Game Recap/Notes: Game #45. Pistons 135 - Timberwolves 118. (12-33)
Nice to bounce back into the win column. Some nice positives to take away with positive performances from a number of players. This game is probably a little bit of fools gold because even considering that the non-Gobert members of the Wolves are not exactly stellar defenders (and Gobert ain’t what he used to be it seems) its hard to lose when you shoot 53.1% from deep. Still, regardless of how it came, the Pistons needed a win.
Killian Hayes:
Another very nice game in the bag for Hayes. Who finished with 18 points on 7-14 shooting from the field along with 9 assists. This was mostly Hayes at his best, being an excellent starting point for most offensive possessions, passing the ball well and making effective connecting plays even when not on the point while finding his own shots largely when the possessions required him to. We also saw a pair of the strongest takes to the basket of his career, one featuring a huge dunk that was (kind of) on Gobert and another one that finished with a tough layup in traffic which is something Hayes rarely does. For all the misery of this season, Hayes continuing to show that he is a real player has been a bright spot.
Jaden Ivey:
Much needed good night for Ivey who finished with 18 points and 8 assists while shooting 7-11 from the field in a whooping 40 minutes. Given the high minutes total those numbers are not crazy but the efficiency and playmaking were big. Both Ivey and Hayes probably got their assist totals boosted by the absurd shooting tonight but hey. I’d also point out that it felt like this was about as well as Ivey and Hayes have played together as a pair. They seemed to feed off of each other and make each other better which has not usually been the case.
Saddiq Bey:
We’ve done the “Maybe this game will be the launching point for him getting back on track!” thing enough times by this point that I am not going to do so here. Until he strings together like 5 good games I’m going to assume nothing has changed but still nice to see Bey get going. 31 points on 10-16 shooting, 4-6 from deep. He got aggressive looking for his shot and generally had the type of game you would’ve hoped for him to have with all the injuries the Pistons currently have. The passing remains nonexistent and it isn’t like he did anything that looked all that different other than the shots fell, hence why I’m not going to assume this changes anything, but we can maybe keep a small hope that things will improve.
Bojan Bogdanovic:
Back from a one game absence and right back on his horse. 27 points on 9-15 shooting, 5-8 from deep, and even had 4 assists to boot. Like Bey it isn’t like he did anything that different from normal he just hit a lot of shots, with the key distinction being that Bojan normally hits shots. Nice game from Bojan and good to bounce right back from missing a game.
Nerlens Noel:
Only played 21 minutes and to be honest I’m not sure why, even in the PIsotns current injured state, they are so concerned about playing him closer to 30 minutes but whatever. Noel played really well, he only had 2 points (on 1-2 shooting) and 5 rebounds. But the key for Noel was defensively. The Pistons were awful defensively in the first half but out of the break Noel set the tone defensively and finished with 4 blocks and 3 steals in a way that was really the difference for a long stretch. This was great to see even beyond the fact that it helped the Pistons win because it can show as proof to other teams that even though he hasn’t been playing Noel is still capable of doing what he has most of his career. Because while he has never been consistent enough to be among the league’s truly elite defenders (he has nights where he chases blocks and steals too far and ends up out of position) but when he’s on this is the sort of impact he brings. In the 3 games of actual playing time Noel hasn’t been transformative but he’s made a good accounting of himself and looks like he’s pretty much healthy.
There is a degree to which this only deepens the confusion of why the Pistons have simply refused to play him this season. Even when Bagley got hurt the Pistons opted to heavily stagger Duren and Stew (while still having them start together) instead of just playing Noel even 12 minutes per game. If this stretch is enough to convince teams that he is worth exploring as a trade target it would be a nice silver lining to losing Stew and Duren for a few games.
Isaiah Livers:
Didn’t do a lot in his return. He hit a three, played hard on defense, generally did the same stuff he did before. Hopefully he stays healthy the rest of the way.
Kevin Knox:
5 points on 2-5 shooting from the field in 10 minutes. Was perfectly acceptable.
Alec Burks:
Not sure who the last bench guy to give such consistent production as Burks in a Pistons uniform. Another night, another 20 minutes to score 13 points on solid efficiency. He is bound to be traded but he will be missed.
Hamidou Diallo:
18 points in 26 minutes while shooting 7-8 from the field and somehow fouled out of the game which I somehow missed? Regardless, Diallo is now reaching the sort of folk-hero point where I am just accepting that his lack of shooting, defense, passing, and general discipline does mean that he probably has no role on a team that’s trying to win but I don’t care. This team isn’t trying to win and Diallo is immensely fun to have. If the Pistons do trade Burks and Bojan at the deadline I’d be in favor of bench minutes just being the Diallo show the rest of the year.
General:
Once again, hard to suggest that this means anything is different but we don’t complain about how a win comes when you’ve had the week the Pistons did. Hayes continues to be a bright spot and it was nice to see Noel have a real impact.