Why we are going to hate the rest of the Season

[Blkbrd671]

In order for us to be a great not good team, we have to play good sound defense for 48 minutes. As our team has showed, when that happens, our offensive efficiency drops, making it hard for us to pull away and keeping the other team in the game. I don't know if we will ever learn how to remain offensively efficient while being great defensively this season.

Having said that, i've noticed that most of the time when our offense is "cringe worthy", its because we are competing on the defensive end. You'll notice this when your watching the game,and you feel like we should be down by 20 but when you look at the score we are up 10. For 48 minutes its nothing but a roller coaster of emotion as opposing teams make runs and we tighten down defensively. Until we figure out how to become more efficient in the half court and sound defensively, we are going to continue to have nail biter games. While it is exciting to watch, at the same time a blow out and hillard time would be just as nice.

I don't know if you'll hate the season, but i gather you'll be exhausted by season end


*Stat guys, i'd be interested to see if my assumption is true regarding our offense and defensive efforts or i am just

[Spider156]

Basically: We're not talented enough

That's why we still need a starting PF. We'll keep fighting to win games and even when we shouldn't be in games, SVG figures out how to keep it close. That's what makes him a great coach. This season isn't about being great. It's making the right direction to make the Playoffs. If we make the Playoffs, this season is a success. Come next season, we need to make a big signing or trade. I can imagine if Cleveland doesn't win this season, they'd be willing to trade Love even more. He's not a great defender but he compliments Drummond really well and would probably make our front court unstoppable. Keep in mind Kevin is playing without the ball since Kyrie and Lebron need it to be effective. I can imagine him fitting more on our team than Cleveland. He'd become our #2 option offensively. He'd be our best shooter. I wouldn't say it wouldn't happen. It's likely considering the Cavs organization is garbage.

[Blkbrd671]

Basically: We're not talented enough

That's why we still need a starting PF. We'll keep fighting to win games and even when we shouldn't be in games, SVG figures out how to keep it close. That's what makes him a great coach. This season isn't about being great. It's making the right direction to make the Playoffs. If we make the Playoffs, this season is a success. Come next season, we need to make a big signing or trade. I can imagine if Cleveland doesn't win this season, they'd be willing to trade Love even more. He's not a great defender but he compliments Drummond really well and would probably make our front court unstoppable. Keep in mind Kevin is playing without the ball since Kyrie and Lebron need it to be effective. I can imagine him fitting more on our team than Cleveland. He'd become our #2 option offensively. He'd be our best shooter. I wouldn't say it wouldn't happen. It's likely considering the Cavs organization is garbage.

i disagree, i think we have enough talent , its just still developing. As far as Kevin love, the cost it would take to acquire him, would not justify the move. We'd just as likely be contenders with those assets as we did with love.

Spider, i made a post on how in order for us to be great we have to play sound defense and your first thought is to trade for one of the worst defenders? I get the brand of Kevin Love and the fit in this system, however Love is not the piece that we need at that kind of cost. Serge Ibaka on the other hand.......i'm all for that

[theBigLip]

I think we will enjoy the rest of the season. Reasons:
- We are certainly headed in the right direction, and for that matter, we now HAVE a direction thx to SVG.
- We can make the playoffs. Not only can we make the playoffs, it seems 5-8 slots are up for grabs. This will be a great playoff race.
- All our guys are getting better. They are also becoming a better "team". Lots of learning to do, but they are doing it.
- Still have the trade deadline, and SVG isn't one to sit still. After last year, who knows what he has up his sleeves.

[Spider156]

Basically: We're not talented enough

That's why we still need a starting PF. We'll keep fighting to win games and even when we shouldn't be in games, SVG figures out how to keep it close. That's what makes him a great coach. This season isn't about being great. It's making the right direction to make the Playoffs. If we make the Playoffs, this season is a success. Come next season, we need to make a big signing or trade. I can imagine if Cleveland doesn't win this season, they'd be willing to trade Love even more. He's not a great defender but he compliments Drummond really well and would probably make our front court unstoppable. Keep in mind Kevin is playing without the ball since Kyrie and Lebron need it to be effective. I can imagine him fitting more on our team than Cleveland. He'd become our #2 option offensively. He'd be our best shooter. I wouldn't say it wouldn't happen. It's likely considering the Cavs organization is garbage.

i disagree, i think we have enough talent , its just still developing. As far as Kevin love, the cost it would take to acquire him, would not justify the move. We'd just as likely be contenders with those assets as we did with love.

Spider, i made a post on how in order for us to be great we have to play sound defense and your first thought is to trade for one of the worst defenders? I get the brand of Kevin Love and the fit in this system, however Love is not the piece that we need at that kind of cost. Serge Ibaka on the other hand.......i'm all for that

Well my first option would be Horford. Then it's Ibaka. Then it's Love. Anderson would be a fit as well. We are NOT contenders right now even if we play as well as we did against Golden State. We're just too easy to figure out specially with a young Drummond right now. Can we keep up? Yes definitely. I'm not even afraid of Cleveland in the Playoffs. But we need one more facet in our offense and there's only two ways to get it. Either get a new starting PF that takes us to contention OR you wait for Stanley Johnson to develop into a budding Star. He's going to need two more years to start really get it. If we want to contend next season, we need to figure out a way to get a starting PF. Otherwise, it's a wait and watch the team develop like what you say. I say we need a veteran badly! Maybe our next pick will be like a Green or Prince pick up. You never know what you get from the Draft and people are forgetting about that. However, I believe we need the Sheed trade or Prince draft pick. Horford would be perfect. Maybe it'll take us beating them in the Playoffs to get it done lol. Sort of like Ray Allen to the Heat after the Celtics lost to them.

[Blkbrd671]

I think we will enjoy the rest of the season. Reasons:
- We are certainly headed in the right direction, and for that matter, we now HAVE a direction thx to SVG.
- We can make the playoffs. Not only can we make the playoffs, it seems 5-8 slots are up for grabs. This will be a great playoff race.
- All our guys are getting better. They are also becoming a better "team". Lots of learning to do, but they are doing it.
- Still have the trade deadline, and SVG isn't one to sit still. After last year, who knows what he has up his sleeves.

i wasn't referring to hating our team, but moreso referring to that if we want to remain a playoff team, it starts by playing defense like we played last night, and obvious by product of that is cringe worthy offense. Meaning majority of our games are going sweaty palm nail biters. I was hoping at some point we'd find a plateau, but 45 games in , i think thats a bit optimistic for a young team.

At least for me, my day can change whether we win or lose but moreso the matter in which we win or lose. I could use a couple more blowouts this season for my hairlines sake

[Spider156]

I think the trade deadline will be quiet this season. But I wouldn't call the rest of the season to be the same as the first half. It definitely could be but one or two big trades could shake up the rankings. You'll have teams that'll start tanking and others that'll go for it all. I think we've got great assets to trade if teams want to get rid of talent.

[Blkbrd671]

Well my first option would be Horford. Then it's Ibaka.

no arguments here

Then it's Love. Anderson would be a fit as well. We are NOT contenders right now even if we play as well as we did against Golden State. We're just too easy to figure out specially with a young Drummond right now. Can we keep up? Yes definitely. I'm not even afraid of Cleveland in the Playoffs. But we need one more facet in our offense and there's only two ways to get it. Either get a new starting PF that takes us to contention OR you wait for Stanley Johnson to develop into a budding Star. He's going to need two more years to start really get it. If we want to contend next season, we need to figure out a way to get a starting PF. Otherwise, it's a wait and watch the team develop like what you say. I say we need a veteran badly! Maybe our next pick will be like a Green or Prince pick up. You never know what you get from the Draft and people are forgetting about that. However, I believe we need the Sheed trade or Prince draft pick. Horford would be perfect. Maybe it'll take us beating them in the Playoffs to get it done lol. Sort of like Ray Allen to the Heat after the Celtics lost to them.

i don't disagree we still need to add pieces. I don't agree that we need to contend next season, and honestly i think if we kept this same team, and maintained our development (personally and experience in this system) , that we'd be close to contention next year.

The problem i can see with your comment is that our offense doesn't have as many "facets" not because of lack of talent but because our PG's usage. If we got , say love, that usage wouldn't change, because our offense is heavy pnr. What we need is RJ to defer a little more and for those , whom he defers, to be more efficient in the offense. KCP and SJ both have shown tremendous progression through out the season. Sh* SJ's making Baynes look like a baller.

I would also argue we need a much bigger back up center and another versatile guard/forward that can let KCP get some rest defensively. I am excited for this deadline because SVG knows wtf he's doing.

[Blkbrd671]

I think the trade deadline will be quiet this season. But I wouldn't call the rest of the season to be the same as the first half. It definitely could be but one or two big trades could shake up the rankings. You'll have teams that'll start tanking and others that'll go for it all. I think we've got great assets to trade if teams want to get rid of talent.

actually i didn't even look at our schedule. i feel like when we have tough road games coming up we typically show up, vs when we have a day between games, i feel like we kind of fall asleep

[Todd3]

I noticed this trend a while ago. When they go 110% on defense, it seems to affect their jumpshots on the other end. Defense is certainly important, but stats show offense (3pt shooting in particular) might be more important for this team.

We are 18-3 when shooting 35% or better from 3. 18-5 when scoring 100 or more. 15-0 when scoring 104 or more.

Conversely...

We are 6-18 when shooting under 35% from 3. 6-15 when scoring under 100. 0-9 when scoring 92 or less.

Those are pretty staggering numbers and show that we might be best served saving some of that energy for offense. We might give up a little more on defense, but if it pays greater dividends in the win column in the end, that's what is most important.

[Blkbrd671]

I noticed this trend a while ago. When they go 110% on defense, it seems to affect their jumpshots on the other end. Defense is certainly important, but stats show offense (3pt shooting in particular) might be more important for this team.

We are 18-3 when shooting 35% or better from 3. 18-5 when scoring 100 or more. 15-0 when scoring 104 or more.

Conversely...

We are 6-18 when shooting under 35% from 3. 6-15 when scoring under 100. 0-9 when scoring 92 or less.

Those are pretty staggering numbers and show that we might be best served saving some of that energy for offense. We might give up a little more on defense, but if it pays greater dividends in the win column in the end, that's what is most important.

how about you look at that from a defensive standpoint. Whats our record when we hold teams under (x%) or under 100 points. Just because we are playing good D doesn't always mean our 3 point % is below 35%, though you would think it trends that way.

[Todd3]

I noticed this trend a while ago. When they go 110% on defense, it seems to affect their jumpshots on the other end. Defense is certainly important, but stats show offense (3pt shooting in particular) might be more important for this team.

We are 18-3 when shooting 35% or better from 3. 18-5 when scoring 100 or more. 15-0 when scoring 104 or more.

Conversely...

We are 6-18 when shooting under 35% from 3. 6-15 when scoring under 100. 0-9 when scoring 92 or less.

Those are pretty staggering numbers and show that we might be best served saving some of that energy for offense. We might give up a little more on defense, but if it pays greater dividends in the win column in the end, that's what is most important.

how about you look at that from a defensive standpoint. Whats our record when we hold teams under (x%) or under 100 points. Just because we are playing good D doesn't always mean our 3 point % is below 35%, though you would think it trends that way.

They both go together. In order to be 18-5 when scoring >100, you have to keep them under 100, so defense obviously matters. We wouldn't be 15-0 scoring >104 if giving up 110 ppg. I just think instead of going all in on defense like we seem to do some nights, we should balance our energy more, so we have some left for our jumpshots. Because we seem to go as Reggie goes and he's an offensive player who needs 3pt shooting around him to be at his best. So it's important our guys around him have energy left to make their 3s

It's hard to look up record by defensive % because they don't show defensive stats in game logs, so you'd have to go through each game.

[Southern Piston]

I think this is where Meek can save the day. Morris and Kcp play way too many minutes to sustain until the playoffs. Hopefully he finally gets on track for us. If he does and JEnnings gets better our could be lifting us at the right time, weaker schedule with more rest for the starters.

[Blkbrd671]

They both go together. In order to be 18-5 when scoring >100, you have to keep them under 100, so defense obviously matters.

We wouldn't be 15-0 scoring >104 if giving up 110 ppg.

Pistons 106
Cavs 102

both are >100

I just think instead of going all in on defense like we seem to do some nights, we should balance our energy more, so we have some left for our jumpshots. Because we seem to go as Reggie goes and he's an offensive player who needs 3pt shooting around him to be at his best. So it's important our guys around him have energy left to make their 3s

At the end of the day, this is a "matter of opinion" issue. I think ultimately you can always count on defense to win games if there is effort, where as offensively, its a matter of a ball going in a hoop. You have more control over defense. IMO, i think your right though that the ultimate goal is a balance between the 2.

Be interesting to see our stats to this point on games where we are defined as "balanced"

It's hard to look up record by defensive % because they don't show defensive stats in game logs, so you'd have to go through each game.

no worries, ain't no body go time for that, unless of course your Scout Taron or Tmorgan.

[Blkbrd671]

I think this is where Meek can save the day. Morris and Kcp play way too many minutes to sustain until the playoffs. Hopefully he finally gets on track for us. If he does and JEnnings gets better our could be lifting us at the right time, weaker schedule with more rest for the starters.

i totally agree. There's no one player on our team maybe other the illy, that teams HAVE to respect on the 3 point line. Meeks is someone that defenders are going to have to stay one step closer too, and the extra attention will help the other guys on the bench. I think KCP and Mooks mpg impact will be minimal, though beneficial. I venture to guess that we'll see there role change with another shooter on the floor.

[Todd3]

They both go together. In order to be 18-5 when scoring >100, you have to keep them under 100, so defense obviously matters.

We wouldn't be 15-0 scoring >104 if giving up 110 ppg.

Pistons 106
Cavs 102

both are >100

I didn't mean that literally. Just saying it doesn't matter how much you score if you don't defend.

[ComboGuardCity]

I think we will enjoy the rest of the season. Reasons:
- We are certainly headed in the right direction, and for that matter, we now HAVE a direction thx to SVG.
- We can make the playoffs. Not only can we make the playoffs, it seems 5-8 slots are up for grabs. This will be a great playoff race.
- All our guys are getting better. They are also becoming a better "team". Lots of learning to do, but they are doing it.
- Still have the trade deadline, and SVG isn't one to sit still. After last year, who knows what he has up his sleeves.

Where have you been????

[Spider156]

I think we will enjoy the rest of the season. Reasons:
- We are certainly headed in the right direction, and for that matter, we now HAVE a direction thx to SVG.
- We can make the playoffs. Not only can we make the playoffs, it seems 5-8 slots are up for grabs. This will be a great playoff race.
- All our guys are getting better. They are also becoming a better "team". Lots of learning to do, but they are doing it.
- Still have the trade deadline, and SVG isn't one to sit still. After last year, who knows what he has up his sleeves.

Where have you been????

That definitely gets me excited. We also tend to forget we have a draft pick too who could turn out to be a good player.

[Finn McCool]

I became a Pistons fan back in '76-77'. I've never been this dispassionate about a roster in all those years.

[El Chivo]

Basically: We're not talented enough

That's why we still need a starting PF. We'll keep fighting to win games and even when we shouldn't be in games, SVG figures out how to keep it close. That's what makes him a great coach. This season isn't about being great. It's making the right direction to make the Playoffs. If we make the Playoffs, this season is a success. Come next season, we need to make a big signing or trade. I can imagine if Cleveland doesn't win this season, they'd be willing to trade Love even more. He's not a great defender but he compliments Drummond really well and would probably make our front court unstoppable. Keep in mind Kevin is playing without the ball since Kyrie and Lebron need it to be effective. I can imagine him fitting more on our team than Cleveland. He'd become our #2 option offensively. He'd be our best shooter. I wouldn't say it wouldn't happen. It's likely considering the Cavs organization is garbage.

Love-Drummond, aka the worst interior defense ever. WOW!