DETROIT VS UTH: USED TO BE "That one f* team"

[BadMofoPimp]

This game cannot be understated... Utah was a serious team after all-star break. This felt like a playoff game.
With the way both of these teams are developing it could have be a 2019 Finals preview.
Great Win.

National media still trying to ignore the Pistons but I guarantee coaches around the league are waking up. The Pistons beat two very good teams in both conferences, while shooting under 40%.

I think most opposing coaches already know and respect SVG and the teams he coaches. Media and Fans don't get that as they only look at stats.

[whitehops]

also, probably my favourite part of the game was dre posting up in the second half. in the first half he rushed his shots and was 0-5 or something like that, but obviously at halftime one of the coaches told him to settle down because after that he took his time, worked to get deeper position (pretty easily it looked like) and went into the body of gobert to finish.

[will]

Drummond. Man, watching this dude work on his post game now - yeah, something that resembles a post game....is going to be amazing. The free throws too. He just looks a little more relaxed at the line. 8/11!

[hoophabit]

Some bizzaro world where hightlights include all your free throws!? Just goes to show, when you think you've seen it all...

[Ghost]

GG guys, you're looking great. The game was close as I expected, but I did not expect Steve Blake to annihilate Trey Burke...well, maybe I did.

Trey is just... so bad. You guys really need to do something.

Tell me about it. I get that you drafted him with the 9th pick and you really want to see him succeed, but the Jazz have to cut their losses and get rid of him. We've already wasted too much playing time and opportunities for his development. I want to say he's out of here by the end of December but it will be nearly impossible to get rid of him and the Jazz FO is passive anyways.

I wanted Burke over KCP on draft night so bad . Yikes. I was very wrong. You still have Exum, Burks, Hood, Favors, Gobert, all kinds of young players. Even without Burke panning out, you're just in a very good position. The Jazz are going to be a really good team .

[cjx]

Detroit is starting the season on a strong note, Drummond, KCP, and Jackson will lead the Pistons to the 2nd round of the playoffs, book it!

[Neptune]

Detroit is starting the season on a strong note, Drummond, KCP, and Jackson will lead the Pistons to the 2nd round of the playoffs, book it!

Let's take it game-by-game before we start talking playoffs.

[Todd3]

KCP is like a completely different player now. Its remarkable because he looked same as last year in preseason, but once the reg season started its like he flipped a switch into Super Pope and is now a legit starting SG. Its not even just the plays he is making or the production, its how much more mature and poised he suddenly looks. He is playing a lot smarter on offense and being more decisive. He just looks awesome.

I never really envisioned him on the level with Dre, Stanley, and Reggie on the star meter, but after seeing these 2 games and thinking back to when he dominated summer league and some other big games he has had, maybe he does have star potential after all. And if so, wow, we might really have something special here with this core. Not many teams have 4 young potential star caliber talents.

Morris was a lotto pick from the same draft as Klay and Kahwi and starting to look the part now too (and still has time to meet his potential at only 26).

Even Ersan looks completely different now vs the preseason. Those pump fake 3s are a faded memory. He is drawing charges at an insane rate too. Last year he was 5th in the league with 24 drawn and he already has 5 through 2 games.

Plus we still have SWAG coming back who was playing like an all star at times last year.

I know its just 2 games but the crazy part is I dont even think anyone played spectactular yet, or its something that cant be replicated. Its not like one guy is avg 30 like during the Jennings run last year where it didn't seem sustainable. Guys are just playing their roles effectively and outworking the other team collectively and its all adding up to wins. As long as they give the same effort and play unselfish this should be something they can do on a nightly basis. Not win every game but at least play good basketball and give themselves a chance every night.

[DBC10]

I remember all the KCP doubters and Burke fanboys ragging on here during 2013. That was a fun time.

Now? You hardly see a Michigan fanboy mentioning Burke anymore.

[tmorgan]

I remember all the KCP doubters and Burke fanboys ragging on here during 2013. That was a fun time.

Now? You hardly see a Michigan fanboy mentioning Burke anymore.

I mention him all the time and thank him for the wonderful memories from his time at UM. I wasn't entirely sure on draft day (not pro-Burke, but not anti-Burke, either), but I knew very quickly afterwards he was going to be a miserable pro.

There was one thing you could trust about the Joe D era in general -- he did draft pretty well. Sure, a few mistakes, and one big one, but generally we picked up good players in the draft. When he went KCP over Burke, I had no reason to doubt him. He was obviously correct -- he had Burke in numerous times before the draft, but never made him any promises.

[coolness]

Great to be back. I can't post in the General Board for some reason and accidentally And1'd an anti-Drummond post while I was looking for a 'post reply' button. :/

Somehow I knew the Pistons would come back every time they were down last night. Mainly because they weren't playing near their peak, but stayed in striking distance. The only time I got scared was in the final 20 seconds on that score-or-die seeing how Utah has a good defense.

Lots to be excited about......

[Todd3]

I remember all the KCP doubters and Burke fanboys ragging on here during 2013. That was a fun time.

Now? You hardly see a Michigan fanboy mentioning Burke anymore.

I mention him all the time and thank him for the wonderful memories from his time at UM. I wasn't entirely sure on draft day (not pro-Burke, but not anti-Burke, either), but I knew very quickly afterwards he was going to be a miserable pro.

There was one thing you could trust about the Joe D era in general -- he did draft pretty well. Sure, a few mistakes, and one big one, but generally we picked up good players in the draft. When he went KCP over Burke, I had no reason to doubt him. He was obviously correct -- he had Burke in numerous times before the draft, but never made him any promises.

I'm not a UM fan, but I did prefer Burke at the time because we needed a PG and thought he could pair well in pick and roll with Drummond. (He probably still could if here and would look a lot better playing with the beast). But after we got Jennings I thought Joe made the right call. We really didn't need to be starting over with another rookie PG at that time, and Jennings has proven to be better too.

Aside from Chauncey and McDyess, Dumars was not good at FAs. All of his other good moves (and there were lots) were either trades or draft picks.

Memo, Prince, Rebracca, Afflalo, Amir, Delfino, Middleton, Drummond, Monroe, KCP. He made a lot of good picks and is underrated in that department.

[cjx]

My Detroit compeers, I promise you will be thoroughly pleased with KCP's production this season (17 ppg / 5 rpg / 2 apg / 45% fg).

[DTP]

I don't take a lot from small samples...two games is a extremely small sample and I don't overreact like 90% of you (people crying we need a new point guard in the second game of the season smh), but man, Marcus Morris never passes lol. Would like to see him not be such a ball stopper but maybe he's just trying to find his role/comfort zone. I'll give him the benefit right now.

[zeebneeb]

I don't take a lot from small samples...two games is a extremely small sample and I don't overreact like 90% of you (people crying we need a new point guard in the second game of the season smh), but man, Marcus Morris never passes lol. Would like to see him not be such a ball stopper but maybe he's just trying to find his role/comfort zone. I'll give him the benefit right now.

You know it's wierd with Marcus. It's like I feel he's a ball stopper and then I see he has 4 assists. It's wierd. Once he starts his "dribble rocking" it's like he's in a tunnel, but I've seen him zip a pass out of it. Let's just say he's not as bad as corliss Williamson was. As for production in 2 games 16/8 along with 2.5 Apg is just fantastic. He has earned the right to start so far.

[DTP]

Haha, I miss Big Nasty though.

[whitehops]

I don't take a lot from small samples...two games is a extremely small sample and I don't overreact like 90% of you (people crying we need a new point guard in the second game of the season smh), but man, Marcus Morris never passes lol. Would like to see him not be such a ball stopper but maybe he's just trying to find his role/comfort zone. I'll give him the benefit right now.

he has the reputation of a ball stopper so it might be valid, but so far in the two games I feel like he's getting the ball in a lot of iso situations with a mismatch against a smaller player or he gets the ball late in the shot clock. we'll see if it continues going forward, but I have confidence that if he's being more selfish than SVG wants we will see less of his ball-stopping towards the end of the year.

[DTP]

I don't take a lot from small samples...two games is a extremely small sample and I don't overreact like 90% of you (people crying we need a new point guard in the second game of the season smh), but man, Marcus Morris never passes lol. Would like to see him not be such a ball stopper but maybe he's just trying to find his role/comfort zone. I'll give him the benefit right now.

he has the reputation of a ball stopper so it might be valid, but so far in the two games I feel like he's getting the ball in a lot of iso situations with a mismatch against a smaller player or he gets the ball late in the shot clock. we'll see if it continues going forward, but I have confidence that if he's being more selfish than SVG wants we will see less of his ball-stopping towards the end of the year.

Yeah, agreed. It's not like he's missing open teammates or really taking anyone out of rhythm either, so not too annoying yet. But in January after losing three games in a row, I can see it being really annoying.

[Blkbrd671]

honestly, i just rewatched this game. UTH played some pretty f* bad a* defense. It wasn't helped by our movement, but for the most part, we should give them some credit. and our boys for grinding it out