has set him back, but his offense will catch up with more reps and gameplay.
Projected Lineups
Detroit Pistons (23-23)
Cade Cunningham, Tim Hardaway, Ausar Thompson, Tobias Harris, Jalen Duren
Indiana Pacers (25-20)
Tyrese Haliburton, Andrew Nembhard, Bennedict Mathurin, Pascal Siakam, Myles Turner
Question of the day
Fans were disappointed with the Slam Dunk Contest participants again. Who’d win an All-Time Pistons Dunk Contest?