Among the elements which explained the correct start to the season of Pistonswhich is no small thing for a team used to losing, there was the defense installed by JB Bickerstaff. After 15 matches, Detroit players had the 6th best defense in the league. Except that for the past month, it's been much more difficult. Indeed, in the following eleven matches, they fell to 26th place in defense…
What happened? “We slipped because we didn't have much time to train and this week was excellent for that”, replies the coach. “Plus, we faced excellent offensive teams too, and that obviously has an impact. »
The Bulls, the Bucks and even the Celtics (twice) actually took advantage of a struggling defense to hit 3-pointers. In these four matches, each time, Detroit conceded at least 20 winning baskets.
“We try to notice trends. Our 3-point defense has deteriorated in terms of the shots we leave to our opponents, their percentages too, and because of our absences,” analyzes JB Bickerstaff. “We showed good things in sequences, but not for four quarters and that’s what we’re looking to do. »
Rediscover the virtues of the start of the season
But with only one game – a logical defeat in Boston – to play for nine days, the technician and the Pistons were able to work at length to rebuild their defense. Especially when talking with the players.
“These discussions are about what more coaches can do to help them, to be very specific about our system”specifies the coach. “It’s good to have time to have such conversations. »
Hoping to revive the defense and the results of the Pistons, on the verge of 10th place and the “play-in”, who remain on four defeats in five matches.
“We started the season being huge in rebounding, but we fell off a bit in that area. We have to go back to this level, and simply defend, as well as, for transitions, not losing the ball, to set up our defense,” announces Cade Cunningham, before returning to these days spent in the gym. “We were able to work on areas where we have been struggling recently. »
| Shots | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Players | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Bp | Int | Ct | Party | Pts |
| Cade Cunningham | 22 | 35.9 | 45.3 | 38.1 | 78.5 | 1.1 | 6.2 | 7.3 | 9.3 | 4.6 | 0.9 | 0.8 | 2.6 | 23.6 |
| Jaden Ivey | 25 | 30.3 | 43.6 | 36.7 | 73.1 | 1.3 | 2.8 | 4.1 | 4.2 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 2.4 | 17.3 |
| Malik Beasley | 26 | 28.0 | 43.3 | 40.7 | 72.2 | 0.6 | 2.5 | 3.1 | 1.9 | 1.1 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 1.3 | 15.5 |
| Tobias Harris | 25 | 32.3 | 44.9 | 34.2 | 83.9 | 1.0 | 5.9 | 6.9 | 2.4 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 1.9 | 13.9 |
| Tim Hardaway Jr. | 23 | 27.3 | 41.0 | 34.2 | 89.7 | 0.2 | 1.9 | 2.1 | 1.5 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 1.3 | 9.6 |
| Jalen Duren | 23 | 23.9 | 68.0 | 0.0 | 57.6 | 3.0 | 5.9 | 8.9 | 2.3 | 2.0 | 0.4 | 1.3 | 3.2 | 8.9 |
| Marcus Sasser | 17 | 13.4 | 54.2 | 38.9 | 100.0 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 1.1 | 1.6 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 0.8 | 6.5 |
| Ron Holland | 26 | 16.1 | 46.1 | 20.0 | 80.0 | 0.6 | 2.5 | 3.0 | 0.7 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 1.6 | 6.3 |
| Simone Fontecchio | 24 | 18.0 | 39.5 | 34.5 | 78.1 | 0.5 | 2.5 | 3.0 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 1.4 | 6.3 |
| Isaiah Stewart II | 26 | 22.0 | 55.4 | 25.0 | 87.9 | 2.3 | 3.8 | 6.1 | 1.8 | 1.1 | 0.5 | 1.3 | 2.8 | 6.1 |
| Ausar Thompson | 6 | 15.0 | 40.0 | 30.0 | 42.9 | 1.2 | 1.8 | 3.0 | 2.3 | 1.5 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 2.2 | 5.7 |
| Alondes Williams | 1 | 3.7 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 5.0 |
| Paul Reed, Jr. | 12 | 10.4 | 53.8 | 36.4 | 80.0 | 0.6 | 1.3 | 1.9 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 1.8 | 4.8 |
| Wendell Moore, Jr. | 12 | 14.2 | 52.8 | 33.3 | 91.7 | 0.8 | 2.3 | 3.1 | 1.2 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 1.1 | 4.3 |
| Cole Swider | 2 | 6.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 |
| Danis Jenkins | 2 | 2.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 |
