10 things I like and don't like about the Detroit Pistons

[duncansmithnba]

I channeled my inner Zach Lowe (it's a very lite version) and wrote about 10 things I like and don't like about this team.

http://pistonpowered.com/2017/03/13/10-things-like-dont-like-detroit-pistons/

[Invictus88]

I realize that ideally paragraphs contain separate ideas, but I would have preferred that if you are saying you are going to list 10 things that you actually number them 1 through 10.

IMO, the numbering gives a cue to the reader to expect a change in direction. When I see consecutive non-marked paragraphs I naturally want to find some sort of connection between the thoughts. When that doesn't happen it makes the reading experience feel sloppy.

Take (or do not) this feedback with a grain of salt. I am in no way a professional writer.

But again, please keep posting articles. You bring up a lot of interesting points that are often overlooked here on these boards. Thanks for your efforts!

[duncansmithnba]

This is certainly good input but I'm a bit confused because each item was numbered 1 through 10 in its own paragraph. Maybe I'm not following?

That said, content is what matters and I'm glad you got some value out of it!

[Invictus88]

Absolutely strange. When I first loaded the article the headers didn't load at all.

So completely disregard my critique

[duncansmithnba]

That's a relief, I was really confused lol. Thanks for keeping me on my toes regardless!

[Redeemed]

I experienced the same thing with the headers not loading until I went back to the page a second time.

[Redeemed]

Ok as a huge Stanley Johnson fan, I of course love any mention of the young fella. However your write ups on Jon Leuer and Aron Baynes really resonated with me. Leuer's recent struggles are puzzling. His size and athleticism suggests he should be far more effective than he has been...even against starting talent. I figure playing with guys like Dre and Reggie who command so much attention should allow Low-Key some good looks. Sometimes his problem is that he just hesitates and passes up those opportunities.

Incidentally with his move back to the bench, he might experience a revitalization playing alongside Ish the Dish and the rest of the Voltron Unit. Baynes, struggles catching the ball sometimes and seems to muscular to have a full range of motion on his hook, yet he's a force on the floor. Every time he enters the game the physicality changes dramatically. The guy brings a heightened level of focus that Dre lacks at this stage in his career.

I'm really going to miss having him on the team after this off season.

[Pharaoh]

Great read and agree with pretty much everything

The appreciation of Baynes is something I really like since he gets overlooked by most. He's valued by true heads though and that's what counts

Sent from my SM-J110F using RealGM mobile app

[afroxnas]

That's a great stuff.
Regarding Drummond, as you pointed out yourself pistons defense is significantly better with Baynes on the floor. In addition, last time I checked (before the all star break) we rebound at a higher % without Drummond, so I don't know how much credit you can give him for our defense rating

[DocRI]

Ok as a huge Stanley Johnson fan, I of course love any mention of the young fella. However your write ups on Jon Leuer and Aron Baynes really resonated with me. Leuer's recent struggles are puzzling. His size and athleticism suggests he should be far more effective than he has been...even against starting talent. I figure playing with guys like Dre and Reggie who command so much attention should allow Low-Key some good looks. Sometimes his problem is that he just hesitates and passes up those opportunities.

Incidentally with his move back to the bench, he might experience a revitalization playing alongside Ish the Dish and the rest of the Voltron Unit. Baynes, struggles catching the ball sometimes and seems to muscular to have a full range of motion on his hook, yet he's a force on the floor. Every time he enters the game the physicality changes dramatically. The guy brings a heightened level of focus that Dre lacks at this stage in his career.

I'm really going to miss having him on the team after this off season.

^ I speculated this in one of the game threads, so sorry in advance for repeating myself — could Leuer simply be worn out? Per basketball-reference.com, he's now already played almost 400 more minutes this season than in any other during his career.

[whitehops]

i enjoyed the read, thanks duncan.

^ I speculated this in one of the game threads, so sorry in advance for repeating myself — could Leuer simply be worn out? Per basketball-reference.com, he's now already played almost 400 more minutes this season than in any other during his career.

fatigue might be part of it, but it could just be a "regular" slump. he played well as a starter when first inserted into the lineup, he even played fairly well (though a little inconsistent) when coming back from his knee injury, it's really been the last 9 games where he's slumping. he's shooting 42% from the field and 17% from deep in those 9 games, when before he was at 51% and 38% in the games since he was put into the starting lineup.

[DocRI]

i enjoyed the read, thanks duncan.

^ I speculated this in one of the game threads, so sorry in advance for repeating myself — could Leuer simply be worn out? Per basketball-reference.com, he's now already played almost 400 more minutes this season than in any other during his career.

fatigue might be part of it, but it could just be a "regular" slump. he played well as a starter when first inserted into the lineup, he even played fairly well (though a little inconsistent) when coming back from his knee injury, it's really been the last 9 games where he's slumping. he's shooting 42% from the field and 17% from deep in those 9 games, when before he was at 51% and 38% in the games since he was put into the starting lineup.

It absolutely could just be a regular slump, but a lot of his missed threes lately have been front-rimmed, and that's often a sign of tired legs. Regardless, it's just a theory and Tobias has played well as a starter, so let's just hope he finds his groove again off the bench.

[Redeemed]

Ok as a huge Stanley Johnson fan, I of course love any mention of the young fella. However your write ups on Jon Leuer and Aron Baynes really resonated with me. Leuer's recent struggles are puzzling. His size and athleticism suggests he should be far more effective than he has been...even against starting talent. I figure playing with guys like Dre and Reggie who command so much attention should allow Low-Key some good looks. Sometimes his problem is that he just hesitates and passes up those opportunities.

Incidentally with his move back to the bench, he might experience a revitalization playing alongside Ish the Dish and the rest of the Voltron Unit. Baynes, struggles catching the ball sometimes and seems to muscular to have a full range of motion on his hook, yet he's a force on the floor. Every time he enters the game the physicality changes dramatically. The guy brings a heightened level of focus that Dre lacks at this stage in his career.

I'm really going to miss having him on the team after this off season.

^ I speculated this in one of the game threads, so sorry in advance for repeating myself — could Leuer simply be worn out? Per basketball-reference.com, he's now already played almost 400 more minutes this season than in any other during his career.

That's good point. We saw something similar with Mook in his first year with the Stones.